Wireless Networking Setup on Raspberry Pi Using Command Line

This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up a wireless connection on your Raspberry Pi using the command line interface.

This method is versatile and should work for various security protocols, including WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3.

Enable Wireless Networking

Before configuring your Wi-Fi, ensure the wireless radio is enabled and set the correct country code to comply with local regulations:

Set WLAN Country: Open the raspi-config tool to set your country for wireless networking.

sudo raspi-config

Navigate to Localisation Options > WLAN Country and select your country.

Check Wi-Fi Status: Verify if the Wi-Fi radio is enabled.

nmcli radio wifi

If it returns disabled, enable it:

nmcli radio wifi on

Finding Networks

Scan for available Wi-Fi networks:

nmcli dev wifi list

This command displays a list of available networks. Identify the SSID (network name) you wish to connect to.

Connect to a Network

Secured Network

To connect to a secured network:

sudo nmcli --ask dev wifi connect <example_ssid>

Replace <example_ssid> with your network's SSID. You will be prompted to enter the network password.

Unsecured Network

For an unsecured network:

sudo nmcli dev wifi connect <example_ssid>

Hidden Network

For a hidden network, specify it's hidden:

sudo nmcli --ask dev wifi connect <example_ssid> hidden yes

Set Network Priority

Your Raspberry Pi can automatically connect to a preferred network among several known ones based on priority:

Check Current Priority

nmcli --fields autoconnect-priority,name connection

This command shows the priority values for known networks.

Change Network Priority

To prioritise a network, adjust its autoconnect priority:

nmcli connection modify "Pi Towers" connection.autoconnect-priority 10

This example sets "Pi Towers" as a preferred network with a priority of 10.

Confirm Connection

After connecting, confirm that your Pi is connected to the desired network:

nmcli dev wifi list

Look for an asterisk (*) in the "IN-USE" column next to your network.

Additional Tips

• Editing Network Configurations: Directly edit connection configurations at /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/.

• Security Note: Exercise caution when connecting to unsecured wireless networks.

• Network Troubleshooting: If you encounter connection issues, recheck your SSID and password, and ensure your Raspberry Pi is within a good range of the Wi-Fi signal.

By following these steps, you can configure and prioritize wireless networks on your Raspberry Pi using the command line, providing flexibility and control over your device's network connections.