Can i use USB-Parallel cable to connect LCD to USB port?

OTMOPO3OK · 07-08-2002, 04:07 PM

Guys i've found this USB-Parallel cable
http://www.softwareandstuff.com/h.usbparallel1294.html
and i was wondering if i can use it to connect my LCD to USB port instead of Parallel since I think parallel ports are going to die soon(Abit AT7 is an example) and i want my LCD to be easily transferable to other comps...
Thank you..

Boltz · 07-08-2002, 04:51 PM

there probably could be a way to do this, but i would say that the software used to controll / display to the LCD would have to be modified to use the USB as they probably only like to use LPT1 or 2 etc...

not only that there would have to be a special cable or cable adapter made to change centronics 25 (printer end) to female DB25 (connector on mobo) so you can connect your LCD to the new usb printer cable

bigben2k · 07-08-2002, 06:30 PM

That sounds about right. The sw will be the problem, unless you can emulate a printer port through a special driver, but even then...

Boltz · 07-08-2002, 09:03 PM

What is your LCD capable of? is it custom made?

most LCD can do COM port aswell

i dont see COM ports vanishing any time soon...

Boltz · 07-08-2002, 11:10 PM

Well what happens when i plug in my USB to parallel cable is it installs a virtual driver in the USB controller section of my hardware profile and i am able to select from my printer properties (PORTS) a new port called USB001.

now, i dont know how your LCD driver is but maybe it will see this driver and allow you to select it. But there is still the issue of needing a cable to go from 36 pin centronics to DB25 for your LCD

(sorry my above post is wrong it is 36 centronics not 25)

OTMOPO3OK · 07-08-2002, 11:49 PM

Thanks guys ,
i'm not reallly good with making my own drivers and stuff...
i'm not sure what to do just yet it seems much easier to buy a parallel-serial converter...so i'll prolly stick to that...
BTW do u know the place where they sell them, i saw one some time ago but forgot where...
Thanx again

OTMOPO3OK · 07-08-2002, 11:52 PM

BTW my LCD is not custom made it's regular Hitachi chip...4x40...
i'm not sure how to connect it direcly to serial...i thought of doing it parallel then use parallel-serial converter...
do u know the easier way?
If you know how to connect it directly to COM port that would be just great!!!Just like Matrix orbital or CristalFontz...

Boltz · 07-09-2002, 01:33 AM

I havent any experience with LCD's

but by custom made, i mean it is a generic LCD on a board with connectors ( a bare LCD) and you hooked up the wires etc...

because im sure that many of the LCD's can do COMM and parallel

Hallis · 07-09-2002, 04:02 AM

I just stick with the Crystalfontz serial LCD's beautiful hardware, and they write a NICE little software package to run them with.

OTMOPO3OK · 07-09-2002, 12:54 PM

Hallis but the cost is trippled.....id rather make one myself + it's much more interesting....BTW could you send me their software i'd like to see what they offer...maybe someday when i get my LCD to work as a serial i'll use it...
THX

airspirit · 07-09-2002, 02:01 PM

How about this: pick up a parallel PCI card and plug her in. When it comes time to move it to the other machine, move the card too. How many people don't have a spare PCI slot? Plus, the expansion cards only run $10-15.

OTMOPO3OK · 07-09-2002, 04:22 PM

good idea....thx

Honestly i also wanted to use Matrix orbital and cristalfontz great software...u know they got much more things than LCDcenter can offer...they can even make a big clock using all 4 rowson LCD..(like guy from Bit-tech had on his kick ass black machine) and Winamp plugin (not only song title)

Hallis · 07-09-2002, 10:19 PM

you can download the software for free from their website. i think it is specially written for their firmware though,, but LCDriver and other things of the like may work nicely also..

07-08-2002, 04:07 PM	#1
OTMOPO3OK Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 45	Can i use USB-Parallel cable to connect LCD to USB port? Guys i've found this USB-Parallel cable http://www.softwareandstuff.com/h.usbparallel1294.html and i was wondering if i can use it to connect my LCD to USB port instead of Parallel since I think parallel ports are going to die soon(Abit AT7 is an example) and i want my LCD to be easily transferable to other comps... Thank you.. __________________ Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue...

