Microchip TimeProvider® 4100 Software Update 2.4

Microchip TimeProvider® 4100 Software Update 2.4

Microchip TimeProvider® 2.4 Key Updates

On June 24, 2024, Microchip officially released the Microchip TimeProvider® 4100 Software Update 2.4 firmware update. These significant technological improvements solidify the 4100’s as a preferred choice:

  • Embedded BlueSky™ Firewall Technology
  • TSN profile 802.1.AS
  • 2,000 PTP Clients Served

The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4

The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 also implements IEEE® 1588 power profiles, which enables gateway capabilities between PTP telecom and power profiles. With this device, utility companies can connect the communication and substation networks to support the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) networks as operators continue to modernize.

The growth of emerging private networks continues to increase in a variety of locations like factories, stadiums and mines. These private networks can now be synchronized with the TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 equipped with the Time Sensitive Network (TSN) profile 802.1.AS. This functionality provides private
networks with an accurate and autonomous time system to coordinate private network Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Depending on their unique deployment requirements, operators need grandmasters that can scale to support very few clients up to many clients. The TP4100 v2.4 can serve 2,000 Precise Time Protocol (PTP) clients, providing the capability to synchronize a large number of base stations with precise time without
having to deploy multiple grandmasters.

As existing legacy communication signal deployments age, there is a need to migrate these installations to a modern and modular architecture. The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 provides a new operation mode that
includes the filtering of legacy input signals and provides the ability to serve as a Synchronization Supply Unit (SSU), enabling the migration of large SSU environments to a TimeProvider server architecture. This
presents a combination of new protocols such as PTP, NTP, SyncE and legacy signals at a large scale, allowing operators to ensure legacy services remain, while affording the capability to provide modern synchronization signals to support the newer network architectures.

Version 2.4 Offers Embedded BlueSky™ Firewall Technology

Resiliency is necessary for synchronization solutions serving critical infrastructures. A failure can lead to
degradation or a complete loss of service, thereby affecting customer satisfaction. Software redundancy
contributes to the resiliency of the TimeProvider 4100 series because it enables two grandmasters to be
synchronized in an Active/Standby model so network clients can be served by the Standby unit if the Active
unit encounters a disruption. Another important and valuable feature of the TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4
is the additional model for redundancy, allowing two units to operate in Active/Active mode, providing
flexibility depending on the customer’s preference. Customers employing the Active/Active mode can
benefit from the two grandmasters operating at all times, as compared to the Active/Standby configuration
where one device is not used while remaining in the standby mode.

The TimeProvider 4100 series v2.4 is integrated with the TimePictra® Synchronization Management System provides users a complete view of their synchronization operation and health across their network.

TimeProvider 4100

About Us Syncworks

For over twenty years, Syncworks has been evaluating, testing, designing, and implementing timing networks for telecom, cable, utility, and enterprise customers in the US and the Caribbean. We are a well-known and trusted partner and critical supplier to major network operators.  As a diamond partner to Microchip and a skilled integrator of other vendor products, we can provide options for the most performant, resilient, and economical timing network possible. We specialize in ensuring that critical networks can survive disruptions like GPS jamming and spoofing. And we provide expert support, sparing, and repairs for everything we install leveraging the largest inventory of related products and components in the industry. 

Syncworks is a value-added stocking 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 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse stocks and ships critical equipment and replacements for networks all across the USA and the Caribbean. With expertise from GPS signal to our new output expansion panels, we an experience and trusted guide. Our tight-knit crew of engineers and field services technicians work together to efficiently and effectively bring your network to Stratum 1 standards.

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

TimeProvider 4500 Series Now Available For Purchase

TimeProvider 4500 Series Now Available For Purchase

Latest Grandmaster TimeProvider 4500 Reaches New Levels

The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster is capable of supporting very-high-capacity Precision Time Protocol (PTP) transactions. The innovative hardware platform enables higher IEEE-1588 scalability for thousands of clients. In network locations where range and capacity need to be balanced, namely in C-band 5G deployments, it is critical to be able to serve thousands of gNodeB from a single grandmaster. Depending on the specific sites, the grandmaster could serve very few or a large number of gNodeB base stations. This results in cost-effective and flexible deployments for operators regardless of scale.

“Syncworks is looking forward to helping our customers meet their GPS security goals with the new TP 4500,” said Beacham Still, Sales Manager for Syncworks. “This lastest TimeProvider 4500 clock will deliver tighter timing accuracy on existing optical network environments without the need for costly upgrades or dedicated dark fiber. The 4500 is also the first grandmaster with high-speed data processing up to 25 Gbps, enabling connectivity with the newest network elements in deployments.”

The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster offers the flexibility to connect to various generations of network elements, which helps to preserve operators’ infrastructure investments. The TimeProvider 4500 clock is the first 1588 grandmaster with 25 Gbps support. A customer can connect the TimeProvider 4500 clock to various network devices using a choice of 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps or 25 Gbps network links. High-speed bandwidth is essential as network element upgrades are migrating towards equipment that requires a minimum of 10 Gbps and, in some cases, up to 100 Gbps.

The extremely high time accuracy of the TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster is particularly important as operators are trying to deploy alternative solutions to GNSS. A terrestrial option is often considered an attractive solution that can leverage existing optical network deployments to avoid the reliance on GNSS, thus providing a cost-effective way of transferring highly accurate time over long distances. The need for long-distance transfers translates into a requirement for ever- increasing accuracy needs at the source and regeneration of the time signal.

