DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Place your projects here
MarioL
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2021 8:38 am
Has thanked: 306 times
Been thanked: 40 times

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by MarioL »

credo che il segnale uscente dal Pin 26 possa essere trasportato dai fili Linea-Neutro della linea di casa, tipo interfono ad onde convogliate di moda negli anni 80-90.
Logicamente con la opportune precauzioni di isolamento


I believe that the signal coming out of Pin 26 can be transported by the home electrical network (Live-Neutral wires), like the intercom with conveyed waves that were fashionable in the 80s and 90s.
Logically with the appropriate insulation circuit.
User avatar
PeterN
Posts: 642
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:56 pm
Location: Krefeld, Germany
Has thanked: 297 times
Been thanked: 360 times
Contact:

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by PeterN »

Hi Mario,

in an environment where there really is no DCF77 original signal, this might have a chance, although the output is already quite high impedance and the power is very minimal. My additional experience is that these N lines carry a lot of interfering "fog" from all the connected switching power supplies etc.

Have a nice weekend!
BeanieBots
Posts: 522
Joined: Tue Jun 21, 2022 2:17 pm
Location: South coast UK
Has thanked: 292 times
Been thanked: 163 times

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by BeanieBots »

[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Fri Nov 08, 2024 10:48 am ...
I am now working hard on the 1/4 wave antenna and amplifier to transmit to your area ... but I'm afraid that I don't have enough wire for the antenna and too little power here ;-)
I was thinking 1/2 wave dipole but can't afford the scaffolding ;)
[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Fri Nov 08, 2024 10:48 am As you drive on the left in the UK, the MSF time signal is apparently forced to rotate all bits and changes the signalling slightly compared to DCF77.
Good thing life is so colourful ;-)
Oh ... and bit 15 doesn't seem to alarm the PTB staff, but the German government, as I saw on the news yesterday.
PS: Yes, the BCD encoder part almost put a knot in my brain. It was a Gordian knot and could be untied with a large pot of coffee.
In the UK we like to do everything slightly different so that we're not compatible with anyone. Even our CB was FM not AM and 5kHz off the standard.
Then we like to obfuscate it so that even if anyone did want to use our tech, they'd have to untie the Gordian knot first! (I had to look that one up).
I couldn't find the bit to windup BBC. One of my favourite hobbies. They think they are above both government and military when it come to anything RF.

EDIT: Couldn't resist doing the math. I make it 1.2km for one arm of the dipole :shock:
User avatar
PeterN
Posts: 642
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:56 pm
Location: Krefeld, Germany
Has thanked: 297 times
Been thanked: 360 times
Contact:

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by PeterN »

[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Sun Nov 10, 2024 1:15 pm

EDIT: Couldn't resist doing the math. I make it 1.2km for one arm of the dipole :shock:
This dipole could definitely become a problem ... because of the current copper prices ... so I've come to the conclusion to take up MarioL's idea and connect a few kilowatts at 77.5kHz to the socket in my hobby room ... in the hope that the European electricity market has now also grown together technically and that you might still get around -70 dBmW out of it at your socket. I'm just not quite sure whether the many transformers in between are broadband enough.
But it's worth an experiment! … What date and time should I send? I was thinking of 5 November 1955
:D :lol:
Edit: I just realised that I still have to set the radio clock in my DMC DeLorean.
Pionex
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2024 3:02 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by Pionex »

Hi PeterN, I came across this project and would like to know if this simulator can be converted to work with USA WWVB 60khz clocks. I am no longer able to receive the USA WWVB signal where I live. I built an ESP32 simulator using project code from another site but although it works well for my analog clocks it sets my LaCrosse digital clock 28 hours behind my local time although the time is correct in the serial monitor. I am not a coder in any way so I need all the assistance I can get. Thanks for sharing your project.
User avatar
PeterN
Posts: 642
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:56 pm
Location: Krefeld, Germany
Has thanked: 297 times
Been thanked: 360 times
Contact:

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by PeterN »

[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Mon Nov 11, 2024 11:43 am … USA WWVB signal where I live. I built an ESP32 simulator using project code from another site but although it works well for my analog clocks it sets my LaCrosse digital clock 28 hours behind my local time although the time is correct in the serial monitor. …
Hi Pionex
I have had a quick look at my 1989 book on radio time services and unfortunately have to report that the central sentence seems to be:
...the code is much more complicated than DCF77, for example

Do you have a constant time offset with this particular clock and your own server? If so, it might be worth considering correcting the time by a fixed offset in your server's software code
Pionex
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Nov 11, 2024 3:02 am
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by Pionex »

Thanks for the quick reply. I adusted the server's software to +24 utc since my local time zone is -4 utc and it works. But being a sort of perfectionist and wanting to understand the code I was hoping to do it the "correct" way.
User avatar
PeterN
Posts: 642
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:56 pm
Location: Krefeld, Germany
Has thanked: 297 times
Been thanked: 360 times
Contact:

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by PeterN »

[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Mon Nov 11, 2024 2:48 pm …. I was hoping to do it the "correct" way.
Sometimes "correct" seems to be identical with "pragmatic" :-)
User avatar
Electroguard
Posts: 1094
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 6:22 pm
Has thanked: 373 times
Been thanked: 392 times

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by Electroguard »

Begrudgingly agreed - had noticed since spring that my linux computers system time was 8 minutes slower than my wifes windows system time.
Android time same as windows, so problem is my linux, whose network time is used by javascript to sync time for all Annex devices on isolated subnet.
Couldn't fix linux system time, so had to program 8 minute offset in my Annex time server... which was very annoying, but I needed to move on.
User avatar
PeterN
Posts: 642
Joined: Mon Feb 08, 2021 7:56 pm
Location: Krefeld, Germany
Has thanked: 297 times
Been thanked: 360 times
Contact:

Re: DCF77 Time Signal Generator with ESP32 (classic)

Post by PeterN »

[Local Link Removed for Guests] wrote: [Local Link Removed for Guests]Mon Nov 11, 2024 3:13 pm
Couldn't fix linux system time, so had to program 8 minute offset in my Annex time server... which was very annoying, but I needed to move on.
Doesn’t the LINUX take the BIOS-Hardware clock at startup which can be controlled in the BIOS-setup?
Post Reply