Kit companion

Freenove Ultimate Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi Pico: lesson by lesson, simulated

Every project of the kit’s Python tutorial, chapter by chapter, as a MicroPython program on a simulated Raspberry Pi Pico, wired to the GP pins the tutorial’s code uses: from a blinking LED through shift registers, motors and an RFID reader to a Pico W web page.

Open the first lesson Find your lesson What else it can build

Not affiliated with Freenove. Lesson titles are referenced so you can follow along.

Lesson by lesson

Every lesson in the kit’s order

Lesson numbers and titles follow the Python tutorial of fnk0058-docs v1.0.0. Each circuit uses the kit’s parts on the pins the lesson uses.

50 of the 55 lessons with a circuit run here, 6 of them with a change we name, 5 coming soon, 1 setup lesson needs no circuit.

0
Getting Ready (Important)
No circuit
Installing Thonny and putting MicroPython on the Pico. Nothing to install here: the editor runs MicroPython v1.29 on the simulated board and copies your files on at Run.
1.1
Blink
Runs here
The Pico’s own LED, on GP25, toggles every half second.
Open in the editor MicroPython blink on the Pico’s own LED, GP25
1.2
Blink
Runs here
An LED and a 220 ohm resistor on GP15, blinking twice a second.
Open in the editor MicroPython blink on a Pico, LED on GP15
2.1
Button & LED
Runs here
A push button on GP13 with a 10k pull-up lights the LED on GP15 while it is held.
Open in the editor MicroPython button on GP13 lights an LED on GP15
2.2
MINI table lamp
Runs here
Each press of the button flips the LED on or off, with the contact bounce filtered out.
Open in the editor MicroPython table lamp on a Pico: a button toggles an LED
3.1
Flowing Light
Runs here
A ten-bar LED graph on GP16 to GP22 and GP26 to GP28: one bar runs along it and back.
Open in the editor MicroPython flowing light on a Pico’s LED bar graph
4.1
Breathing LED
Runs here
PWM on GP15 sweeps the duty cycle up and down, so the LED fades in and out.
Open in the editor MicroPython breathing LED on a Pico, PWM on GP15
4.2
Meteor Flowing Light
Runs here
PWM on all ten pins of the bar graph: a bright head with a fading tail runs along it and back.
Open in the editor MicroPython meteor light on a Pico’s LED bar, PWM
4.3
How to import a custom python module
Runs here
main.py imports a module of your own from the next tab and prints a random number from it every second.
Open in the editor MicroPython on a Pico: import a module of your own
5.1
Random Color Light
Runs here
A common-anode RGB LED on GP13, GP12 and GP11 takes a random color five times a second.
Open in the editor MicroPython random colors on a Pico’s RGB LED
5.2
Gradient Color Light
Runs here
The same RGB LED drifts round a color wheel, red to green to blue.
Open in the editor MicroPython color wheel on a Pico’s RGB LED
6.1
NeoPixel
Runs here
The 8 RGB LED module on GP16 fills with red, green, blue and white, one LED at a time, then turns off.
Uses MicroPython’s built-in neopixel module; the lesson loads a PIO driver file of its own.
Open in the editor MicroPython NeoPixels on a Pico: 8 LEDs on GP16
6.2
Rainbow Light
Runs here
A dim rainbow spread across the eight LEDs turns round and round.
Uses MicroPython’s built-in neopixel module; the lesson loads a PIO driver file of its own.
Open in the editor MicroPython rainbow on a Pico’s 8 LED module
7.1
Doorbell
Runs here
While the button on GP16 is held, GP15 switches an S8050 and the active buzzer on 5 V sounds.
Open in the editor MicroPython doorbell on a Pico: button and buzzer
7.2
