A Super-Accurate Clock Using a Tiny Microcontroller
A hobbyist project demonstrates how a tiny ATtiny microcontroller can decode the DCF77 time signal to create a highly accurate radio-controlled clock. The device uses a simple interface with a push-button for navigation and can display time on an I2C screen. This build highlights that complex timing functions can be achieved with minimal hardware rather than powerful processors.
- ▪The project utilizes an ATtiny microcontroller to decode the DCF77 VLF time signal broadcast at 77.5 kHz.
- ▪The clock displays the time on an I2C interface and features a push-button for cycling modes or resetting the signal.
- ▪The design is optional compatible with external temperature sensors and real-time clock modules if the microcontroller has sufficient pins.
- ▪The article emphasizes that the simple digital format of the DCF77 signal allows for efficient decoding without requiring high-end hardware.
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| Original publisher | Hackaday |
| Canonical URL | https://hackaday.com/2026/09/15/a-super-accurate-clock-using-a-tiny-microcontroller/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 16 Sep 2026 05:00:10 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-16T05:03:39.747Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-16T05:03:39.747Z |
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| Commercial reuse | May the content be reused commercially? | Not permitted |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
A Super-Accurate Clock Using A Tiny Microcontroller No comments by: Jenny List September 15, 2026 Title: Copy Short Link: Copy DCF77 is a German VLF transmitting station that broadcasts a time signal across Europe on 77.5 kHz. Thus a common sight in a European home is a clock emblazoned with the words “Radio controlled”. With the timing broadcast in a simple and low speed digital format it doesn’t require the greatest of hardware to decode, and a small microcontroller can handle the task with ease. And there are few smaller than an ATtiny as used in [kwolf1909]’s decoder. It takes a DCF77 bitstream from a receiver, and shows the time on an I2C display. The receiver isn’t part of this project, however a single-frequency longwave receiver is not a difficult thing to build.
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