Delay - TIME OUT - with Internet Time

Support
1 
MicroPython pico2_w_2025_09_19,   on 2025-09-26; Pimoroni Pico LiPo 2XL W with RP2350

Type "help()" for more information.

>>> %Run -c $EDITOR_CONTENT

MPY: soft reboot
waiting for connection...
waiting for connection...
waiting for connection...
waiting for connection...
connected
ip = 192.168.0.52
Error: [Errno 110] ETIMEDOUT
Error: [Errno 110] ETIMEDOUT
(2025, 12, 9, 12, 3, 56, 1, 343)
 
Tue 9 Dec 2025 12:3:56
>>>

Code used:

# From: https://gist.github.com/aallan/581ecf4dc92cd53e3a415b7c33a1147c
# Modified by Tony Goodhew 8 Dec 2025 to recover from TIME OUT problem with ntp.com
import network
import socket
import time
import struct
from secrets import WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD
from machine import Pin

NTP_DELTA = 2208988800

'''
Try these
   0.uk.pool.ntp.org     1.uk.pool.ntp.org     2.uk.pool.ntp.org     3.uk.pool.ntp.org
'''
host = "1.uk.pool.ntp.org"

led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)
months = ["Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May","Jun","Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct","Nov","Dec"]
wd =["Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat","Sun"]

def set_time():
    NTP_QUERY = bytearray(48)
    NTP_QUERY[0] = 0x1B
    addr = socket.getaddrinfo(host, 123)[0][-1]
    s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
    got_it = False
    while got_it == False:
        try:
            s.settimeout(5)
            res = s.sendto(NTP_QUERY, addr)
            msg = s.recv(48)

        except Exception as e:
            print(f"Error: {str(e)}")            
        else:
            got_it = True
                    
    s.close()    
    val = struct.unpack("!I", msg[40:44])[0]
    t = val - NTP_DELTA    
    tm = time.gmtime(t)
    machine.RTC().datetime((tm[0], tm[1], tm[2], tm[6] + 1, tm[3], tm[4], tm[5], 0))

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
wlan.active(True)
wlan.connect(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASSWORD)

max_wait = 10
while max_wait > 0:
    if wlan.status() < 0 or wlan.status() >= 3:
        break
    max_wait -= 1
    print('waiting for connection...')
    time.sleep(1)

if wlan.status() != 3:
    raise RuntimeError('network connection failed')
else:
    print('connected')
    status = wlan.ifconfig()
    print( 'ip = ' + status[0] )

led.on()
set_time()
print(time.localtime())
led.off()

print(" ")
year,mon,day,h,m,s,weekday,x = time.localtime()
now = str(h)+":"+str(m)+":"+str(s)
date = str(day)+" " + months[mon-1] + " "+str(year)

'''
print(now)
print(date)
print(wd[weekday])
'''

print(wd[weekday] + " " + date + " " + now)

Is there another site which is more reliable where you can pic up the time without waiting so long. I’m looking for a simple text page with the hours and minutes being updated.

2

NTP is standardized, you can use any ntp server and there are thousands, e.g. 0.opensuse.pool.ntp.org (replace the zero with anything from 0-3).

The best bet is to use your own router if it provides time within your network. Which could very well be possible. Or an ntp-host from your provider.