that is what is giving me the false numbers and here is the file I had just downloaded from DS3234 - Rinky-Dink Electronics
DS3234.cpp (8.96 KB)
DS3234.h (2.8 KB)
keywords.txt (621 Bytes)
Can you go back to your original sketch, that requires T?????????? sync message, and make the change I proposed, and let me know the results?
Regards,
Graham
I got you, I was trying to put it into the wrong sketch. It will not compile
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS3234.h>
//This section retrieves the system time (unix) in a more manageable h,m,s... format
#define TIME_MSG_LEN 11 // time sync to PC is HEADER followed by Unix time_t as ten ASCII digits
#define TIME_HEADER 'T' // Header tag for serial time sync message
#define TIME_REQUEST 7 // ASCII bell character requests a time sync message
// T1262347200 //noon Jan 1 2010
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
}
void loop() {
if (Serial.available() )
{
processSyncMessage();
}
if (timeStatus() == timeNotSet)
Serial.println("waiting for sync message");
else
digitalClockDisplay();
delay(1000);
}
void digitalClockDisplay() {
// digital clock display of the time
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr(FORMAT_LONG);
// Serial.print(hour());
// printDigits(minute());
// printDigits(second());
// Serial.print(" ");
// Serial.print(day());
// Serial.print(" ");
// Serial.print(month());
// Serial.print(" ");
// Serial.print(year());
// Serial.println();
}
void printDigits(int digits) {
// utility function for digital clock display: prints preceding colon and leading 0
Serial.print(":");
if (digits < 10)
Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(digits);
}
void processSyncMessage() {
// if time sync available from serial port, update time and return true
while (Serial.available() >= TIME_MSG_LEN ) { // time message consists of header & 10 ASCII digits
char c = Serial.read() ;
Serial.print(c);
if ( c == TIME_HEADER ) {
time_t pctime = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < TIME_MSG_LEN - 1; i++) {
c = Serial.read();
if ( c >= '0' && c <= '9') {
pctime = (10 * pctime) + (c - '0') ; // convert digits to a number
}
}
setTime(pctime); // Sync Arduino clock to the time received on the serial port
}
}
}
/* Then the user needs to open terminal and run the following command:
sudo echo "T$(($(date +%s)+60*60-5))" >/dev/tty.usbmodem1421
where -5 is the time zone adjustment from GMT and tty.usbmodem1421 is your serial port
*/
/* This was the original way to manually set the RTC time:
*/[code]
Arduino: 1.6.1 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"
timesync.ino: In function 'void digitalClockDisplay()':
timesync.ino:31:18: error: 'rtc' was not declared in this scope
Error compiling.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.
IDIOT!!! i missed a closing bracket!!!
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr(FORMAT_LONG));
That will compile 
Sorry
Graham
same error, Arduino: 1.6.1 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"
timesync.ino: In function 'void digitalClockDisplay()':
timesync.ino:31:18: error: 'rtc' was not declared in this scope
Error compiling.
This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.
I had another thought, remove your TFT shield and LCD if you haven't done so already.
Change your CS_pin to 53. (Currently 8 ) and change the wire of course too....
Graham
I see.........I just noticed WHY nothing is working in that sketch!! 
Because there was NO initialising being done....!
Try this?? But also, first please do as I requested and change your CS pin wire to 53......
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS3234.h>
DS3234 rtc(53);
//This section retrieves the system time (unix) in a more manageable h,m,s... format
#define TIME_MSG_LEN 11 // time sync to PC is HEADER followed by Unix time_t as ten ASCII digits
#define TIME_HEADER 'T' // Header tag for serial time sync message
#define TIME_REQUEST 7 // ASCII bell character requests a time sync message
// T1262347200 //noon Jan 1 2010
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
rtc.begin();
}
void loop() {
if (Serial.available() )
{
processSyncMessage();
}
if (timeStatus() == timeNotSet)
Serial.println("waiting for sync message");
else
digitalClockDisplay();
delay(1000);
}
void digitalClockDisplay() {
// digital clock display of the time
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr(FORMAT_LONG));
/* Serial.print(hour());
printDigits(minute());
printDigits(second());
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.print(day());
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.print(month());
Serial.print(" ");
Serial.print(year());
Serial.println();*/
}
void printDigits(int digits) {
// utility function for digital clock display: prints preceding colon and leading 0
Serial.print(":");
if (digits < 10)
Serial.print('0');
Serial.print(digits);
}
void processSyncMessage() {
// if time sync available from serial port, update time and return true
while (Serial.available() >= TIME_MSG_LEN ) { // time message consists of header & 10 ASCII digits
char c = Serial.read() ;
Serial.print(c);
if ( c == TIME_HEADER ) {
time_t pctime = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < TIME_MSG_LEN - 1; i++) {
c = Serial.read();
if ( c >= '0' && c <= '9') {
pctime = (10 * pctime) + (c - '0') ; // convert digits to a number
}
}
setTime(pctime); // Sync Arduino clock to the time received on the serial port
}
}
}
/* Then the user needs to open terminal and run the following command:
sudo echo "T$(($(date +%s)+60*60-5))" >/dev/tty.usbmodem1421
where -5 is the time zone adjustment from GMT and tty.usbmodem1421 is your serial port
*/
/* This was the original way to manually set the RTC time:
*/
done and done and uploaded. displaying time only as 0349 as of now, seconds incrementing up and the minute changes after 60 seconds
I am very pleased to hear it!! 
Now try changing the line in display clock to this?
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr());
You SHOULD be seeing seconds also.....
and also sprinkle in some of these......
Serial.println(rtc.getTimeStr());
Serial.println(rtc.getDateStr());
Serial.println(rtc.getDOWStr());
Serial.println(rtc.getMonthStr());
There are ways of setting your clock......... but none of them would be SUPER accurate.....
One example.......
Create your sketch in advance....... something like this.....
void processSyncMessage() {
// if time sync available from serial port, update time and return true
while (Serial.available() >= TIME_MSG_LEN ) { // time message consists of header & 10 ASCII digits
char c = Serial.read() ;
Serial.print(c);
if ( c == TIME_HEADER ) {
time_t pctime = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < TIME_MSG_LEN - 1; i++) {
c = Serial.read();
if ( c >= '0' && c <= '9') {
pctime = (10 * pctime) + (c - '0') ; // convert digits to a number
}
}
setTime(pctime); // Sync Arduino clock to the time received on the serial port
rtc.setTime( 07, 49, 00);
rtc.setDate( 04, 04, 2015);
rtc.setDOW(SATURDAY);
}
}
}
And then at EXACTLY 7.49:00 send your T1428179212. The time that is actually set in the RTC will be 7.49.00 april 4 2015 Saturday......
SHOULD get you close enough to real time...
Best wishes, and kindly give me some karma if you are happy with my help,
Graham
ok so here is where I am at in all the details. with the sd card unplugged and rtc in pin 53 using your code it uploads and keeps time. I was then able to upload another code and the time was the same. pin was moved from 53 to 8 and re-uploaded and things still work. using another sketch I was able to change time and date and upload with no problem. as soon as I plug the sd back in its all zeros again. so the problem then is a conflict between the rtc and the sd reader on the spi bus correct? how do I go about fixing that?
Now that is a whole different ballgame!! Get a DS3231 Sorry I cannot help further, my knowledge of multiple SPI devices on the Mega is limited/none. The DS3231 is also super accurate like the DS3234, but uses I2C, not SPI.
Hope you appreciate the help I have given to this point.
Regards,
Graham
No problem and thanks for all the help. Hopefully someone else will be able to help.