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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Terminal programme running on the PicoGame VGA
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Technical_Chap Newbie  Joined: 02/07/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2 |
Hello everyone, This is my first post so please be kind. I have been putting together a PicoGAME VGA from MAXTEL 90 and I really like the design and features. It worked first time and without problems. It sounds great and plays games well, the real time clock just dropped right in and the SDCard works as it should. The thing that made me build this version was the WiFi module, I have set it up as COM2 and can sort of get things out of it, but I was thinking that someone might know if there is a programme like Minicom that runs on the picoMite that has been ported to the PicoGAME. This I think would make it much easier to play with. I love building old computers from new (or old) parts. I have attached some pictures and one of Karen Orton's PIC NIBL systems Thank you..    .. I told you to cut the BLUE wire, now anything could happen.. |
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Mixtel90 Guru  Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
Hiya! Welcome to the forum. Glad you like the PicoGAME. :) I'm currently playing with the JDY-40 serial data system and finding it a bit flaky. I don't know why, the digital side works very well indeed. I've had data passing through but getting too many missing characters etc. I'm going to try a different RF channel as I have a feeling that may be a major problem with these boards. They share the same frequencies as 2.4GHz mice, remote controls etc. in a crowded band and there's no automatic error checking going on. I'm considering rewiring my board to connect the port B digital inputs to the JDY-40 - but all the signals are inverted! Love the SC/MP build. :) I never played with one of those. Edited 2023-07-02 20:05 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| Technical_Chap Newbie Joined: 02/07/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2 |
Thank you Mick, I am happy to help if you need me to try something. I am not a programmer, but can follow code and make changes, I am more of a 'script kiddy' as they used to say. Yes, the SC/MP or PICL 2.0 as it's called. I have a modern MK14 I build a while ago, better keyboard and display, okay I know it's not true to the original, but I love it. I could not afford a real one now days.  I see you like the Nascom, I once worked for a store that sold the boards and stuff. I think the first real computer game I played was HGTTG on a Nascom. I have 2 RML 380Z computers I was give by my school when they moved to the BBC B's. I will need to get them out someday. .. I told you to cut the BLUE wire, now anything could happen.. |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
Welcome to the forum. For the most part, we don't bite, so it's a pretty congenial forum for newcomers. The PicoMite has no operating system, so anything which runs on it is a Basic program or part of the MMBasic firmware. Are you familiar with the XMODEM command? You can send or receive over the USB connection to your PC. You can also download programs (and data files) using AUTOSAVE (F10 in TeraTerm). I usually find this the easiest way to develop a program on any of the 'Mites. I edit the program on the PC in Notepad++, select all, copy, switch to TeraTerm, F10, paste (or Alt+C), Ctrl+Z. Then you can RUN, SAVE, or EDIT. You do need to remember at some point to SAVE your file (and if you EDIT it, to get your changes back into Notepad++). ~ Edited 2023-07-02 23:09 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
Hi @Technical_Chap, when I discovered mmbasic and rpipico I thought the inbuilt editor too complicated so used mmedit in win. I still do. I use a few lcd boards but don't use the inbuilt editor on the lcd but I could with a key board. don't think the gui keybord works with inbuilt editor. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
I just use the internal editor. It's a doddle. F4 to edit the program, F2 to run it, F3 to search for anything. All the command keys written along the bottom of the screen to remind you. The workflow is *very* fast. What's not to like? :) On the very rare occasion that I need to do major hacks to the code it's easy enough to XMODEM it then AUTOSAVE it back with a cut & paste. The GUI keyboard has nothing to do with the editor, Stan. Remember, that if the program is running (GUI keyboard is available) then there is no editor available. Edited 2023-07-03 02:04 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
I wasn't criticising the in built editor just the terminal I don't like. I have to use tera term which I prefer to putty for setting options but for coding mmedit is my preference because it's familiar ie a flash code button. all my files in a win folder. the idea it's a stand alone device but you need a key board. I just usb to win. each to their own,it's a free world. |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
I reemphasise my view about mmedit. If I had to use the inbuilt editor I would not have bothered with mmbasic. sorry but mmedit is like gcbasic's ide so easy to adapt to. the teraterm terminal is er, retro? not the mmedit terminal. any road, how do you code a non vga rpipico board with inbuilt editor?? |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
I usually use the USB keyboard too (via Tera Term). It's easier than dragging a PS/2 one out. :) I downloaded mmedit again the other day to see if my views had changed. Erm... yes, I think it might be better but I've still not figured it out! I need to play more really. All the files I'm interesting in editing at the moment are all in flash though and I'm still trying to figure out how to connect it to the pico. lol Starting from scratch, with only one pico rather than a small family of them, would probably be a lot easier. Editing a non-vga pico with the built-in editor is the easiest. Connect it via Tera Term. You see the console screen. Press F4. You are in the editor. Press F1 and you are back to the console or press F2 and your program runs. If it errors press F4 and you drop into the editor at the line where the error occurred. Edited 2023-07-03 03:02 by Mixtel90 Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
Mick sir, me being an eejit found mmedit the way to write code and flash as I do with gcb still. A beginner may find it simpler to use than the inbuilt editor and like me get on with coding in a pretty win environment not learning a retro dos box/linux terminal editor. IMHO. why bother with xmodem when people post problems? |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
Well, you did ask about editing a non-vga pico with the built-in editor... At least we have a choice. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
Because it works? What problems? PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
I'm not affiliated to anyone but for aesthetics which way of coding looks today?  |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
You could have used OPTION COLOURCODE ON for the built-in editor at least.... ;) And you can indent or not as the mood takes you. :) Print "Press L for a low Left tone" Print "Press R for a high Right tone" Print "Press Q to quit" Do a=Instr("lLrRqQ",Inkey$) Select Case a Case 1,2 Play tone 600,0,1000 Case 3,4 Play tone 0,1000,1000 Case 5,6 Exit End Select Loop Editors are very much a personal thing, I think. However, the fact that it's even been possible to fit an editor into the 28-pin Micromite I find amazing. To keep (virtually) the same one for the PicoMite makes a lot of sense to me. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| stanleyella Guru Joined: 25/06/2022 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2129 |
@Technical_Chap, sorry if we seem ranting. Geoff's download page lists mmedit. Up to you. also like your gear. mmbasic rpipico is great. does "everything". have as much fun as me. stan |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6798 |
To get back to the original post... :) No, as far as I'm aware there is no terminal program for the PicoGAME (yet). I can't see it being too difficult at low baud rates, the difficulty might come in scrolling a reasonable number of lines when you get a LF character. The reason is that the PicoGAME is intended for a VGA display so you are scrolling graphics, not text. I've not tried it, this is only guesswork. If you want it mainly to work with the JDY-40 then the first thing is to control the CS and SET signals and send AT+ commands to it. I've done this from YAT but I've not attempted it from MMBasic yet. The JDY=40 will send "Start" on it's TXD pin when powered up and "Wake" when CS is pulled low. That would be a good place to start. The default baud rate is 9600 so sending it "AT+BAUD" at 9600 baud should make it reply with "+BAUD=4". I think MMBasic will include CRLF at the ends of transmitted lines automatically. Once that lot is working we can consider working with text. :) I have a little transmitter that *seems* to be sending correctly, but reception isn't working properly. In theory you shouldn't need to change anything at all on new JDY-40s, they should just work. Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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