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Event Broadcast [1204-23]

The Event Broadcast Module (RS-232) provides a BNC connection for an Event Trigger Input and a RS-232 connector for an ASCII message output.

When the defined signal edge is detected on the Event Input BNC Connector, an ASCII message is created containing the current time.

ASCII messages are stored in a Message Buffer. The message buffer can store 512 entries before overflowing. Messages may be lost if the buffer overflows.

Messages can be output in one of two ways:

  • If the Mode is set to Broadcast, messages in the Message Buffer will be output immediately through the RS-232 Output port. If another event is captured while a message is being sent, it will be queued in the buffer until the first message completes, then the next message will be sent.
  • If the Mode is set to Request, messages in the Message Buffer are only sent when the Request Character is received.

The output format used is selected among a small group of formats with the capability to output data at 5ns resolution. Event Broadcast Output formats are detailed in Event Broadcast Time Code Formats.

Event Broadcast [1204-23]: Specifications

  • Inputs/Outputs: (1) Event Trigger Input, (1) Event Broadcast Output
  • Signal Type and Connector:
    • Connector J1 – (RS-232 Output) RS-232 DB9F
    • Connector J2 – (Event Input) TTL BNC
  • Event Resolution: 5ns
  • Minimum Time Between Events: 20 ns
  • Message Buffer Size: 512 messages
  • Ordering Information: 1204-23: Event Broadcast

Model 1204-23 option card rear plate

Output Port: Pin Assignments

Output connector DB-9: pin-out

Pin Number Signal Name Function

Top row of 5 pins

1 NC No Connection
2 SERIAL_OUT_TX RS-232 Transmit data
3 SERIAL_OUT_RX RS-232 Receive data
4 NC No connection

5

GND Ground

Bottom row of 4 pins

6 NC No connection
7 NC No connection
8 NC No connection
9 NC No connection

Viewing the State of Event Broadcast and Event Input

To view the Status of Event Broadcast and Event Input, see Viewing an Input/Output Signal State.

Event Broadcast Output: Edit Window

To configure the Event Broadcast Output, go to its Edit window. For instructions, see: Configuring Option Card Inputs/Outputs.

The Web UI list entry for this card is: Event Broadcast.

Note: SecureSync starts numbering I/O ports with 0 (only 1PPS and 10 MHz outputs start at 1, because of the built-in outputs).

The Edit window allows the configuration of the following settings:

  • Signature Control: Signature Control controls when messages will be broadcast in response to events on the Event Input (J2) port when events are enabled and the card is in “broadcast” mode. (Events are still queued even if they are not broadcast, and are transmitted once the signature control conditions permit.) For more information on Signature Control, see Signature Control.
  • Format: Selects the format of the message to be outputted. Refer to Event Broadcast Time Code Formats for a description of all of the available formats.

    The Event Broadcast card only supports two formats (Event Broadcast Format 0 and Event Broadcast Format 1), and only supports the output of one message per event. If format is set to “None”, no messages will be queued in the Message Buffer.

  • Output Mode: This field determines when the output data will be provided. Available Mode selections are as follows:
    • Broadcast—Event Messages are automatically broadcast when they are created by an event. If a new event happens while an older message is being broadcast, the new message will be queued in a “First-in, First-out” manner. When the message has finished, the next message out of the queue will be broadcast.
    • Request—Event Messages are only broadcast in response to a Request Character. New messages will be queued in a “First-in, First-out” manner.
  • Request character: This field defines the character that SecureSync needs to receive in order for a message to be provided when in “Request” mode. This field will only appear if the Output Mode is set as “Request Broadcast.”
    • Timescale—Used to select the time base for the incoming ASCII time code data. The entered Timescale is used by the system to convert the time in the incoming ASCII data stream to UTC time for use by the System Time. The available choices are:
    • UTC—Coordinated Universal Time ("temps universel coordonné"), also referred to as ZULU time
    • TAI—Temps Atomique International
    • GPS—The raw GPS time as transmitted by the GNSS satellites (as of -, this is 18 seconds ahead of UTC time)
    • A local clock set up through the Time Management Page—This option will appear under the name of the local clock you have set up. Refer to The Time Management Screenfor more information on configuring and reading the System Clock. Local timescale allows a Local Clock to apply a time offset for Time Zone and DST correction.

Note: The Timescale of the input (as configured in the ASCII time source) must be set correctly, especially if other input references are enabled. Failure to configure the Timescale of the input correctly could result in time jumps occurring in the System Time when input reference changes occur. These time jumps could affect NTP and normal operation of the system.

