Interface to POG Progressive Display

[rrpcguy]

I'm trying to get some information on an LED Display module I picked up and want to use in a project.
After a lot of web searching and poking around this site, I think I know what I have is a "Progressive Display", probably off of a "Pot-O-Gold" (POG) machine.  The display module has 12 5x7 tricolor LEDs in one row and is made by Dynamic Displays Inc.  The model number printed on the board is S019A (2I7X60M).

What I want to know is how to use the RJ45 interface to drive the board to display arbitrary messages (in multiple colors).  I'm assuming it is a simple serial interface, but need to know the pinouts and voltage levels accepted by the board.  I can probably figure that out (I have an electronics background), but any help would be appreciated.

The real problem is finding out what protocol is used to tell the board what to display.  I suspect hooking it up to a serial port of a computer and sending it ascii text just isn't going to cut it.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Richard

[jay]

This is not something I have run across before in any of the Vegas style slots and I have not seen anyone post about these from this sites inception.....not saying someone doesn't have this knowledge but it certainly hasn't come up before.

Typically we see Mikohn, CDS, and Netplex. The Mikohn and Netplex have been pretty well documented by this crowd. The CDS are more rare and no manuals seem to be in the wild. We have had one member have some success with it and will share with those interested...

I might suggest if you are only looking to run this POG meter as just a display then you might want to invest in a moving display. On ebay if you type in MOVING SIGN or LED SIGN you will get lots of inexpensive options.

The progressive signs are not all that intuitive. For instance the Mikohn the display controller has a 9pin adapter on it - so you would think it could be programmed with a serial interface. IN reality this is not used at all and the interface is a 2 wire RS422 connection to another controller called a CON1. Its 9 pin serial connects to a PC and then you need a special software package that only runs in DOS called PSP to program it. From there you need to press F1 to download from the CON1 to the display controller.

Perhaps with a break out box and a serial sniffer you could figure out what was running over the Rs422 (we used to use these with a megastream t1 mux to debug framing errors on specific channels) but short of that and a working example to decode I think starting from scratch one would be pretty lost trying to get it running. So I thank many of the slot techs that have graced us with snippets of info over the years to get these up.

I hope some with some info answers your post but if you are on a fixed timeline you might want to pursue some other options as I noted. I usually am a pretty optimistic guy.... so please don't read into this that I am trying to pooh pooh your initiative but I wanted to share what my experience is rather than see your post go un replied to.

[brichter]

(we used to use these with a megastream t1 mux to debug framing errors on specific channels)

Careful, Jay, your telco is showing! 

[rrpcguy]

Jay, Thanks for the insight.  I figured as much based on the amount of time I've spent googling the subject and poking around this sight. I've tried to contact the manufacturer at DynamicDisplaysInc.net but their domain is rejecting mail so I don't even know if the company still exists.  Interestingly, it describes the module as having an "industry standard interface".  I just need to know what that standard is.  

 I'm hoping someone has a POG manual with some description of the interface and/or the protocol used between the board and the display.   I found the S-slot manual on another site with a good description of its interface, but that's a totally different (and older) animal.  Does anyone know if the POG controller allows programming messages other than a progressive meter for it's display?  All of the photos I've found so far show a $nnnn,nn multicolored.  But the DDI.net sight advertises a full bit mapped mode, partitioning, color macros, etc.  for the module so I know it is capable of more than just showing the meter.  So if the POG controller can be programmed to show an arbitrary message, the details of how it is programmed could imply what needs to be sent to the module to display it.

Of course the reason I want to try to get this working is because I happen to have one on hand.  So if I can get it working it is the cheapest option.

So far, I know that 6 of the 8 pins in the RJ45 connector are used - implying that there is more than a simple serial interface there.  There is a serial interface though, as the Microprocessor's Rx and Tx pins are connected via an RC network to the RJ45 connector (no buffers or level shifters).  There are also 7 jumpers on the board.  These could be used for setting an address or setting a mode (such as the bit mapped mode?)

I'm still poking around so if anyone knows anything, please share here.

Thanks,
Richard

[StatFreak]

(we used to use these with a megastream t1 mux to debug framing errors on specific channels)

Careful, Jay, your telco is showing! 

 

[rrpcguy]

An update:  I found the first part of a Pot-of-Gold manual on the J&H Amusement website.  Unfortunately, the interesting stuff about the progressive display is in the second half (according to the table of contents). Does anyone have - or know where to find - a complete POG manual.  What I care about is any details on the electrical interface to the progressive display, testing procedure, and programming procedure.  I can go back and look up the section numbers later if you have something.

Richard

[Morgori]

I would also like to find the rest of the POG manual or atleast the section on the serial ports ( I think the one on J-R Amusement goes to chapter 5.7.3, I need around chapter 24 for the serial ports.) I am trying to find out if the serail port puts out SAS and what type of connector is used.

[stayouttadabunker]

Why not contact the owners of the J&H Amusement website and
see if they can help you with that manual?

[Morgori]

I have been calling them at J-R Amusement but have not been able to talk to a person yet. I just left a message and sent him an email.