> "TECHNICALLY CHEAPER?" - No way. Hmmm ... a number of Cellular/PCS infrastructure manufactureres include the use GPS at a cell site - as an accurate reference source. This as evidenced by the *two* little white radomed GPS antennas at these cll sites sites ... > GPS requires a specialized reciever, DSP, ... no more complicated than, say, an uplink receiver at any given Cellular/PCS cell site ... > a space-satellite launch capability, a bunch of satellites in orbit, and so > on. State-of-the-art stuff, for some definition. FORTUNATELY, erverythign is taken care of by somebody else on what's called the "Space Segment" part of GPS ... > Actually cheaper? Perhaps soon, anyway. You want GPS to accomplish a lot > of things, and accurate time comes along for free. It's been well within the grasp of a number of 'users' as was demonstrated above! > GPS is a consumer item and receivers are mass produced. Bzzzt! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Error!!! 'Consumer item'? Care to explain in light of the fact that GPS was a born out a military development project AND many levels of GPS service/accuracy are available depending on the equipment chosen? RF Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Chops Westfield" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 5:34 PM Subject: Re: [PIC]: How to obtain the official US time clock? > > However the world has moved to using GPS to globally > > distribute accurate time. It is just FARRRRR more reliable. > > Is it cheaper? > > "TECHNICALLY CHEAPER?" - No way. GPS requires a specialized reciever, DSP, > a space-satellite launch capability, a bunch of satellites in orbit, and so > on. State-of-the-art stuff, for some definition. > > Actually cheaper? Perhaps soon, anyway. You want GPS to accomplish a lot > of things, and accurate time comes along for free. GPS is a consumer item > and receivers are mass produced. Less successful vendors have their > inventories appear on surplus markets. I was a bit shocked when someone > added code to cisco routers to interface to GPS receivers JUST so that the > router could be an accurate time source for NTP ("Network Time Protocol.") > > NTP might be something to look into too. Assuming an internet connection, > you can get synchronized time to within well less than typical network > delays, using "magic." You can also consider dialing 1-800-POPCORN or > equivilent, periodically, via cellphone technology... > > BillW > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: To leave the PICList mailto:piclist-unsubscribe-request@mitvma.mit.edu