Matrix Orbital Corp

I'm on the verge of throwing this thing in the trash can. It's the GLC24064 with the -EL option but no wide voltage. I bought it used and hooked it up to a 5 volt supply and com port 1. At first LCDtester recognized it and allowed me to mess with the functions. Stepped up to LCDC and their "definition" file for a GLC24064 is corrupt or unsigned. WTF? Never got LCDC to work. So I tried LCDstudio and got to play around a little with that before the whole LCD just stopped working. Now it just powers up to a darkened contrast screen and even LCDtester does not detect the LCD. Tried com1 and com2... system settings show both ports functioning properly. The LCD just "isn't there". It just looks real pretty in all it's -EL glory. I checked all the wiring... reloaded all software... checked system ports, and nothing. Any ideas before I shoot this thing with my .45?

Hello,

When connected to your serial port, can you turn the backlight off/on?

Yes... when LCDtester was working all of the functions worked. Backlight turned on and off with the click of the button. Now it does not though. On the startup window now when I click on "connect to LCD" it pops up the 3 error windows "cannot find LCD"... "no serial number" and another one that I can't remember. The screen is powered "on" though with all the pixels darkened to about (guessing) 80% or more contrast. But that's the only thing I get out of it.

Can you tell me what the seial number on the unit is?

There are a few things written on the back of the unit. AMPIRE 24064B1 Rev. A and on the big black box is written NDL-205 0008.

edit: also printed on the circuit is Matrix Orbital (C)2001 Rev. 1.2

You might need to reset the display baud rate by using the manual overide. Review the display manual to see how this is done.

Ok, with the jumper in place, LCDtester detects and loads. I can turn the backlight on/off and set contrast. But when I remove the jumper (baud set at 19200 per manual), unplug the unit, and replug it in, nothing again. Cannot detect just as before? Well at least it functions that much. Any insight?

On the PCB there should be a serial number visible, written in felt pen, this will tell me if your unit is still under warranty and we can proceed with RMA options. I have a good idea what is wrong with the unit...

I have the same display, and also had the same problems as you are describing. I don't use lcd tester, I use mogd, the software that came with the display. I found that I had to give the display a little time to set itself to the baud rate change. After changing the baud setting with software the display would appear "locked up". I would click on the background lighting and wait. after a minute the display backlight would come on and I could talk to the display again. At least that is what worked for me, I was crowding the display to much and not giving it a chance to do it's thing. Try going slower and having patience with resetting the baud rate. I'm using my display hooked to a pic micro and using a max 232 to communicate at 9600 baud. But I do admit when I first got the display I was not giving the unit enough time to set it's internals and I got a little frustrated with it. After I spent some time getting to know it I really enjoy working with it.

Miles wrote:On the PCB there should be a serial number visible, written in felt pen, this will tell me if your unit is still under warranty and we can proceed with RMA options. I have a good idea what is wrong with the unit...

There is no felt writing anywhere on the unit other than "EL" (right by the serial connector). Yep... just triple checked. No serial number as you described. I imagine that's not a good thing?

Can you send me a pic of the PCB at the following address: myero@matrixorbital.ca