Summary
THE RADIO-DRIVEN DIGITAL CLOCK 1.5

Author’s address and E-mail

Limitations of the freeware version

Functions of the software, schematic of the connections and typical set-up

Minimum hardware requirements

Installation of the software

Access to the main menu

Selecting the serial port for GPS

Selection of the  sound card

Adjustment of the mixer

Selection of the sound input

Selection of the input level

Display of the level on sound inputs

Alarm configuration

Following and control of the GPS-driven digital clock

Following and control of the radio-driven digital clock on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWV-WWVH or WWVB:

Preliminaries and description of the windows and controls

Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

Manual control of the mixer by the user

Verification of the configuration files CONFCLOC.SER and ALARM.SER


Author's address and E-mail
Author’s address and E-mail

LINDECKER Patrick (F6CTE)

4, avenue du Square

91440 BURES-SUR-YVETTE

FRANCE

E-mail: f6cte@aol.com

WEB site:http://members.aol.com/f6cte

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Limitations of the freeware version

The limited version allows the extraction of time/date information from the transmitters of FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWV-WWVH or WWVB and from a GPS (connected to the serial port) but without:

* the functions of synchronization of the computer (see Preliminaries and description of the windows and controls),

* digital alarm.(see Alarm configuration).

See also . Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock.

Explanations relatives to the limited functions (see above) are displayed in red.

The purchase conditions can be found in the menu "Help and licence", option "Nature of the limitations and purchase conditions of the non-limited version".

Limited or not, this software is destined to non-commercial use only, except upon explicit agreement of the author.

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Functions of the software, schematic of the connections and typical set-up

"THE RADIO-DRIVEN DIGITAL CLOCK" is a software working on a PC at 66 MHz or more under Windows 95, 98, NT or XP. The others PC (386, 486...) are not enough speedy for this software.

It allows:

* firstly,

- to decode the time frame transmitted by FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY,  WWV-WWVH or WWVB and received under acoustic form from a long wave SSB (LSB or USB) receiver (AM receiver for  WWV-WWVH), in date and time,

- or to decode the $GPZDA GPS frame, giving the UTC date/time data,

* secondly, to synchronize the local (current) time and universal (UTC) time of the computer with the received time. After synchronization, the computer (system) clock will have an accuracy of about 1 second with the real time (for PC at 166 MHz or more),

* and, at last, to begin an action (start up of a software, toggle of serial port pins or bell) at a determined time, as a digital alarm-clock.

The "freeware" version allows the date/time decoding but without the functions of synchronization of the computer and of digital alarm.

The operation of GPS decoding is done through a serial port of the computer (see Selecting the serial port for GPS), port connected to the GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver.

This operation of radio decoding is done through a SB 16 or a SB Pro compatible sound card embedded in a free slot of your computer, card which is connected to the speaker of the receiver or to the auxiliary AF output (AFSK OUT).

Note 1: FRANCE-INTER disposes of two 1000 KW transmitters on 162 KHz located in Allouis (Cher), 200 km south-west of Paris. DCF 77 disposes of an 50 KW transmitter on 77,5 KHz, located in Mainflingen near Francfort, 500 km north-east of Paris. HBG disposes of an 20 KW transmitter on 75 Khz, located in Prangins near Nyon (Switzerland), 400 km south-east of Paris. RUGBY (MSF) disposes of an 15 KW transmitter on 60 KHz located in Rugby near Coventry, 500 km north-west of Paris. WWV, located at Fort Collins in the Colorado (USA), disposes of  two 2500 W transmitters on 2,5 and 20 Mhz and of three 10 KW transmitters on 5, 10 and 15 KHz. WWVH, located in the Island of Kauai at Hawaii (USA), disposes of one 5000 W transmitter on 2,5 Mhz and of three 10 KW transmitters on 5, 10 and 15 KHz. WWVB, located at Fort Collins in the Colorado (USA), disposes of  three transmitters on 60 Khz and of two (north and south) antennas. The effective radiated power of WWVB is 50 KW..

All these transmitters are locked on a very precise standard clock.

The reception of RUGBY is no use in Central Europe (France, Germany...) because the transmitted time is only useful in Great-Britain. WWV and WWVH give no more than UTC time and date.

Note 2: for DCF 77, HBG and RUGBY, due to the weak power of these transmitters and the strong transmission of parasitic by the computer, the reception in France of these signals is not so good as with FRANCE-INTER (except if the receiver is located near one of these transmitters). The reception of WWV or WWVH must be very good to be able to extract the time/date information. WWV and WWH covers the world. WWVB must cover an area of, at least, 1000 kms of radius around Fort Collins.

