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Serial interface board for LCD — Parallax Forums

Serial interface board for LCD

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2002-09-21 19:55 in General Discussion
Does anyone have an opinion of this board, for use with a BS2?

http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12015+OP

Thanks,
Dan Thames


[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-19 00:18
    They may work just fine if you want something that will work very
    well and have lots of support go here
    http://www.seetron.com/slcds.htm

    larry gaminde
    I have used them and have never had any trouble ( even when
    shorting the hell out of them )oops!



    Original Message
    From: "Dan Thames" <dthames@v...>
    To: "Basic Stamps Group" <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: September 18, 2002 3:49 PM
    Subject: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    Does anyone have an opinion of this board, for use with a BS2?

    http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12015+OP

    Thanks,
    Dan Thames


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-19 00:56
    You get what you pay for!

    Its made by Wirz Electronics -- MPJA bundles it with a flakey 1 x 16
    display. I never got one to work properly -- sometimes it powered up and
    worked fine, other times it didn't. I spent hours trying pull-up and
    pull-down resistors before I figured out how to get it to work most of the
    time. I had less trouble getting a regular 2x16 LCD working with a BS1.

    Original Message

    > Does anyone have an opinion of this board, for use with a BS2?
    >
    > http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12015+OP
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-19 02:35
    I as looking for something cheap, but not worthless. I was not so much
    interested in the 1x16 (flakey)display but I was wondering if the board
    was any good. If not, I will wait a while and spring for something like
    the Scott Edwards unit someone else mentioned.

    Thanks,
    Dan

    >
    Original Message
    > From: Rodent [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=wGVLuYRMvvq28Xeb9krrzQLAGBLkwO6LDAJaeXq1Vg2YRnuWIalIQfHRX46iCc_a5QYGK9xbj3vq]daweasel@s...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:56 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD
    >
    > You get what you pay for!
    >
    > Its made by Wirz Electronics -- MPJA bundles it with a
    > flakey 1 x 16
    > display. I never got one to work properly -- sometimes it
    > powered up and
    > worked fine, other times it didn't. I spent hours trying
    > pull-up and
    > pull-down resistors before I figured out how to get it to
    > work most of the
    > time. I had less trouble getting a regular 2x16 LCD
    > working with a BS1.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > Does anyone have an opinion of this board, for use with
    > a BS2?
    > >
    > > http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12015+OP
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in
    > the Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-19 02:44
    I bought a couple of display units and a couple of his serial to lcd boards,
    and they all worked OK for me.
    The first one I had bought was slow coming up, and sometimes had problems
    with a reset. Wirz sent me out a new IC chip that fixed the problem for
    free. The later units all came with the new chip and worked for me OK.
    I basically always put in a few seconds delay on power up or reset ( as I
    want to have a chance to save the MCU if the interrupt/timer routines aren't
    working right).
    So having a delay for the LCD unit wasn't a problem. There seems to be about
    1-2 seconds while the LCD gets initialized and it seems you need to wait
    about 1 second after to force it to reset via software.
    Other than that it works for me.
    Of course he's changed the PCB now, I have little tiny rectangular ones not
    that fancy.

    Original Message
    From: Rodent [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=M2rx6eSsCVcr2WUuCV5MqYZ6SAFhe3D1BEoZDZakg8j-jj30O88WKPLv3iUWikX5GKLqCynsOH_zbU7I]daweasel@s...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 6:56 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    You get what you pay for!

    Its made by Wirz Electronics -- MPJA bundles it with a flakey 1 x 16
    display. I never got one to work properly -- sometimes it powered up and
    worked fine, other times it didn't. I spent hours trying pull-up and
    pull-down resistors before I figured out how to get it to work most of the
    time. I had less trouble getting a regular 2x16 LCD working with a BS1.

    Original Message

    > Does anyone have an opinion of this board, for use with a BS2?
    >
    > http://www.mpja.com/product.asp?product=12015+OP




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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-19 02:55
    The Scott Edwards unit is the one to use.

