All-in-One Raspberry Pi Getting Started Guide

Raspberry Pi, one of the most ingenious invention for makers and hackers. Before we get started into the nitty gritty details of getting it setup, we first must ponder over the question that what the Raspberry Pi actually is?

Raspberry Pi is a linux based single board computer in a small form factor capable of fast processing (compared to Arduino) and able to interact with the physical word through inputs and outputs. It has built in hardware for USB, HDMI, Ethernet etc providing great connectivity options and ease of use.

In this instructable i will focussing on the very basics including the following:

  1. Understanding the Pi
  2. Building a sturdy base
  3. Setting up the Pi
  4. Installing NOOBS
  5. Wifi Setup
  6. Picamera Guide

If you found my ible helpful or up to the mark, please vote for me.

Step 1: About the Pi

The Raspberry Pi is the size of a credit card. It is developed by the Raspberry Foundation in UK. The first Pi series was commercially launched in 2012 after which the design was improved and upgraded in the following years.

There are two distinct and popular designs, Model A and Model B. Both have different versions with different Specifications but the design and features are common in all the version.

Above all the Pi is ridiculously cheap. Starting from a mere $20 and going up to $45 according to the version, it truly is a dream come true for makers on a budget.

General Specifications:
700 Mhz or 900 Mhz ARM Processor
256 MB or 512 MB or 1 GB Ram
Dual Core Videocore GPU
SD Card or MicroSD Card slot
2 to 4 USB Ports
HDMI Port
Micro USB Power Jack
3.5 Audio Jack
10/100 Ethernet Jack

There are some key interfaces i will talk about:

  1. GPIO Connector
  2. USB Ports
  3. HDMI Port
  4. Ethernet Port
  5. Display Port
  6. Camera Port
  7. Composite Video Jack
  8. Power ConnectorAll-in-One Raspberry Pi Getting Started Guide

1. GPIO Connector: The GPIO Connector on the Pi is a male header which can be used to interface hardware with the Pi. It has 8 and above GPIO(General Purpose Input Output) pins on which led's etc can be connected. These pins are very sensitive and can only handle small currents.

2. USB Ports: The Pi has 2 to 4 USB ports. They work the same way as any other USB port and can be used to connect Mouse, Keyboard, Wifi dongle, Flash Drive etc.

3. HDMI Port: The HDMI port is used to connect the Pi to a display. It is pretty straightforward but may require some configuration. I will delve into that later on.

4. Ethernet Port: The ethernet port is used to connect the Pi to an internet connection. Its just plug and play. Although Wifi is much more convenient hence i will tell you about installing that as well.

5. Display Port: The display port is a ribbon connector port used to connect the Pi to its dedicated LCD display which is available in the market.

6. Camera Port: This camera port is also a ribbon connector port used to connect the PI camera to the Pi. I will show you how to do that later on.

7. Composite Video Jack: this is used to connect the Pi to a composite video display. It requires some configuration to it started.

8. Power Jack : The Pi is powered using a Micro USB Adapter of 5V with minimum current capacity of 500 mA but its better to use a good quality mobile charger rated at 1 A for smooth performance.

Step 2: Materials for Getting Started

These are the absolute basics required without which the Pi cant be setup

  1. Raspberry Pi (Obviously)
  2. USB Keyboard
  3. USB Mouse
  4. HDMI Monitor + HDMI Cable OR VGA Monitor + VGA to HDMI Converter + VGA Cable
  5. 5V Micro USB Power Adapter
  6. 8GB or above Micro SD Card
  7. Card Reader
  8. Computer with Internet Connection
  9. Ethernet Cable

These are the addons i will explain in my tutorial

  1. Wifi Dongle
  2. Raspberry Pi Camera Module
  3. Ethernet Cable

Step 3: Base Building

Well at this point I guess you have a Pi in your hand. I mean a Raspberry Pi. 😛 So the Pi is small and when you connect all the cables it goes out of control. Its hard to keep it at one place. This can be frustrating and dangerous hence before starting to work on it we will mount the Pi on a plexiglass base.

