Fix for imon VFDs! (this is a solution) (1 Viewer)

[mrkaras]

Unless it has changed recently the MP implamentation to run iMon VFDs is useless as it does not allow the remot to work while the VFD is running. I do however have a working work around. what you need to do is:

1. download the attached file and put it somewhere to run (don't run it yet)

2. download and install some virtual serial port bridge, I use the one from Eterlogic - VSPE: tool for serial ports emulation. setup 2 connected ports. in my suguested software just click "create new device" select pair and press next-->finish

3. start MP2iMon (downloaded in step 1), you may need to be an administrator the first time to change the port settings, set up the com port how you like, chouse one of the serial ports you created in step 2.

4. in the MP configuration go to plugins, activate the minidisplay plugin and go to its configuration.

5. set the display to "Matrix orbital charector LCD driver...". set the port to the other com port in your pair created in step 2

6. right click the icon for MP2iMon in your system tray and click test.

7. press the test display button on the MP configuration, you should see the test message in MP2iMon and also on your VFD

you can press the other test buttons in MP2iMon if you like, or just press close and it will hide to a tray icon and should work.

don't set your VFT type to imon in the settings, it won't work for this, you can go to the settings and turn on the equalizer if you like, it works too. the baud rate doesn't matter, the virtual serial ports just use whatever and it will still work with any settings, other software may be different and I don't know what the correct baud is, but there arn't too many to try. ther is also a generic serial driver option, I didn't use that because like almost all of the opions, it will not send out anyting on the serial port even when selected. the checkboxes in MP2iMon are status marks, your not ment to be able to click them abd they should both be already checked.

UPDATE:
the attached file was missing a DLL, it is now included

UPDATE:
changed connection slightly and added a clock feature

UPDATE:
MP2iMon should not stop you shutting down the PC.

UPDATE:
added a few more enhansment options

UPDATE:
now uses the latest DLL

 

[mrkaras]

let me know if anyone find it useful, or has problems with it.

 

[gru]

let me know if anyone finde it useful, or has problems with it.

Hi mrkaras,

sounds good - will give it a try in the next days.
What about the remote? Do you have Imon-manager/Frontview running?

greetings,
Jo

 

[mrkaras]

I do have the manager thing running but not frontview its self (in the imon manager settings set front view to start never). and yes, my remote works fine

 

[OnkelChris]

what remote do you use?

i'm new to the minidisplay (build a new htpc with the antec micro fusion 350 yesterday )... but i recognized, that my MCE remote won't work with display-plugin enabled.

 

[gru]

I do have the manager thing running but not frontview its self (in the imon manager settings set front view to start never). and yes, my remote works fine

So the remote is completly handled by imon (with a mediaportal.imo file and no remote-configuration inside of MP, or?)
Is it something like armandp is writing in his thread (first post): https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/...s-61/htpc-build-antec-fusion-430-black-37888/

greetings, Jo

 

[mrkaras]

the way I do it, yes I havn't touched the remote configuration side of it so just map the buttons via iMon to the mediaportal keys. the only config I did within mediaportal in regards to that was to turn on the multimedia keys (something about a hid device, I can check if you like) jut because I wanted to use stop fo stop, pause for pause etc, I'm shure ther is an alternate keystroke anyway.

in my setup if I remove the software I have writen all that happen is the VFD stops, the remote is not efected.

I just use the standard remote that comes with the iMon display, looks like this http://www.soundgraph.com/Images/product/pad.gif
this program is for exactly that problem, the remote will work with the minidisplay plugin enabled, just not if it is set for iMon, this in efect is a matrix orbital to iMon convertor.

 

[gru]

Hi mrkaras,

I don't get it running.
- I've got Imon manager running - frontview never.
- VSPE is also running COM2/COM3.
- MP2Imon is running connected to COM2.
- Mediaportal Minidisplay is configured for the matrix-display on COM3.

But I cannot even test with the MP2IMon Testscreen. All I got is the screen attached below.
"Serial connected"/"VFD NOT connected".

I have an Antec Fusion 430 silver with Imon manager version 7.40.0806 and Imon Firmware Ver 0xa0.

Can you help me how to debug this?

Kind regards,
Jo

 

[mrkaras]

OK, Opps, I forgot to put the DLL in. the DLL used here is from the API, not the one that would already be on your system. Please re-download the file and make sure you have the DLL with the .exe. it is not compatable with the SG_VFD.dll you would find with your iMon software. you probably initialy had an error about the missing DLL?

Also, don't replace the DLL on your system for iMon with this one, that will break imon.

 

[gru]

Hi,

the new download with the attached DLL works great! (Although I had to stop IMon Manager itself.)

Anyway, since I couldn't get my remote working correctly with the IMon Manager (and key-mapping)
I'm now using the IRSS 1.4.2.
This setup and including MP2IMon completes my HTPC! Now I got a working Display and remote

So far so good,
I'll be back with new experience in a few days.
thx Jo