I am new to programing and just got my max7456 on a break out board from spark fun. I want to eventually make a simple OSD for an FPV airplane but mostly learn how to program better.
It gives me code and I make an attempt to hook it up. My screen just stays black like there is no signal. I assumed this part of the code tells me what to plugs to use.
I had Dout on 11, Din on 12, sck on 13, wasnt sure what ss was so I assumed CS on 10 and vsync on 2 (all digital side) Thats exactly how I had it. From reading further into the thread, I have to put a resistor on the RST pin and put 5v into it. Not sure if there are other things to do or not but I am pretty confused on how to hook it up. Any help would be appreciated!
I tried it again with the code from the arduino + max7456 thread. I can get serial monitor to say Ready for text file but the screen is black and does not do anything. I know my camera and tv works, the only thing I can think of is improper connections to the arduino.
Replacement character set? I think the other thread says how to somewhere but I dont quite track.
The wires are about 7" in length and I also tried 3" wires. I used male pins sticking up so it wont fit in a bread board , I can try to remove and reinstall them so they point down and slide in B-board though.
I tried to hook just + and ground to the arduino with Video in/out connected. I just get a blank no signal on my TV.
I loaded the code in the beginning of that thread and get no signal. But serial monitor says "Ready for text file"
Also downloaded the sample code from here
and I am not sure how to put it into the Arduino sketch book.
Right now, I think it is user error, but I dont see a thread for that Break out board that says "put the + wire in the hole" type tutorials so I am not sure if I am even connecting the right pins.
Replacement character set? I think the other thread says how to somewhere but I dont quite track.
The default character set on the device doesn't line up with ASCII. e.g., the ASCII value for the letter 'A' is 0x41, but the default character memory location on the MAX7456 for 'A' is 0x0B. Rather than including a bunch of remapping code, the original author of the arduino MAX7456 code decided to change the character set in the MAX7456 (one time only - it's stored in flash). Great idea, IMO, but it requires the device be configured before you can use it.
The wires are about 7" in length and I also tried 3" wires.
7" is too long; 3" may be. I didn't have this problem, but another forum member did. I think he used 2" (or was it 2cm?) wires for reliable operation. I'm using a shield, so traces are short.
I tried to hook just + and ground to the arduino with Video in/out connected. I just get a blank no signal on my TV.
You also need reset at a minimum, and I don't know the default state of the device so even then you may not get a picture on the video output.
The sparkfun code is pretty much useless in arduino-land. It's for a generic AVR-gcc installation, IIRC.
That makes a lot more sense. I am removing the old male header pins and putting new male ones pointing down to be break board compatible. Down side is that the little red trace on C_out peeled up. Not sure if that is bad but fixable or bad and ruined.
So inorder to use that guys program, I need to put the new software into it. I got the tools from the link but I am lost when it comes to the connections I need to make between the computer , arduino and max 7456 break out board. I read the data sheet but it doesnt make sense to me. Im trying hard though!
I downloaded hyperterminal on my Win7 machine, got it to connect to serial port 3 at 9600BAUD and it said ready for text file in hyper terminal. I tried all of the mcm files and it still doesnt work. Not even static. The yellow RX (not TX) led flashes while its uploading though.
I got the maxim eval software and when I have the arduino hooked up and serial monitor closed, it says:
Make certain:
The EVKit is connected to serial port
Make sure EVkit is powered (LED ON)
Another application is not using the com port
EVkit is not in demo mode
When I run the serial print from arduino software, the maxim software says:
OK, messed with it some more and here is what I ended up with.
I can see video for about 10-15 seconds after I touch the 5+ to RST but I do not see any OSD features. Should I use a 10k resistor and connect it permanently?
Maxim software will not work, if the arduino serial monitor is closed, I get the errors listed above. If the monitor is running, it just tells me I need to close the other connection which leads me to the first problem.
Alright, what should I do next to get it to work? As far as I got was using 1" leads which work, downloading hyper terminal, maxim software, getting video to pass through but no text and downloading the two files off here:
I dont know what order to load the files into the max7456 and if I am supposed to use hyper terminal or serial monitor in the arduino software. When I try hyper terminal, nothing happens. I am not sure how to send files in the arduino software either. When I use the maxim software, it gives me a bunch of errors including saying the com port is in use.
I just need to know exactly what to do step by step, Im trying hard to figure out though.
I made a little more progress. I loaded the mcm sketch and was able to get the "before" char. set to display on screen. I cant figure out how to download the mcm char. file into the max7456 though. I thought I was supposed to use hyper terminal / send text file but it fails on win7 and xp. Just says connection time out but "File ready for download" comes up.
I don't remember the details (been too long) but I just used a terminal app to connect to the arduino and copy/pasted into the terminal window, rather than mess around with trying to "upload" a file.
Not really, as it was a year or two ago, I use a mac, and I use old school tools like kermit in an xterm.
In general you should be able to connect with hypterminal and when you see "Ready for text file download" use transfer -> send text file to send the mcm file to the arduino. as stupid as windows is, you may need to rename the file to .txt.
-j
(I've thought of a way to avoid this whole font download issue, but it'll be a while before I can code it and test it out...)
Just tried it, the RX light blinks on the arduino and the BEFORE font goes away on the OSD. After that, nothing happens. (Doesnt even say Done downloading)
This thing has left me with an epic wtf on my face. I changed the end back to .mcm and added a bunch of spaces , unplugged the video in and tried it again. Worked perfect. Now running the ASCII font sent.
