I’ve worked a long time with my TOP2007 programmer and I was very happy with it. Some days ago tinman published a note about the possibility to order the new TOP3100 programmer. I looked at the price and ordered, as it was a good offer and the new Windows 7 and x64 compatibility a good bonus. The old TOP2007 programmer was not supported anymore under any new operating system like Windows 7 oder even 64 bit OS. The delivery was very fast for ordering from Hongkong/China and arrived with DHL Express. The power supply was not usable as it comes with a plug for China (maybe United Kingdom compatible), but this isn’t a problem as it runs without it. But on my last order at Pollin I found a matching supply for 3,95 € (order no 350 738). It works perfectly and the USB load is reduced.
Some days ago I got a request about programming a driver for an unknown VFD. The VFD (Futuba MDM166A) is used on some Targa computer systems and comes with a small software offering some basic things. Any further output or even displaying graphics was not offered by the software. As the display is connect by USB it has some advantages over any parallel or serial connected displays. Most modern computers offer just some old style interfaces like them or even none. So with the USB connection it can be used on a wide variety of modding and other projects – if a driver exists. So I started to in touch with the display and gathered some commands and structures needed to communicate with it. At the end all data needed to build a LCDHype driver where ascertained. So the modding scene got a new VFD display offering 96×16 graphics and some additional symbols. The LCDHype driver can be found on my Futuba MDM166A display page.
