LCD/VFD support via LCDproc in XBMC for Linux?
#1
Question 
Hey all,

I just started poking around XBMC linux last night to see how it's progressing and I'm wondering if there is LCDProc support for cases with front LCD/VFD panels? I'm planning on playing with the iMON LIRC module tonight but I'm wondering what it's going to take for me to get the VFD panel on the front of my case displaying anything meaningful.

Thanks,

Nic
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#2
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=30605

Summary; Yes XBMC supports LCD/VFD-displayes via LCDProc
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
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#3
Super simple. Once you get LCDProc working (which took a while in my case) it worked right away. I found that the code seemed to want a 16 character display, so I edited it for my 20x2.

You'll probably want to edit your LCD.xml file (which needs to be renamed to lcd.xml) so you get something a little more meaningful on a 2-line display.

I can post mine if it will be helpful.
-Dan
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#4
Ah I should have checked the dev forum I guess, I just searched here.

That's great news! I have an Antec Fusion Black 420, so I'll play with it tonight and see what I can get to work. It's got the iMON LCD on it which isn't very well supported from what I understand so maybe once I get it running I'll look into extending the functionality to support more of its icons:

Image

My biggest priority right now is turning off the stupid backlight! LOL
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#5
Honestly I'd like to know what LCD IS supported well and not so much by XBMC either. Seems like a real crapshoot but XBMC is already supporting the most standard driver I'm aware of.
Openelec Gotham, MCE remote(s), Intel i3 NUC, DVDs fed from unRAID cataloged by DVD Profiler. HD-DVD encoded with Handbrake to x.264. Yamaha receiver(s)
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#6
Again, XBMC uses LCDProc, so if LCDProc support your LCD/VFD/OLED display then XBMC supports it, see:
http://lcdproc.org
http://lcdproc.org/faq.php3
http://lcdproc.org/hardware.php3
http://sourceforge.net/projects/lcdproc/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/lcdproc/

...and like Hippo mentioned, if the default LCD settings in the XBMC GUI do not do it for you then you might want to configure the LCD.xml (after renamed to lcd.xml) for your specific display.
Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forum before posting.
Do not e-mail XBMC-Team members directly asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules.
For troubleshooting and bug reporting please make sure you read this first.
Reply
#7
Gamester17 Wrote:Again, XBMC uses LCDProc, so if LCDProc support your LCD/VFD/OLED display then XBMC supports it, see:
http://lcdproc.org
http://lcdproc.org/faq.php3
http://lcdproc.org/hardware.php3
http://sourceforge.net/projects/lcdproc/
http://freshmeat.net/projects/lcdproc/

...and like Hippo mentioned, if the default LCD settings in the XBMC GUI do not do it for you then you might want to configure the LCD.xml (after renamed to lcd.xml) for your specific display.

Am aware that LCDproc is supported, I stated that XBMC was supporting the most standard driver out there and that would be it. The frustration stems from owning a VFD display that is easily found but apparently not so well supported except on Windows. It's supported only by a special build of LCDproc, I think, or some weird forked version that's not maintained. I had it working once and might try again but it was not a terribly pretty process and Ubuntu kept bugging me about loading a larter version of LCDproc - which would kill it's funcionality. XBMC is doing the right thing, it's my hardware that frustrates me. If I decided today to swap it out I'm not sure how easily a replacement would be found. It doesn't help that I've got no serial port onboard. Several HTPC cases use the Samsung VFD I've got tooOo
Openelec Gotham, MCE remote(s), Intel i3 NUC, DVDs fed from unRAID cataloged by DVD Profiler. HD-DVD encoded with Handbrake to x.264. Yamaha receiver(s)
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#8
Hi !

I run lcdproc on my box and get some basic information like CPU or memory. But when I start XBMC the only thing I have is a blinking heart ?

I modified my lcd.xml to get display on 2 rows but nothing change.

Any idea ?

Thanks
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#9
i have the same problem, when i run Lcdproc in XBMC i get the 'heart' too.. blinking indeed..

But outside xbmc i have no CPU or Mem, i get:

## LCDproc Server ##
Cli:0 Scr: 0

When i run LCDProc in XBMC it changes to

## LCDproc Server ##
Cli:1 Scr: 1

and then the blinking heart, and sometimes for a second back to the LCDproc server screen.. any suggestions?
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#10
things to check / try :
- like Gamester17 said, rename your LCD.xml to lcd.xml
- is LCDd running with the correct config file you want to use ? ie. "/usr/local/sbin/LCDd -s true -f -c /usr/local/etc/LCDd.conf"

If someone needs help getting the Antec Fusion (I have the black one) working, send me a PM.

XBMC Linux Ubuntu 8.04 - Antec Fusion Black
Gigabyte MA78GM-S2H - AMD Athlon 64 X2 BE-2350
Corsair 2Go DDRII PC6400 - Samsung Spinpoint 500 Go
Sony Bravia KDL-40W4000 - Logitech Harmony 555
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#11
ehm... @Razor_109... did you copy lcd.xml to ~/.xbmc/userdata/ ?
i had the blinking heart too, before putting lcd.xml there, now it's working perfectly Smile
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#12
yep got it working..

think something was wrong with my whole XBMC install then.. i deleted the packet i install trough APT-GET.

Then just build everything my self, and afterrenaming LCD --> lcd it worked like a charm
HTPC + Mediaserver
E8400 - ABIT I-N73HD - 2GB DDR2 - 3.5TB - Geforce G210 - ANTEC FUSION V2 - Ubuntu 10.04 - XBMC-PVR

TV-Server
Ubuntu 10.04 - Tvheadend - Smargo Reader - Oscam Card Server - 2x PCI DVB-C
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#13
So I think I have to buid It to ! Smile
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#14
No... It doesn't change anything... Still the blinking heart...
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#15
I'am too stupid... I renamed the wrong file...
Everything good now...

Thanks !
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