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New version of the clock forthcoming?
mit Posted: 12 May 2025, 01:15 PM
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yeah whatever

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 Hi Jeff, that's great to hear!

Originally I used a Sony RX100 which can do 1000FPS. The rolling shutter has an interesting effect, that makes the last digit look completely static in the viewfinder, but as you tilt the frame up and down the number displayed changes.

But it turns out that studios with high-speed cameras are often quite enthusiastic when you approach them and say you've got something interesting to film in slow motion. I got some time on a Phantom Flex 4K, which can do 3000FPS at 1080p, or much faster if we drop the resolution. I'll share some of the footage when I, err, finally publish the clock properly...

@SolidElectronics - there's a python script nmea.py in the repo that can be very helpful for debugging. The lookup table overflowing is exactly the kind of problem that means the clock behaves correctly for 50 years, then suddenly updates daylight savings on the wrong day. I get paranoid about these sorts of things.

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geerlingguy Posted: 13 May 2025, 09:05 PM
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Jeff Geerling

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QUOTE (mit)
I'll share some of the footage when I, err, finally publish the clock properly...

Time is relative anyway, right? :)

I might have an opportunity to get time on a much higher framerate phantom later this year! Working on that now. I'll be briefly mentioning the clock in a video later this week, but no pressure at all... it happens when it happens, and when you make something as cool as a millisecond-accurate clock, it's kinda timeless anyway.

I've been running mine continuously over a week now with various GPS antennas, and the U-blox you're using is nice and selective. Not quite as good as the M9/F9s I'm testing in my Pi servers, but better than the same-generation UBX-M8030 I'm testing in a USB solution. I can get a solid lock from inside my building with almost any of my antennae, whereas I have to place it outside for my USB M8.

I also just noticed there's a PPS LED on the back, I hadn't seen that before, but I like that! (And thanks for the PPS test pad, quite useful).

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naikrovek Posted: 16 May 2025, 05:04 PM
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 oh geez i can't wait. I will buy it and the nanosecond version mentioned earlier in the thread.

i have the skill to maybe create one of these myself, actually. but do i have the focus... no. no i do not.

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krixt Posted: 16 May 2025, 07:00 PM
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 I'm here because of @geerlingguy's most recent video (mac gps time) where he briefly showed this clock. Disappointed when I saw the sold out notice, but ray of hope for "new version will be launched soon." Is there a waiting list, or newsletter I can subscribe for updates?

Feature request idea: Ribbon cable between "date" and "time" PCBs to allow for vertical positioning, rather than one long horizontal. In my environment, having time on top, and date below would be more aesthetically pleasing.

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geerlingguy Posted: 18 May 2025, 12:23 AM
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Jeff Geerling

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QUOTE (krixt)
Feature request idea: Ribbon cable between "date" and "time" PCBs to allow for vertical positioning, rather than one long horizontal. In my environment, having time on top, and date below would be more aesthetically pleasing.

That's exactly how the MkIV version works (as shown in the video — I have it in the stacked configuration so it fits better in the 16:9 shots); though by default it has the date on top. A firmware change, I'm sure, could make that the opposite.

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mit Posted: 20 May 2025, 10:48 AM
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yeah whatever

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QUOTE (geerlingguy)
I've been running mine continuously over a week now with various GPS antennas, and the U-blox you're using is nice and selective. Not quite as good as the M9/F9s I'm testing in my Pi servers, but better than the same-generation UBX-M8030 I'm testing in a USB solution. I can get a solid lock from inside my building with almost any of my antennae, whereas I have to place it outside for my USB M8.

I also just noticed there's a PPS LED on the back, I hadn't seen that before, but I like that! (And thanks for the PPS test pad, quite useful).
That's interesting, I wonder if it's to do with the board layout. A lot of the simple breakout boards for GPS modules pay no attention to impedance matching the track between the antenna and the module, because that's very hard to do on a 2-layer board.

The MkIV clock will function as a USB serial device, I did experiment with trying to send PPS over USB, you can send state commands for the secondary signals like DCD, but unfortunately the jitter was several milliseconds, which defeated the purpose. Nothing beats having the PPS pin exposed.

In something of a marathon session last week, I wrote up maybe 90% of the documentation, so I'm closing in on being able to release it. Still need to make a video about it (but that can wait). I really ought to set up a mailing list for people waiting to buy one.

QUOTE (krixt)
Feature request idea: Ribbon cable between "date" and "time" PCBs to allow for vertical positioning, rather than one long horizontal.
Haha, great minds think alike...

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JulianH Posted: 24 May 2025, 10:08 AM
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 a mailing list sounds like a great idea. Really looking forward to version IV and thanks for all your work

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Zman350x Posted: 31 May 2025, 07:49 AM
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 I'd be down for a mailing list! Been wanting to grab one of these for a few years; can't wait for the new version.

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mit Posted: 31 May 2025, 02:28 PM
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yeah whatever

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 Well, I guess it's your lucky day! I can't believe I'm saying this but I have actually released the Mk IV clock today.

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Zman350x Posted: 31 May 2025, 03:36 PM
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 Holy shit.
Ordered.

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geerlingguy Posted: 31 May 2025, 07:33 PM
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Jeff Geerling

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QUOTE (mit)
Well, I guess it's your lucky day! I can't believe I'm saying this but I have actually released the Mk IV clock today.

And the excellent video to go along with the launch (just for reference):

Precision Clock Mk IV - YouTube

And linked from that video's description:

- Mitxela Precision Clock Mark IV Project page
- Shop - order page (currently sold out)

Last edit by geerlingguy at 31 May 2025, 07:36 PM

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Zman350x Posted: 1 Jun 2025, 12:04 AM
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 Wow. Looking at the timestamps between Mit's and Jeff's messages, that means it sold out in (at most, and potentially way under) 5 hours. If my sleep schedule weren't as messed up as it currently is, I may have entirely missed it. Glad I snagged one when I did!

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fogh1 Posted: 1 Jun 2025, 06:06 PM
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 Any timeline on how quickly the clock will come back in stock?
If that timeline is longer than when the PCB schematics become available, I may just end up ordering them myself and sending a donation for all your hard design work.

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mit Posted: 2 Jun 2025, 01:48 PM
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yeah whatever

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QUOTE (fogh1)
Any timeline on how quickly the clock will come back in stock?
If that timeline is longer than when the PCB schematics become available, I may just end up ordering them myself and sending a donation for all your hard design work.
Another small batch will be available soon, since I still have some of the PCBs just minus the rest of the bits. After that I'll need to order more PCBs, I'm working on that as we speak, though it's tempting to wait a little while, just in case there's any feedback from the first batch of kits that I could work into a new revision.

I could share the gerber files but they're not that useful without an up-to-date BOM so I just need to get round to sorting that out. If you're super keen send me an email.

@geerlingguy - Thanks so much for the praise/promotion of the clock!

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fogh1 Posted: 2 Jun 2025, 05:26 PM
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 Alright, I'll keep an eye open for the back in stock notification. Given that it seems that your testing was pretty thorough, I am hoping a further hardware revision isn't required, but if it is, I wouldn't mind waiting a bit longer for the most up-to-date version!

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