I would like to turn my PicoCalc into a LoRa Meshtastic texting device like the Lilygo T-Deck.
Meshtastic firmware requires SPI bus to communicate with the Semtech LoRa module. Is it possible to use the second SPI bus on the RP2040 to achieve this with a stand alone LoRa chip?
Or would it be better to add something like the all-in-one WaveShare RP2040 LoRa module and simply write a program for the PicoCalc to be able to send and receive the texts on the PicoCalc’s display? The WaveShare RP2040 LoRa module has a USB-C input connection
That would be Amazing if it worked out of the box like that. I was just concerned the SPI bus might have a conflict between the SD card read / display / LoRa module communicating together. I will have to look into that further. I will order up the WaveShare RP2040 LoRa module in the meantime.
If it doesnt work out, is it possible to just add it as a second RP2040 module and communicate between the two (my original thought, but if I can just use the one that would be ideal)
Have to look at the specs but at least on paper all the pins are the same. If Lora is on the spi bus then since it’s a bus, it can support multiple things.
Adding a LoRa module to the GPIO heads to the side could work, or maybe a pico format board with LoRa, and a new case design that can mount the antenna?
i ordered up a waveshare RP2040 pico with built in LoRa module. ( https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/RP2040-LoRa ) going to give that a try once it arrives in 2 days. Thank you
That would be Awesome, perhaps a basic program could work for the Pico. There are some people having success with the LuckFox Lyra on the PicoCalc, I imagine SDR could work on that full blown Linux setup.
Here is a side by side comparison of the two modules. The Waveshare is shorter because those pins are used internally for the LoRa module. All the other pins are identical.
It has a strange ribbon cable that connects a smaller module which houses the USB-C input + a reset / boot button.
I think this would be awesome as a drop in replacement for the PicoCalc.
This will be my first major coding project so I will be gathering the specs on the display and how to interface the keyboard controller etc .
I did also order a stand alone Waveshare SX1262 Module Core1262-HF (tiny module in above photo) that I will have to pivot to so I can make it an add-on module for the PicoCalc.
) There is a conflict with the Waveshare RP2040 LoRa module and the PicoCalc’s display.