User Guide for Tide clocks

Getting Started: Connect Your Tide Clock to WiFi

Your tide clock needs internet to fetch the current time and tide predictions.

First-time setup:

1. Plug in your clock and wait 30 seconds for it to start up
2. On your phone or computer, look for a WiFi network called "Tideclock-Setup"
3. Connect to it (no password needed)
4. The settings page should open automatically
   • If it doesn't, "Forget this network" on your phone, then reconnect
   • Still stuck? Open your browser and go to: 192.168.4.1
5. Tap "Set up WiFi now" at the top
6. Click "Scan to find nearby networks", choose your home WiFi, and enter the password
7. Done! Your clock will connect and start showing the current time with tide predictions (blue bar = high tide, green bar = low tide)

Next: Tell Your Clock Which Beach to Track

Your clock needs to know which NOAA tide station to use. There are two ways to access settings:

Option 1: From Your Home WiFi (recommended)

Create a QR code for instant access:

1. Connect to "Tideclock-Setup" WiFi
2. Visit 192.168.4.1 in your browser
3. Tap "Print QR code access card"
4. Bookmark the IP address shown (usually 192.168.x.x), or
5. Print the QR code and stick it near the clock — scan anytime to open settings instantly

Option 2: Use the Backup Hotspot

Connect to "Tideclock-Setup" WiFi (just like first-time setup). If the settings page doesn't open, "Forget this network" and reconnect.

Understanding the Settings Page

The settings page has 3 tabs: Run, Day Mode, and Night Mode.

The Run Tab

What to check:

• Timezone: Make sure this matches your location
• NOAA Station: This is the beach or harbor your clock tracks
  • Click "Find Nearest Station" to see the 5 closest options — pick one and watch the tide bars update
  • Need a different station? Use "Find station on world map" to zoom in, click your preferred station, copy its 7-digit ID, close the map, and paste it in the Station ID field
• Day/Night Schedule: The clock automatically switches between Day colors and Night colors based on the hours you set here.  We set it to start Night colors at  7 PM (hour 19) and start Day colors at 6 AM. 

The Day and Night Mode Tabs

Day Mode: Shows tide bars and a flashing "Now" indicator at the current time.

Night Mode: Hides tide bars, shows subtle hour markers, and changes the "Now" indicator to a steady, calm dot.

The defaults work great, but feel free to adjust colors and brightness — or even bring the tide bars back at night if you prefer.

Note: "Restore Factory Settings" only resets colors and brightness — your timezone and NOAA station are never touched.

Setup and Maintenance Buttons

At the bottom of each tab, you'll find buttons to:

• Get firmware updates — new features and bug fixes
• Print a QR code — for easy access to settings
• Restore factory settings — resets colors/brightness only
• Manage WiFi networks — add multiple networks so your clock can roam between home, office, vacation house, etc.

Note: your clock will send anonymous diagnostic data (firmware version, device uptime, WiFi signal strength, and UI access count) to help us provide firmware updates and support. No browsing data or personal information is transmitted.