This version of the instructions is for setting up just the clock itself, ignoring all the other options. It also assumes you have some OS already setup. So this is useful for setting up the clock on a desktop OS.
The minium requirements for a PiClock is pretty simple
- Python 2.7+ (but not 3)
- Python Qt4, known as PyQt4
- git (as an alternative to git, you can pull the zip file from git hub (download button on the right side of the github project) then unzip it onto your system )
Theses are available under Windows, Linux, and OSX OS's.
How to get these installed on your choice of system I'll leave as an excersise for the reader.
git clone https://github.com/n0bel/PiClock.git
Alternatively, you can download a zip file of the github project.
https://github.com/stacywebb/piclock/archive/master.zip, then unzip it.
The first is to set API keys for Weather Underground and Google Maps.
These are both free, unless you have large volume.
The PiClock usage is well below the maximums imposed by the free api keys.
Weather Underground api keys are created at this link: http://www.wunderground.com/weather/api/ Here too, it'll ask you for an Application (maybe PiClock?) that you're using the api key with.
A Google Maps api key is not required, unless you pull a large volume of maps. This can occur if you're continually pulling maps because you're restarting the clock often durning development. The maps are pulled once at the start.
If you want a key, this is how its done. Google Maps api keys are created at this link: https://console.developers.google.com/flows/enableapi?apiid=maps_backend&keyType=CLIENT_SIDE You'll require a google user and password. After that it'll require you create a "project" (maybe PiClock for a project name?) It will also ask about Client Ids, which you can skip (just clock ok/create)
Now that you have your api keys...
cd PiClock
cd Clock
cp ApiKeys-example.py ApiKeys.py
[use your favorite editor] ApiKeys.py
Put your api keys in the file as indicated
#change this to your API keys
# Weather Underground API key
wuapi = 'YOUR WEATHER UNDERGROUND API KEY'
# Google Maps API key
googleapi = '' #Empty string, the key is optional -- if you pull a small volume, you'll be ok
here's were you tell PiClock where your weather should come from, and the radar map centers and markers.
cd PiClock
cd Clock
cp Config-example.py Config.py (copy on windows)
[use your favorite editor] Config.py
This file is a python script, subject to python rules and syntax. The configuration is a set of variables, objects and arrays, set up in python syntax. The positioning of the {} and () and ',' are not arbitrary. If you're not familiar with python, use extra care not to disturb the format while changing the data.
The first thing is to change the Latitudes and Longitudes you see to yours. They occur in several places. The first one in the file is where your weather forecast comes from. The others are where your radar images are centered and where the markers appear on those images. Markers are those little red location pointers.
cd PiClock
python PyQtPiClock.py
After a few seconds, your screen should be covered by the PiClock YAY!
There may be some output on the terminal screen as it executes. If everything works, it can be ignored. If for some reason the clock doesn't work, or maps are missing, etc the output may give a reason or reasons, which usually reference something to do with the config file (Config.py)
- The space bar or right or left arrows will change the page.
- F2 will start and stop the NOAA weather radio stream
- F4 will close the clock
Since we pulled the software from github originally, it can be updated using git and github.
cd PiClock
git pull
python update.py
This will automatically update any part(s) of the software that has changed. The update.py program will then convert any config files as needed.