Getting SD.h to work on SparkFun RP2040 Thing Plus

[junkprojects]

Arduino.cc says SD.h works on ALL architectures, but it's not working for me.

• Computer: Raspberry Pi 4 with 8G Memory
• OS: Linux raspberrypi 5.10.103-v8+ #1529 SMP PREEMPT Tue Mar 8 12:26:46 GMT 2022 aarch64 GNU/Linux - fully updated.
• Software: Arduino IDE version 1.8.19 - Boards and Libraries fully updated.
• Board: SparkFun Thing Plus RP2040 Board Info: BN: SparkFun ProMicro RP2040, VID: 1b4f, PID: 0026
• Note: The board is a "SparkFun Thing Plus RP2040", but Tools/Get Board Info returns "SparkFun ProMicro RP2040". (which is a different SparkFun RP2040 board that does NOT have a Built-In SD Card Slot.)
• SD Card: SanDisk 32GB Formated as FAT32. And still has data on it from a 5 year old Arduino project that used SD, so I know it's formatted correctly.

1. Tried standard SD.h with no modifications.
   Result: "Initialization failed!"

2. From the "RP2040 Thing Plus Hookup Guide"
   under the Hardware Section it says:
   The µSD card slot is connected to the following dedicated GPIO:

			GPIO 09: DATA 3/CS
			GPIO 10: DATA 2
			GPIO 11: DATA 1
			GPIO 12: DATA 0/CIPO (or Peripheral's SDO)
			GPIO 14: CLK/SCK
			GPIO 15: CMD/COPI (or Peripheral's SDI)

but doesn't make it clear how to use that information.

3. Tried modifying /home/pi/.arduino15/packages/rp2040/hardware/rp2040/3.1.1/variants/sparkfun_thingplusrp2040/pins_arduino.h
   as per Using build in SD Card in Sparkfun Thing Plus RP2040 board · Issue #1 · khoih-prog/RP2040_SD · GitHub
   Added:

		#define PIN_SPI_MISO  (12u)
		#define PIN_SPI_MOSI  (15u)
		#define PIN_SPI_SCK   (14u)
		#define PIN_SPI_SS    (9u)

Result: "Initialization failed!"

4. Tried using RP2040_SD Library Using build in SD Card in Sparkfun Thing Plus RP2040 board · Issue #1 · khoih-prog/RP2040_SD · GitHub
   Result: "Initialization failed!"

5. Also tried adding this just before SD.begin

	SPI1.setRX(12);
	SPI1.setTX(15);
	SPI1.setSCK(14);

Result: "Initialization failed!"

6. And tried this (didn't document where I got it):

	#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_MBED)
		#define PIN_SD_MOSI       PIN_SPI_MOSI
		#define PIN_SD_MISO       PIN_SPI_MISO
		#define PIN_SD_SCK        PIN_SPI_SCK
		//#define PIN_SD_SS         PIN_SPI_SS
		//#define PIN_SD_SS         5
		#define PIN_SD_SS         9
	#endif
	if (!SD.begin(4)) {
	...

Result: "Initialization failed!"

// SparkFun_Thing_Plus_RP2040_Test_SD.ino
/*************************************************************************************************/
// Includes
#include <SPI.h>
#include <SD.h>

/*************************************************************************************************/
// Global Constants
const static int iBAUD_RATE = 9600;

/*************************************************************************************************/
// Global Variables
File myFile;

/*************************************************************************************************/
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(iBAUD_RATE);
  while (!Serial) {
    ;
  }
  delay(1000);

  Serial.print("Initializing SD card...");
  // Tried adding the following: didn't work.
  //SPI1.setRX(12);
  //SPI1.setTX(15);
  //SPI1.setSCK(14);

  //// Also tried the following: didn't work.
  //#if defined(ARDUINO_ARCH_MBED)
  //
  //  #define PIN_SD_MOSI       PIN_SPI_MOSI
  //  #define PIN_SD_MISO       PIN_SPI_MISO
  //  #define PIN_SD_SCK        PIN_SPI_SCK
  //  //#define PIN_SD_SS         PIN_SPI_SS
  //  //#define PIN_SD_SS         5
  //  #define PIN_SD_SS         9
  //#endif

  if (!SD.begin(4)) {
    Serial.println("initialization failed!");
    while (1);
  }
  Serial.println("initialization done.");

  myFile = SD.open("test.txt", FILE_WRITE);
  if (myFile) {
    Serial.print("Writing to test.txt...");
    myFile.println("testing 1, 2, 3.");
    myFile.close();
    Serial.println("done.");
  } else {
    Serial.println("error opening test.txt");
  }

  myFile = SD.open("test.txt", FILE_READ);
  if (myFile) {
    Serial.println("test.txt:");
    while (myFile.available()) {
      Serial.write(myFile.read());
    }
    myFile.close();
  } else {
    Serial.println("error opening test.txt");
  }
}

/*************************************************************************************************/
void loop() {
  // nothing happens after setup
}
/*************************************************************************************************/

Can someone please post an SD example that works on a SparkFun Thing Plus RP2040?

[mrburnette]

1. Installed the correct core?
   RP2040 Thing Plus Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn
   

Note, not the commonly used: GitHub - earlephilhower/arduino-pico: Raspberry Pi Pico Arduino core, for all RP2040 boards

Reference below: RP2040 Thing Plus Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn

Note: Users trying to access the SD card slot will need to modify the pins_arduino.h file to reconfigure the SPI bus pins. However, this will make the SPI bus inaccessible through the breakout pins (when utilizing the SPI library).

• On a Windows 10 computer, with the Arduino IDE installed through the App store, the location of the pins_arduino.h file is:C:\Users\<username>\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\mbed_rp2040\<package_version>\variants\RASPBERRY_PI_PICO

pins_arduino.h file in the RASPBERRY_PI_PICO folder. (Click to enlarge)

• Users will need to modify lines 45 - 47 of the pins_arduino.h file to the following:
  (RP2040 Thing Plus Hookup Guide - SparkFun Learn)

// SPI
#define PIN_SPI_MISO  (12u) //(4u)
#define PIN_SPI_MOSI  (15u) //(3u)
#define PIN_SPI_SCK   (14u) //(2u)
    

Beyond the above, if you have additional concerns, you may well wish to ask on the Sparkfun's forum... the support cost is built into your purchase price.

[junkprojects]

Thanks so much for your reply, but...

However, this will make the SPI bus inaccessible through the breakout pins (when utilizing the SPI library)

I could get my money back, but after all the weeks of effort I put in to getting SPI to work It would be worth $20 to me to smash the @#$%^&* thing with a sledge hammer!

[mrburnette]

@junkprojects

but after all the weeks of effort I put in to getting SPI to work It would be worth $20 to me

Understand, and maybe an inquiry to Sparkfun's forum will provide a workaround. While everyone here tries to assist with all non-Arduino hardware, sometimes our expertise may fall short of the manufacturer's knowledge. As you will see, this is a documented (common) issue: Using build in SD Card in Sparkfun Thing Plus RP2040 board · Issue #1 · khoih-prog/RP2040_SD · GitHub

https://forum.sparkfun.com/index.php

For all forum members,
3rd party "arduino" product manufacturers may produce products that are good products but targeted to a niche market or use-scenario. As such, such products may be problematic to the end-user compared to generic authentic Arduino boards.

Always do an online search, check the manufacturer's website including their support and GitHub sites to avoid disappointment.

Do not select a non-Arduino board based solely on price.

[junkprojects]

mrburnette;

Now wish I could take that last post back; an over-reaction at the end of a long frustrating day, sorry (I guess I am human after all.) Thanks for your well thought-out replies, I will press on (and in the future I will think before I post.)