Installing WiFi on the Raspberry Pi

Lead Image © Zackery Blanton, 123RF.com

No Strings

Integrated Bluetooth and WiFi are important additions to the Raspberry Pi 3. We show you three different methods for adding your Pi to a wireless LAN.

The Raspberry Pi 3 (RPi3) has an integrated radio chip for WiFi and Bluetooth that includes the necessary antennae. This built-in wireless support saves the RPi3 user from the need to invest in a USB WiFi adapter. The antennae are located in a small component found on the upper side of the board, next to the display screen connection (Figure 1). Because of these new wireless components, the Raspberry Pi (Rasp Pi) designers have moved the three LEDs to a new location next to the USB power connection.

Figure 1: The RPi3 has integrated Bluetooth and WiFi.

Current Raspbian versions support the WiFi chip on the RPi3 without any additional tinkering. Even so, your Pi will need to find its way into your home WiFi setup. If you are running an older Pi system, you will need a USB wireless adapter to join a wireless network. In any case, you have several options for configuring wireless on a Rasp Pi. An easy GUI tool will help you set up your Pi on the home wireless network, but if you have configured your Pi to operate without a graphical interface, you will need different tools to set up the WiFi connection.

[...]

Use Express-Checkout link below to read the full article (PDF).

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF

Pages: 6

Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Raspberry Pi Geek

SINGLE ISSUES
Print Issues
Digital Issues
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Print Subs
Digisubs
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content