IDE Setup
Debug Probe Creation
Pico-Probe Wiring
Sketch Setup
Board Selection
Upload Tool Selection
Debug Tool Selection
Start Debugging
Useful Links

Published July 21, 2022 © GPL3+

Raspberry Pi Pico W Setup & Debugging

Gain the power of the RP2040 Processor with in-built WiFi for a very reasonable price, along with Hardware Debugging capabilities!

IntermediateFull instructions provided9,898

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Raspberry Pi Pico

For Creation of the PicoProbe Debug Probe

Raspberry Pi Pico W

Female/Female Jumper Wires

USB-A to Micro-USB Cable

Software apps and online services

Microsoft Visual Studio 2017

Or VS2019 or VS2022

Arduino IDE

Desktop version only (NOT the AppStore version)

Visual Micro

Story

If you want to access the power of WiFi on the latest Raspberry Pi Pico W board, this article is for you!

We will show how to get setup, as well as how to make your own debug probe from a separate Raspberry Pi Pico board, giving full debugging features.

This guide also applies if you have a standard Raspberry Pi Pico board, just select the right board later on in the guide.

IDE Setup

First we will need to install the latest (2.3.2) board package to get all of the WiFi features.

Add the below JSON URL to the IDE Locations screen:

https://github.com/earlephilhower/arduino-pico/releases/download/global/package_rp2040_index.json

IDE Locations Screen with JSON URL for Raspberry Pi Pico/RP2040 Board Package

Then you will be able to select the Raspberry Pi Pico/RP2040 board package in the Micro Explorer:

Micro Explorer showing "Raspberry Pi Pico/RP2040" Board Package

All versions above 2.3.0 are compatible with the Pico-W boards, however installing the very latest will allow access to more features.

Debug Probe Creation

If you want to create your own debug probe from a separate Raspberry Pi Pico board, simply flash the image as detailed here. Don't forget to update the driver on Interface 2 of the Pico-Probe using the Zadig tool.

This is referred to as the "Pico-Probe" from here on in the article.

NOTE: A variety of other debug probes can be used, such as the FT2232 MiniModule, FT2232H Dual Interface Probe, ESP-PROG. Wiring diagrams for all probes can be seen on this page.

Pico-Probe Wiring

Wire your Pico-Probe to your Raspberry Pi Pico (or Pico-W) as shown below:

Wiring for PicoProbe (left) to Pico/Pico-W Target (right)

This also includes the Serial1 Rx/Tx lines from the target Pico/Pico-W board, so only the USB connection from the Pico Probe needs to be connected to the PC.

Sketch Setup

There are a number of WiFi examples included with the board package, which can be accessed from the Micro Explorer > Examples Tab.

NOTE: To run all serial through the PicoProbe, you will need to change all references to Serial to Serial1.

We have included a copy of the WifiScan example from the board package, with all references to Serial changed to Serial1 already.

Board Selection

Ensure you set the Build Configuration to "Debug".

Now you will be able to select your "Raspberry Pi Pico W (Picoprobe)" board from the board list.

Build Configuration, and Board Selection

Also select the COM port for the Serial data (shown as COM19 in the above image towards the right).

There are additional options for CPU Speed and Flash Size on the Board options Menu:

Raspberry Pi Pico-W Board Options

Upload Tool Selection

No additional selection is required to upload your code through the PicoProbe. This is automatically done by selecting the board with (Picoprobe) on the end of the name.

Debug Tool Selection

To select the Debug tool, use the toolbar options (if configured), or select from the vMicro > Debugger Menu:

Debug: Hardware

Hardware Debugger: Picoprobe

Compiler Optimization: Default

Debug Option Selection

Start Debugging

Set a breakpoint in your Sketch by clicking in the left hand margin:

Setting a Breakpoint in your Sketch

Debugging can be started in two ways:

1) Build and Upload your code as normal, then use Debug > Attach to Process

2) Use Debug > Start Debugging, to perform the Build & Upload, and begin the debugging session.

Buttons to use to start Debugging

Once it has started you can add and remove breakpoints, as well as step over individual lines of code, into and out of function calls, and watch variables live at runtime!

Active Debug Session on Pico-W with PicoProbe

There is also a video guide showing how to set this up below:

YouTube Video Guide

Useful Links

Visual Micro Website

Pi Pico Overview

Raspberry Pi Pico Board

Pi Pico GitHub Repo

Pi Pico Debugging Guide

Creating a PicoProbe

Zadig Driver Guide

Code

Raspberry Pi Pico W - WifiScan Example

// Simple WiFi network scanner application
// Released to the public domain in 2022 by Earle F. Philhower, III
#include <WiFi.h>

void setup() {
    Serial1.begin(115200);
}

const char* macToString(uint8_t mac[6]) {
    static char s[20];
    sprintf(s, "%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X:%02X", mac[0], mac[1], mac[2], mac[3], mac[4], mac[5]);
    return s;
}
 
const char* encToString(uint8_t enc) {
    switch (enc) {
    case ENC_TYPE_NONE: return "NONE";
    case ENC_TYPE_TKIP: return "WPA";
    case ENC_TYPE_CCMP: return "WPA2";
    case ENC_TYPE_AUTO: return "AUTO";
    }
    return "UNKN";
} 

void loop() {
    delay(5000);
    Serial1.printf("Beginning scan at %d\n", millis());
    auto cnt = WiFi.scanNetworks();
    if (!cnt) {
        Serial1.printf("No networks found\n");
    }
    else {
        Serial1.printf("Found %d networks\n\n", cnt);
        Serial1.printf("%32s %5s %17s %2s %4s\n", "SSID", "ENC", "BSSID        ", "CH", "RSSI");
        for (auto i = 0; i < cnt; i++) {
            uint8_t bssid[6];
            WiFi.BSSID(i, bssid);
            Serial1.printf("%32s %5s %17s %2d %4d\n", WiFi.SSID(i), encToString(WiFi.encryptionType(i)), macToString(bssid), WiFi.channel(i), WiFi.RSSI(i));
        }
    }
    Serial1.printf("\n--- Sleeping ---\n\n\n");
    delay(5000);
}

Credits

arduinocc

2 projects • 13 followers

Raspberry Pi Pico W Setup & Debugging