SCHEMATIC OF THE CONNECTIONS (GPS DECODING)

                              +-------------------------+

      +----------------+      ¦      GPS receiver       ¦

      ¦   translation  ¦      +------------+------------+

      ¦     window     ¦                   |

      ¦    SCREEN      +---+               |

      ¦                ¦   ¦               |

      +----------------+   ¦               | cable

     /                /    ¦               |

    /   KEYBOARD     /     ¦               |

    -----------+----       ¦               |

               ¦           ¦               |

            +--+-----------+-------------+-+--+----+

            ¦                            ¦ s  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ e  ¦    ¦

            ¦    PC                      ¦ r  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ i  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ a  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ l  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦port¦    ¦

            ¦                            +----+    ¦

            +--------------------------------------+

USE EXAMPLE

The users connects its GP receiver to the serial port of the PC.

He starts up the option "PC synchronization on GPS". He may, then, read the date/time data, decoded the software, appear on the window.

An automatic synchronization allows the updating of the PC (computer) clock.

An alarm may be configured to start up a software.

SCHEMATIC OF THE CONNECTIONS (RADIO DECODING)

                              +-------------------------+

      +----------------+      ¦ SSB LW and VLW receiver ¦

      ¦   translation  ¦      +------------+------------+

      ¦     window     ¦                   |

      ¦    SCREEN      +---+               |

      ¦                ¦   ¦               |

      +----------------+   ¦               | cable

     /                /    ¦               |

    /   KEYBOARD     /     ¦               |

    -----------+----       ¦               |

               ¦           ¦        (Input | "line" or "micro" connector)

            +--+-----------+-------------+-+--+----+

            ¦                            ¦ s  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ o  ¦    ¦

            ¦    PC                      ¦ u  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ n  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦ d  ¦    ¦

            ¦                            ¦card¦    ¦

            ¦                            +----+    ¦

            +--------------------------------------+

OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS OF THE SOUND CARD

   +--------------------------------+----

   ¦                                ¦

   ¦                                O Line in connector (stereo

   ¦                                ¦               3.5 mm jack)

   ¦      sound card                O Mic in connector (mono

   ¦                                ¦               3.5 mm jack)

   ¦                                O Line out connector (not

   ¦                                ¦                    used)

   ¦                                O Speaker out connector

   ¦                                ¦ (not used)

   ¦                                ¦

   ¦                                ¦

   ¦                                ¦Game/MIDI connector (not

   ¦                                ¦                    used

   ¦                                ¦

   ¦                                ¦

   +--------------------------------+

Either the Line in or the Mic in connector is used .

On some sound cards, the Line in and the Mic in connectors are geographicaly inverted.

USE EXAMPLE

On its SSB receiver, the users sets precisely its frequency on FRANCE-INTER (163 KHz in LSB or 161 KHz in USB)  then, he adjusts, eventually, the input level.

He starts up the option "PC synchronization on FRANCE-INTER".

He may, then, read the time pieces of information, decoded in succession by the software, appear on the window.

An automatic synchronization allows the updating of the PC (computer) clock.

An alarm may be configured to start up a software.

Note 1: a key is noted <key> (example: <Alt>).

Note 2:

- If DCF 77 is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 78 KHz in LSB or 77 KHz in USB,

- If HBG is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 75,5 KHz in LSB or 74,5 KHz in USB,

- If RUGBY or WWVB is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 60.5 KHz in LSB or 59.5 KHz in USB,

- If WWV-WWVH is chosen, on the AM receiver, the user adjusts, for example, the frequency to 15000 KHz in AM.

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Minimum hardware requirements

* a PC at 66 MHz or more under WINDOWS 95, 98 or NT,

* for a GPS decoding:

- a GPS receiver,

- a serial cable connected, firstly, to the PC and, secondly, to the GPS receiver,

* for a radio decoding:

- a SB 16 or SB pro compatible sound card.

Usually, the recent sound cards must work (they are, at the minimum, SB pro compatible).

For information, the sound cards checked (successfully) on PC at 166 Mhz and 450 Mhz by the author are the following:

* SB 16

* SB AWE 64

* SB PCI 128

* ASOUND EXPRESS

- a connection cable from the sound card to the receiver (a PC cable, for example),

- a SSB long waves and very long waves receiver for FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY and WWVB. An AM short waves receiver for WWV ou WWVH.

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Installation of the software

To install the software from any drive to the disk, double-click on the software INSTAL.

This will create the directory «C:\MULTIPSK» (or any other according to the choice of the user) which will contain, after copying, all the necessary files.

A simple updating is also possible. In that case, only few files will be copied (among them: CLOCK.EXE).

