Re: [Hampshire] Linux and LED Scrolling Signs
Thanks to all who replied. I think I'm going to report to the powers that be that this is a bad idea. What we're after (for work) is a sign which shows either something like "All Systems Go" or lists the server(s) down. I guess we could "sacrifice" a display and leave it on 24/7/365 but a sign would seem to be a better (greener) solution. Can anyone suggest any other possibilities? Cheers Rob -Original Message- From: Hampshire On Behalf Of Andy Random via Hampshire Sent: 26 October 2020 03:54 To: Hampshire Cc: Andy Random Subject: Re: [Hampshire] Linux and LED Scrolling Signs Hi, On Sun, 25 Oct 2020, Rob via Hampshire wrote: > However, I don't want to use Windows and I have in mind a bash script to > output the text to be displayed. Not too fussed about speed, font size, > any other such settings - it's just the text we need. Does anyone know one > of these that plays well with Linux? I don't have any experience with the device you linked to, but the following links suggest that it is possible with at least some similar devices. https://github.com/jnweiger/led-name-badge-ls32 https://github.com/DirkReiners/LEDBadgeProgrammer http://www.daveakerman.com/?p=1440 It looks like there are a few different types of device out there and if it was me I'd be buying from a cheaper source like: https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/274310652674?chn=ps&var=574414481122&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=574414481122_274310652674&targetid=938486033460&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045748&campaignid=10195651586&mkgroupid=107296210212&rlsatarget=pla-938486033460&abcId=1145987&merchantid=6995734&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxNT8BRD9ARIsAJ8S5xbE757dDAek12CV32-K6-LROdiyWosJwPf6IA6A_sMsooWpOdfsoaYaAtOsEALw_wcB https://www.ledcontrollercard.com/english/led-name-badges-mini-led-screen-built-in-lithium-battery.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwxNT8BRD9ARIsAJ8S5xYEdJN1Z35vrSv_humOKehYZd9bJaJi8fuTw9nVcJN1WOl8jDERTXoaAvpbEALw_wcB https://www.wish.com/product/5b2b9a3cdfc57b64c25681c0?hide_login_modal=true&from_ad=goog_shopping&_display_country_code=GB&_force_currency_code=GBP&pid=googleadwords_int&c=%7BcampaignId%7D&ad_cid=5b2b9a3cdfc57b64c25681c0&ad_cc=GB&ad_curr=GBP&ad_price=8.00&campaign_id=6493229882&exclude_install=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxNT8BRD9ARIsAJ8S5xZQDLoeUeEzmJrHDLpD-Rp4KwRekMWn5OeyCx3h_M6VCP4_GztzNFcaAlYcEALw_wcB&share=web However I've not personally used any of them so I'm not recommending any of them and most of them seem to be shipping from the Far East and will take a while to reach you. The upsides of Amazon are faster delivery and if you order from them and can't get it to work with Linux within a reasonable time you are likely to be able to return it. If you do order something I'd be interested to hear how you get on. Andy -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Linux and LED Scrolling Signs
Any mileage in small a raspberry-Pi screen? Some are direct to the Pi, some are HDMI. https://thepihut.com/collections/raspberry-pi-screens ... other vendors available. On 26/10/2020 08:59, Rob via Hampshire wrote: Thanks to all who replied. I think I'm going to report to the powers that be that this is a bad idea. What we're after (for work) is a sign which shows either something like "All Systems Go" or lists the server(s) down. I guess we could "sacrifice" a display and leave it on 24/7/365 but a sign would seem to be a better (greener) solution. Can anyone suggest any other possibilities? Cheers Rob -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Linux and LED Scrolling Signs
Hi, Very different spec from "battery powered toy badge". For a room sized display with permanent power available and a need for connectivity I'd look at some of the more serious hobby sites. Plenty of Arduino or Raspberry Pi interfaced displays giving you a choice of Ethernet/Wifi/ Bluetooth connectivity and a lot of different programming options. Good search terms for these sites are "LED matrix" or simply "matrix". A couple to get you started. [1] https://www.tindie.com/search/?q=matrix [2] https://shop.pimoroni.com/?q=led+matrix Or a really cool project if probably not that useful for your use case. [3] https://hackaday.com/2020/10/04/an-led-cube-to-display-cpu-vitals/#more-434443 On Mon, Oct 26 at 08:59, Rob via Hampshire wrote: > Thanks to all who replied. > > I think I'm going to report to the powers that be that this is a bad idea. > What we're after (for work) is a sign which shows either something like "All > Systems Go" or lists the server(s) down. > > I guess we could "sacrifice" a display and leave it on 24/7/365 but a sign > would seem to be a better (greener) solution. Can anyone suggest any other > possibilities? -- Bob Dunlop -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Linux and LED Scrolling Signs
On Mon, 26 Oct 2020, at 08:59, Rob via Hampshire wrote: > What we're after (for work) is a sign which shows either > something like "All Systems Go" or lists the server(s) down. > > I guess we could "sacrifice" a display and leave it on 24/7/365 but a > sign would seem to be a better (greener) solution. From what you describe, this wouldn't change often, so maybe an e-ink display would be a green option? As I understand it, e-ink only requires power to update, so it can be very efficient for something that's mostly constant. Second hand e-readers can be a cheap way to get a fairly large e-ink display. I was toying with this idea a few years ago, and found that old Kobo e-readers run Linux and are reasonably hackable - I think someone used one to display a weather forecast, for instance. That might be more involved than you want for a simple text sign, but I can dig out the links I found at the time if anyone is interested. If you can spend a bit more money and/or accept a smaller display, you can get e-ink displays to use with Raspberry Pis or microcontrollers, e.g. https://shop.pimoroni.com/?q=eink Thomas -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --