Monitor clock drift between PC and radio¶
The AetherClock applet displays the measured clock drift between your PC and the radio's GPS-disciplined timebase, allowing you to monitor timing accuracy for sample-accurate timestamping and diagnostics.
Before you start¶
- Ensure AetherSDR is connected to a FLEX-8600 radio
- The radio must have GPS/GNSS capability for drift monitoring
Steps¶
- Open the Applet Panel tray.
- Click the AetherClock tile (labeled "CLK").
- Read the Clock drift indicator to see the measured drift in nanoseconds.
- If the drift is high or inconsistent, check the GNSS lock indicator — drift monitoring is only valid when the radio's GPS receiver has lock.
What each control does¶
| Control | Kind | Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| GNSS lock indicator | Indicator | Shows the radio's GPS/GNSS lock status: Locked, Unlocked, or Acquiring. Drift data is only meaningful when locked. |
| Clock drift | Indicator | Measured drift between the radio's GPS clock and the local PC clock, displayed in nanoseconds. |
| Align Clock | Push button | Aligns the local PC clock to the radio's GPS-disciplined reference for sample-accurate timing. |
Troubleshooting¶
- Clock drift reading is erratic or shows extreme values — The radio may not have GPS/GNSS lock. Check the GNSS lock indicator; if it shows Unlocked or Acquiring, wait for lock before relying on the drift reading.
- No drift reading visible — Verify the radio is connected and has GPS capabilities. The AetherClock applet requires an active radio connection.