[freetronics]

Hi everyone...I'm planning to create a personal led matrix display for my small computer shop. I had a taste of creating 12x(8x8) led matrix and 74154 using picbasic a month ago. But it took too much of my time building it from scratch (hardware and software)...  Although I did not get to do the animations yet...but very satisfying  . For my next project I list some of the basic stuffs it should do.
Basic functionality and hardware requirements
1. Can receive data from serial communication
2. Display Date/time
3. Temperature
4. Basic animations (scroll left/right/ UP/Down and text on center display)
5. Length of the matrix should be about 2meters long
I decided to try Arduino, because of the libraries and many resources of information (to keep me going).
Now my question is... I heard freetronics have DMD: Dot Matrix Display 32x16 Red and likewise sureelectronics with their P4 32X16 RG Bicolor LED Dot Matrix Unit. Can anyone advice me which one do you think I should consider purchasing in terms of the product/support/and examples available?
I appreciate any input to all.

Thanks in advance,
mbox

I thinks its made in China, and I don't have any idea of its Brand/model. I got this from a friend without a box and manual.

Hi experts, I found an interesting site(http://tronixstuff.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/tutorial-arduino-and-a-thermal-printer/) to control a thermal printer with arduino..but I'm not really sure how to connect the printer to the arduino. Do I need to use Rs232 to ttl converter(hope I'm correct) or I can directly connect it to arduino? Please see attached file(picture of my thermal printer).

Thanks in advance,
mbox

Hi experts, just want to ask some advice the best solution possible regarding a project in mind.
I need to connect at least 25 arduino as slaves which consist of 3 buttons(menu) each. Each buttons will send data to the Master with the following format [from Mcu1 Data2(button2)]. I appreciate any input and advice regarding my project in mind. Please check my attachment.

Thanks in advance,
mbox