MSI Media Live / Futaba DM-140gink

Fuutabar · Post by **Fuutabar** » October 11th, 2008, 5:26 pm

Hi all,

I've got this new MSI Media Live barebone computer and I'm trying to make some use of its VFD. The VFD is Futaba DM-140gink - an OEM device.

I can't get my HW working with the FutabaVFD_LCD.dll - I don't know the settings nor whether this is the driver I should use.

Any help would be appreciated - settings and such, or if someone could point me towards software that had native support for this VFD. I like Smartie tho, seems very much like what I need (RSS and ITunes support).

Google or the forum search has not produced anything that I'd call very useful.

Some specs:
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Fu ... 0gink_Demo
http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/MSI_Media_Live

Post by **caesar** » October 11th, 2008, 6:40 pm

I have looked over the links you posted. The was apparently a driver made for LCDproc under linux but i can't download it anymore.
Without those sources I can't start coding anything for this display.
The japanese datasheets don't provide much information either regarding the protocol.

If that enclosure came with some software then better stick with it for now. It's your only hope. There's no way to make Smartie run on that VFD without some proper documentation.

Fuutabar · Post by **Fuutabar** » October 11th, 2008, 8:25 pm

caesar wrote:If that enclosure came with some software then better stick with it for now.

Thanks for the quick answer, caesar. Unfortunately there is no software enclosed with Media Live, just a driver for Win MCE support. Without MCE it just displays the time.

I found a discussion about some open source software that has support for this VFD - http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/e ... ist=mythtv

In the bottom of that page, there's a link to some code http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/e ... ist=mythtv

As I don't know too much about programming, I can't tell if these could be any use.

Post by **caesar** » October 12th, 2008, 9:22 am

Justed looked over that link you put and indeed there is sourcecode that outputs info on the VFD even though the name suggests just buttons.

The led.c file inside the archive contains useful information. The sourcecode is C++.

It seems that the VFD is attached to a microprocessor that has HID functionality. So to Windows it appears as a HID device.

I never done a HID driver for Smartie before. And also it is very difficult to test a new kind of driver over the internet. (not having the display on the bench for fast testing)

I would suggest to try Vista sideshow on it, hope it works.
Or wait for someone that has this display and can code a driver for Smartie.

PS: I am pretty busy right now putting new features in Smartie, and don't dare to start another project.
Please write a topic in "plugin requests" and put the link to the source files there. Maybe someone will have a try at it.

Fuutabar · Post by **Fuutabar** » October 13th, 2008, 10:23 pm

I decided to base my HTPC system on MediaPortal instead of iTunes and suprise suprise it has support for my LCD. Maybe the LCD wont do everything that it would with Smartie, but at least it's some use.

MediaPortal VFD plugin is also open source, so it may provide hints to how to develop a driver for Smartie some day. If someone needs one, that is.

I hope this thread serves at least one purpose - if someone searches this forum they get some links to relevant information. I wont post a plugin request, because I don't need one now, but it was very nice to see how someone even considered writing code for my HW when I was just trying to find info. Open source! Thanks!