Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals

From	Don Y <this@isnotme.com>
Newsgroups	comp.arch.embedded, comp.realtime
Subject	Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals
Date	2013-08-03 12:57 -0700
Organization	Aioe.org NNTP Server
Message-ID	<ktjnbi$288$1@speranza.aioe.org> (permalink)
References	<kticf7$hg3$1@speranza.aioe.org> <b64l99Fbo0nU1@mid.individual.net> <ktjkf9$qe2$1@speranza.aioe.org> <XZcLt.54119$v06.17526@fx24.am4>

Cross-posted to 2 groups.

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Hi Tom,

On 8/3/2013 12:37 PM, Tom Gardner wrote:
>>> Aside from using GPS, WWV or some other reliable transmitter you could
>>> have a very stable oscillator on each module. Such as a TCXO. Then you
>>> have a transceiver on each. You perform a loopback echo locally, via an
>>> RF switch. That gives you the latency of each radio (should be pretty
>>> much the same for each module). Now only the path adds in which should
>>> normally be reciprocal.
>>
>> [I don't want this to be a recurring cost.  So, the radio is
>> a "bag" attached solely for testing/calibration/troubleshooting]
>>
>> You still don't know what the difference in the propagation
>> (through air) from each transceiver.
>
> The propagation delay will /vary/ over time due to changes in
> the environment. Whether the variation is or is not significant
> depends on your (unstated) specification, the distances, RF
> frequency, temperature/pressure and multipath reflections.

You don't care because the time is short -- you aren't leaving this
"deployed"... just using it to measure performance and sort out
if something is wrong (i.e., the system is claiming things are in
sync to a tolerance of 100ns yet it isn't *acting* as if that is
the case; is it, perhaps, NOT synchronized as finely as it thinks?)

To be clear:  distances are on the order of a city block
(but in three axis, not just two).  Events are synchronized to
something on the order of tens to hundreds of nanoseconds.
Reference events are, ideally, very low frequency (tens of
Hz or less).  The timespan over which the "measurement"
must be observed is on the order of hours of "a work day"
(i.e., you can recalibrate in the morning if you need more
time)

Cost to the deployed design should be as close to $0.00 as
possible (e.g., currently, it is an unused I/O pin on each
device).  Ideally, the test kit wouldn't be super expensive,
either.

[Keep in mind that I can do this easily "on a bench" and
that's how people will want to think of the problem -- the
cost associated with the distance shouldn't completely change the
nature of the solution]

Thread

Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 00:45 -0700
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Jan Panteltje <pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> - 2013-08-03 07:51 +0000
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 09:58 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-03 13:21 +0300
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 12:16 +0100
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 11:56 -0700
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 20:17 +0100
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 13:41 -0700
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 22:46 +0100
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 14:57 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 23:09 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-03 13:58 +0300
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 12:30 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-03 16:08 +0300
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 14:22 +0100
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-03 16:38 +0300
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 10:46 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 10:40 -0700
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 20:04 +0100
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Hans-Bernhard Bröker <HBBroeker@t-online.de> - 2013-08-04 15:55 +0200
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-04 19:42 +0300
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Hans-Bernhard Bröker <HBBroeker@t-online.de> - 2013-08-04 21:08 +0200
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals upsidedown@downunder.com - 2013-08-05 15:28 +0300
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Hans-Bernhard Bröker <HBBroeker@t-online.de> - 2013-08-05 22:17 +0200
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2013-08-05 23:20 -0400
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 14:26 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2013-08-03 14:47 -0400
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 08:17 -0700
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 12:08 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 20:37 +0100
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 12:57 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Hans-Bernhard Bröker <HBBroeker@t-online.de> - 2013-08-04 15:58 +0200
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 12:44 -0700
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 18:36 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-04 09:56 -0700
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-05 14:53 -0700
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-05 15:38 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-07 01:25 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-07 08:06 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-07 09:21 -0700
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals josephkk <joseph_barrett@sbcglobal.net> - 2013-08-03 15:40 +0000
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 10:05 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals John S <Sophi.2@invalid.org> - 2013-08-03 12:13 -0500
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 10:26 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals John S <Sophi.2@invalid.org> - 2013-08-03 12:51 -0500
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 11:54 -0700
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-03 20:27 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals George Neuner <gneuner2@comcast.net> - 2013-08-05 03:26 -0400
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-05 10:34 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2013-08-05 23:29 -0400
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 08:53 +0100
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 12:49 -0700
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 12:34 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 12:18 -0700
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 12:52 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 13:21 -0700
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2013-08-03 13:31 -0700
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-03 14:46 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 15:03 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2013-08-03 17:25 -0700
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Joerg <invalid@invalid.invalid> - 2013-08-03 14:50 -0700
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals "Paul E. Bennett" <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-08-04 11:06 +0100
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-04 12:19 -0700
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals John Larkin <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> - 2013-08-03 11:47 -0700
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2013-08-03 18:23 -0400
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-05 16:53 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-05 13:19 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 00:27 +0100
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-05 20:09 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-08-05 22:12 -0700
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 09:12 +0100
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 01:47 -0700
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 10:08 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 02:25 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 02:48 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 10:49 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 03:06 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 11:57 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 10:28 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 21:52 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-07 01:34 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-07 09:46 +0100
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-08-06 07:22 -0500
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 10:42 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-08-06 23:04 -0500
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 23:50 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Les Cargill <lcargill99@comcast.com> - 2013-08-07 13:05 -0500
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-07 18:22 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-08 09:35 +0100
              Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Paul Rubin <no.email@nospam.invalid> - 2013-08-06 22:18 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-07 03:09 -0700
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-07 12:39 +0100
                Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-07 13:18 +0100
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 09:23 +0100
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 02:02 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals "Paul E. Bennett" <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-08-06 09:49 +0100
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-06 02:17 -0700
  Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Paul E Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-08-16 21:07 +0100
    Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-16 14:50 -0700
      Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Paul E Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-08-18 19:55 +0100
        Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-19 11:43 -0700
          Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Paul E Bennett <Paul_E.Bennett@topmail.co.uk> - 2013-08-20 21:43 +0100
            Re: Comparing phase of physically distant signals Don Y <this@isnotme.com> - 2013-08-20 14:49 -0700

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