Frequently Asked Questions

Who are you?

NIX labs is a small two-person business founded in 2017 by Michael and Nathan. Our day jobs are Electronic Design Engineer and IT Security Professional respectively, and NIX labs was born from a passion of fusing retro technology with modern electronics. We design, manufacture, and support all NIX labs clocks right here in Brisbane Australia!

How long does it take to dispatch my clock?

Our clocks are hand made and are each individually calibrated on demand before dispatch. In stock clocks will usually dispatch within a week however from time to time there may be short delays (We will contact you if this is the case).

How much does postage cost?

Delivery within Australia is free. Please contact us for postage costs if the destination is outside of Australia.

How long will it take to receive my clock?

We usually ship our clocks using Sendle or Auspost. Interstate deliveries generally take 3-7 days, but times are not guaranteed and may take longer.

What does in stock / pre-order / out of stock mean?

Clocks that are in stock just need their final assembly and calibration and usually dispatch within a week. When there is a longer wait time but we have parts on hand, pre-orders will be made available to secure your position in the queue. When you place a pre-order we will email you to give you a rough dispatch timeframe, which is generally a month or two. When clocks are showing as out of stock, we are working on getting the parts we need to build more, but we don’t have a firm idea of when we’ll be able to ship. In any case you’re welcome to use the contact form below to check on the wait time before ordering.

Can I return my clock for a refund?

We’re committed to providing our customers with the highest quality products. If you’re unsatisfied with your purchase or experience a problem, please contact us so we can provide a solution. At our discretion we may provide a refund minus postage costs if a clock is returned to us in a resalable condition with all accessories.

What are Nixie tubes?

Nixie tubes are a 1970’s-era gas-discharge tube that is used to display characters, in our case numbers 0-9, but other types were made too. They are filled with mostly neon gas, and when a high voltage is applied to its terminals, the corresponding character lights up orange. Nixie tubes are most associated with Soviet technology, but many countries produced these tubes when they were popular. For more information, check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.

What kind of Nixie tubes do you use?

We use Soviet-made “IN8-2” (aka ИН8-2) tubes because they have a nice large digit size. Additionally, the IN8-2 tubes use a properly formed “5” digit, rather than an upside-down “2” used in some cheaper tubes. These tubes have not been made for many years, and the ones used in our clocks are generally 40-60 years old, and were removed from things such as laboratory test instruments. For more information, check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.

What’s the difference between the VF4 and NIX4/NIX6?

The main difference is that the NIX4/NIX6 uses Nixie tubes whereas the VF4 uses vacuum fluorescent display tubes, so whilst it is a tube clock they are not Nixie tubes. Both tube types are Soviet-made but the Nixie tube technology is older - most tubes we have were made in the 70s-80s, with the VF-tubes being 80s+. The real Nixie tubes of the NIX4 and NIX6 are harder to get and more expensive, plus the clock’s digit size and the clock itself is a little larger - this photo from our Instagram shows them side by side.

Other than that they have the same features and are still designed and handmade in Brisbane. The VF4 makes for a nice desk clock, but the larger digits and formed nature of the Nixie tubes makes the NIX4/NIX6 easier to read from a farther distance. You may also like to check out our What is a Nixie Tube? page.

Do I need to replace the tubes after some time?

The IN8-2 tubes that we use are soldered directly to the circuit board and the case is glued, so we don’t recommend user replacement. Unless the tubes are damaged (a drop for example) they have proven to be quite reliable, however as they age the tails on digits like ‘2’ can start to flicker when first turned on or at low brightness, although in most cases this only lasts several seconds. Should you require tube replacement our single-tube replacement service including return shipping Australia-wide starts at $49 - please contact us for details. We are committed to supporting our products and will be glad to assist you with out-of-warranty support, including guidance on case disassembly and tube replacement. To maximise tube life, use the on-off timer to turn them off when not needed, and the anti-poison feature to maintain even digit illumination. Refer to the User’s Guide for instructions on these features. For servicing or support please visit our support page or contact support@nixlabs.com.au

Can you repair other (not NIX labs) Nixie clocks?

We keep stock of some of the most common Nixie tubes and may be able to repair clocks from other makers - please contact us to see if we can help.

I don’t need a fancy USB setup, can’t I just use my clock as is?

Yes, of course! The USB WebApp is great for those who want to customise their clock and really make it their own. But all essential functions can be set easily using the built-in buttons. Your clock comes with a quick-start leaflet that shows how to use the buttons, as well as what extra settings can be changed with the WebApp. If you only want to set the time and never touch it again that’s completely fine! All your settings are saved permanently, so you don’t have to worry about having to change everything back after a power outage.

How does the online WebApp access my device?

The online WebApp uses WebUSB to communicate with your Nixie device. WebUSB is a feature built into Chromium based browsers including Chrome, Edge and Opera. Your connection is secured with HTTPS, and all processing is done on your PC (client side) so no sensitive data is sent to the server. To help improve our products, a copy of your settings are sent to the server – you can view a copy by selecting ‘Save Settings to File’ from the WebApp menu, you can also refer to our privacy policy.

Can I download the WebApp for use offline?

For the latest features and improvements, we recommend using the online WebApp. You can download a copy of the WebApp for offline use from our Support page. You’ll be able to change all your settings, but the pop-up boxes (including Diagnostics and Firmware Update) will no longer work due to security restrictions.

Do I need anything special to power my clock?

Your clock is powered with a USB cable, just like many phones, cameras and other electronics. It is important to use a good quality power adapter because the display will automatically dim if the supply is too weak. NIX labs recommends our own power adapter for best performance, but spare phone chargers, your computer, and powered USB hubs do usually work fine.

Do NIX labs clocks run from a battery?

Our clocks do not contain a battery and have to be plugged into mains power to work. All models have a built-in supercapacitor that keeps the time when unplugged, and your settings are saved permanently.

What is “anti poisoning”?

Over time, the digits inside your Nixie tubes may develop “cathode poisoning” due to the same digit being shown for a long time. This results in dark spots on the digits. To reduce this effect, an anti-poisoning pattern using all the digits can be shown up to once every 10 minutes. Refer to the User’s Guide for instructions on how to enable this feature.

How do I recycle my Nixie clock?

Your Nixie clock uses materials that contain lead (Pb), so it must not be disposed of in your regular garbage. NIX labs can arrange for free collection of your old unit within Australia, or you can check with your local council for disposal instructions.

Do you do custom builds or other commission work?

Please contact us with your requirements to see if we can help.