    The board itself is the main issue -- it does not always initialize properly
    and you get garbage on the display quite a bit.

    Original Message

    > I as looking for something cheap, but not worthless. I was not so much
    > interested in the 1x16 (flakey)display but I was wondering if the board
    > was any good. If not, I will wait a while and spring for something like
    > the Scott Edwards unit someone else mentioned.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-21 04:50
    I apologize for m,y earlier statement.
    I had actually used the serial LCD modules from
    http://www.kronosrobotics.com/detail.asp?product_id=LCD4
    and not Wirz.
    It took me a while, but it bothered me that the PCB was so much larger.
    Anyway, I have used several of his serial to LCD modules with 16x1 and 24x2
    and 20x4 LCD panels.
    The LCD's are really slow, you need to really have the MCU wait a lot if
    your
    doing a lot of outputing to the LCD panel.

    It bothers me that you say the Scott Edwards is the way to go, when it has
    garbage on the output. I remember a bunch of guys a while back complaining
    about their RF sensitivity to noise and such.

    Good thing the little Kronos Robotics serial LCD units work good for me.
    Much cheaper than buying expensive stuff that doesn't work.

    If you can find one the "Pic an LCD" kit with the 20x4 LCD panel is really
    good.
    But you have to solder the parts together and the documentation is more for
    experienced users.
    http://www.dalewheat.com/products/PIC-an-LCD
    for more info. I forgot where I got mine from but it was one of the internet
    vendors for parts and stuff for robots and things.

    Original Message
    From: Rodent [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=6Ba2M6mIvMQNfSi-iVOoisTY1w7zj7ezdrPUegtx9PDQdLH_4UPls9DsFR89_ZUpXvRCKtNu-w9BBtPujg]daweasel@s...[/url
    Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 8:56 PM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    The Scott Edwards unit is the one to use.

    The board itself is the main issue -- it does not always initialize properly
    and you get garbage on the display quite a bit.

    Original Message

    > I as looking for something cheap, but not worthless. I was not so much
    > interested in the 1x16 (flakey)display but I was wondering if the board
    > was any good. If not, I will wait a while and spring for something like
    > the Scott Edwards unit someone else mentioned.




    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-21 10:50
    I've not said or heard anything bad about Scott's serial LCD units other
    than they are a bit out of my price range. The MPJA / Wirz unit was the one
    I had issues with -- I bought two and both were flaky and now reside in the
    junk box. With Tanner's selling 4x20 displays for $12 and an OEM BS2 for $32
    I can throw something together fairly cheap.

    On the MPJA / Wirz units you have to install and solder the connector as
    well as tape the board to the display and solder the display. Not easy for
    the neophyte. Since I have an abundance of Atmel stuff laying around, I may
    take a shot at my own serial board -- it can't be any worse than the others.

    On a happy note, some of the goodies I salvaged from work included a EL
    backlight driver module!

    Original Message

    > I apologize for m,y earlier statement.
    > I had actually used the serial LCD modules from
    > http://www.kronosrobotics.com/detail.asp?product_id=LCD4
    > and not Wirz.
    > It took me a while, but it bothered me that the PCB was so much larger.
    > Anyway, I have used several of his serial to LCD modules with 16x1 and
    24x2
    > and 20x4 LCD panels.
    > The LCD's are really slow, you need to really have the MCU wait a lot if
    > your
    > doing a lot of outputing to the LCD panel.
    >
    > It bothers me that you say the Scott Edwards is the way to go, when it has
    > garbage on the output. I remember a bunch of guys a while back complaining
    > about their RF sensitivity to noise and such.
    >
    > Good thing the little Kronos Robotics serial LCD units work good for me.
    > Much cheaper than buying expensive stuff that doesn't work.
    >
    > If you can find one the "Pic an LCD" kit with the 20x4 LCD panel is really
    > good.
    > But you have to solder the parts together and the documentation is more
    for
    > experienced users.
    > http://www.dalewheat.com/products/PIC-an-LCD
    > for more info. I forgot where I got mine from but it was one of the
    internet
    > vendors for parts and stuff for robots and things.
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-21 18:11
    Check this web site out. I have used this device on some new/surplus 4 X 20
    displays I got for about $4.00 and they work great.


    http://www.elabinc.com/

    I also use the Scott Edwards 4 x 20 LCD display and have no complaints at
    all with it. The SE display is going into the radio control unit oof my R/C
    subnmarine project, works great.