For more details, please refer to the text file "_READ ME".

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Access to the main menu

From the directory «C:\CLOCK», click the file "CLOCK".

IMPORTANT: this is a real time program which must work alone. It cannot be started other software during the working of this application.

In case it should be necessary, the energy economical functions of the monitor will be deactivated.

In effect, these functions may, possibly, provoke the loss of the picture (non recoverable with a click) with, therefore, the necessity to start the PC again.

The main menu propose you 8 scrolling menus:

."Lang(u)age"	: to select the used language (english or french),

 "Help and licence"	: diverse pieces of information as that one,

."Sound card"	: to select the sound card

."Mixer"	: to adjust the mixer either by the software or by the user

."Sound input"	: to select the sound card Sound input

"Input level" 	: to select the Input level level of the AF signal

."Serial port"	: to select a serial port (none or 1 to 8) for the GPS (if connected)

."Actions":

PC synchronization on FRANCE-INTER

PC synchronization on DCF 77 or on HBG

PC synchronization on RUGBY

PC synchronization on WWV-WWWH

PC synchronization on WWVB

PC synchronization on GPS

Mixer control

Display of the level on sound inputs

Alarm configuration

In radio reception (not in GPS reception), at the first startup, it is indicated that an automatic test to determine the approximative sound card speed will be done. After the test done, it is displayed the speed as determined by the first test (standard: 11025 datas per second). A second manual test must be done by the user. After completion, the user must stop the program Clock and start up again the program. See Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

WINDOW “ Initial frequency (except WWV/H and GPS) “

Thanks to this window, it is possible to adjust the initial reception (carrier) frequency of the stations FRANCE-INTER, RUGBY, DCF77, HBG and WWVB, received in LSB or in USB, between 400 to 1600 Hz to the one of a possible CW filter. The default reception frequency is 500 Hz.

For WWV-WWVH, this window is no use (AM reception). It is also useless in GPS.

The reception frequency could be changed thanks to the waterfall in the DISPLAY and CONTROL window.

WINDOW “Maximum limit of modification“

Thanks to this window, it is possible to limit the range of the modifications. The proposed limits are 10 seconds, 3 minutes, one hour and one day. It is possible to don’t have any limit of modification. If the difference between the PC internal time and the time acquired from the radio transmitter is less or equal to the limit, the synchronization will be done. In the opposite, it will not be done. If, for example, the user knows that the computer time is not more false than one half an hour, he will choose a limit of one hour. So, he will avoid untimely synchronizations, especially if the signal transmitter is received under bad conditions.

WINDOW “Synchronizations log“

Thanks to this window, it is possible to edit all the synchronizations (“date+time“, “date“ or “time“) done from the starting of the software CLOCK. If, at least, one synchronization is done, when returning to the main menu, a window will open and will edit the received dates and times (up to about 2000 lines).

When closing CLOCK, the file SYNCHROS.TXT will be created and will contain the different synchronizations.

VARIOUS INFORMATIONS

The menus "Sound input", "Input level" and the option "Display of the level on sound inputs" will be displayed only if the mixer is controled by the software.

The option "Control mixer" will be displayed only if the mixer is controled by the user.

The use of the scrolling menus is the same as for the other applications under WINDOWS.

Particularly, it may be select a scrolling menu by hitting <Alt> + the underlined letter of the wording (for example <Alt> <I>, to select the Input level).

Buttons allow “short cuts” to avoid the "Actions" menu.

To quit the application, it must be clicked on "Exit".

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Selecting the serial port for GPS

It is possible to receive time data from a GPS. This one can transmit its data to the computer through the serial port (COM x), using the NMEA protocol. The signal is available on the GPS NMEA 0183 serial output.

The "Data out/Transmit" GPS pin must be connected to the pin 2 of the female DB9 serial plug (pin 3 on DB25) to connect to the computer.

The "Ground/Data Common" GPS pin must be connected to the pin 5 of the female DB9 serial plug (pin 7 on DB25) to connect to the computer.

This menu gives the ability of choice of the COM port (COM 1 to COM 8). The user must avoid the mouse port.

If the user does not use the GPS, the option, by default, will be "None".

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Selection of the sound card

On almost all computers, there is only one sound card. In that case, there is no selection to do, for lack of choice.

In the opposite, on some few others, there are two sound cards (for example, one for Ham applications and the other for the rest of the applications). In that case, it is detected the presence of two sound cards and it is proposed a choice between both cards. This choice is recorded.

The mixer, when called, will adjust the levels of the selected sound card.

CLOCK can taken under consideration up to 4 sound cards.

