Improve WiFi connectivity

Overview

The main purpose of this release is to improve network stability. The clock should stay connected to the router more reliably, for example if the router reboots.

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

New in This Release

• WiFi connection management has been completely re-written, it is much more robust now.
• The web GUI will automatically try to re-connect to the clock if it loses the connection for any reason.

Known issues

• The captive portal is not very reliable. This seems to be an issue with the framework, which I can't do anything about. Just keep trying to access it.

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Rev. 480: Turn off AP on Sucessful WiFi Connections. Disable Alexa

Overview

The main purpose of this release is to improve network stability. The clock should stay connected to the router more reliably. Note, this release may clear your settings.

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

New in This Release

• There is a Network screen that allows the clock to be part of a sync network with other ITS1A clocks, or any of my other clocks. The master sends out a variety of sync messages to the slaves. It can:
  • Sync the LED colors.
  • Force a time refresh.
  • Act as a remote movement sensor - in this case a slave can select a remote, local or no movement sensor.
• If the clock successfully connects to a router, it will disable the AP. This can be re-enabled in the Network screen.
• Alexa support is disabled in this release.
• Add a software revision number to the info screen.

Known issues

• The captive portal is not very reliable. This seems to be an issue with the framework, which I can't do anything about. Just keep trying to access it.

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Remove nixie-only transitions

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

New in This Release

• This removes nixie only transitions (when switching between time and date).

Known issues

• None. Unless you know different?

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Switch to NTP

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

New in This Release

• This version uses NTP for time synchronization. When you update to this version the clock will initially show UTC rather than local time. You will need to update the Timezone Definition on the main clock GUI, as shown in the readme on the main page.
• LEDs are now handled using NeoPixelBus.
• The ESP8266 Arduino platform has been updated to 2.7.3.
• There are now on time and off time statistics on the info page

Known issues

• None. Unless you know different?

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Re-write Alexa support, add metrics to info page

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

New in This Release

• The Alexa support has been completely re-written. The color and brightness of the backlights/underlights can now be set. You may have to reset Alexa to pick these changes up - I did. Essentially all 'devices' now mimic Philips Hue lights.
• Uptime and sync metrics have been added to the info page.
• It seems that the WiFi re-connect bug has been fixed.
• Extra space has been allocated to the settings in NVRAM. This may mean that your existing settings will need to be re-entered after this update.
• Various key libraries have been updated to the latest versions.
• The ESP8266 Arduino platform has been updated to 2.6.1.

Known issues

• The clock occasionally resets. It is likely that this has always been the case, it is just visible now that uptime is available on the info page. Naturally it never resets when it is hooked up to a test harness.

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Explicitly set WiFi reconnect flag

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI. There is no change to this file for this release, so you only need to upload it if you are programming a fresh ESP01.

New in This Release

This is a small patch to explicitly set the WiFi reconnect flag to true, to see if this prevents the occasional disconnect.

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Added separate controls for backlight and underlight brightness

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

Installing this release will reset all of your settings.

New in This Release

Added separate sliders on the LEDs screen to control the backlight and underlight brightness.

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Added motion sensor support

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

Installing this release will reset all of your settings.

New in This Release

Added motion sensor support. You can wire the sensor output to the RX input on the programming header. Pull power as needed from the 5V test point and ground. It assumes that the sensor is active-high at 3V3 on the RX pin, which both of mine are. If no sensor is attached, the clock will stay on.

There is another slider on the Extra screen that controls how long the clock will stay on after the last time that the motion sensor was activated. If the clock is in scheduled off-time, it won’t react to the motion sensor

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put them in the same folder as esptool-ck (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can open a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Version the First

Overview

This release contains binary files for my ITS1A Clock. They won't work for anything else. There are two files:

• ITS1A.bin - this is the executable code
• spiffs.bin - this is the web GUI

Installation (Abbreviated version)

OK, so this isn't the first time you've done this. These are the commands you need to remember:

1. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
2. esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp <port name> -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin

Installation (Full Version)

This is the step-by-step guide:

1. You will need a programming tool for the ESP-01. If you socketed the ESP-01 you can remove it from the clock (turn it off first!) and insert it into the programmer. Or you can use the header on the clock itself.
2. Download esptool-ck for your platform and unzip/untar/whatever it somewhere. You will use this to upload the bin files to the clock.
3. Download these bin files and put the in the same folder (for convenience).
4. Plug the programmer into you computer's USB port and the other end into the clock or ESP-01.
5. Figure out what the serial port is called - you will need to know this to upload the files. On windows you can a command shell and type mode to find out.
6. In the shell you just opened, change directory to where esptool is.
7. Upload the binary file with this command - change the -cp value to whatever your serial port is called - here it is called COM10.
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0 -cf ITS1A.bin
   You should see some text saying it is uploading, and a bunch of dots.
8. Upload the spiffs, again replace COM10 with whatever your serial port is called:
   esptool -cd ck -cb 115200 -cp COM10 -ca 0xBB000 -cf spiffs.bin