'Boosting' RX Signal

Hi,

I'm trying to boost RX signals that I'm sending from my Arduino to the Sparkfun 7-Segment Serial Displays (it is due to cabling lengths). I am about to try to use a transistor - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=32952&OrderCode=UL36P the 2N5551

So far, while trying it, I got it to work on a breaboard prototype with one 7-segment, but it now refuses to work. I have collector pin from power supply (external 5V DC), emitter going to 7-segments RX in, and gate attached to the Arduino's RX.

Anybody have any suggestions? I'm sorry - I'm really bad at this stuff.

Jamie

Anybody have any suggestions?

Posting a schematic of your wiring would be helpful to understand what you are doing.

Also not cross posting in the same forum would win you some friends:-
http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1277374143/0#0