APX-TS200 Multi-GNSS Network Time Server
The APX-TS200 Multi-GNSS Network Time Server is a precision network timing platform designed to provide reliable time synchronization and timestamp services for enterprise networks, industrial systems, telecommunications, financial systems, transportation infrastructure, power systems, and other applications requiring accurate network time.
Supporting NTP v1/v2/v3/v4 and SNTP, the APX-TS200 can distribute synchronized time across IP networks while using GPS, BeiDou, or combined GPS + BeiDou satellite references. The platform provides multiple network, timing, reference-input, and synchronization-output options for different deployment requirements.
With up to six Gigabit Ethernet ports, hardware-based satellite timing accuracy of less than 30 ns RMS, NTP service performance of ≥14,000 requests/second, and support for more than 1.34 million clients, APX-TS200 provides a practical timing foundation for distributed network environments.
Key Features
- Multi-GNSS reference options including GPS, BeiDou, GPS + BeiDou, and BeiDou-3
- Supports NTP v1/v2/v3/v4 and SNTP
- Satellite synchronization accuracy of <30 ns="" rms="">
- Typical local-network NTP accuracy of 0.1–2 ms
- Complex-network NTP accuracy of <10 ms="">
- Supports ≥14,000 NTP requests per second
- Supports more than 1,344,000 network time clients
- Up to 6 × Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
- Supports NTP and optional IEEE 1588 v2 PTP
- Optional OCXO or rubidium atomic clock reference
- Optional redundant power supply
- Reference-source priority and automatic switching
- Network bonding and virtual-IP based redundancy functions
- Web-based configuration and monitoring
- SNMP, SYSLOG, Email and dry-contact alarm support
- Optional IRIG-B, 10 MHz and PTP timing outputs
- Supports external 1PPS + TOD, IRIG-B, CDMA/4G and PTP reference inputs
- Embedded Linux-based system platform
- Optional NTSM monitoring software for detailed NTP and reference-source monitoring
Precision Network Time Synchronization
APX-TS200 is designed as a network time source for systems that require consistent and traceable time across multiple servers, clients, control systems, and network devices.
The system supports standard NTP and SNTP services and can operate as a primary network time server or be configured as a secondary server. Reference sources can be prioritized to provide automatic switching when the active reference becomes unavailable.
With hardware-assisted satellite synchronization, the system provides a reference timing accuracy of <30 ns="" rms="">, while typical NTP synchronization accuracy is 0.1–2 ms on local networks.
Multi-GNSS Reference Sources
APX-TS200 supports several satellite reference configurations, including:
- GPS
- BeiDou
- GPS + BeiDou
- BeiDou-3
The receiver supports cold start, warm start, and re-acquisition operation. Typical receiver specifications provided by the source system include:
| Reference | Frequency | Channels | Cold Start | Warm Start | Re-acquisition | Timing Accuracy |
|---|
| GPS | L1 | 32 | 35 s | 1 s | 1 s | 30 ns |
| BeiDou | B1I | 32 | 35 s | 1 s | 1 s | 30 ns |
| GPS + BeiDou | L1, B1I | 32 | 35 s | 1 s | 1 s | 30 ns |
| BeiDou-3 + GPS | L1, B1I, B1C | 40 | 35 s | 1 s | 1 s | 30 ns |
The receiver supports single-system and combined GPS/BeiDou positioning modes.
NTP and Network Services
APX-TS200 supports:
- NTP v1/v2/v3/v4
- Unicast, multicast and broadcast NTP operation
- NTP Autokey
- SNTP
- Telnet
- SSH
- FTP
- SNMP v1/v2/v2c/v3
- MIB II / RFC 1213
- IPv4
- IPv6
- IPv4/IPv6 hybrid operation
The network timing service supports ≥14,000 NTP requests per second, with a stated client capacity of more than 1,344,000 users/clients.
Reference and Redundancy Functions
APX-TS200 supports multiple timing reference sources and configurable reference priorities.
Depending on configuration, the system can support:
- GPS / BeiDou satellite reference
- External 1PPS + TOD reference
- IRIG-B reference
- CDMA/4G reference
- PTP reference
Reference-source priority can be configured for automatic switching. Network bonding, shared virtual IP addressing, and dual-server hot-standby functions are also supported for deployments requiring increased service continuity.
Optional redundant power configurations are available, including redundant AC power and external battery/DC input configurations.
Timing Holdover
The system can be equipped with an internal high-stability oscillator or rubidium reference.
| Timing Reference | Average Frequency Accuracy | Frequency Stability | Daily Aging | Phase Noise | Holdover Performance |
|---|
| OCXO | <1> | <5> | <5> | ≤−155 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz | <1 ms=""> |
| Rubidium | <1> | <2> | <5> | ≤−155 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz | <3 ms=""> |
The available oscillator configuration depends on the selected APX-TS200 model.
