News Archives - Syncworks

TimeSource 3550 Upgrade

Stratum 1 Performance

The newly-introduced TimeSource® 3550 is a standalone Primary Reference Source (PRS) which provides Stratum 1 performance in GPS hostile environments via external wall mount or roof mounts. Its new highly integrated rubidium oscillator maintains extended holdover spec with reduced footprint.
TimeSource 3550 consists of single unit modules that plug into a rack-mounted shelf. It operates with an external high precision GPS timing antenna to meet GR-2830 and EN 300 462-6-1 requirements, and comes with two output ports that are software configurable for T1, E1, 2.048 MHz or composite clock to support frequency timing applications. There is also a SW License option for 8 additional outputs. TimeSource 3550 is hardware-ready for IEEE 1588v2 /PTP and Sync-E.
Two shelves are available: ANSI standard with rear connectors and ETSI standard with front facing connector access. The TimeSource 3050 modules may be used in previously supplied shelves of TimeSource 3000 and 3100 products.

Improved GPS antenna design

The new GPS antennas for the TimeSource 3550 provide advanced narrowband filtering to protect against interference from adjacent spectrum. They also provide automatic compensation for cable delay via TWTT (Two-Way Time Transfer). The GPS antenna can be installed up to 1,000 feet from the office shelf, without amplifiers, using inexpensive thin coax cable.

Environmentally Friendly

Energy-efficient hardware yields substantial OPEX savings with dramatically reduced power consumption. The product is also fully ROHS compliant (ROHS 6/6).

Key Features

Advanced multi-input clock engine
High precision timing antenna with integrated GPS receiver
Up to 1000 foot antenna cabling with automatic delay compensation
Timing accuracy of 100 ns when locked to GPS
Rubidium holdover
T1, E1, 2.048 MHz, and 10 MHz inputs and outputs
1 PPS and TOD output ports
Sync status messaging on E1/T1 ports
Integrated sync monitoring of input ports
Optional SNTP server
NEBS Level 3 compliant
Low power consumption

RELATED NEWS:

https://syncworks.com/microsemi/timesource-3×00-gps-week-number-rollover/

Microsemi Announces IEEE 1588 Timing Synchronization Module

New Turnkey Solution Leverages Synergies of Multiple Microsemi Products to Significantly Reduce Software Development for Customers

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Nov. 21, 2017

Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module streamlines customers’ developments to add synchronization network timing to their designs, simplifies the sourcing process and reduces development time while providing an easy integration. The module also includes drivers, servos/algorithm firmware, IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) stack software, a user guide and reference board schematics to deliver a fully tested chip-set solution from a trusted tier-one vendor.

“Our differentiated programmable solutions portfolio, including the SmartFusion2 SoC and PolarFire® FPGA, is gaining rapid acceptance in the communications and industrial infrastructure market,” said Bruce Weyer, vice president and business unit manager for programmable devices at Microsemi. “This tightly integrated solution with our class-leading timing and PHY components will further increase our momentum in these markets where highly accurate timing synchronization is becoming a clear requirement.”

The IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module blends Microsemi’s expertise in nanosecond-level accurate timestamping for IEEE 1588 via the VSC8575 Ethernet PHY; embedded IEEE 1588 protocol engine and servo via its SmartFusion2 SoC FPGA host processor; and high precision clock generation, holdover and reference switching via its ZL30363 system synchronizer. The solution is addressed via a command line interface to minimize software integration efforts. The combination of these capabilities makes the new solution ideal for applications within the industrial networking, smart grids, communications, defense and data center markets. Depending on the applications holdover and reliability requirements, either an XO, TCXO or OCXO can be used to provide holdover supported by the IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module.

