16x2 robokit atmel LCD, need to get working

[kiran]

I purchased 16x2 LCD kit and need to know if it can be used with LCD smartie directly (using which of the provided drivers)

http://robokits.co.in/shop/index.php?ma ... cts_id=191

The documentation is http://robokits.co.in/documentation/Rob ... 20LCD..pdf

the LCD module consists of an Atmel uC and provides serial interface. I connected the data pin to RS-232 port directly and provided power using USB port. The LCD turns on and provides the cursor but doesnt respond in any way when characters are transferred through hyperterminal.

The tutorial on the site says that the module accepts TTL level inputs which could be problem (as I am connecting directly to RS-232 port)

I plan to purchase the USB-Serial controller that they are selling but would like to know if the combination would work with LCD Smartie.

Can someone have a look at the command set given in the documentation and tell me which driver can be used.

[caesar]

It will work with the test driver but you will miss the eight user defined characters.
For those to work you will have to make a display driver for smartie.

[kiran]

It will work with the test driver but you will miss the eight user defined characters.
For those to work you will have to make a display driver for smartie.

Thanks, i managed to get some characters on screen. seems that if the connector is pushed all the way in then the display doesnt change at all, probably loose connection.

from the manual, the characterset is ASCII, I am OK with not having custom characters. i created testdriver.ini in the EXE directory and "CharMap=" is one line in that. should i drop that line altogether?

the manual says that i can use hyperterminal to test/control the LCD but i am not sure how

[kiran]

i had to order the usb serial adaptor that provides TTL signals to control this LCD. now it works well with testdrier.

as mentioned above, the custom characters do not work.

but there are two problems

- the display is set to autoscroll text if its not less than 16 characters...that throws the display offtrack. or perhaps i have to set the custom control characters in ini file?
- the system hangs completely after a while..this happened when i connected LCD directly to serial port and via USB adaptor so i suspect its LCD smartie bug! I am running Windows Home Server