5 ms·

As a counter point, I've lived in places with frequent power disruptions and smart timers that use the internet and NTP and figure out the time work _so much be

As a counter point, I've lived in places with frequent power disruptions and smart timers that use the internet and NTP and figure out the time work _so much better_ than the mechanical timers.

moffkalast 5y ago
I hate to be the tiktok pokerface simple solution meme guy, but that's a solvable issue by just adding a RTC module, no complex internet garbage required.
- beardedwizard 5y ago
  Ah yes, the trivial to build, ultra simple crystal oscillator real time clock. Every hobbyist can just fab them right up, or just dig around in the garden to find a few.
  - dralley 5y ago
    Or buy them online for $15 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12708 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12708 Following hobbyist-directed instructions that are, also, readily available online https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/embeddedlab786/real-time-clock-with-timer-60fdd4 https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/embeddedlab786/real-tim...
    - beardedwizard 5y ago
      So, order electronics from the internet for my non smart, non internet connected devices. Got it.
      - deleted 5y ago
        [deleted]
      - zrobotics 5y ago
        Or go to an electronics store, if we need to be snarky about it.
    - xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
      Or just buy a finished product for the same price as a single part: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G6O28NA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G6O28NA
      - dralley 5y ago
        Exactly. I only mention the hobbyist route because they took their comment in that direction.
  - sixothree 5y ago
    I think he means it's a problem solvable by manufacturers that does not involve end user surveillance.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- mavhc 5y ago
  And a battery, and a UI to set the clock, and a thing to alter the DST/Time zone
  - fragmede 5y ago
    And if the country you're in dares change the DST switch-over date (aka the US, during the Clinton era), you're now in an even worse situation, because you have to change it four times a year. Twice because of DST, then two more times because your clock is trying to be helpful and accommodate DST for you. That or you download the firmware, repack it with new tzdata files, and reflash the system, which as we all know, all manufacturers totally support everywhere, and for free, so doing that sounds like an easy technical exercise.
- brudgers 5y ago
  A realtime clock for a mechanical timer of the type I believe the comment alludes based on reference to the 1970's would require stepper motors, solenoids, rigid frames and such to turn the dial. Maybe a camera too to determine the state of the timer. ...and hence the fussiness of home automation. Or to put it another way, clockworks are inherently so complicated that features are literally called "complications." TAANSAFL. YMMV.
  - whatshisface 5y ago
    >would require stepper motors, solenoids, rigid frames and such to turn the dial. Maybe a camera too to determine the state of the timer. Huh? Electric analog clocks have small electric motors to turn their dials and that's it.

As a counter point, I've lived in places with frequent power disruptions and smart timers that use the internet and NTP and figure out the time work _so much better_ than the mechanical timers.

moffkalast 5y ago

I hate to be the tiktok pokerface simple solution meme guy, but that's a solvable issue by just adding a RTC module, no complex internet garbage required.

beardedwizard 5y ago
Ah yes, the trivial to build, ultra simple crystal oscillator real time clock. Every hobbyist can just fab them right up, or just dig around in the garden to find a few.
- dralley 5y ago
  Or buy them online for $15 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12708 https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12708 Following hobbyist-directed instructions that are, also, readily available online https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/embeddedlab786/real-time-clock-with-timer-60fdd4 https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/embeddedlab786/real-tim...
  - beardedwizard 5y ago
    So, order electronics from the internet for my non smart, non internet connected devices. Got it.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - zrobotics 5y ago
      Or go to an electronics store, if we need to be snarky about it.
  - xyzzy_plugh 5y ago
    Or just buy a finished product for the same price as a single part: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G6O28NA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G6O28NA
    - dralley 5y ago
      Exactly. I only mention the hobbyist route because they took their comment in that direction.
- sixothree 5y ago
  I think he means it's a problem solvable by manufacturers that does not involve end user surveillance.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
mavhc 5y ago
And a battery, and a UI to set the clock, and a thing to alter the DST/Time zone
- fragmede 5y ago
  And if the country you're in dares change the DST switch-over date (aka the US, during the Clinton era), you're now in an even worse situation, because you have to change it four times a year. Twice because of DST, then two more times because your clock is trying to be helpful and accommodate DST for you. That or you download the firmware, repack it with new tzdata files, and reflash the system, which as we all know, all manufacturers totally support everywhere, and for free, so doing that sounds like an easy technical exercise.
brudgers 5y ago
A realtime clock for a mechanical timer of the type I believe the comment alludes based on reference to the 1970's would require stepper motors, solenoids, rigid frames and such to turn the dial. Maybe a camera too to determine the state of the timer. ...and hence the fussiness of home automation. Or to put it another way, clockworks are inherently so complicated that features are literally called "complications." TAANSAFL. YMMV.
- whatshisface 5y ago
  >would require stepper motors, solenoids, rigid frames and such to turn the dial. Maybe a camera too to determine the state of the timer. Huh? Electric analog clocks have small electric motors to turn their dials and that's it.