Be sure you know what you're buying
For Prototype Base PCB for Raspberry Pi Pico
This board looked to be ideal for prototyping Pi Pico projects but in reality I found it to be nearly useless. This is because the designer failed to connect the pads adjacent to each GPIO or other non-ground pins together as was done (correctly) for the ground pins. After bending wire jumpers and soldering them across I wasted more time than if I had just hand-wired to a socket. My expectation was that this board would work like a solderless breadboard (with the added bonus of having all the grounds pre-connected) but that is not the case. All it provides are isolated pads adjacent to each pin that must be wired by hand. With that change it could be a useful board, but buyers should be aware of how much hardwiring they will have to do. Also, providing for the Reset switch is a good idea, but move it out of the way so it does not block GPIO22.
Response from Arduinopraxis | Feb. 27, 2022
Dear Robert,
Thanks for your review.
I am very sorry that you describe the PCB as a useless product.
This Raspberry Pi Pico Proto Base is intended to expand the Pico pins to the outside. I did not connect the Pico pins to all soldering pads in order to be flexible.
How will you place a sensor circuit when all pads are connected to the pins of the Raspberry Pi Pico?
Regarding the ground pins. I did not preconnect the ground pins in order to prevent ground loops.
I do not agree with your ratings.
How can you rate the communication with 2 stars? You did not contact me or tried to get in touch with me.
But I will review your suggestions for improvement. Please contact me If you have further improvements.
I will design a new improved version. If you are interested I will send you a prototype of the improved PCB.
Thanks again.
Thomas from Arduinopraxis
