The Ping Clock transforms your video calling experience by giving you a clear, real-time view of your internet connection status. With a simple glance, you can easily monitor ping times, ensuring you're never left guessing whether it's your connection or the other party's that's causing the freeze. Stay informed and connected effortlessly.
The Ping Clock: Monitor Your Connection in Style
Imagine being in the middle of an important video call when everything suddenly freezes, leaving you anxious about whether the problem lies with your connection or the other person's. With The Ping Clock, you don’t have to wonder anymore. This innovative device offers a clear visual cue of your internet connection status, represented by the ping time — the duration it takes for a data packet to travel to a designated host and back.
Understanding Ping Time
Lower ping times mean better connectivity; ideally, for video calls, a ping below a few tenths of a second is acceptable. You can select a reliable public server, such as google.com or 80.80.80.80, or any host relevant to your work.
When your video call lags but the Ping Clock shows low ping, there’s no need to panic or reset your router. Simply wait for the other party to reconnect.
Setting Up Your Ping Clock
Connecting to the Ping Clock's Wi-Fi access point allows you to set up your Wi-Fi network and specify the host for ping testing. With each passing second, the outer hand of the clock updates to reflect the latest ping value, while the innermost hand tracks maximum pings, making connection issues easy to spot at a glance.
The Hardware Behind the Magic
The Ping Clock is powered by an ESP32 microcontroller, which connects via Wi-Fi to update the e-paper display. It performs ping tests and calculates the angles of the clock hands based on those results. A second ESP32 acts solely as a motor controller.
Dual Clock Hands Motor Module
Each clock hand is driven by a three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motor, providing precise movement and display. These motors operate in open-loop servo mode, allowing reliable tracking over extended periods.
Custom Components and Design
- 3D Printed Hubs: Hubs designed for accommodating the clock hands can be printed via stereolithography.
- Frontplate: A circular polycarbonate frontplate, thickness 4 mm, provides an elegant display backdrop. Custom graphics can be printed or made as vinyl stickers to enhance aesthetics further.
Bill of Materials
The project includes a detailed bill of materials for easy assembly:
| Cost (€) | Description |
|---|---|
| 57.19 | 7.5" 800x480 pixel e-paper display |
| 14.92 | Polycarbonate frontplate |
| 1.66 | 3D printing of the hubs |
| 148.36 | Total |
Software Contributions
The Ping Clock utilizes open-source software components, ensuring flexibility and customizability. You also have the option to tweak the design, making it an ideal project for electronics enthusiasts and hardware hackers alike.
For cutting-edge technology paired with smooth functionality, The Ping Clock isn't just a timekeeper; it's your new connectivity companion, making it easier to diagnose network issues without the stress of guessing. Join the project now and enhance your video conferencing experience!
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to Jan Breemer for valuable insights and support during the development of the 3D models.