NmediaPC Pro LCD

stephenw10

It's not there on my box in /usr/pbi/lcdproc-amd64/local/lib/lcdproc where all the other drivers are.
It's not in the FreeBSD ports package either. Looks like it doesn't get compiled by default. There could be reason for that, like it's been replaced by lis2.

Steve

is it possible to add this driver in?

stephenw10

If you can get hold of the driver module, lis.so, from the appropriate FreeBSD version you can just copy it into pfSense. However since it isn't in the FreeBSD package either you'll have to compile it.

Steve

And this reaches the extent of my Linux knowledge. No really sure how to add or compile anything in Linux.

stephenw10

Before anyone else points it out; pfSense is built on FreeBSD, FreeBSD in not Linux. ;)

I have done this but it was a while ago. There are instructions for doing so at the lcpproc site but as I recall it was slightly tricky.

Steve

Outside of windows, I'm not very smart on different OS's. Would you mind pointing out what you did? How does BSD differ from Linux? Would you mind walking me through the setup?

stephenw10

To be honest it's such a long time ago that I'd have research it again. Also the compile box I was using at the time is now dead so I don't even have that to look at. If I have a chance I'll look into it. Wasn't that tricky as I recall.

Steve

I have been browsing there the last day or so. I appreciate the advice on all of this btw way. In reading the instructions, the terminology seems to be a point of toughness for me as mind expects troubleshooting steps that would apply to windows..lol I really don't have much experience in using UNIX based code i.e Linux and BSD. I'm definitely going to have to pick your brain while using these instructions. Just to be clear and that i'm using the correct instructions

http://lcdproc.sourceforge.net/docs/lcdproc-0-5-5-user.html

SO I was looking over this again today and I am puzzled by the labeling and began to wonder if the reason why I am having difficulties is if the port my LCD is connected to is not registered in LCDproc. So I took a photo to show this for clarification. The photo from the black screen shows where the PC says it is and the other image shows the ports recognized by LCDproc.

20150325_170533.jpg_thumb

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stephenw10

Interesting uftdi0. Does it create a new com port in /dev though? Compare the listing in /dev before and after you connect it.

Steve

Can you explain how to do that from pfSense? All info I have found about this display points to it being an FTDI device.

stephenw10

At the command line (console or via SSH) run:

ls /dev

Then connect the display and run that again. Do you see a new device listed?

Steve

it comes up as ugen1.3. I set the port to this and tried several driver and connection type configurations and still not working but I think now; we are finally narrowing the issue down knowing the correct port. It might be just a simple selection problem now. I'm curious why LIS is listed under connection type and and not under driver..lol

Is there any reason that you can think of as to why the service for LCDproc will not start? Under status\services, it shows LCDproc as stopped even though it is enabled.

peekmessage

Looks like I got the nmedia display working finally, you have to make some edits to allow 38400 as an option for the port speed. Here are the steps I used:

From: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=83747.15

Install lcdproc-dev 0.5.6 from pakages
drop to freebsd console (or use Diagnostics\Command Prompt in the GUI)
mount -uw /
pkg install sysutils/lcdproc

(For editing you can use console or Diagnostics\Edit File)
Edit /usr/local/pkg/lcdproc.xml

-Search for 19200 you should find:
<option><value>19200</value>
<name>19200 bps</name></option>

-Under it add:
<option><value>38400</value>
<name>38400 bps</name></option>

-Save this file

Edit /usr/local/pkg/lcdproc.inc
-Again search for 19200 you should find:
case "19200":

-Under it add:
case "38400":

-This will enable 38400 option for port speed, but looks like if you pick the hd44780 no matter what it is going to add a Speed=0 to the configuration file.

-Search for:
$config_text .= "Speed=0\n";

-Right above that line add:
if ($lcdproc_config[port_speed] == '' || $lcdproc_config[port_speed] == '0')

-Now save the file.

-In the Services LCDProc choose these options:
Comp Port: mine is /dev/cuaU0 set this depending on your config
Display Size: 2 rows 20 columns
Driver: hd44780
Connection Type: Mplay Blast from VLSystem
Port speed: 38400

-Save and restart the system, this should get it working.

-For some reason mine required a reboot or restart of LCDd (one extra time) to work properly.