[GRLUG] Time Clocks and Software

[Ben Rousch]

I got a quote from my vendor and it nearly gave me a heart attack. I'm
heavily leaning towards the stand-alone time clock I mentioned
earlier. The only problem I see is that it does not have a buzzer
control system.

We have a series of intercoms in the shop that emit a buzz to let
people know when it's time to start work, go to lunch, or go home. Our
current time clock software sets a schedule for those buzzers and
stores it on the time clock. The time clock then trips a relay (or
something like that) at the appropriate time. The inexpensive clocks
do not seem to have to capability to control such a buzzer system.

I'm not a low-level kind of guy, but it seems like it shouldn't be too
hard to put something together for cheap. Basically I'd need something
with an accurate onboard clock, that can store a list of times, have a
way to modify that schedule occasionally, and trip a relay for 1 or 2
seconds when those times come up. Alternatively I'd need something
that would trip the relay when it receives a signal from some other
computer, maybe via wifi or ethernet.

Any of you hardware hackers have advice for me?

On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 3:56 PM, Ben Rousch <brousch at gmail.com> wrote:
> Although the clock is not open source, I like how this clock is very
> self-contained:
> http://www.icontime.com/products/hardware/universal/rtc-1000.asp
>
> It looks like all of the software is on the clock itself and you
> access it via a web browser over the LAN. It claims to have CSV (and
> Quickbooks) exports of the data. Along with PIN punch-ins, there is
> also a proximity badge add-on, which would be nice for those
> extra-grubby hands in our shop.
>
> On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 3:49 PM, Steve <steveg at branchadventures.org> wrote:
>> http://timeclock.sourceforge.net/
>>
>> You might also find one on
>> http://open.software.informer.com/download-open-source-employee-time-clock/
>>
>> As far as swiping a card, a generic card reader (for mag stripe)  or
>> scanner (for barcodes) should work for most apps.
>>
>> 'Steve Grody
>>
>> On 01/24/2011 02:08 PM, Ben Rousch wrote:
>>> Our ancient time clock software (made for Win3.1, running in a Win98
>>> VM for the last 3 years) finally took a crap and I convinced the boss
>>> it's better to get something new than to waste time trying to
>>> resurrect it. I also won't miss the time clocks that run over a 9600
>>> baud serial modem.
>>>
>>> So does anyone have suggestions for a time clock and associated
>>> (preferably FOSS) program? We just need something that takes [card
>>> swipes | rfid reads| etc] as employees come in and out of the shop. It
>>> cannot be software-only as these are shop employees without a
>>> computer. Also a fingerprint reader are out as these are incredibly
>>> grubby fingers. All I really need is some sort of access to a dump of
>>> the punch times, but more featureful programs are welcome.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
>   Ben Rousch
>   brousch at gmail.com
>   http://ishmilok.blogspot.com/
>



-- 
  Ben Rousch
  brousch at gmail.com
  http://ishmilok.blogspot.com/

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