Matrix Orbital Corp

I purchased a MX212 from Frozencpu. They've got a bait and switch thing going on there because I got an older version than what I thought I was buying. Well, when I plugged the unit in and installed the USB (v1.1) drivers and LCDC (v1.05.26), I was pleasently surprised with how cool the LCD display was and was almost willing to forgive Frozencpu.

My joy didn't last long. After a little bit, all the cool human readable characters changed to gibberish. Then the display went blank. Then the display turned off. All this happened in about 45 minute's time.

I rebooted my machine and now the display lights up, but it is all white squares. I attempted the manual overide (jump pin 6 and 7). About the only thing this unit will do now is adjust contrast and brightness. It won't show any characters at all.

I tried installing the unit on another machine, but I get exactly the same result.

I'd really appreciate some advice. I spent a lot of money on this thing and would really like for it to work.

In case it matters, I've got this plugged into an external USB port and I've made not attempts at utilizing the GPO's yet. The only cable plugged into the unit is the USB cable.

It is behaving like it is locked up. It worked once, and it still lights up. I have to beleive that it will work again. I must be doing something wrong.

Hello...

Since you can adjust contrast and backlight intensity we know it's not a speed issue, however what happens when you send text to the display...?

Just now, I attempted to use the 'test display' function in LCDC. The following shows in the 'log':

Attempting to connect to COM3
Connection to COM3 was successful
Resetting contrast/brightness
Sending "L.C.D.C!!!!" [Sent]
Sending "L.C.D.C!!!!" [Sent]
Sending "L.C.D.C!!!!" [Sent]
Sending "L.C.D.C!!!!" [Sent]
Sending "L.C.D.C!!!!" [Sent]

But, nothing shows on the LCD.

Before the LCD completely stopped responding it would show gibberish in the display when I did this. And, if you were following my story, before it started showing gibberish, it would display "L.C.D.C!!!!" in the display.

BTW:

The virtual display works fine and that is fun to watch

After sending text, can you adjust the contrast up/down...? Please be patient with me, I have being following your story, however I need to rule a few things out in order to diagnose the problem...

Disappointed that my display isn't funtioning, sure. But, still patient? Of course. Heck I can't tell you how glad I am that someone is helping me diagnose this problem!!!

If by sending text you mean with the 'test display' function in LCDC, I will test this evening when I am home from work. I believe that the answer is YES because the display is blank until I run LCDC and send text to the display. At that point the display fills with white squares that don't go away until I remove power from the unit.

I do know that the contrast and brightness tests I did last night was while the display was full of the white squares (hence, after sending text), and I was doing this testing from within LCDC.

As a matter of fact, I know the answer is YES because I was purposfully alternateing between adjusting the contrast/brightness and sending text. I was trying to see if my problem of not seeing any text was related to contrast or brightness. I'm about 99% certain that it is not.

Let me know how you make out tonite and we'll go from there...

Ok. Testing complete.

After I send text, I can adjust the contrast up and down.

When I turn it down and then press the 'send selected' button, the white boxes get dimmer. When I turn the contrast up and then press the 'send selected' button the white boxes get much brighter. Either way, or half-way in between, I still don't see any text. Just a blank display.

Can you email me at myero@matrixorbital.com and we can discuss RMA options.

Well, then, I'll assume that there is nothing more I can do to fix this LCD.

I've sent an email as you requested.

Looking forward to receiving your email...