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Automatic time zone configuration

A project log for DIY ESP8266 Led Matrix Clock Kit

Entry-level DIY kit, designed as fun activity one can complete in one evening

andriymalyshenkoandriy.malyshenko 06/21/2023 at 20:210 Comments

When I did this clock project for myself I didn't realize that you'd need to configure time zone settings more than once. But after I start selling those on Tindie few people asked some advice on how to configure time zone without re-flashing firmware.

Although re-flashing LED clock if a good educational exercise, it make perfect sense to allow configuring TZ on the fly, by changing settings via UI. After some thinking I found even better way to approach this.

In the latest version clock will just request timezone settings based on location (and powered by IP geo-location services obviously). I'm still testing the whole flow, but so far it works perfectly.

I did few smaller improvements along the way, mostly to address other issues people contacted me about.

So now if Wifi connection is not available Clock will invite you on the screen to connect to the configuration AP. Also it will sync the clock little more often to pick up daylight saving time changes.

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