Dalibor Farny Puri Nixie User manual
Puri Nixie Clock
1 — Last update: 26 November 2021
aliborfarny.com
Copyright © 2021 aliborfarny.com
Table of Contents
1. Quick start ......................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Using the clock.................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1. Online mode............................................................................................................................... 2
2.2. Offline mode............................................................................................................................... 2
2.3. User account.............................................................................................................................. 3
2.4. How to access the clock............................................................................................................. 4
2.4.1. Configuration website ........................................................................................................ 5
2.4.2. iOS app.............................................................................................................................. 5
2.4.3. Android app ..................................................................................................................... 11
2.4.4. Cloud API ........................................................................................................................ 16
2.5. Connecting the clock to the internet ......................................................................................... 28
2.6. Timekeeping ............................................................................................................................ 45
2.6.1. ate and Time configuration ............................................................................................ 46
2.6.2. Calibration of the internal oscillator .................................................................................. 47
2.7. Visual Effects ........................................................................................................................... 49
2.8. Nixie Tube Health..................................................................................................................... 50
2.8.1. Cathode cleaning interval................................................................................................. 50
2.8.2. Healing of the cathode poisoning ..................................................................................... 51
2.9. Firmware Updates .................................................................................................................... 58
2.9.1. Mobile hotspot ................................................................................................................. 59
2.10. Listening Mode....................................................................................................................... 61
2.11. System LE ........................................................................................................................... 62
2.12. irect Connect ....................................................................................................................... 64
2.13. Night Mode............................................................................................................................. 66
3. Technical data ................................................................................................................................. 69
1. Quick start
This page briefly describes the minimum steps needed to set up your new Puri Nixie Clock.
Using the clock connected to the internet
1. Select how to control the clock
There are three options for how to control the clock – iOS app that can run on any iPhone or iPad,
Android app, and finally browser app that runs in any browser.
2. Log in
First, register with your email address, login, and continue to the connection process of your clock.
We respect your privacy – your email address is used only for sending a link to reset the password
if you ask for it.
3. Connect the clock to your wifi network
The clock needs to know the wifi credentials so that it can connect to your wifi router. So first, the
clock needs to be switched to listening mode (unplug the adapter during the startup sequence,
then plug it back in). Next, you connect to it over wifi with the app, scan for your wifi network, enter
the password for the wifi and confirm the connection. The clock will now connect to the internet
and will be assigned to your account.
4. Configure the clock
Once the clock knows the wifi credentials, you can see it in the app and access its configuration
parameters. You are done!
Using the clock offline, independent of the internet
1. Select how to control the clock
There are two options for controlling the clock – iOS app that can run on any iPhone or iPad,
Android app. Unfortunately, the Configuration website doesn’t support irect connect yet.
2. Connect to your clock directly over wifi
First, the clock needs to be switched to listening mode (unplug the adapter during the startup
sequence, then plug it back). Next, you connect to it over wifi with the app, and select irect
connect option.
3. Configure the clock
The communication is now done directly from your device to the clock without needing an internet
connection. Set all configuration parameters as you wish, and you are done!
4. Synchronize the time manually
From time to time, you will need to synchronize the time manually from the app using irect
Connect.
Last modified: 21 November 2021
The Puri Nixie Clock can operate offline, but the preferred mode of operation is when the
clock is connected to the internet. This way it can synchronize its time regularly, receive
firmware updates and offer other functions.
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2. Using the clock
Please select one of the topics in the left menu.
Last modified: 26 November 2021
2.1. Online mode
The online mode is the preferred mode of operation is a WiFi network is around.
In online mode, the clock is connected to the internet directly via a WiFi router, all the communication
between the configuration device (your phone with the installed app or a computer with the opened
website) and the clock is done over the internet. There is no direct connection between the configuration
device and the clock. The only exception is the connection process, during which is the clock for a while
connected directly to the configuration device.
When the clock is in online mode, it will synchronize time from the internet automatically. It can also
receive firmware updates and be controlled over API.
The clock doesn’t need the internet to operate, the internet serves only as a source of time and provides
a settings interface. When the internet goes down, the clock continues to run, it just isn’t synchronized
and is not accessible in the configuration apps. Once the internet is available again, the clock
reconnects to our cloud and continues in time sync as usual.
Last modified: 21 November 2021
2.2. Offline mode
If there is no internet connection available around the clock, the clock can operate in Offline mode
without connection to the internet.
In the Offline mode, the clock works as a WiFi access point. To configure the clock in Offline mode, you
will need a phone with our app installed. That phone will then connect directly to the clock’s WiFi
network and send commands directly to the clock. Read more about the direct connection to the clock
under irect connect section.
The clock in Offline mode needs to have its time synchronized manually from time to time – this is done
via the app.
The firmware updates are not available in offline mode – these come from the internet, to receive
updates connect the clock to the internet.
Last modified: 21 November 2021
If the clock is in the Offline mode, it has the Wi-Fi access point with its name on all the
time, you can connect to it anytime without switching it to listening mode.
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2.3. User account
For convenient control of the Puri Nixie Clock, the owner needs to link it to his user account.
Create user account from Configuration website
Go to the login page: https://user.daliborfarny.com/login/ And click on the Create Account button.
Now fill in your email address, choose your password and click on the green Create Account button.
This action will create your account and log you in – now you can start using the app.
Create user account from iOS app /Android app
Tap the “My clock” icon on the bottom of the screen to access the login/register page. Now fill in your
email, the app will recognize that there is no such email registered yet and will offer two boxes for the
password. Choose your password and tap on the Register button. This action will create your account
and log you in – now you can start using the app.
