Intel Desktop Board DN2800MT Build
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Just to confirm, I have used the Intel PT dual port gigabit server adapter with PCIe x1 (x1 in x4 open back slot) before and it works just fine.
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It's probably going to be a tough attempt.. If anyone has the pinout for either the LCD or the original board, then it wouldn't be much of a problem. Otherwise, I reckon a logic analyzer to sniff on the pins would be needed.
After taking the LCD board of the 2nd board with the 4 buttons on, it shows 16 pins connector.
See pics attached, so here is the question, is there ANY chance that they are using a HD44780 controller and that i can use this schema to connect it?? http://lcdsmartie.sourceforge.net/circuits.htmWill look for and old PC with a parallel port and test.. Have nothing to loose ;D ;D
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is there ANY chance that they are using a HD44780 controller
Nope!
The keypad is just connected across 4 of the input lines on the parallel port.
Steve
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Nope!
Steve
Damn, so in you best opinion should i just give it up and get a cheap HD44780 LCD??
Would be like a small defeat, but i can take that.. -
Damn, so in you best opinion should i just give it up and get a cheap HD44780 LCD??
Would be like a small defeat, but i can take that..Probably the most cost effective method. A HD44780 LCD can be had for less than US$12 inclusive of shipping on ebay. i'm sure your time spent trying to reverse engineer the Firebox LCD would be worth more than that.
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I'd be surprised if it isn't a standard parallel port header. Everything else on the board is standard.
Give the firebox LCD a go first, you've got nothing to loose. ;)Steve
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After taking the LCD board of the 2nd board with the 4 buttons on, it shows 16 pins connector.
See pics attached, so here is the question, is there ANY chance that they are using a HD44780 controller and that i can use this schema to connect it?? http://lcdsmartie.sourceforge.net/circuits.htmWill look for and old PC with a parallel port and test.. Have nothing to loose ;D ;D
Do try mate… It looks like that could be a regular HD44780 LCD module that was previously piggybacked onto another controller (hence the need for a different protocol to communicate with the intermidiary mcu).
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Re-reading what I wrote it's not clear.
What I meant to say is that the 2nd board is almost purely passive. It serves only to add the keypad to the LCD module and provide a common mounting.
Removing the 2nd board simply leaves you with the same interface but no buttons.Steve
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Based on the picture of that LCD unit and the brand… I reckon that should be a KS0066U lcd. Do try running it with a parallel port and as a HD44780 LCD. It should work. Pins 15 & 16 will be the backlight pins if that's the case.
Update: Based on the driver used, that's definitely HD44780 capable. Just that the mapping was somewhat different when used with the Watchguard backplane and keypads.
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Thanks alot both of you for helping me with this. i will give it a go and if it do not work, at least i will have everything ready for a HD44780 LCD.
So now i am looking for a good wiring drawing to see if i need one or two potentiometers , some say one and some say two…
Dreamslacker do you know if the KS0066U is compatible with the HD44780 wiring? some sites say it is.
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Thanks alot both of you for helping me with this. i will give it a go and if it do not work, at least i will have everything ready for a HD44780 LCD.
So now i am looking for a good wiring drawing to see if i need one or two potentiometers , some say one and some say two…
Dreamslacker do you know if the KS0066U is compatible with the HD44780 wiring? some sites say it is.
Yes, it is. Seems that the LCD is from SDEC anyway so the connection to the parallel port should be similar to connecting a HD44780 LCD. The only caveat is that if they do not use a HD44780 controller, then you need to test with Linux/ pfSense and LCD proc with the sdeclcd.so files.
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I agree looking at the hardware it seems it should be HD44780 compatible. However it has a custom part number so it could be a special for Watchguard. Anyway it's an easy enough test to run and I can confirm that it doesn't work, at least not in 8-bit parallel mode with lcdproc 0.55. It's locked up my box now so I'm rebooting to test 4 bit mode.
Steve
Edit: I'm fairly sure it won't work since the backlight is controlled via the strobe bit, pin 1.
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I agree looking at the hardware it seems it should be HD44780 compatible. However it has a custom part number so it could be a special for Watchguard. Anyway it's an easy enough test to run and I can confirm that it doesn't work, at least not in 8-bit parallel mode with lcdproc 0.55. It's locked up my box now so I'm rebooting to test 4 bit mode.
Steve
Edit: I'm fairly sure it won't work since the backlight is controlled via the strobe bit, pin 1.
Thanks for this Steve, i am now just going to find a pc with a printer port so i can test it and as mentioned if not working i at least are ready for my HD44780 LCD
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Next on my list is to decide on is, wifi card, psu, storage device.
Here is what i am thinking:
Wifi:
Found a Intel WM3945ABG(wish it had N) when did go through my old laptop scrapyard, so thinking of using that with external antennas -> (http://www.broadbandstuff.co.uk/product_info.php?sku=Draytek_ANT-1005_-5dBi_Antennae(3_pack)&products_id=427)PSU:
Here i go three choices of what i found in my scrapyard
1 X 12V 3.36 AMP
1 X 12V 4 AMP Think i will start with this one and check how much it will draw of power and if i can change to the 12V 3.36AMP
1 X 16V 3 AMPStorager
Here i am not sure at all, i want to run snort and other things that might use some swap space.
Tried running snort on my current one with some rules and VERY quickly did not start saying not enough swap space.. SO i want to make sure that i have enough space for this.
So this leads me to thinking of not doing a embedded install and go down a install maybe on a laptop hdd or a small ssd. again NOT sure at all… -
Wifi:
Found a Intel WM3945ABG(wish it had N)Are you wanting a WiFi card that can act as an Access Point? Access Point mode is not supported by FreeBSD on many Intel WiFi cards.
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Wifi:
Found a Intel WM3945ABG(wish it had N)Are you wanting a WiFi card that can act as an Access Point? Access Point mode is not supported by FreeBSD on many Intel WiFi cards.
You hit the nail on its head, that is just what i want it for, guess it is back to the scrapyard and pick out all the Wifi cards and check the all and HOPE i find one that i can use..
Edit: Only found a bcm94312mcg… Now to look for info about using them as Access point with Freebsd
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That particular Intel card is the only one that does support AP mode. :)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AojFUXcbH0ROdHgwYkFHbkRUdV9hVWljVWl5SXkxbFE&hl=en#gid=0
Steve
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That particular Intel card is the only one that does support AP mode. :)
Interesting! The FreeBSD 8.1 man page for wpi (http://www.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=wpi&apropos=0&sektion=0&manpath=FreeBSD+8.1-RELEASE+and+Ports&arch=default&format=html) says wpi supports 3945 but the modes listed don't include hostap. I don't have one to test :)
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JimP vs man page, fight! ;)
Steve
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Will be completely my last exam tonight. I shall pop a pfSense usb livecd in my X60 laptop and check on the 3945 hostap mode.
@OP:
US$2.95 nets you a HD44780 2 x 16 LCD with free S&H:http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/New-Character-LCD-Module-Display-LCM-1602-16X2-HD44780-Blue-Blacklight-/350499581767?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item519b672f47
Just have to take note that the seller is located in China and the Chinese Lunar New Year is on this coming Sunday so most of them will not be working for about 3 to 4 days (factory workers get up to a month off because it takes some of them up to 12 days to get home from work via public transport).