Materials

  1. Piece of plexiglass
  2. Screws x 4
  3. Nuts x 12

To build the base cut the plexiglass if required using the score and snap technique. Mark the center of the plexiglass and place the Pi in the center. Mark the four holes on the base using a sharpie. Drill holes using a drill bit of the right size according to your screws. You may need to run the drill through the holes in the Pi as well. Don't use larger diameter screws as it may damage the Pi. Place the screws in the four holes and nut it down. Then add more nuts a little higher. Place the Pi and add nuts above it to clamp everything down.

Step 4: Installing the NOOBS on SD Card

We will be installing the Linux OS in the SD card.

First of all we will have to download the Linux Distribution named NOOBS (New Out of The Box Software) from the following link

ZIP File

Torrent

SD card should be 8GB or above. For Model A standard SD Card and for Model B Micro SD Card.

Follow these instructions for proper installation of NOOBS on the SD card

  1. Format an SD card that is 4GB or larger as FAT. See instructions on how to do this below.
  2. Download and extract the files from the NOOBS zip file.
  3. Copy the extracted files onto the SD card that you just formatted so that this file is at the root directory of the SD card. Please note that in some cases it may extract the files into a folder; if this is the case then please copy across the files from inside the folder rather than the folder itself.
  4. On first boot the “RECOVERY” FAT partition will be automatically resized to a minimum, and a list of OSs that are available to install will be displayed.

Formatting the SD Card

Use the following software to format the SD Card. Install it on your system following the instructions.

SD Formatter for Windows

SD Formatter for Mac OS

Step 5: Making All The Connections

Now you have to set up the Pi. It is all pretty straightforward.

  1. First connect the USB Keyboard and USB Mouse into the USB ports of the Pi.
  2. Then connect the HDMI Cable or HDMI to VGA adapter depending on the monitor you are using.
  3. Next plug in the (Micro) SD Card into its slot. Its contacts will be facing upward when you plug it in while the Pi is upright.
  4. Lastly connect the power adapter into the power connector.

    All-in-One Raspberry Pi Getting Started Guide schematic

Step 6: First Boot Up and Installation of Raspbian

Now the first boot is simple. As the Pi is powered you will see the display showing you a menu of OS to choose from. You will choose the first option which is Raspbian and click on Install. And then Ok on the prompt box. The setup will work its magic and install the OS. So sit back and be patient as it will take about 10 to 15 minutes. You can read the information being displayed on the setup window to get insight into what is Raspbian and how you go about it.

Once installed it will tell you that OS is installed. After that you will click OK and then reboot the Pi by removing the power and reconnecting it. It will boot up and after going through some initialization process it will show the Configuration Setup. There you will select the third option and select Boot to Desktop.

Then again reboot the Pi like before. You may not get booted into the Graphical Interface the first time. If that is the case then Reboot again. I got it in the third try while making this Ible.

So you are done. You have successfully installed Raspbian on you Raspberry Pi

Step 7: Inside the Raspbian

Well I am not much experienced into the details of the Raspbian and how it works. But there are some simple games and softwares pre-installed for you.

The most basic is the command line interface from where you can change your Pi such as activating Outputs or changing settings.

Then there is Python which is used for programming and developing softwares. It has a lot of depth and you can really learn a lot from it. There are like a gazillion tutorials on Instructables which show you how to write softwares and stuff.

There is an internet browser allowing you to browse the internet. You can also connect a flash drive and view stuff from it including documents, images etc.

Go to this link for more info.

 

For more detail: All-in-One Raspberry Pi Getting Started Guide


About The Author

Ibrar Ayyub

I am an experienced technical writer holding a Master's degree in computer science from BZU Multan, Pakistan University. With a background spanning various industries, particularly in home automation and engineering, I have honed my skills in crafting clear and concise content. Proficient in leveraging infographics and diagrams, I strive to simplify complex concepts for readers. My strength lies in thorough research and presenting information in a structured and logical format.

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