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Product:
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Matrix Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD |
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Price:
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NK204-V LCD bare unit $77 (CAN) / $49.50 (U.S)
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Price:
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NK204-V LCD w/ B2041-BK Bay Insert $140 (CAN) / $90 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Matrix Orbital
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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May 13th, 2002
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Rating:
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MODTHEBOX would like to thank Henry from Matrix Orbital
for sending the NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD for review.
Introduction:
Intelligent display devices are common place in today's society and we have seen this technology implemented into just
about everything imaginable from wrist watches to VCR's and now high performance computer systems. The advantage of
an intelligent display device is the ability to interactivity know how well a computer system is performing. The solution
works two fold by taking the right piece of hardware and compliment it with the right application software. The end result
is a package that can provide vital statistics that can be read at a mere glance. Matrix Orbital based out of Calgary, Alberta
has been producing a wide range of popular LCD units for the last serveral years. Today in the MTB Labs, we will be evaluating the Matrix
Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD, a new budget minded intelligent LCD display for the personal PC.
Specifications:
The Matrix Orbital NK204 20x4 Serial LCD is available in three different formats on the Matrix Orbital website. The
NK204 is your standard 20x4 Serial LCD with no voltage options. The NK204-V is a standard 20x4 Serial LCD with a wide
voltage option ranging from +7 to +15VDC. The NK204-VPT is a standard 20x4 Serial LCD with a wide voltage efficient
power regulator ranging from +7 to +30VDC. The unit that will be used in this review is the NK204-V revision 1.23. Here
are some of the specifications taken directly from the Matrix Orbital website:
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Matrix Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD - Appearance Features:
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| Matrix Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD: Manufactured by Matrix Orbital |
| 20 characters x 4 lines |
| Module size: 98.0mm(L) x 60.0mm(W) x 27.5mm(T) |
| Display size: 76.3mm(L) x 25.0mm(W) |
| Character size: 2.95 x 4.75mm |
| Yellowish-green backlight |
| Black imaging |
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Functional Capabilities:
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| Display text, horizontal & vertical bar graphs and large digits |
| Line wrapping, scrolling, contrast, backlight and time-out setting (up to 180 minutes) |
| Software and manual on CDROM |
| Available in a PC drive bay insert |
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Interfaces & Speed:
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| Use 6 General Purpose Outputs |
| Communicate over RS232 or I2C (Connect up to 16 displays over I2C) |
| RS232 mode: 1200bps to 19.2 Kbps |
| I2C mode: Serial transfers of up to 100 Kbps |
| Fully buffered - no delays in transmission |
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Power Requirements (Ta = 25°C, Vin = 5.0V):
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| Operates at 0ºC to +50ºC |
| Extended Temp. -20ºC to +70ºC |
| Supply Voltage: +4.75 to +5.25Vdc |
| Wide Voltage Option: +7 to +15Vdc |
| VPT Option: +7 to +30Vdc |
| Supply Current: 10mA typical |
| Backlight Supply Current: 90mA typical |
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You can view the Matrix Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD documentation by clicking right
here.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Matrix Orbital NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD Kit arrived packaged in a plain white cardboard box, all the components were
sealed with anti-static bags and bubble wrap. The components inside the kit include the NK204-V 20x4 Serial LCD, molex
bypass connector cable, DB-9 female to male straight through cable, B2041-BK Black LCD mounting bracket, 4 x 4/40 1/4 bolts and spacers,
application CD and a set of instructions. A simple readme page details some important instructions about not applying unmodified floppy cables for
a power source, not using non Matrix Orbital cables and applying more voltage than the kit can handle. It is nice that
these warnings are presented before hand as it prevents consumers from damaging the unit without first reading the documentation.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The DB-9 straight through cable included in the package uses 9-pin female to male connectors. This cable should not be confused with a
standard 9-pin serial or 9-pin null modem cable. Matrix Orbital advises that the neither serial or null modem cables
will work with this device. A special 4-pin connector provides all required power for the LCD and is wired to a bypass male and female
molex connector. The B2041-BK Black LCD mounting bracket is double the size of a half-height 5 1/4" drive bay and is protected by a thick
and hardcoated lexan overlay. The application CD known as the Matrix Orbital eCD contains some static web pages which include links to
Matrix Orbital software, 3rd party application software, documentation and the latest revision notes. I was extemely pleased to see this
CD included as part of the package, since it eliminates the frustration most consumers have finding everything they need online.
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