Alertor
Runs here
The same circuit with the passive buzzer: PWM on GP15 sweeps its pitch like a siren while the button is held.
Open in the editor MicroPython alarm on a Pico: a siren on a passive buzzer
8.1
Serial Print
Runs here
print() sends the seconds since the board started to the Serial Monitor once a second.
Open in the editor MicroPython serial print on a Pico: seconds since start
8.2
Serial Read and Write
Runs here
Two jumpers join the Pico’s UARTs: text typed in the Serial Monitor goes out of UART1 on GP8 and comes back in on UART0.
Open in the editor MicroPython UART loopback on a Pico: GP8 to GP1
9.1
Read the Voltage of Potentiometer
Runs here
A potentiometer on GP26 (ADC0): its reading and its voltage, ten times a second.
Open in the editor MicroPython on a Pico: read a potentiometer on GP26
10.1
Soft Light
Runs here
The knob on GP26 sets the PWM duty, and so the brightness, of the LED on GP15.
Open in the editor MicroPython dimmer on a Pico: a knob sets an LED
10.2
Soft Colorful Light
Runs here
Three knobs on GP26, GP27 and GP28 mix the blue, green and red of the RGB LED on GP13 to GP15.
Open in the editor MicroPython color mixer on a Pico: three knobs, RGB LED
10.3
Soft Rainbow Light
Runs here
The knob on GP26 slides a rainbow along the 8 RGB LED module on GP15.
Uses MicroPython’s built-in neopixel module; the lesson loads a PIO driver file of its own.
Open in the editor MicroPython knob rainbow on a Pico: a pot turns 8 LEDs
10.4
Soft Colorful Light
Runs here
The tutorial prints project 10.2 a second time under this number; it opens the same circuit.
Open in the editor MicroPython color mixer on a Pico: three knobs, RGB LED
10.5
Soft Rainbow Light
Runs here
The tutorial prints project 10.3 a second time under this number; it opens the same circuit.
Open in the editor MicroPython knob rainbow on a Pico: a pot turns 8 LEDs
11.1
Control LED through Photoresistor
Runs here
A photoresistor and a 10k on GP26: the darker it gets, the brighter the LED on GP15.
Open in the editor MicroPython night lamp on a Pico: light sensor on GP26
12.1
Thermometer
Runs here
A 10k thermistor and a 10k resistor on GP26; the B equation turns the reading into degrees Celsius.
Open in the editor MicroPython thermometer on a Pico: thermistor on GP26
13.1
Joystick
Runs here
X on GP28, Y on GP27 and the press switch on GP26, printed ten times a second.
Open in the editor MicroPython joystick on a Pico: X, Y and the press
14.1
Flowing Water Light
Runs here
A 74HC595 (DS GP18, ST_CP GP20, SH_CP GP21) walks one lit bar across eight bars of the graph and back.
OE is on GP19, which the tutorial’s driver holds low to turn the outputs on; its drawing ties OE to ground instead, which does the same.
Open in the editor MicroPython 74HC595 flowing light on a Pico
15.1
7-Segment Display.
Runs here
The 74HC595 shows the hex digits 0 to F on a common-anode digit, a 220 ohm on each segment.
Open in the editor MicroPython 7-segment digit on a Pico through a 74HC595
15.2
4-Digit 7-Segment Display
Runs here
The 74HC595 sets the segments and GP17 to GP14 pick the digit, fast enough that the display reads 0123.
Open in the editor MicroPython four-digit display on a Pico, multiplexed
16.1
LED Matrix
Coming soon
Two 74HC595s drive an 8x8 LED matrix, scanned column by column, to show a smiley and scroll 0 to F.
The kit’s bare 8x8 LED matrix is not simulated yet. The MAX7219 matrix module is, if you want to try a matrix now.
17.1
Relay & Motor
Runs here
Each press of the button on GP15 flips a relay through an S8050 on GP14, and the relay runs the DC motor.
