MBing · March 23, 2025 00:05 · rdesmarais2 · Dec 4, 2022 · mrhosseini · Dec 4, 2022
diff --git a/install_wlan_dongle.sh b/install_wlan_dongle.sh
 # DO NOT PUT THE WIFI DONGLE IN THE DEVICE BEFORE MENTIONED EXPLICITLY BELOW

 # Brief note, after this the UI will not show the usb dongle, 
 # the wifi does work and I get an IP address, so all works,
 # but I don't go into detail of making it show on the Raspbian UI.
 # (for this purpose I don't care about the UI)

 # For the use of this I connected my device to an ethernet connection and through the Router could see the IP which I can SSH into.

 ## STEP 1: Prepare machine and install packages needed

 # Make sure the system is up to date and all that needs to be installed is installed
 `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -f`

 # I also upgrade my distro, but this step can be skipped
 `sudo apt-get dist-upgrade`

 # Install some necessary packages as we will build the source firmware ourselves
 `sudo apt-get install -y build-essential git`

 # There is a package for raspberry pi to add the kernel headers, so you can pick one here (if one doesn't work, use the other)
 `sudo apt-get install -y linux-headers`
 `sudo apt-get install -y raspberrypi-kernel-headers`

 # reboot for changes to take effect
 `sudo reboot`


 ## STEP 2: Get and install the firmware for TP-Link-WN725N Nano

 # Download the Github package (for best support use git clone instead of zip)
 # I just put this on my home folder as I am not using this RPI for any other purpose than a livecam
 `git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu.git`

 # Go into the new folder
 `cd rtl8188eu`

 # Make the source for your machine
 `make`

 # Install the firmware that was just build for your machine
 `sudo make install`

 # Reboot for changes to take effect
 `sudo reboot`

 # Shutdown now as we need to have the usb dongle in the RPI on startup
 `sudo shutdown -h now`

 ## STEP 3: (INSERT USB DONGLE BEFORE CONTINUING) Check if dongle is recognized by the system

 # After starting your rpi check if it now recognizes your wifi dongle
 `lsusb`
 # This should show something like `BUS 00X .... REALTEK... RTL8188EUS... Wireless Network Adapter`

 # Great your wifi dongle is now recognised. If not, you probably don't have this dongle or you need to repeat the above steps.

 # Check if modules are being loaded
 `lsmod`
 # Search for something like `8188eu ... 0`

 # Check if wlan0 is present
 `ifconfig -a`
 # There should be quite some output next to and under `wlan0`, if there's an IP address already visible, skip all next steps it's working.

 ## STEP 4: Setup wifi settings

 # Add wifi settings
 `sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces`
 # Search for `auto wlan0` at the start, if it's not there, add it and keep the file open

 # Make sure it knows where to find the wpa config
 # Add these lines to the bottom of the same file:
 ```
 allow-hotplug wlan0
 iface wlan0 inet dhcp
 wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
 iface default inet dhcp
 ```

 ## STEP 5: Connect to wifi

 # The file `wpa_supplicant.conf` might already exist and might have some lines, add these below:
 ```
 network={
 ssid="YOUR_NETWORK_NAME"
 psk="YOUR_NETWORK_PASSWORD"
 proto=RSN
 key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
 pairwise=CCMP
 auth_alg=OPEN
 }
 ```
 # Replace `YOUR_NETWORK_NAME` & `YOUR_NETWORK_PASSWORD` with your own credentials.

 # Reboot and connect
 `sudo reboot`

 # To test after reboot if your wifi is working, you can open the browser or go to the terminal
 `ifconfig -a`
 # This will now have an ip-address next to `wlan0` which you can use for ssh or whatever.

