NAB Show Reveals 10ns GPS-Synchronized ATSC 3.0 Timing

At this year's NAB Show, a surprising discovery was made: a precise time synchronization technique using a u-blox GPS receiver and an ATSC 3.0 television signal, achieving a pulse synchronization of ±10 ns between the two. This experimental timing standard, called BPS (Broadcast Precision Synchronization), could be integrated into the US ATSC 3.0 rollout. Its significance lies in providing a reliable terrestrial backup to GPS, enhancing resistance to various jamming attempts, which is crucial for media, power grids, 5G communications, and more. Furthermore, the show also featured consumer-grade Intel motherboards with built-in PPS input/output connectors, highlighting the growing adoption of precise time synchronization technology.