Note: this option is useless in GPS reception.

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Adjustment of the mixer

If the user wants to keep the mixer as it was after adjustments done with an other software or for an other reason (if, by example, a non-standard mixer cannot be controlled by the software) then he selects the option "User adjustment". In this case, the menus "Sound input", "Input level" and "Display of the level on sound inputs" will not be displayed.

On the other hand, in the reception window, the user will have the possibility to adjust the mixer (recording control). This control appears also when clicking on the button "Mixer control" in the main menu.

Refer to Manual control of the mixer by the user.

If the option "Software adjustment" is selected, all menus will be displayed except the button "Mixer control" and the software will manage the adjustments of the mixer according to the user.

Note: this option is useless in GPS reception.

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Selection of the sound input

With this menu, the user selects either the Line in input (left or right channel) or the Mic in input (if only the signal is very weak) ) effectively connected to the receiver. These inputs are normally present on the sound card connected to the receiver (see " OUTSIDE CONNECTIONS OF THE SOUND CARD" in

Functions of the software, schematic of the connections and typical set-up).

The normal input is Line in left channel. Some cards as the PCI 128 don’t accept the right channel.

The microphone input should be prefered (although distorsion) if the level on the line input is too weak (<30 %).

See too Display of the level on sound inputs.

Note: this option is useless in GPS reception.

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Selection of the input level

The input level of the AF signal received from the receiver can be amplified of a factor selected in this menu. In fact, the ideally level (peak to peak) of the signal would be just less to the input range of the sound card, to assure the best quality possible to the signal, without overload.

So, if the input level is not modifiable, it is possible to amplify of a factor 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1.

Practically, the level must be adjusted just underneath the level which produces a signal overload

(see Display of the level on sound inputs).

Note: this option is useless in GPS reception.

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Display of the level on sound inputs

So as to display the root mean square level in percentage of the maximum value on each sound input (Line in left channel, line in right channel, microphone), it is proposed to the user a window showing for each input the root mean square value of the signal.

This option allows the user to know, surely, the input on which the signal is applied.

The displayed value allows also to adjust the input level (see Selection of the input level).

Note: this option is useless in GPS reception.

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Alarm configuration

Making benefice of the précision of the system time, the user can choose to realize an action at a precise time (local time). Initially, the alarm configuration window don't propose any action.

If the user wants to realize an action, he must configure the alarm time (local time) and the action to be done.

The choice of the alarm time (local time) is done with arrows which increases or decreases this time.

The actives options proposed are:

1) File to start with halt of this program without prerun bell

When the alarm time is reached, the software CLOCK disappears to give place to the software selected. This one will be chosen clicking the button " Starting executable file name loading" and then loading the name of the file to start. It is proposed a starting directory function of the file to start. This directory may be empty (the current directory is, in this case, the starting directory).

The file must be an  .EXE, .COM or an .BAT type.

2) File to start with halt of this program and 5 seconds previous bell

This option is identical to the preceding, except that a 5 seconds long previous bell warns the user.

3) Toggle of DRT and RQS serial port pins without bell

When the alarm time is reached, the software CLOCK toggle the voltage on the DRT and RQS serial port pins (COM1 à COM8).

This option will allow to start up an external electronic apparatus.

These pins produce only few mA, so it will be necessary to pass through an electronic conversion equipment (MAX 232 or photo-coupler).

The user will find, in the application files, a file called "RS232_EN.DOC" which gives an example of control of a transceiver.

This action can be stopped clicking on the button "Stop alarm" of the synchonization window.

For this, a menu allows to choose a serial port between COM 1 and COM 8. At each line, a diagnostic is done on the selected serial port. This is done to avoid a mouse port or a non-existent port.

After the synchronization window start up and in absence of alarm, the pin DTR (number 4 in DB9 and number 20 in DB25) is at about 10 V and the pin RQS (number 7 in DB9 and number 4 in B25) is at about -10 V.

When the alarm time is reached, the pin DTR passes at about -10 V and the pin RQS is at about 10 V (see RS232_EN.DOC for an example).

Note: DRT and RQS serial port pins are not used in the GPS connection.

4) Toggle of DRT and RQS serial port pins with 5 seconds bell

This option is identical to the preceding, except that a 5 seconds long bell warns the user.

5) Continuous bell to stop manually

When the alarm time is reached, the software CLOCK produces a continuous bell until the user clicks on the button "Stop alarm" on the synchonization window.

When the alarm is configured, the user must save the alarm datas with the selected options thanks to the button "Record and return to the menu". The button "Return to the menu without record", on the contrary, does not take into account the new configuration and comes back to the preceding choice.

