Replace your clock GPS dongle with a WiFi enabled IoT device and sync over the internet
Does your Nixie clock take time to sync or doesn't sync regularly?
Do you need to have your clock next to a window or with a bulky "no noise" power supply so DCF works correctly?
Wouldn't it be cool if we could sync over the Internet like our computers, smart-phones, consoles and other smart devices do it? Nowadays there's always a Wi-Fi network nearby.
The solution
Using the ESP8266 — an Internet-of-Things (IoT) Micro Controller Unit (MCU) — we've developed together with Mr Nixie, a device that emulates the GPS device that is usually used to synchronize Nixie clocks and sets instead the clock's time using Network Time Protocol (NTP).
The nwts device was originally developed to be pin compatible with PV Electronics', Mr Nixie's, Nixie Clock Home clocks and other GPS modules and it's a 1:1 replacement with clocks from these brands.
Support for TTL or pseudo-RS232 is included and it can be set using jumpers.
For other brands, technical knowledge (mostly in electronics) might be required to match the pins and voltages necessary to make the device work. Please check the compatibility page for more information
Installation
nwts will be delivered as a component kit. Soldering is necessary!
Does your Nixie clock take time to sync or doesn't sync regularly?
Do you need to have your clock next to a window or with a bulky "no noise" power supply so DCF works correctly?
Wouldn't it be cool if we could sync over the Internet like our computers, smart-phones, consoles and other smart devices do it? Nowadays there's always a Wi-Fi network nearby.
The solution
Using the ESP8266 — an Internet-of-Things (IoT) Micro Controller Unit (MCU) — we've developed together with Mr Nixie, a device that emulates the GPS device that is usually used to synchronize Nixie clocks and sets instead the clock's time using Network Time Protocol (NTP).
The nwts device was originally developed to be pin compatible with PV Electronics', Mr Nixie's, Nixie Clock Home clocks and other GPS modules and it's a 1:1 replacement with clocks from these brands.
Support for TTL or pseudo-RS232 is included and it can be set using jumpers.
For other brands, technical knowledge (mostly in electronics) might be required to match the pins and voltages necessary to make the device work. Please check the compatibility page for more information
Installation
nwts will be delivered as a component kit. Soldering is necessary!
nwts, after power on for the first time, will start a "setup" WiFi network where you can connect to, using either your mobile phone or computer. You can then configure your nwts device to bind to your WiFi network.
Once the device is connected to your network, it will automatically start synchronizing with pool.ntp.org. You can further customize the device's settings in its own web page, by reaching it using service discovery (iOS, MacOS X or Windows PCs with iTunes) or with Windows discovery (SSDP).
On Mac and Windows computers with Bonjour enabled, it's as easy as writing http://nwts.local in your browser.
On Windows computers, you see your device in the network neighbourhood and double-clicking it will open nwts's web page.
As simple as that! You can also have multiple devices in your network - just need to change the hostname of each.
Once the device is connected to your network, it will automatically start synchronizing with pool.ntp.org. You can further customize the device's settings in its own web page, by reaching it using service discovery (iOS, MacOS X or Windows PCs with iTunes) or with Windows discovery (SSDP).
On Mac and Windows computers with Bonjour enabled, it's as easy as writing http://nwts.local in your browser.
On Windows computers, you see your device in the network neighbourhood and double-clicking it will open nwts's web page.
As simple as that! You can also have multiple devices in your network - just need to change the hostname of each.
Technical specs
Hardware
Hardware
- ESP8266EX ESP01 MCU running nwts
- nwts-ub3 adaptor board to connect to 5V clocks with GPS sync, configuration reset button and sync LED
- Note: the board is delivered as a kit and requires assembly and soldering!
- nwts-ub3 with ESP8266: 5V
- Normal operation (Client mode): 85mA
- Setup (AP mode): 100mA
- 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz-2.5GHz
- WPA/WPA2
- WEP/TKIP/AES
- IPv4
- DHCP
- DNS
- mDNS (Apple Bonjour)
- SSDP (Service Discovery)
- NTP
- HTTP
- Force setup of a new network (>2 sec)
- Factory reset your device configuration (>10 sec)
- TTL
- Inverted Pseudo RS-232
- 4800
- 9600 (default)
- 19200
- 38400
- 57600
- 74880
- 115200
- Configurable NTP server address
- Configure your time zone in nwts, leaving your clock configured to UTC? nwts will set the correct time
- Configure nwts to automatically change the provided time according to DST rules
- If your clock supports it, adjust the reported GPS position to your location, for easy clock configuration
- You can debug your nwts operation by enabling debug and viewing it in your computer using a programmer board (like the ESP-01 programmer from AprilBrother's shop)
- nwts firmware can be upgraded, but requires additional hardware that is not included (like the ESP-01 programmer from AprilBrother's shop)
- Pre-programmed ESP8266-ESP01 with nwts version 2.2
- License key card
- nwts-ub3 PCB board and components (kit)
- either 3.5mm jack male-to-male metal connector or cable (chosen at check-out)
