Configuring the Front Panel

NetClock's Web UI allows you to configure the main elements on the front panel of the unit, and to see an image of the information currently displayed on the 4-line front panel information display.

To access the front panel configuration window:

1. Navigate to MANAGEMENT > OTHER: Front Panel.

2. The Front Panel configuration window will display:

• Next to the graphical near-real time representation of the 4-line front panel information display, the following functionality can be accessed in this window:
  • Show Content—A drop-down of the options that can be shown on the information display. This field determines what is normally displayed in the information display when the keypad is not in use. The desired screen to display can be selected with either the keypad or with this drop-down field. While switching from one screen to another either “Keypad Locked” or “Keypad Unlocked” will be displayed on the LCD (depending on the setting of the keypad “Lock” field).
  • Clock Hour Format—This option configures the time display on the front panel as either in 12-hour or 24-hour format.
  • Timescale/Local Clock—This option configures the time scale for the LED time display. The available options are:
    • UTC (temps universel coordonné)
    • TAI (Temps Atomique International)
    • GPS: the raw GPS time as transmitted by the GNSS satellites (as of <D-M-Y>, GPS time is 18 seconds ahead of UTC time).
    • The Local timescale, which allows a Local Clock to apply a time offset for Time Zone and DST correction. This option is only available, if a Local Clock has been enabled under MANAGEMENT/OTHER/Time Management.

  Note: If GPS or TAI time is used, then the proper timescale offsets must be set on the MANAGEMENT/OTHER/Time Management page.

  • Lock Keypad—If desired, the front panel keypad can be locked to prevent inadvertent operation. Locking and unlocking of the keypad can be performed either with the keypad itself, or by means of this check box. [DEFAULT = this box is NOT checked, i.e. the keypad is NOT locked]
  • Allow Position Display—As per DEFAULT, NetClock allows to display the geographic position of your antenna in the information display, if so configured under the Show Content selection menu. The option to display the position can be disabled by unchecking this box. This will cause the information display on the front panel of the unit to show the message “Not Enabled” when selecting and applying the Position option via the keypad.

To configure the 4-line LCD information display on the front panel of the unit:

1. Navigate to MANAGEMENT > OTHER: Front Panel.
2. In the Show Content field, select the display you want from the drop-down list. The options are:
   • Rotate—This option enables sequential rotation of the content displayed in the information display as long as the keypad is not in use. Content will rotate through all enabled content for installed options. When Rotate is selected, a further option appears on the screen:
     • Rotation Delay—This option sets the duration in seconds for content display during rotation before the next content screen is displayed. [Range = between 1 and 30 seconds]
   • Network (the default)—This option displays the current network settings. If an option card is installed that provides additional network interfaces, there will be additional network choices (i.e., Network: eth0, Network: eth1, etc.).
   • Status—This option displays current key status indications (such as NTP Stratum level, TFOM –“Time Figure of Merit”, Sync status and Oscillator lock status).
   • Position—This option displays latitude, longitude and elevation of the antenna.
   • Day of Year—This option displays the day of year (such as “Day of Year 104”).
   • GNSS—This option displays the number of satellites currently being used (and the strongest signal strength out of all these satellites) and their relative signal strengths of all the receiver channels that are tracking satellites as a bar graph.
   • Date—This option displays the current date (such as “16 November 2018”).

   Note: The date is based on the timescale configured for the information display. It is possible that a date other than “today’s local date” may be shown, if the configured time scale has already rolled over to its new date, though local time has not yet rolled over to its new date.

   • Keys—This option is applicable to the SAASM GPS receiver option module only. The front panel will display “NOT SUPPORTED” unless a SAASM receiver is installed.
   • None—This option configures the front panel 4-line information display to remain blank unless the keypad is unlocked and in use.
3. In the Timescale/Local Clock field, choose the timescale or local clock you wish to use as the time reference for the time shown on the front panel time display. The options available are:
   • UTC
   • TAI
   • GPS
   • Any Local Clocks you have set up. The Time Zone and DST rules, as configured underTime Management/Local Clocks will now be applied to the front panel time display. For more information on Local Clocks see Local Clock(s), DST.

Note: With Timescale configured as “Local” and during DST (Daylight Saving Time, as configured in the Local Clock), a “DST indicator” (decimal point) will be displayed to the bottom-right of the minutes portion of the LED time display. The “DST indicator” extinguishes during “Standard” time. If the Local Clock is configured as “No DST/Always Standard Time”, the DST indicator won’t ever be lit.

4. Select the Lock Keypad check box if you want to lock the front panel keypad. [DEFAULT = unlocked (unchecked)]
5. Deselect the Allow Position Display checkbox if you do not want to enable the option to display position data on the front panel information display. See also Allow Position Display.

To lock or unlock the keypad on the front panel of the unit (see illustration Front Panel):

1. Navigate to MANAGEMENT> OTHER: Front Panel.
2. Check or uncheck the Lock Keypad checkbox to disable, or enable the keypad
3. Click Submit or Apply.

Note: If the keypad is unlocked, pressing any keypad key will temporarily return the information display to the “Home” menu display for keypad operation. One minute after the last keypad press, the information display will return to its configured screen.

It is also possible to unlock the keypad without using the Web UI; see Unlocking the Keypad via Keypad.

To enable or disable [DEFAULT = enable] the option to display geographic position data on the information display, if so configured (see also Allow Position Display):

1. Navigate to MANAGEMENT > OTHER: Front Panel.
2. Check or uncheck the Allow Position Display checkbox.
3. Click Submit or Apply.