Y
Yeechang Lee
I'm looking for recommendations on an add-on VFD or LCD display for my
MythTV box. Most of the relevant threads I've looked at deal with
cases with built-in displays, unfortunately. My criteria:
* Fits into a single 5.25" drive bay *or* in some nice-looking
external case I can prop in front of my flat-panel TV set.
* As bright and readable 8' away as possible for the dark. (Probably
means a VFD rather than an LCD, even a backlit one.)
* As many lines and columns as is practical.
* Prebuilt; I don't want to have to solder.
* Usable hard buttons and status lights (a red light to indicate that
a recording is occurring, for example) would be nice, but not
essential.
* Cheap as possible, but I'm willing to shell out a bit for the right
display.
* I don't need an IR sensor.
Here's what I've found so far:
* When I last asked this back in December on (e-mail address removed)
both of the responses suggested the Soundgraph Imon, which a)
contans an IR sensor I don't need and b) has only a 16x2 screen.
* The four-line screens at
<URL:http://www.matrixorbital.com/index.php?cName=lcd-character-vfds>
seem ideal, but the company doesn't seem to sell any drive bay
inserts that four-line screens fit into. (They're also pricey, but,
again, if they're otherwise ideal I'm willing to pay up for
quality.)
* Crystalfontz (<URL:http://www.crystalfontz.com/>) has a very useful
build-your-own drive-bay kit page on its Website, but the 20x4
displays available through it are all LCDs and neither of the two
color choices seems very legible across even a small living
room. If I'm mistaken please let me know; so far this seems my best
bet otherwise.
* A poster on (e-mail address removed) suggested I look at
<URL:http://shop.includ.de/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=32>.
Looks great, but it's expensive and I can't tell whether I can even
order it from the US.
Any other ideas? (Honestly, with these $100+ prices, I almost might as
well go the small-LCD monitor, dual-head route; I have a 17" I can put
to use!)
MythTV box. Most of the relevant threads I've looked at deal with
cases with built-in displays, unfortunately. My criteria:
* Fits into a single 5.25" drive bay *or* in some nice-looking
external case I can prop in front of my flat-panel TV set.
* As bright and readable 8' away as possible for the dark. (Probably
means a VFD rather than an LCD, even a backlit one.)
* As many lines and columns as is practical.
* Prebuilt; I don't want to have to solder.
* Usable hard buttons and status lights (a red light to indicate that
a recording is occurring, for example) would be nice, but not
essential.
* Cheap as possible, but I'm willing to shell out a bit for the right
display.
* I don't need an IR sensor.
Here's what I've found so far:
* When I last asked this back in December on (e-mail address removed)
both of the responses suggested the Soundgraph Imon, which a)
contans an IR sensor I don't need and b) has only a 16x2 screen.
* The four-line screens at
<URL:http://www.matrixorbital.com/index.php?cName=lcd-character-vfds>
seem ideal, but the company doesn't seem to sell any drive bay
inserts that four-line screens fit into. (They're also pricey, but,
again, if they're otherwise ideal I'm willing to pay up for
quality.)
* Crystalfontz (<URL:http://www.crystalfontz.com/>) has a very useful
build-your-own drive-bay kit page on its Website, but the 20x4
displays available through it are all LCDs and neither of the two
color choices seems very legible across even a small living
room. If I'm mistaken please let me know; so far this seems my best
bet otherwise.
* A poster on (e-mail address removed) suggested I look at
<URL:http://shop.includ.de/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=32>.
Looks great, but it's expensive and I can't tell whether I can even
order it from the US.
Any other ideas? (Honestly, with these $100+ prices, I almost might as
well go the small-LCD monitor, dual-head route; I have a 17" I can put
to use!)