The 5 V comes from the breadboard power module on a 9 V battery, as in the lesson. A 1N4007 stands in for the lesson’s 1N4001 across the coil.
Open in the editor MicroPython relay and motor on a Pico: a button toggles it
18.1
Control Motor with Potentiometer
Runs, with a change
The knob on GP26 drives the motor both ways on an L293D: IN1 on GP15, IN2 on GP16 and PWM enable on GP17.
The L293D runs from the Pico’s VBUS (5 V) here. The lesson uses two AA cells, about 3 V, less than the 4.5 V the simulated L293D needs, as the chip’s datasheet does.
Open in the editor MicroPython L293D motor on a Pico: a knob sets speed
19.1
Servo Sweep
Runs here
A servo on GP16 sweeps from 0 to 180 degrees and back, a degree every 15 ms.
Open in the editor MicroPython servo sweep on a Pico, signal on GP16
19.2
Servo Knob
Runs here
The knob on GP26 points the servo, from 0 to 180 degrees.
The servo is on GP15: the tutorial’s code uses these pins; its drawing shows GP16.
Open in the editor MicroPython servo knob on a Pico: a pot points the servo
20.1
Stepper Motor
Runs here
A 28BYJ-48 on its ULN2003 board, IN1 to IN4 on GP21 to GP18, turns once one way and once back.
The 5 V comes from the breadboard power module on a 9 V battery, as in the lesson.
Open in the editor MicroPython stepper motor on a Pico, GP21 to GP18
21.1
LCD1602
Runs here
An I2C LCD1602 on GP14 (SDA) and GP15 (SCL): a greeting on line one and a counter on line two.
Open in the editor MicroPython I2C LCD1602 on a Pico, GP14 and GP15
22.1
Ultrasonic Ranging
Runs, with a change
An HC-SR04 with TRIG on GP19 and ECHO on GP18, its echo timed by hand, prints centimeters twice a second.
A 1k and a 2k on ECHO bring its 5 V signal down to the 3.3 V the pin takes; the tutorial wires ECHO straight to the pin.
Open in the editor MicroPython HC-SR04 on a Pico, timed by hand
22.2
Ultrasonic Ranging
Runs, with a change
The same ranger read through a small driver module in its own tab.
A 1k and a 2k on ECHO bring its 5 V signal down to the 3.3 V the pin takes; the tutorial wires ECHO straight to the pin.
Open in the editor MicroPython HC-SR04 on a Pico with a driver module
23.1
Matrix Keypad
Runs here
A 4x4 keypad with its rows on GP13 to GP10 and columns on GP9 to GP6 prints each key you press.
Open in the editor MicroPython 4x4 keypad on a Pico, GP13 to GP6
23.2
Keypad Door
Runs here
Type 1234 and the servo on GP0 opens the bolt for a second; each key beeps the buzzer on GP15, and a wrong code beeps long.
Open in the editor MicroPython keypad door lock on a Pico: servo and buzzer
24.1
Infrared Remote Control
Runs here
An IR receiver decodes the kit remote’s NEC frames and prints each button’s hex code.
The receiver is on GP15: the tutorial’s code uses these pins; its drawing shows GP16.
Open in the editor MicroPython IR remote on a Pico: print each button’s code
24.2
Control LED through Infrared Remote
Runs here
Remote keys 0 to 3, read on GP16, set four brightness levels for the LED on GP14 and beep the buzzer.
Open in the editor MicroPython IR remote dimmer on a Pico: keys 0 to 3
25.1
Hygrothermograph
Runs here
A DHT11 on GP15 with a 10k pull-up reports temperature and humidity every two seconds.
Uses MicroPython’s built-in dht module; the lesson loads a dht11.py of its own.
Open in the editor MicroPython DHT11 on a Pico: temperature and humidity
25.2
Hygrothermograph
Runs here
The DHT11’s temperature and humidity on the LCD1602, refreshed every two seconds.
The DHT11 is on GP5 and the LCD on GP14 and GP15: the tutorial’s code uses these pins; its drawing shows GP15, GP4 and GP5.
