Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by g6nhu
In order for your HamClock to work after June 2026, you must switch to a different backend server. If you don’t your HamClock will simply stop working.
There are multiple ways to do this. If you’re using a Raspberry Pi, you can reinstall using these instructions or by using my switching scripts (no longer recommended). If you’re using an Inovata Quadra or similar, you can download a new recovery SD card from here and reflash. It’s as simple as that. If you have an ESP based HFClock, please contact Veritum as they will offer a mail back service to reconfigure your clock.
By doing this, your HamClock will continue to work and you’ll continue to receive updates.
To find out more about OpenHamClockBackend and the continued development of HamClock, please visit https://ohb.works where you will find links to further install instructions. There is also the HamClock support group at groups.io.
Terrific news, thanks all.
I’d like to respond to the recommendations being made here. I’ve written up a detailed response on my website addressing the claims about the HamClock backend situation — what’s accurate, what isn’t, and who’s actually building what.
Please have a look: https://hamclock.com/facts-not-fables.html
73 de Bruce, W4BAE
Everything was hand coded by me mostly in my spare time. We don’t proxy anything with hamclock dot com fortunately. Only proxy VOACAP to clearskyinstitute until I can get it to match original HamClock. I was transparent about that in our GitHub.
https://github.com/BrianWilkinsFL/open-hamclock-backend/blob/main/scripts/update_aurora_maps.sh
https://github.com/BrianWilkinsFL/open-hamclock-backend/blob/main/scripts/update_cloud_maps.sh
https://github.com/BrianWilkinsFL/open-hamclock-backend/blob/main/scripts/kc2g_muf_heatmap.sh
https://github.com/BrianWilkinsFL/open-hamclock-backend/blob/main/scripts/update_drap_maps.sh
(working as of three weeks ago)
VOACAP engine I pulled because it’s not accurate. It’s still in there just bypassed.
All of our scripts are there and we did email you and send you a message on FB. I am not sure what is going on here. My email is on qrz if you would like to reach out and discuss further.
Morning Bruce.
When this article went live yesterday afternoon, I’d taken screenshots from my HamClock connected to OHB but there was an error in my own config and you’re right, the maps were not indicative of the OHB output.
I realised this in the evening and immediately corrected it. You can see from the time on the images now that they were all updated around 23:00z, several hours after I originally posted this piece.
And it’s very clear to anyone that they’re new maps, not pixel perfect with the CSI maps. It’s not just the map output that’s different to CSI either.
I have no financial involvement with anything to do with HamClock. Never have, never will.
All I want is for everyone to be able to use HamClock past June, no matter what method they use. It’s a simple as that.
73 Keith.
Also, I’ve made no claims about your hamclock backend situation. In this article, I’ve simply mentioned it’s available and provided a link. Literally nothing else.
I’ve just updated my RPi HamClock setup guide (as I do regularly) with instructions to picking a backend server, giving a complete choice.
Frankly, I don’t care what people use. I don’t want to get involved with arguments as to which is ‘best’ because ultimately, everyone is working towards the same goal. I wish everyone would just get on.
This is wonderful. It also works on Mac. I just opened a terminal and sudo nano /etc/hosts.
How does this affect ESP32 Ham Clock?
Good question, Roger.
I really don’t know how to fix an ESP based clock. My best suggestion would be to contact Gino at Veritium who may be able to help.
https://veritiumresearch.com/hf-clock/
Mine isn’t a commercial product, it’s homebrew. The firmware is fairly complex to wade through to find the links to the server and I was hoping someone might have been there before me. Guess I’ll have to carry on digging!
I understand, but I know Gino and I’m sure he’ll be happy to offer advice as he’s probably the most experienced person regarding the ESP version, whether commercial or based on the original QST version.
I did ask him about this a few days ago and he mentioned that something might be doable via the RESTful network interface via 2.4G WiFi connection.
I have a homebrew ESP8266 HamClock, running version 3.10. I did find one line in wifi.cpp, that if you change clearskyinstitute.com to either ohb.hamclock.app or hamclock.com it should vector to those sites instead. You need to use the Arduino IDE to compile and upload the revised code into the Hamclock. I haven’t tested this yet, waiting to see how the development is going first
Hi Ray, did you get this to work?
Roger G8JWT
Hey Roger,
I’ve been working with Gino, the man behind the ESP based HFClock. This does work. Simply replace clearskyinstitute.com with ohb.hamclock.app in wifi.cpp and recompile and it works perfectly. The nice thing is that if your ESP based clock is running a version lower than 3.10, OHB will offer the update as well
73 Keith.
Hi Ray. I found two sets of host details. One in ESP8266WiFi.cpp and one in ESPHamClock.ino.
I’ve tried changing both of these to the new host address but in all cases the clock no longer connects to my WiFi even though the network credentials are correct on the setup page. Consequently I get no responses from any server.
Any ideas?
