X10 Community Forum

📱X10 WIFI => 🧾Wish list => Topic started by: Noam on January 18, 2018, 10:53:39 AM

Title: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Noam on January 18, 2018, 10:53:39 AM
Currently the X10wifi can only set the time from the mobile device. Since there is no battery-backed clock, the time must be set every time the unit is powered up. This could be a problem if there is a power outage, since the unit would need the time synced again when the power comes back on. If the user isn't home to sync the time from their device, times won't work correctly until the time can be synced again.
If the unit could set the time automatically from the Internet (the user would set the zip code - or at least the time zone - in the initial configuration), that would solve this issue (if the Internet connection isn't up when the unit powers up, it would keep checking for it).
Adding a zip code setting would also enable the ability for them to add dusk/dawn timer functionality, too.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: HA Dave on January 18, 2018, 10:59:21 AM
Adding a zip code setting would also enable the ability for them to add dusk/dawn timer functionality, too.

Perfect.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 18, 2018, 11:10:51 AM
Adding a zip code setting would also enable the ability for them to add dusk/dawn timer functionality, too.
Actualy dusk dawn timers are already available it gets your location from the phone when you set it up.
But I do like the auto time sync from the internet.
 >!
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Noam on January 18, 2018, 11:15:42 AM
Adding a zip code setting would also enable the ability for them to add dusk/dawn timer functionality, too.
Actualy dusk dawn timers are already available it gets your location from the phone when you set it up.
But I do like the auto time sync from the internet.
 >!
I didn't have enough time to play with timers yet - I just remember reading something you'd said about not having dusk/dawn timers yet (that was during testing, so I guess they added it).
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 18, 2018, 11:23:02 AM
yes, It was added but it isn't visible until you add a device and save that device.
once the device is saved exit setting for it then go back to the settings for that device dusk/dawn and timer options will now be at the bottom of the screen. I'm not sure why it was designed that way it is confusing.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tucson on January 20, 2018, 08:59:51 PM
I think this should be the top of the list of improvements :)%. I would hate to return from a trip to find all my home control off line.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: HA Dave on January 21, 2018, 09:17:44 AM
I only wish I could vote TWICE for this option!
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 21, 2018, 09:38:34 AM
I only wish I could vote TWICE for this option!
rofl
I guess the way around this (for now) is to always leave the X10Wifi app running.
As soon as it looses connection then reconnects you'll get the time sync notification.
But then you'd also have to keep one eye on the app. ::) :' rofl
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: HA Dave on January 21, 2018, 10:26:04 AM
I guess the way around this (for now) is to always leave the X10Wifi app running......

Maybe... run/sync the app on an old X10 phone I don't use for calling... or a tablet.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 21, 2018, 10:30:21 AM
Maybe... run/sync the app on an old X10 phone I don't use for calling... or a tablet.
well you'd still have to watch it  B:(
I have a hard enough time remembering to carry one phone when I go out.  rofl
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: JeffVolp on January 21, 2018, 11:05:32 AM
I have a hard enough time remembering to carry one phone when I go out.  rofl

Except when traveling, mine normally lives in my backpack.  Several years ago my wife convinced me to take a cellphone with me when hiking by myself.  I upgraded to a cheap smart phone when the flip phone wouldn't hold a charge after becoming waterlogged on Kauai.

Anyway, syncing time from the Internet would be essential for me to rely on the WM100.

Jeff
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: dave w on January 21, 2018, 01:19:39 PM
Several years ago my wife convinced me to take a cellphone with me when hiking by myself. 
Do you mean you get cell service in the western boonies where you hike? I have always wondered when/or if we will ever get to the point of coast to coast, border to border cell service.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: JeffVolp on January 21, 2018, 02:42:07 PM
Do you mean you get cell service in the western boonies where you hike? I have always wondered when/or if we will ever get to the point of coast to coast, border to border cell service.

Off topic, but the I-15 corridor has good cell service even through the boonies.  But in the back country it depends on terrain and distance from a cell tower.

Jeff
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 21, 2018, 03:13:26 PM
But in the back country it depends on terrain and distance from a cell tower.
Here in Canada it also depends on your carrier but terrain is a big factor either way.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: roger1818 on January 22, 2018, 09:43:09 AM
I only wish I could vote TWICE for this option!