Open in the editor MicroPython DHT11 and LCD1602 on a Pico
26.1
Infrared Motion Detector with LED Indicator
Runs here
An HC-SR501 on GP18 lights the LED on GP15 for as long as it sees motion.
Motion lights the LED here, as the lesson describes. The lesson’s printed code tests for a low output, which would do the opposite.
Open in the editor MicroPython motion sensor on a Pico: PIR on GP18, LED
27.1
Read an MPU6050 Sensor Module
Runs here
An MPU6050 on I2C bus 1 prints its raw acceleration and rotation, and the same in g and degrees per second.
SCL is on GP15 and SDA on GP14: the tutorial’s code uses these pins; its drawing shows GP5 and GP4.
Open in the editor MicroPython MPU6050 on a Pico: acceleration and rotation
28.1
RFID read UID
Runs here
An RC522 on SoftSPI (SCK GP2, MOSI GP3, MISO GP4, CS GP5) prints a card’s UID and reads block 8 with the factory key.
Open in the editor MicroPython RFID on a Pico: read a card’s UID, RC522
28.2
RFID Read and Write
Runs, with a change
Text typed in the Serial Monitor is written to block 8 of a card on the reader and read back to check it.
The lesson’s menu for reading, writing and clearing the whole card or one block is cut down to one job: write block 8 and read it back.
Open in the editor MicroPython RFID on a Pico: write a card and read it back
29.1
Station mode
Runs here
The Pico W joins a WiFi network and prints the IP address, mask and gateway it was given.
On a Pico W, as the chapter needs. The board joins Mokxi’s simulated access point, whose name and password are the board’s WiFi properties.
Open in the editor MicroPython WiFi station mode on a Pico W
29.2
AP mode
Runs, with a change
The Pico W starts an access point of its own and prints its name and settings.
The access point comes up and reports its settings, but nothing can join it in the simulator. The lesson’s fixed 192.168.1.10 address is left out.
Open in the editor MicroPython WiFi access point mode on a Pico W
29.3
AP+Station mode
Runs, with a change
The Pico W runs its own access point and joins a network at the same time.
The station joins Mokxi’s simulated access point; the board’s own access point comes up, but nothing can join it in the simulator.
Open in the editor MicroPython WiFi AP and station at once on a Pico W
30.1
as Client
Coming soon
The Pico W joins WiFi, connects to a TCP server on a computer and echoes what it is sent.
The lesson talks to a Processing program on your computer over TCP. The simulated network has no computer on it to answer, so this one is not here yet.
30.3
as Server
Coming soon
The Pico W listens on a TCP port for a client on a computer and echoes what it sends.
The lesson’s client is a Processing program on your computer, on port 8000. The simulated network reaches a board only on port 80, from the Web panel, so this one is not here yet.
31.1
Control the LED with Web
Runs here
A web page served by the Pico W on port 80, with ON and OFF links that switch the board’s own LED. Open it from the Web panel.
On a Pico W, as the chapter needs. The board joins Mokxi’s simulated access point, whose name and password are the board’s WiFi properties.
Open in the editor MicroPython web server on a Pico W: switch the LED
32.1
Bluetooth Passthrough
Coming soon
The Pico W advertises a BLE serial service and passes text between a phone app and the shell.
Bluetooth on the Pico W’s radio chip is not simulated yet.
32.3
Bluetooth Control LED
Coming soon
Text sent from a phone over BLE turns the LED on GP15 on and off.
Bluetooth on the Pico W’s radio chip is not simulated yet.

