DCFclock problem

wsandor

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Subject:

DCFclock problem

· Posted: 10.07.2012 - 08:50 · #1

Hi,

I have a problem with DCFclock:
DCFfieldMode = reset;
The DCF signal is very noisy at some times here, but after a while DCFField becomes 255 and keep this value for a while (which should mean a good reception), but DCFready never becomes True, so I can't get the clock data. What could cause this problem?
(I use AVRCo 3.97 Build 061202)
Thanks in advance for your help.

Sandor

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Re: DCFclock problem

· Posted: 10.07.2012 - 14:16 · #2

Hello Sandor,

the driver counts valid pakets. If 255 is reached then the field seems to be ok.
But the other criteria is that there must be no invalid paket in the next few
minutes so that all data sec, min, hour, day, week, month, year will be valid.
If this is not the case DCFready will not be set.

My experience with DCF77 receiver is that there are huge quality differences.
Hungary is a long way from Frankfurt. I think you must use an active antenna.

rolf

wsandor

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Re: DCFclock problem

· Posted: 10.07.2012 - 14:36 · #3

Dear Rolf,

Thank you for your fast reply.
I have a cheap weather station with DCF clock at the next room. It gets the clock data normally. (after restart it usually sets the time within some minutes)
Maybe my DCF module (I bought it from Conrad) has a weaker performance.
I try to experiment then with the antenna position.

Sandor

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Subject:

Re: DCFclock problem

· Posted: 10.07.2012 - 15:09 · #4

Hello Sandor,

I also had some DCF receivers from Conrad. Most of them were very sensitive for antenna
position. One of them, in a triangular plastic case, was absolute perfect.

rolf

wsandor

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Subject:

Re: DCFclock problem

· Posted: 18.07.2012 - 14:14 · #5

Hello Rolf,

The DCF is working perfectly.
I've made a mistake, I thought that once it gets a good packet DCFReady became true, and the DCF_xxx variables contains the actual time for at least until the next data package - 1 minute - , but this is not the case.
Now I copy the values of the DCF_xxx variables to my own ones in DCFUpdate - and set my RTC accordingly a little bit later at an other part of my program. This way it seems to work perfectly.

Sandor

DCFclock problem

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