Raspberry Pi Pico W: Wireless Weather Station

Raspberry Pi Pico W microcontroller review, plus tutorial connecting the board to a BME280 sensor module to create a wireless weather station that transmits temperature, pressure and humidity readings to a web browser.

On this web page you can find the wiring diagram and a link to the final code:

The excellent Pi Pico W "getting started" instructions from the Raspberry Pi Foundation are here:

The page with links to download the MicroPython UF2 file is here:

If you like this video, you may also be interested in my other Pi Pico videos, including:

Raspberry Pi Pico W: WiFi Controlled Robot:

Raspberry Pi Pico: Inputs & Servos:

PicoMite: Running BASIC on a Raspberry Pi Pico:

IN CASE OF DIFFICULTIES:
If during your experimentation you end up with a Pi Pico W that executes a program that you cannot interrupt by pressing Ctrl-C or Ctrl-F2 in Thonny, you can return the board to its factory state by holding down the boot select switch, connecting to a PC, and copying over a special UF2 file to reset the flash. You can find a link to this UF2 file at the bottom of this page:

Note that after execution you will have to reinstall MicroPython and any required libraries, such as the one for the BME280. All programs will also be erased! Hence, during program development, it is wise to save a copy to both the Pico W and to the PC you are working on.

For additional ExplainingComputers videos and other content, you can become a channel member here:

Chapters:
00:44 Pico + Wireless
02:37 MicroPython & Thonny
06:23 BME280 (Sensor)
08:13 Reading the Sensor
11:26 Final Code
15:13 Remote Test
16:23 Wrap

#RaspberryPicoW #PicoW #BME280 #ExplainingComputers

[RoboNuggie]

17 minutes of pure tech - I remember when we had this quality of tech-exploration and project building on mainstream TV with Microlive etc.... but thankfully we have Chris, and this great channel.
Cheers Mr Barnatt and the hard work you do to educate and entertain

[damienduddy]

I started building my own just before this video came out. I had been meaning to update it as it was a prototype. It was a Pi Zero W connected to a 12v 7ah lead-acid battery and using OpenPyXL to record the values. I have finally finished the project by changing it to running on a Pico W, using Powerboost 1000c from Adafruit and a 4000mAh LiPo connected to 2 6-volt solar panels. I might upgrade it again once I acquire a Pico 2, as it draws less power. However, I want to finish the backlog of other projects before buying anything new. Thank you so much for this video, Chris! Yours is one my absolute favourites on Youtube! Looking forward to seeing a video on Pico 2!

[SprocketN]

Another project for my grandsons to have a go at. Thanks for explaining in such a straight forward way.
I’ll just open the little toolbox and the box of bits, set up my iPad for them to watch you tell them what to do and I’ll slope off and have a glass of cider, cheers!

[JeremyDWilliamsOfficial]

I have watched MANY tech videos. You are EXTREMELY good at making these kinds of videos.

They are to the point, clear, cover the important parts without going down rabbit holes - and best of all, provide quality resources that actually help.

Please keep it up! And if you arent already covering this topic and are very brave, consider ROS2 tutorials (without using containers).

Thanks again. Subbed. (I’ve seen your work before but have no clue why I wasn’t subbed already. I just assumed I was already as you’re that good!)

[John.z]

It's funny, but I originally bought my PiZeroW to do that task... and have been too "distracted" to get it running. Now it is not just possible, but easier, with even less hardware, and even lower power demands. The way of the computer world in microcosm. Thank you Chris.

[davids]

I was just curious how these little boards work...watched this video....now I'm like "shut up and take my money!" Thank You for this video!

[markharrisllb]

Once again you show this is a 'real' computing channel as opposed to a gaming channel so many of the bigger ones are. It’s surprising how many people want to learn about the things you show us how to do. I also think you have one of the best comment sections full of knowledgeable people.

[graxxor]

Your channel reminds me of those old BBC coding programmes that they used to show when I was a kid... Filling our heads with fancy ideas, sparking our imaginations and above all showing us that this arcane magic was within our very grasps if we just pushed our envelopes a bit and tried something new.

I honestly feel that the Pico W is now where the original RPi intended to be... with the added benefit of wifi!

[ElectroniClinic]

As usual. One of the best videos. I must say " Nobody can explain things like you"... Thank you for such an amazing tutorial.

[voneschenbachmusic]

A very versatile addition to RPi family. I love the projects re-creating 8-bit computers using the Pico - it's amazing how powerful these SOCs have become!

[teobenedict]

Easy to understand and a great introduction to the raspberry pi pico w! Will be great if you can show us how to activate a fan when a certain temperature has been reach.

[stephensu]

i think this tiny project is quite useful specially in this days that the weather is going berserk

[ravyyyyyyy]

The bit outside at the end got me good, thanks for explaining computers to us for all these years, you truly are a treasure

[seguramlk]

Awesome. I've seen this guy being used as mod for classic consoles such as The original Xbox, PS2 and Xbox 360 but never for this application. Great to see it is this versatile. Keep it up, Sir 👍

[sbc_tinkerer]

Greetings, another relaxing Sunday morning with Explaining Computers. Now I need to go out and purchase a Pico W. Thank you once again for the quality information. Stay well my friend!

[tburrrg]

I’ve been fighting the good fight against lack of humidity in my house and I’m absolutely going to build this for the front of my house where my existing sensors can’t reach!! Great video!

[ahmad-murery]

In this hot weather I think it's a good idea to use PICO to control a fan and a humidifier to justify the room temperature,
or maybe we can clone an Air Conditioner IR signals then use that to write a little program to make it act like crazy,
or, what about converting an old washing machine with mechanical program selector to a digital one.
So many applications for this lovely little PICO

Thanks Chris and have a nice weekend

[rokkr]

I really want to thank you for all your hard work in your channel. I'm saving a lot of your videos and learning from them so I can do amazing stuff like this with my daughter when she's old enough to understand the basics of it.

[sepgorut]

20 degrees C!!! Lucky bugger, it's 29 down here in Hampshire!

[Praxibetel-Ix]

Now, if only it can predict when it will rain... 😅

Anyway, that was another banger of a video and one cool little project too!