{"id":53517,"date":"2022-07-24T06:51:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-24T10:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=53517"},"modified":"2022-07-24T06:51:50","modified_gmt":"2022-07-24T10:51:50","slug":"the-nextube-retro-nixie-clock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/07\/the-nextube-retro-nixie-clock\/","title":{"rendered":"The Nextube retro nixie clock"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Al Hearn (WA4GKQ), who writes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thomas:<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve just received this Rotrics NexTube<\/a> [see photo above] after a year of waiting. It was a KickStarter project and suffered numerous delays, and is just now shipping. It\u2019s beautiful \u2014 real walnut wood, glass tubes and brass fixtures.<\/p>\n

It appears at first glance to be yet another imitation Nixie tube clock but it\u2019s actually much more than that. Each tube is a high-res IPS display that can display almost anything, including photos. It\u2019s highly configurable, uses WiFi to connect to the Internet, and has an (yet undocumented) open API.<\/p>\n

Being a ham and SWLer, I can envision someone much smarter than I programming this device to show real-time propagation data from beacons, propagation forecasts, etc. or other information of interest to those of us in the hobby. Imagine each of the six tubes graphically showing real-time band conditions on six different ham bands. It can already be used as a GMT clock. A set of three touch buttons allows app switching and user interaction.<\/p>\n

With your infinite access to members of our hobby, I thought maybe you could find a way to expose this to those who might have an interest and expertise to create such an application for this amazing little device. I believe that its potential is almost unlimited, in ways the creators haven\u2019t imagined.<\/p>\n

73,
\nAl Hearn
\nWA4GKQ<\/p>\n

Thank you for sharing this, Al! What a beautiful, modern take on the Nixie Tube clock! I love the simple design and versatility.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I’m very curious if any other readers have purchased the Nextube or have tinkered with the API. Please comment!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Click here to check out the Nextube at Rotrics.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Al Hearn (WA4GKQ), who writes: Thomas: I\u2019ve just received this Rotrics NexTube [see photo above] after a year of waiting. It was a KickStarter project and suffered numerous delays, and is just now shipping. It\u2019s beautiful \u2014 real walnut wood, glass tubes and brass fixtures. It appears at first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4199,3],"tags":[9903,9902,9381],"class_list":["post-53517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-accessories","category-news","tag-al-hearn-wa4gkq","tag-nextube","tag-nixie-tubes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-dVb","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49713,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/07\/this-noyce-joyce-radio-kit-features-in-17-nixie-tubes\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":0},"title":"This Noyce Joyce radio kit features IN-17 Nixie Tubes","author":"Thomas","date":"July 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jeff McMahon, who shares a link to a Nixie Tube radio kit via the retailer Shop Simo. We've no clue how well the radio might perform, but it covers AM\/FM, can play from an SD card and is, of course, Bluetooth as well. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Noyce-Joyce-Nixie-Radio-e1627379191555.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Noyce-Joyce-Nixie-Radio-e1627379191555.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Noyce-Joyce-Nixie-Radio-e1627379191555.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Noyce-Joyce-Nixie-Radio-e1627379191555.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15023,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/10\/dan-spots-an-extremely-rare-hro-600-on-ebay\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":1},"title":"Dan spots an extremely rare HRO-600 on eBay","author":"Thomas","date":"October 4, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, writes: Wow . . . a huge, amazing rarity...this is perhaps the rarest of radios, the HRO-600. It is almost never seen on the used market and when it is, it is usually in non-operational condition. In its day it was quite advanced, though now,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/HRO-660-Back-1024x483.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/HRO-660-Back-1024x483.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/HRO-660-Back-1024x483.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/HRO-660-Back-1024x483.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46502,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/ieee-spectrum-the-11-greatest-vacuum-tubes-youve-never-heard-of\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":2},"title":"IEEE Spectrum: “The 11 Greatest Vacuum Tubes You\u2019ve Never Heard Of”","author":"Thomas","date":"November 16, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: Hi Thomas, SWLing Post readers who are fans of tube radios might enjoy reading about \"The 11 Greatest Vacuum Tubes You've Never Heard Of\" in this IEEE Spectrum article. While only a few of them have been used in radio and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-57-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-57-of-170.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-57-of-170.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/VOA-Site-B-57-of-170.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51880,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/hf-monitoring-in-ukraine\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":3},"title":"HF Monitoring in Ukraine?","author":"Thomas","date":"February 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Al Hearn, who writes: Given the emerging situation in the Ukraine, I would appreciate any tips and suggestions that you might offer directly or on your blog as to what we might find interesting in terms of SWL \u2014 related broadcast stations, pirate stations,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Ukraine-KiwiSDR-Map-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Ukraine-KiwiSDR-Map-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Ukraine-KiwiSDR-Map-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Ukraine-KiwiSDR-Map-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":65188,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/bobs-radio-corner-what-is-it-about-radio-dials\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":4},"title":"Bob’s Radio Corner: What Is It About Radio Dials?","author":"Thomas","date":"January 18, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"- Recollections of Bob Colegrove In the late \u201860s, I worked as a mechanical assembler at Communications, Electronics Inc. (CEI) in Rockville, Maryland (acquired by Watkins-Johnson Company).\u00a0 We produced military-grade receivers, mainly for the military (whom else?).\u00a0 These covered the spectrum from VLF through microwave.\u00a0 It was the early days\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fig-7.-RCA-Complete.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fig-7.-RCA-Complete.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fig-7.-RCA-Complete.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fig-7.-RCA-Complete.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fig-7.-RCA-Complete.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":19217,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/tubes-and-valves-dans-research-uncovers-three-vintage-films\/","url_meta":{"origin":53517,"position":5},"title":"Tubes and Valves: Dan’s research uncovers three vintage films","author":"Thomas","date":"May 29, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, DanH, who writes: I have been working on my Hammarlund SP600-JX-21 for the last two weeks. Results of the filter cap replacement were encouraging. I\u2019m going after an AVC issue that is probably capacitor-related as well before doing a re-alignment with the signal generator.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hammarlund-SP-600","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hammarlund-SP-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hammarlund-SP-600.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hammarlund-SP-600.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Hammarlund-SP-600.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53517","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53517"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53517\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53517"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53517"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53517"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}