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[on:]

I am just feeling around to see if I am having a known issue or if I have a bad screen. I have worked with several TFTs and the arduino. Typically you have your few min. of fun trying to connect but all is well afterwards. I recently purchased the Emartee 5" http://www.emartee.com/product/42176/TFT%205%22%20800*480%20With%20SD%20Touch%20Module similar to http://www.elecfreaks.com/store/50-tft-lcd-screen-module-tft0150-p-420.html. I use the SainSmart Mega-shield for a TFT, http://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-Adjustable-Shield-Arduino-Mega/dp/B008FWSGGK and of course the Mega.
My life became much easier when the UTFT library was released http://www.henningkarlsen.com/electronics/library.php?id=51. Working with the new Emartee 5" I am at a loss, only thing I am getting is a blank white screen, or backlight. I checked all connections and code trying,
UTFT myGLCD(ITDB50,38,39,40,41);
UTFT myGLCD(SSD1963_800,38,39,40,41); (rest of code is just the examples given  with UTFT)
and the code released with the hardware... not pretty.
I have a sainsmart 3.2 TFT running off the same hardware just fine.
Any ideas or do I have a bad screen?

As a FYI I am capable of reading information from the serial monitor of x and y recieved from the touchscreen, just can not see anything.
Thanks,
B

[Reply #1 on:]

Well the adapter and the LCD seem to support 16 bit parallel mode (I presume 8080 not 6800?)

Double check each connection?  Put a 'scope on each line and check waveforms (or at least check for shorts between
adjacent pins)...

[Reply #2 on:]

MarkT, thanks for the advise. I went through and unsoldered the 40 pin, checked for issues with conductivity, but did not check through-put. I guess I could hook up the oscilloscope to just the write of the 16 bit pins (narrows things down), I guess any movement in the scope would tell me if I had a good connection. Seems right. Thanks for post!!! Now I just have to remember how to work this antiquated scope!

[Reply #3 on:]

Hello, have you tried this example sketch?

http://elecfreaks.com/store/download/datasheet/lcd/TFT/EF_TFT5_0_V2_4.zip

[Reply #4 on:]

guix,
I believe I ran that but I will verify this morning.

As an update, treating this as the place of learning it is, I emailed emartee customer support yesterday with a brief description of my issue. I wouldn't normally do this but I strongly feel I have a defective piece of equipment. They responded last night asking me to please redefine my issue. I speak with several people in Asia a day and a confirmation is always in order. So I happily rewrote them an email providing full details. I was pleasantly surprised at the time line they got back with me and had high hopes. I received another email early this morning, stating they were sorry I was having issues and needed to clarify I was using it on an arduino mega and that the major issue was the touchscreen was transversed. That earlier happiness I spoke of is dwindling as I had wrote it was being used on a arduino mega three times and the issue was "no image on screen" five times.I had wrote it in a very pleasant and easy to read format and in the last sentence had mentioned that the touchscreen was transversed.
I'm hopeful tonight will bring better responses from emartee.

[Reply #5 on:]

I will make this my last post on this issue as it appears the screen is most likely having the issue. I tried scoping it but between unknowns on both sides I am not sure I trust the readings. I have tried several libraries and modified each in hopes something would change. Coorespondance with the manufacturer ended in they told me I needed to use the UTFT library because Emartee displays will not work with the Emartee library and the SainSmart TFT shield. Each email I have sent I mentioned that I use the UTFT library as often as possible, and made attempts to use it here. Its rather a shame, I would have ordered a number of these TFTs. Oh well back to the drawing board. guix and MarkT thank you for the assistance.

[Reply #6 on:]

Tracers not connected on the back of the board..... Image is through a microscope. UHG!

[Reply #7 on:]

I don't understand what you are showing in these pictures... What are tracers?

[Reply #8 on:]

On a PCB (printed circuit board), the wires that are under the laminate are called tracers. On this particular set up I'm assuming it was made on a Friday afternoon. I created small jumpers and bam it came on. Basically it was an open loop. I have sent the images to the manufacturer, I'm hopeful they will rectify the situation.

[Reply #9 on:]

I see but I always read "traces" not "tracers".

So in your pictures, those 2 green(?) things are very very small pieces of wires that you soldered?

Cool that you fixed it

[Reply #10 on:]

I appreciate it. You are correct traces! Goof on my part.I just hope it's this one board and not a batch and if it is a batch, at least there will be some reference of it. Things like this will make a Guy nuts!

[Reply #11 on:]

Against some rather tall odds... You found the issue... AND YOU Fixed it...  Be Proud of your great work.

Bob