LCD driver compatability

[jmgelba]

I've done a fairly extensive search over the course of a few hours and still cannot determine if the SEC KS0066 is compatible with the HD44780. Some say yes, some say no, some say with software mods, and some say it works perfectly with PBP's LCDOUT command.
I only found one official datasheet which was pretty poor, that shows a connection between the two drivers, but does not mention if they are compatible. I have a 16x2 KS0066 lcd here made by Tianama that does not appear to work. The top line displays all black boxes and the bottom is empty.
The code is the simple and obvious PBP example.........

define osc 10
ADCON1 = 7
TRISA = %00000000
TRISB = %00000000
PORTA = 0
PORTB = 0
Pause 1000
loop: Lcdout $fe, 1
Lcdout "Hello"
Pause 1000

Lcdout $fe, 1
Lcdout "World"
Pause 1000

Goto loop


So, if any of you are using a KS0066 driven device, please post here. Tell us which display you are using and if there were any workarounds, if it works perfectly out of the box.
This should help everyone who's looking for compatability information.

Thanks.

[muddy0409]

Have you set up the port defines?
RTFM.
MEL PBP manual page 91 LCDOUT gives a damn good description, shows how to connect it and everything.

UNRELATED to jmgelba's question:

While on the subject of LCDs I keep wondering why people buy and use the serial adaptors for LCDs. Economically speaking, they cost around $20 or so, but a PIC with aditional port lines, say a full port, in a 28 pin version is only in the order of $10 or so. I do think the extra bit of programming experience is most helpful. I used a (few different) serial bacpacks too, until I came across Mel's Olympioc Timer and RTFM It is so much better using the suggested method of driving an LCD and it is easier to stack the LCD module straight onto your PCB or Vero without another backpack getting in the way.

[jmgelba]

Of course the Defines are set up correctly. I did not include them in the post as I thought it would be understood by everyone that they are needed.
Also, "RTFM" the manual. You know what that means right? Stop dodging the swear filter.

[CocaColaKid]

From what I could fine they should be compatible with the key words "should be"

[muddy0409]

Well, EXCUSE ME for upsetting your sensitivity.....

Don't the commands have to be in one line?

EG loop: Lcdout $fe, 1
Lcdout "Hello"

Should be (?)

loop: Lcdout $fe, 1,"Hello"

Just another idea..........

[Melanie]

I have known some LCDs that requires TWO SECONDS of timeout BEFORE any data is sent to them after initial power-up.

jmgelba - never assume your defines are correct which is why you should really provide everyone on the forum with as much information to your problem as possible without folks trying to second-guess your setup. You MUST check the SPELLING because PICBasic will not nescessarilly flag an error in a DEFINE statement - and of course your hardware connections EXACTLY match your DEFINE statements... you've not done something silly like cross-connect RS and E lines? Or reverse-connect the Datalines, or connect them to D0 thru D3 rather than D4 thu D7? We've all done it sometime!

The defines listed below function on almost every LCD I've tried (alter the Hardware pins to suit your own layout), but do try with a longer initialisation timeout... you've nothing to lose except a couple of seconds...

		'
		' 	LCD Display
		'	-----------
	Define LCD_DREG PORTC				' Port for LCD Data
	Define LCD_DBIT 4				' Use upper 4 bits of Port
	Define LCD_RSREG PORTC				' Port for RegisterSelect (RS) bit
	Define LCD_RSBIT 3				' Port Pin for RS bit
	Define LCD_EREG PORTC				' Port for Enable (E) bit
	Define LCD_EBIT 0				' Port Pin for E bit
	Define LCB_BITS 4				' Using 4-bit bus
	Define LCD_LINES 2				' Using 2 line Display
	Define LCD_COMMANDUS 2000			' Command Delay (uS)
	Define LCD_DATAUS 50				' Data Delay (uS)

Finally, a lot of folks do regard the 'F' in RTFM as a swear word... it's original usage was as such even if you claim it isn't in your interpretation of it. Even I wince at it's public usage sometimes. I also want to scream "Read the ** Manual", or "Read the ** Datasheet", or "Search the ** forum posts" or "Why don't you just try it and see if it ** works instead wasting bandwidth" (insert your favourite word[s] at asterisk position) at folks so many times on this forum, it's best not to reply or bite your lip and moderate what you really would like to say rather than offend. Let's appear to be nice even if we aren't sincere about it. *smiles* Melanie - who's always nice to everyone equally - yeah right!