PFSense NTP Server With PPS DIY

[pete_c]

Building a couple of these today for a PFSense user. I have been using same now for a few years.

Note this DIY was posted on the PFSense forum and Cocoontech forum.

This will only work with an RS-232 interface only and not a USB interface. PPS signal is from pin #1 (DCD) as show in picture.


Hardware (all purchased on Amazon)

1 - Neo ublox GPS module as pictured
2 - TTL - RS-232 module as pictured and modded with PPS signal wire
3 - power only USB cable as pictured
4 - external GPS SMA antenna

Software to modify and save firmware on GPS module

U-Center

GPS ==> TTL-RS232 wiring

Ground ==> Ground
TX ==> RX on TTL-RS232
RX ==> TX on TTL-RS232
VCC ==> VCC on TTL232
PPS ==> Pin #1 (DCD) on TTL232

Note that the UBlox U-Center application is a bit overwhelming. Just configure what is in the attached jpg.



Tested with and without GPS antenna to work fine. Need to point the device and / or Antenna to the SouthEast a bit.

Update: 31st of December, 2021

Folks at the PFSense helped me a bit relating to getting the GPS information (Longitude-Latitude and number of Satellites).

So in the configuration program you have to do this and save the configuration.