I don't use Linux and I don't have a BG Micro VFD, but I'd say your best bet is http://lcdproc.omnipotent.net/download.php3 - LCD Proc. It should certainly work with the display wired up to the parallel port and if it doesn't have serial support already i'd appeal to it's author (led to believe he's a nice chap) Cheers, Rob.
Yeah I know, the controller on that VFD is pretty nice So either wire it parallel or try to make it work serially in LCD Proc (by pestering the author if need be), I think those will be your only options though I could be wrong (happens far too often ). Cheers, hope you get it sorted, Rob.
i will try lcdproc i hope it works. i saw a review about a some graphical lcd on this site and i dont know where or what it was.... do u have any info on that?
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12398 Has all the info you want. Hope LCDProc will work on the BGMicro VFD (is it the huge one of [H]ardOCP fame?). If it is, there is a HUGE thread over there that may give you a bit more of a leg up software wise. Good luck!
Pretty sure they've stopped selling them, the old link I had for them no longer works let me know if you find em, want the link for my faq. Cheers, Rob.
OK, maybe I can weigh in with a couple things here... BGMicro seems to have sold out of them. At least they don't list them any longer. Second, in real operating systems, serial ports are super easy to write to. Using whatever means necessary, just write to the serial port. FreeBSD example: Code: echo "foo" > /dev/cuaa1 Just substitute the name of your serial port device as appropriate. All you get from LCDproc is a tool to monitor a bunch of stuff. Easily done with shell scripts, perl scripts, etc.
if you are looking to buy one i have 1 for sale in custom enclosure wired for serial ready to go........................ name ur price
