7-inch Touchscreen from Element 14

[G4WIM]

Thanks Steve,

I've read practically all there is to read so fingers crossed I'm fully primed

Was just a bit concerned about the display after reading peoples problems with quality related issues and various versions etc.

I've ordered one per your link which I had already found in the wiki, but also noticed the 'same' item for £16.99 on the same page but to be sure I ordered from the wiki link.

All good now !

Thanks again, regards Tim

[KenW6HHC]

Tim G4WIM asked

…any reason not to use the larger display as mentioned above along with its capacitive touch ?...

Dave G8DKQ carefully explained that the 7-inch touchscreen LCD from Element14 currently works, but is not officially supported….so it is a matter of “buyer beware”.

I can add to the discussion that - to me the most significant advantage of the 7-inch LCD from Element14 is the four outer mounting holes on the LCB back to make mounting easy. I have been too busy to properly research 3D-printer-bezels for the 3.5-inch WaveShare LCD.

The good news is that my Element14 LCD came in on schedule and I have just started to use it with no problems, so far.


Fig01 – Back of the 7-inch LCD from Element14 showing the four optional mounting holes for RPi-3 (inner stand-offs) and the four outer holes for mounting the LCD to a front panel.


Fig02 - Back of the 7-inch LCD with RPi-3 mounted in the middle - on standoffs.


Fig03 - Front of the 7-inch touch screen from Element14 on Portsdown with the “menu 1” buttons being displayed

73…de Ken W6HHC

[G4WIM]

Hi Ken,

as you might have seen from the other display thread - I've not had any luck with the 3.5" waveshare display despite spending the weekend trying various images, fixes and memory cards on both a rpi2 and rpi3 - thus I suspect it maybe defective and looking at the feedback on Amazon I'm not alone

I'm going to send it back and go down the 7" path with the associated risks etc - like you say makes mounting the display a lot easier and being capacitive touch no need to use a stylus.

Fingers crossed I'll have a little more success !

73 Tim

[G4FRE]

Having used the "official 7" RPI touchscreen in my homebrew PIHPSDR creation, https://g4fre.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/ho ... hpsdr.html I decided to try the spare screen on my Portsdown system and it worked first time without any software tweaks on the standard software image.

One point to note is that the RPI3 ONLY needs the DSI ribbon cable through which it gets everything it needs, there is no need to use the supplied jumpers (They HAVE to be used with an RPI2)

Mine came from Element 14. I have had a 2/3 success rate . The failed one , which Element 14 replaced without argument, had a vertical strip 25% the width of the screen that was "touch screen proof"! Not much use!

Having proved it works, I will go back to the smaller display, as 7" screen is a bit big for a compact portable Portsdown system

Dave
G4FRE

[G4WIM]

Hi Dave,

my 7" display arrived and worked out of the box on Portsdown, but like you say a little on the large size, so will try the 3.5" display again but from a different vendor.

Also need to source a HDMI extender pcb / cable and suitable box for the camera.

The 7" display won't go to waste as I'll use it to make a pihpsdr for my Anan 100D !

73 Tim

[G4HTZ]

Having had 2 duff waveshare boards from amazon which I got refunds on ...I have now got a 7" screen from farnell element 14 which arrived this afternoon.

One query ...on unpacking it , I found the adaptor board was already fitted along with the flexible orange screen cables ....are they normally sent out like this ?? ...looking on you tube they seem to come as a kit of parts .

Don't want to go any further in case they have sent me out a customer return which was not working!!! Suspicious mind

Believe as G4FRE noted jumper cables not required with pi 3

This is 3rd time lucky ...or maybe unlucky with a screen .

[G4HTZ]

Didn't get a reply to my previous post so went for it anyway .

All connected up ...power on ...blank screen !!!

Research on you tube and they all showed red and black jumper wires with the pi 3 and 7" screen .
Jumpers on ...switch on ...all works ok ..responsive screen touches ...success at last ....now on soak test .
Might actually get round to transmitting soon.

Hopefully the 7 inch screen can continue to be "unofficially " supported

Also upgraded to latest software and screen still working

Steve G4HTZ

[KenW6HHC]

Hi Steve G4HTZ,

Glad to hear you are making progress with your LCD woes.

1) Yes, the Element14 LCD arrives with the adapter/controller board already installed (unlike the spec sheet shows on website).

2) Concerning the red/black power jumper wires: I installed those power jumpers with my RPi-3 attached to back of LCD. I know that Dave
G4FRE said earlier that in his installation with RPi-3 mounted away from back of LCD that the power-jumpers are NOT needed, I suspect he used the alternate power configurations where there are two RPi power units...one plugged into the LCD adaptor board and one plugged into the remote RPi-3??

73...de Ken W6HHC

[G4HTZ]

Hi Ken
Thanks for information
Been a frustrating month with the faulty waveshare screens ...the 7" is far superior....hopefully will continue to work after any further updates.
Regards
Steve

[G4FRE]

My 3.5" screen arrived from the same source yesterday and using the BATC sd image it worked fine in all respects

Dave
G4FRE