Strange behaviour Date() and setSNTP on esp8266

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2021-03-08 by Svarog

I am trying to sync my esp8266 with NTP server, but I am running into a two problems.

The first one is that if I use setSNTP(sntpServer, timeOffset) method on require("Wifi")

var wifi = require("Wifi").setSNTP('2.europe.pool.ntp.org',1);

I am getting error msg:

Uncaught Error: Cannot read property 'connect' of undefined
 at line 57 col 5
wifi.connect(WIFI_NAME, WIFI_OPTIONS, function(err) {

The second problem:
If I ditch the idea of using SNTP and just use Date(), when esp is connected I print time and it sometimes shows my local time, and sometimes UTC time. But, if I press reset button on the board, it set time to 01.01.1970.

What am I missing here?

Here is my code:

    var  on = false;
    digitalWrite(D2,on)

    var WIFI_NAME = "name";
    var WIFI_OPTIONS = { password : "passwd" };
    var server = "192.168.1.24"; // the ip of your MQTT broker
    var wifi = require("Wifi").setSNTP('2.europe.pool.ntp.org',1);
    var mqttOptions = { // ALL OPTIONAL - the defaults are below
        client_id : "random",   // the client ID sent to MQTT - it's a good idea to define your own static one   based on `getSerial()`
        keep_alive: 60,         // keep alive time in seconds
        port: 1883,             // port number
        clean_session: true,
        username: undefined,   // default is undefined
        password: undefined,   // default is undefined
        protocol_name: "MQTT",  // or MQIsdp, etc..
        protocol_level: 4,      // protocol level
    };

    var mqtt = require("MQTT").create(server, mqttOptions);

    //When Mqtt connection is enstablished subscribe on following topics
    mqtt.on('connected', function() {
        mqtt.subscribe("test");
        mqtt.subscribe("led");
        mqtt.subscribe("time");
    });

    mqtt.on('publish', function (pub) {
        console.log("topic: "+pub.topic);
        console.log("message: "+pub.message);
        if(pub.topic === "led"){
        console.log('Led msg');
        on = !on;
        digitalWrite(D2,on);
        mqtt.publish('ledStatus',on);
        } else if(pub.topic === 'time') {
        console.log(`I got time`);
        console.log(Date().toString());
        mqtt.publish('time', Date());
        }
    });

    wifi.connect(WIFI_NAME, WIFI_OPTIONS, function(err) {
    if (err) {
        console.log("Connection error: "+err);
        return;
    }
    wifi.save();
    console.log("Connected!");
    mqtt.connect();
    console.log(`Time : ${Date()}`);
    console.log(`Time Zone : ${Date().getTimezoneOffset()}`);
    });

Thanks :)

[espruino-discuss]

Posted at 2021-03-09 by @MaBecker

But, if I press reset button on the board, it set time to 01.01.1970.

Normal, because there is no real time clock (RTC).

Try it this way:

• connect to the wifi access point (AP)
• call setSNTP(your options)

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Posted at 2021-03-09 by Svarog

Hi MaBe, thank you for your answer.
That is the tricky part, if i use setSntp, I am getting error :

Uncaught Error: Cannot read property 'connect' of undefined
at line 57 col 5
wifi.connect(WIFI_NAME, WIFI_OPTIONS, function(err) {

Any idea why is this happening?

Thanks 😊

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Posted at 2021-03-09 by @MaBecker

have a look at the first sample on Reference#Wifi

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Posted at 2021-03-09 by @MaBecker

check the EspruinoESP8266 page too