07-08-2002, 06:30 PM	#3
bigben2k Responsible for 2% of all the posts here. Join Date: May 2002 Location: Texas, U.S.A. Posts: 8,302	That sounds about right. The sw will be the problem, unless you can emulate a printer port through a special driver, but even then... __________________ WBTA (Water Block Testing Alliance) Nordic Hardware WC 101

07-08-2002, 11:49 PM	#6
OTMOPO3OK Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 45	Thanks guys , i'm not reallly good with making my own drivers and stuff... i'm not sure what to do just yet it seems much easier to buy a parallel-serial converter...so i'll prolly stick to that... BTW do u know the place where they sell them, i saw one some time ago but forgot where... Thanx again __________________ Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue...

07-08-2002, 11:52 PM	#7
OTMOPO3OK Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 45	BTW my LCD is not custom made it's regular Hitachi chip...4x40... i'm not sure how to connect it direcly to serial...i thought of doing it parallel then use parallel-serial converter... do u know the easier way? If you know how to connect it directly to COM port that would be just great!!!Just like Matrix orbital or CristalFontz... __________________ Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue... Last edited by OTMOPO3OK; 07-08-2002 at 11:55 PM.

07-09-2002, 12:54 PM	#10
OTMOPO3OK Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 45	Hallis but the cost is trippled.....id rather make one myself + it's much more interesting....BTW could you send me their software i'd like to see what they offer...maybe someday when i get my LCD to work as a serial i'll use it... THX __________________ Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue...

07-08-2002, 04:51 PM	#2
Boltz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 23	there probably could be a way to do this, but i would say that the software used to controll / display to the LCD would have to be modified to use the USB as they probably only like to use LPT1 or 2 etc... not only that there would have to be a special cable or cable adapter made to change centronics 25 (printer end) to female DB25 (connector on mobo) so you can connect your LCD to the new usb printer cable

07-08-2002, 09:03 PM	#4
Boltz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 23	What is your LCD capable of? is it custom made? most LCD can do COM port aswell i dont see COM ports vanishing any time soon...

07-08-2002, 11:10 PM	#5
Boltz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 23	Well what happens when i plug in my USB to parallel cable is it installs a virtual driver in the USB controller section of my hardware profile and i am able to select from my printer properties (PORTS) a new port called USB001. now, i dont know how your LCD driver is but maybe it will see this driver and allow you to select it. But there is still the issue of needing a cable to go from 36 pin centronics to DB25 for your LCD (sorry my above post is wrong it is 36 centronics not 25)

07-09-2002, 01:33 AM	#8
Boltz Cooling Neophyte Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 23	I havent any experience with LCD's but by custom made, i mean it is a generic LCD on a board with connectors ( a bare LCD) and you hooked up the wires etc... because im sure that many of the LCD's can do COMM and parallel

07-09-2002, 04:02 AM	#9
Hallis Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 469	I just stick with the Crystalfontz serial LCD's beautiful hardware, and they write a NICE little software package to run them with.

07-09-2002, 02:01 PM	#11
airspirit Been /.'d... have you? Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Moscow, ID Posts: 1,986	How about this: pick up a parallel PCI card and plug her in. When it comes time to move it to the other machine, move the card too. How many people don't have a spare PCI slot? Plus, the expansion cards only run $10-15.

07-09-2002, 04:22 PM	#12
OTMOPO3OK Cooling Neophyte Join Date: May 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 45	good idea....thx Honestly i also wanted to use Matrix orbital and cristalfontz great software...u know they got much more things than LCDcenter can offer...they can even make a big clock using all 4 rowson LCD..(like guy from Bit-tech had on his kick ass black machine) and Winamp plugin (not only song title) __________________ Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue... Last edited by OTMOPO3OK; 07-09-2002 at 04:29 PM.

07-09-2002, 10:19 PM	#13
Hallis Cooling Savant Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 469	you can download the software for free from their website. i think it is specially written for their firmware though,, but LCDriver and other things of the like may work nicely also..

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)