- Supports all Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) constellations, including GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS and SBAS
- Features a built in temperature compensated oscillator (TCXO) for short term holdover, ensuring accuracy with respect to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) even when the GPS signal is lost
- Easily attaches to the CM4 IO board via the 100 pin connectors of the CM4 module
- Offers market leading holdover accuracy of 100 parts per billion (ppb)
The Raspberry Pi CM4 Multi Constellation GPS/GNSS Module UBLOX LEA M8F from the OCP TAP & Timebeat team is the best timing and positioning module available. Developed in collaboration with Raspberry Pi and Broadcom, it is the same team who contributed the IEEE1588 capability for the BCM54210PE Ethernet controller in the CM4 to the Linux kernel.
This module sandwiches between the IO board and CM4 and has expansion slots to extend functionality and performance at a fraction of the cost of a dedicated timing appliance. It is part of the Timecard ecosystem in production with some of the biggest hyper scalers in the world today.
The module is currently available with three best in class modules from world leader Ublox: LEA M8F, LEA M8S, and MAX M10S. All are latest generation products and perform better than any alternative in their class, with Swiss quality and design clock modules, not Chinese copies.
All modules support all GNSS constellations (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS and SBAS) in either a single or multi constellation configuration. The LEA M8F supports market leading 100ppb holdover and is the flagship product. All modules contain a built in TCXO (temperature compensated oscillator), which allows for short term holdover, maintaining a level of accuracy to UTC in the event the GPS signal is lost.
The Timebeat CM4 Module clicks into the 100 pin connectors of the CM4, which are easily attached to the CM4 IO board. This solution leaves the 40 pin connector free on the IO board, allowing for other project specific functionality. Once an antenna is connected to the module, it can be used to provide a PPS (Pulse per second) to the Raspberry Pi device, in addition to the NMEA and UBX protocol available without additional cables, allowing for advanced configuration and positioning services.
The module can be combined with free Timebeat or LinuxPTP software to achieve nanosecond accuracy on the device with IEEE1588 Hardware Timestamping (HWTS). Both LEA options of the module are capable of disciplining an external oscillator for enhanced stability and holdover capabilities. Timebeat also has two modules planned for release in the coming weeks, which will hold SiTime MEMS digitally controlled OCXO for enterprise grade holdover, taking your Raspberry Pi into the big leagues of timing, competing with kits typically sold for several thousand.
These expansion modules click straight into place on the GPS module in expansion slots labeled modules A & B. Lead times may vary depending on stock.
