Henry wrote:You are better off using uProject to test the display. In hyperterminal make sure you have flow control turned off.

Ahhh!!! I got it now. Thanks

ok so I just unwrapped the box to my vfd2041, put power to it and the matrix orbital logo pops up. so now I know that the unit powers up.

So I hook up an rs232 cable to the db9, attach it to my com8 port (via a usb converter) to my windows xp.

I open a hyperterminal session at 19200, type 'hello ...