On Tue, 17 Aug 1999, Harrison Cooper wrote:
>
> So...any suggestions on a display...need something cheap cuz good chance it
> will be stepped on by the shop personnel while its sitting in a test state.
> Also, sending data out a pin...just send a serial string of ASCII data? or
> what?

Scott Edwards Electronics makes a pretty good item called the
Serial Backpack, which tacks onto various LCD's.  Operates
at either 9600 or 4800 bps, and works pretty well.  It takes
non-inverted TTL input on the Rx pin, so you just hook
it directly to one PIC pin, and start bit banging.

Yes, it's pretty much just a string of serialized
ASCII, except there are some control codes for
cursor placement, etc.

Also makes for a *very* useful debugging tool, if you don't
have an ICE.

-Will