PicoCalc

Some notes on and programs for the PicoCalc.

Hardware

• comes with a Raspberry Pi Pico
• Pin-compatible devices can also be used, but need a new firmware, e.g.
  • Pico 2W
  • Luckfox Lyra

Pico Pinout

• for the Pico pinout see pico.pinout.xyz
• used pins
  • IC2: GP6, GP7 (hardwired to built-in keyboard)
  • SPI (for the LCD): GP10, GP11, GP12
  • SD Card: GP17, GP18, GP19, GP16
  • Audio (PWM): GP26, GP27
• available via pin headers
  • GP2, GP3, GP4, GP5, GP21, GP28

LCD

• ILI9488P, controlled via SPI
• Screen Resolution: 320x320px

Hardware Hacks

• RGB LED Stick
• RTC (Real-time Clock)
• LoRa via a ESP32 LoRa board
• Pi Zero2 replacement

Firmware

• Luckfox Lyra Linux

MMBasic

• MMBasic branch for PicoCalc
• MMBasic Manual (current version)

Updating the Firmware

• Press Bootsel on Pi Pico
• Plug in the Device using the Mini USB connector
• You will now see the PicoCalc as a drive
• Copy the .u2f file
• Eject the drive
• Unplug the PicoCalc
• Reboot

Connecting via Serial

• Use the USB C connector
• Use a terminal program (e.g., tio or minicom on a Mac) to connect to device
  • tio /dev/tty.usberial-110
  • minicom -D /dev/tty.usberial-110 -b 115200 -c
• Settings:
  • 115200 baud
  • 8N1
  • Emulation VT102
  • Backspace key: BS
  • Enable VT102 color mode

File Transfer via Serial

• Enter XMODEM RECEIVE via console on the PicoCalc
• In Terminal Program use: XModem Send

MMBasic Tips

Pre-defined Shortcuts

Key	Command
F2	run
F3	list
F4	edit
F10	autosave
CTRL + C	Exit program

Defining additional Shortcuts ( F1, F5 - F9)

option f5 "DRIVE " + chr$(34) + "B:" + chr$(13)

MMBasic Options

' show current options
OPTION list

' will automatically run the program in program memory
OPTION autorun on

' disable Pico LED blinking
OPTION heartbeat off

Editor Options

' keyword display in edit [lower|upper|title]
OPTION case lower

' colors in edit
OPTION colorcode on

' line wrap in edit (needs MMBasic >= 6.x)
OPTION continuation lines on

Helpful Commands

Access SD Card

DRIVE "B:
FILES

Invoking the Editor

EDIT

Take a Screenshot & load it

SAVE IMAGE “out.bmp”, 0, 0, 319, 319
...
LOAD IMAGE “out.bmp”