RGB Led-bar

by **Jfn** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:09 pm

Conrad is offering a nice 3-colour ledbar (red/green/orange) that you can use to display anything you like:

http://www.conrad.nl/goto/?product=590996

I use it to display RSS-feeds (See picture) and plan to use it to display important info I do not want to miss (e.g. birthdays). I can not miss it when I leave the house [:)]

Attached to this message a .PDF containing essential info on how to program the ledbar.

You could interface it with your domoticasystem to display whatever you like. The possibities are endless.

The unit is easily programmed through a serial interface or USB.

domoticaforum.eu/uploaded/Jfn/200822915 ... conrad.pdf

by **Noel** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 3:43 pm

Hi Jfn. Now that looks like fun :-)

---
Never start anything you can not fi....

by **Snelvuur** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:18 pm

Any linux support? Or "lichtkranten" for linux?

// Erik (binkey.nl)

by **Bwired** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 4:52 pm

You got the protocol in the pdf file so does not really matter I guess just throw the command codes over the rs232 :-)

by **Digit** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:39 pm

Always wanted one of those[:)]
And i'm still waiting for my PLCBUS stuff, so i think i'll order one.

by **Jfn** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 5:53 pm

I use a simple perl script to send text to the led-bar. My server runs Linux, so yes, there is Linux support.

But as long as you have a system with a working perl environment it should not matter what OS you have.

I started programming the ledbar on my Notebook, so the first working perl script ran on Windows, but was easily 'ported' to Linux.

I pre-programmed the ledbar to only display pages ABCDEFGHI and Z, but this can also be done from the script.

If you are not sure about the exact coding of the ledcode string, use a serial port monitor (I use HHD Free Serial Port Monitor) and the Windows application that comes with the ledbar to gather information on the right formatting of the ledcode string.

The file 'rss1.txt' that is referenced in the perl script is filled with the output of, for example, the following URL:
http://nu.nl/deeplink_rss2/index.jsp?r=Algemeen

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snelvuur
 Any linux support? Or "lichtkranten" for linux?

// Erik (binkey.nl)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Download Attachment: [url="http://www.domoticaforum.eu/uploaded/Jfn/2008229175524_rss led.pl.txt"][img]images/icon_paperclip.gif[/img] rss led.pl.txt[/url] 2.55KB

by **Snelvuur** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:01 pm

I really should code more, to understand it all better. Wish i had more time

but thanks for the script. USB didn't work for you btw? dont know if that changes much, but usb is easier to get on a new pc then serial

// Erik (binkey.nl)

by **Digit** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:11 pm

USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.

by **Jfn** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:15 pm

Correct, connecting through USB (after installing the enclosed driver) gives you an extra virtual COMport.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Digit
 USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I am not a great coder either, the perl code was build from various examples I found on the internet. My credo: 'Can you Google it, then you can make it'. USB worked also btw.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by snelvuur
 I really should code more, to understand it all better. Wish i had more time

but thanks for the script. USB didn't work for you btw? dont know if that changes much, but usb is easier to get on a new pc then serial

// Erik (binkey.nl)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

by **Snelvuur** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:15 pm

depends on the type of usb cable, some are supported i think. Rfxcom works via usb too under linux.

// Erik (binkey.nl)

by **Digit** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:20 pm

I've never done USB programming myself yet, wouldn't even know where to start [:)]

by **Snelvuur** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:24 pm

Same as windows, you get a /dev/ttyUSB0 instead of /dev/ttyS0 to talk to

// Erik (binkey.nl)

by **Digit** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:32 pm

Sorry, no such thing on Windows [:D][:D]

by **Droezel** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 7:55 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Digit
 USB will probably become a virtual COM port anyway, so driver needed, so only Windows support for that i assume.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">The manual says it indeed creates a virtual com port, I'm ordering one! I've had an offer for a betabrite RGB ledsign a couple of weeks ago and that's like 599 Excl. VAT! This conrad price is a nice alternative.

by **Jfn** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 5:19 pm

A short movie of the rgd ledbar:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5IM6_2eJY0[/youtube]

The movie is of poor quality. When the messages are scrolling they are perfectly readable.

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