Clock synchronization?

DigiMagic · 06-28-09, 07:53 AM

Hello,

I've just got a X51V from eBay few weeks ago... I've noted that occasionally, like when changing the battery, the date resets to year 2005. I guess the internal capacitor that powers the clock when battery is removed no longer has useful capacity.

Since the internal clock is not too accurate anyway, I would instead like to install an utility that would, once every 24 hours:
- wake device from sleep, if not already awake
- turn on wifi, if not already on
- connect to Internet (X51V and my home router are already configured and verified to work)
- acquire accurate time using NTP or SNTP and sync internal clock
- turn off wifi (if it was off previously, otherwise leave it on, since I may be browsing the net or something)
- turn off device (if it was off previously)
( - if device is in cradle and ActiveSync connected, use USB instead of wifi)

I've browsed several freeware and commercial sites and forums, but couldn't find such utility. Does no one care to have (reasonably) accurate time on his/her PDA?
Could anyone please offer any advice? "Make if yourself" is acceptable too, I just wanted to avoid reinventing the wheel, if this stuff already exists.

JakeRich · 06-28-09, 08:02 AM

Welcome to Aximsite. You may just need to get Mike Spikel's utility that saves the current date/time before removing your battery, then can put it back after the battery swap. You'll be a few seconds off until your next sync, but the Ax isn't an atomic clock anyway.

DigiMagic · 06-28-09, 08:39 AM

Thanks for the reply. I wasn't aware clock reset issue is so widespread

Regarding atomic clocks... well, you are right... and it's not that I really need such accuracy, it's just a nice feature to have.

DigiMagic · 07-01-09, 02:28 PM

I might get this to work exactly as I wanted it... acquiring atomic/NTP time from server and setting on device verified to work; still need to add scheduled execution to happen once a day and turning on wifi from my app instead of manually...

Zaniax · 07-02-09, 03:20 AM

SP Timesync will let you acquire accurate time using NTP or SNTP and sync the internal clock via wifi
Have a look here - and it's free

Zaniax ©

DigiMagic · 07-05-09, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Zaniax

SP Timesync will let you acquire accurate time using NTP or SNTP and sync the internal clock via wifi

Nice application, but it doesn't do automatically all the required steps... I would have to manually turn on wifi, connect to Internet, press button to sync time, turn off wifi... remember to do all that again next day or next week... Please don't think I am ungrateful for the suggestion - all the other applications I've found are quite similar.

I would like to point out that there is nothing extraordinary in these requirements. My wristwatch that certainly has between thousand to million times less processing power than Axim can do it (well, not using wifi, but some kind of long waves radio).

I have almost completed my solution, will post it here later this week if anyone is interested. It also syncs time automatically after battery power loss, and works on WM phone devices too (tested on HTC Touch HD with permanent GPRS connection).

Zaniax · 07-05-09, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by DigiMagic

Does no one care to have (reasonably) accurate time on his/her PDA?

Well, I do care so I use SP Timesync about once a week which keeps my X50v within a few seconds - which is reasonable - at least ®

The SP Timesync link is located on my Today list and is easily accessed while I'm posting here - every day :o

Now let's learn more about your project and see if you can live up to your name - DigiMagic :)

Zaniax ©

DigiMagic · 07-11-09, 08:19 AM

OK, so... here is the first public beta. Fully functional and never expires.

As usual, the application uses NTP servers if it can connect to Internet and you are not using ActiveSync or Device Center (the problem with them is that they do not support UDP protocol, which is used by NTP).

And now, the improvements :)

If you are using ActiveSync or Device Center, then application connects to alternative servers that do work through AS/DC (and are slighly less accurate, but still good enough).

If you have no connection to Internet at all, then it can use GPS satellites.

GPS radio will be turned on and off by application, if necessary.
WiFi and Bluetooth radios will be turned on and off too, as necessary. GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA/XYZ... connection - if you have phone device - too.

You can set the application to synchronize time:

every day (at 6:00 AM local time)
at power up - but it really does something only if current time is invalid (like when changing battery on an Axim), or at least 24 hours have passed since last sync
immediately by manual activation

Now if your Axim forgets current time... just turn it on. Everything else happens automatically.

Recommended connectivity configuration:

Phone devices with permanent GPRS connection: use "default connectivity"
Phone devices with dial-on-demand-and-disconnect connection: use "connection manager"
Classic PDA like Axims: use WiFi or Bluetooth or "default connectivity" for AS/DC over USB
Car/boat navigation: use GPS

You can freely try and mix any options. You should have at least one "try something" option checked.

You can enter new NTP servers. You cannot enter new alternative AS/DC servers, because I need to know precisely what kind of protocol each one understands.

Known issues:

not everything is configurable (for example, GPS search time is fixed to max. 5 minutes)
you need to manually uncheck all options before uninstalling to clear pending wake up etc. notifications from device's notification queue
progress messages not well tuned yet, too many at some places, too little at some places
missing nice icon for application

Download is 85 kB. Application needs 200 kB on device.
No guarantees of any kind & I am not responsible for anything. I may have lied about GPS and your device will actually contact a hidden Cylon basestar that orbits Earth and transmit your position to it.

johnhu_2005 · 07-11-09, 11:45 AM

Absolutely awesome! I downloaded the program and tried it out. I love how it uses the default connection with WMDC when Wi-Fi is not on.

SP Timesync will be uninstalled because of this.

Mind if I upload it to my Skydrive as a mirror download? (Of course, I will give credit)

DigiMagic · 07-11-09, 02:32 PM

Of course I don't mind.

By the way, if you get a message "failed syncing, server is inaccurate" while using AS/WMDC, that is normal. Server just happened to be under some heavier traffic at the moment. Retry a minute later, or switch to another server. I will make that happen automatically in some future version.

By the way #2, minimum supported hardware is WM 5.0 Pocket PC; PPC 2003 might be supported later.

johnhu_2005 · 07-11-09, 02:43 PM

Mirror is found here.