Antec Fusion LCD vs VFD

iain.shepp · **30th July 2008, 10:39 AM**

Hi Everyone,

I have a black Antec Fusion, I thought it was the V2 but I read up and its not.

I just wanted to know the differences between the LCD screen and the VFD screen, aslo with the LCD do I still install the full version of the iMON software.

Also what is the IR recievers like in these? I dont want to buy an external IR reciever if i can help it, I will be using a Harmony 525 remote.

Thanks in advance

Iain

TheRob · **30th July 2008, 10:51 AM**

The LCD screens are useless - the VFD screens are a little less useless! That's my experience.

LCD screens are backlit - the writing 'blocks' the backlight to produce the text. Therefore you get dark text on a bright screen.

VFD screens have the text illuminated. This is generally easier to read IMO, but the one that originally came in the Fusion case was too small to read from any distance.

iMON software is necessary for both screens.

IR receiver is OK. I found it more directional and less sensitive than the standard MS receiver, but it worked fine as long as you pointed the remote generally in the direction of the case. One downside to the receiver and iMON software is that it doesn't (or didn't - it may have been updated since I last used it) support the 'mobile-phone' style triple tap text entry using the number keys in the VMC interface. I use this a lot for searching, so it was a pain for me. Others never use this feature, so it may not be important to you.

iain.shepp · **30th July 2008, 01:48 PM**

Thanks for that info TheRob,

Well the LCD screen isnt really that important, just like the look of the case, I will see how the built in IR goes and if need be will upgrade to the MS reciever or could I use the logitech one that comes with my Harmony 525?

Cheers
Iain

ruud · **31st July 2008, 12:52 PM**

Just got my htpc about a week ago. Have been installing stuff and all. Got round to testing the control (briefly) last night.
Can confirm Harmony 525 works with the Fusion IR.

Download the correct Microsoft "remote" from logitech and it should be good.

ruud · **31st July 2008, 12:54 PM**

Anyone know why does the program on the htpc say VFD ..... but I think my case should be an LCD.?

TheRob · **31st July 2008, 03:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruud

Anyone know why does the program on the htpc say VFD ..... but I think my case should be an LCD.?

Lazy software developers

. SoundGraph switched from VFD to LCD displays in the Fusion Black case but didn't bother to change it's software to reflect that. Complain to SoundGraph about it.

vlad · **31st July 2008, 05:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRob

The LCD screens are useless - the VFD screens are a little less useless!

Good description.
From my experience only 7" LCD can be of some use, the small VFD and little LCD's - I could not see anything from the couch.
The only good use out of 7" LCD is that I can play music on HTPC without TV on.
If you are going just for looks, then VFD I think looks better than small LCD.

syrilion · **3rd August 2008, 11:42 AM**

Hi All,

Does any one know if you can have the vfd turn off when the system is in sleep mode? I have given up trying to get the IR to work - I always get "Not defined command" on the vfd.

There seems to be a mixed bag of resuts in the forum about those who have success wth the vfd and those who do not. I wasted a whole day (a Saturday!) trying to get the vFD working properly. I now have it working, but have had no success with the IR.

Jaiidan · **3rd August 2008, 12:39 PM**

Hey there

I don`t have the fusion case but have the Silverstone one which I believe use the same imon vfd software.
If you look in the settings for the imon frontview you can choose what it displays when its asleep ...I think the default is Home Theater or something - just delete that so its blank..that should do it.

Also I`ve found that the later versions of imon ( v7xxx) have lots of bugs and I use v6 which is more reliable

My 0.02

J

syrilion · **4th August 2008, 09:43 AM**

Hi Jaiidan - thanks for your reply. I have since discovered the updated drivers - I am using the 7.2 version of iMON. This seems to have fixed the issue of not turning off when the machine is put to sleep or is shut down - plus it enables me to disable the IR reciever. Still disapointed thaty I can not get the IR receiver to work - the message "Not defined command" indicates that it is recieving a signal but it does not know what to do with it. Poor really, from Antec/Soundgraph.

Using the third party app - LCDwriter gets everything else going - graphic equaliser etc... so now am at least content. And the case does look really cool

Swallowtail · **4th August 2008, 11:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrilion

Hi Jaiidan - thanks for your reply. I have since discovered the updated drivers - I am using the 7.2 version of iMON. This seems to have fixed the issue of not turning off when the machine is put to sleep or is shut down - plus it enables me to disable the IR reciever. Still disapointed thaty I can not get the IR receiver to work - the message "Not defined command" indicates that it is recieving a signal but it does not know what to do with it. Poor really, from Antec/Soundgraph.

Using the third party app - LCDwriter gets everything else going - graphic equaliser etc... so now am at least content. And the case does look really cool

Syrilion, there is nothing wrong with the IR receiver in the Antec case - I (and many others) have it working fine. I am using a downloaded iMon version (not sure which and not at home at the mo) with a Logitech Harmony set to emulate a Microsoft remote, and it works a treat. "Not defined command" means that you do not have it set up correctly - iMon does not know how to map the command you have sent it to a system command.

My display completely powers off when the system is in sleep of off.

My biggest complaint about this case was that I had to pull the VFD apart to connect a cable to enable the remote powerup.

syrilion · **4th August 2008, 11:30 AM**

Yeah, I know the IR receiver is working, which is why I am getting the error message - if it was not working I would not get the error message.

I have tried to muck around with the settings for the pre-defined program MediaCentre - changing button allocations etc... , but have not had too much success at this stage. Probably a job for next weekend.

Do you have any suggestions on setting up the config? I have tried using the iMON manager, but seem to get no change in response. Do you know of any config files that could be imported?

Swallowtail · **4th August 2008, 12:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by syrilion

Yeah, I know the IR receiver is working, which is why I am getting the error message - if it was not working I would not get the error message.

I have tried to muck around with the settings for the pre-defined program MediaCentre - changing button allocations etc... , but have not had too much success at this stage. Probably a job for next weekend.

Do you have any suggestions on setting up the config? I have tried using the iMON manager, but seem to get no change in response. Do you know of any config files that could be imported?

I'll have a look tonight and see how I've got mine set up. I know I had some issues at one point because I ended up with customised stuff in both iMon and the Logitech software, and it all got completely confused... LOL. I ended up resetting it all to default and starting again.