Only twice?  I want to vote 5 times on this one (I will veto my comment about 4 of the top five being for different scene features, this feature is my top 5).
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on January 22, 2018, 10:26:15 AM
The only real cure for the time sync is a battery.
If my power goes out sometimes my router internet is down for much longer.
Hopefully if/when a Pro version is created a battery is added.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: roger1818 on January 22, 2018, 12:15:12 PM
The only real cure for the time sync is a battery.
If my power goes out sometimes my router internet is down for much longer.
Hopefully if/when a Pro version is created a battery is added.

True.  In the mean time it should keep retrying if the time set fails. 

IMHO, it should have both.  Computer clocks are notoriously inaccurate.  They should regularly set themselves to a standardized time source.

This made me think of a similar feature, having a scene that is triggered on a power restore.  Optimally it would also have time of day conditions, so that you can do different things depending on the time of day.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: DennisR on February 04, 2018, 12:56:27 PM
I think this should be the top of the list of improvements :)%. I would hate to return from a trip to find all my home control off line.

I see the problem already and I have only had the unit less than a week!
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: abxflyr on February 04, 2018, 06:47:29 PM
One problem I see with the time sync is for those of us who travel (extensively).  When I say problem it's more of a small nuisance rather than much else.  Every time I connect the WM100 compares time to whatever your connecting with (i.e . Android/IPAD).  I travel across many time zones and each time I have to tell it to ignore making a time change to match my device.  This of course is driven from my devices aligning themselves with the local time zone automatically which does not match my home time zone.

So, it could be a problem if the units were designed to auto sync from the connecting device (internet sync); unless there were some switching or this were done locally via firmware setting on the unit itself.

On another note, I can say that I've connected with the WM100 without issue when traveling, either local (hotel) internet, wifi, or my phone service provider.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: roger1818 on February 05, 2018, 10:50:26 AM
One problem I see with the time sync is for those of us who travel (extensively).  When I say problem it's more of a small nuisance rather than much else.  Every time I connect the WM100 compares time to whatever your connecting with (i.e . Android/IPAD).  I travel across many time zones and each time I have to tell it to ignore making a time change to match my device.  This of course is driven from my devices aligning themselves with the local time zone automatically which does not match my home time zone.

So, it could be a problem if the units were designed to auto sync from the connecting device (internet sync); unless there were some switching or this were done locally via firmware setting on the unit itself.

The suggestion is to have the WM100 automatically sync its time to an NTP (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Time_Protocol) server, not your device.  The location (ie timezone) would be set during the initial setup and not modified (though you should be able to manually change it if desired)
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on February 06, 2018, 12:36:06 PM
I'm told an improvement is coming for the time sync in the next update. :)%
No details were given. :(
I should hear more by end of the week, if a update isn't out before that. ::) :'
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: BruceC on February 25, 2018, 05:48:02 AM
It is very important for me that the X10 WiFi not loose its time after a blackout. Having it sync time from the internet is essential!

BTW, did the firmware V0.0.23 update add this capability?
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Noam on February 26, 2018, 02:30:51 AM
BTW, did the firmware V0.0.23 update add this capability?

No, that's the same version that was rolled out at the same time the unit was released (it replaced the earlier version that in the latest one at the time of manufacturing).
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Nolten on May 25, 2018, 01:41:48 PM
Is there any update on this?  Just replaced my 30? year old controller with this wifi unit.  The description said NV Ram but I didn't realize it still wouldn't work after a power outage.  One of the main reasons I upgraded.  Should I return it for another, cheaper unit that has battery backup?  My sprinkler system has that.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on May 25, 2018, 02:11:31 PM
The developer is working on some timer issues most to do with dusk/dawn and DST I'm not sure if the sync from internt option will ger added rhis time arround.
The last test version I have still looks at the phones time I believe.
Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: BackAgain on May 26, 2018, 04:09:18 AM
Not that I'll ever use this device, but how could something so basic have been left out?  This should have been one of the first things coded in, even before the rest of the base functions.

These are the types of goofs that diminish my faith in companies.



Title: Re: Add the ability to sync time from the Internet
Post by: Tuicemen on May 26, 2018, 10:54:02 AM
To be honest this unit originaly was to be nothing more then a on/off wifi to PLC signal repeater.
I stated users expected more then another remote control.
This is why upgradable firmware was added, allowing other wise impossible options to be added. AHP took 10+ years to get all the oprions it has and it too had issues with times some of which never got fixed.