How to Connect a Raspberry Pi to a Wi-Fi Network

So you want to connect a Raspberry Pi to the internet, but your computer lacks an ethernet connection, or you lack an ethernet cable. What to do?

What you need:

• Raspberry Pi
• microSD card
  
• HDMI cable
• USB power adapter (that can provide at least 600mA at 5V), include a micro USB cable
• USB Wi-Fi adapter
• USB keyboard
• mouse
• monitor

Step 1: Set Up Your Raspberry Pi

Follow the instructions in your Raspberry Pi "Quick Start Guide and Safety Instruction Manual" to plug in your Raspberry Pi. You can find the microSD card INSIDE the SD card.

1. Put your microSD card in the microSD slot in the Raspberry Pi (underneath). It will only fit one way.
2. Plug in the USB keyboard and mouse into the USB slots on the Raspberry Pi.
3. Turn on your monitor
4. Connect the HDMI cable to the Raspberry Pi
5. Finally, plug in the USB power supply, which will turn on (and boot) the Raspberry Pi.
6. Choose to install Raspbian (the recommended choice)
7. Wait for the install to finish.

Step 2: Configure the Raspberry Pi

• The configuration (raspi-config) program should automatically come up
• If you're going to put your Raspberry Pi on the network, it's a good idea to change the default password. Choose Option 2 to do this.
• In Option 3, choose "desktop login."
• At this point, enable SSH under "advanced options" (to allow another computer to connect to the Raspberry Pi over the Wi-Fi network).
• Finally, choose <Finish> at the bottom of the screen.

After you choose <Finish>, the Raspberry Pi will reboot.

Step 3: Add Wi-Fi Adapter

1. Turn off your Raspberry Pi, and plug in the Wi-Fi into one of the USB ports.
2. Turn it back on. The Wi-Fi adapter may turn on during boot-up, but it's not working yet.
3. Follow this tutorial to configure the Wi-Fi adapter.

Comments

[naturecaresolutions]

How to Connect a Raspberry Pi to a Wi-Fi Network

[nicsil]

An easier solution is to download a Thingbox (http://thethingbox.io) where all is already done.

[Elena-chan]

To manage in a simply way the new connection I found an interesting project https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/572738346/iottly-the-first-iot-open-source-distro-for-makers it's worth a look.

[GarthBock]

Or a much easier way is to set up NOOBS and select Raspbian. When you do the configuration select it to always boot to a desktop. Once it is set up, reboot and when it comes up to a desktop click on the "start" icon in either the lower left or upper left corner (depending on how you have your menu bar set). Go to WiFi configuration. I think V1.3 of Raspbian put an icon on the desktop. V1.4 doesn't seem too. Scan all the available networks. Select yours and put in your security key. Click on Connect. You are done.

[KieraM]

Thanks for the feedback! I plan on replicating this again soon and improving upon it when I have a chance.

[Technocat568]

What os do you show in this (www.instructables.com/file/FMD91XQIA0WJ2KI) picture?

[KieraM]

That's an image of what the Raspberry Pi desktop looks like once you choose "desktop login."

[tomatoskins]

This is great! Beautiful pictures and very well written. You should add more info in your instructable from the tutorial that you link to.

[KieraM]

Thanks for the feedback! I will work on that.

[tomatoskins]

Definitely let me know if you do!