Subj : almost ready To : Bjørn Toulouse From : Maurice Kinal Date : Mon Jan 29 2024 02:19 am Hey Bjørn! PKT_DATETIME=$(date +"%Y %-m %-d %-H %-M %-S" | awk 'BEGIN { OFS = "," } {print $1, $2-1, $3, $4, $5, $6}') The above takes care of the 0-11 month output required as per the localtime() function as well as ensures they are integers rather than strings. The resulting datetime stamp vector just needs to be converted to 16-bit little endian binary as per ftn specs for that portion of the pkt_header. Piece of cake although complete elimination of the pkt datetime would be best. Life is good, Maurice -o o- -o o- o- o- o- o- o- o- o- o- o- -o -o -o (\ /) (\ /) /) /) /) /) /) /) /) /) /) (\ (\ (\ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ .... A Møøse once bit my sister ... --- GNU bash, version 5.2.21(1)-release (x86_64-pc-linux-gnu) * Origin: One of us @ (1:153/7001.53423) .