PicoMite Firmware Version 6.02.00a for use on ClockWorkPi PicoCalc

[ernst]

The problem causing this result is that about 5 seconds after booting the stored LCD backlight value is send to the BIOS which is 0x00 because of an incompatible BIOS version.

PicoMite has been tested with BIOS 1.4 successfully.
PicoMite has been tested with BIOS 1.2 but lighting is not optimal
PicoMite has been tested with BIOS 1.1 giving the black screen

For optimal user satisfaction it is recommended to update to BIOS 1.4

The BIOS file can be obtained from PicoCalc/Bin at master · clockworkpi/PicoCalc · GitHub

Flashing the BIOS can be done using Linux and Windows (Mac unknown), the description can be found here: Setting Up Arduino Development for PicoCalc keyboard · clockworkpi/PicoCalc Wiki · GitHub

Flashing requires stm32flash, under Raspberry Pi OS this can be installed with apt, for Windows you can download from Download stm32flash-0.7-binaries.zip (stm32flash)

The instructions for Linux and Windows are here: Setting Up Arduino Development for PicoCalc keyboard · clockworkpi/PicoCalc Wiki · GitHub

• Put DIP 1 ON
• Connect PicoCalc with USB Type-C cable
• linux: sudo stm32flash -w Bin/PicoCalc_BIOS_v1.4.bin -v -S 0x08000000 /dev/ttyUSB0
• windows: stm32flash -w Bin/PicoCalc_BIOS_v1.4.bin -v -S 0x08000000 COMn
• Put DIP 1 OFF

Important note: the windows serial port name must be uppercase as shown.

Example:

c:\Work>stm32flash -w PicoCalc_kbd_firmware_v1.1.bin -v -S 0x08000000 COM1
stm32flash 0.7

http://stm32flash.sourceforge.net/

Using Parser : Raw BINARY
Location     : 0x8000000
Size         : 65536
Interface serial_w32: 57600 8E1
Version      : 0x22
Option 1     : 0x00
Option 2     : 0x00
Device ID    : 0x0410 (STM32F10xxx Medium-density)
- RAM        : Up to 20KiB  (512b reserved by bootloader)
- Flash      : Up to 128KiB (size first sector: 4x1024)
- Option RAM : 16b
- System RAM : 2KiB
Write to memory
Erasing memory
Wrote and verified address 0x08010000 (100.00%) Done.


c:\Work>

[malcbay]

Thanks Ernst - will work on this today and report back.

[malcbay]

Thanks again Ernst - updating BIOS to 1.4 fixed the issue.

I used STM32cubeprogrammer to upload the BIOS bin file.

[cjstoddard]

I have been resisting moving to this new fork, but I finally took the leap this morning and I have to say, good work. Thank you.

[BrianO]

Thank you @ernst for the hours you put in to support us! Is there a ko-fi or something where we can show our appreciation?

…..Brian

[ernst]

Don’t worry, I have plenty coffee (and beer), this is an interesting pastime.

[PilotPirx]

I updated my PicoCalc to V6.02.00a because of the new astro features an it works fine,

Thanks @ernst for the good Job!

[richship]

I had the same issue as above (screen blanking after a few seconds) and figured it was time to finally update the bios. I tried this:

C:\Program Files\bin>stm32flash -w PicoCalc_BIOS_v1.4.bin -v -S 0x08000000 COM4
stm32flash 0.7

http://stm32flash.sourceforge.net/

Using Parser : Raw BINARY
Location     : 0x8000000
Size         : 162254
Interface serial_w32: 57600 8E1
Version      : 0x22
Option 1     : 0x00
Option 2     : 0x00
Device ID    : 0x0410 (STM32F10xxx Medium-density)

RAM        : Up to 20KiB  (512b reserved by bootloader)

Flash      : Up to 128KiB (size first sector: 4x1024)

Option RAM : 16b

System RAM : 2KiB
Write to memory
Erasing memory
Wrote and verified address 0x08020000 (80.78%) Done.

