WiFi Setup

WiFi Setup

Connecting the radio to WiFi unlocks the web interface, VNC, accurate time sync (important for FT8), and internet‑connected apps and updates. You can manage WiFi right from the front panel — no keyboard or separate computer needed.

Open it with Menu → WIFI.

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The WiFi Setup screen

The WiFi screen shows:

• Status line (top) — your current connection: the network name, IP address, and signal strength. Reads "Not connected" when you're offline.
• Scan list — the networks found nearby (strongest first). Secured networks are marked.
• SSID and Password fields — where you enter the network you want to join.
• SCAN, CONNECT, and DISCONN buttons.

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Connecting to a network

1. Menu → WIFI.
2. Tap SCAN. After a few seconds the list fills with nearby networks. (The status line briefly shows "Scanning…".)
3. Find your network in the list and note its exact name.
4. Tap the SSID field and type your network name. (Type it exactly — names are case‑sensitive.)
5. Tap the Password field and type your WiFi password.
   • Use the keyboard's case/symbol key to reach lowercase letters and symbols — most passwords need them.
6. Tap CONNECT.
7. Watch the status line. On success it updates to show your network, IP address, and signal. This can take several seconds while the connection is negotiated.

Once connected, the radio will reconnect to that network automatically on future power‑ups.

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Checking your connection

The status line at the top of the WiFi screen tells you where you stand:

• MyNetwork 192.168.1.42 78% — connected, with the network name, your IP address, and signal strength.
• Not connected — offline.
• Connecting… / Scanning… — an operation is in progress.

Your IP address is what you type into a browser to reach the web interface.

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Disconnecting

Tap DISCONN to disconnect from the current network. The status line returns to "Not connected." Use this if you want to take the radio off the network, or before connecting to a different one.

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Tips and troubleshooting

Type the SSID exactly. Network names are case‑sensitive and may contain spaces. Copy it exactly as it appears in the scan list.

Passwords need lowercase and symbols. The on‑screen keyboard starts in uppercase — tap the case/symbol key to reach lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. A wrong case is the most common reason a connect fails.

"Connect failed." Usually a wrong password or the network moved out of range. Re‑scan, confirm the name, and re‑enter the password carefully.

Weak signal. If the signal percentage is low, the connection may be unreliable. Move the radio closer to your access point, or use a better antenna position.

The list is short. The scan shows the strongest nearby networks. If yours isn't listed, it may be too weak, hidden, or on a band the adapter doesn't see — move closer and scan again.

Nothing happens when I tap SCAN/CONNECT. If the WiFi buttons don't respond at all, the front panel and Pi may not be communicating, or the WiFi controls in the software may be out of date. Make sure your Pi software and panel firmware are current (see Upgrading); WiFi control has been fixed and improved across releases.

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Why WiFi matters for FT8

FT8 depends on an accurate clock, and the radio keeps time synchronized over the network. If you operate FT8, connecting to WiFi (or otherwise giving the Pi internet access for time sync) makes a real difference in how well you decode and get answered. See FT8 Operation.

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