2008/10/8 Derek Holzer <derek@umatic.nl>
Problem remains the same after upgrade. Looks like I or probably a
friend have to write some custom firmware for this project before tomorrow.

Hello.

There's a very easy way to do this in custom firmware with raw arduino code, using a shift out chip very cheap and easy too find - 74HC595

there's a tutorial here - http://www.arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/ShiftOut

I used this a lot of times and actually I'm using right now in a project, and works very fine. Uses only 3 arduino digital outs.

abração

glerm