diff --git a/VFD.cc b/VFD.cc
index 7748566..9aacecd 100644
--- a/VFD.cc
+++ b/VFD.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-/* 
+/*
  * Author: Josh Holtrop
  * Date: 2009-05-03
  * See VFD.h for documentation
@@ -56,8 +56,28 @@ bool VFD::connect(const std::string & parport)
     else
     {
         usleep(INIT_DELAY);
+
+        sendNibble(0, 0x8);         /* set 8-bit mode (sync) */
+        sendNibble(0, 0x8);         /* set 8-bit mode (sync) */
+        sendNibble(0, 0x8);         /* set 8-bit mode (sync) */
+
         sendNibble(0, 0x2);         /* set 4-bit mode */
+
         sendByte(1, 0);             /* set brightness */
+        usleep(2);
+
+        sendByte(0, 0x8);
+        usleep(2);
+
+        sendByte(0, 0x1);
+        usleep(DISPLAY_CLEAR_DELAY);
+
+        sendByte(0, 0x0C);
+        usleep(2);
+
+        sendByte(0, 0x6);
+        usleep(2);
+
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -93,7 +113,7 @@ void VFD::sendNibble(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat)
                | (E_DISABLE << PP_OFFSET_E)
                | (RW_WRITE << PP_OFFSET_RW)
                | ((dat & 0xF) << PP_OFFSET_DATA) );
-    usleep(1);
+//    usleep(1000);
     setPPLines(  (rs << PP_OFFSET_RS)
                | (E_ENABLE << PP_OFFSET_E)
                | (RW_WRITE << PP_OFFSET_RW)
@@ -104,13 +124,6 @@ void VFD::sendNibble(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat)
                | (RW_WRITE << PP_OFFSET_RW)
                | ((dat & 0xF) << PP_OFFSET_DATA) );
     usleep(1);
-#if 0
-    setPPLines(  (rs << PP_OFFSET_RS)
-               | (E_DISABLE << PP_OFFSET_E)
-               | (RW_WRITE << PP_OFFSET_RW)
-               | ((dat & 0xF) << PP_OFFSET_DATA) );
-    usleep(1000);
-#endif
 }
 
 void VFD::sendByte(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat)
@@ -122,7 +135,7 @@ void VFD::sendByte(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat)
 void VFD::displayClear()
 {
     sendByte(0, 0x1);
-    usleep(INIT_DELAY);
+    usleep(DISPLAY_CLEAR_DELAY);
 }
 
 void VFD::cursorHome()
diff --git a/VFD.h b/VFD.h
index c7e2ef2..74682e8 100644
--- a/VFD.h
+++ b/VFD.h
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ class VFD
         static const unsigned char PP_OFFSET_RW = 1;
         static const unsigned char PP_OFFSET_E = 2;
         static const unsigned char PP_OFFSET_DATA = 3;
-        static const int INIT_DELAY = 10000;
+        static const int INIT_DELAY = 10 * 1000;
+        static const int DISPLAY_CLEAR_DELAY = 2300;
 
         void sendByte(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat);
         void sendNibble(unsigned char rs, unsigned char dat);