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Andrew_G
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Joined: 18/10/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 873

Posted: 11:51pm 12 Jun 2022

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Hi all,
I'm thinking of relying on 'UPDATE FIRMWARE' for my new weather station remote (it will be a Pico Mite up a pole).
I presume that it requires a console connection and that the command is issued from there. (Should the Manual reflect this - although it is obvious?)

Does anyone have any experience with it? Any comments?

Cheers,

Andrew
(I am checking in the early stages because this will impact where I put the 'pole' and the cabling for my under-construction PassivHaus)

{Edit: I tried it on the bench top - it appeared to NOT clear the program. A second time I loaded Clear_flash.uf2. That cleared it, and then loading the firmware worked - simple. I'd still like to know others' views though}
Edited 2022-06-13 10:11 by Andrew_G

phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 2832

Posted: 01:21am 13 Jun 2022

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Hi Andrew,

To the best of my knowledge the 'UPDATE FIRMWARE' command needs USB for the actual transfer to a virtual USB drive on the Pico, so the cable will need to be short enough for USB to work. Not sure what the limit is but is unlikely to be more than 3 or 4 metres. I can't find any mention of transferring it over serial in the manual which would go much further.

If the weather station pole is bolted to a short pole set in the ground you can unmount it for closer access when needed. Or a socket (a bit of water pipe) set flush in the ground and the weather station pole plugged into that.

Once you have your program working will you ever need to update the firmware? Just update your program over serial.

Andrew_G
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Joined: 18/10/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 873

Posted: 01:50am 13 Jun 2022

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Hi Phil,
I'm glad I asked.
Yes updating the program over serial makes sense and will be easier in my physical setup.
If I can get it working the 'pole' will be the pole for the TV aerial (it will be on a roof 4m above ground - not wanting to access it too often).
I have planned for Cat5 cable between there and my study - straight below it.

Cheers,

Andrew

phil99

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Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 2832

Posted: 02:07am 13 Jun 2022

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With Cat5 you may have enough wires (8) to connect to each sensor and have the Pico in a more accessible position.

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8303

Posted: 06:19am 13 Jun 2022

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If you need more connections, could you use the remote I/O idea over a COM port, with the one on the pole as a slave? All it would need to do is respond with the appropriate information when asked by a master device. For that you don't need to change it's program - you can send it parameters though.

If the location is awkward it might be an idea to add extra hardware. Power the cable at 9V or 12V (with a regulator local to the Pico) to allow for voltage drop in the cable.

Or you could just use an extra run of Cat5. It's cheap. :)

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

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