It is displayed, for information, the local time and the UTC time.

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Following and control of the GPS-driven digital clock on the GPS

Following and control of the GPS-driven digital clock

Preliminaries:

1) The GPS receiver transmits its data to the computer through the serial port (see Selecting the serial port for GPS), using the following parameters: 4800 bauds, 8 data bits, 2 stop bits, without parity, according to the NMEA 183 protocol.

By this way, the precision of the PC synchronization is about one second.

2) The transmission of a GPS "$GPZDA" date/time  frame, for example: "$GPZDA,024611.08,25,03,2002,00,00*6A", is very quick (less than 0.1 second) and very frequent (about one time each 2.4 seconds). Only one satellite is enough for reception.

3) The user must have selected, in the GPS receiver configuration, at the option "Digital output" level, firstly, the communication format: "NMEA 183" and, secondly, the "sentence" (frame): "ZDA".

4) As soon as the option "PC synchronisation on GPS" is started, a window opens which contains:

* the display window for universal and local system date and time (at the left bottom),

* the window containing the GPS connexion control (at the right bottom).

Description of the configuration alarm window

If an action must to be done at a determined time (start up of a software, toggle of serial port pins or bell), the time alarm is displayed.

When the alarm time is reached, the message "Alarm" and the button "Stop alarm" are displayed.

This button is only displayed for the options " Toggle of DRT and RQS serial port pins" and for the option "Continuous bell". When this button is clicked, the action start up by the alarm disappears (no more bell and return to the initial voltage for DTR et RQS pins).

For the options "File to start", when the alarm time is reached, the software CLOCK is abandoned for the specified file. There is, possibly, a 5 secondes previous bell before the abandon.

For more information, see Alarm configuration.

Description of the window displaying the system (local and universal) dates and times

This window allows the user to follow the evolution of the local system time and the universal system time (UTC).

These two indications come from the internal clock of the PC.

The difference between these two times are, in France, Germany and Switzeland, of one hour in winter and two hours in summer (if the WINDOWS configuration about the clock is correct).

Due to the modest precision of the clock of a PC, which is about + ou - 1/10000 ème, in a day, this clock may be advanced or delayed of several seconds.

When the PC is synchronized after the reception of a time frame, two bands, fuchsia color, appear: the first one indicates that the synchronization has been done and the second one, the date and time of synchronization (for memory). A warning sharp sound signal is emitted.

Description of the "GPS control window"

This one is composed of:

* a label showing the state of the RS232 serial connection on the PC to the GPS receiver. Normally, it must appear " Success opening the serial port linked to the GPS", if not it appears the message "Failure opening the serial port linked to the GPS".

* a label showing the reception of a date/time frame. At each new reception, the label color changes,

* a rectangular button "Warning sound on synchronization". At each new reception of a date/time frame, it is emitted a short sound signal to warn the (licencied) user; this to avoid the user to wait for the updating before exiting the software.

* the button "Return to the menu" to return to the main menu.

GPS use

The GPS receiver is connected to the serial port of the PC and the GPS is put on (after having been configured to transmit the "sentence" (frame) "$GPZDA").

The synchronisations done will appear.

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Following and control of the radio-driven digital clock on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY and WWV-WWVH;Preliminaries and description of the windows and the controls

Following and control of the radio-driven digital clock on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWVB or WWV-WWVH

Preliminaries and description of the windows and controls

Preliminaries:

0) For an immediate use of the program, see 	Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

1) The transmission of a FRANCE-INTER time frame lasts one minute, at the rate of one digital binary data per second: either a 0 (100 ms of phase modulated carrier and 100 ms of non phase modulated carrier) or 1 (200 ms of phase modulated carrier). However, the last second of the minut is not modulated, which allows to synchronize with the time frame of FRANCE-INTER.

Note: the instantaneous variations of frequency due to this phase modulation are weak (+/- 6,4 Hz) and, of course, inaudible.

2) The transmission of a DCF 77 or HBG time frame lasts one minute, at the rate of one digital binary data per second: either a 0 (100 ms of reduced carrier and 900 ms of normal carrier) or 1 (200 ms of reduced carrier and 800 ms of normal carrier). However, the last second of the minut is not modulated. This long duration of normal carrier allows to synchronize with the time frame of DCF 77 or of HBG.

3) The transmission of a RUGBY time frame or a WWVB frame is similar (in the principle) to the DCF 77 or HBG one except that the order of the pieces of information is given in a different way (the content is also a bit different).

4) The transmission of a WWV or WWVH time frame is similar to the DCF 77 one except that the order of the pieces of information is given in a different way (the content is also a bit different). On the other hand, the transmission is done on a 100 Hz DSB sub-carrier which is located under the inferior limit of the transmitted frequencies of radio receivers (300 Hz). So this sub-carrier is very attenuated.

