This application lets you use the Waveshare 2-CH RS485 HAT with the RP2350 (Pico 2) board. It handles communication over two RS485 channels at once. The software uses the SC16IS752 chip to convert SPI signals to UART, and it manages hardware flow control automatically to ensure smooth data transfer.
You do not need programming skills to get this running on your Windows PC. This guide will take you through every step to download and start using the software.
To use this software, you need the following:
- A computer running Windows 10 or newer.
- Internet access to download the software files.
- Waveshare 2-CH RS485 HAT hardware connected to an RP2350 (Pico 2) board.
- A USB cable to connect the Pico 2 to your computer.
- Basic Windows permissions to install drivers or applications if needed.
Make sure your USB ports are working and do not have any restrictions. Administrator access on your Windows PC will help if any additional drivers are necessary.
To get the software files, visit this page:
Download RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT
This page hosts the latest releases and instructions. Click the “Code” button to either download a ZIP file or clone the repository if you know how.
Follow these steps to download and run the software on Windows:
-
Open your web browser and go to the main page:
https://github.com/singlestranded-question74/RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT
-
Look for the green Code button near the top right of the page. Click it.
-
In the dropdown, choose Download ZIP. This step downloads all files in a compressed folder.
-
Once the download finishes, find the file named
RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT-main.zipin your Downloads folder. -
Right-click on this ZIP file and select Extract All to unzip it. Choose a folder easy for you to find, like your Desktop.
-
Open the extracted folder. You will see all program files and documentation.
-
Read the included README file for specific setup commands, if any.
-
Connect your Waveshare 2-CH RS485 HAT attached to the Pico board to your Windows PC using a USB cable.
-
Double-click the main executable file contained in the extracted folder. It may be named similar to
RP2350_RS485.exeor a batch script. -
If Windows asks for permission to run the file, click Yes or Run.
-
The program should open and detect your hardware automatically.
-
Follow any prompts on the screen to begin RS485 communication.
Your device might require drivers to work correctly:
-
After connecting your hardware, Windows might try to install drivers automatically. Wait a few moments.
-
If Windows can’t find drivers, download the
picoprobeor USB serial drivers from the Raspberry Pi website or Waveshare support. -
Run the downloaded driver installer and follow on-screen instructions.
-
Restart your PC if the installer asks.
The program lets you:
-
Send and receive data on two RS485 channels independently.
-
Monitor communication status with simple controls.
-
Enable or disable hardware flow control automatically.
-
Log data for review or diagnostics.
The user interface shows connection status, data windows for each channel, and buttons to start or stop communication. You will see incoming data in plain text or hexadecimal format.
-
Dual RS485 channel support on one board.
-
SPI-to-UART bridge driver using SC16IS752.
-
Automatic hardware flow control based on CTS/RTS lines.
-
Compatible with RP2350 microcontroller and Pico SDK.
-
Supports half-duplex RS485 communication as used in industrial automation.
-
Works well with Modbus protocol devices.
RS485 is a standard for serial data communication used in industrial environments. It allows devices to talk to each other over twisted-pair cables, even at long distances.
This chip converts SPI signals into two UART serial ports. It lets the Picopico board communicate over serial without extra wiring for each line.
It provides a compact, easy-to-connect way to add two RS485 channels to your Raspberry Pi Pico or RP2350 device. It fits well into embedded projects needing industrial communication.
If you have problems, check the GitHub issues page for this project to see if your question has been asked before.
Link: https://github.com/singlestranded-question74/RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT/issues
You can also open a new issue describing your problem clearly. Include details like your Windows version, connection setup, and any error messages.
This software is provided under an open-source license. You can check the LICENSE file in the repository for full terms.
-
RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT Repository:
https://github.com/singlestranded-question74/RP2350-PiZero-2CH-RS485-HAT -
Waveshare 2-CH RS485 HAT product page:
https://www.waveshare.com/2-ch-rs485-hat.htm -
Raspberry Pi Pico RP2350 info:
https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-pico/