According to a 2017 GNSS Market Report, issue 5, the timing capability offered by satellite navigation systems is at the core of most vital infrastructures; telecom networks operation, energy distribution, financial transactions and TV broadcast are some examples of areas where a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is used for timing or synchronization purposes. The annual shipments of GNSS devices used in the timing and synchronization market will exceed 300,000 units in 2017 and are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3 percent over 2017-2025. Catering to this growth opportunity, Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module is designed specifically for such applications, which require much more precise timing, including base stations and small cell markets for 5G, 4G, 4G LTE, LTE-Advanced, microwave and millimeter wave based fixed wireless networks, smart grids and secure edge networks.

Other key features of Microsemi’s new IEEE 1588 timing synchronization module include:

High accuracy timestamping of less than 4 nanoseconds
Frequency and phase synchronization
Holdover with initial accuracy of <1ppb and long-term holdover of 1.5µs over 24 hours using the appropriate performance OCXO
Hitless reference switching
Precision frequency and phase control
Multiple profiles, including IEEE 1588-2008 Annex J.3 End-to-End
IEEE 1588-2008 Annex J.4 Peer-to-Peer
IEEE C37.238-2011 Power Profile
ITU-T G.8275.1 Telecom Profile for Phase
ITU-T G.8265.1 Telecom Profile for Frequency

For Ordering Information – Call Us (904)280-1234 or Get A Quote

Timeprovider 5000 IMC Cards – Product Discontinuance Notice

Microsemi Corporation
September 7, 2017

Product Discontinuance Notification (PDN) Update
Subject: Notice of Last Time Buy and Manufacture Discontinuance of some TimeProvider 5000 IMC Cards

Microsemi® (formerly Symmetricom®) offers a last time buy prior to the discontinuance of the items listed below. Unless stated otherwise in your contract, last time buy orders must be received by February 28, 2018. The products listed below have direct replacements.

If your product is not currently covered under a Microsemi service and support contract, please contact Microsemi immediately to obtain contract coverage. Last time buy for service and support contracts is April 1, 2018 and may be purchased to cover the product up to April 1, 2020.

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Definitions

Manufacture Discontinuance (MD): MD means product will no longer be manufactured or available for sale beginning with the date specified above.

Last Time Order Date: Orders for this product must be received by this date.

End of Life: EOL means product will no longer be repaired or serviced except if under an extended coverage service contract.

Support Policy

Repair services will be available on a repair or replacement basis during the warranty/contract period. In the event of parts or component obsolescence, repairs will be made on a best efforts basis until the end of life. All other service options (telephone technical support, training, etc.) are available from Microsemi Frequency and Time Division’s service and support organization on a contract or case-by-case basis. Interested customers should contact the Microsemi Frequency and Time Division to check a product’s eligibility for services and any applicable terms.

Microsemi supports urgently needed backup for nations GPS system

The National Resilience and Timing Security Act of 2017 is a Bipartisan Act to Establish Urgently Needed Backup for Global Positioning Systems

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Jan. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Microsemi Corporation, a leading provider of semiconductor solutions differentiated by power, security, reliability and performance, today announced its support for the immediate passage of the National Resiliency and Timing Security Act of 2017, which was recently introduced under the leadership of Sen. Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Markey (D-Massachusetts). This act seeks to provide for the immediate establishment of an urgently needed backup for the Global Positioning System, commonly known as GPS.

GPS provides critical positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities to virtually every sector of the U.S. economy, from navigation of cars, trucks, ships and planes, to operations of telephone and data communications networks, power plants, stock exchanges and the internet. Were GPS to be disrupted, the ensuing economic impact to the nation would be severe. The successes and benefits of GPS have made it a utility for the nation’s critical infrastructure sectors, but there is no resilient, independent backup system—making GPS a single point of failure.

“This bipartisan act provides for the immediate development and build out of a backup system to increase the resilience of GPS and thereby protect the security of our national critical infrastructure,” said John Costello, Microsemi’s corporate vice president of business development and government relations. “We applaud both Senator Cruz and Senator Markey for introducing this much-needed legislation and strongly support its immediate enactment.”

