Home
JAQForum Ver 24.01
Log In or Join  
Active Topics
Local Time 04:04 21 Nov 2025 Privacy Policy
Jump to

Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.

Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Basic on a Xiao 2040

Author Message
pwillard
Guru

Joined: 07/06/2022
Location: United States
Posts: 324
Posted: 12:16pm 11 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post


It just seems hilarious to me that I can emulate a retro boot-to-basic computer with a Seeed Xiao 2040 postage-stamp-sized device.
Edited 2022-06-11 22:17 by pwillard
 
hitsware2

Guru

Joined: 03/08/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 735
Posted: 12:51am 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post


Me Too !
my site
 
led-bloon

Senior Member

Joined: 21/12/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 208
Posted: 02:06am 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Me three!

led
Miss you George
 
lizby
Guru

Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3481
Posted: 11:16am 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

  led-bloon said  Me three!d

That's mighty compact. Can you share a circuit diagram? Have you altered the MMBasic source? Great job anyway.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
led-bloon

Senior Member

Joined: 21/12/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 208
Posted: 12:27pm 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

The PicoMiteVGA software has been modified to match the XIAO GPIO pins.
As there was one pin short to add a PS2 mouse, I joined hSync & vSync
to form cSync in the software, freeing up the needed pin.
This works fine on my 16yo LCD TV and also on my 1yo Philips monitor.
(however it may not work on ALL [early] monitors)

Device  |   Pin  || Pin  |  XIAO  |    Pin || Pin    | Device
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SDcard       5   || 1    GP26   5V0     14 ||
             2   || 2    GP27   Gnd     13 ||  3,3   SDcard,PS2
             7   || 3    GP28   3V3     12 ||  4,4   SDcard,PS2
             1   || 4    GP29   GP3     11 ||  Green2 VGA
PS2 Clk      5   || 5    GP6    GP4     10 ||  Red    VGA
    Data     1   || 6    GP7    GP2      9 ||  Green1 VGA
VGA       cSync  || 7    GP0    GP1      8 ||  Blue   VGA


VGA:
  Single O/P colour (Red & Blue)       330 Ohms
  Dual   O/P colour (Green)            390 & 1K  Ohms
  cSync fed into the hSync I/P of the VGA connector

SD Card:
  Using simple uSD card adapter with 3V3 supply
     __________________
    /  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 |
   / 9                 |
   |                   |
 
 NB Before setting Option SDcard, GP29 MUST be set to "OFF"
 (done once only)
 OPTION SDCARD GP29,GP26,GP27,GP28
 
PS2 Keyboard:
  My eMachine Keyboard uses 3V3 supply ok
  1 - Data
  3 - Ground
  4 - VCC (3V3)
  5 - Clock

Miss you George
 
lizby
Guru

Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3481
Posted: 12:45pm 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

Thanks for that. That's PCB worthy. Nice work. No sound and no controller, but heck of a job to provide so much with so little.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
phil99

Guru

Joined: 11/02/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 2832
Posted: 12:52pm 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

The composite sync is very clever.
For monitors that don't support composite sync a simple  R-C sync-separator could recover the vertical sync. For really obstinate ones an additional C-R  would remove the V from the H.
Could be useful to gain a pin on the regular PicoMiteVGA if Peter likes the idea.
 
led-bloon

Senior Member

Joined: 21/12/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 208
Posted: 10:27pm 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

The cSync idea was not well received but I, personally, am not looking at
supporting any other software/hardware publicly.
However I am working on the Waveshare RP2040-Zero now, which has 9 extra
GPIO (just not Vero strip board friendly for GP09-13).
Definitely a better device to consider (and cheaper!)
Just great fun, I wouldn't be dead for quids!
Big, BIG, thanks to Geoff & Peter
led
Miss you George
 
lizby
Guru

Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3481
Posted: 10:42pm 12 Jun 2022
Copy link to clipboard 
Print this post

  led-bloon said  Waveshare RP2040-Zero


That's the ticket.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
Print this page


To reply to this topic, you need to log in.

The Back Shed's forum code is written, and hosted, in Australia.
© JAQ Software 2025