Managing The Impact of Cable Delays

CONSIDERING ABSTRACT
A discussion on the issues that need to be considered and

some tips on how to ensure the uncertainty due to cable
CABLES
delays is minimised when performing high accuracy Time
Error measurements.
Managing the impact of cable delays
d
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
Paragon-x set up fields ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Which cables impact results? ................................................................................................................................. 4
1pps measurement mode .................................................................................................................................. 4
1588 measurement mode .................................................................................................................................. 4
1pps reference ................................................................................................................................................... 5
Assessing the delay a cable will induce. ................................................................................................................. 6
Ethernet cables (Optical or Electrical) ................................................................................................................ 6
1pps cables ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Complex cabling of the reference 1pps .................................................................................................................. 7
1pps cable termination ........................................................................................................................................... 7
1pps threshold levels: ............................................................................................................................................. 8
1pps cross-cables .................................................................................................................................................... 8
1pps/ToD/frequency Convertor (Option 133) ........................................................................................................ 9
Considering Cables 2 of 10 Document CX5009

Cable delays and managing their impact
Introduction
The following is a discussion on the issues that need to be considered and some tips on how to ensure the
uncertainty due to cable delay is minimised when performing high accuracy Time Error measurements.
The delay of 1 metre of cable is approximately 4nsec for optical cable, and 5nsec for electrical. In order to
perform high precision Time Error measurements cable delays need to be considered carefully. Each time a
measurement set-up is constructed the cables associated with the reference and measurement interfaces need
to be considered and appropriate values configured to ensure the correct compensation is applied by the
measurement equipment.
Paragon-x set up fields

The set-up pages in Paragon-X (Fig.1) provide fields where cables, relevant to the configured set-up, can be
accounted for. The user can enter the delay associated with each cable.
Figure 1
 When the 1pps output from Paragon-X is used to supply a reference to other equipment, the cable length
compensation should be applied by the equipment terminating this reference signal.

Which cables impact results?
When using Paragon-X, depending on the configuration and measurement being performed, the following
cables need to be considered.
1pps measurement mode

The 1pps cable length between the Device under Test (DUT) to Paragon-X’s 1pps measurement port. Figure 2
shows the user interface of the Paragon-X with the 1pps measurement cable highlighted.
Figure 2
1588 measurement mode

a) Master/Slave configuration
The cable connecting the egress 1588 from the DUT to the emulated Slave in Paragon-X i.e.
connected to Port 2 and the cable connecting the 1pps output from the device under test to the
Paragon’s 1pps measurement input. See Fig.3 below.
Figure 3

b) Master Test configuration
The cable connecting the egress 1588 from the DUT to the emulated Slave in Paragon-X i.e.
connected to Port 2 and the cable connecting the 1pps reference to the Paragon’s 1pps reference
input. See Fig 4 below.
Figure 4
c) Thru Mode configuration

The cable connecting the upstream network/DUT to Paragon-X i.e. connected to Port 1 and the
cable connecting the 1pps reference to the Paragon 1pps reference input.
1pps reference
When locking to an external time reference, the cable connecting the Reference to the 1pps Reference input
port. See A in Fig 5. below.
Figure 5

Note that if the 1588 master in the test set-up does not provide compensation for cable delay, the length of
the cable from the reference to the 1588 master (B) should be subtracted from the cable length between the
reference and Paragon-X (A). For example, a negative value should be entered in the field when the cable to
the 1588 master is longer than that to Paragon-X.
Refer to the section below on Complex Cabling of 1pps Reference for further information.
Assessing the delay a cable will induce.

An optical cable is expected to produce a delay of 4nsec per metre. An electrical cable has a delay that may be
around 20% longer i.e. 5nsec per metre.
Clearly, wherever possible very short cables should be used as these will reduce the total delay as well as the
uncertainty in the delay estimation. If long cables are used and/or it is important to minimise uncertainty, it is
suggested that a test is performed using Paragon-X to determine the actual delay produced by the specific cable.
Ethernet cables (Optical or Electrical)

a) Configure Paragon-X in Master/Slave mode and connect Port 1 to Port 2 with a short loopback cable,
ideally less than 0.2m.
b) Record the delay measured between port 1 and port 2, (Result A). This can be achieved via the
Paragon-X T-BC measurement configuration. Record the T1 constant Time Error using the Time Error
tool . This is result A.
Picture required? If so, straight line example i.e. a constant value?
c) Replace the short cable with the cable to be assessed. Record the delay using the same process as
above. This is result B.

d) Subtract Result A from Result B to determine the cable delay.
e) Alternative approach; If a short cable is not available, use a second cable of the same construction but
of significantly different length e.g. half the length. Measure both cables and determine the delta
delay between using each cable. Use the ratio of the cable sizes to determine the delay from the full
length of the cable to be used.
Example: The cable to be used is 6 metres. A 2 metre cable is also available. The difference in delay
between the cables is measured at 14nsec i.e. the extra 4 metres in the long cable is producing a delay
of 14nsec. Therefore, the full cable will produce a delay of (6/4 x 14) = 21nsec.
1pps cables
Configure Paragon-X in Master/Slave mode and connect the 1pps reference output directly to the 1pps
measurement input with the cable intended for use in the measurement.
Start a 1pps accuracy measurement. This will give the length of delay associated with the cable.
Alternative approach; The same approach described to measure Ethernet cables using two similar cables can
also be used for 1pps cables.
Complex cabling of the reference 1pps

