Rugby Radio Clock

It is possible to build a pretty accurate Rugby Radio clock using a few bits and pieces from Maplin. This page describes a number of clocks designed by Ian Dowse. The unusual components you need from Maplin are MK68Y (MSF Rcvr Module) and MK72P (MSF Antenna). In addition you'll need some other common components. Note, you don't need the RS232 module.

We process the signal using the PPS API, designed for use by NTP. A version of Ian's code, which I added a few options to is available. This program attempts to feed the data it collects to ntpd's SHM clock driver.

We usually find the clock runs a little slow with respect to a GPS unit, and so run it with options like pps_shm -o 0.019 -d /dev/cuaa1, though you could set the offset in ntp.conf. I usually use something like:

	# SHM Rugby Radio clock. Fudge down the stratum a little.
	server 127.127.28.0 minpoll 5
	fudge 127.127.28.0 stratum 5

Note that Jonathan Buzzard has an exclient page on building clocks like this, and also has code which decodes the signal without the PPS API.

The Circuit

Here is Ian's description.

I think I redesigned the circuit each time I made a receiver :-)
The one that you have at home has an op-amp chip that I think might
be a better design than the transister version I've used elsewhere.

Basically there are two parts - one uses a few diodes, resistors
and capacitors to generate a +/- ~8v and a +3v supply from some
of the modem-control signals; the other part converts the output
signal from the receiver into a +/- ~8v signal that goes into
the DCD line. I think you use the TXD line for the ~-8v supply,
and DTR/RTS for ~+8 and +3v.

The basic +/- 8v supply looks like:

DTR --|>|--+
           |
RTS --|>|--+---o ~+8v
           | +
          --- ~10uF
          ---
           |
GND -------+
           |
           | +
          --- ~10uF
          ---
           |
TXD --|<|--+---o ~-8v

Then there's the +3v supply which comes from the +8v above:


       1k
+8v --\/\/\--+---------------+---o +3v
             |               |
           /---/ Zener       | +
            / \  diode,     ---  ~1uF
	    ---  3.3v-4.0v  --- 
             |               |
GND ---------+---------------+

That gives you the power for the rugby module. An alternative to
the Zener diode is to use a few LEDs and diodes in series to get
about the same voltage drop, e.g a red LED (~1.5v) and 3 normal
diodes (0.6v). Then the output from the rugby module needs to be
turned into +/-8v levels (this is a bit fuzzy):

+8v --+        10k
      |     +-\/\/\-- +3v
      |  (+)|  10k
      |/|---+-\/\/\-- GND
DCD --< |
      |\|--- Output from Rugby module
      |  (-)
      |
-8v --+

The two inputs to the op-amp are called the inverting (-) and
non-inverting (+) inputs. With this simple use of an op-amp, you
can invert the signal by swapping them - I think the way it's
drawn is what I did before.