Great deal on a 20x2 VFD at BGMicro $20!!
 

As much as I know some of you hate [H], this is cool.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....hreadid=351627

get a 20x2 VFD for $20
I got mine on Sat. and it's great!

here is the order site
http://bgm.bgmicro.com/prodinfo.asp?...ri=VFD&stype=3

I hope you enjoy.
this puppy's as wide as a DVD box is tall, and has a bright (can be dimmed) blue/green color
it's goh LCDriver 2.0 support, but we gotta wait 4 2.0 to come out. (should be soon)
there are some apps that do thinks like winamp and time info.

check out the thread!

I refuse to click on the HOCP link, but it looks like a damn nice LCD! Thanks for the heads up!
=Kevin

well.. it's a VFD, not an LCD.
but ya, they do similar stuff. :->

aaaaaaaaaaaaaah whatever ;) hehehe
-Kev

heres an lcd http://www.matrixorbital.com/product...4-Bit-Tech.htm

ya, but that's $50, this is $20 :->

Need to see a picture with it on, and having data scroll across it.

ok..ok... will do! give me a few min.
(I hate my crappy digi cam)

again... crappy camera. this is REALLY bright (room is 1/2 glowing by this mofo when the lights are off)
my camera just can't expose 4 beanz
when [H] is bak up I'll post Uller's LCDriver 2.0 pics he uses this VFD and thi winamp stuff looks sweet!
Lights on
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0015l.JPG
lights off, no flash
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0017l.JPG
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0018l.JPG
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0019l.JPG
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0020l.JPG

what does the vfd use for back lighting? i know most lcds use a led array

There is no "backlight"

It is a vacuum flourescent display. It uses tiney winey little flourescent cells that illuminate to be the pixels... if you want to see one in operation, go look at a lotto machine... At least in my state, they have VFD's.

Heh... Just bought one... i'll fit it somewhere

http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/vfd/winamp1.jpg
http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/vfd/winamp2.jpg
http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/vfd/winamp3.jpg
http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/vfd/lcdhdmeter.jpg
http://lcdriver.pointofnoreturn.org/vfd/lcdtime.jpg

LCDs are bright background, dark foreground
VFDs are just friggin bright foreground. it's easy to read at all (well... not 90 but still) angles.

whats the connector look like on it? just curious... since i bought one :evilaugh: Damn that thing is bright... i might have to find a way to wein it down a bit...
Peace

probably serial...

you can adjust the brightness, it has 7 levels.
it's serial or LPT

Green= +5V
white= ground
black= serial
http://www.northgwinnett2.w1.com/vfd/3.jpg

power connections:
http://www.northgwinnett2.w1.com/vfd/5.jpg

shows where to attach to serial port:
http://www.northgwinnett2.w1.com/vfd/2.jpg

the LED was my ghetto way 2 be sure the wires worked.

this IS a temp. setup.

I just got mine, what software did you use to run the thing?

God its big

LCDriver 2 supports our VFD
it's still in private beata tho...

BUT
there are 2 apps that are out 4 our VFD
see page 47 of the [h] thread if these don't work.

constant updates occur too.

mirrors for dan_dudes program

No defaults
http://www.deviantmods.com/~fatmike/VFD/vfdprog1b.exe
Defaults to Com1, 19200, and Winamp:
http://www.deviantmods.com/~fatmike/...dprog1com1.exe
Defaults to Com2, 19200, and Winamp:
http://www.deviantmods.com/~fatmike/...dprog1com2.exe

Curtisbeef's progy

http://www.deviantmods.com/~fatmike/VFD/vfd4.zip


useful image
http://home.attbi.com/~AkaHomeschool/vfd.jpg

the [H] thread also has TONS of mounting ideas like:

http://swc2.hccs.cc.tx.us/evan/vfd/Jack.jpg

here is my setup

I wanted to be temporary tho.
when I get my new PC this summer I'll mount the VFD in my case, and the bolts can be taken out of the 2 bottom holes, and the RTV removed.

http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0021l.JPG
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0023l.JPG
http://theforumisdown.com/uploadfile...vfdDc0025l.JPG

thats sweet! i want one..!

doesn't serial have 5v on it already?

-edit-Nevermind, NS is around 12v.

I'm not for sure if the serial could supply enough amperage to run it even if it did have a +5 line. VFD's are known to draw a fair amount of current when active. anyways, I LOVE THIS THING, IT is SOOO much brighter and clearer than any LCD ever was. Thanks Techguy for pointing this SHAWEET deal out to all of us.

you are welcome!
and have no fear, if it's too bright (whimp!) you can use one of the 7 dimm levels :->

Techguy: Definately thanks for the awesome find, I ordered one today. Shared the link with some case modding bud's might order some themselves. Know of any good serial software for use with a Linux boxen ? I want to use this on my shell box if that is possible. If anyone can answer that question please let me know.

Thanks again for the awesome link!

J :cool:

I haven't a clue bout Linux, but LCDC does work with this VFD and so does LCDriver 2.0 (you just gotta wait 4 public beta tho)
LCDC works nicely and so does dan dude's app.

maybe WINE or something can run one of these apps? Dan's progy seems to be a very simple VB6 app.

Also: if you read the [H] thread in the beginning few pages (it's 65 pages now) they give the tech doc's URL so you could program it yourself if you wanted, that's what curtisbeef and dan dude did.