  • Baud Rate: Determines the speed that the output port will operate at.
  • Data Bits: Defines the number of Data Bits for the output port.
  • Parity: Configures the parity checking of the output port.
  • Stop Bits: Defines the number of Stop Bits for the output.

Event Broadcast Output: Status Window

To view the current settings of the Event Broadcast Output, go to its Status window. For instructions, see: Viewing Input/Output Configuration Settings.

The Web UI list entry for this card is: Event Broadcast.

Note: SecureSync starts numbering I/O ports with 0 (only 1PPS and 10 MHz outputs start at 1, because of the built-in outputs).

The Status window displays the following settings:

  • Signature Control: Signature Control controls when messages will be broadcast in response to events on the Event Input (J2) port when events are enabled and the card is in “broadcast” mode. (Events are still queued even if they are not broadcast, and are transmitted once the signature control conditions permit.) For more information on Signature Control, see Signature Control.
  • Format: The format of the message to be output. Refer to Event Broadcast Time Code Formats for a description of all of the available formats.

    The Event Broadcast card only supports two formats (Event Broadcast Format 0 and Event Broadcast Format 1), and only supports the output of one message per event. If format is set to “None”, no messages will be queued in the Message Buffer.

  • Output Mode: When the output data will be provided. Available Mode selections are as follows:
    • Broadcast—Event Messages are automatically broadcast when they are created by an event. If a new event happens while an older message is being broadcast, the new message will be queued in a “First-in, First-out” manner. When the message has finished, the next message out of the queue will be broadcast.
    • Request—Event Messages are only broadcast in response to a Request Character. New messages will be queued in a “First-in, First-out” manner.
  • Timescale: The time base for the incoming time code data. The entered Timescale is used by the system to convert the time in the incoming data stream to UTC time for use by the System Time. The available choices are:
    • UTC—Coordinated Universal Time ("temps universel coordonné"), also referred to as ZULU time
    • TAI—Temps Atomique International
    • GPS—The raw GPS time as transmitted by the GNSS satellites (as of -, this is 18 seconds ahead of UTC time).
    • A local clock set up through the Time Management Page—This option will appear under the name of the local clock you have set up. Refer to The Time Management Screen for more information on configuring and reading the System Time. Local timescale allows a Local Clock to apply a time offset for Time Zone and DST correction.

Note: The Timescale of the input (as configured in the time source) must be set correctly, especially if other input references are enabled. Failure to configure the Timescale of the ASCII input correctly could result in time jumps occurring in the System Time when input reference changes occur. These time jumps could affect NTP and normal operation of the system.

  • Request character: This field defines the character that SecureSync needs to receive in order for a message to be provided when in “Request” mode. This field will only appear if the Output Mode is set as “Request Broadcast.”
  • Baud Rate: The speed that the output port will operate at.
  • Data Bits: The number of Data Bits for the output port.
  • Parity: The parity checking of the output port.
  • Stop Bits: The number of Stop Bits for the output.

Event Broadcast Input: Edit Window

To configure the Event Broadcast Input (also referred to as ‘Reference’), go to its Edit window. For instructions, see: Configuring Option Card Inputs/Outputs.

The Web UI list entry for this card is: Event Broadcast.

Note: SecureSync starts numbering I/O ports with 0 (only 1PPS and 10 MHz outputs start at 1, because of the built-in outputs).

The Status window displays the following settings:

  • Event Capture: Enables the processing of events on the Event Input port J2. When set to “Disabled”, no event messages will be queued. When set to “Enabled”, event messages will be triggered (if a valid Format is selected).
  • Event Active Edge: Selects the signal edge used for triggering events on Event Input port J2.

Event Broadcast Input: Status Window

To view the current settings of the Event Broadcast Input, (also referred to as ‘Reference’), go to its Status window. For instructions, see: Viewing Input/Output Configuration Settings.

The Web UI list entry for this card is: Event Broadcast.

Note: SecureSync starts numbering I/O ports with 0 (only 1PPS and 10 MHz outputs start at 1, because of the built-in outputs).

The Status window displays the following settings:

  • Event Capture: The processing of events on the Event Input port J2. When set to “Disabled”, no event messages will be queued. When set to “Enabled”, event messages will be triggered (if a valid Format is selected).
  • Event Active Edge: The signal edge used for triggering events on Event Input port J2.
  • Latest Event Message: The last message sent. This can be cleared with the Clear button.