I think I will get one soon.

Perhaps trying parallel port first, then if OK, should try USB method.

However I might need PCI parallel card as my motherboard doesnt have LPT.


Do you think using USB to parallel port convertor works with this?



This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 1 2011, 11:01 AM

Mines not working. I've followed exactly like http://www.icehw.net/article.php?id=104 wiring diagram.

Double checked and still nothing come out.

I bought a LCD module from super electronic@lelong model JHD 204A



I bought a cheap PCI parallel port and my PC specs are as my signature. Perhaps the PCI card isn't a true parallel hardware. I will try on other machine soon.

How to use LCD smartie softare? I mean the parameter. It seems my LPT1 port have E880-E887


This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 6 2011, 07:35 PM

I still have trouble to access LPT port using Windows 7.

Now at the office I am using Win 7 32 bit while at home I''be using Win 7 x64.

Tried port95nt and INpout32.dll (said to support 64-bit) ... still not working.

However when my LCD turned on it'll show like in the photo. Line 1 and 3 appears darker than 2 and 4. Izzit normal? When I upped the voltage supply to 6V using 6x1.5 alkaline battery, all spaces appear at the same brightness.



Once this is successful, I'll be confident to try using Arduine bit USB.

Hope Google helps me find the answer soon

At 5 volts from molex (YES I connects to the red line)


Line 1 and 3 appears darker than 2 and 4. Izzit normal?

In addition, it appears that my LCU module quite different from usual LCD that I can find. This one has 16 golden fingers on top and at the bottom. All the same?

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 7 2011, 12:06 PM

I will try to find a trimpot to control the contrast. I usually salvage components from damaged electronic parts

May the FORCE be with me!

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 8 2011, 01:32 PM

]Hi stanley,

Could you show me a simple wiring diagram to control the contrast? tq

It seems my LCD module issue has been discussed here. See what can I do

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 8 2011, 01:43 PM

in my case, the LCD has blue backlight .

So BLACK bar means the bar darker than the backlight OR brighter than backlight?



should appear white right?

---

Added on January 8, 2011, 3:03 pmI googled around and found this:



From: http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.p...=1251279124/6#6

It seems this LCD is a bit different. Looks like I have to program the LCD to initialize it properly.

I think I wanna buy 2x20 module that u're using perhaps can work out of the box. Not so ready to do some programming though

Another issue here : http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n...php%3Ft%3D28415

Looks like it's not the contrast problem. I have tried to arjust with the pot, no change.

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 8 2011, 03:12 PM

pin 15 should be power +5v while pin 16 should be ground right?

All right, I will post some pics later.

To make the LPT1 port, I might use VMware with Windows XP as client. Porting the LPT1 to host LPT1 might work or for the last resort I might install Windows XP 32bit natively. This is because port95nt incompatible with Windows 7 x64. If it work with XP just to confirm the LCD working, I'll try other dlls to make it work in 64bit.

My soldering iron just died while I am trying to rebuild my wiring . Until I get a new one.

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 11 2011, 09:43 AM

Thanks stan001 for your helps.

At last it worked!

1. Using VMware with LPT1 emulation with Windows XP client: The method to confirm LCD module and wiring is correct with port95nt (only works for 32bit windows) drivers.

Seems like the parallel black bar will automatically gone when the parallel port initialized by LCD smartie.


2. Using inpout32.dll (supporting x64 OS) now works (after some try and error)

The correct method is to copy Inpout32.dll for Windows 98/2000/NT/XP
into LCD Smartie root folder (overwrite the existing inpout32.dll) and renaming another copy of it to DLPortIO.DLL in the same folder.

Some photos



My wiring using CAT5 cables from backyard. 5V power taken from molex +5v power from e-SATA power bracket.




I think I will go for USB version soon. At the moment I am waiting for an extra 2x16 LCD module already otw to my address. Perhaps I wanna make this one to display static text. I also will do a housing for the LCD module to attach it to my PC.

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Jan 13 2011, 05:43 PM

Hi stan001 ,

U r right! Once it works, it seems this is so easy.

I hope I could find the USB FTDI chip like yours. It seems it also supported on MacOX and have device driver for it. Until I got budget for it, I'll personally ask for you recommendations later.

Arduino UNO also not bad. I'll definitely need one as it'll eliminate the use of PCI slot for LPT, less wiring troubles and also less hassle to enable the device in 64-bit.

In my case, I can't make it work by using "LPT1" parameter in LCDSmartie.exe. It is recognised by HD44780.dll by using address "$E880"

I've made a proper housing for the LCD module and add 2 analogue VU meter from Coolermaster Musketeer. Internally, there are two completely different circuits actually.



With perf, fanspeed, aida64, winamp and keyboard shortcut plugins for LCD smartie, it totally rawks

try getting one from lelong.com.my.

I directly call/sms the seller for quick response

I still have one 16x2 module haven't utilized. Perhaps i'll connect it to the office PC. I haven't tried the USB kits.

This post has been edited by jeopardise: Mar 8 2011, 10:03 PM

what do you have got so far?

I just tried with LCDproc with Ubuntu. The how to is so easy. I followed this guide http://linuxserver2011.wordpress.com/2011/...k-with-lcdproc/

I am ordering my USB version ... coming soon!

Support for Windows 7 64bit?