5) FRANCE-INTER, HBG and DCF 77 give the local french (or german) time and RUGBY gives the british local time. WWV, WWVH and WWVB give the UTC (ex GMT) time.

6) The extraction of a time frame begins with the initial synchronization on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWVB or WWV-WWVH following by the reception of the time frame. The extrated time and date can, then, up to date the system (PC) dates and times. The minimum duration of extraction is between one and two minutes.

When it is speaking of "synchronization", it will not be mixed:

* the one relative to the software towards the reception of a time frame,

* the one relative to the up to date of the system (PC) dates and times, after complete 	reception and translation of the time frame.

7) As soon as the option "PC synchronisation on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWVB or WWV-WWVH" is started, a window opens which contains:

* the "waterfall" where it is possible to precisely tune the reception frequency,

* the radio transmission translation window containing the synchronization controls (at the 	top),

* the display window for universal and local system date and time (at the left bottom),

* the window containing the sound card controls and the signal and PC states (at the right 	bottom).

8) For information, the displayed minute on the main window is the next minute except for WWVB, WWV and WWVH where it is the current minute.

9) A coherence checking between successive results allows to avoid, with a good probability, that it is not an error.

Description of the "waterfall" (spectrum):

It is a "real time" spectrum because it carries the "temporal" evolution of the signal and its amplitude thanks to the color (overload must be avoided!). It dispays the AF frequencies from 400 to 1600 Hz.

The frequency initially displayed is the initial reception frequency given in the first window, corrected by the sampling frequency (if it is different from 11025 samples/sec).

If the transmission peak does not correspond to the initial reception frequency, the user selects, by clicking on the waterfall, the peak (red between yellow then blue) with the purple vertical line. The new dsplayed frequency will correspond to the biggest peak seen around the vertical line.

Note: the waterfall is useless (just for information) for WWV and WWVH which are received in AM.

Description of the time frame translation window:

This window allows the user to follow the display of the radio transmission translation on two lines:

* first line for different pieces of information:

- for FRANCE-INTER   public holyday: "yes" or "no",

- for DCF 77 et HBG...transmission antenna: "normal" ou "backup",

- for FRANCE-INTER, HBG et DCF 77...local time type:

"Winter time (UTC + 1 h)" or "Summer time (UTC + 2 h)",

* second line for local date and time transmitted by FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG ou 	RUGBY:

- day of the week (monday to sunday), day of the month, month and year,

- hour and minute. These indications are only valid at the beginning of the next 	minute.

* for WWVB, WWV and WWVH (UTC time):

-  day of the month, month and year,

- hour and minute. These indications are only valid at the beginning of the next 	minute.

On the first line, the pseudo-led "Reception of the time frame" will light when the synchronization with FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, RUGBY, WWVB or WWV-WWVH will be done (beginning of the time frame transmission).

Then, during the following minute, the time frame will be extracted.

Except for WWV-WWVH where there is no need of PLL, on the second line, the pseudo-led "PLL locking" will light when the PLL (phase locked loop) will lock (necessarily) on the LF frequency of the carrier (which must be equal to the reception frequency adusted in the main menu). This one is, besides, indicated (for example 500 Hz).

From 4 to 20 seconds are necessary to lock the PLL.

Description of the configuration alarm window

If an action must to be done at a determined time (start up of a software, toggle of serial port pins or bell), the time alarm is displayed.

When the alarm time is reached, the message "Alarm" and the button "Stop alarm" are displayed.

This button is only displayed for the options " Toggle of DRT and RQS serial port pins" and for the option "Continuous bell". When this button is clicked, the action start up by the alarm disappears (no more bell and return to the initial voltage for DTR et RQS pins).

For the options "File to start", when the alarm time is reached, the software CLOCK is abandoned for the specified file. There is, possibly, a 5 secondes previous bell before the abandon.

For more information, see Alarm configuration.

Description of the window displaying the system (local and universal) dates and times

This window allows the user to follow the evolution of the local system time and the universal system time (UTC).

These two indications come from the internal clock of the PC.

The difference between these two times are, in France, Germany and Switzeland, of one hour in winter and two hours in summer (if the WINDOWS configuration about the clock is correct).

For a french or a german user, the UTC time displayed after a synchronization on the time frame of RUGBY will be, of course, wrong with a correct french or german WINDOWS configuration.

For an english user, it will be the inverse.

Due to the modest precision of the clock of a PC, which is about + ou - 1/10000 ème, in a day, this clock may be advanced or delayed of several seconds.

