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Hi guys I have a project where all av equipment will be offline even the processor. From my experience the processor time or clock usually has issues when the processor is not connected to the internet. Which brings up a challenge since I have devices that need time based automation i need a reliable clock source or time source for this functionality. Any advice?

In the US, Time Machines makes GPS based time servers that can be rack mounted.
If you are in Europe, then Gude, a Crestron partner, makes a rack mount time server based on the DSF77 signal broadcast out of Frankfurt.

Then, you just point your devices at your local server.

Good luck,
Brian

I hear of people talk about Crestron not keeping time. I have both 2 series and 3 series lighting systems that are not connected to a network at all. I have never heard of a complaint from any of those clients saying time based schedules didn't happen. Some of these systems have been running over 15 years without any update.

My question would be, what causes this time issue you are running into?

Historically whatever the method of timekeeping Crestron used (not sure if it was a crystal, a software routine, or a combination) was not the most robust and was also heavily processor dependent. I remember one time, well before the 3-series existed, we synced all 4 PRO2s (and the CNMSX-PRO, RIP) in our development rack to the same time and just let them run over the course of a couple months. At the end, none of them were at the correct time -- I think the closest was only about 3-4 minutes off, the worst was more like 15-20. So it's not that it "doesn't happen" it's that it doesn't happen at exactly the right time. Some clients may not notice a couple hours (true story...takeover project) while some get anxious over a +/-1 minute deviation.

I imagine over the years with the improvements to hardware and using more mainstream OSes the drift is significantly minimized over the previous generations of HW but there will always be some drift if a device isn't anchored to a reliable time source. I have an older Dell Windows laptop as a "Stupid stuff" machine that tends to lose about 3 minutes over the course of a month if I don't let it sync with the outside world. My microwave drifts, etc. ,etc.

For the OP's question -- in addition to the other sources mentioned, I haven’t yet had a reason to implement one but it seems most GPS receiver boards (and IIRC there are some really inexpensive options) will output current TOD via RS232 in (what seems to be) an industry standard format @ 9600 baud -- then you just need an antenna with LOS to GPS satellites

--
Lincoln King-Cliby
Commercial Market Director
Sr. Systems Architect | Crestron Certified Master Programmer (Diamond)
ControlWorks Consulting, LLC
Direct: (+1)440.771.4807 | Cleveland: (+1)440.449.1100? | Boston: (+1)508.695.0188 | DC: (+1)202.381.9070?
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Lincoln King-Cliby
I still think it is something people are doing. I have never had the need to run a time sync module in any of my programs as the time was always correct. I have always put a clock on the panels and I have had clients let me know when I have forgot to enable daylight savings, so I know they do watch those clocks.

I just checked a Pro2 that I have not made any changes on in over 5 years and it was 9 seconds off of my laptop. Maybe people are worried about those 9 seconds, me and my clients haven't been. So I guess you are right, I have never done anything overly time sensitive that a couple of seconds a year would make a difference.

I am super surprised that your CNMSX lost time. I was under the impression that the old MS & CNMSX processors still had real time clock chips.

***EDIT*** I just read up on the crystal real time clocks. They have a 10 to 20 ppm of having drift in time. Maybe I had always gotten the good ones :)

I've been playing with ESP32's recently and made a custom compass display for my motorcycle. I ended up adding a clock since the?GPS NEO-6M module spit the clock info out anyway and it updates every second, and you really can't get a more accurate time readout than from the GPS stream. It's a crapload of data coming out of it and it might be easier to use an ESP32 to do the heavy lifting since there are ready made libraries to decode it, then spit it out through the ESP's serial port. I don't think it would be too tough to whip up a module to read the data and set the clock, though I've never tried to do anything like that. You'd also need a level shitter to convert the TTL output to 232 levels whether you use an ESP or not.

FWIW I still have a PRO2 I keep around for testing, and its clock is useless. I don't remember how far it goes off but it's like 10 minutes a day, and has been like that forever. That was a known issue with some PRO2's way back when.

Ok I give up. I searched far and wide for a “level shitter” and couldn’t find anything. Where does one find such a device?

?or??would work.???gives more info on the code side.? You would use one serial port for the GPS, and one for the Crestron
/mike

Uh, would you believe it was an April Fools joke? Made you look!