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    New GPS for NTP server

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    • Sergei_ShablovskyS
      Sergei_Shablovsky @pete
      last edited by Sergei_Shablovsky

      @pete said in New GPS for NTP server:

      In the 1990's used a Trimble GPS that came from military surplus store that I purchased for next to nothing. It just had an antenna port and two RS-232 interfaces. Took a long time to get a sync with an outdoor antenna mounted on roof of two story house.

      Very interesting! Thank You for information!

      As I know there are TWO GPS systems: military and civil.

      Military are more stable and more accurate. BUT only approved devices from military vendors contain electronic inside to able receiving and DECODING signals from military GPS system.

      Am I right?

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      • Sergei_ShablovskyS
        Sergei_Shablovsky @pete
        last edited by

        @pete said in New GPS for NTP server:

        Replying to my own post figured out (guessing mostly) the configuration with the Neo-8M GPS Satellite board U-Blox Windows programming software.

        gps.jpg

        Hi, Pete!

        As for now are You able to see the geoposition in this dashboard on 2.7.2-RELEASE pfSense version?

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        • E
          elvisimprsntr
          last edited by elvisimprsntr

          I tested three different Garmin GPS receivers connected directly to my pfSense firewall.

          • GPS 16x LVS (5V USB power)
          • GPS 18x LVC (5V USB power)
          • GPS 19x HVS (12V same power source as Protectli Vault)

          Just need to wired them up to a DE9 RS232 or RJ45 COM port and provide applicable power.

          Less than 10 usec jitter/offset for less than $50. Works automagically!

          Full write up here

          Sergei_ShablovskyS 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
          • Sergei_ShablovskyS
            Sergei_Shablovsky @elvisimprsntr
            last edited by Sergei_Shablovsky

            @elvisimprsntr said in New GPS for NTP server:

            I tested three different Garmin GPS receivers connected directly to my pfSense firewall.

            • GPS 16x LVS (5V USB power)
            • GPS 18x LVC (5V USB power)
            • GPS 19x HVS (12V same power source as Protectli Vault)

            Just need to wired them up to a DE9 RS232 or RJ45 COM port and provide applicable power.

            Less than 10 usec jitter/offset for less than $50. Works automagically!

            AMAZING WORK! Thank You so much!!!

            Why You not make a PR to pfSense to include this as separate package?

            Full write up here

            VERY INTERESTING!
            Let me spend some time to read…:)

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            CLOSE SKY FOR UKRAINE https://youtu.be/_tU1i8VAdCo !
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            E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • E
              elvisimprsntr @Sergei_Shablovsky
              last edited by elvisimprsntr

              @Sergei_Shablovsky said in New GPS for NTP server:

              Why You not make a PR to pfSense to include this as separate package?

              Serial GPS/PPS is already part of pfSense NTP service.
              I did submit a PR for the NTP display for the LCDproc package.

              Sergei_ShablovskyS 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Sergei_ShablovskyS
                Sergei_Shablovsky @elvisimprsntr
                last edited by Sergei_Shablovsky

                @elvisimprsntr said in New GPS for NTP server:

                @Sergei_Shablovsky said in New GPS for NTP server:

                Why You not make a PR to pfSense to include this as separate package?

                Serial GPS/PPS is already part of pfSense NTP service.
                I did submit a PR for the NTP display for the LCDproc package.

                Nice to read this!

                Personally, I vote up to EACH DC MUST HAVE INTERNAL STRATUM 1 server!
                Because a lot of users here are SysAdmins in middle/big organizations, I hope Your work would be extra one push for them all to made separate time-server…

                —
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                • Sergei_ShablovskyS
                  Sergei_Shablovsky @elvisimprsntr
                  last edited by Sergei_Shablovsky

                  @elvisimprsntr said in New GPS for NTP server:

                  @Sergei_Shablovsky said in New GPS for NTP server:

                  Why You not make a PR to pfSense to include this as separate package?

                  Serial GPS/PPS is already part of pfSense NTP service.
                  I did submit a PR for the NTP display for the LCDproc package.

                  How would be difficult to You improve the NTP-GPS dashboard to make it looks like xgps ?

                  4EE1F757-AA15-41AE-9EFD-4D2B75D1029B.png

                  I know, this look like fantastic dream of NTP-GPS nerd, but…anyway this is just matter of generating image based on the same GPS data You already have ;)
                  Not so much of pfSense users have this 20x4 LCD display, but monitor we already have ;)

                  Even not needed to generate satellite map each time when dashboard/package page render on screen: just re-making image each 3-6-8 hours would be enough (cronjob).

                  —
                  CLOSE SKY FOR UKRAINE https://youtu.be/_tU1i8VAdCo !
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                  E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Sergei_ShablovskyS
                    Sergei_Shablovsky @pete
                    last edited by Sergei_Shablovsky

                    @pete said in New GPS for NTP server:

                    In the 1990's used a Trimble GPS that came from military surplus store that I purchased for next to nothing. It just had an antenna port and two RS-232 interfaces. Took a long time to get a sync with an outdoor antenna mounted on roof of two story house.

                    Need to note that Trimble’s GSM receivers USE 2(two) FREQUENCES/CHANNELS that give ability to more precise positions and (more important) SHORT COLD START TIME and QUICKEST RECEIVE a COORDINATES.
                    (Also because of used technologies Trimble may be on government restriction for official export outside US).

                    SOHO or cheap GPS-receivers like most of Garmin (for example) working ONLY ON 1(one) FRÉQUENCE.

                    P.S. For example on Feb 2024 beautiful Trimble NetRS cost around $160 on ebay. Not cheap like Pi, but READ about features! :)

                    —
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                    • E
                      elvisimprsntr @Sergei_Shablovsky
                      last edited by elvisimprsntr

                      @Sergei_Shablovsky said in New GPS for NTP server:

                      How would be difficult to You improve the NTP-GPS dashboard to make it looks like xgps ?

                      An XGPS "like" dashboard would be beyond the capabilities of the pfSense LCDproc package, but in theory you could build your own pfSense dashboard widget to display something similar.

                      https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/development/create-widgets.html

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                      • peteP
                        pete
                        last edited by

                        Good to see interest in said topic!!!

                        Here using an external GPS antenna to home antenna mounted on a satellite dish these days.

                        A graphical display would be a nice add.

                        Here ran the old Windows GPS apps on Linux using PlayonLinux and it worked well.

                        • Pete

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