I’ve bought loads of 3rd party rp2040 boards off Ali express. Most seem to work with no issues. I’ve found those rp2040 zero boards work well where not many pins are needed. Used them for controlling neopixels, midi synths in circuitpython and as usb to usb midi contollers. I have original waveshare as well as other brand copy boards and found no difference between them.
From my experience, they usually work well enough, just not as long-lived or high-performance as the brand version. Of course, there's the occasional broken one, but the OG AliExpress is my go-to source for scale model ESP32 circuits that will just have to drive some LEDs and react to some button inputs.
I've been buying these sort of clones on Ali Express for less money than the one in the video and never had any issues with them and in most cases they arrive within a couple of weeks. The raw RP2040 chips are available for next to nothing if you buy enough of them it possible to to churn out full boards cheaply.
Yeah, I get you. I've always looked on aliexpress before, but am always surprised if I find something other than furry cat slippers on temu that is genuinely usable. In the UK now, ali applies import duty and vat (both valid) to transactions so sometimes temu can have equivalent shipped prices than alliexpress. To me, it's an interesting comparison. Thanks for your comments, the interaction is appreciated.
@@spidermaf Sure! I'm working on a video about it on my main channel, not sure how to send you pictures / videos about it until then though. I'll send the link with the video is ready anyway
How much flash memory does this have? I have ordered 3 pi pico clones from AliExpress. They are full size pico's and each has 16Mb flash, user, reset and boot buttons, a NeoPixel and USB C. They cost £2.82 for all three, including free delivery. I have not received them yet, so I will update this when I have tested them.
My OCD kicked in when I saw the horrendous soldering around the 2040 IC. Maybe it's better than it looks on the video, or perhaps there's flux around the chip that made it look that way but initial thoughts are that it looks horrible. Nice spider though...
Ah sorry. I just chose to do red and blue. It is an addressable rgb led, so I could have picked other colours or done purple, orange, etc, but I was trying to simplify the normal neopixel style code. It's slightly better than a pi with only one built-in led, which is always one colour. So you could use it to show status colours directly for instance.
The other site without stock problems has lots of dev boards with the RP2040 chip for about 2$/less then 2€(including tax as per new EU regulations!). I tried at least 4 different ones and they all worked fine.
I have had and used the waveshare Pico zero before they work really good Best of luck to you
Its a great little board isnt it.
I’ve bought loads of 3rd party rp2040 boards off Ali express. Most seem to work with no issues.
I’ve found those rp2040 zero boards work well where not many pins are needed. Used them for controlling neopixels, midi synths in circuitpython and as usb to usb midi contollers.
I have original waveshare as well as other brand copy boards and found no difference between them.
I've purchased many MCUs from temu before. All were exactly as advertised and worked excellent.
From my experience, they usually work well enough, just not as long-lived or high-performance as the brand version.
Of course, there's the occasional broken one, but the OG AliExpress is my go-to source for scale model ESP32 circuits that will just have to drive some LEDs and react to some button inputs.
I've been buying these sort of clones on Ali Express for less money than the one in the video and never had any issues with them and in most cases they arrive within a couple of weeks. The raw RP2040 chips are available for next to nothing if you buy enough of them it possible to to churn out full boards cheaply.
Yeah, I get you. I've always looked on aliexpress before, but am always surprised if I find something other than furry cat slippers on temu that is genuinely usable. In the UK now, ali applies import duty and vat (both valid) to transactions so sometimes temu can have equivalent shipped prices than alliexpress. To me, it's an interesting comparison. Thanks for your comments, the interaction is appreciated.
I just used one to make a compact homemade Tamagotchi, works like a charm!
I'd like to see how that turned out.
@@spidermaf Sure! I'm working on a video about it on my main channel, not sure how to send you pictures / videos about it until then though. I'll send the link with the video is ready anyway
You can always message me on insta. Link on my channel about.
@@spidermaf I did but apparently it needs your answer to let me send it, thanks!
My cpu is running oh it’s a spider. :-)
Keep this going
Trying to!!
How much flash memory does this have? I have ordered 3 pi pico clones from AliExpress. They are full size pico's and each has 16Mb flash, user, reset and boot buttons, a NeoPixel and USB C. They cost £2.82 for all three, including free delivery. I have not received them yet, so I will update this when I have tested them.
My OCD kicked in when I saw the horrendous soldering around the 2040 IC. Maybe it's better than it looks on the video, or perhaps there's flux around the chip that made it look that way but initial thoughts are that it looks horrible. Nice spider though...
Its obviously a clone of the WaveShare board, but with lower build quality. If if works, its probably OK for hobby use.
I've no idea what a Pico does but face hugger all the way👍
It just randomly suggested that when. I started filming. Not something I was searching for but something that I wanted to buy.
So it's not a neopixel, but a red/blue LED back-to-back?
l don't know; I'm asking.
Ah sorry. I just chose to do red and blue. It is an addressable rgb led, so I could have picked other colours or done purple, orange, etc, but I was trying to simplify the normal neopixel style code. It's slightly better than a pi with only one built-in led, which is always one colour. So you could use it to show status colours directly for instance.
It is a neopixel, or equivalent.
The other site without stock problems has lots of dev boards with the RP2040 chip for about 2$/less then 2€(including tax as per new EU regulations!). I tried at least 4 different ones and they all worked fine.
🕷😱
Well said sir :)