LCD screen, lcdProc

emil · Post by **emil** » 19 Mar 2007, 06:31

Hi group!

I'm considering a Bubba to replace/complement my large power consuming and extremely noisy linux server.

What I'd like to do is connect a LCD display via USB to show relevant information such as when the next bus is leaving, torrent download status, new mails etc.

Products like:
http://www.matrixorbital.com/
http://www.crystalfontz.com/

seem to work well with LCDProc, http://lcdproc.omnipotent.net/

Has anyone tried connecting an LCD via the USB port. If not can a developer of Bubba confirm that this would be possible? I realize that some programming would be needed but that suits me fine!

regards

/Emil

bjorn · Post by **bjorn** » 19 Mar 2007, 07:24

Hi Emil,

me and zmannen has been using LK204-24-USB from Matrix Orbital and it works fine both with lcdproc and lcd4linux.

You do need to compile a kernel module for the display though.

/Bjorn

Post by **tor** » 19 Mar 2007, 08:26

Hi,

As i have said before. I had started a short howto on this since we think this would be a cool feature

We have however not got any further on that.

Anyhow we where looking in at using picoLCD as found fx here:

http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD
http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD-20x2-OEM?category=490
https://www.bulix.org/projects/lcd4linux/wiki/picoLCD

Which might be interesting as well. The only thing about this is that its untested. If i understand correctly bjorn had tested their solution.

/Tor

John W · Post by **John W** » 19 Mar 2007, 15:04

bjorn wrote:You do need to compile a kernel module for the display though.

/Bjorn

How do you do that when the kernel is stored in flash?

emil · Post by **emil** » 19 Mar 2007, 16:02

John W, the picoLCD has a program that only needs the USB drivers to be loaded (and I presume they are on the Bubba).

I've always been able to load compiled kernel modules without recompiling the kernel so this shouldn't be a problem with the Bubba (Bjorn, do you agree?).

The picoLCD seems to be the best product for me, easily mounted and has connectors for USB directly on the board. BUT, it's bloody expensive ordering it to Sweden... It seems that most of us here on the board are from Sweden, where have you bought your LCDs? I know there are a some on ELFA but not any with USB connectivity. Tips!

/Emil

zmannen · Post by **zmannen** » 22 Mar 2007, 06:12

Yes Elfa in Sweden do carry Matrix Orbital LK204-24-USB. Provided you compile a driver for USB-serial it works. I'm writing about that in our series covering embedded technology in the magazine "Elektronik i Norden"

Elfa part number 75-529-53

http://www.elfa.se/pdf/75/07552953.pdf

Display addon will be covered in a month or so when the
article series reaches addon gadgets....

janne

endecotp · Post by **endecotp** » 12 Apr 2007, 10:53

Hi All,

I thought you might like to have a look at this page, where I have documented my own effort to connect an LCD display to my linksys NSLU2:

http://chezphil.org/slugterm/

It describes my hardware (I have implemented it at a rather lower level than the other options that you have discussed) as well as software (I have implemented a terminal so you can log in; mostly I use it to run "df", "lpq" and similar).

Cheers,

Phil.

Kermit · Post by **Kermit** » 19 Apr 2007, 12:40

Hehe fun I have for a long time spending less time reading "elektronik i norden" due it was going more and more for a wannabe engineer magazine like Ny Teknik. You proved me wrong with your articles about the bubba

which are really good and nice to read.

Sorry for being a bit of topic ....

Post by **johannes** » 19 Apr 2007, 14:48

Thanks, but just for clarification, we (Excito) doesn't have anything to do with those articles, it's their own idea. And we are very interested in their backup solution, will be interesting to read the following parts!

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » 11 Oct 2007, 05:57

tor wrote:Hi,

As i have said before. I had started a short howto on this since we think this would be a cool feature We have however not got any further on that.

Anyhow we where looking in at using picoLCD as found fx here:

http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD
http://www.mini-box.com/picoLCD-20x2-OEM?category=490
https://www.bulix.org/projects/lcd4linux/wiki/picoLCD

Which might be interesting as well. The only thing about this is that its untested. If i understand correctly bjorn had tested their solution.

/Tor

Did you ever get the quick HowTo finished? I'd be quite interested in this mod.

Post by **tor** » 15 Oct 2007, 06:45

Unfortunately not. Time is our shortest suply for now

But another gadget that would be cool to connect is these cool oled-displays:

http://www.4dsystems.com.au/prod.php?id=11

5V, a serial connection and you are up and running.

/Tor

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » 15 Oct 2007, 11:53

no worries

ooh those look pretty cool.

although the likes of the LK204-24-USB from Matrix Orbital would probably suit me fine for displaying basic system stats.

has anyone got an english transalation of the guide in the 'Elektronik i Norden' magazine?

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » 16 Oct 2007, 05:51

Just a quick question.
Providing you done the serial hack to you bubba using a TLL to RS232 converter etc etc, would it be easier to install a serial LCD display rather than a USB display, i.e. no need for usb driver?