[mythtv-users] LED scrolling sign (was: Re: Interesting LCD Display)

[stuart]

Dan Ritter wrote:
> On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 01:12:50PM -0500, stuart wrote:
>>> On Sun, Sep 14, 2008 at 07:08:02PM -0700, Yeechang Lee wrote:
>>>>> Nick Morrott <knowledgejunkie at gmail.com> says:
>>>>> I don't want a display physically near me, though; I want a display
>>>>> sitting next to the TV set, that I can make out from across the living
>>>>> room, and which will show interesting information about my MythTV
>>>>> setup like what's recording.
>>> Well, this would do that:
>>>
>>> http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?InvtId=RED-9IN-LEDSIGN&cm_mmc=GoogleProducts-_-ConsumerElectronics-_-MiscellaneousElectronics-_-RED-9IN-LEDSIGN&zmam=2003677&zmas=1&zmac=129&zmap=RED-9IN-LEDSIGN
>>>
>>> For only $25, too.
>>>
>>> -dsr-
>> Hi DSR...
>>
>> I wanted to break this into it's own thread and ask you some questions 
>> about your LED sign.
>>
>> I see where it is capable of storing 4 messages and also has a USB port 
>> (for programming?).  I guess my concern is that there may be no way to 
>> get real time / dynamic information to this unit w/o programming it as a 
>> message.
>>
>> What I'm afraid of is if all displayed messages are put into 
>> non-volatile flash memory.   Flash memory has a finite life time.  True, 
>> it might take months or years of mythtv messaging (depending how it 
>> often the memory is flashed) before some bytes stop working, but it will 
>> be annoying when it happens.
>>
>> So, do you know how this display works?
> 
> I've programmed similar signs; not this one in particular. They
> tend not to use NVRAM or flash, but to simply use a tiny cheap
> hunk of DRAM -- 16Kbytes is not unsual. Lose power, and you lose
> the programming. 
> 
> Note that I am not actually advocating putting a big scrolling
> red LED sign on your entertainment console, -- it will seriously
> distract you from anything you are watching or listening to. I
> suppose a serious home theater addict might put one up on the
> outside of the door leading to the theater room --
> 
> ...NOW PLAYING: CHANNEL 6 WETM EYEWITNESS NEWS AT SIX...
> 
> -dsr-
> 

Humm, tackiness of my train of thought duly noted!

...thanks