3 Pi Zeros, 8 Wifi dongles, 4 different WiFi networks, still no connection

[MagicMatt]

I've tried clean installs of TinyCore 9.0.3 on my Pi Zeros, with all kinds of different WiFi dongles and multiple WiFi networks from WEP, WPA, WPA2 and even OPEN.

Same result every single time. I can see the networks when the WiFi scans, it just will not connect.

Before I give up on TinyCore completely and relegate it to the "Not compatible with Raspberry Pi Zero" pile, I want to mirror the entire TinyCore RPi repository to a USB stick and install from there. How do I tell TinyCore to look there instead of on the (obviously not working) internet?

[NewUser]

Are you trying to install TinyCore 9 or PiCore 9?

[MagicMatt]

The Raspberry Pi release of TinyCore is called piCore. It's TinyCore (piCore) 9.0.3

[Paul_123]

piCore works just fine with the ZeroW and USB sticks.   One thing you cannot have is SSID's/passwords with special characters in them.   Just download the extensions you need and put them in the optional folder on the micro SD card.

These are the extensions that you need for the zero.   You will also need firmware-rpi3-wireless.tcz for the zeroW   or possibly one of the other firmware files for other USB devices.

wifi.tcz
   wireless_tools.tcz
      libiw.tcz
      wireless-4.9.22-piCore.tcz
   wpa_supplicant.tcz
      libnl.tcz
      openssl.tcz
         ca-certificates.tcz
      readline.tcz
         ncurses.tcz

[MagicMatt]

I created a network specifically to test TinyCore after failing to connect to my regular WiFi networks.

SSID: AlienAbduction
Password: TheXFiles

Exactly the same issue. I have all the extensions installed, located in my tce folder, and added to onboot.lst, after the wifi firmware file.

This is a regular Zero, not a Zero W.

[bmarkus]

Did you check related dmesg lines?

[Greg Erskine]

wifi.tcz
   wireless_tools.tcz
      libiw.tcz
      wireless-4.9.22-piCore.tcz
   wpa_supplicant.tcz
      libnl.tcz
      openssl.tcz
         ca-certificates.tcz
      readline.tcz
         ncurses.tcz

I'll give it ago...

Add all these extensions plus the appropriate firmware-???.tcz to optional directory.

Add wifi.tcz and appropriate firmware-???.tcz to onboot.lst

Add "wifi.sh -a &" to /opt/bootlocal.sh

Do a backup "filetool.sh -b" to save above.

Reboot

"tce-status -i" will give a list of installed extensions.

Edit /home/tc/wifi.db

Do a backup "filetool.sh -b"

Shutdown

Install USB wifi adaptor.

Power up

I haven't tested this.

If this hasn't helped, you might need to post your procedure in detail, I am sure someone will pick the missing step.

regards
Greg

    [EDIT]: Fixed typo, changed  wifi -a &  to  wifi.sh -a &.  Rich

[Misalf]

You may try to change the WPA driver via  /etc/sysconfig/wifi-wpadrv
to either  wext  or  nl80211 .
http://tinycorelinux.net/9.x/armv7/tcz/wifi.tcz.info

[Greg Erskine]

Good point Misalf,

I remember changing /etc/sysconfig/wifi-wpadrv to: "nl80211,wext" many moons ago. I wonder if "wext,nl80211" makes a difference?

I also note a typo in my previous post "wifi -a &" should be "wifi.sh -a &"

regards
Greg

[Rich]

Hi Greg Erskine

... I also note a typo in my previous post "wifi -a &" should be "wifi.sh -a &" ...

Typo fixed.

[CentralWare]

@MagicMatt: The PiZero-W has a single WiFi device "everyone" uses, so testing out a problem is a breeze since we'd already know what hardware is being used; in your case this isn't "AS" easy (especially remotely) so give this a go:

1. It sounded like you're using four SEPARATE brands/types of WiFi dongles?
    a. Are you using a USB->OTG adapter to connect the Wifi directly to the PiZero or through a hub?
    b. If you connected something like a USB memory stick with the same adapter or hub, does it work?

2. The power supply (my suspected culprit) MAY be struggling to power both the Pi and the USB device(s).
    a. Try another unit/brand of a 5V 2.4+ amp supply
    b. If you have a computer power supply (ATX) that's even better as they're plenty strong.
        If you need a hand with this drop me a line here - it's a simple and rather inexpensive process.

3. When you boot the PiCore image and type iwconfig do you see your Wifi dongle listed?  (Usually WLAN0)
    a. If it's not listed, see #2 above
    b. If it's listed, SCAN for networks (don't enter SSID manually) - can you see your router?

Cheers!