Timing Outputs
1PPS Output
- Accuracy relative to UTC: <30 ns="" rms="">
- TTL electrical level
- Positive-edge output
- Pulse width: 100 ms
TOD Interface
- RS232 electrical level
- 9600 baud
- 8-N-1
Optional IRIG-B Output
- Supports GJB2991A-2008
- DC output
- TTL / RS422 electrical levels
- AC output
- Balanced or unbalanced configuration
- Modulation depth ratio: 3:1
Optional PTP Output
The optional PTP output module supports:
- IEEE 1588 v2
- Gigabit Ethernet / SFP + optical interfaces
- Unicast and multicast operation
- One-step and two-step modes
- AI/SI/DI configuration
- Up to 256 PTP clients per PTP network port
Optional 10 MHz Outputs
The system can be configured with:
10 MHz square-wave output
- LVTTL electrical level
- Timing characteristics consistent with the internal reference clock
10 MHz sine-wave output
- 50 Ω output
- Output power: >7 dBm
- Accuracy, stability and phase-noise characteristics based on the internal reference clock
Management and Monitoring
APX-TS200 provides web-based management for configuration, status monitoring, and maintenance.
The management interface can display:
- NTP service status
- GPS / BeiDou reference status
- Satellite information
- Network status
- Current time
- Reference lock status
- System operating status
- Network interface IP information
- Alarm status
The system also supports SNMP configuration, including Trap address settings, network configuration, NTP configuration, and downloadable MIB/configuration files.
NTSM Monitoring Software
The optional NTSM monitoring software provides detailed monitoring of:
- NTP service status
- Server synchronization status
- Time offset
- Stratum information
- GPS / BeiDou reference status
- Satellite lock and positioning information
- NTP client access
- Client time deviation
- Threshold alarms
- Reference-loss alarms
- Status-change alarms
- SNMP, SYSLOG and Email alarms
- Server cluster quality monitoring
SNTP Client Support
The system also provides an SNTP synchronization utility for Windows environments.
The software supports:
- SNTP-based system time synchronization
- Automatic startup
- Background operation
- Configurable synchronization intervals
- Automatic periodic synchronization
- On-demand time synchronization
Interfaces
The standard APX-TS200 configuration includes:
| Interface | Description |
|---|
| ANT | BNC GNSS antenna interface, 1 port, 5 V antenna power |
| ETH0–ETH5 | 6 × RJ45, 10/100/1000M adaptive Ethernet |
| CONSOLE | RJ45, RS232 console interface |
| TOD | DB-9 female, RS232 timing and position information |
| 1PPS | BNC, TTL output |
| USB | Standard USB interfaces |
| VGA | Standard VGA display interface |
Optional interfaces include:
- External timing reference inputs
- PTP input/output
- 10 MHz output
- IRIG-B input/output
- Dry-contact alarm
- External battery/DC input
Front Panel
The front panel includes a high-brightness VFD display for system information such as:
- Current time
- Reference lock status
- Satellite count
- Position information
- Network IP addresses
- System operating status
Tri-color indicators provide status information for satellite lock, internal clock status, NTP communication, and system alarms.
Mechanical and Environmental Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|
| Chassis | 19-inch rack-mount |
| 1U Dimensions | 433 × 44.5 × 365 mm |
| 2U Dimensions | 433 × 89 × 405 mm |
| Weight | <5 kg=""> |
| Power | 100–240 VAC |
| Redundant Power | Optional |
| Operating Temperature | −10°C to +55°C |
| Antenna Temperature | −40°C to +75°C |
| Storage Temperature | −45°C to +85°C |
| Humidity | 95% RH, non-condensing |
| Power Consumption | Approx. 25 W with OCXO; 40 W with rubidium |
Typical Applications
APX-TS200 can be deployed wherever reliable network-wide time synchronization is required, including:
- Enterprise IT networks
- Financial systems
- Telecommunications networks
- Mobile communication infrastructure
- Power and energy systems
- Transportation systems
- Industrial automation
- Oil and gas systems
- Public-sector networks
- Security and specialized systems
- Database clusters
- Process control systems
- E-commerce and B2B platforms
Typical Configuration Options
APX-TS200 can be configured according to the required timing reference, oscillator, power, and output interfaces.
Typical options include:
- GPS
- BeiDou
- GPS + BeiDou
- BeiDou-3
- OCXO
- Rubidium
- Redundant AC power
- Lithium battery / external DC input
- CDMA/4G reference
- 1PPS + TOD reference
- IRIG-B input
- PTP input
- PTP output
- IRIG-B output
- 10 MHz output
- Dry-contact alarm
Website Category Positioning
Primary Category: GNSS & NTP Time Servers
Product Series: APX-TS Series
Product Positioning: Multi-GNSS Network Time Server
APX-TS200 is positioned as a core APEX network timing product for general-purpose precision NTP synchronization, multi-GNSS reference applications, and distributed network time services.
Applications
Enterprise & Data Networks
Centralized time synchronization for servers, workstations, databases, and network devices.
Telecommunications
Network timing reference for communication and mobile network environments.
Power & Energy
Accurate network time for monitoring, control, automation, and distributed systems.
Industrial Automation
Common time reference for process-control and industrial network equipment.
Financial Systems
Network-wide time synchronization and timestamp services.
Transportation
Time distribution for distributed control and monitoring systems.
Oil & Gas
Reliable timing reference for distributed industrial and operational networks.
