Sparkfun Oscilloscope Clock Operating Instructions:

The most convenient way to power the Sparkfun Clock is to use an external wall wart, 7-15V DC center positive with a 5.5 mm (OD) power plug. Most external wall warts (7-15V center positive) should fit without any problems.

Connect the probes (1X, 10X) or wires to the respective connectors/terminals marked CH1 and CH2. Set the scope in X-Y mode and connect the cables or probes to channels 1 and 2. Turn R8 all the way counterclockwise (maximum image size). Set both channels to DC mode and the voltage range to 0.5V per division. Now turn R8 clockwise to make the image fit your screen.  You can tweak the image, for example to make it completely square (8 divisions), by manually reducing the voltage per division value (VAR knob.) If your scope does not support 0.5V per division, reduce the image size by turning R8 until the generated images matches your scope.

Most scopes define CH1 and the X axis and CH2 as the Y axis. Some, for example the Tektronix 485, reverse this convention. As a result, you will need to swap the probes.

 

Please note that, if the image looks distorted when using probes in 10X mode, you may have to adjust the probe compensation (they usually have a small adjustment screw).

 

Control of the clock is primarily done using the on-board push button switches S1 and S2.

 

S1:

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Long push (> 1 second: keep the button switch pushed down).

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Short push (<1 second: push and release the button switch).

S2:

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Long push (> 1 second: keep the button switch pushed down)

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Short push (<1 second: push and release the button switch)

 

The S1 long push enters the Time/Date Set mode, the S1 short push enters the Menu mode.

 

The S2 long push reboots the Sparkfun clock

 

Time/Date Set mode (S1 long push):

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S1 short push increments the current field value by one.
Keeping S1 pushed will start auto-repeating, allowing you to increment a field value quickly.

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S2 short push moves to the next field.

 

Menu mode (S1 short push):

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S1 short push displays the next value (or activates the demo option).
Keeping S1 pushed will start auto-repeating, allowing you to advance an option value quickly.

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S2 short push moves to the next option, or activates the current option value when changed.

 

Changing the time on the Sparkfun Clock using the push button switch:

To change the time, make sure that the Numeric Display does NOT show the current date. If so, change it using the menu. An S1 long push will enter the Change mode. If the Numeric Display is Off, the time will also be changed, even if the Binary Clock Display is active. The clock is stopped when changing time. The field being changed will flash at this point. If the Numeric Display is Off, one of the Clock Hands will flash in an Analog Dial Display. In a Binary Clock Display, the "lights" columns representing the value being changed will flash. An S1 short push will increment the current field (hours, minutes, seconds); keep S1 pushed for auto-repeat. An S2 short push will move to the next field, using the current field value as the new time value. Once done with the seconds field, a "Push S1 To Start" message pops up. An S1 short push will restart the clock at the selected time. However an S2 short push will cancel your changes and restart the clock at the actual time, as kept by the on-board Real Time Clock. This is handy if you entered the Change mode by accident or if you changed your mind. Change mode times out after 30 seconds of inactivity.

 

Changing the date on the Sparkfun Clock using the push button switch:

To change the Date, make sure that the Numeric Display shows the current date. If not, change it to display the Date using the menu (Menu-Num:Date).  An S1 long push will enter the Change mode. The field being changed will flash. An S1 short push will increment the current field (year, month, day); keep S1 pushed for auto-repeat. An S2 short push will move to the next field. The clock leaves Change mode automatically after finishing the Day value. The order of change is Year, Month, Day. This way, the clock can verify the date validity better (number of days per month, leap years etc.) Change mode times out after 30 seconds of inactivity.

 

Options available on the on-screen menu firmware V3.6:

Option

 Values

Function

Option

Value

Function

Num

12hr
24hr
Hex
Date
Off

Select Numeric Field to Display

Dial

12hr
24hr
Rom
Bin
Min

Select Clock Dial to Display

GPS

Off
-12 ..
+12

Select GPS NMEA input using the selected local time zone offset

DST

USA
EU
Off

Select Automatic
Daylight
Saving
Time for USA or EU

App

Clock
Term
Gen
Demo
Boot

Select application to run

PPS

4096Hz
1Hz
-4..
+4

Set PPS mode and apply software accuracy correction.

Chrono

Off
On

fractional seconds
display

Cal

Off
On

Turn Calibration Screen On and Off

Led

On
Off

Controls on-board Led

BurnIn

On
Off

Turn BurnIn Prevention Off and On

Play

Off
Rev
FF
FR

Fun modes: Reverse, Fast Forward and Fast Reverse

Reset

Off
On

Re-initialize the EEProm area of the Atmega328p to "virgin" state.

Baud

19200..
14400

Set Baud Rate on Serial Interface

Name On
Off
Edit

User Name Display

    Current User Name is displayed below the Menu      

 

 

Changing an option on the Sparkfun Clock using the push button switches:

 

An S1 short push will enter the Menu Mode. The option being updated/selected is flashing. Move to the next option by an S2 short push. All options are selection values. A S1 short push will show the next selection value; keep S1 pushed for auto-repeat. Moving to the next option (using an S2 short push) when the selection value has changed, will activate the selected value and the clock will leave the menu mode.

 

To leave the menu quickly, just do short pushes on S2 or 1 long push on S2 which will reboot the clock

 

Back to Sparkfun Oscilloscope Clock

 

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