SOURCES: Microsemi Corporation / PRNewWire

Microsemi CVE Security Bulletin – Syncserver S600/S650 Network Time Servers

Microsemi Corporation – CVE Security Bulletin

January 5, 2018

Microsemi CVE Security Bulletin for Syncserver S600/S650 Network Time Servers

Customer Advisory Notice (CAN)

Subject: CVE-2017-5715 and CVE-2017-5753 (Spectre), CVE-2017-5754 (Meltdown)

System: SyncServer S600/S650 Network Time Servers

Product Identity: SyncServer S600/S650 CLEI Code: N/A

Product Code(s):

090-15200-600 090-15200-601 090-15200-602
090-15200-603 090-15200-604 090-15200-605
090-15200-606 090-15200-650 090-15200-651
090-15200-652 090-15200-653

CVE-2017-5715/5753 (Spectre) and CVE-2017-5754 (Meltdown) target the way modern processors operate and manage memory. Microsemi SyncServer network time servers are not vulnerable to this type of threat as these exploits require local root access to the machine and the ability to upload and run very specific software programs while measuring the number of clock cycles required to perform the operations. Embedded systems, such as the SyncServers, are not vulnerable to these types of exploits as they do not in general allow local user accounts with privileges to upload and execute programs.

Recommended Actions: SyncServers are intended to be protected behind a firewall. In addition, the management interface should be protected from unauthorized users.

SyncServer S600/S650: No action required.

Sources:

https://www.microsemi.com/document-portal/doc_download/135737-datasheet-syncserver-s650

https://www.microsemi.com/campaigns/network-time-servers/syncserver-s600/?url=https://www.microsemi.com/campaigns/network-time-servers/S650p/%3Fgd%3D1&id=5&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbyYBhCdARIsAArC6LL-202ej5YfDB5lMIMSZ2735qjo5yaj2i-PrvLv2Cnh_kIJtFJ0oF8aAlMpEALw_wcB

SyncServer S200/S250: These models are discontinued, are not current with respect to CVE mitigation, and as such are vulnerable to known CVEs. Microsemi highly recommends replacement with the SyncServer S600/S650 models which are actively maintained with respect to CVE mitigation.

SyncServer S300/S350: These models are discontinued, are not current with respect to CVE mitigation, and as such are vulnerable to known CVEs. Microsemi highly recommends replacement with the SyncServer S600/S650 models which are actively maintained with respect to CVE mitigation.

Microsemi Action:

Microsemi R&D, Technical Support, Quality and Product Management regularly review applicable CVEs and how best to respond. The severity and applicability of the identified CVE influences the type and timeliness of the response. The intent is to respond within industry standard response times and to document Microsemi actions.

In some cases vulnerabilities may appear in the list above (or in the future) as being present in the S600 Series SyncServer. Microsemi may or may not choose to address the vulnerability based on the applicability to the product and its intended use. If a vulnerability is relevant to the operation of the product then addressing it in a future release will be the plan.

The Microsemi online support portal will be the repository for documented CVEs as they relate to the SyncServer S600 Series products.

See more here.

About Syncworks

Syncworks is a value-added reseller of network sync and timing equipment for critical infrastructure companies. SyncCare and Field Services ensure your network equipment is flawlessly executed and supported. Our warehouse is stocked with new Microchip products, as well as Symmetricom, Datum, Telecom Solutions, and Microsemi brands.

Syncworks delivers the highest level of expertise to every project and offers a complete menu of network synchronization products and services. Our flagship product, the TimeProvider® 4100, is a gateway clock that accepts multiple inputs from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Synchronous Ethernet (SynE), and 1588 PTP Grandmaster Clock and E1/T1 digital transmission links.

As a Microchip Diamond Partner, we maintain the largest and most diversified stocking supply of Microchip network sync & timing products to meet our customers’ every need when it comes to sync and timing technology.

For more information, contact sales@syncworks.com or call (904) 280-1234