Now turning the PicoCalc on just starts the light on the Pico flashing but there isn’t that click that precedes the screen showing. It won’t turn off without removing the batteries.

I went through the process several times including using flash nuke and re-installing the 6.02 update.

Any ideas?

[ernst]

This could be a simple problem: did you set both dip switches to OFF after flashing the BIOS ?

[richship]

I did set switch 1 back to off (and never set switch 2 on - was I supposed to?)

[ernst]

@richship

and never set switch 2 on - was I supposed to?

No, you are not supposed to use switch 2.
Switch 1 must be set to on to be able to flash the bios, after completion switch 1 must be set to off. The symptoms you have mentioned are very similar to that what happens when the Pico is powered after flashing the bios with switch still set to on. For this reason before flashing remove any cable from the Pico. After flashing the BIOS pull the cable, then reset switch 1 to off and then power off with the power switch. Next you can use the power switch to power on the PicoCalc.

[Volker]

Hello everyone,
I would like to perform an update. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to work according to the motto “copy file A there and restart.” On my Picocalc (ClockworkPi v2.0 mainboardRaspberry Pi Pico 1 H Core module (ARM32-bit Dual-core Cortex M0+, 264KB RAM, 2MB flash), there is a PicoMite_cbf6d71.bin that I select to start. Is there a step-by-step guide somewhere on how to install the update? Otherwise, I’ll just stick with the original delivery status.

Best Regards
Volker

[ernst]

PicoMite Firmware Version 6.02.00a for use on ClockWorkPi PicoCalc

From the manual (page 11)  Using a USB cable plug the Raspberry Pi Pico into your computer (Windows, Linux or Mac) while holding down the white BOOTSEL button on the top of the module.  The Raspberry Pi Pico should connect to your computer and create a virtual drive (the same as if you had plugged in a USB memory stick). You can ignore any files that may be on this “drive”  Copy the firmware file (with the extension .uf2) to this virtual drive.  When the copy has completed the Raspberry …

[tabemann]

BTW, @ernst, thank you for doing the work in putting together a canonical updated version of PicoMite for the PicoCalc. When people come onto here saying “my PicoCalc just arrived, what now?”, while I knew that if the person wanted to use BASIC, as honestly most people who get PicoCalc’s probably do, they should upgrade their PicoMite from that which comes out of the box, previously there were many different versions people hacked on, with links scattered about this forum, such that it was hard for me to point users to a specific version to install.

[BrianO]

I read on TheBackShed about an addition to Edit in 6.02.

Press F4 to select text (as in previous versions)
Then press F10. You will be prompted for a filename where the marked text will be written.

Move the cursor to where you want to insert text, and press F9. Enter the filename and the saved text will be pasted!

This works on 6.02a which I downloaded from @ernst

[ernst]

Please be aware that there is a problem with this edit function, if you exceed the buffer size (2048 chars) the editor becomes uncontrollable and you must abort (ESC) the session.

[BlairLeduc]

I wish they would allow regular members to pin posts/topics.

[richship]

Trying again this morning to update the bios so the new picomite firmware works.

I was suspicious of this line in the previous attempt since it didn’t go to 100%:

Wrote and verified address 0x08020000 (80.78%) Done.

I’m trying STM32CubeProgrammer this time and getting this in the Log:

Do I need to do some sort of flashnuke on the bios too?

Thanks for any help on this. I realize it is a volunteer effort.

[ernst]

I suggest that you try the stm32flash.

This error is something in the configuration that does not fit somehow or it is a problem with the STM32 processor in the PicoCalc.

If nothing works it might be time to contact Clockwork about this bios flash problem. https://www.clockworkpi.com/faq

[DigitalDreams]

Possibly the flash file you downloaded is corrupted and leads to the out of memory error ?. My v1.2 bios is a mere 64Kb, your v1.4 is file is 158Kb !!. Downloading 1.4.bin from the Clockwork Github and it’s 64Kb as expected. Try downloading again ?

Update, as suspected…