RTC Time Reset Issue on Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev Board

Issue Overview

Users of the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board, specifically with JetPack 6.0 and L4T 36.3, are experiencing issues with the Real-Time Clock (RTC) not retaining time settings after a power cycle. Symptoms include:

• RTC0 and RTC1 resetting to the default epoch time (1970) after power loss.
• Users have attempted to set the time via command line interface (CLI) multiple times, but the issue persists upon complete discharge of the device.
• The problem appears to be influenced by whether a battery is connected; users report that having or not having a battery affects the power-on behavior of the Jetson board.

The issue occurs during normal operation and power cycles, significantly impacting user experience by causing time-dependent applications to malfunction or misbehave. This problem seems to occur consistently among users with similar setups.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes for this RTC issue have been identified:

• Hardware Incompatibilities or Defects: If the board is not an official Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit, there may be compatibility issues with RTC functionality.
• Software Bugs or Conflicts: The version of JetPack being used (6.0) may contain bugs affecting RTC functionality.
• Configuration Errors: Incorrect configuration of the RTC settings or connections may lead to failures in retaining time.
• Driver Issues: Outdated or incorrect drivers related to RTC management could cause this problem.
• Environmental Factors: Issues such as inadequate power supply or temperature extremes may affect RTC performance.
• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Improper setup of the battery or RTC connections may lead to these issues.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the RTC time reset issue, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Battery Connections:

   • Ensure that the RTC battery is correctly connected. Refer to your board’s documentation for proper connection instructions.

2. Verify Board Specifications:

   • Confirm that you are using an official Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Developer Kit. If using a third-party board, check compatibility with RTC features.

3. Review System Logs:

   • Run the following commands to gather information about RTC status:

     dmesg | grep rtc
     ls -al /dev/rtc
     

   • Analyze output for any errors or warnings related to RTC.

4. Update Software and Drivers:

   • Ensure that you are running the latest version of JetPack and associated drivers. Consider downgrading to JetPack 5 if issues persist with JetPack 6:
     • Download from Jetson Download Center.

5. Test Different Power Supplies:

   • Use a reliable power supply that meets the specifications for your board (19V for Orin Nano). Inadequate power can affect component performance.

6. Reset RTC Settings:

   • If possible, reset your RTC settings using appropriate commands in the terminal to clear any misconfigurations.

7. Consult Vendor Documentation:

   • If using a non-standard board, check with the vendor for specific instructions regarding RTC functionality.

8. Best Practices for Future Prevention:

   • Regularly check and replace the RTC battery as needed.
   • Keep software and firmware updated to avoid known bugs.
   • Follow proper shutdown procedures to prevent data corruption.

9. Community Support:

   • Engage in forums such as Nvidia Developer Forums for additional insights and shared experiences from other users facing similar issues.

10. Unresolved Aspects:

    • Further investigation may be needed regarding specific configurations of non-standard boards and their compatibility with Nvidia’s RTC implementation.

By following these steps, users should be able to diagnose and potentially resolve the issues related to their Jetson Orin Nano’s RTC functionality effectively.