I have yet to be able to get the LCD to fuction properly. I still am unable to send some commands with expected results.

I cannot change the baud rate at all using uproject or with my PIC.

I've tried unlocking the display before issuing commands to to avail.

Is there some chance I may have ...

OK, I've got uproject set up.

I'm connecting at 19200 baud.

I can control the contrast/brightness and auto transmit key presses work.

VFD brightness drives the LCD bonkers displaying random characters, although moving the slider all the way to the left will turn off the display.

Read module ...

I made the changes you suggested:

serout2 tx,84[254,213,$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50$42,$43,$44,$45,$46,$47,$48,$49,$50]

and added

serout2 tx,84, [254,147,0]

before the data lock.

I still get 0 when I poll the LCD for anything.

I was able to reload the contrast, brightness, color, start up message, baud rate and can write to the LCD (RS232), but I have not been able to restore the keypad codes, or character set or read any key presses.

When I poll the LCD all I get back is 0. This is true for polling for key presses and ...