After alot of Googling and such I have completed the kit here LED Matrix Kit - DEV-11861 - SparkFun Electronics and uploaded the sample code but my leds are just flashing random ones on and off. Doesn’t look anything close to [0-9] or [A-Z] I think my led matrix is shot right from the start. When I plug it in at first only a few rows light up with a blank row or two (one vertical and one horizontal) then a few led are out here and there. You can see a picture before the code is uploaded here Dropbox - Error - Simplify your life. I have checked the wires to make sure they are all correct more than once and cant find a fix. Do you think its a faulty matrix? Here is the video with the code uploaded and running Dropbox - Error
If you got it as a kit then we can assume the parts are correct. Have you tried to plug the matrix around the other way?
How have you connected the wires to the display module?
I am currently using the same led kit right now and had the same problem. Two major things to check. Make sure the Max7129 is facing to the left (the indent on top of the chip) if your looking at it with the matrix to the top. Second if that doesn't fix it reverse your matrix itself. The sample code in the learning section works fine with that setup so you don't have to worry about an error in the code.
OMG I should be ashamed of my self as a computer science student (shakes head with self disappointment). I feel so stupid. I didnt even think to take of the matrix and rotate it 180 degrees and plug it back in, and try it with the code I tried this with no code loaded and they where all off so I just figured they ligh up the other way that must be the way it goes on. All this time wasted trying code sample after sample after my original code wouldn't work to start off. Sometimes its the little things that hold you up when its such a simple fix.
Thanks alot jbruce4390