I have a similar but more problematic situation.

I'm also using a HD44780 based lcd (PowerTip PC1601, 16 x 1 character).

I can program it alright and get all sorts of text on it... BUT!

When I initialise it to 16 characters worth, it starts out as that, but
after a few clear screens and writing characters to it, it flicks to 8
characters (and the contrast improves).  After a few more writes it flicks
back to 16 characters and so on.

I've tried putting 100us delays pre and post waiting for the Busy bit to
clear (LCD busy bit) to some success, but it is still flicking between 8
and 16 character modes.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

help?

robert.
P.S.  When I write to it, the 0x09th character is the 0x09th, not the
0x40h'th character, if that helps?
--
Robert Hodkinson, SF nut and a Render-head.
www.geocities.com/SoHo/Coffeehouse/5939
reply email is bag.it@cableol.co.uk