Nixie Clock WiFi Setup Without an App - Does It Need the Cloud?
What WiFi is actually used for on these clocks
Commonly, a WiFi-enabled clock in this category uses its network connection for two things: syncing accurate time from an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server, which is what lets it stay accurate to the second indefinitely rather than drifting like a standalone RTC, and checking for firmware updates over the air. That's a general pattern for this type of device rather than a confirmed feature list for every model sold on this site - the specifics for each board revision are noted below.
Setup flow
In nearly all models, the initial set up relies on button presses, and won't look at connecting to WiFi until you have confirmed that the clock comes out of "Test Mode" with a particular button press. After that, the clock can be configured using buttons or WiFi.
The initial WiFi is done via captive portal, and the time is retrieved from public NTP pools. No personal data is ever transferred. On some older models, we transmitted a client ID with the request, but this has been deprecated. Newer models only ever talk to public NTP pools anonymusly.
Ongoing network dependency
For most designs in this category, once initial setup is complete the clock only needs to reach the internet briefly and periodically for a time sync, not continuously. Whether these specific models can run fully offline after setup (accepting gradual drift on their onboard clock), and whether any data beyond an NTP request ever leaves the device, is covered in the workshop note above and will be filled in with confirmed specifics before this guide is considered final.
See the full store listing for the WiFi-enabled models we currently sell, or contact support directly if you want setup details for a model before you buy.