# PicoCalc mmbasic USB serial console

**URL:** <https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864>\
**Category:** PicoCalc\
**Created:** [July 28, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864 "2025-07-28T18:01:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BrianJS](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/brianjs/32/12951_2.png) [@BrianJS](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BrianJS)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 6:01pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/1 "2025-07-28T18:01:55Z")

</div>

I loaded the picocalc version of mmbasic.

WebMite\_PICO2W\_V6.00.03\_PicoCalc.uf2

The option serial console is listed as follows.

OPTION SERIAL CONSOLE COM1 , GP0,GP1

I either want to remove this option or change it to

OPTION SERIAL CONSOLE GP0,GP1,B

Either option should enable the serial console over USB. I tested it with the not specific to the picocalc generic version of mmbasic and serial over USB worked. Unfortunately, the generic version appears not to support the various control, arrow or function keys in the editor when using the picocalc keyboard.

Any attempts to change the serial console option are reset back to the defaults. Is there any way to enable a USB serial console in the official picocalc version?

The other option would be to solve the editor key issue in the generic version.

WebMiteRP2350V6.00.03.uf2

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Toml\_12953](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/toml_12953/32/11925_2.png) [@Toml\_12953](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Toml_12953)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/2 "2025-07-28T23:01:21Z")

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You’ll have to edit FileIO.c. Comment out lines 5009-5011 so they look like:

```auto
    //Option.SerialConsole = 1;
    //Option.SerialTX = 1;
    //Option.SerialRX = 2;

```

then you’ll have to recompile to create a new .uf2 file.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJS](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/brianjs/32/12951_2.png) [@BrianJS](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BrianJS)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/3 "2025-07-28T23:16:23Z")

</div>

Thanks, I will see how it goes when I get a chance to set up the build environment.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJS](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/brianjs/32/12951_2.png) [@BrianJS](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BrianJS)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:51am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/4 "2025-07-29T08:51:47Z")

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Thanks Tom, you were close, I had to do the following to get it to work. With the first line commented out, the options were still set the same as with the lines uncommented. So I left the first line uncommented and changed the value to 0, worked as I wanted.

FileIO.c lines 5009-5011

```
Option.SerialConsole = 0;
//Option.SerialTX = 1;
//Option.SerialRX = 2;

```

And now I have the Pico SDK setup, I have been meaning to get to it. Now to get back too that basic program I am working on, too large to use the pico keyboard.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Toml\_12953](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/toml_12953/32/11925_2.png) [@Toml\_12953](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Toml_12953)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/5 "2025-07-29T20:09:36Z")

</div>

Strange! With all three lines commented out, I can add the OPTION SERIAL line at will and change to COM2: if I want to. I can change it to both or not at my whim.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrianJS](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/brianjs/32/12951_2.png) [@BrianJS](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BrianJS)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 11:05pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/picocalc-mmbasic-usb-serial-console/18864/6 "2025-07-29T23:05:37Z")

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When I saw it still come up as the same default, I had not thought to try and change it. I went back to just what you suggested. Yes, I am able to manually change it to what I want and my changes remain after a power down.

I see that setting that first line to 0, prevents changes if a person wants a uart serial console.

So yes, I an going with your original suggestion. Thanks again.
