A real-time Berlin public transport (BVG) departure display built with a Raspberry Pi Pico W and HUB75 LED matrix panel. Shows upcoming departures with line numbers, destinations, and minutes until arrival in the distinctive BVG style.

• Real-time departure information from the BVG REST API
• Colored display with authentic U-Bahn line colors
• Web-based configuration interface
• Access Point mode for initial WiFi setup
• Configurable station, transport types, and display options
• Filter specific lines from the display
• Walk delay to hide departures you can't catch

• Raspberry Pi Pico W (RP2040 + WiFi)
• Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W (RP2350 + WiFi)
• Pimoroni Interstate 75 W (recommended - includes HUB75 driver)
• Other RP2040/RP2350 boards with WiFi capability

• HUB75 LED matrix panel (supported sizes):
  • 128x32 (default)
  • 128x64
  • Other sizes supported by Interstate 75 with 32 or 64 pixel height

The Pimoroni Interstate 75 W is the easiest option as it combines the Pico W with a HUB75 driver board.

This project requires Pimoroni MicroPython (not standard MicroPython) as it uses the hub75 and picographics libraries.

1. Download the appropriate .uf2 file:
   • For Pico W: picow-v1.x.x-pimoroni-micropython.uf2
   • For Pico 2 W: pico2_w-v1.x.x-pimoroni-micropython.uf2
2. Hold the BOOTSEL button and connect USB (or tap RESET while holding BOOTSEL)
3. A drive called RPI-RP2 will appear
4. Copy the .uf2 file to the drive
5. The board will automatically restart

1. Flash the Pimoroni MicroPython firmware (see above)

2. Copy the following files to the Pico:

   main.py web_server.py settings.py hw_conf.py font_bvg.py ansiwen128x64.png lib/aiohttp/ (directory) 

3. Use a tool like Thonny, mpremote, or rshell to copy files.

   Example with mpremote:

   mpremote cp main.py : mpremote cp web_server.py : mpremote cp settings.py : mpremote cp hw_conf.py : mpremote cp font_bvg.py : mpremote cp ansiwen128x64.png : mpremote cp -r lib :

On first boot (or if WiFi credentials are not configured):

1. The display shows "WiFi Setup Mode"
2. Connect to the WiFi network BVGdisplay (open network)
3. Open http://192.168.4.1 in your browser
4. Enter your WiFi credentials and select a station
5. Click Save Settings and then Restart Device

Once connected to your WiFi, access the configuration page at http://<device-ip>/

Settings available:

• WiFi SSID / Password - Your WiFi network credentials
• API URL - BVG REST API endpoint (default: https://v6.bvg.transport.rest)
• Station Search - Search and select your departure station
• Filtered Lines - Hide specific lines (e.g., U5, S8)
• Walk Delay - Time in seconds to walk to the station (hides departures you can't catch)
• Destination Offset - Pixel offset for destination text alignment
• Transport Types - Enable/disable Bus, Tram, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, Regional, Express, Ferry
• Colored Display - Show transport type colors
• Subway Line Colors - Use authentic U-Bahn line colors (U1=green, U2=orange, etc.)

Edit hw_conf.py to match your display:

from hub75 import COLOR_ORDER_RGB, COLOR_ORDER_RBG from picographics import DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X32, DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X64 # Select your display size DISPLAY = DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X32 # DISPLAY = DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X64 # Adjust if colors appear wrong (RGB vs RBG panels) COLOR_ORDER = COLOR_ORDER_RGB # COLOR_ORDER = COLOR_ORDER_RBG

Available display options:

• DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X32
• DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_128X64
• DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_192X64
• DISPLAY_INTERSTATE75_256X64

Settings are stored in /settings.json on the device. Default values:

{ "WIFI_SSID": "", "WIFI_PASSWORD": "", "API_URL": "https://v6.bvg.transport.rest", "STATION_ID": 900100003, "FILTERED": [], "WALK_DELAY": 0, "DEST_OFFSET": 23, "COLORED": true, "SUBWAY_COLORS": true, "SHOW_BUS": true, "SHOW_TRAM": true, "SHOW_SUBWAY": true, "SHOW_REGIONAL": true, "SHOW_SUBURBAN": true, "SHOW_FERRY": true, "SHOW_EXPRESS": true }

The device couldn't find WiFi credentials. Connect to the BVGdisplay WiFi network and configure via the web interface.

WiFi connection failed after multiple attempts. Check your SSID and password in the web interface.

Change COLOR_ORDER in hw_conf.py between COLOR_ORDER_RGB and COLOR_ORDER_RBG.

• Check that your Station ID is correct
• Verify the API URL is accessible
• Ensure at least one transport type is enabled

Included in Pimoroni MicroPython:

• hub75 - HUB75 LED matrix driver
• picographics - Graphics library
• pngdec - PNG decoder for startup animation

Bundled in lib/:

• aiohttp - Async HTTP client for API requests

See LICENSE file.

• Pimoroni MicroPython (RP2040)
• Pimoroni MicroPython (RP2350)
• BVG REST API Documentation
• Interstate 75 W Product Page