[time-nuts] Re: Synergy / iLotus M12M Firmware

[Razvan Popescu [YO8RYR]]

Hello Tom,

I don't use the Motorola format so I can replace it with any GPS module.

What I wanted was to get a newer firmware with a "Dynamic Base Year".
According to the document in the link below for the GPS Week Rollover
for M12M made by iLotus, they changed how the firmware works in 2016.

What I want is not to trash these modules and prolong their life. Too
much electronic garbage and not because of hardware faults but
software/firmware issues.

https://synergy-gps.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/M12M-2019-roll-over-and-base-dates-C.pdf

Regards,
Razvan

On 17/03/2023 09:18, Tom Van Baak via time-nuts wrote:
> Hi Razvan,
>
> I have not heard of new firmware for the Motorola M12 or iLotus M12M.
> One suggestion is to look at the SSR6T from Synergy. I heard it was a
> size, electrical, and software compatible board and likely includes
> software fixes for GPS WNRO issues. Please verify with them.
>
> More info here:
>
> https://synergy-gps.com/products/gps/timing-boards-modules/
>
> https://synergy-gps.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EOL-M12M-GPS-receiver-2021.pdf
>
> https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/motorola-oncore-data-as-applied-in-z3801a/
>
> https://synergy-gps.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SSR-VP_UT-Single-Board-Datasheet-062922.pdf
>
> Depending on your level of microcontroller and programming experience it
> is also possible to make a transparent 1024 week fix yourself, even
> within an opaque embedded instrument like a "IP clock server". This was
> one of the factors that drove the SSR-6T market. A similar approach is
> used by heoldesign.com for legacy Trimble Lassen receivers.
>
> /tvb
>
>
> On 3/10/2023 11:14 AM, Razvan Popescu [YO8RYR] wrote:
>> Hello Tom,
>>
>> This module is embedded in a "IP Clock Server" that does NTP and PTP
>> (IEEE 1588 v2).
>>
>> The unit came without the GPS timing module option and I opened it and I
>> saw it has space for 3 different modules inside and I had this M12M on
>> hand I put it in so I can use it for sync and also 10MHz reference in my
>> lab. You can only install one module inside, somehow they overlap and
>> have different connectors for each type of GPS module.
>>
>> I am afraid that next year this box will not work due to GPS week
>> rollover. I searched for quite some time on the net and it seems to be
>> no firmware available for them so I said to ask on the list.
>>
>> I ordered a different module yesterday that should also fit in another
>> slot and the new one has a U-Blox which should be fine with GPS week
>> rollover.
>>
>> Do you know how can I dump the firmware and flash a new one on the M12M?
>>
>> Regards,
>> Razvan
>
> On 3/9/2023 2:35 AM, Razvan Popescu [YO8RYR] via time-nuts wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am trying to get the latest firmware for the M12M module IL-GPS-0030-B
>> but I cannot find it anywhere.
>>
>> I am interested to have this module updated for the GPS Week Rollover
>> mainly. From what I read this is based on the compiled firmware date.
>> The newer the compilation date the more years the module will work.
>>
>> For example the modules with firmware date 2005 to 2015 will have a week
>> rollover on 17 August 2024. The modules with firmware 2016 will have
>> rollover week August 17, 2035 and the ones with 2017 firmware will have
>> August 17, 2036.
>>
>> The module I have it is from 2006 so I expect next year to have issues.
>>
>> Best regards,
>> Razvan
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