Problem when Smartie loads

rusky · Post by **rusky** » September 10th, 2005, 10:11 am

Every time LCD Smartie loads I need to power down then power up my MO LCD before anything is displayed.

I can use the backlight on/off command OK so it is communicating.

Any ideas?

Post by **limbo** » September 10th, 2005, 11:06 am

What is your MO Model?

rusky · Post by **rusky** » September 10th, 2005, 12:36 pm

It's a LK204-25, I don't think I had this problem on an onder version of Smartie though

Post by **limbo** » October 18th, 2005, 6:49 pm

Try to use a new config.ini file (backup your original first) and check it out!

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 19th, 2005, 10:33 pm

I tried renaming & creating another config.ini but the problem is still there.

I can control the backlight there's no text displayed though until I power cycle the display.

Post by **limbo** » October 20th, 2005, 3:09 pm

did you tried to reconfig your display to a differnt speed setting?
or try different setting on the lcd smartie.

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 20th, 2005, 7:29 pm

The Baud is OK, although I haven't tried a different speed yet.

I'll try later...

Post by **limbo** » October 20th, 2005, 9:23 pm

I believe that something is going wrong with the VirtualComPort of the LCD...

Can you try to remove this com port and create a new com port after restarting your computer? (is this possible?)

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 20th, 2005, 10:25 pm

the LCD is wired to COM1 which is a physical port. it is also the third motherboard I have tried, all on the same XP install though!

Post by **limbo** » October 21st, 2005, 3:16 pm

Sorry i thought that was an Usb model

Suddenly I found That I own an LK 202-25 which is serial

accept my apologize to this confusion.

Have you tried the "uProject.exe" tool of MO?
Can you connect this lcd to a clean WinXp System? (just for an experiment)

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 21st, 2005, 9:44 pm

I can use uproject OK from various states...

LCD unpowered, run uproject, all OK.
LCD powered, run uproject, all OK.
running Smartie with LCD powered, close smartie, start uproject, all OK.

It makes me think that Smartie isn't doing some initialisation of the COM port when it starts up. may be it needs to toggle the RTS line or set the LCD?

Post by **limbo** » October 22nd, 2005, 8:37 am

I run smartie in two different systems with no such problem.
I'm trying to "simulate" your problem but my displays (especially the LK) seems to work fine.

Let's check some thinks again:

Power up tour LCD without any connection to PC
Getting the Matrix Orbital splash screen?
Does the backlight lighting?

Connect your cable to pc and start the LCD Smartie
What's the state of backlight now?
Any strange characters on your LCD?
Does the MO logo disapearred?

If nothing is displayed in this step try to unload the LCD Smartie and load it again
Nothing?
Does the backlight goes Off when you stop the LCD Smartie and On when you restart it?

OK now try to power down the LCD Screen and power up again and check the display for the output:
Are you getting the splash screen or it goes directy to LCD Smartie messages?

Final questions:
What's the power source for your display?
Which version of LCD Smartie are you using?
Is there any other serial port (or communication) software running in the background? e.g. UPS software
Can you check the "Uninterruptible Power Supply" service state and if you are NOT using any UPS monitoring stop it?

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 22nd, 2005, 6:46 pm

Power up tour LCD without any connection to PC
Getting the Matrix Orbital splash screen?
Does the backlight lighting?

No splash screen, just the backlight

Connect your cable to pc and start the LCD Smartie
What's the state of backlight now?
Any strange characters on your LCD?
Does the MO logo disapearred?

Backlight still on, no strange characters no info from Smartie

If nothing is displayed in this step try to unload the LCD Smartie and load it again Nothing?

Nothing

Does the backlight goes Off when you stop the LCD Smartie and On when you restart it?

Yep

OK now try to power down the LCD Screen and power up again and check the display for the output:
Are you getting the splash screen or it goes directy to LCD Smartie messages?

No splash screen, but I have never sen one, Smartie displayed as it should

Final questions:
What's the power source for your display?

External 9V PSU

Which version of LCD Smartie are you using?

5.3

Is there any other serial port (or communication) software running in the background? e.g. UPS software
Can you check the "Uninterruptible Power Supply" service state and if you are NOT using any UPS monitoring stop it?

Nothing using the COM port, UPS service is disabled.

Thanks for your help with this so far.

Post by **limbo** » October 24th, 2005, 3:18 pm

Any possibility to try this lcd to another pc?

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 24th, 2005, 10:24 pm

I tried the LCD on another PC & got the same results, powered up the LCD then started Smartie. The backlight came on but nothing on the LCD, powered the LCD down then back up & got info on the LCD.

At least we know it's not the PC, just need to know if it's the LCD or Smartie!!

rusky · Post by **rusky** » October 24th, 2005, 10:52 pm

I found a copy of Smartie V5.0 & I can exit & restart it without any problems.

However, if I run Smartie V5.3 & quit, then run V5.0 I need to power the LCD down then back up to get it to work.

If I run 5.0, quit & start 5.3 I also need to power the LCD down then back up to get it to work.

GoodNews · Post by **GoodNews** » December 11th, 2005, 8:16 pm

Hi all! I have the same problem.
Display model is HY-1602H-204 (2x16)
Problem is: when I boot my PC, the LCD enters in testing mode (the first line is filled fully with blocks). When Windows begins to load, display clears. When I log in as a user and wen LCDSmartie loads, LCD shows the first line filled with blocks (another test ?) instead of showing information I configured to show by LCDSmartie. After that, I choose to exit LCDSmartie then start it again and all goes normal - LCD show screens I configured. What am I to do?
In all, program looks great. Thanks for it.

BTW, program versions I tried were: 5.1, 5.3, 5.3.2 and LCD is connected via parallel port.

Best regards,
Andrei aka GoodNews

Post by **limbo** » March 9th, 2006, 11:34 pm

I know this is an old thread
@ GoodNews

Can you try to re-install the port95nt again?

Post by **limbo** » March 9th, 2006, 11:37 pm

@ rusky
Can you try also this version:
http://www.lansley.co.uk/forum/phpBB2/v ... .php?t=451