Communicating with a Pro-Lite LED Display, Cable Construction and Protocol

I had a Pro-Lite display that I had picked up cheap without any communication cable, or any software, lying around in my shop. At least I had the remote, but it was slow and I never thought I would actually use it like that. It was high time that I got around to making a cable and looking into the protocol, so I thought that I would share my findings here.

My goal was to be able to update the sign from Processing and thereby be able to use it interactively in some way. It was a two step process, first I needed a cable, secondly I needed the protocol. Researching on the interwebs, I was able to find (as we all are) all the information I needed and now I will share this information in one location here, at our first and favourite 'how-to' stop.

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Step 1: Hunter and Gatherer

Things that you need

A Pro-Lite Display Sign (try online, I lucked out in finding mine)
A four wire telephone cable (RJ12) - look closely and see how many wires there are, six will also work, but four is simpler, a phone extension from the dollar store will usually have four.
A female serial DB9 Connector – I picked mine up at my local shop, they are easy enough to find online as well.

Tools

a crimp connector or some wire strippers with a crimper built in
wire clippers
a computer

SussoGobbino says: Jan 19, 2013. 9:49 AM

Well done, but when the colours align, it is a straight-through, not a crossover cable as you said!

st_indigo says: Jul 23, 2012. 11:40 AM

Thanks for posting this. I just bought a sign used, and it also came with no cable or remote. I ordered a replacement remote from Pro-Lite, but like you, figured there was an easier, faster way to program the sign and have some interactive-ness to it.

I'm using a USB-to-RS232 cable. I have an old Mac iBook with the phone cable modem jack, and I wish there was some way to use just the phone cable jack directly. Anyone know if this is possible?