Austin73 Posted April 21, 2009 Report Posted April 21, 2009 Hi just in the process of buying my parts for a midibox when I came across this on EBAYhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Futaba-4X20-LCD-Emulator-VFD-NA204SD02-4-Line-20-Char_W0QQitemZ220400064332QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220400064332&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177Has anybody used them and are they compatible it does say that its HD44780 compliant but I just wanted to check first.CheersAus Quote
frailn Posted April 21, 2009 Report Posted April 21, 2009 I am interested in this for the MB-6582. I hooked up my amber crystalfontz display this past weekend and was not happy with it. I like the appearance of VFD - reminds me of the old handheld video games I had back in the late 70's, early 80's!I compared the Futaba VFD dimensions to the Crystalfontz dimensions listed by Wilba in the MB-6582 wiki, and the mounting holes do line up...see attached drawing from Futaba.Based on a quick search of the forum, it looks like these will work with MIDIbox. See this thread....and many others if you run a search on "VFD"...I think I'll buy one of these and try it in my MB-6582! Quote
Wilba Posted April 21, 2009 Report Posted April 21, 2009 That VFD may have mount holes that line up with the MB-6582 CS PCB, but the display needs to fit in the cutout on the PCB, which it will not. Note the reason the cutout is only a little bigger than standard 4x20 LCD bezels is because the switches above and below the display actually overlap the LCD's PCB (i.e. the area outside the bezel but still within the LCD's PCB edges).The closest thing to a VFD is obviously a PLED display like my "prototype" MB-6582, but there are short lifetime issues with them. I am now experiencing this first hand... my PLED display needs to "warm up" to full brightness and the pixels which used to be square are now wide rectangles, so it actually looks like raster lines. :( This from a display that has probably only had a couple hundred hours of being used, maybe even less, it's been on for less than an hour a week on average!The next best thing is the ultracool and ultraexpensive Optrex STEP LCD in negative white or negative green (see ultra's ultracool and ultraexpensive MB-SEQ) Quote
frailn Posted April 21, 2009 Report Posted April 21, 2009 The next best thing is the ultracool and ultraexpensive Optrex STEP LCD in negative white or negative greenHey, I have one of those in 40x2! I used it for my first Core/SID build. Now it's sitting in the desk drawer awaiting future project.Well, so much for the VFD on the MB-6582. But, I'll be eyeballing these for future projects...Thanks for the insight, Wilba. Quote
Austin73 Posted April 23, 2009 Author Report Posted April 23, 2009 I got a bit lost on this one - will they work with a normal Midi Box project ? lol I presume so and the other stuff is just a sizing issue with the pcbsAus Quote
stryd_one Posted April 23, 2009 Report Posted April 23, 2009 Yeh, they should work. :)Disclaimer: Note that I said "should" not "will" because I've not had them sitting in front of me, actually working... Because noone here has, that's the best answer you can get - you're going to have to be a pioneer. Let's put it like this: I'd buy one. But, Don't send me a bill if they don't work please :D Quote
Austin73 Posted April 24, 2009 Author Report Posted April 24, 2009 ok I think I will, actually be rude not too as long as I can always post a question or two lolKeep you postedAus Quote
Austin73 Posted April 26, 2009 Author Report Posted April 26, 2009 sorry to disappoint everyone but just noticed delivery is $60 to Uk SO I think I'll pass lolBut if anybody tries one and has one spare please let me know (unless shipping is $60!)Aus Quote
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