4U2SEE LED Sign Revisited
I lost the source code I had originally for this sign. Chris Gray left a comment about help and I ultimately ended up re-visiting code for the 4U2See.
sign fixed with a hack…
The problem is that when I try to send a “file” to the sign,
c:\sequent.sys (on the sign) does nothget updated. So you create a legit file with sigma editor, rename it without an extension. Push the renamed file with sigma play. This will update the sequent.sys
file on the sign. Now run my program which sends a file named “A” to the sign and it should work.
Open Sigma Editor:
——————
1) Click new file
2) enter in “working?”
3) Save to computer as “A.nmg”
4) Exit Sigma editor
5) Rename file to “A” (no extension)
Open Sigma Player:
——————
6) Click on List Manage
7) Expand My Play List
Select all files in the right hand pane and delete them
9) Click the add button and find the “A” file in step 5
10) Send to sign
Compile my program (CinderSerial)
———————————
1) Type in text you want to be displayed
2) Select a color
3) (display mode isnt implemented yet)
4) Click submit
Thanks again, the above code/instructions worked like a charm
I am working on an Ethernet (UDP) implementation that builds on top of this code if anyone is interested.
June 16th, 2008 at 6:15 pmI think it would be great if someone could figure out how to update the SEQUENT.sys file on the sign so that when a file is “sent” it is also displayed. Once that part is nibbled off… a fullblown api could be developed.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:01 pmhello Cris Gray
June 20th, 2008 at 11:53 am1- where can i get the latest jetfileii api dll for vb ?
Nader, there is no API. The jetfile protocol is documented in a link that I have published in my previous post. Take a look at the code that I have provided and you will see that protocol commands are spelled out in ascii strings, but the hex value.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:04 pmthank u for the kind reply.
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:42 amdo u know how to create a .PMG file from VB or C++ ??
does anybody know how to create .PMG file from VB or c++ ?
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:58 pmhello Cris Gray,,
June 24th, 2008 at 8:24 amcan u guide me on how to create a .PMG or .NMG file using C++ or VB ??
On the Ethernet implementation comment: I could not get the sign to accept UDP (like the Sigma software sends) but it took TCP over port 8887. Same bytes sent to the serial port and it worked like a champ!
July 11th, 2008 at 7:51 pmThat’s interesting; I’ll have to give that a try. I was successful sending UDP text updates using port 55123. I had no luck using the recommended port of 3001. Most of my trouble was with the IP of the sign not being on the same subnet as my home network. I ended up changing the sign’s IP and have been pretty pleased with the results so far.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pmDarren and Chris.. were you able to solve the sequent.sys problem? I would be really into making a cohesive API for these signs.. they are like the new “BetaBrites”
July 12th, 2008 at 9:25 pmFound the new copy of the Protocol Specs at here http://support.favotech.com/ got it to send files to the board, though I can’t seem to get the playlist to address the files into the ‘Ram’ drive (Mainly cause I want to update the file very often and don’t want to kill the flash)
Anyone get it to read files on the ram partition?
August 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pmWoot!! I have figgured out a hack to get the “PLAYLIST” to play the file on the RAM Drive. First use Sigma Sigma 3000 v3.55\MyLists\CurList.fls with a Hex Editor the DT value is Drive D with the T Folder, Change that to T and you can use the SlimProto to write files to the ET Drive/Folder and it will promptly play it! (Without killing the Flash when you need to update ALOT! )
I have sample code in C-Dull, and have been Reverse Engineering the Full Protocol/Files
August 16th, 2008 at 7:34 pmHello there, EXTREMELY, interested in your work. I have a similar spec sign that also uses the jetfile protocol, so I have made it my goal to communicate to it in as many languages as possible. First one, is to do it in PHP. Once im familar more in my native grounds there, I’ll have a try and going to C#.
While researching this sign, I have written some docs in more english than the jetfile spec pdf you’ve originally linked too. Get in touch on my email
Oh, although I’m working on making it more dynamic, I’m trying to get a proof of concept working. In php, I deteremined the socket_connect is overkill. so I went with fsockopen() in udp mode. Remember, UDP is what these signs use. And also, from the stock config, you need to load sigma editor and turn on some settings to make them play nice to being plugged into a router (otherwise you need to plug into your pc directly).
Anyway, A line of code to send a hardcoded, direct message in theory is:
$msg = Chr(0×01).”Z11″.”Chr(0×02).”ETAA”.Chr(0×06).Chr(0×1B).”0b”.Chr(0×1C).1.Chr(0×1A).1.”Test to display”.Chr(0×04) ;
Notes: chr() is used to have a hex charecter, ETAA – Is the location of the file, ET is the location, AA is the name.
Like I said though, would be interesting to get in touch!
August 31st, 2008 at 4:45 amI managed to solve the problem with SEQUENT.SYS. In other words, I can upload my own SEQUENT.SYS file now from php.
I made a simple php library for my sign, it is available at http://www.mediakum.com/phpledsign/. I used it with my Eurostile ESN sign, but it will likely work also with these 4U2SEE signs.
This blog and its comment have been quite useful in developing that library, so thank you all!
November 27th, 2008 at 3:56 amI am wondering if anyone here can or already has a VB.net or VB6 working example. There is one in the latest sigma zip file from favotech’s website however the entire thing is in chinese and it makes it quite hard to understand.
Ideally what I would really like it an application that would read a text file and send that to the sign.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
February 9th, 2009 at 9:47 pmKJ
I have a VB6 program that I was successfully using with a 4U2SEE display. I was using UDP protocol from my desktop PC through my LAN. I tried using the same program from my laptop with no success. I am going to try and use TCP protocol to see if that works. I wonder what setting could be different between my desktop and my laptop.
March 8th, 2009 at 3:48 pmHello,
A follow-up about playing multiple messages that are updated randomly.
We are developing a product based on this display and we’ve found the settings that allow a series of messages in RAM being played one after the other and not requiring any playlist to be generated/updated.
Using the Sigma Play software, in the System Set screen, the relevant settings are:
- Play mode: play immediatly
- Initialization schedule: scheduled mode
In the Default display settings window:
- default partition: E
- pause: 0
- save playlist: C
And this is it. Just update the messages in RAM partition as neede and the display will show them one after the other.
March 26th, 2009 at 4:43 amHello,
I really like your blog. My website is also related to your blog. Please check this out http://www.putsign.com
Thanks
May 18th, 2009 at 5:25 amNaveen Kumar
I have a 40″ LED that I have created a VB.net app using the JetFileII.dll and can send messages to the LED without issue. However there is a limit to how many bytes that can be sent to the sign at one time. What I cannot figure out is how to name the file that is being sent over to the sign. I would like it if I could send over multiple files so there are more play lists and then allow them to play.
If you have any success doing this please let me know.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:17 pmI am having some problems, namely my sign still has a 169.x.x.x ip address. You said you had success changing it. Um, how can you change it? I haven’t found a way. The sign did not come with any software. The instructions said to install some though.
August 3rd, 2010 at 6:04 am