We respect your privacy, the email used for the user account is not used for sending any
unwanted messages.
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Last modified: 21 November 2021
2.4. How to access the clock
The clock doesn’t contain any buttons, all the settings are done wirelessly over WiFi from your device.
Choose the way how you want to control the Puri Nixie Clock:
•iOS app – iOS app for iPhones, iPads and some other Apple devices.
•Android app – app developed for Android phones.
•Configuration website – app that runs in a browser without installation of any extensions. Just log
in and start using it.
•Cloud API – you can control the clock programmatically over our Cloud API.
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Last modified: 21 November 2021
2.4.1. Configuration website
The clock can be controlled from a browser regular computer without installing anything to your
computer or any apps to a mobile phone. The computer only needs to have a wifi interface and browser.
It can be a laptop, PC, iMac, or even a mobile phone with a browser.
After logging in, you will see a screen below. There are three main links in the left menu:
1. Connect – use this link to connect the clock to a new WiFi network
2. My devices – use this link to configure already connected devices
3. My account – use this link to modify your email or password
Currently, the browser app interface doesn’t support irect connect.
Some features are available only from the browser app – for instance, Healing.
Last modified: 21 November 2021
2.4.2. iOS app
We have an iOS application that allows our customers to fully control our clocks. The application is
compatible with iPhones and iPads.
The configuration website is available here: https://user.daliborfarny.com/login/
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To download the application, please follow this link:
Home screen
When you start the app, you are situated on a home screen. In portrait mode, there are three tabs on the
bottom of the screen – Home,My Clock, and Help. The Home button brings you back to the home
screen. My clock button moves you to clock settings and connection. The help button opens our web-
based documentation. The home screen displays actual time using nixie tubes graphics.
Download https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nixie-clocks/id1340858489
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Portrait mode
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Last modified: 1 November 2021
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2.4.3. Android app
We have an Android application that allows our customers to fully control our clocks. Some Android
phones disconnect from the clock during the connection process and reconnect back to the WiFi router.
This makes the connection process almost impossible to make – if you encounter such behavior, please
use either another Android phone or some other platform. This issue applies only to the connection
process, once the clock is connected and online, it can be controlled from that phone normally.
To download the application, please follow this link:
Home screen
When you start the app, you are situated on a home screen. In portrait mode, there are three tabs on the
bottom of the screen – Home,My Clock, and Help. The Home button brings you back to the home
screen. My clock button moves you to clock settings and connection. The help button opens our web-
based documentation. The home screen displays actual time using nixie tubes graphics.
Download https://play.google.com/store/apps/
details?id=cz.daliborfarny.nixieclock&hl=en&gl=US
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Portrait mode
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Last modified: 1 November 2021
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2.4.4. Cloud API
Some of our nixie clocks can be controlled programmatically over REST API. This feature offers
possibilities to display custom numbers or control brightness over the clock as you wish. Individual API
calls are sent to our cloud server that communicates with the clock. The clock must be connected to the
internet to make the API calls work properly.
Authentication
You will need to know or get the following variables for communication with our clocks:
•EMAIL, PASSWORD – use the same credentials as for our web or mobile app
•ACCESS_TOKEN – you will get one after successful login. Every other API call must be
authorized using this token. Session token has an expiration time of 1 year.
•CLOCK_ID – See the table below in section Clock I s.
•API URL – https://api.daliborfarny.com/
Clock IDs
Each clock model has a certain product I , Zen clocks 2, 4-tube Puri 6, etc. This is not a serial number
that is unique for each clock.
Clock Name Clock ID
Zen Nixie Clock 2
Puri Nixie Clock (4-tube) 6
Puri Nixie Clock (6-tube) 15
Nixie Machine II 3
Nixie Machine III 9
NX.2 4
Obtaining the ACCESS_TOKEN
Use your EMAIL and PASSWORD to obtain ACCESS_TOKEN. Replace EMAIL and PASSWORD with
the actual credentials you are using on https://user.daliborfarny.com/ or in the mobile app.
API call specification:
• Request type – POST
• Endpoint URL – /oauth/token
• Request body – client_id=3rdparty&client_secret=ws7TQHXp5W6444t4&grant_typ
e=password&username=EMAIL&password=PASSWORD
Example API call using curl:
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$ curl -X POST https://api.daliborfarny.com/oauth/token -d "client_id=3rdpart
y&client_secret=ws7TQHXp5W6444t4&grant_type=password&username=EMAIL&password=P
ASSWORD"
The server responds with a JSON containing the access_token:
{
"ok":true,
"status":200,
"data":{
"access_token":"62dd89362a635ff8692a590456e8a8118e61d9902",
"expires_in":31536000,
"token_type":"Bearer",
"scope":null,
"refresh_token":"ef687d958f83ad13dff915d89f54ab2d8322193a"
}
}
You can test this step manually from the command line:
Getting a list of your clocks
The next step is to get a list of clocks that are paired to your account. The pairing is done automatically
during the process of connecting the clock to the internet. Replace the ACCESS_TOKEN with the
access token you received in the previous step.
API call specification:
• Request type – GET
• Endpoint URL – /v1/devices?client_id=3rdparty&access_token=ACCESS_TOKEN&clie
nt_secret=ws7TQHXp5W6444t4
Example API call using curl:
$ curl -X GET "https://api.daliborfarny.com/v1/devices?client_id=3rdparty&acce
ss_token=62dd89362a635ff8692a590456e8a8118e61d9902&client_secret=ws7TQHXp5W644
4t4"
The JSON response returned by the cloud server:
{
"ok":true,
"status":200,
"data":[
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