How does one set up a Duet3D 6HC with RPi4 to wifi?

[Jim46]

After searching the forum and the Duet3 documentation, i'm asking how one does the WiFi set up. Presently, I use ethernet cable form the Pi to my PC. So, I'm moving set up to install motor where on WiFi is available. Thanks in advance for your help.
Jim

[garyd9]

@Jim46 Running the Duet3 in "standalone" mode (so the Pi would be connected to the Duet3 with an ethernet wire and the Pi would bridge to wifi) or running it with the Pi as a SBC (using DSF - which would require nothing more than a normal wifi config on the Pi)

[A Former User]

Running sudo raspi-config from putty, choose Network Options and Wireless LAN and fill in the SSID and passphrase as requested is simple to follow.

ref https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/wireless/wireless-cli.md

[Danal]

Assuming you are going to follow the Duet documentation to build your Pi, and attach it by ribbon cable:

After you've downloaded and 'etched' the image to a card, you fill find a file called "wpa_supplicant.conf" on the card. Edit this, and it will be obvious where to put your SSID and Password.

The only tricky thing is to use an editor that will be OK with "Unix line ends", and not put "Windows line ends" in the file. Notepad++, Sublime, Atom, almost any editor used by programmers. NOT Word or Wordpad.

At first boot, the Pi will move this to another directory, and use it. It will then come up on your wireless. You can find its IP address with your router (if you know how) or you can try "duet3.local" or "duet3.lan". That last one worked for me.

[A Former User]

The link "Bearer" listed is what I used successfully.

Just remember to to disconnect the ethernet cable and then re-boot the pi
before attempting to connect via wifi and getting pissed when it wont connect, dont ask me how i know......

[A Former User]

@Danal said in How does one set up a Duet3D 6HC with RPi4 to wifi?:

Assuming you are going to follow the Duet documentation to build your Pi, and attach it by ribbon cable:

After you've downloaded and 'etched' the image to a card, you fill find a file called "wpa_supplicant.conf" on the card. Edit this, and it will be obvious where to put your SSID and Password.

I tried this: To set up WiFi, you can edit "wpa_supplicant.conf" on the SD card (first partition).

I couldnt get my win10 machine to display the first partition on the SD card, which is why i ended up following the method that Bearer linked to.

[A Former User]

@CaLviNx said in How does one set up a Duet3D 6HC with RPi4 to wifi?:

I tried this: To set up WiFi, you can edit "wpa_supplicant.conf" on the SD card (first partition).

I couldnt get my win10 machine to display the first partition on the SD card, which is why i ended up following the method that Bearer linked to.

thats odd; it should also work on an already running system, but at that point raspi-config is easier and rules out a bit of typing errors and formatting issues. on a brand new image I tend to opt to add the file to the first (/boot) partition if I have the card in my computer anyway and winodws 10 isn't a problem as the partition should be fat32 for raspbian at least (after booting the card once the wpa_supplicant.conf file is removed from /boot but it shouldn't prevent windows from showing the partition, and you can just add a new file afaik)

[Jim46]

They current system is the Duet3D is connected to RPi4 which has the Duet3 microSD card installed whic brings up the blue Duet landing page.
The PC and RPi are connected by an ethernet cable. I am able to run commands successfully using the DWC2.

I launched Putty and was success getting to the command line.
ran sudo raspi-config. Selected Network Options, the selcted WiFI, then received the following errros:

1. could not communicate with wpa_supplicant....hit enter received
2. there was an error running option N2 WiFi.

Also tried to run sudo iwlist wlan0 scan.
It appeared to work and I was able to find ESSID: "ng Hub_ xxxxxxxxxxx"
I also found my 2.4 Ghz net wrk and mt guest network, but not my 5Ghz even though it shows in my router map.

what an i doing wrong?

Thanks,

Jim

[A Former User]

@Jim46 could be the wifi country option isn't set, preventing wpa_supplicant running, should be an option for that in raspi-config, but i think it only works to change the country, not add it, try it if you find it.

