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+---- Thread: iMon 16x2 VFD display driver for XBMC for Windows (/showthread.php?tid=32797)
iMon 16x2 VFD display driver for XBMC for Windows - mrz - 2008-04-24 22:11
Hi!
This is by no means final but at least functional http://web.telia.com/~u60613787/.
In the zipfile you will find a Python script that drives the iMon VFD used in Antec and other HTPC chassis. I have included the .py file for reference if you want to enhance the script. For people without Python on their PC there is an EXE file included.
The script that runs in Windows talks with the XBMC WEB Server and updates the VFD with information accordingly. For this reason you have to activate the server under Setting/Network/Servers and use port 80, no password. Also note that iMon front view must be set to Never.
The following information is shown.
*Active screen and selection (unless something is playing)
*Above plus clock if you don't move the cursor for a while
*Weather info, if you go to weather and mark the city selector
*Playing file, title, artist, album, duration, depending on media
*Showed picture and resolution
I think the script might run within XBMC but the required library ctypes is missing. I will test that further. Meanwhile I'm hoping that some of the real coders will give it a try. The attached .py file and the SG_VFD.DLL should give a good hint.
Enjoy,
MrZ
- embrion - 2008-04-25 10:11
mrz Wrote:Hi!
This is by no means final but at least functional http://web.telia.com/~u60613787/.
In the zipfile you will find a Python script that drives the iMon VFD used in Antec and other HTPC chassis.
Sweet, I'll test it as soon as I get all the parts for my HTPC
I got Antec Fusion v2 with VFD.
- webgonzo@web.de - 2008-04-28 11:51
Thumbs Up for providing this nice script!
Im always getting "VFD already in use..." event with "frontrow" disabled and/or imon not loaded .... any idea what what is keeping the vfd in use ?
- mrz - 2008-04-28 13:29
I'm using iMon included in the 7.0.1.0204 from SoundGraph http://www.soundgraph.com/Eng_/Supports/DownloadList.aspx?topMenu=4&subMenu=1&leftMenu=1 plus the iMon VFD API on page 2. In the latter there is a demo included.
I assume you've tested the EXE version from the Dist folder.
Start with checking if that demo works on your setup. If the demo does not work then grab the 7.0.1.0204 release.
Finally try downloading the script again. I update frequently and I might have had a bad version there when you downloaded.
MrZ
- webgonzo@web.de - 2008-04-28 20:57
I was already using 7.01.204 ;-) ... frontview is set to never ...xbmc webserver is on ... I redownloaded your updated script ... I am only trying the exe.
I always get "vfd already in use". then I copied the sg_vfd.dll from the imon folder to your script and voila the exe starts fine now ;-) . Its printing a # every some second.
But I dont get any Infos displayed.
- Webserver is running on port 80 wo password
- I am using svn 12767
Any other idea ?
- mrz - 2008-04-28 21:34
Hi webgonzo!
I added a folder with an EXE that prints the results of sending to the VFD. It should print "1" for a succesful transfer. If XBMC is not started or WEB server is off the application should send/display "VFD Connecting"/"127.0.0.1:80" so you can try without XBMC running.
I've been messing with my drivers while configuring the HTPC so please check in Device Manager/USB controllers that you have a "SG Remote Control Device" with driver version 1.2.0.0; -I believe thats the driver that came with iMon but I started of with a crappy Antec version of iMon and it could be its their driver I'm still using. Also please test the demo I mentioned earlier, it uses the same calls as I do.
... and then to the idiot question. iMon shows info on your display?
Let me know how it goes,
MrZ
- budwize - 2008-04-29 05:55
good work mate. glad to see someone working on teh imon stuff
now all we need is for the remote control to work properly
- webgonzo@web.de - 2008-04-30 11:15
So here is the actual Status:
- Your debug xbmcdisplay.exe only displays # # # after saying okay (when using the sg_vfd.dll from the imon folder 7.01.204)
- Using your supplied sg_vfd.dll gives me "vfd already in use"
- The Demo gives me "failed to init VFD - vfd not connected or in use"
- I dont have the mentioned "SG Remote Controle Device" under USB-Controller
I have a Silverstone-Case LC16M with integrated vfd etc. and I have nothing else installed than the imon/median 7.01.204 package from the soundgraph page.
It seems to be a vfd-driver problem I will test different versions now and will report
- webgonzo@web.de - 2008-04-30 11:17
Forgot to say ... when frontrow is set I get information displayed ;-)
- mrz - 2008-04-30 12:31
OK so it must be a driver thing then. My SG_VFD.DLL fails to access your driver and I don't do much errorhandling. If access fails I regard it as in use.
I have a new debug version uploaded that prints what it would have dislayed. With that you can check that the XBMC connection works and see what great information you get once we have resolved this ;-)
One more question, and I should actually have put this in the header label for this thread, is your display better than 16x2 rows? If so we need to ask Soundgraph for an API DLL for that device.