HC-SR04 ping sensor read problem with Python (pyfirmata) problem

Hi,
I was able to measure distance using HC-SR04 sensor via C code. (pulseIn function).
Now I want to try this using Python. I see that pyfirmata doesn't seem to have this nice "pulseIn" function that returns the duration in microseconds. So it seems that I have calculate myself... yet it doesn't seem to work... Anyone with any success?

I am using an UNO board and loaded standardFirmata sketch. And connected via MacBook USB to UNO USB.

I'm using
pin 12 => trigger
pin 8 as Echo (tried 11 as well but same result).

PORT = '/dev/tty.usbmodem411'

board= Arduino(PORT)

it = util.Iterator(board)
it.start()

sonarEcho = board.get_pin('d:8:i')
sonarTrig = board.get_pin('d:12:o')
for i in range(10):
    sonarTrig.write(0)
   
    time.sleep(1)

    sonarTrig.write(1)
    time.sleep(0.000010)
    sonarTrig.write(0)
      ##### direct write doesnt work either=> board.digital[12].write(0)

    while sonarEcho.read() is None:
        pass
    t1= dt.datetime.now()

    while sonarEcho.read():
        pass
    t2=dt.datetime.now()

    t3=(t2-t1).microseconds

    distance=t3/58
    print'Distnce:',distance, 'cm:'

Hi , have you managed to find a solution for Your question ? 3 years later I'm bothering with the same issue.

Regards