If not, I think the following may work, copy and paste the below into putty

cat << EOF | sudo tee /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf > /dev/null
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=US
EOF
sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant.service

and press enter after. Then run sudo raspi-config again, if it still fails you may have to reboot the pi after making the country change. running sudo reboot and reconnecting after 30 seconds or so should take care of it)

edit: for future ref i think this worked after all - but i also think it may need some foolproofing. But should ask for SSID and Passphrase, then output the correct file (for the US) with the encrypted passphrase.

read -p "Enter SSID: " SSID &&
read -p "Enter passphrase: " PASS &&
cat << EOF | sudo tee /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf > /dev/null &&
ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev
update_config=1
country=US
EOF
wpa_passphrase "$SSID" "$PASS" | grep -v $PASS | sudo tee -a /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf > /dev/null &&
sudo rfkill unblock wifi &&
sudo systemctl restart wpa_supplicant.service &&
wpa_cli -i wlan0 reconfigure

(but I still suspect a reboot after is needed)

edit2: seems there is something that causes raspi-config to fail with the DuetPi image, a clean vanilla Raspbian image will first ask for Wifi country then SSID/passphrase. might do some more poking.

[Jim46]

Hi Bearer, I just ran your suggestions including the reboot and it worked! Thanks so much!
Jim

[A Former User]

Goodie! Wasn't quite sure how well the code would copy/paste, but a little luck is always a fine substitute for careful planning and testing:)

[A Former User]

@chrishamm might want to consider rebuilding the DuetPi image without a default wpa_supplicant.conf on /boot, or at the very least rename it to wpa_supplicant.conf.sample or something as it currently breaks raspi-config's ability to setup wifi if the user boots the card without editing the file first. It would also potentially violate the wifi regulations as the country is set to GB.

Maybe its possible to keep the file as wpa_supplicant.conf with parts commented out but not sure that'll work or be any more helpfull.

[Jim46]

Hello All,
I installed the motors on the frame and tried to run the same test as on the bench. The x axis work well. Both the Y and Z dual motor axes ran into trouble. It seems I had best drives slip. Have to check that and also make sure the motors are moving in the same direction.
Cheers
Jim

[A Former User]

@Jim46 said in How does one set up a Duet3D 6HC with RPi4 to wifi?:

Have to check that and also make sure the motors are moving in the same direction.

given the lack of standards with respect to colour coding motor wiring it could be they theoretically move opposite even if it looks like they're wired the same.

the easiest way to reverse the direction if needed is to add R1 to the M569 line for the relevant axis. (ed: change S0 to S1 and vice versa in the relevant M569 line)

[Jim46]

Hi Bearer,
Currently, it says, e.g.,
M569 P2 S1... (Y1 motor) physical drive 2 goes forward
M569 P3 S1... (Y2 motor) Physical drive 3 goes forward

the motors now face away from each other on the Y axis
so is it right to set up the P3 as follows
M569 P2 R1 ????
Thanks,
Jim

[jay_s_uk]

Changing S1 to S0 changes the motor direction.

[Jim46]

Thanks you so much, I reset it as
M569 P2 S1... (Y1 motor) physical drive 2 goes forward
M569 P3 S0... (Y2 motor) Physical drive 3 goes reverse
M569 P4 S1... (Z1 motor) physical drive 4 goes forward
M569 P5 S0... (Z2 motor) Physical drive 5 goes reverse

also used dual M584 lines x and Y and next line for Z and E

It is installed in the printer framce and it works! Thanks again!
Next is to design the extrustion head and design something to print out as a test.

[Jim46]

BTW, how does one mark a thread "SOLVED"?

[jay_s_uk]

There's an option to set ask a question bottom right. You can then mark it solved

[A Former User]

@Jim46 said in How does one set up a Duet3D 6HC with RPi4 to wifi?:

M569 P2 R1 ????

My bad! Jay corrected it thankfully - too bad I didn't see it earlier, one of the issues I've found myself dealing with earlier (today)..