Clock menu operation (v0.1)
First of all try to imagine a virtual 'air button' above the clock with 2 positions, one about 6 inches from the base and the other about 8 inches. The higher one is the 'up' key and when active a '>' is displayed on the centre tube. The lower one is the 'select' key and when active a '<' is displayed on the centre tube.
It takes a bit to get used to it but once you have the 'knack' it's quite easy.
To change the display to minutes-seconds or date: Bring your hand down quickly to about 4 inches from the clock and back up again. Repeat to change modes, if left for about 10 seconds the display will revert to Hours-Minutes unless 'sticky display' mode is active.
There is a 3-level menu tree. To activate the menu hold select (<) until the clock beeps: This will select the settings menu. (indicated by the leftmost tubes displaying 9 and . ). To select an option move to 'up' (>) and the second left digit will start to increment, starting at zero. Quickly move down to 'select' when you reach the right option.
Features:
GPS time sync 2400/4800/9600BPS
Short-term time backup on power loss
IR data link copies time and settings to other clocks nearby
Data link can chain up to 3 clocks together into a single display
Single alarm
Display dim on/off settings
Time calibration
Individual tube brightness calibration
Seconds tick
Random seconds tick
Fade/ripple/plain display modes
Low power within original USB 500mA limit
Cathode cleaning routine
Supply: 5V DC 400mA externally regulated (USB port or charger).
Menu tree branch 9: Alarm/time/date entries. These options require all 4 digits to be set before saving. If at any time you make a mistake just leave it for a few seconds and the clock will exit menu mode back to the time display.
9-0 : Select Menu 8
9-1 : ALARM SET / ACTIVATE: Hold up (>) until the first beep. The display shows 91. + 00. Move down to select (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous alarm value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (HH MM). The display will show HH + MM alarm time for 5 seconds then return to clock mode and set alarm on. The leftmost DP will be lit to indicate the alarm is set.
To toggle alarm on/off without changing the currently set alarm time just select the alarm set option then leave the menu to time out.
9-2 : DIM TIME START SET: Hold (>) until the second beep: Dim time on/off set. Display shows 92. + 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous dim on value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (HH MM). The display will show HH + MM dim on time for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
Selecting this menu option then allowing it to time out will DISABLE dimming.
9-3 : DIM TIME STOP SET: Hold (>) until third beep: Dim time on/off set. Display shows 93. + 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous dim off value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (HH MM). The display will show HH + MM dim off time for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
Selecting this menu option then allowing it to time out will ENABLE dimming.
9-4 : TIME SET: Hold (>)until fourth beep: Time set. Display shows 94. + 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous time value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (HH MM). The display will show HH + MM time for 5 seconds then return to clock mode. Note seconds can't be set directly and are set to zero when the final digit is set. Time the last select for a minute rollover.
9-5 : SET DATE: Hold (>) until fifth beep: Date (days and months) set. Display shows 95. + 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous date value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (DD MM). The display will show DD MM for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
9-6 : SET YEAR/TIMEZONE OFFSET: Hold (>) until sixth beep: Timezone and date set. Display shows 96. a/b 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. Repeat for all 4 (OO YY). Display will show OO + YY for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
Note on the timezone offset: This is only required if GPS synchronisation is used and is calculated as follows: 1-12: Adds 1-12 hours to the current GMT value received. 13-23: Subtracts 1-11 hours from the current GMT value received.
9-7 : SET CALIBRATION OFFSET: Hold (>) until seventh beep: Tick calibration set. Display shows 97. + 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 0.0 00 or previous value with the flashing DP indicating which digit is currently selected to change.
(>) to scroll value then (<) to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to the next digit. The first digit is compensation on/off (0/1), the second digit is polarity (0/1) to add or subtract the compensation value. Third and fourth are the compensation value from 0-99 which will be added or subtracted from the 1/250 second counter once per hour, allowing up to +- 0.4 seconds adjustment per hour if required. Display will show the selected data for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
The minimum time step adjustment is approx. 0.56 parts per million.
9-8 : SET TUBE BRIGHTNESS: Hold (>) until eigth beep: This option allows each tube's brightness to be set individually. Display shows 98. a/b 00. Move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 77 77 or previous value with the DP indicating which digit is selected to change.
Select down to scroll value then centre to stop, hold until beep to enter and move to next digit. Repeat for all 4. Display will show OO + YY for 5 seconds then return to clock mode.
Menu tree branch 8: User/display effect flags. These options only toggle the previous value on/off and are a single select/activate option. If at any time you make a mistake just leave it for a few seconds and the clock will exit menu mode back to the time display.
8-0 : Go to menu branch 7
8-1 : SLEEP TOGGLE - Hold (>) until second beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. The display is switched off until the IR sensor is next activated or the alarm is triggered.
8-2 : RIPPLE TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until third beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 82. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-3 : RIPPLE DIRECTION L/R - Hold (>) until fourth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 83. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-4 : RIPPLE SPEED fast/slow - Hold (>) until fifth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 84. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-5 : SWITCH OFF ALL TRANSITION EFFECTS - Hold (>) until sixth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 85. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-6 : 12/24 HOUR SELECT: Hold (>) until seventh beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 86. a/b 00 (24) or 01 (12) for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-7 : TOGGLE SUMMERTIME HOUR - adds or removes one hour from current time. Hold (>) until eigth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 87. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
8-8 : Day/Month or Month/Day format toggle - Hold (>) until ninth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 88. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Menu tree branch 7: System and config flags. These options only toggle the previous value on/off and are a single select/activate option. If at any time you make a mistake just leave it for a few seconds and the clock will exit menu mode back to the time display.
7-0 : Returns to Menu 9
7-1 : TICK TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until second beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 71. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Enables seconds 'tick' sound.
7-2 : RANDOM SECONDS SELECT - Hold (>) until third beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 72. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Enables a 'random length' second mode. The time per minute will be accurate but the length of seconds in each minute will vary. Use with tick enabled for maximum annoyance.
7-3 : STICKY DISPLAY TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until fourth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 73. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Seconds or date displays when selected won't timeout and change back to HH:MM.
7-4 : RANDOM DISPLAY TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until fifth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 74. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Cycles the display through HH:MM, MM:SS and DD:MM (or MM:DD) randomly every few (random delay) seconds.
7-5 : IR RECEIVED BEEP TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until sixth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 75. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Beeps if a data packet from another clock is received. Useful for testing range and siting of multiple clocks.
A full clock array of 3 units will synchronise and display HH:MM - SS:DD - MM:YY.
7-6 : IR PACKET 0 RECEIVE TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until seventh beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 76. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Disable receiving of packet 0 (universal time) from another clock.
7-7 : IR PACKET 1 RECEIVE TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until eigth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 77. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Disable receiving of packet 0 (Time and effects settings) from another clock.
7-8 : IR TRANSMIT DISABLE TOGGLE ON/OFF - Hold (>) until ninth beep then move down to (<) and hold until beep to select. Display shows 78. a/b 00 or 01 for 5 seconds then returns to clock mode.
Disable transmitting of IR data packets to another clock.