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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : PicoBuddy Picomite computer board

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DaveC5
Newbie

Joined: 24/09/2025
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 25
Posted: 09:10pm 01 Feb 2026
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Yes, I've mostly been using the VGA plus PS/2 version for the RP2040 Pico 1

I've also run the VGA plus USB RP2040 firmware, and the VGA plus PS/2 RP2350 firmware with a Pico 2 plugged into the board. Both seemed to work well, although I haven't tested either very much. Being able to set 800x600 resolution and play back MP3s on the Pico 2 version was nice.

Dave
 
javavi

Guru

Joined: 01/10/2023
Location: Ukraine
Posts: 532
Posted: 08:05pm 05 Feb 2026
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Hi Dave!
I really liked your board and your approach to design and documentation. I just didn't see any files to reproduce the PCB itself. Could you post them here?

With respect, Vadim
 
DaveC5
Newbie

Joined: 24/09/2025
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 25
Posted: 10:19am 07 Feb 2026
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Hi Vadim,

Sure. I've been using KiCAD's automatic upload to PCBWay so hadn't actually dug out the gerbers or drill files, so overlooked adding them to the build docs.

I have a set of these new boards arriving in a few day's time. I'll check them to make sure everything is OK, but here are the files.

BTW, what is the experience with JLCPCB like? I've been using PCBWay so far but it seems like most people here use JLCPCB. Any particular reason?

Pi-PicoBuddy v1_2 board files.zip
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8564
Posted: 10:35am 07 Feb 2026
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Cheap - especially if boards are 100mm square or smaller (the come as 5 boards). Easy to order - just send a zip file containing gerbers and drl. Very nice quality boards. Green boards are very fast, other colours take 2 days more. They also do other stuff like ready assembled, 3D printing etc. They provide EasyEDA PCB design package free, which has links to stocked components.

I've not used PCBWay so I've no comparisons to make. :) I suspect they are similar though. I don't use KiCAD either. I tried it ages ago but found the learning curve almost vertical if I wanted any non-library components. :(
Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs
 
DaveC5
Newbie

Joined: 24/09/2025
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 25
Posted: 03:18pm 07 Feb 2026
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I've been happy with PCBWay so far. The boards have been good quality and have soldered well, and the process with the KiCAD plug-in has been really simple.

Personally I've found KiCAD pleasantly easy to work with, coming into it with v9 at least, but that's after years of working with OrCAD which is (IMHO) horrible to use nowadays. I'm seriously thinking of ditching one or two of the expensive OrCAD licenses at work in favour of KiCAD for internal dev stuff.

I'll give JLCPCB a go. PCBWay has just dropped PayPal for some reason, and bank transfer payments cost another $30 to process.

  Mixtel90 said  Cheap - especially if boards are 100mm square or smaller (the come as 5 boards). Easy to order - just send a zip file containing gerbers and drl. Very nice quality boards. Green boards are very fast, other colours take 2 days more. They also do other stuff like ready assembled, 3D printing etc. They provide EasyEDA PCB design package free, which has links to stocked components.

I've not used PCBWay so I've no comparisons to make. :) I suspect they are similar though. I don't use KiCAD either. I tried it ages ago but found the learning curve almost vertical if I wanted any non-library components. :(
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8564
Posted: 04:48pm 07 Feb 2026
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I don't think JLCPCB take PayPal either.

I don't have much experience with PCB design software, only KiCAD and a dabble with EasyEDA. At the moment I'm using Sprint Layout 6.0 for the actual boards. Not a lot of use if you have a lot of chips but fine for putting modules on a board. I've never designed PCBs for a living. My CAD experience was mainly control panels and LV/MV switchgear. It doesn't fit onto PCBs. :)
Mick

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

Joined: 17/05/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 3616
Posted: 04:56pm 07 Feb 2026
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  Mixtel90 said  I don't think JLCPCB take PayPal either.


I always pay JLCPCB using Paypal. Adds $.50 USD.
PicoMite, Armmite F4, SensorKits, MMBasic Hardware, Games, etc. on fruitoftheshed
 
Mixtel90

Guru

Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8564
Posted: 05:19pm 07 Feb 2026
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It's a while since I ordered boards. I'm sure I paid by direct transfer. It wouldn't have cost much if I did - I'm a cheapskate so I wouldn't have picked an option that cost much. :)
Mick

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