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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : first contact with picomite.. is this board could be used ..

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amiga
Newbie

Joined: 08/05/2025
Location: Belgium
Posts: 3

Posted: 01:56pm 08 May 2025

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Hello,
I just stumbled upon this forum and the topic is really fascinating.
I volunteer at a non-profit organization that helps young children with their homework.
In fact, apart from scrolling through TikTok, they are completely disconnected from the real digital world.
I'm starting to prepare coding activities, having started with a ZX81, TRS80, Amiga... in hindsight, this experience is as valuable as a PhD in computer science.
So I need very simple, reliable equipment, a language that is easy to grasp the basics of coding for kids between 8 and 12 years old...
And your Picomite project is exactly what I need. Before I start building the Reference Design for HDMI/USB Computer card.
Could you please tell me if this card works with DVI output?

RP2040-PiZero Based on Raspberry Pi RP2040 Onboard DVI Interface TF Card Slot PIO-USB Port 16MB Flash memory its cost is 8.50€ at Aliexpress

Thanking you from Belgium, a small country but where there are as many beer brands as there are villages...
And a big thank you to the initiators of this fantastic project where when men and women combine their skills and kindness, they achieve extraordinary things...
which is unfortunately not the case for the various leaders of this world.

Have a nice evening,

AlfaMiga ,

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007349367368.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.27f538daAgyMg2&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21EUR%21EUR%208.50%21EUR%208.50%21%21EUR%208.50%21%21% 402103892f17467111426923112e14de%2112000040368670200%21ct%21BE%212260364661%21%211%2 10&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22cart2PdpParams%22%3A%7B%22pdpBusinessMode%22%3A%22retail%22%7D%7D

JohnS
Guru

Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3998

Posted: 02:28pm 08 May 2025

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amiga said Could you please tell me if this card works with DVI output?

RP2040-PiZero Based on Raspberry Pi RP2040 Onboard DVI Interface TF Card Slot PIO-USB Port 16MB Flash memory its cost is 8.50€ at Aliexpress

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007349367368.html

Welcome to the forum.

When Picomite Basic (MMBasic on the Pi Pico) is described as HDMI it outputs DVI (which is a subset of HDMI), so if that board has the right pins then it will be DVI.

I gather the schematic is here

Hopefully someone will be able to check it soon (it's not a board I have).

John

matherp
Guru

Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10067

Posted: 02:30pm 08 May 2025

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Won't work. Only RP2350 based boards will work with PicoMite DVI/HDMI and on those the DVI pins must use GP12-GP19. The order of the 4 pairs is not important

amiga
Newbie

Joined: 08/05/2025
Location: Belgium
Posts: 3

Posted: 02:49pm 08 May 2025

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Thanks for yours speedy answers ,

I'm not an electronics expert, more of a software engineer.
Can I install an HDMI-to-VGA adapter and configure the MMBASIC setup to use the VGA pins control ports?
But it seems to me that the possibility of making the PCB with components by JCLPCB is an option that stands out.

Have a nice evening, (I forget the time difference between Belgium and Australia.

)

AlfaMiga

JohnS
Guru

Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3998

Posted: 03:00pm 08 May 2025

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I guess you mean VGA to HDMI adapter.

Probably simpler to use one of the designs which already output DVI (HDMI).

That way it's all done and even has an HDMI socket.

JLCPCB can build them and/or you may be able to buy one from someone on here who bought some already and has a spare.

John
Edited 2025-05-09 01:02 by JohnS

twofingers
Guru

Joined: 02/06/2014
Location: Germany
Posts: 1526

Posted: 03:01pm 08 May 2025

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amiga said ...Can I install an HDMI-to-VGA adapter and configure the MMBASIC setup to use the VGA pins control ports?...

Yes. No (additional) configuration is necessary (for RP2350) and for the "reference design" with HDMI-Out.
Regards
Michael

I use this:
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005007112332630.html?
Edited 2025-05-09 01:18 by twofingers

causality ≠ correlation ≠ coincidence

matherp
Guru

Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 10067

Posted: 03:44pm 08 May 2025

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This is also an option with a Pico2 rather than a Pico1. OPTION RESET OLIMEX and it is fully configured

JanVolk
Senior Member

Joined: 28/01/2023
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 220

Posted: 09:09pm 08 May 2025

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AlfaMiga,

Welcome to the forum.
I had a look at this RP2040 Pi Zero board. I think there are some possibilities with this board. The DVI can not be used, but I saw that most pins are present on the connector.
You can configure a separate VGA hole board with resistors and then load the RP2040-VGA-USB firmware.

Another option is an Olimex board that Peter already suggested. I bought this board at a Dutch Webshop, which makes the shipping costs to Belgium cheaper. (tinytronics.nl in Eindhoven. Search for: Olimex. The other parts can also be found here)
This board with a separate RP2040 or RP2350 or W works very well with the recent firmware. With some tinkering, you can also mount a VGA connector on the 8 pins on the RP2350 board for HDMI on a piece of hole print with resistors, so that a universal board can be obtained with the PicoMite firmware. (If you want to leave this VGA connector on the print, then include a jumper for the decoupling of the two resistors in the circuit). And I used long pins, male and female.
All this with some nylon spacers M2 and M3 (AliExpress) mounted on a piece of plexiglass 2mm. An A4 sheet served as a template. A RTC DS3231 print with battery and eeprom fits under the olimex print.
(solder 4 wires on the bottom and mount with spacers)
And a 1/2 breadboard can also be screwed on with some metal bolts and nuts 2mm Allen bolt hex. (Drill 2mm in the middle recess and countersink 4mm for the hex bolt).
For the necessary strength, mount a plywood plate under the plexiglass plate.
Furthermore, I have mounted a 10.1 inch car screen on the plexiglass plate with USB, HDMI, VGA, Audio connections are on the back of the screen, so only a 230V power supply is needed for a working whole and a keyboard and mouse. (10.1 inch screen AliExpress Germany 32 Euro). Furthermore, you can print a white A4 sheet with notes and laminate it and mount it on the plexiglass plate.
And for Dutch speakers among us I also have an extensive Dutch manual with many examples if there is interest? (Translation of the English version V6.00.01 with a few more pages 460 3.6MB with source references and some stuff from V6.00.02 and a document with notes of all versions V6.00.02. Send me a PM and let me know here because of spam)
Good luck with the project and teaching the Basic Language to the students.

Greetings,

Jan.

amiga
Newbie

Joined: 08/05/2025
Location: Belgium
Posts: 3

Posted: 12:18am 10 May 2025

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thanks Jan,
for this informations about Tinytronics.

Today i began to play with EasyEda (from JLCPcb) .
I try to make a piggy board with SDcard,mini Din(ps/2),resistors for VGA(use a 2x8pins connector) .. cause Vga to big for piggyback .

I use as reference PicoMiteVGA schematic.

Perhaps someone have done this stuff ?

I used Autorouter of EasyEda .. hop finish next week .. and send it to JCLPCB

@+

Amiga...

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