> The LCD doesn't seem to initialize and for sure my characters aren't
being
> displayed. I'm getting quite frustrated with this project. I'm hoping
> someone out there can spot the error of my ways for me and help me get
back
> on the straight and narrow.

High Voltages near the module can prevent initialization from working.
I made a Geiger counter and had tons of problems trying to get my LCD to
initialize in 4 bit mode. 
The problem turned out to be NOT the code, but that the 650V circuitry
was too close to the data lines feeding the LCD.
I shortened the data lines and shielded with some foil, and everything
started working great!
Here are segments of the code I used (uses internal 48KHz clock)

Regards,
Allan



	include "P16F628A.INC"
	list	p=PIC16f628A
	__CONFIG _CP_OFF & _PWRTE_OFF & _WDT_OFF & _MCLRE_OFF &
_INTOSC_OSC_NOCLKOUT & _LVP_OFF & _BODEN_OFF 


; -------------
; LCD Data
; RA0	DB4	O/P
; RA1	DB5	O/P
; RA2	DB6	O/P
; RA3	DB7	O/P
; -------------


; RA6 for E		O/P
; RA7 for RS	O/P
; Ground RW



#define LCD_E	PORTA, 6
#define LCD_RS	PORTA, 7

	ORG	0
	goto	Start

	org	0x4		; Interrupt Vector


Start
	call	LCD_init

;	rest of code here



LCDstr
	addwf	PCL, f
	DT 0x33,0x32,0x28,0x01,0x0c,0x06,0


;========================================
;	LCD INIT ROUTINE
;========================================

LCD_init
	clrf	PORTA
	call	MEDDELAY	; wait 20 mS
	call	MEDDELAY
	bcf	LCD_RS	; clear RS
	bcf	LCD_E		; clear ENA


	clrf	MSGPTR
	movf	MSGPTR, W
	call	LCDstr		; Get first byte from string into W
register
	movwf	CHAR			; Store in string

get_LCDstr				; Initialization string for LCD

	bsf	LCD_E			; Drive ENA High
	swapf	CHAR, w		; swap nibbles
	andlw	0x0f			; mask out the upper nibble
	iorlw	b'01000000'		; ensure ENA stays High
	movwf	PORTA			; send upper nibble
	bcf	LCD_E			; Drive E low so LCD will
process input
	call	MEDDELAY		; Wait 10ms
	bsf	LCD_E			; Drive ENA High
	movf	CHAR, w
	andlw	0x0f			; mask out the upper nibble
	iorlw	b'01000000'		; ensure ENA stays High
	movwf	PORTA			; send lower nibble

	bcf	LCD_E			; Drive E low so LCD will
process input
	call	MEDDELAY		; Wait 10ms
	incf	MSGPTR, f
	movf	MSGPTR, W  		; increment pointer - put the
offset in W register 
	call	LCDstr		; fetch the next byte from the string
into W Register
	movwf	CHAR			; Store in string
	andlw	0xff			; sets the zero flag if W = 0
	btfss	STATUS, Z		; skip if zero bit set
	goto	get_LCDstr
	call	MEDDELAY		; Wait 10ms
	bsf	LCD_RS		; set RS
	clrf	MSGPTR
	return			; finished if W = 0



SHORTDELAY			; Delay of 550uS
	clrwdt
	nop
	nop

	return

MEDDELAY			; Delay of 10mS
	movlw	14
	movwf	STORE2
LOOP2	call	SHORTDELAY
	decfsz	STORE2,1
	goto	LOOP2
	return

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