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traviskleckner
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| Posted: August 09 2007 at 16:27 | IP Logged
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Has anyone gotten a remote LCD display to work with PowerHome?
I'm thinking that something like the USB or Serial ones from Crystalfontz or Matrix Orbital.
In an ideal world I'd like to have PowerHome able to display information on which lights are on, scene info, etc. I could control it all with variables, so PowerHome needs only to send updates to the display.
I'd also like to have them remote mounted near the volume controls to display the WinAmp info (which I could already do with a plugin for WinAmp) but it sure would be nice if PowerHome could display other info when WinAmp was idle.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: August 09 2007 at 17:38 | IP Logged
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The serial versions would be easy with PH's support of serial I/O.
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ginigma
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| Posted: August 09 2007 at 22:33 | IP Logged
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Heh, I just hooked up a Crystalfontz 634 (white on blue) and am using LCD Smartie. I plan on more integration with PH. However, there's not much WAF. She said, "What do you need that for?" I learned "Because it's cool" is not a good answer. Also, I hooked it up before I put it in an enclosure. Just the raw LCD panel.
Even though it's a USB version, it "talks" through a COM port, using an emulator, which is part of their driver package.
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jpcurcio
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| Posted: August 09 2007 at 23:03 | IP Logged
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"Because it's cool" is an excellent answer... which is why I'm in the progress of upgrading from wife1.0 to wife2.0, currently in beta 
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ginigma
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| Posted: August 09 2007 at 23:56 | IP Logged
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Yeah, I didn't beta test long enough. My bad.
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jpcurcio
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| Posted: August 10 2007 at 00:57 | IP Logged
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ginigma wrote:
| Yeah, I didn't beta test long enough. My bad. |
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Yeah, well... I'm just surprise that fiancee puts up with me. I still don't understand what she sees in me, but I guess I can accept it anyway...
-John
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traviskleckner
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| Posted: August 10 2007 at 08:34 | IP Logged
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ginigma wrote:
| Yeah, I didn't beta test long enough. My bad. |
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Certain bugs just don't show up until you get it out of beta testing and into production... 
More seriously...what info are you currently displaying?
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ginigma
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| Posted: August 10 2007 at 11:30 | IP Logged
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I'm not really displaying anything useful yet. I need to check out what Tony mentioned regarding the serial I/O, because I was reading on the Crystalfontz forums somewhere that you can just send text to the COM port and it will show up on the display. I want to display some status things, like open doors, lights that are on, things like that. Right now I am displaying weather, some PC status and RSS feeds.
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onhiatus
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| Posted: August 10 2007 at 17:28 | IP Logged
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I started down this path, I even have a few LCDs that I bought from various surplus places but then realized a couple things.
1) You need a lot of serial ports, and you need wires to them.
2) They're pretty expensive
3) Managing the displays in different locations was not trivial
Which led me to my current solution(s) - get a cheap browsing device. I am currently using old windows ME tablets (Mitsubishi Amitys). You can see some screen shots from my current set up in this discussion If you keep your eyes open these can be had cheaper than serial LCDs. I bought my 3 for <$35 each.
The problems with the current (Amity) solution are:
1) Ugly
2) Not really touch screen - you have to use a pen
3) Really Ugly - The wife thinks they look like military surplus
4) No built in networking - I use a usb wifi dongle
My plan had been to try and take the Amitys out of their cases and put them in a wooden frame to try and make them look more friendly - but I'm not really sure how well that would work.
Which brings me to the soution I am migrating towards - the Linux based internet tablet. Woot, Buy.com, and other have recently had the Nokia 770 for $120. See the
Nokia 770 discussion, but to summarize: Built in wifi, awesome screen, nice looking, and being open source it is infinitely hackable and there is already lots of code available for it. I think it will mount easily (and prettily) to the wall and have the added bonus of being able to slip it out of its mount and use as a remote. Now I just need to find time to redesign all my screens - probably not going to happen until this winter...
If you still want to go the LCD way this is something I found that would install nicely in a 2 gang wall box:
ACS 128x64 LCD 2 gang display terminal
You should also look at the EarthLCD displays.
Most importantly, share with us when you've got something working!
Good luck, Tony (OnHiatus)
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ginigma
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| Posted: August 10 2007 at 21:36 | IP Logged
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I've got an LCD version, and I already ran a Cat5 USB extender from the basement to my entertainment center for a USB UIRT, so the connection was no problem.
I also have a Nokia 770 which I am now designing the screens for the interfaces.
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sharby
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| Posted: August 11 2007 at 21:57 | IP Logged
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Travis,
At this time, I have PH working with the Stargate LCD96M (through the Stargate board)to control lights, temp, automation, etc..
I'm asking Dave to assist in a direct plug-in to control the RS485 half duplex protocol so that it can communicate directly with PH.
-=*Sharby*=-
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Topic: Remote LCD Displays?
