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Operator's Manual for Fast Clocks, Version 1
Operator's Manual for Fast Clocks, Version 1
What follows is the operating manual for version 1 of the fast clock firmware. Version 1 is OBSOLETE and should not be used, except in constructing slave units.
| Screen | Description |
|---|
 | Normal Appearance
This is the normal clock, displaying time and going about its business. If the unit is a master, this will always display time. Pressing the MENU button will take you into the configuration menu (please see Configuration Mode Below). |
 | Errors / Network Problems
If the unit is a slave, it will display four dashes until it receives valid data from the master controller on the bus. This also can indicate problems with your network if these dashes show up during normal operation - they indicate that packets are being garbled as they travel from the master to the failing slave. |
 | Pausing The Clocks
The fast clock can be paused by pushing the CHANGE button until the display says "hold". The system can then be restored to normal timing operation by pressing the SET key. |
 | Adjusting the Time
To manually set the time during normal operations (without changing the default reset time - just to adjust the current time displayed on the clock), press the SET key. This will first take you to a screen to adjust the hours (which can be incremented by pressing the CHANGE key), and then, by pressing the SET key again, to a screen to adjust the minutes. One more press of the SET key will take you back to the normal clock screen. |
On any configuration screen (anything but Normal), you can change the value for the parameter displayed using the CHANGE key. However, no changes will actually be made until the SET key is pressed. The SET key commits the parameter to non-volatile memory and changes the operating behaviour of the device. If you change the setting and press the MENU key again before committing it with the SET key, your changes will be ignored and the previous value will be restored for that parameter.
| Screen | Description |
|---|
 | Starting Hour (Sh) Configuration
This sets the starting hour for the clock. This is the hour displayed when the device is first powered up. Default is 12 am. |
 | Starting Minute (Sn) Configuration
This sets the starting minute for the clock. This is the hour displayed when the device is first powered up. Default is 37 minutes after the hour. |
 | Scale Factor (SF) Configuration
Allows the user to choose the ratio by which time is multiplied. The table below lists the 16 default ratios, and the length of a scale 24-hour day at that ratio. Ratio choices are 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, 12:1, 16:1, 20:1, 24:1, 30:1, 32:1, 36:1, 40:1, and 60:1 (others can be added by modifying the lookup tables in the code). Default is 1:1. |
 | System Time (St) Configuration
Depending on when your railroad is set and which line it represents, 12-hour AM/PM time or 24-hour universal time (sometimes referred to incorrectly as military time). This configuration screen allows you to select whichever you prefer to use. Default is 12-hour AM/PM time. |
 | Slave Select (SS) Configuration
Any clock can be either a master or a slave - the software and hardware is identical (if you pinned out the wires for the buttons on the slaves, at least). Setting this defines whether the clock is the master, and sends out timing packets to all other clocks on the network, or whether it should listen for incoming timing packets. Networks can only have a single master clock. Master mode is indicated by a "tn" (for transmitting node) on the display, and slave mode is "rn" (for receiving node). Default is master (tn). |
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