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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Question: Picomite - VGA + Network on the same board
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| xandr001 Newbie  Joined: 20/01/2024 Location: CroatiaPosts: 2 |
Hello everyone! I am currently on my journey to building a retro-style computer (mostly kit-bashing it together) and recently discovered the PicoMiteVGA, which looks like a solid base. If it could be combined with the networking capabilities of PicoMiteWeb, that would be a no-brainer best route for me. So the question is - can we combine the networking capabilities of WebMite with VGA and PS/2 of the PicoMiteVGA project? I can do the coding if given the direction etc. For now - just trying to understand if it is technically possible and what should be done to make it happen. I really appreciate any help you can provide. |
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Mixtel90 Guru  Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6790 |
Hi, and welcome to the 'Shed. :) No, you can't. VGA and wi-fi can't co-exist on the same PicoMite as there isn't enough space. The Webmite supports a range of LCD displays, like the ordinary PicoMite and it also supports the PS2 keyboard. Depending on what network access you are looking for, it may be possible to connect a COM port of a PicoMite VGA to, say, an ESP32 to handle the network load. Such an arrangement isn't supported by the wifi commands in MMBasic though (the PicoMite VGA hasn't got them). Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| PhenixRising Guru Joined: 07/11/2023 Location: United KingdomPosts: 859 |
Example Didn't Matherp do something with the ESP32 or am I dreaming again? |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6790 |
I don't remember. It's not something I've ever really been interested in. Not since failing to get much out of a ESP8266-01S anyway. :) Mick Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 3801 |
Yes - use 2 Picos. John |
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| lizby Guru Joined: 17/05/2016 Location: United StatesPosts: 3150 |
It depends on just which capabilities you want, and how much coding/hardware cobbling you are prepared to do. Here is an ESP32 S2Mini cobbled onto a Picomite: https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/ViewTopic.php?FID=16&TID=16574&LastEntry=Y#215708#215708. The same thing could be done with a PicoVGA (using different pins if necessary), and other web features than the WGET$ used there could be employed, as shown in other threads. Alternatively, Annex32 provides Basic, Web access, and VGA all in one package: Annex ESP32 VGA, and more specifically as introduced here: VGA out for ESP32-S3 - New feature to test. "The color depth has been defined at 8 bits for a max of 256 colors. The scheme is 332 (3 bits for red, 3 bits for green, 2 bits for blue)." I have not tested this myself, but for other web-related projects, I am happy with Annex32 Basic. I don't know the current state of play, but the early Annex VGA did not support keyboard input--that would be limiting if it remains the case. ~ Edited 2024-01-23 00:29 by lizby PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| xandr001 Newbie Joined: 20/01/2024 Location: CroatiaPosts: 2 |
Thanks all for the responses! Makes sense, and very insightfull I was also thinking about this option. Is there a good/discussed way to communicate between two picomites? Not talking about spreading the program onto 2 executors, but at least do a console login to the Networking pi, using VGA pi as a host. Or share some variables/files etc. |
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| Mixtel90 Guru Joined: 05/10/2019 Location: United KingdomPosts: 6790 |
You could use a simple COM port link (which has a buffer) or I2C (which doesn't). It's not networking, as such, but both work well on the PicoMites. SPI isn't as useful as there is no SPI slave mode. I2C with one or more additional lines for interrupts is a possibility for high speed systems, although the PicoMite only handles up to 400kHz. 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 |
Here's a picomite server and picomite client. The whole thread discusses various ways for MMBasic on one platform (e.g., MMB4W or picomite) to talk to MMBasic on another platform, either by passing commands and data via serial, or by controlling the client picomite with the firmware but no user program by sending commands to it as if typing at the ">" prompt and decoding what is returned. It's also possible to use I2C (as discussed in Geoff's documentation (I think for the micromite), but I believe that is less flexible than using serial (though not by much). PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed |
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| JohnS Guru Joined: 18/11/2011 Location: United KingdomPosts: 3801 |
The COM port way looks easy, fast and reliable, with good support in MMBasic. John |
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