Using a NWTS on a NixiSat to replace a Haicom 204III puck...

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Nick

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Jul 20, 2021, 9:05:29 AM7/20/21
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Has anyone done this?

I have an original Jeff Thomas NixiSat with the later firmware and the HaiCom 204III puck that I added a few years ago - see https://groups.google.com/g/neonixie-l/c/evzX0noEGXg/m/4ygtcNnhj3wJ 

The current site of the clock has no GPS visibility, so I want to replace the puck with an NWTS - I just happened to have an unused one lying around...

Thanks

Greg P

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Jul 20, 2021, 4:54:44 PM7/20/21
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Nick, 

Takes some modification to the PCB and added components.  Michael Barile (Bad Nixie) is the master at these conversions.  Well worth it to have him do it for you, he has many satisfied customers.

MichaelB

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Jul 20, 2021, 5:35:18 PM7/20/21
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Hey Thanks Greg.

Hi Nick, ping me and I can tell you how I do it so that you can use the clock either NWTS or GPS governed and easily swap them. The one I sent Dalibor is done this way.

You've already done the hard part by converting the clock away from the older Axiom/Oncore 1PPS GPSs. And I assume converted that BNC connector to either a mini DIN or 1/8" TRS?

Nick

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Jul 21, 2021, 8:58:16 AM7/21/21
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Thanks to all who replied but I decided to stop being pathetic and to do it myself!

Basically, after the upgrades to the Haicom 204III GPS puck, the NixiSat is talking to the puck using RS232, 4800 baud, 8 bits, no parity and is expecting to just receive a $GPRMC sentence once a second.

So, just set the NWTS to send just send $GPRMC messages at 4800 baud using RS232 signalling (JP1,JP2 off, JP3 linked) - 5V power (about 80mA needed) from the NixiSat is on pins 1 & 2 of the 6-pin mini-DIN connector and RXD is on pin 5. Basically there's now a little black box behind the clock and that's it.

Works a treat. I have to say the NTWS is a very nice solution for those needing GPS accuracy in an area where there's no satellite visibility for GPS. I'm running the 2.5 firmware which is quite old but it works for me just fine.

Nick

MichaelB

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Jul 21, 2021, 9:15:54 AM7/21/21
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That'll do the trick! I have the latest (last) firmware if you ever want a copy.

Nick

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Jul 21, 2021, 12:41:52 PM7/21/21
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!  I have the latest (last) firmware if you ever want a copy

I'm running 110210 - is yours later than that?

Thanks

Nick

MichaelB

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Jul 21, 2021, 12:51:33 PM7/21/21
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Nope, you gt the latest. I was confused a bit when you said you were "running 2.5 firmware". Maybe Jeff referred to this version like that at one time? Didn't know that if he did. Carry on Garth

Jeff Walton

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Jul 21, 2021, 1:29:38 PM7/21/21
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2.5 is probably the NWTS firmware version.  The NWTS is a very nice solution and is very configurable.

 

Jeff

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MichaelB

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Jul 21, 2021, 1:34:48 PM7/21/21
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Ahhh you're right, Jeff. That's probably what he was referring to. Good catch! 

Nick

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Jul 21, 2021, 3:35:59 PM7/21/21
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Indeed - NWYTS: 2.5, NixiSat: 110210

Couple of things - who is maintaining/selling NWTS now and who has the source code etc. for the NixiSat?

Both are estate items, regrettably, and both are important!

MichaelB

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Jul 21, 2021, 6:24:17 PM7/21/21
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Azevedo’s operation has been taken over by one of the original members. His name is Luis, not sure of the family relationship, but he seems very capable and is very responsive. I have purchased 4 -6 NWTSs since Manuel’s passing. 

 

As to your question about source code, that is still in the hands of the designer, John Miktuk. However, since I build so many of Jeff’s clocks and was always bugging John for copies of the FW, he has been kind enough to offer me the rights to copying that firmware and I have an arrangement with him for each copy sold.