    Mike B
    Original Message
    From: "Earl Bollinger" <earlwbollinger@a...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Friday, September 20, 2002 8:50 PM
    Subject: RE: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    >
    > I apologize for m,y earlier statement.
    > I had actually used the serial LCD modules from
    > http://www.kronosrobotics.com/detail.asp?product_id=LCD4
    > and not Wirz.
    > It took me a while, but it bothered me that the PCB was so much larger.
    > Anyway, I have used several of his serial to LCD modules with 16x1 and
    24x2
    > and 20x4 LCD panels.
    > The LCD's are really slow, you need to really have the MCU wait a lot if
    > your
    > doing a lot of outputing to the LCD panel.
    >
    > It bothers me that you say the Scott Edwards is the way to go, when it has
    > garbage on the output. I remember a bunch of guys a while back complaining
    > about their RF sensitivity to noise and such.
    >
    > Good thing the little Kronos Robotics serial LCD units work good for me.
    > Much cheaper than buying expensive stuff that doesn't work.
    >
    > If you can find one the "Pic an LCD" kit with the 20x4 LCD panel is really
    > good.
    > But you have to solder the parts together and the documentation is more
    for
    > experienced users.
    > http://www.dalewheat.com/products/PIC-an-LCD
    > for more info. I forgot where I got mine from but it was one of the
    internet
    > vendors for parts and stuff for robots and things.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: Rodent [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=mfwcAtm0Dj4h8UXMty6cTTqxgAMty1WfMIpBNDRtC62Y3lc7yEh3Gr8xBzFSScPEzlQCbY-zX__vMQ]daweasel@s...[/url
    > Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 8:56 PM
    > To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD
    >
    >
    > The Scott Edwards unit is the one to use.
    >
    > The board itself is the main issue -- it does not always initialize
    properly
    > and you get garbage on the display quite a bit.
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > I as looking for something cheap, but not worthless. I was not so much
    > > interested in the 1x16 (flakey)display but I was wondering if the board
    > > was any good. If not, I will wait a while and spring for something like
    > > the Scott Edwards unit someone else mentioned.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-21 18:54
    Why buy junk in the hope to save money. Buy what you really need from a
    reliable supplier. Your project will be up and running faster, you will have
    less aggravation and technical support because you bought a quality product.
    Original Message
    From: "Rodent" <daweasel@s...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 2:50 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    > I've not said or heard anything bad about Scott's serial LCD units other
    > than they are a bit out of my price range. The MPJA / Wirz unit was the
    one
    > I had issues with -- I bought two and both were flaky and now reside in
    the
    > junk box. With Tanner's selling 4x20 displays for $12 and an OEM BS2 for
    $32
    > I can throw something together fairly cheap.
    >
    > On the MPJA / Wirz units you have to install and solder the connector as
    > well as tape the board to the display and solder the display. Not easy for
    > the neophyte. Since I have an abundance of Atmel stuff laying around, I
    may
    > take a shot at my own serial board -- it can't be any worse than the
    others.
    >
    > On a happy note, some of the goodies I salvaged from work included a EL
    > backlight driver module!
    >
    >
    Original Message
    >
    > > I apologize for m,y earlier statement.
    > > I had actually used the serial LCD modules from
    > > http://www.kronosrobotics.com/detail.asp?product_id=LCD4
    > > and not Wirz.
    > > It took me a while, but it bothered me that the PCB was so much larger.
    > > Anyway, I have used several of his serial to LCD modules with 16x1 and
    > 24x2
    > > and 20x4 LCD panels.
    > > The LCD's are really slow, you need to really have the MCU wait a lot if
    > > your
    > > doing a lot of outputing to the LCD panel.
    > >
    > > It bothers me that you say the Scott Edwards is the way to go, when it
    has
    > > garbage on the output. I remember a bunch of guys a while back
    complaining
    > > about their RF sensitivity to noise and such.
    > >
    > > Good thing the little Kronos Robotics serial LCD units work good for me.
    > > Much cheaper than buying expensive stuff that doesn't work.
    > >
    > > If you can find one the "Pic an LCD" kit with the 20x4 LCD panel is
    really
    > > good.
    > > But you have to solder the parts together and the documentation is more
    > for
    > > experienced users.
    > > http://www.dalewheat.com/products/PIC-an-LCD
    > > for more info. I forgot where I got mine from but it was one of the
    > internet
    > > vendors for parts and stuff for robots and things.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2002-09-21 19:55
    Why ***-U-ME what I buy locally is junk?? Do you know what Tanner's is? Do
    you know what they sell? I have no problems with building what I need from
    local surplus, and I was aware the Wirz / MPJA stuff might have been Smile.