The TimeProvider 4500 grandmaster features new hardware assist enhancements, such as the latest generation of digital synthesizer and Microchip’s PolarFire® SoC FPGA. These platform enhancements enable the system to move into the picosecond time accuracy realm.

TimeProvider 4500 Data Sheet

About Us Syncworks

For over twenty years, Syncworks has been evaluating, testing, designing, and implementing timing networks for telecom, cable, utility, and enterprise customers in the US and the Caribbean. We are a well-known and trusted partner and critical supplier to major network operators.  As a diamond partner to Microchip and a skilled integrator of other vendor products, we can provide options for the most performant, resilient, and economical timing network possible. We specialize in ensuring that critical networks can survive disruptions like GPS jamming and spoofing. And we provide expert support, sparing, and repairs for everything we install leveraging the largest inventory of related products and components in the industry. 

Syncworks is a value-added stocking 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 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse stocks and ships critical equipment and replacements for networks all across the USA and the Caribbean. With expertise from GPS signal to our new output expansion panels, we an experience and trusted guide. Our tight-knit crew of engineers and field services technicians work together to efficiently and effectively bring your network to Stratum 1 standards.

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

Beacham Still

Beacham Still

Sales Manager

Technical sales professional with a passion for critical infrastructure technologies. Over a decade of experience working with network operators to design and deploy mission-critical Sync & Timing systems.

Microchip Press Release for TimeProvider® 4100 Release 2.2

Microchip Press Release for TimeProvider® 4100 Release 2.2

TimeProvider® 4100 Release 2.2 from Microchip Technology, Inc.

CHANDLER, Ariz., March 17, 2021 – For today’s critical infrastructure providers – 5G wireless networks, smart grids, data centers, cable, and transportation services – a fundamental need exists for a redundant, resilient, and secure precise timing and synchronization solution. Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP) today announced its TimeProvider® 4100 Release 2.2 which provides a new level of resiliency with the introduction of an innovative redundancy architecture in addition to support for a multi-band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver and enhanced security to ensure always-on precise timing and synchronization.

Redundancy is key for infrastructure providers to ensure uninterrupted services. Infrastructure deployments previously relied on hardware redundancy to avoid service disruption despite costly modular architectures. Microchip’s TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster provides redundancy via software implementation, enabling flexible deployment and lower hardware costs without sacrificing ports.

In addition, the TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster introduces an increased level of resiliency by supporting a new GNSS multi-band, multi-constellation receiver to protect against time delay resulting from space weather, solar events and other disruptions that may impact critical infrastructure services. Multiband GNSS is particularly important for the highest levels of accuracy including Primary Reference Time Clock Class B (PRTC-B) (40 ns) and Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock (ePRTC) (30 ns).

With a focus on security solutions across its technology portfolio, Microchip’s new TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster adds support for RADIUS and TACACS+ as well as new anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities.

“Resilient, redundant, and secure precise timing and synchronization solutions are necessary to mitigate security risks to critical infrastructure,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president and general manager of Microchip’s frequency and time business unit. “This latest release brings an innovative software redundancy that enables always-on technology as well as support for multiband GNSS to eliminate ionospheric time error delays. It provides new key security, anti-jamming and anti-spoofing so critical infrastructure services can be accessed only by authorized, authenticated personnel.”

In addition, the TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster provides a super Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO) option for enhanced holdover capabilities in case of GNSS disruption.

The TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster is a family of products with hardware expansion modules for legacy fan-out or Ethernet fan-out with 10 Gigabit Ethernet support. It can be configured in specific operation modes to act either as a gateway clock, a high-performance boundary clock or an ePRTC.

The TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster embeds additional Microchip technology including its OCXO, super OCXO, Rubidium atomic clock, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Ethernet switch, synthesizers and cleaning oscillators.

The TimeProvider 4100 is part of Microchip’s virtual Primary Reference Time Clock (vPRTC) product portfolio, offering end-to-end precise time and synchronization solutions. These include Cesium atomic clocks for the source of frequency and time, the BlueSky™ GNSS Firewall for security, TimeProvider 4100 high-performance boundary clock and TimeProvider 4100 Gateway clocks, as well as the TimePictra software suite, which manages the end-to-end precise time architecture across all Microchip timing products.

Service and Support

Microchip’s TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster offers several options for software and hardware support including installation, sync audits, network engineering and 24/7 worldwide support.

Pricing and Availability

The TimeProvider 4100 Release 2.2 grandmaster is available now for both new and already-deployed systems. Contact sales@syncworks.com for ordering details.

Resources

High-res image available through Flickr or editorial contact (feel free to publish):

·         Application image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/50947606192/

·         Product image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/50946812023/

About Syncworks

Syncworks is a the national leader in GPS security. Critical infrastructure in the US is a top priority at the highest level of government. Our mission is to enable, educate, and support efforts to become complaint with celestial and terrestrial GPS systems working together.
 
Our flagship product, the TimeProvider® 4500, is a gateway clock that accepts multiple inputs from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), Synchronous Ethernet (SynE), and IEEE 1588 PTP Grandmaster Clock and E1/T1 digital transmission links.  

As of January 1, 2024, we have expanded our Field Services to include Antenna Installation and Entrance Facility Cabling, Legacy Equipment Decom and Traffic Migration, Disposal (hazmat) Services, Radio Commissioning (MW, P-LTE, CBRS), Enterprise Wi-Fi.

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