When the PC is synchronized after the reception of a time frame and after coherence checking between successive results, two bands, fuchsia color, appear: the first one indicates that the synchronization has been done et the second one, the date and time of synchronization (for memory). A warning sharp sound signal is emitted.

Description of the window displaying the sound card controls and the PC and signal states:

This one is composed of:

* If the mixer is controled by the software: the radio buttons to select the input level of the signal, with a factor: 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, or 1.

Initially, this factor is selected with the Input level option.

*If the mixer is controled by the user: a button named “Recording control” to allow the access to the recording manual control for the input signal, to choose between the line input and the microphone input, the level being selected to avoid overload,

If necessary, see Manual control of the mixer by the user.

* a window named "Level" to give the level of the input signal (in %),

* a pseudo-led "PC problem" to alert the user that the PC is either not enough powerful for this application or that the required transmitter is not selected or that others operations on the PC are taking too much computation power of the PC.

* in France-Inter reception, if the PC is really too slow (the pseudo-led "PC problem" lights), the user will click on the button "PC slow", which will decrease the necessary calculation power.

* a pseudo-led "Overload" to show that the signal is overloaded. In that case, the Line in level will be lowered.

* a rectangular button "Test of the sound card speed (3 minutes)" and 2 horizontal arrows. the user will refer to Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

(First use and determination of the sound card speed) for explanations relatives to the determination of the sound card speed, to do at the first use of the software and each time the user changes his sound card (to take account the new speed).

* a rectangular button "Warning sound on synchronization". At each new reception of a date/time frame, it is emitted a short sound signal to warn the (licencied) user; this to avoid the user to wait for the updating before exiting the software.

* the button "Return to the menu" to return to the main menu.

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Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

Following and control of the radio-driven digital clock on FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, RUGBY, WWVB and WWV-WWVH

Synchronization and use of the radio-driven digital clock

The SSB receiver is turned on (AM for WWV-WWVH). It is supposed a reception frequency of 500 Hz (adjustable between 500 to 1600 Hz in the first page). For WWV-WWVH, the reception frequency is no use (AM reception)

Note: at the first start-up, for the sound card sampling speed determination, the user will tune on a LF transmitter (France-Inter, DCF77, HBG, Rugby or WWVB) and no on WWV on an exact 500 Hz frequency (see further on).

If FRANCE_INTER is chosen (preferably because this transmitter is very powerful, but depending on distance to the transmitter), on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 162.5 KHz in LSB or 161.5 KHz in USB, the received sound being a 500 Hz continuous carrier superposed to the speaking broadcast.

If DCF 77 is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 78 KHz in LSB or 77 KHz in USB, the received sound being a 500 Hz variable carrier.

If HBG is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 75,5 KHz in LSB or 74,5 KHz in USB, the received sound being a 500 Hz variable carrier.

If RUGBY or WWVB is chosen, on the SSB receiver, the user adjusts the frequency to 60.5 KHz in LSB or 59.5 KHz in USB, the received sound being a 500 Hz variable carrier.

If WWV-WWVH is chosen, on the AM receiver, the user adjusts, for example, the frequency to 15000 KHz in AM. It must be heard clearly tops, audio frequencies (500 and 600 Hz) and a voice announcing, regularly, the UTC time. It must be noted that the 100 Hz is not audible.

IMPORTANT: if the voice is not properly heard (due to the presence of interferences or parasitics) the time/date reception will be impossible.

For FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, WWVB and RUGBY, the best is to be exactly on the chosen frequency. However, it exists a tolerance of about +/-20 Hz around the ideal frequency (locking range of the PLL). If the carrier frequency is not known or if this frequency is not correct (peak bad positioned, according to the waterfall), the user must click on the peak (red between yellow and then blue) to determine the new frequency.

For WWV or WWVH, the AM receiver must be exactly on the nominal reception frequency.

Firstly, the Line in input (Left or right) has been selected according to the hardware input (see Sound input).

Secondly, the Line in level will have been adjusted to about 0.5 V RMS (depending of the sound card) by the AF gain control if connected to the receiver speaker. If connected to the auxiliary output, the level is normally sufficient.

If the level is too weak, the microphone input will be used.

Moreover, it is possible to increase or decrease the Input level of the AF signal

Ideally, the level might be just below the level of overload.

Note: the user must not modify the level after synchronization.

For example, the option, "PC synchronization on FRANCE-INTER" is started up.

First use and determination of the sound card speed

For the determination of the sound card sampling speed (this one must be imperatively known by the program), there are 3 stages. For this, the user will actuate controls from the panel "Determination of the sound card speed" of the screen FRANCE-INTER, RUGBY, HBG, DCF77 or WWVB.