Lesson list and pins read from Freenove’s online tutorial. The explanations on this page are our own.

Learning path

Everything the Freenove Ultimate Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi Pico can build

95 projects use only the parts in this box, ordered from a first blink to the hardest.

Beginner (52)

Intermediate (33)

Advanced (10)

Level up

Add a few parts, unlock more projects

The smallest shopping lists that open the most new projects for the Freenove Ultimate Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi Pico.

Add Slide switch

Unlocks 3 more projects:

Add Capacitor and Slide switch

Unlocks 6 more projects:

Add Capacitor, Multimeter and Slide switch

Unlocks 9 more projects:

Two kits

Projects that combine two kits

Own another kit as well? These need parts from both boxes, and neither can build them alone.

In the box

The kit’s parts, and what plays them here

The parts in the Freenove Ultimate Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi Pico, by the names its maker gives them. Each one is in the editor’s parts panel.

Raspberry Pi Pico Raspberry Pi Pico
Raspberry Pi Pico W (for chapters 29 to 32) Raspberry Pi Pico W
Breadboard Full-size breadboard The circuits here are wired pin to pin, beside the board.
Red, green, blue and yellow LEDs LED
LED bar graph LED bar graph, 10 segments
RGB LED RGB LED
220 ohm, 1k and 10k resistors Resistor
Push buttons Pushbutton
Potentiometers Potentiometer
Photoresistor Light sensor
Thermistor Thermistor, 10k NTC
NPN transistors (8050) Transistor (NPN or PNP)
1N4001 diodes Diode Set to 1N4007, the same diode family.
Active buzzer Buzzer
Passive buzzer Piezo speaker
Freenove 8 RGB LED module Addressable RGB LEDs Set to eight LEDs.
74HC595 74HC595 shift register
1-digit 7-segment display Seven segment display
4-digit 7-segment display Four-digit seven segment, multiplexed
8x8 LED matrix Not simulated yet; the MAX7219 matrix module is.
Relay DPDT relay
Motor DC motor
L293D Motor driver, L293D
Breadboard power module Breadboard power supply, MB102
9V battery cable Battery: AA, coin cell, LiPo The battery is set to 9 V; the kit has the cable, not the battery.
2x AA battery holder Battery: AA, coin cell, LiPo Chapter 18’s motor supply; that circuit runs the L293D from the Pico’s 5 V instead (see 18.1).
Servo Hobby servo
Stepping motor and driver board Stepper motor, 28BYJ-48 with ULN2003
I2C LCD1602 Character LCD with I2C backpack
Ultrasonic ranging module (HC-SR04) Ultrasonic ranger
4x4 keypad Keypad, 4x4
Infrared receiver Infrared receiver, VS1838B
Infrared remote Infrared remote, 21 buttons
DHT-11 Temperature and humidity, DHT22 Set to DHT11 in these circuits.
Infrared motion sensor (HC-SR501) Motion sensor
Joystick Thumb stick
MPU6050 Accelerometer and gyroscope, MPU6050
RFID module (RC522), card and key fob RFID reader, MFRC522 Its cards are on the part: click one onto the reader.
Slide switches, vibration switch, PNP transistors and capacitors In the box, but no Python project uses them.
Perfboards and pin headers No Python project uses them.
USB cable and jumper wires The editor connects the board for you, and wires are drawn between pins.

For the manual

A link and a QR code for this page

Print either one beside a lesson, or tape it inside the box lid. Both open this page.

mokxi.com/k/freenove-pico

The code is black on white with a quiet border, so it prints and scans at any size from 2 cm up.

Download the QR code (SVG)

Make kits? See what we offer kit makers.

FAQ

Questions about this page

Is this made by Freenove?

No. Mokxi is independent and is not affiliated with Freenove. The page follows the kit’s lessons so you can use the two side by side; the circuits, sketches and explanations are Mokxi’s own.

Do I need the kit?

No. Every lesson that runs here runs in the browser, so you can try them before you buy a kit, or keep going while a part is missing or broken.

Is the code the same as in my manual?

The pins and the parts are the same, and the programs are MicroPython running on the real MicroPython firmware, with the same built-in modules. The code itself is written for this page, with comments that explain each step, and a few small drivers of our own stand in for the kit’s driver files, so it will not match the manual line for line.

What do "with a change" and "coming soon" mean?

A lesson marked "with a change" runs, but something differs from the kit, and the note under it says exactly what. "Coming soon" means we cannot simulate that lesson yet, and the note says why. We do not mark a lesson as running unless it does.

Is it free?

Yes. Every lesson on this page opens with no account. A free account saves your own copies of the circuits.