Time, RTC & Clocks

The MAS6180C is one of the most widely used integrated circuits for receiving long-wave atomic clock signals such as WWVB, MSF, JJY and DCF77. It is specifically designed for low-frequency time signal reception and offers excellent sensitivity and stability when used with a proper antenna. This chip is at the heart of many reliable radio-controlled […]

Designing a clock system is only half the job. To ensure reliable performance, it is important to measure and verify its accuracy over time. This involves understanding drift, calculating ppm (parts per million) and using proper logging methods. This article explains how to evaluate the accuracy of your clock system in a practical and meaningful

Traditional atomic clock receivers rely on amplitude modulation (AM) to decode time signals such as WWVB. While this method works well under good conditions, it is often unreliable indoors or in electrically noisy environments. Modern receivers based on WWVB-BPSK (Binary Phase Shift Keying), such as the EverSet ES100, represent a major improvement in reliability and

The DS3231 is best known as a highly accurate real-time clock, but it also includes useful alarm and interrupt functions. These features allow the RTC to signal a microcontroller when a specific time is reached, making it useful for low-power systems, scheduled events and wake-up functions. This article explains how DS3231 alarms work and how

GPS (Global Positioning System) is not only used for location tracking but also provides extremely accurate time information. Every GPS satellite carries atomic clocks, allowing receivers to derive precise time anywhere in the world. This makes GPS one of the most powerful and globally available time synchronization methods for electronic systems. How GPS Provides Time

Many embedded systems must continue operating correctly after a power failure, battery change or unexpected reset. If the system depends on accurate time, losing power can create serious problems unless time recovery is handled properly. This article explains how to design systems that recover time reliably after power loss using RTCs, backup batteries and external

For connected devices, one of the easiest and most flexible ways to obtain accurate time is through the internet using the Network Time Protocol (NTP). This method is widely used in IoT devices, servers and embedded systems with network connectivity. NTP allows devices to synchronize their internal clocks with highly accurate time servers distributed around

Real-time clock modules are usually easy to connect because most of them use the I2C bus. However, many RTC chips use fixed I2C addresses. This can create address conflicts when multiple RTCs or similar devices are connected to the same bus. This article explains why these conflicts happen and how to solve them in practical

Choosing the right time source is one of the most important design decisions in any system that relies on accurate time. Depending on your requirements, you may use a simple RTC, an atomic clock receiver, GPS or internet time. Each method has its strengths and limitations. This guide helps you select the best option based

Atomic clock receiver modules make it possible to synchronize a microcontroller project with national time signals such as WWVB, DCF77, MSF or JJY. While the radio technology behind these signals can be complex, many receiver modules provide a simple digital output that can be read by a microcontroller. This article explains what comes out of