Is it time to change the clock on SSDR?

Ken · February 2019

I believe it is time to change the clock format on the Smart SDR program. (We did say Smart - Right!). Anyway I could care less what time is is in jolly old England unless I'm there. In fact you have more than enough room at the bottom of the screen to put two clocks in. Why 2 clocks? Well how about one clock for the time zone of the people you talk to most. And another clock for the time zone you are in. Right now I'm in China and I'm talking to my Friends back on the west coast of the USA. Right now I have to keep my cell phone next to me so I know what the darn time is. Cannot this program be as smart as my cell phone is? It will not take up any extra bandwidth. It will just take some time to write some code in a program, and I DO know what that means being an old software programmer.
TNX - K7REA - Ken

Neil D Friedman N3DF · February 2019

I don't believe my 6600M's software has a viewable clock. But if it did, I would certainly want it on UTC (to coordinate QSO times with all contacts). I think the FT8 software has it about right.

KF4HR · February 2019

A clock for where you talk most? What about people who regularly talk all around the world? 24 different clocks?

I only need GMT time for logging. If I have a question about the other 23 time zones, I glance at my Geochron.

WX7Y · February 2019

I have two time zones when I have SmartSDR running on my computers, GMT time on the Radio and the computer clock that is settable to what ever time zone you want, not sure what you need another clock for.
I personally think SmartSDR programmers have much more important things to do then to add another clock.
There are a lot of World clock programs for the computer out there too.

K5ROX · February 2019

I agree.....there so many things lacking in the software but it finally shows version and User Name which you can add your call.

It took years to get this simple thing...…..Flex just don't do basic simple good.

Bill -VA3WTB · February 2019

To Us want to be programers everything seems simple.

Jon_KF2E · February 2019

K9dur makes a nice utility that puts a banner on your screen with multiple time zones.

http://k9dur.info/misc_utilities.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Al_NN4ZZ · February 2019

Ray / K9DUR also has some great SmartSDR related utilities here:

http://k9dur.info/smartsdr_utilities.html

I have both his UTC clock and SDRMonitor programs running 24x7.

What I really like about Ray's programs that I'm using is that they do one thing and do it well and don't have any issues ( at least I've never had or heard of anyone having a problem). Download, set them up and they just work.

Al / NN4ZZ
al (at) nn4zz (dot) com
6700 & SSDR-W V 2.4.9
Win10

Steven WA8Y · February 2019

I use Ham Clock, it is free;
http://www.alpinesoft.com/ashamclock.html
I also use Time Converter and World Clock, free website;
https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

Thanks for the info from other who replied.

Gene Duprey · February 2019

I woul just like to have a UTC clock show up on the Maestro screen.

Clay N9IO · February 2019

With all of the many things to come my thought is to utilize the Maestro's engine resources for radio operations. Clocks are available everywhere guys.

Michael Coslo · February 2019

That is the best thing about using a computer on your radio. Separate, well tweaked programs. I dread to see what SSDR would be after all of the demands were implemented. Bloatware is what it would be. Hard to say the effect when competing demands are involved. Meanwhile I have multiple clocks on my computers, no problem. As well, if we are using Windows 10, it is trivial to set up different timezones and clocks in the taskbar.

Gene Duprey · February 2019

If you are operating remote and do not have a UTC clock, then it would be nice to have it on the Maestro screen somewhere.

K5ROX · February 2019

I know programming and the simple stuff like clock,squelch and making Memory not a sub menu and throwing 5 or so favorites at the top is super easy.....programming isn't as many of us older people think, weve gone a long way since r65 and so on.

K5ROX · February 2019

I agree, u kinda got downgraded.

Andy - KU7T · February 2019

Good idea, but I think we have bigger fish to fry...

73
Andy
KU7T

Burt Fisher · February 2019

I paper log totally in local time. I don't live in no Greenwich England.

Geoff AB6BT · February 2019

Must be confusing for the DX...

Gene Duprey · February 2019

I have only used the 6500 with the Maestro, so it is the same as using my Icom 775DSP, no clock there also. I use the Maestro when remote, so no utc clock. If on the Maestro screen this would be great. It is on SmartSDR computer screen, seems an omission on SmartSDR for the Maestro. My current work around is memory spots at 5 & 10 Mhz, but very clumsy.

Gene Duprey · February 2019

UTC is traditionally used for radio logging world wide. I guess if you never work other states or DX then you are OK with local time, or never send out QSLs.

James Whiteway · February 2019

Bert, when I first got my Novice license I was told I had to keep a paper log of all contacts ( CW only for a Novice back then) and that the time of the contact listed in the log had to be shown in GMT as that was the standard all across the world. And depending on time zone, easily converted to local time if needed. As I understood it, it was an FCC and similar agencies around the world, requirement for a licensed Amateur radio station's records. So, that is what I have always used when I do bother to log now, ( even though it's no longer required) And when I have sent out QSL cards, GMT(now called UTC) is included. It's a standard practice that I was taught over 45 years ago. James WD5GWY