TheBackShed.com

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Cheap Screen for DM

Author

Message

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 01:42pm 29 Apr 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Hi,

I have been looking at options for a cheap MM VGA screen and came across this unit for $58 inc postage.

8" TV with VGA input

It purports to be 800x600 resolution and seems good for the price, I have placed an order for one as it was cheap enough. It has a TV (basically it IS a TV) but I doubt it will work in AUS as we are DVT here now and I think it has an analogue tuner but I didnt buy it for a TV.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

djuqa

Guru

Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 05:55pm 29 Apr 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

That unit is analog only!
Gadmei makes a digital version Digital 8inch LCD TV
But Banggood.com does not appear to sell them.
there appears to be several other models/sites offering Digital LCD tv's that size but a LOT appear to only offer ATSC decoding, Aussie uses DVB-T for our digital service.
Amazon has this Unit for $79USD but no idea how much shipping to Aussie
Edited by djuqa 2013-05-01

VK4MU MicroController Units

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 06:53pm 29 Apr 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

djuqa said That unit is analog only!
Gadmei makes a digital version [URL=http://www.gadmei.com

Hi David,

Yes as I said it doesnt seem to have DVT but I have bought it because it has a VGA input, fairly neat/small casing with what appears to be a bezel to make mounting (into) a wall neat and is 800x600 resolution (most are only 480x240 or there about) and best of all was only $58 posted to AUS.

I think its hard to beat for such a small screen.

Of course I haven't yet got mine. but I wanted to share before they all `went walkabout'

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

djuqa

Guru

Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 08:25pm 29 Apr 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I know it is a good value for vga, that is why have ordered one also.

VK4MU MicroController Units

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 11:00pm 16 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Hi All,

My TV came the other day..

I was initially a bit disappointed that it didn't come with a VGA cable, even though one of their photos shows one is included, but the description clearly lists that the TV comes with ONLY a PSU (US plug but with an AU adapter for nix) and a remote.
It also comes with a user manual, entirely in Chinese, but who reads them anyway..

The first hurdle was that all menu options were in Chinese but it can be converted to ENGLISH with a bit of trial and error in the menus.

Enough of the criticism, the TV Unit itself is quite impressive.. The text in the menus is super clear and the colours are bright and sharp. The TV is very light in fact not much in it but it is also very well built and not of the usual Chinese low quality..

OK lets try to get this going, several hours with doctor Google revealed nothing about the pinout for the VGA cable (although I did find that DX.COM has them with the cables included) so I bit the bullet and disassembled it and nearly fell out of my seat when I saw the back of the connector was labelled.

See

Or a clearer one I did showing the pinout (looking into the 8way minidin connector)

The male plug to suit is available from JAYCAR Cat: PP0370 for a massive $1.95.

15min later and I had me a neat little VGA to TV-VGA cable..

The picture quality was MUCH better than I expected it to be, the screen is basically stretched to fill the entire screen (albeit everything with the usual left shift) and most colours and text is very clear some text was slightly blurry due to the emulation to display the MM on a 800x600.

The left hand character is half off the display area (but better than most screens I have used), unfortunately there doesnt appear to be an electronic adjustment but I am more than happy with this TV for only $58US...

There is no shimmer and the COLOUR-2.BAS demo looks absolutely beautiful.

Regards,

Mick

EDIT ** The 2 unused holes are labelled SCL and SDA so I assume that these must be for software firmware updating the TV...

Mik

Edited by bigmik 2013-05-18

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 11:33pm 16 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Mik,
That looks like a very nice tv indeed.
When you removed the backcover did you find that there is some free space?
I would like to be able to put in a small pcb (50x60mm) and a usb type a connector and change that tv into a Colour Maximite all in one. :)

Microblocks. Build with logic.

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 12:09am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

TZAdvantage said Mik,

When you removed the backcover did you find that there is some free space?

Hi TZ..

Quite Possibly,

I have it here at work If I get the time I will pull it apart and post a pic for you...

Mick

PS.

Are your Boards available yet?

Mik

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 12:44am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

I had the prototype boards under test. Found a small mistake that has been fixed.
And i had to change the layout a tiny bit because two components where placed too tightly, datasheet and component did not match. :(
Hopefully i will go home tomorrow or Saturday and can continue work on it.
I have been in the hospital a while with a severe food poisoning. Homemade tuna salad.....
Edited by TZAdvantage 2013-05-18

Microblocks. Build with logic.

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 01:19am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

TZAdvantage said
When you removed the backcover did you find that there is some free space?

Hi TZ,

Very possibly,

There seems a fair bit of space there but you may have to cut the black plastic PCB support away to fit it...

Here are some pics from my mobile phone (reduced Quality for TBS as they are 2.5M each)

Here is a (very poor) screen shot to show the full size (800x600) emulation the TV does... also you will see 1/2 of the lefthand character missing.

The colours are up the poo , very strange, If I rotate my phone 90degrees some come good but others change to whitish... trust me the colours look great and correct.

Regards,

Mick

EDIT *** Those Pics got reduced MUCH more than I did here they are in ZIP files

2013-05-17_112634_Inside.zip

2013-05-17_112651_screen.zip

2013-05-17_112707_Shell.zip

Mik

Edited by bigmik 2013-05-18

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 01:59am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Thanks a lot for the pics Mick.

I think the areas marked in red are big enough. Even the UBW32 will fit there i think.

Off to DM to order one. :)
Edited by TZAdvantage 2013-05-18

Microblocks. Build with logic.

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 02:05am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

TZAdvantage said
I think the areas marked in red are big enough. Even the UBW32 will fit there i think.

Off to DM to order one. :)

Hi TZ,

The UBW32 would certainly fit... the 50mm wide you want will be touch and go but I reckon you could get it in (99% sure you could)..

Who is DM?? Or do you mean DX.COM?

They are $14 more at DX but it looks like you get All the accessories.

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

MicroBlocks

Guru

Joined: 12/05/2012
Location: Thailand
Posts: 2209

Posted: 04:53am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Yeah i meant DX.com but banggood (your link) offers a better deal. So i ordered it there.
I not really need all the cables as i will probably remove the minidin connector and solder the wires directly on the board.
It is really a great find.

Microblocks. Build with logic.

jman

Guru

Joined: 12/06/2011
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 711

Posted: 10:43am 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Hi Mick

bigmik said EDIT ** The 2 unused holes are labelled SCL and SDA so I assume that these must be for software firmware updating the TV...

Those 2 pins are the I2C interface for monitor identification
"Extended Display Identification Data "
This is what is used to set the resolution of your display

If you connect them to you PC's VGA port (pins 10 and 12)
your PC should automatically set the screen res accordingly and
identify the monitor type

Regards

John

bigmik

Guru

Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 2870

Posted: 01:14pm 17 May 2013

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

jman said

Those 2 pins are the I2C interface for monitor identification
"Extended Display Identification Data "

Thanks John,

That makes sense.. I didnt know that VGA used I2C on PC's but I did know there was some communication somehow...

I have never seen SDA and SCL on the pinout of any VGA connectors but I have seen pins labelled ID0, ID1, ID2 and ID3.

Interesting...

Thanks for enlightening me.

Regards,

Mick

Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<<

Print this page

To reply to this topic, you need to log in.