RCStudio Clock

RCStudioClock is a Pi Radio Studio Clock written in python using pygame with studio indicators for microphones, telephones etc... on widescreen (16:9) monitors, displays and TVs.

This was designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi and also runs on X11 in full screen.

It was derived from PIRSClockFull by jdgwarren (https://github.com/jdgwarren/pirsclockfull).

This version includes configurable indicators for microphones, telephones etc... for use in a radio studio. It was extended by a configfile and indicators are triggered via HTTP API.

Development Status

RCStudio-Clock is currently in Beta Status without real documentation.

Installation for Raspberry Pi

It's recommended to use Debian Wheezy or above for this project and a 4GB or more SD Card.
For reliability I recommend to only use this Pi for the clock.

Note 1: The Pi will have the most accuracy in time keeping when it has a constant connection to the internet.

Note 2: On older HDMI displays and composite video you may need to force 16:9 mode. This is done by adding this to the config.txt in the boot partition:

sdtv_aspect=3

See http://elinux.org/RPiconfig for more info.

Once you have copied the Debian Wheezy Image to your SD Card and booted your Pi for the first time, a prompt will come up called:

Raspberry Pi Software Configuration Tool (raspi-config)

You need to select:

1 Expand Filesystem

Then

<Ok>

Next we need to:

3 Enable Boot to Desktop/Scratch

and select:

Console Text console

THIS PART IS IMPORTANT TO GET THE RIGHT TIMEZOME

Select:

4 Internationalisation Options

Then:

I2 Change Time Zone

You will have a list of continents/geographical areas, select your one. Then select a region or city in your time zone.

When you are done select:

<Finish>

Then Reboot.

Once you have rebooted and logged in lets make sure everything is up to date:

sudo apt-get update

Then

sudo apt-get upgrade

Now we need to get setuptools:

sudo apt-get install python-setuptools

And finally copy all files from the the repository to a directory (e.g. /opt/RCStudioClock)

git clone https://git.code.sf.net/p/rcstudioclock/code /opt/RCStudioClock

and there we have it!

Running it

All we have to do in the directory is:

sudo pirsclockfull

To quit just hold down keys Q and T at the same time.

Configuration

documentation to be added (hint: there is a json config file)

Using the indicators

documentation to be added

hint:
curl -X POST -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"indicator":{"1":1}}' http://localhost:5000/api/v1.0/indicator

can activate indicator 1

Running it on system start

Firstly:

sudo crontab -e

And add this to the bottom of the file:

@reboot /opt/RCStudioClock/pirsclockfull &

Press Ctrl and O keys together to save.

Then press Enter.

Then Ctrl and X to exit

sudo reboot

To test it.

It should now automatically display after you reboot and every time you turn it on. Remember hold Q and T to get back to the command line if needed.