Roger G8JWT
Good news for everyone who’s asked “what happens if something happens to you?”
Philip Gladstone — the man behind PSKReporter.info — has agreed to serve as trustee for hamclock.com. Domain, DNS, and infrastructure access are being provisioned shortly.
No single point of failure. Not anymore.
https://www.hamclock.com/continuity.html
Is there any difference in running the HamApps installer than just editing the /etc/hosts file manually?
No, it’s effectively the same thing.
Keith, G6NHU — and everyone here — a brief note before I share this link.
Keith, I owe you a correction. I incorrectly stated that you posted on Facebook. You posted on your own blog, which is entirely your right, and I should have gotten that right before publishing. I also want to say that your bug reports and feedback have been genuinely valuable — every one of them has been useful and is appreciated more than I can adequately express. Thank you for that.
We don’t see eye to eye on everything, and that’s fine. That’s how a healthy community works. I’ve put together a detailed post covering what’s actually been happening behind the scenes at hamclock.com — the technical evidence, the forensics, and where things stand. I’d ask that you read it with an open mind.
https://www.hamclock.com/news.html
73 de W4BAE
I can’t comment about connections to your server over that period because I simply don’t know.
However OHB proxying from Elwood’s server is correct. Nobody is saying this doesn’t happen, it’s mentioned on the GitHub site and Brian said above in a reply to you what’s happening with this. I don’t believe it’s much, it’s being done while work continues in the background to get all the feeds as close as possible. It’s not a secret that you’re telling everyone, it’s already public knowledge.
73 Keith
I don’t operate an OHB server or have an account on one. The server you’re referring to is run by another ham in the community, so it isn’t “Brian’s server.” I’ll let the operator of that system respond if needed.
All of the OHB code is publicly available and open for anyone to review or use.
VOACAP work is still in progress, as noted previously.
I’m not aware of any connections to your server during the timeframe you mentioned.
Look under application # 99677866 for the USPTO. Why did Bruce want to file a trademark for HamClock for something he didn’t invent? Why does he want to monetize HamClock? What else is he hiding?
So happy that OHB is the first backend replacement that has 100% parity with Elwood’s original backend and feature complete ahead of the June date beating out all competition. Check out the latest version from the link above!
Hello all
I have tried multiple times going through the steps published in this email a couple weeks ago and after I push cntrl,alt,delete and the little window opens that says xscreensaver and then says user name quadra and it asked for a password and I put (1n0v@t0) (yes I did use zeros) and then the little window goes away and all I get is the regular start up screen with the icon bar at the bottom and a little icon in the upper left and then at the very top left it has a app drop down list. I do not ever get a window to change anything else.
I am running the latest and newest INOVATO Quadra that was one of the last ones he sold before closing the internet sales down. Hopefully Mr. Brown has been able to spend time with his friends and family. So, if someone has a suggestion on what I am not doing correctly please help me figure it out.
Thank you
73
Tom KB2TDH
Tom, it’s ctrl-alt-t to open the terminal, not ctrl-alt-delete.
Or just use the switcher app as described.
Is there a way to see which backend server is being used on HamClock at any time?
Hi George,
Not from within HamClock but if you install the tools I’ve just posted (https://qso365.co.uk/2024/05/how-to-set-up-a-hamclock-for-your-shack/#backend) using this command in a terminal:
curl -fsSL https://qsl.net/g6nhu/tools | sudo bash
You can then use the command ‘what’ to see which backend you’re connected to. This works on a Quadra as well as a Pi.
73 Keith.
What changes do I need to make to run Hamclock Live on my Mac browser (using Chrome) on the new server? I do have a Quandra device but prefer using my Mac if the is still possible.
Thanks
Andrew
HamClock Live?
If you want to access HamClock running on your Quadra via the browser on your Mac, you can still do that, it will still work. Or you can look at this and actually run HamClock natively on your Mac as a containerised app: https://github.com/huberthickman/HamClockLauncher
Maybe I missed is but Is there any script and/or description to compile and install OHB on a desktop Linux PC, in my case with Linux Mint?
The OHB backend server itself? I can’t help with that, the best place is to look at https://ohb.works and either use Discord or the contact form to ask them.
Having some trouble with your excellent script Keith. When I do a sudo what, it returns “binary contains backend hostname for csi backend”, then”no launcher or config files were found using -b,” then it finds an problem”hamclock will not receive updates would you like to fix” answering yes, it returns “no change needed, your hamclock is already using open hamclock backend” If I run the script again, it returns the same entries. I am using version 4.23, and running it on an old chromebook running a linux environment. Anything I need to be doing?
Thanks! Scott/WB2UZR
Hi Scott,
I don’t know how Chromebook controls launching HamClock so this is something the script probably doesn’t account for. If you’d like to email me directly (my details are on qrz.com), I can help you with this as there’s something we can do which will make it really easy for you!
73 Keith G6NHU