Clock sync without wifi

Dfaure · 12-01-2020, 02:32 PM

Hi,

For the few latest Kobo firmware releases the time is displayed on the home and various other screens. This feature is quite handy, but the clock accuracy is rather poor and hopefully the reader time is reset on each synchronization.

I never use the wifi to directly sync my reader, but I verified that the Kobo Application was also resetting the reader's clock when the it was plugged on USB.

So, I was wondering if, for those like me who doesn't use very often the Kobo Application, the timesync couldn't be made by other means, such as with a Calibre plugin for example?

NiLuJe · 12-01-2020, 05:26 PM

Nope, you'd need shell access to set the date.

(And, yes, it will sync the date/time on startup, and on sync).

sherman · 12-01-2020, 06:18 PM

Then how does the Kobo desktop app do it? Is it updated in the DB perhaps? Or a settings file?

NiLuJe · 12-01-2020, 06:21 PM

I wasn't aware that the desktop app did anything on that front (I rarely use it), but if that's indeed the case, that's a very good question ;o).

sherman · 12-01-2020, 06:30 PM

I just confirmed. Yes it does sync the time over USB. I deliberately adjusted the time on my Glo by a couple of minutes, disabled WiFI, plugged it in and used the Kobo desktop app. Upon unplugging, the time was set correctly.

NiLuJe · 12-01-2020, 07:11 PM

Stupid question is stupid: and I assume it didn't just do an ntp sync over Wi-Fi on unplug? ^^.

sherman · 12-01-2020, 09:08 PM

Nope, it only happens with the Kobo desktop app. I tried unplugging after Calibre, and no time sync.

I'm pretty sure they probably do it via Kobo ereader.conf, as I monitored what files were accessed, and it was only the conf file, and the DB, although it could be set in the DB as well.

davidfor · 12-01-2020, 09:25 PM

I had to test this as I didn't really believe it. Turned off WiFi on my Aura H2O, set the clock a few hours back, connected to the PC and ran the Kobo desktop application. Disconnected and the time was correct.

How? As far as I have understood this, the device was seen as a USB MSD. I wouldn't have thought access to anything else was available. Anyone know how this works?

davidfor · 12-01-2020, 10:24 PM

Apparently the desktop application writes the file "epoch.conf" into the .kobo directory when it is ejecting the device. That has the current epoch time. The device reads that when it is ejected and sets the time.

I might add this to my Kobo Utilities plugin as it won't be hard.

NiLuJe · 12-02-2020, 11:50 AM

Huh, that's a neat and simple trick

.

JSWolf · 12-02-2020, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Apparently the desktop application writes the file "epoch.conf" into the .kobo directory when it is ejecting the device. That has the current epoch time. The device reads that when it is ejected and sets the time.

I might add this to my Kobo Utilities plugin as it won't be hard.

That would be great.

jackie_w · 12-02-2020, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

Apparently the desktop application writes the file "epoch.conf" into the .kobo directory when it is ejecting the device. That has the current epoch time. The device reads that when it is ejected and sets the time.

I might add this to my Kobo Utilities plugin as it won't be hard.

Good sleuthing! Is this something that could also be added to the calibre KoboTouch driver so it could be automated?

NiLuJe · 12-02-2020, 05:30 PM

It might also be able to update the TZ, by reading a *nix zoneinfo filename from .kobo/timezone.conf (e.g., Europe/Paris)

.

12-01-2020, 02:32 PM	#1
Dfaure Enthusiast Posts: 31 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: Kobo Libra 2 & Aura HD, Cybook Muse	Clock sync without wifi Hi, For the few latest Kobo firmware releases the time is displayed on the home and various other screens. This feature is quite handy, but the clock accuracy is rather poor and hopefully the reader time is reset on each synchronization. I never use the wifi to directly sync my reader, but I verified that the Kobo Application was also resetting the reader's clock when the it was plugged on USB. So, I was wondering if, for those like me who doesn't use very often the Kobo Application, the timesync couldn't be made by other means, such as with a Calibre plugin for example? Last edited by Dfaure; 12-01-2020 at 02:33 PM. Reason: typo

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12-01-2020, 05:26 PM	#2
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Nope, you'd need shell access to set the date. (And, yes, it will sync the date/time on startup, and on sync).

12-01-2020, 06:18 PM	#3
sherman Guru Posts: 856 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Then how does the Kobo desktop app do it? Is it updated in the DB perhaps? Or a settings file?

12-01-2020, 06:21 PM	#4
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	I wasn't aware that the desktop app did anything on that front (I rarely use it), but if that's indeed the case, that's a very good question ;o).

12-01-2020, 06:30 PM	#5
sherman Guru Posts: 856 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	I just confirmed. Yes it does sync the time over USB. I deliberately adjusted the time on my Glo by a couple of minutes, disabled WiFI, plugged it in and used the Kobo desktop app. Upon unplugging, the time was set correctly.

12-01-2020, 07:11 PM	#6
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Stupid question is stupid: and I assume it didn't just do an ntp sync over Wi-Fi on unplug? ^^.

12-01-2020, 09:08 PM	#7
sherman Guru Posts: 856 Karma: 2676800 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Taranaki - NZ Device: Kobo Aura H2O, Kobo Forma	Nope, it only happens with the Kobo desktop app. I tried unplugging after Calibre, and no time sync. I'm pretty sure they probably do it via Kobo ereader.conf, as I monitored what files were accessed, and it was only the conf file, and the DB, although it could be set in the DB as well.

12-01-2020, 09:25 PM	#8
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	I had to test this as I didn't really believe it. Turned off WiFi on my Aura H2O, set the clock a few hours back, connected to the PC and ran the Kobo desktop application. Disconnected and the time was correct. How? As far as I have understood this, the device was seen as a USB MSD. I wouldn't have thought access to anything else was available. Anyone know how this works?

12-01-2020, 10:24 PM	#9
davidfor Grand Sorcerer Posts: 24,907 Karma: 47303748 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sydney, Australia Device: Kobo:Touch,Glo, AuraH2O, GloHD,AuraONE, ClaraHD, Libra H2O; tolinoepos	Apparently the desktop application writes the file "epoch.conf" into the .kobo directory when it is ejecting the device. That has the current epoch time. The device reads that when it is ejected and sets the time. I might add this to my Kobo Utilities plugin as it won't be hard.

12-02-2020, 11:50 AM	#10
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Huh, that's a neat and simple trick .

12-02-2020, 05:30 PM	#13
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	It might also be able to update the TZ, by reading a nix zoneinfo filename from .kobo/timezone.conf* (e.g., Europe/Paris) .

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