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

[Bob Camp]

Hi

I think you will find that many outfits went over to some sort of “future proof” setup
in the last 10 years. 

Getting firmware updates for *any* module after a decade or two is difficult for an
individual. Even as an OEM with all the “official” ways to do it, it can be difficult.

The same is true of updates for a variety of GPS based gear, modules are not at
all unique in this regard. 

To a degree changes in the silicon are at the root of a lot of this. They change
the chip  / chips in one way or another. Now the firmware for the “old” gear is unique
to that generation. They simply stop the updates rather than put (the significant)
money into the process. 

Bob

> On Mar 20, 2023, at 6:56 AM, Razvan Popescu [YO8RYR] via time-nuts <time-nuts at lists.febo.com> wrote:
> 
> 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
>> _______________________________________________
>> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
>> To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave at lists.febo.com
> _______________________________________________
> time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts at lists.febo.com
> To unsubscribe send an email to time-nuts-leave at lists.febo.com