Minimum & Preferred Hardware
What you need to run Helioclock.
Helioclock runs on dedicated local hardware connected to a display via HDMI from a Raspberry Pi 4/5, or an older PC running the live USB Stick. There’s no cloud dependency and nothing to install on a separate server. The table below covers both supported hardware paths.
Required Hardware
Minimum and recommended specs.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Ready to run SD card | Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5, 4GB minimum | Raspberry Pi 4, 4 GB RAM, or Raspberry Pi 5 4/8 GB RAM |
| Bring your own PC (LIVE USB Stick) | N100/N150-class Intel, or Ryzen 5600U — 4 GB RAM. Most any PC or Laptop made in the last decade will work. Requires you to set BIOS to boot from USB. See additional specs below. | 8 GB RAM, 128GB SSD storage |
| Display | 1080p HDMI. 720p will also work but is cramped. | 4K HDMI |
| Network | WiFi or Wired Ethernet | Wired Ethernet — more reliable for 24/7 operation |
NOTE: Raspberry Pi models 1, 2, and 3 are not supported and will not run Helioclock. Helioclock requires a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5 – older Pi models don’t have the CPU or GPU headroom to render a continuously live 1080p/4K display, and are not tested or supported at any tier.
Bring-Your-Own PC (Live USB Stick, SKU2)
The Live USB Stick boots on existing Intel/AMD PCs you already own, not just current-generation hardware. Most machines made in the last decade will work. Minimum spec for an older machine:
| Component | Minimum | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core, Haswell-generation or newer (2013+) – e.g. Intel Core i3/i5 4000-series, or AMD A8/A10 “Kaveri” APU or newer | Quad-core, Skylake-generation or newer (i5-6400 or better) |
| RAM | 4GB | 8 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated graphics of the same era or newer – Intel HD 4600 or better, AMD Radeon R5/R7 APU graphics. No discrete GPU required. | Same – a discrete GPU adds nothing here |
| Network | WiFi or wired Ethernet | Wired Ethernet – more reliable for 24/7 operation |
This spec is a reasoned estimate from CPU-benchmark equivalence to the N100 baseline above, not a result from running Helioclock on that exact hardware.
Optional Hardware
Add-ons that unlock more, if you want them.
None of this is required to run Helioclock – every feature below is an optional layer on top of the base system.
RTL-SDR
Real-World Reception Confirmation
An RTL-SDR dongle (sold separately by third parties, not by Helioclock) plugged into the device runs actual reception tests at WWV/WWVH and NCDXF beacon frequencies – confirming propagation because your own hardware is hearing the signal, not because another station reported a spot. Also enables OpenWebRX for direct HF tuning and listening on the same device.
PTT
USB-to-RS232 Adapter
Drives the ON-AIR banner (RTS→relay→CTS) on any hardware – the universal alternative to direct GPIO PTT monitoring on a Raspberry Pi.
CW TRAINER
Key, Paddle, or WinKeyer
Connect a straight key or iambic paddle via USB HID keyer, WinKeyer, USB audio adapter, or direct Raspberry Pi GPIO wiring, for Sending and Receiving practice in the CW Trainer.
UPS
Uninterruptible Power Supply
Strongly recommended for 24/7 installations. Gives the system time to shut down cleanly when mains power is lost — especially important on Raspberry Pi, where an unexpected power loss can corrupt the SD card.
Remote Viewing
No extra hardware to watch it elsewhere.
Any modern browser on the same local network — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — on a phone, tablet, or laptop. No installation required. Smart TV browser support varies by platform; dedicated hardware via HDMI is the recommended path for TVs.
Enterprise Use
Multiple LAN remote screens.
For installations requiring simultaneous display across multiple screens — NOCs, EOCs, trading floors, broadcast operations centers, and similar environments — rack-mounted 1U server configurations are available.