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Bus Pirate v5: A RP2040-based troubleshooting/programming tool has been released, and it looks interesting

shabaz

I just saw this announced: a troubleshooting/development tool called Bus Pirate 5.

image (image source: buspirate.com)

The hardware and firmware source are on GitHub.

In a nutshell, the Bus Pirate 5 is a command-line controlled (via its serial console) tool that can be used to send/receive a few typical board-level (and other) protocols, such as SPI and I2C, and also UART (and some protocols on top). It would be nice to see additional protocols, but there is plenty of space for that - It runs with an RP2040 chip (a very straightforward part to code for!), with 16 Mbytes of Flash - but there's also an additional 100MBytes on a Flash chip for storing (say) firmware images to upload onto hardware. 

Interestingly, there is also a 1-5V supply on board with 500mA output capability, and this could be extremely handy.

What's also awesome is that the I/O (for eight pins) is configurable from 1.2V to 5V! That's extremely useful for the typical purposes of this board.

There is a plug-on LCD screen for monitoring purposes, plus (for reasons I don't understand yet, but perhaps it's handy for status and warning alerts, etc) there are also many RGB LEDs.

image(image source: buspirate.com)

The price is extremely reasonable (although the cables for it add to the cost - but they could be DIY'd).

I hope someone eventually writes a Python interface for this (otherwise, I will do it myself). I hoped to use the BeagleConnect Freedom (BCF) for similar purposes, but they are useless at getting information out for people to develop with it; mine has been a (small) dead brick for half a year. 

The Bus Pirate, on the other hand, is designed by Ian Lesnet. I purchased a couple of other boards originally designed by Ian (a logic analyzer and an FPGA board) a decade ago! They are excellent, so I've got high hopes for this board too.

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    It comes _extremely_ well packaged! I want to know where Ian got these stickers made : ) Even comes with a hex/allen key to open it, and spares.

    image

    In earlier photos I'd seen, the case looked like a 3D printed attempt, but in the flesh it is nothing like that, and is pretty impressive. Powered up, the LEDs gently pulse and occasionally some they turn white and then a color flies across. Looks like a movie prop. 

    image

    Since it is translucent, the components can be faintly seen from the underside.

    image

    The attention to detail is great. Clearly labelled connectors on the main probe port. Underneath that, is a smaller port for auxiliary probes (which are mainly used to simultaneously monitor signals on an external oscilloscope or logic probe). 

    image

    Nice clear LCD screen. All the pins are multiplexed into an ADC pin on the Pico, so they can be monitored for analog levels.

    image

    The Probe Cable Set (part code 108-129) has silicone-feeling cables; feels as good as any 'scope logic probes!:

    image

    The supplied metal pins are really nice, used to change the sockets into plugs. They will probably be easily lost though!

    image

    The probe set also comes with these grippers.. they seem well made, and did grip well, but I'll know better over time. 

    image

    There's also an AUX Cable Set (part code 108-147) but I forgot to take its photo. It is equally well made, with thinner silicone-feeling cables. 

    It's all a really well put together kit, excited to sort out the two minor issues in this batch, and then try it out.

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  • 0

    It comes _extremely_ well packaged! I want to know where Ian got these stickers made : ) Even comes with a hex/allen key to open it, and spares.

    image

    In earlier photos I'd seen, the case looked like a 3D printed attempt, but in the flesh it is nothing like that, and is pretty impressive. Powered up, the LEDs gently pulse and occasionally some they turn white and then a color flies across. Looks like a movie prop. 

    image

    Since it is translucent, the components can be faintly seen from the underside.

    image

    The attention to detail is great. Clearly labelled connectors on the main probe port. Underneath that, is a smaller port for auxiliary probes (which are mainly used to simultaneously monitor signals on an external oscilloscope or logic probe). 

    image

    Nice clear LCD screen. All the pins are multiplexed into an ADC pin on the Pico, so they can be monitored for analog levels.

    image

    The Probe Cable Set (part code 108-129) has silicone-feeling cables; feels as good as any 'scope logic probes!:

    image

    The supplied metal pins are really nice, used to change the sockets into plugs. They will probably be easily lost though!

    image

    The probe set also comes with these grippers.. they seem well made, and did grip well, but I'll know better over time. 

    image

    There's also an AUX Cable Set (part code 108-147) but I forgot to take its photo. It is equally well made, with thinner silicone-feeling cables. 

    It's all a really well put together kit, excited to sort out the two minor issues in this batch, and then try it out.

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