    I will gladly shop at these so-called reliable suppliers you claim to know
    if you are willing to pay the difference is the price -- sound fair??

    Original Message
    From: "Stephen H Chapman" <chapman@t...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 12:54 PM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD


    > Why buy junk in the hope to save money. Buy what you really need from a
    > reliable supplier. Your project will be up and running faster, you will
    have
    > less aggravation and technical support because you bought a quality
    product.
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "Rodent" <daweasel@s...>
    > To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    > Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2002 2:50 AM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] Serial interface board for LCD
    >
    >
    > > I've not said or heard anything bad about Scott's serial LCD units other
    > > than they are a bit out of my price range. The MPJA / Wirz unit was the
    > one
    > > I had issues with -- I bought two and both were flaky and now reside in
    > the
    > > junk box. With Tanner's selling 4x20 displays for $12 and an OEM BS2 for
    > $32
    > > I can throw something together fairly cheap.
    > >
    > > On the MPJA / Wirz units you have to install and solder the connector as
    > > well as tape the board to the display and solder the display. Not easy
    for
    > > the neophyte. Since I have an abundance of Atmel stuff laying around, I
    > may
    > > take a shot at my own serial board -- it can't be any worse than the
    > others.
    > >
    > > On a happy note, some of the goodies I salvaged from work included a EL
    > > backlight driver module!
    > >
    > >
    Original Message
    > >
    > > > I apologize for m,y earlier statement.
    > > > I had actually used the serial LCD modules from
    > > > http://www.kronosrobotics.com/detail.asp?product_id=LCD4
    > > > and not Wirz.
    > > > It took me a while, but it bothered me that the PCB was so much
    larger.
    > > > Anyway, I have used several of his serial to LCD modules with 16x1 and
    > > 24x2
    > > > and 20x4 LCD panels.
    > > > The LCD's are really slow, you need to really have the MCU wait a lot
    if
    > > > your
    > > > doing a lot of outputing to the LCD panel.
    > > >
    > > > It bothers me that you say the Scott Edwards is the way to go, when it
    > has
    > > > garbage on the output. I remember a bunch of guys a while back
    > complaining
    > > > about their RF sensitivity to noise and such.
    > > >
    > > > Good thing the little Kronos Robotics serial LCD units work good for
    me.
    > > > Much cheaper than buying expensive stuff that doesn't work.
    > > >
    > > > If you can find one the "Pic an LCD" kit with the 20x4 LCD panel is
    > really
    > > > good.
    > > > But you have to solder the parts together and the documentation is
    more
    > > for
    > > > experienced users.
    > > > http://www.dalewheat.com/products/PIC-an-LCD
    > > > for more info. I forgot where I got mine from but it was one of the
    > > internet
    > > > vendors for parts and stuff for robots and things.
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    >
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    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
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