When an external Reference is being supplied to Paragon-X and also to the source of the 1588v2, then the
difference in the cable length should be entered.
1pps cable from GPS/PRTC to Paragon-X = Am
1pps cable from GPS/PRTC to GM = Bm
Cable compensation required = (A-B) m
The calculated cable compensation value should be converted to nsec and

entered in the 1pps Ref. cable (ns) field in Paragon-X1
1pps cable termination

G.8271 (check) indicated that there is a 10nsec uncertainty associated with
the rising edge of the 1pps pulse. It is important that care is taken that the
termination impedance is correctly matched to the cable impedance or this
will degrade the rising edge of signal, leading to a significant further
measurement uncertainty. It is recommended for TTL signals that 50 Ohm Coaxial cable is used for the majority
of the cable run.
 Paragon-X terminates all 1pps inputs with 50 Ohms. The latest instruments also have the ability to select
unterminated or 50 Ohms
 If there is concern regarding the signal integrity of a 1pps pulse, it is suggested that it is checked using an
oscilloscope with careful attention being paid to the rise time and the magnitude of the signal. Measuring
the magnitude allow a suitable threshold value to be selected in the Paragon-X. It is recommended the
50% point is programmed in Paragon-X.
1
If the cable to the Grandmaster is longer than the cable to Paragon-X, enter a negative value.

1pps threshold levels:
It is important to ensure the input signal integrity when
using 1pps. G.8271 suggests the uncertainty on the
raising edge of a 1pps is 10nsec. If the signal termination
is not matched and/or the signal level is not correct, this
uncertainty can significantly increase. Discuss the correct
signal level.
1pps cross-cables
In many situations, cross cables need to be used as the
connectors are not compatible on the equipment that needs to be interconnected. In some cases, convertors
can be used. These should not cause an issue as long as they are well made and don’t affect the voltage levels
and/or pulse shape of the 1pps pulse. In particular, it is vital the rising edge of the pulse is not affected as this
is the edge used to register the top-of-second event. If in doubt, it is recommended the pulse shape is examined
using an oscilloscope.
If it is necessary to construct a 1pps cross-connect cable, for example, between a BNC connector and a RJ45
connector, it is recommended that the majority of the length of the cable uses a Coaxial 50 Ohm single-ended
cable (as typically used with BNC connectors). The length of twisted pair Ethernet cable joining the Coaxial cable
to the RJ45 should be as short as possible to reduce additional skew on the rising edge of the 1pps pulse caused
by impedance mismatch.

1pps/ToD/frequency Convertor (Option 133)
Calnex provide a convertor accessory to ease interconnection issues.
The following table provides the nominal delay through this device depending on the ports in use.
From To Description Delay
Port 1 Port 2 Converts between China Mobile
Differential RS422 1pps Single Ended TTL 1pps

differential 1pps using RS422 signalling, to ?
single ended TTL level
RJ45 RJ45
Port 3 Port 4 Converts between single ended TTL level
Single Ended TTL 1pps Differential RS422 1pps

to China Mobile differential 1pps using ?
RS422 signalling.
RJ45 RJ45
Port 3 Port 7 Converts between single ended TTL level ~58ns

RJ45 to single ended TTL level BNC.
Single Ended TTL 1pps Single Ended TTL 1pps
RJ45 BNC

Calnex Solutions Ltd
Herkimer House
Mill Road Enterprise Park
Linlithgow
West Lothian EH49 7SF
United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0) 1506 671 416
email: info@calnexsol.com
www.calnexsol.com
All information subject to change without notice
December 2013

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CONSIDERING ABSTRACT

A discussion on the issues that need to be considered and

Managing the impact of cable delays

Considering Cables 2 of 10 Document CX5009

Paragon-x set up fields

Considering Cables 3 of 10 Document CX5009

1pps measurement mode

1588 measurement mode

Considering Cables 4 of 10 Document CX5009

c) Thru Mode configuration

Considering Cables 5 of 10 Document CX5009

Assessing the delay a cable will induce.

Ethernet cables (Optical or Electrical)

Considering Cables 6 of 10 Document CX5009

Complex cabling of the reference 1pps

1pps cable from GPS/PRTC to Paragon-X = Am

1pps cable from GPS/PRTC to GM = Bm

Cable compensation required = (A-B) m

The calculated cable compensation value should be converted to nsec and

1pps cable termination

Considering Cables 7 of 10 Document CX5009

Considering Cables 8 of 10 Document CX5009

From To Description Delay

Port 1 Port 2 Converts between China Mobile

Differential RS422 1pps Single Ended TTL 1pps

Port 3 Port 4 Converts between single ended TTL level

Single Ended TTL 1pps Differential RS422 1pps

Port 3 Port 7 Converts between single ended TTL level ~58ns

Considering Cables 9 of 10 Document CX5009

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