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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Odd WEB NTP command behaviour ...
| Author | Message | ||||
| Taipan Newbie  Joined: 02/01/2025 Location: AustraliaPosts: 8 |
I built the Silicon Chip Modem/Router Watchdog but found that it seemed to be too quick to find fault with my internet connection and power-cycle my HFC modem. So I set about modifying the code to temper it's enthusiasm by doubling the timeout of WEB NTP to 10 seconds and if the first WEB NTP failed, try a second WEB NTP. That seems to have helped, but I occasionally see odd behaviour. This is a normal response: [09:38:56] First attempt to connect to a NTP server [09:38:56] ntp address 103.165.180.123 [09:38:58] got ntp response: 04/01/2025 08:38:56 [09:38:58] OK - connected to NTP 1st attempt Notice that about 2 seconds elapses between initiating the connection and success. However, I occasionally see this: [09:40:58] First attempt to connect to a NTP server [09:40:58] Second attempt to connect to a NTP server [09:40:58] Failed to connect to a NTP server [09:41:03] Checking Google [09:41:03] tcp address 142.251.221.78 [09:41:03] Connected [09:41:03] OK - connected to Google Notice that both the first failed attempt and the second failed attempt are all over in less than 1 second. It seems that the 10 second timeout for the WEB NTP commands is being ignored?  Edited 2025-01-04 09:07 by Taipan |
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phil99 Guru  Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2611 |
I allow up to 15 attempts before giving up. Sub MM.STARTUP Pause 200 On error skip 4 'test for WiFi link If MM.Info(ip address) = "0.0.0.0" Then Pause 8000 CPU restart EndIf Local float TZ = 10, DS = 1 'Time Zone, Daylight Saving Local integer n = 0 Do While Date$ = "01-01-2024" 'test internet connection if wrong date On error skip 2 WEB NTP TZ+DS, "162.159.200.123" Inc n : Print n,DateTime$(now), Pause 2000 If n>14 Then Print "Failed to get NTP" End Sub Endif Loop Run 'start main program End Sub |
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TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6269 |
I would see if your ISP provides a NTP server. Most do (or should) That would be more consistent and fewer chances of lost packets. Second choice is use 0.au.pool.ntp.org or 1.au.pool.ntp.org etc which will give you an Australian server. Upgrade the MMBasic .uf2 to the latest. Reliability has been improved. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Andy-g0poy Regular Member  Joined: 07/03/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 75 |
is the pause 2000 command what you modified? if so pause is in mS so pause 2000 is a two second pause you want pause 10000 for a 10 second delay Also do not use ip addresses for ntp servers, you never know when an ip address will change, use the name of your areas ntp pool, as ,mentioned in the previous post Andy |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2611 |
The 15 attempts gives 30 seconds all up, which so far I have never needed. You make a good point about addresses changing, though so far it has not happened. Taking Jim's advice found these:- ntp1.tpg.com.au - 203.12.160.2 ntp2.tpg.com.au - 203.26.24.6 |
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| Taipan Newbie Joined: 02/01/2025 Location: AustraliaPosts: 8 |
Thanks for the prompt replies and suggestions. To answer your questions: Yes, I had already upgraded before running the above test. No, the command I used was: WEB NTP 10, , 10000 So, I expected that 10 seconds would have to elapse before moving onto the next command? I am guessing that I am getting a quick response from the NTP server, but as it is not the correct one, an error occurs, thus advancing to the second try? OK, I will give one of those a try to see if it is more reliable. That too makes good sense, but I will have to get my head around your code first, before I can implement it ...  |
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| Andy-g0poy Regular Member Joined: 07/03/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 75 |
No, the command I used was: WEB NTP 10, , 10000 So, I expected that 10 seconds would have to elapse before moving onto the next command? I am guessing that I am getting a quick response from the NTP server, but as it is not the correct one, an error occurs, thus advancing to the second try? The only web ntp command I can see in the code you posted was: WEB NTP TZ+DS, "162.159.200.123" Which will default the timeout to 5 seconds However that is a timeout for a response. That response may not be a valid NTP time, it may be some other message like "go away" :-) How such things are handled in MMBASIC I don't know. It may just say OK and get on with things. If it does exit the command for ANY type of response then that could explain the erratic behaviour Andy |
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| Taipan Newbie Joined: 02/01/2025 Location: AustraliaPosts: 8 |
I am not sure where you got that from as I didn't post any code ... What I posted was the PRINT output to the Maximite Control Centre window. But, as you suggest, it seems that the 10s timeout is ignored when an invalid response is received. I guess I assumed that the WEB NTP command would keep trying to get a valid response until the 10s had expired. |
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| Taipan Newbie Joined: 02/01/2025 Location: AustraliaPosts: 8 |
OK, I tried 1.au.pool.ntp.org and now it fails every time on both the first and second attempts. Obviously I am doing something wrong? This is the command that I was using: WEB NTP 10, "1.au.pool.ntp.org", 10000 However, if I use just "au.pool.ntp.org" as the address of the server to connect to, it works fine again ... Here is an example of where the first attempt did timeout after 10 seconds, but the second attempt was successful: [13:24:13] First attempt to connect to a NTP server [13:24:13] ntp address 103.152.64.212 [13:24:23] Second attempt to connect to a NTP server [13:24:23] ntp address 103.152.64.212 [13:24:23] got ntp response: 04/01/2025 12:24:23 [13:24:23] OK - connected to NTP 2nd attempt |
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| phil99 Guru Joined: 11/02/2018 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2611 |
That is in my MM.STARTUP Sub. The key to it is to test if the date has been changed from the default 01-01-2024 that MMBasic starts with. (01-01-2000 for older firmware) An updated version of the relevant part. Do While Date$ = "01-01-2024" 'exit the loop when the date gets updated On error skip 'ignore a failed attempt, just go around the loop again WEB NTP TZ+DS, "au.pool.ntp.org" 'replace with your ISP's NTP address Inc n 'increment the failure counter Print n,DateTime$(now), 'show the result Pause 2000 If n>14 Then 'if the date is still wrong after 15 tries give up Print "Failed to get NTP" End Sub Endif Loop Edited 2025-01-04 12:35 by phil99 |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6269 |
using "1.au.pool.ntp.org" gave an error: Error : Invalid address format I guess that the leading 1 made it think that it was an IP not a domain name. either way, dropping the 1. works so no real issue. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 4038 |
Er... I think the End Sub ought to be Exit Sub John |
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