Peter,

RC8 is dead on USB for 2040 VGA. Console opens, but does not accept any input.
Tested on Putty (never used anything else).

Volhout
Edited 2025-10-26 21:50 by Volhout

Which s/w version PicoMiteRP2040VGAUSBV6.01.00RC8 or PicoMiteRP2040VGAV6.01.00RC8?
If the latter then definitely works - try clearing flash before loading

  Quote  

I assume there is no way you can implement dithering for jpg in the 2040 VGA code ?

Your wish....
Here is a rp2040 vga version with the new code

PicoMite.zip


LOAD JPG file$ [, x] [, y] [,mode]
Mode Options:
Mode -1: No dithering (processes image as-is, default)
Mode 0: Floyd-Steinberg RGB121
Mode 1: Floyd-Steinberg RGB332
Mode 2: Atkinson RGB121
Mode 3: Atkinson RGB332
Edited 2025-10-26 23:06 by matherp

RC8 is dead on USB also for

PicoMite MMBasic RP2350A V6.01.00RC8
PicoMite MMBasic RP2350B V6.01.00RC8
WebMite MMBasic RP2350A Edition V6.01.00RC8
WebMite MMBasic RP2040 Edition V6.01.00RC8

no reaction whatsoever on USB console

It isn't as other than the webmite version I've tested all these. nuke the pico first and then load the firmware. If doesn't come up within a few seconds reset or power cycle.

Just tested again from the zip
Edited 2025-10-27 01:01 by matherp

Sorry Peter,

Tried everything. Flash Nuke, hard power cycle, but RC8 does not work with Putty.
Maybe something with timing ? No idea..
This is the 2040 VGA PS2 RC8 image on a genuine VGA reference design 2, without (at the moment) as PS2 keyboard. I try to use console to communicate.

Just to be clear: the startup message arrives at the PUTTY screen, including the prompt. But whatever I type, nothing is reflected on either VGA screen or terminal.

The behaviour of the later (JPG DITHER) version is the same.

Volhout
Edited 2025-10-27 01:31 by Volhout

Can you try with a different terminal program. Obviously it works perfectly W11/Teraterm

Try this VGA

PicoMite.zip
Edited 2025-10-27 01:49 by matherp

GFXterm64 (2023 build) gives some feedback when trying to use the console.



Volhout

Try the one just posted - looks like crap Linux issue not handling increased USB buffer size
Edited 2025-10-27 01:54 by matherp

No change on both Putty and GFXterm64.

Volhout

P.S. Don't put the blame on Linux, up to RC7 worked fine. You changed something that broke compatibility I guess. I checked RTS/CTS handshake is off, XON/XOFF handshake is off.
Edited 2025-10-27 02:02 by Volhout

Works with putty on w11

Peter,

FWIW: Also tried MMCC, same behaviour. Noticed something that may be related. When trying to close the application (Putty/MMCC/GFXterm) linux refuses to close the application immediately (maybe because there is something in the USB TX buffer still) regardless if you typed a character or not.

When you don't type, the TX buffer should be empty right ? So maybe some character is send in Linux opening the serial connection, that is not sent in Win. And that character upsets the pico.

Volhout

@Peter,

When I connect a PS2 keyboard, I can type text, and that text is reflected on the console terminal. So it is just the console->pico channel that is blocked. The other way works.

EDIT: My earlier remark was incorrect. When I type absolutely no key on the console keyboard, the terminal app closes immediate. when I type a character like <ENTER>, then it refuses to close until it times out.

Volhout

P.S. I am getting dinner, will be back later tonight.
Edited 2025-10-27 02:22 by Volhout

  Quote  

Obviously it works perfectly W11/Teraterm

not here ... tried TeraTerm, putty, Realterm, putty-nd all under W11 and the firmware does not respond on the USB (Realterm shows a stuck transmit line). RC7 has no problems at all, RC8 does not respond independently from HW and version.

What settings do you use with Teraterm other than default?

Gerald

Good evening,

I tested Autosave and found for RC8 for me very satisfying results:

2350USB 4mSec, 2350VGAUSB and 2350HDMIUSB both 20mSec for error free transfers of 92,5Kb program with some lines > 220 characters
All with my home made Linux solution. Putty and Xterm/cu also work as expected.

And for my problem with GPs > 30 I decided, to resolder my LCD console all to lower pins and use again CS combined.
With these transfer rates I'm happy to use my HDMI platform again.

Many thanks!

Edit: moving the SDcard away from gp32-35 almost solved the framebuffer issue with SSD1963! Only 1 design in my application looks scrambled, all other error free. That was with RC7
Edited 2025-10-27 03:19 by dddns

Try this

I've slowed the echo response down because poor old Linux can't handle the echo fast enough.

You can also test the jpg dithering now


PicoMite.zip

Poor old Linux is happy again.

This last version works again. I will do some more testing, but so far it seems to work on 2040 VGA PS2

Volhout

Here is the complete set.

PicoMiteV6.01.00RC8.zip


The change was as follows:
The non-working version used a character received callback at interrupt level which triggered the echo.
The old and now current version just polls for data being available every millisecond or so and then echoes it.

I know I denigrate Linux at every opportunity but it really is bad with USD CDC devices. First you have to stop it thinking any USB device is a f..ing modem (when did anyone last use one of those). Then the user has to be in the correct "dialup" group - I'm not dialing anything and finally when you can even talk to the port the choice of terminal programs is hardly impressive.
To test this fix I found an old box with ubuntu on it and once I'd finally got the port to talk could back out changes until I found the fix.
For reference I used picocom as the terminal which seems better than most for this sort of thing.
I couldn't use putty because when I installed it it wouldn't run and just gave a list of unitelligible errors - WTF
Edited 2025-10-27 04:22 by matherp

Thank you Peter, now it also works with W11/MMCC and the other W11 terminals again.

@Peter,

About JPG dithering. Something has changed when JPG size is larger than screen.
With RC7 you would just show top left part of the JPG that fit's the screen resolution.
With the change for dithering, when the JPG dimension is larger that screen (regardless the dither setting -1,0,1,2,3) you see a striped screen. As if the JPG decoding continues on the next pixel line after a screen wrap.

If you need a picture, I can provide.



When  the JPG is exactly 320x240 the dithering works fine.

Volhout

P.S. picocom works nice for picomite...
Edited 2025-10-27 05:35 by Volhout

@Peter,

In the logic analyzer there is a indicator of the time it takes to refresh the screen. That time is build up of hundreds of line draws (the LA signals).

Below is an indication how much time the screen draw takes (in ms)


The RC8 firmware is 27% slower in performance compared to b20. I think the USB performance upgrade goes at cost of MMBasic performance. I have no idea if there is something that can be tuned here, but this is a serious degradation since b20.

This is RP2040 VGA PS2 platform.

Regards,

Volhout
Edited 2025-10-27 06:35 by Volhout