Table of Contents
Timezones
TetherX uses timezones at multiple levels to ensure timestamps are accurate and meaningful for your site. Understanding how these work helps you configure your system correctly.
User Timezone
Each user has their own timezone setting that controls how dates and times are displayed throughout the platform.
Setting Your Timezone
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner
- Find the Timezone dropdown in your profile settings
- Select your local timezone
- Click Update User
What It Affects
- Event timestamps - Times shown on events, recordings, and audit logs
- Time of day filters - When you filter events by "Morning", "Afternoon", etc., these are based on your timezone
- Date displays - All dates throughout the platform
Tip: If you manage sites in different timezones, your personal timezone determines how you see all timestamps. The underlying data is stored in UTC and converted for display.
TetherBox Timezone
Each TetherBox has its own timezone setting that determines how it interprets and stores event times.
Setting the TetherBox Timezone
- Go to Admin → TetherBoxes and select your unit
- Open the Settings tab
- Find the Timezone dropdown
- Select the timezone for the TetherBox's physical location
- Click Save
What It Affects
- Camera schedules - Recording and notification schedules use the TetherBox timezone
- Event storage - Events are tagged with the local time at the TetherBox location
- Camera time sync - Connected cameras are synchronised to the TetherBox timezone
- Timelapse organisation - Timelapse images are grouped by local time
Warning: Set the TetherBox timezone to match its physical location, not your personal timezone. A TetherBox in Sydney should use an Australian timezone even if you're viewing it from London.
Time of Day Filtering
When filtering events by time of day (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night, Business Hours), TetherX uses your user timezone to determine what counts as "morning" etc.
| Filter | Time Range |
|---|---|
| Morning | 06:00 - 11:59 |
| Afternoon | 12:00 - 17:59 |
| Evening | 18:00 - 23:59 |
| Night | 00:00 - 05:59 |
| Business Hours | 09:00 - 17:59 |
Example
If you're in London (GMT) and filter for "Morning" events:
- You'll see events that occurred between 06:00-11:59 GMT
- A TetherBox in New York will show events from 06:00-11:59 GMT (which is 01:00-06:59 local New York time)
This means the filter shows events based on when they happened relative to your timezone, not the TetherBox's location.
Tip: For location-specific time filtering, use the custom time range filter instead of the preset buttons.
Managing Multiple Timezones
If you manage TetherBoxes across different timezones:
Set each TetherBox timezone correctly - This ensures schedules and camera sync work properly for each location
Choose your user timezone - This affects how you view all timestamps. Most users set this to their own location
Use date/time filters carefully - Remember that time filters use your timezone, not the TetherBox's
Best Practices
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Single location | Set user and TetherBox to the same timezone |
| Multiple locations, same timezone | Set all TetherBoxes to local timezone, user to same |
| Multiple locations, different timezones | Set each TetherBox to its location, user to your location |
| Monitoring team in different location | TetherBoxes use site timezone, users use their own timezone |
Time Synchronisation
TetherBoxes keep accurate time through multiple mechanisms and synchronise connected cameras automatically. See TetherBox Time Synchronisation for details on:
- NTP synchronisation with TetherX Cloud
- VPN fallback for restricted networks
- Hardware clock modules
- Camera time sync
Troubleshooting
Event times appear wrong:
- Check your user timezone is set correctly
- Verify the TetherBox timezone matches its physical location
- Remember: times are displayed in your timezone, not the TetherBox's
Camera timestamps don't match TetherBox:
- Camera time sync runs once daily - changes may take up to 24 hours
- Ensure the camera is accessible via ONVIF or native API
- See Camera Time Synchronisation
Schedule not working at expected times:
- Schedules use the TetherBox timezone, not your user timezone
- Verify the TetherBox timezone is correct for its location
Time of day filter shows unexpected events:
- Remember: filters use your user timezone
- A "Morning" event at a remote TetherBox may not be morning in your timezone
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