With two USB ports, this might be the cleanest option for using one of the supported Sony USB controllers. It also uses the super economical Pico RP2040 board for the brains…maybe you already have one!
There are several versions of the Pico board; with or without headers, with or without wireless, any variant can work here. Wireless isn’t used in this project, but if that’s what you’ve got on hand, the board’s still compatible (only difference is you won’t see an LED “heartbeat” on this board). If your Pico board doesn’t have headers installed, you’ll need to add these, which involves a bit of soldering (also, see notes later about headers and gamepads).
If you have issues with the Pimoroni Pico dv please see their support forums at pimoroni.com.
Input Options
Wii Classic Controller is not supported with this hardware combo.
To use one of the supported Sony USB controllers:
- A common USB-OTG cable is needed, this is even something we stock. USB micro-B plug, USB-A socket. Connect this to the USB port on the Pico RP2040 board.
- Power the circuit through the Pico DV Demo Base’s USB micro-B socket.
To use NES or SNES compatible gamepads:
- This is not plug-and-play and will require a little soldering and creativity.
- If your Pico board already has headers installed, you might need to “blue wire” to a few pins there. Or…
- If your Pico does not yet have headers, you’ll need to add these…but consider using extra-long male headers so you have pins facing both up and down, and then use female jumper wires to interface to the controller.
- Wire up a NES or SNES controller port (these can be found on eBay)…or, if you don’t mind sacrificing a junky controller, cut the plug off and wire directly between the circuits.
-
Connections are:
NES/SNES Controller |
Pico RP2040 Board |
VCC |
3V3 |
Ground |
GND |
Clock |
GP6 |
Data |
GP7 |
Latch |
GP8 |
The https://github.com/fhoedemakers/pico-infonesPlus documentation has different pin numbers for non-Adafruit hardware. Refer to that page if you are not using Adafruit hardware and be sure you flash the correct firmware for your hardware.
The ports are shown here from the front; wire order is mirrored if looking at the back.
As with the Feather on the prior page, there’s no One Hard Rule to follow for this build. Here are a couple variants: one with a USB-OTG cable, another wired to an NES controller port (notice that long pin headers were soldered to the Pico RP2040 board in the latter case — it fits in a socket and has pins going “up” for jumper wires).
With a Pico H board, USB-OTG cable and USB controller, this is the only zero-soldering option. Every other configuration requires a little bit here and there.
Software
Here is a pre-compiled .UF2 file for the Pico DV Demo Base. Install as you would most .UF2 files: hold down the BOOT button while tapping RUN or when connecting USB, and the board appears to your computer as a small flash drive called RPi-RP2. Just drag the file over and allow it some time to complete the transfer.
If the RPi-RP2 drive does not appear on your computer, try a different USB cable. Even in this modern age some devices come bundled with a budget “charge only” cable, but this needs a proper “charge and sync” cable.
See the GitHub repo https://github.com/fhoedemakers/pico-infonesPlus for the latest firmware given your hardware configuration and the latest documentation for connections.
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