Hd44780 Lcd

[taylormsj]

Hey
I bought a 16x2 HD44780 LCD module from XSPC as it was on sale

http://www.watercoolingshop.co.uk/store/p110-fans--accessories/16x2-Character-LCD-Display-BlueBlack.cfm

It has a parallel 25 pin cable supplied with it, so i bought a USB to parallel adapter, but it didnt work.

After some research i found out that the USB adapter only allows printer support, not full COM support

Does anyone know how i would go about connecting this up to USB?

I have read about FTDI chips, would

http://www.usbnow.co.uk/p59/USB_2.0_to_RS232_Cable_(9_&_25_Pin_Cable)/product_info.html

work??

LCDsmartie forums are pretty much dead :S

Thankyou !

[Easybeat]

Thats a good deal on the LCD, I actually hacked one together 2-3 years ago and ran it with LCD Smartie until I upgraded to a second monitor. I remember reading a few articles on hackaday about LCD's and USB interfaces so a quick search brought up these but I don't think any are easy.

http://hackaday.com/2006/12/28/the-simpler-usb2lcd/

http://hackaday.com/?s=hd44780+usb

Also a possibility is a parallel to serial interface? it may work but I have my doubts. As for the LCD Smartie forums, the advent of cheap LCD monitors and desktop gadgets has meant anyone who wants the stuff displayed that LCD smartie did can now put it on a second screen.

Edit - Also how about a PCI parallel card as such?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/High-IEEE-1284-Parallel-Port-PCI-Printer-I-O-Card-UK_W0QQitemZ390093910447QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Comp uting_ComputerComponents_InterfaceCards?hash=item5 ad368b1af&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[taylormsj]

Thanks a lot for the reply !

I was thinking about a PCI card, but im unsure, will this give me full LPT and COM port features, or just bog standard printer options, do you know?

Thank you !!

[Easybeat]

I did a quick search and it appears it won't work as it looks for a certain address port but the add in cards have a different address than the old parallel port.:( If the cards address could be altered then I suppose its a possibility but I know very little of that sort of stuff.

http://forums.highrez.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=96

[taylormsj]

:( im going to cry

I have a hole in my case ready for a 16x2 LCD, are there any cost efficient alternatives??

[Easybeat]

It looks like if you are prepared to do a bit of soldering then yes.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-Characters-LCD-Interface-Board-for-HD44780-LCD_W0QQitemZ220467897734QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item3354e92586&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

[taylormsj]

Yeah i found that, but the module they show in the picture are different to mine, they have different pin layout and im not so good with a soldering iron :(

Anyone willing to do it for me for a bit of moneys??

[taylormsj]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390027059675&_trksid=p2759.l1259

This would work wont it? (If i solder it all nicely)