Jeff Walton

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Jul 21, 2021, 6:55:24 PM7/21/21
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The latest NWTS software is version 2.21 (yes, this is later than 2.5) 

Version 2.21-20190701SF

 

Luis Ramos is maintaining the NWTS and I believe that he has an OEM customer that is using the NWTS module in their product.  Luis did the latest codes for the NWTS and it now supports multiple NTP pools – if the NWTS does not get a valid answer from the first time source, it will now go to another time source for the NTP solution.  It is a nice feature to have if the NTP source is busy or non-responsive.  The multiple NTP sources begins with firmware 2.20 and 2.21

 

The NWTS is still available through https://www.tindie.com/stores/mazevedo/

 

Jeff

Nick

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Jul 22, 2021, 4:26:41 AM7/22/21
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I had considered re-flashing to 2.21 as I bought this unit in 2017 and never used it until now (never even built it), so the firmware is "old".

Having said that, it works just fine for me. I don't need the multi-multi-pool NTP server stuff - by using pool.net.org or one of its regional sub-domains you already have multiple servers available and those lists are shuffled every hour, so for domestic use it's more than adequate.

Nick

Jeff Walton

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Jul 22, 2021, 12:04:33 PM7/22/21
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The NWTS also checks for latency of the response from the NTP and if the response time is outside of an acceptable range, it does not update.  Later firmware is more forgiving, according to the original developer, and the accessibility of multiple pools beginning with 2.20 firmware resolved sync issues for me. 

Early NWTS firmware also did not have the ability to tweak the time.  That is a useful feature to synchronize clocks from different designers.  It's useful if you have clocks near each other and they differ by a second or two.  


Jeff 

Terry S

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Jul 26, 2021, 7:16:23 PM7/26/21
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Guys, I also need help with this, as I have a Nixichron and I'm moving to a location where I will not have a good GPS signal (metal roofed house with large overhangs!)

Can someone help me out with an explanation of what I need to do? Rather purchase a solution than home brew.

Thanks, Terry

Nick

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Aug 9, 2021, 11:41:44 AM8/9/21
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I would email them direct and ask - they keep a list of those devices that their clients have connected to and how they did it. They might already know about driving the NixiChron...

Ben Crosby

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Aug 27, 2021, 12:18:28 AM8/27/21
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Terry, I have used both (first) an NWTS and later also MichaelB's timelink reciever to drive my NixieChron. I did buy the Microchip processor upgrade from Michael for the Nixiechron with the last firmware. The process is very simple as described above by Nick. At one point I was looking at getting a Chinese manufacturer to make up a bunch of 6" P/S2 minidin to 3.5mm cables for exactly this. Like many things, I got sidetracked.

I do recall there was one NWTS setting that wasn't obvious, potentially the baud rate 4800 not 9600. I honestly can't recall. On the P/S2 port, Pin 1 is GND, Pin 2 is +5v and Pin 5 is RXD

Effectively I'm using the master Mod-Six GPS reciever and transmitter to send time to my Mod-Sixes and to the Nixiechron.

Nick

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Aug 29, 2021, 2:33:32 PM8/29/21
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Having my NixieSat happily running on a NWTS, I've bought some more...

Next in line is a Pete Hand B7971 FLW. This is interesting as the P/S2 port is messed up as when the PCB was inverted a small error crept in and the P/S2 socket was mounted under the board but the pins were not re-routed, so it's a mirror of what it should be, hence the need for a specially wired Haicom 204III puck (an unmodified Haicom 204III with the pre-wired P/S2 plug won't work).

Anyone done this one yet? Again, should be pretty trivial...

Nick

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Sep 14, 2021, 7:57:07 AM9/14/21
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Just received some new NWTS units and sorted the B7971 GPS FLW too - this clock has a reversed PS/2 connector - Pin 1 is Vcc, Pin 2 is GND and Pin 6 is RXD at RS232 levels and 4800 baud. The unit requires $GPRMC once per second - remember to set the NWTS to RS232 levels.

Also gave me an opportunity to dismantle the clock and clean it all out - there's been a steady build-up of fine dust over many years, so a clean was long overdue.

I've also set the NWTS units for all my older clocks that don't have inbuilt DST to do automatic DST changeover too...

Nick

Greg P

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Sep 14, 2021, 10:11:32 AM9/14/21
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Then NWTS' are great units.  I have a few of them on my Jeff Thomas clocks and they work perfectly.  I wish I could find a suitable rubber foot to put on the bottom of the NWTS, don't like them sitting on the screw heads.

Jeff Walton

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Sep 14, 2021, 12:06:48 PM9/14/21
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Get some of the small adhesive silicone bumps at Home Depot and punch a small hole in the middle.  Perfect solution to cover the screw and protect surfaces. 
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