[minima] Re: Testing the digital board
- From: <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: minima@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:59:33 -0700
Thanks for the post Thomas. I tried a few things. The RW pin is low,
and the RS pin is high, when I adjust the contrast pot all the way ccw I
get blocks across the first line, when I back it up, just as the blocks
disappear, it seems there are characters, very faint,scrolling and about
every second and a half something very faint appears and disappears on
the second line, and this loops again and again. Jerry
K5LRU
Harwood, Texas
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [minima] Re: Testing the digital board
> From: Thomas Sarlandie <thomas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Wed, February 05, 2014 9:19 pm
> To: "minima@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <minima@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>
> Jerry,
>
> Once you are sure that the script is loaded and working, you can just
> measure the voltage on the I2C line to make sure you are not getting 5v. If
> you did not comment the right thing then the i2c pullups will be enabled
> and you will get 5volts. If you did it right, you will get just 3.3 v from
> the external pull-ups.
> The code will drive the lines low when it is actually sending. I have not
> checked but I assume it is only doing it when you change frequency. Even if
> it does it regularly, you will see 3.3 "most of the time".
>
> Now the LCD not displaying anything is a bigger problem and could be a
> programming problem so dont measure the i2c line just yet.
>
> First things first, most LCD will black out the first line when you turn
> them on. So if you dont see anything, the problem might just be the
> contrast pot is not set correctly. Adjust it to +5v and see if you can get
> something. Eventually remove the atmega and see if you can get something by
> just applying power to the board.
>
> Next, I would check the connection of the 4 data lines, the enable line,
> the RS line and make sure that the R/W pin is tied to low (write).
> You can also look at them with a scope and see if anything happens there
> when you apply power. If there is nothing then the chip probably has a
> programming problem, or is just not starting. Check that reset is pulled
> high, that the quartz is properly connected, that both gnd pins are tied to
> ground and that you have +5 on vcc and avcc.
>
> If you have the serial port cabled, just use one of the arduino examples
> that continuously send stuff on the serial port. Program that in the chip
> with your arduino board and drop it your motherboard to see if you get
> something on the serial port (a scope would be enough to see that if you
> dont have the serial port cabled).
>
> Just a few ideas. I am following very closely and will try powering up my
> arduino and lcd tonight. This might give me some more ideas for you!
>
> thomas
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 6:40 PM, <jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I finished building the Digital board except for soldering in the si570.
> > I would like to test the radiono code and make sure I made the right
> > comments in the file so I don't fry the si570. I fired up the board and
> > all the voltages are good: 4.92 out of the 7805 and 3.24 out of the
> > LM1117, but I would like to run the code and check the 570's voltage. I
> > uploaded the radiono sketch to the chip using a Arduino Uno board, and
> > put the chip in my Digital board, and powered it up. All that happens
> > is the LCD backlight lights, but no characters. The contrast pot works.
> > The circuit draws 24ma but no display. Do I need to do something else.
> > There is another code file on github, what is that for? Jerry
> > K5LRU
> > Harwood, Texas
> >
> >
> >
Other related posts:
