# Communicating between Rpi \<-\> Pico via USB

**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/communicating-between-rpi-pico-via-usb/85294
**Category:** General
**Created:** [7 February 2024 16:22 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/communicating-between-rpi-pico-via-usb/85294 "2024-02-07T16:22:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 11

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### Author: ![PizzaProgram](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/pizzaprogram/32/19431_2.png) [@PizzaProgram](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PizzaProgram)
#### Post date: [5 May 2024 09:33 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/communicating-between-rpi-pico-via-usb/85294/11 "2024-05-05T09:33:11Z")

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# 6. [`node-red-mcu`](https://github.com/phoddie/node-red-mcu)

@ralphwetzel recommended me [here](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/nr2pico-u2if-python-to-js-help-wanted/87706/2) to use [`node-red-mcu-plugin`](https://flows.nodered.org/node/@ralphwetzel/node-red-mcu-plugin).

Similar to [Kaluma](https://kalumajs.org/), this could work only, if somebody would provide a "ready to use" example, how to communicate through the default USB with the "main NR".  
I've searched for it for several days, but concluded:

- USB is reserved for debugging + new firmware upload.
- Communicating with the Pico board would be possible through Wifi or Ethernet only (which the USB version of Pico board does not have).
- There is no `MQTT -> to serial` or `Webserver over serial` protocol built in, Moddable scripts assume a presence of ESP32 or similar chip.
- UART is reserved for PINs only.

Also it had to be written for both sides (host + board) laying down the communication protocol from scratch.  
Once uploaded the firmware to the board, it would be impossible to dynamically change a "mcu-node" to something else. (For example an IO pin to PWM) from host side.

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_[View the full topic](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/communicating-between-rpi-pico-via-usb/85294)._