Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    NTP Server GPS Source

    Off-Topic & Non-Support Discussion
    3
    6
    1.1k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • E
      elvisimprsntr
      last edited by elvisimprsntr

      BACKGROUND
      I haven't come across any recent posts discussing successfully adding GPS hardware for a NTP Server source, so I though I would ping the community.

      EXISING CONFIG
      I already have pfSense serving time to my sub-net. My hardware (Protectli.com) has a COM port, USB ports, and an internal full length Mini-PCIe interface with external antenna punch outs.

      GOALS
      Cost effective (sub ~$100), reasonably accurate (sub ~100 msec) GPS time source. I am not serving time for financial transactions, just time for 30+ systems (clients, servers, security system, cameras, etc.) in my home in the event of WAN loss (~1 week) and to reduce external NTP queries. Perhaps learn something in the process.

      OPTIONS (with or w/o PPS)

      1. External Serial GPS
      2. External USB
      3. Internal Mini-PCIe card with external antenna

      QUESTIONS

      1. Is it even necessary to add GPS time source?
      2. What methods and devices have proven to work?
      3. Pros/cons of each?
      4. Has anyone got a VersaLogic Mini-PCIe card (u-blox) to work with pfSense?
        https://www.versalogic.com/Products/PDF/DS-MPEu-G2.pdf
      5. Or just buy something like a separate TimeMachine and be done with it?
        https://timemachinescorp.com/product/gps-time-server-tm1000a/

      Thanks in advance,

      Elvis

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • GrimsonG
        Grimson Banned
        last edited by

        https://www.netgate.com/docs/pfsense/book/services/ntpd-gps.html

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M
          mhab12
          last edited by mhab12

          This blows your budget but has worked well for us for many years. It's a standalone device, but we set our pf box up to use it as it's primary time source. Have not tried connecting via serial, only using NTP over the network.
          https://timemachinescorp.com/product/gps-time-server-tm1000a/

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • E
            elvisimprsntr
            last edited by elvisimprsntr

            This post is deleted!
            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • E
              elvisimprsntr
              last edited by

              @mhab12 said in NTP Server GPS Source:

              https://timemachinescorp.com/product/gps-time-server-tm1000a/

              Thanks. I decided to forego the serial GPS and get the TM TM1000A

              Simpler and less hassle.

              E 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • E
                elvisimprsntr @elvisimprsntr
                last edited by elvisimprsntr

                @elvisimprsntr

                For those reading/upvoting this thread, I have since moved to a GPS puck with PPS output as a Stratum 0 source.

                <10 usec offset/jitter for <$50

                https://github.com/elvisimprsntr/pfsense-ntp-gps

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • First post
                  Last post
                Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.