Wifi

Overview

The F256K needs extra hardware to talk to Wifi.

Options,

1. Install a Feather wifi board onto the F256K motherboard. (Now available as an order option - then Stefany will install it)

2. Connect to an external device via the DB9 serial port.

3. Use a Null Modem Cable to connect the DB9 port to a linux box, and configure SLIP on the linux box.

Then, you need to access wifi from the device.

Configuring a Feather wifi-module (on motherboard)

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Finding and configuring an external wifi modem (via DB9 serial)

TheOldNet device

These instructions are for Serial Wifi Modem for Vintage Computers V4.

Manual for that device: http://theoldnet.com/TheOldNet%20Wifi%20Modem%20Manual.pdf

This device is a wifi adapter that requires separate micro-USB for power.

This is what you need,

• The unit itself
• A way to supply power to it over micro-USB. e.g. Kindle charger, USB-to-microusb cable connected to a computer.
• A way to connect your computer to the DB9 serial port on this device. e.g. PCIe serial adapter, USB-to-DB9 adapter cable.

We will need to configure it for your wifi network against your computer before we connect it to your foenix. (At some future time we will have a serial terminal in the F256k so we can do this from that device.)

On linux,

• Install GNU screen (e.g. sudo apt install screen). Below, you will need to run it as root so it can access raw hardware.
• Identify the serial port, either through syslog or else trial-and-error. If you have USB-to-DB9 it may be /dev/ttyUSB0. With a card, it will be /dev/ttySX.
• sudo screen /dev/ttyS4 300
• If you get gibberish, kill screen (ctrl+a, k), reset the device (button), wait one second, restart screen.
• If you want instructions, type "AT?"
• Set your network SSID: AT$SSID=WIFISSID
• Set your network password: AT$PASS=WIFIPASSWORD
• Connect: ATC1
• If you need to see the configuration in the unit, AT&V
• Save: AT&W
• Set serial baud rate: AT$SB=115200
• Kill screen (ctrl+a, k)
• sudo screen /dev/ttyS4 115200
• Save: AT&W
• Show details: ATI

You should now be able to connect to the unit from wifi on your home network.

It is now ready to be connected to your F256K.

Null modem cable to a linux box offering slip

Have not done this yet. Gadget advises, "if you have a networked linux box just sitting next to your F256, and a spare serial port on it, you can use slattach to create a SLIP interface, set up a route to it, set the "route packets" option in /proc (I forget where), and tell arp to advertise that you are a router for the SLIP IP(s)."

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Verify connectivity

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