Help with code for DS3132 and dfplayer mini combo on Elegoo Uno r3

Projects General Guidance
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@anon26492357

The following runs OK on my Nano. Check my comments to see why yours didn't.

P.S. I kept your names, but I always prefer to get the string 'my' in there somewhere.
:slightly_smiling_face:

#include <Wire.h>
#include <RTClib.h>
#include <DFRobotDFPlayerMini.h>
#include <SoftwareSerial.h>

static const uint8_t PIN_MP3_RX = 8;  // for my breadboard
// static const uint8_t PIN_MP3_RX = 0;  // Connect MP3 TX to Uno's RX (pin 0)
static const uint8_t PIN_MP3_TX = 9;  // for my breadboard
// static const uint8_t PIN_MP3_TX = 1;  // Connect MP3 RX to Uno's TX (pin 1)

SoftwareSerial softwareSerial(PIN_MP3_RX, PIN_MP3_TX);
DFRobotDFPlayerMini player; // I'd have preferred 'myDFPlayer'

RTC_DS3231 rtc;

// Array not necessary? I'd just play the randomly chosen track
// (But consider seeding randomTrackNumber, for example with
// randomSeed(analogRead(0) or similar)
//const int trackCount = 5;
//const int tracks[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}; // Replace with your actual track numbers

void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(115200);
  delay(200);

  softwareSerial.begin(9600);

  rtc.begin(); // Missing from original
  // So not initialised.


  // Not sure about this if(), as no compile error with yours
  if (!rtc.begin())
  {
    Serial.println("Couldn't find RTC");
    while (1);
  }

  if (rtc.lostPower())
  {
    Serial.println("RTC lost power, let's set the time!");
    rtc.adjust(DateTime(F(__DATE__), F(__TIME__)));
  }

  player.begin(softwareSerial); // Start communication with DFPlayer
  delay(1000); // Often proves necessary

  // Yours below reported 'MP3 Player FAIL' consistently.
  // So I've replaced with my usual equivalent conditionals.
  // (I often omit altogether.)

  //  if (player.begin(softwareSerial))
  //  {
  //    Serial.println("MP3 Player OK");
  //  }
  //  else
  //  {
  //    Serial.println("MP3 Player FAIL!");
  //  }

if (!player.begin(softwareSerial, true, false))
  {
    Serial.println(F("Unable to begin:"));
    Serial.println(F("1.Please recheck the connection!"));
    Serial.println(F("2.Please insert the SD card!"));
    while (true);
  }
  Serial.println(F("DFPlayer Mini online."));
  player.setTimeOut(1000);
  //----Set volume----
  player.volume(20); // BTW, 30 can cause voltage drop
  // issue in some circuits; have not seen yours.
  delay(500);

  Serial.println("end setup"); // No crash so far
}

void loop()
{
  // Check if it's a weekday and within the specified time frame
  // Me: It's Friday here; I've not tested weekend.
  DateTime now = rtc.now();

  if (now.dayOfTheWeek() >= 1 && now.dayOfTheWeek() <= 5 && now.hour() >= 7 && now.hour() <= 16)
  {
    // Generate a random time delay between 1 and 4 hours (3600 seconds per hour)
    int randomDelay = random(2000, 11000); // 2 to 10 s for testing
    // int randomDelay = random(3600, 4 * 3600 + 1);
    //    delay(randomDelay * 1000);  // Convert seconds to milliseconds

    // Randomly select a track from the array; see above
    //    int randomTrackIndex = random(0, trackCount);
    int randomTrackNumber = random(1, 6); // 1 to 5
    // int randomTrackNumber = tracks[randomTrackIndex];

    // Play the randomly selected track
    player.play(randomTrackNumber);
    delay(randomDelay); // Original had none
  }
}