wpa_supplicant

The Raspberry Pi computer comes without Wi-Fi initially, but its true freedom is reached when you connect it wirelessly. There are a number of options for this, but I’d recommend using the Edimax Nano USB adapter. It’s easy to set up your Raspberry Pi to work with this device—just follow this straightforward guide.

Required Hardware

First, you need the Wi-Fi dongle (other adapters may work with this guide, as long as they have drivers for the Raspberry Pi). The Edimax Nano USB adapter is available from Amazon UK and other retailers.

Once you have the dongle, simply plug it directly into one of the Raspberry Pi’s USB ports. I recommend using a direct port rather than connecting via a USB hub, as sometimes problems can occur going through a hub. The Raspberry Pi has enough power to run this compact networking tool without issues.

Verifying the Adapter Is Detected

First, let’s check that your Raspberry Pi recognises the adapter. For convenience, I’ll use sudo su to switch to root access (remember to exit this level when you’re finished):

sudo su

Now, check the USB devices with:

lsusb

You should see your device listed, similar to this:

The line with “Edimax” shows your device is detected and you’re ready to configure it.

Checking Current Wi-Fi Status

If you have configured Wi-Fi before (for another adapter), it may have already connected. Type:

iwconfig

If it says “unassociated”, then you need to proceed with configuration. If it’s associated (like the screenshot below), you’re done and don’t need to do anything further:

The top line ESSID indicates that the Wi-Fi is configured and working. If you cannot see wlan0 or wlan1, then your device is not working yet—try unplugging it or rebooting your Raspberry Pi.

Configuration Steps: Network Interfaces

First, we need to make sure the WLAN interface is set up for hot-plugging and establish the filepath for the configuration. Edit the network interfaces file:

nano /etc/network/interfaces

Make sure the following lines are present (some are probably already there):

auto wlan0
allow-hotplug wlan0
iface wlan0 inet manual
wpa-roam /etc/wpa_supplicate/wpa_supplicant.conf

If you find a wlan1 entry, you may want to add similar lines for it as well (this sometimes happens if you switch the USB ports). This ensures any wireless interface connects properly (alternatively, you can point to a different configuration file to connect to different networks).

Configuration Steps: Wi-Fi Security Details

Now we need to edit the WPA supplicant file and add your network details:

nano /etc/wpa_supplicate/wpa_supplicant.conf

If the fields are missing, add them in. Put your SSID and password in quotes as shown:`

network={
ssid="YOUR SSID HERE"
psk="YOUR KEY HERE"
proto=RSN
key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
pairwise=CCMP TKIP
group=CCMP TKIP
}

Bringing Up the Wi-Fi Interface

Once you’ve completed the configuration, bring up the interface:

ifup wlan0

You may get some errors, but it is usually safe to ignore them. To see if the configuration has worked, run:

ifconfig wlan0

You should see an IP address assigned to the interface:

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any problems, I’d recommend rebooting your Raspberry Pi. This will start up the wireless interface as the system boots.

sudo reboot

After rebooting, check the connection status again with iwconfig to confirm everything is working properly.

Benefits of Wi-Fi on Your Raspberry Pi

Adding wireless connectivity to your Raspberry Pi offers numerous advantages:

1. Flexibility in placement: Position your Pi anywhere within your Wi-Fi range
2. Reduced cable clutter: No more trailing Ethernet cables
3. Portable projects: Ideal for mobile applications and projects
4. Remote access: Easily SSH into your Pi from anywhere on your network
5. Internet of Things (IoT) applications: Perfect for connected devices and sensors

Conclusion

The Edimax Nano USB adapter is an excellent, compact choice for adding Wi-Fi capabilities to your Raspberry Pi. Once properly configured, it provides reliable wireless connectivity that opens up new possibilities for your Raspberry Pi projects.

With this small and affordable addition, your Raspberry Pi can be transformed from a tethered computer into a fully mobile computing platform, ready to power your next creative endeavour.