PicoCalc LoRa Texting Handheld Project ( like the LilyGo T-Deck )

I did see this, it is Awesome. I was hoping to get the MeshTastic firmware to work though.

It looks like the larger threaded area that attaches the antenna and acts as a mount is roughly 6.18 mm

Ah, This is what i measured too. Thanks.

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What do you think of this guy? https://www.waveshare.com/img/devkit/accBoard/Pico-LoRa-SX1262-868M/Pico-LoRa-SX1262-868M-details-3.jpg

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No problem, that’s a neat looking back cover !

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That looks like another viable option. It appears to have no onboard controller, I would have to check to see if any pins would conflict with the PicoCalc.

Perhaps the best option would be running a Pico 2w with the custom bootloader menu firmware. Then interfacing a stand alone LoRa module that is only powered on when needed. ( Like Andy Kirby’s setup ) This could also work with an SDR module in a similar fashion I suppose.

The LoRa module could have a RP2040 / ESP32 built in and handle all the SPI communication, then send the data over UART to the main Pico 2w to then display on the PicoCalc display.

Or just a LoRa chip on the same SPI bus as the SD Card, that holds the line after the SD card boots the firmware. This would require some custom MeshTastic firmware to have the Pico 2w handle everything.

So many possibilities :sweat_smile:

I was thinking would this board work

I just found this on AliExpress:
£29.31 | Diymore 433-510MHZ/ 863-928MHZ Wireless stick lite ESP32+LoRa V3 development board compatible with ESP32-S3 node Type - C
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIIFvIE

@jutleys That one eats energy. I suggest an nrf52 device unless you want to halve your picocalc battery life…

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So is this the only board we need and how does it slot into the picocalc looks short?Or you mean in conjunction woth pico w

Looking at the schematic, when using waveshare RP2040 LoRa we loose at least SPI0_CS, SP0_RX, LCD_DC, LCD_RST, so I guess that eliminates the module from using it as pico replacement.

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It might be best to stick with a Pico 2w and somehow interface it to a stand alone LoRa chip (Waveshare SX1262 Module Core1262-HF)

On the other hand connecting module via uart would be so much easier. One could write an interface in basic/micropython. The power consumption however…
I have both standalone sx1262 and rp2040 lora modules so I’ll try both options.

I also prepared backplate with place for putting SMA pigtail. Compared to one posted above, it is less fancy being the default one with one extra hole :slight_smile: Since I haven’t received my calc yet, I haven’t tried it, but I think it should fit:

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Awesome ! I was hoping to get MeshTastic working (which I believe only works over SPi) but would be more complicated indeed. Nice case mod !

Did you give a try to Meshtastic on linux native device with luckyfox?Meshtastic on Linux-Native Devices | Meshtastic
If you’re not obliged to do with pico.

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Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to order a Lyra board before the tariffs.

Yes, I did

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