 # Congrats!


 ## Resources used:
 # The dongle on Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/TP-Link-TL-WN725N-Adapter-Suitable-10-9-10-13/dp/B008IFXQFU/
 # The Firmware: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu
 # Troubleshooting on RPI: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44044
 # Wifi auto connect on RPI: https://weworkweplay.com/play/automatically-connect-a-raspberry-pi-to-a-wifi-network/
 # Extra resource for rpi-source: https://blog.samat.org/2014/12/15/realtek-8188eu-based-wi-fi-adapters-on-the-raspberry-pi/
	# DO NOT PUT THE WIFI DONGLE IN THE DEVICE BEFORE MENTIONED EXPLICITLY BELOW

	# Brief note, after this the UI will not show the usb dongle,
	# the wifi does work and I get an IP address, so all works,
	# but I don't go into detail of making it show on the Raspbian UI.
	# (for this purpose I don't care about the UI)

	# For the use of this I connected my device to an ethernet connection and through the Router could see the IP which I can SSH into.

	## STEP 1: Prepare machine and install packages needed

	# Make sure the system is up to date and all that needs to be installed is installed
	`sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install -f`

	# I also upgrade my distro, but this step can be skipped
	`sudo apt-get dist-upgrade`

	# Install some necessary packages as we will build the source firmware ourselves
	`sudo apt-get install -y build-essential git`

	# There is a package for raspberry pi to add the kernel headers, so you can pick one here (if one doesn't work, use the other)
	`sudo apt-get install -y linux-headers`
	`sudo apt-get install -y raspberrypi-kernel-headers`

	# reboot for changes to take effect
	`sudo reboot`


	## STEP 2: Get and install the firmware for TP-Link-WN725N Nano

	# Download the Github package (for best support use git clone instead of zip)
	# I just put this on my home folder as I am not using this RPI for any other purpose than a livecam
	`git clone https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu.git`

	# Go into the new folder
	`cd rtl8188eu`

	# Make the source for your machine
	`make`

	# Install the firmware that was just build for your machine
	`sudo make install`

	# Reboot for changes to take effect
	`sudo reboot`

	# Shutdown now as we need to have the usb dongle in the RPI on startup
	`sudo shutdown -h now`

	## STEP 3: (INSERT USB DONGLE BEFORE CONTINUING) Check if dongle is recognized by the system

	# After starting your rpi check if it now recognizes your wifi dongle
	`lsusb`
	# This should show something like `BUS 00X .... REALTEK... RTL8188EUS... Wireless Network Adapter`

	# Great your wifi dongle is now recognised. If not, you probably don't have this dongle or you need to repeat the above steps.

	# Check if modules are being loaded
	`lsmod`
	# Search for something like `8188eu ... 0`

	# Check if wlan0 is present
	`ifconfig -a`
	# There should be quite some output next to and under `wlan0`, if there's an IP address already visible, skip all next steps it's working.

	## STEP 4: Setup wifi settings

	# Add wifi settings
	`sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces`
	# Search for `auto wlan0` at the start, if it's not there, add it and keep the file open

	# Make sure it knows where to find the wpa config
	# Add these lines to the bottom of the same file:
	```
	allow-hotplug wlan0
	iface wlan0 inet dhcp
	wpa-conf /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
	iface default inet dhcp
	```

	## STEP 5: Connect to wifi

	# The file `wpa_supplicant.conf` might already exist and might have some lines, add these below:
	```
	network={
	ssid="YOUR_NETWORK_NAME"
	psk="YOUR_NETWORK_PASSWORD"
	proto=RSN
	key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
	pairwise=CCMP
	auth_alg=OPEN
	}
	```
	# Replace `YOUR_NETWORK_NAME` & `YOUR_NETWORK_PASSWORD` with your own credentials.

	# Reboot and connect
	`sudo reboot`

	# To test after reboot if your wifi is working, you can open the browser or go to the terminal
	`ifconfig -a`
	# This will now have an ip-address next to `wlan0` which you can use for ssh or whatever.

	# Congrats!


	## Resources used:
	# The dongle on Amazon: https://www.amazon.de/TP-Link-TL-WN725N-Adapter-Suitable-10-9-10-13/dp/B008IFXQFU/
	# The Firmware: https://github.com/lwfinger/rtl8188eu
	# Troubleshooting on RPI: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=44044
	# Wifi auto connect on RPI: https://weworkweplay.com/play/automatically-connect-a-raspberry-pi-to-a-wifi-network/
	# Extra resource for rpi-source: https://blog.samat.org/2014/12/15/realtek-8188eu-based-wi-fi-adapters-on-the-raspberry-pi/