Novice here.
Using this example,
LCD1602 to Arduino Uno connection example
the screen lights up(not plugged in in this pic), but no text displayed.
Hi,
That example doesn't have Vo connected to anything, that is the contrast control for the display.
Try 1200R or there about between Vo and gnd.
That example may work on Woki, but not in the real world.
Tom... 
Please take a few moments to Learn How To Use The Forum.
Please do not force others to follow the links, it would be better to insert the code to the forum. Use the IDE autoformat tool (ctrl-t or Tools, Auto format) before posting code in code tags.
Photos that clearly show your wiring can also be very helpful.
Please go back and fix your original post.
Added 980R (nearest I have ).
No change, sadly.
Wokwi 
(Begs the question, where can I find reliable examples that will work)
Hi Jojacle,
You write "...the screen lights up(not plugged in in this pic), but no text displayed...."
Maybe the screen is OK but there is no text to display
Can you please publish your sketch? That might shed light (pun!) onto this topic.
regards, Photoncatcher
Check this tutorial site.
In order for the LCD to work, you do a "test" to see an "all dots". And check if you really have 4.5 V to 5 V at Vcc and Gnd. Lower than 4.5 V, the LCD will not work properly. And last, the R/W - pin 5 of the LCD is connect to GND.
As for the code, the simulator code is just fine.
sketch listed in post1 (Wokwi example)
Did you look at any of the other recent posts in this section of the forum? I posted the following in one just yesterday:
Get the backlight working first (pins 15 and 16).
Connect the power and the contrast next (pins 1, 2, and 3). Any potentiometer
between 5K and 50K will work. With the potentiometer at one end of it's range
the display will be blank and at the other end you should see boxes on the top
line of the display. Adjust the potentiometer until the row of boxes is visible,
but dim. The voltage at pin 3 should be around 0.5v at this point. If you do not
get this behavior then it makes no sense to continue since no amount of
programming will fix things.
Connect the other seven pins (4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, and 14) and load up your
sketch.
If you don't have a potentiometer then just connect pin 3 directly to ground. The result will most likely not be optimum but the display should be usable.
Don
Use a 1602 with the I2C backpack. It has a contrast pot and is much easier to get working with just a two wire (SDA/SCL) interface.
Let me try again:
The presentation is attractive and the information is mostly accurate. . .
BUT THE EXAMPLE PROGRAM IS HORRENDOUS.
The program linked in the original post (repeated below) is much better when trying to evaluate a newly acquired display.
// LCD1602 to Arduino Uno connection example
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7);
void setup() {
lcd.begin(16, 2);
// you can now interact with the LCD, e.g.:
lcd.print("Hello World!");
}
void loop() {
// ...
}
Don
Posting this "solution" to questions about how to get a basic LCD module with a parallel connection working doesn't really help the person with this problem.
It is a more appropriate answer to someone who is contemplating which type of device to acquire as opposed to someone who already has a display and wants to make it work.
Question: If an I2C device " is much easier to get working " then why are there so many forum posts concerning the problem of doing so?
Don
Ive never been able to get my 1602 working! I had to buy the i2c version to get it to do anything. This was the original problem that got me to sign up here and I NEVER DID get an answer that made it work!
Link seems to be broken... 
There's some garbage at the top of the page. Scroll down to see the actual page content.
Caution: Their example code is horrible, it does not implement the display properly.
Did you have any success with the procedure outlined in post #8? You are really wasting your time (and ours) if you don't try that simple procedure.
What are connecting SDA/SCL to? The image doesn’t look like A4/A5 ...
Hi,
You do have SDA connected to SDA an SCL connected to SCL?
Make sure the two boards are pressed properly into the Protoboard as those pins are quite large in diameter compared to that the protoboard usually take...
Check continuity between the two boards with the power OFF and a DMM.
Thanks.. Tom.. 
In your picture, you did not connect SDA and SCL to A4 and A5. You connect your to the header pins - SPI mode... that config will not work at all.
Here the datasheet for the Backpack. And yes ... the link is working BTW.
The address of the device when the addresses connection is not solder, will be 0x27 or 0x3F.
Connect SDA to A4 and SCL to A5. That is the I2C config to connect to an Arduino.
So I can see your display have the dots, meaning the LCD is OK.
Your original post, and my replies to you, have all been in reference to a "parallel" connection of the LCD to your Arduino and the use of the LiquidCrystal.h library.
Now you are posting a picture of your display with an I2C adapter but your display still doesn't appear to be working. You have not stated which I2C library you are using. If it is not hd44780.h then good luck.
Make up your mind about which interface you plan to use and then post a photo that clearly and unambiguously permits us to follow each connection without having the wires disappear out of view anywhere. Also specify exactly which library you are using.
Don