Note: the standard sample rate is 11025 samples/sec, rate only respected by quality sound cards (SB16, for example). On-board sound cards have not, in general, a good precision, the sample rate being able to go from 11025 -1% to 11025 +1% samples/sec. So on this case, this operation is absolutly necessary.

Initial state: the receiver is tuned  on FRANCE-INTER, RUGBY, HBG, WWVB or DCF77, on an exact frequency of 500 Hz (77 KHz in USB for DCF77, for example).

First stage: an automatic test to determine the sound card speed is done. It lasts 3 minutes. The user must wait for the end of the test. After the test done, it is displayed the speed as determined by the first test (standard: 11025 datas per second). This test is crude and the result approximative.

Second stage: a second manual test must be done by the user: by adjusting the sampling frequency (Fe) with the horizontal arrows, the user must obtain a displayed frequency under "PLL locking" of 500 Hz.

Third stage: after completion of the second test, the user must stop the program Clock and start up again the program. Then, he may choose other frequency that 500 Hz.

Then, for FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, WWVB and RUGBY, the first stage is the PLL locking on the AF signal coming from the receiver (the pseudo-led "PLL locking" will light with indication of the locking frequency). The second stage (and the first stage for WWV-WWVH) is the synchronization on the transmitter.

After synchronization on the chosen transmitter (the pseudo-led "Reception of the time frame" lights), the translated pieces of information will appear on the window, one after the other.

At the end of the reception of date and time and after coherence checking between successive results, an automatic synchronization allows the PC clock to up to date local and universal dates and times. A sharp warning sound signal is emitted.

It is reminded that, practically speaking, the Line in level must be adjusted just below the overload level of the signal (pseudo-led "Overload").

If the radio signal is affected of too much noise or parasits, either the synchronization will not be possible, or the pieces of information (time and date) will not be considered as correct (due to the control of the received datas) and, in any case, the synchronization of the PC will not occur.

The user have not to be astonished for not seeing the synchronization of the PC not done every minute. The more or less failure probability is a function of the signal strength and the intensity of noise and parasites (atmospheric or due to the PC).

Advice for the reception of FRANCE-INTER, DCF 77, HBG, WWVB and RUGBY:

* if the antenna available is an antenna for short waves, the user must try to not connect the coaxial braid to the earth of the receiver, this to increase the input level.

* if the receiver is submitted to an intermodulation due to a transmitter in middle waves, the user may install between the antenna and the coaxial a self of about 100 µH (lowpass filter).

* the user must avoid the production of parasits by machines (to wash, for example).

For WWV-WWVH, the problem is to find the good time for the reception of these transmitters, the short waves conditions of propagation being very fluctuating.

N.B.: the PC sending electromagnetic interference, it may be that it provokes parasitic signal in the receiver. In that case, the user must:

a) install power filters on the power supplies of the PC and of the receiver.

b) be sure that the cable between sound card and receiver is shielded. It may be winded a part of the cable, on a one meter or more in length, round a ferrite core.

c) be sure that the installation ground is correct and that the grounds of the PC and the receiver are connected,

d) move away the PC from the receiver or, if need be, switch off the screen (when synchronization of the PC obtained, it will be heard, in any case, the warning sound signal).

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Manual control of the mixer by the user

The sound card mixer is initially controled by the user (see the option Adjustment of the mixer). It could be controlled by the software but there are some non-standard mixers which cannot be controlled by the software so the working would be partial or impossible, so there is an interest for the user to adjust the mixer himself.

The mixer control appears by clicking on the button "Mixer control" if the option "User adjustment" of the menu “Mixer” has been selected.

For example, if the option "User adjustment". of the menu “Mixer” has been selected and the Line in left channel has been chosen (see Selection of the sound input), it will be obtained the following (after coming back to the option "Software adjustment” of the menu “Mixer”):

In the option "RECORDING CONTROL":

* the "Line in" level must be superior or equal to 20 %, the balance must be at left side and the option "Selected" set,

* the microphone must have the option "Selected" not set.

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Verification of the configuration files CONFCLOC.SER and ALARM.SER

At the start up of the software, the presence of the files CONFCLOC.SER and ALARM.SER necessary to the working is verified. If for any reason, one of these files will failed or will be altered, an error display would appear.

For example "No presence of the file CONFCLOC.SER !!!" or "The file CONFCLOC.SER is altered".

In that case, the configuration by default is chosen and the file CONFCLOC.SER is recorded. Then, you must do again the configuration you want (see Access to the main menu

 and Alarm configuration).

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