Connect with Wifi

To connect a Raspberry Pi Pico W to Thonny using WebREPL, you need to go through a few setup steps. WebREPL is an interface that allows you to access and interact with your MicroPython device over Wi-Fi. Here’s a step-by-step guide to set this up:

Prerequisites

1. MicroPython Firmware: Make sure MicroPython is installed on your Raspberry Pi Pico W.

   • Download the MicroPython firmware for the Pico W from the official site and follow installation instructions if needed.

2. Thonny IDE: Ensure you have the latest version of Thonny installed (Thonny version 3.3.3 or later supports Pico).

Steps to Connect Pico W with WebREPL in Thonny

1. Set Up Wi-Fi on the Pico W:

   • Connect your Pico W to your computer via USB.

   • Open Thonny and select the Pico W as your MicroPython device in Thonny:

     • Go to Tools > Options > Interpreter.

     • Set the interpreter to MicroPython (Raspberry Pi Pico).

     • Select the correct USB port where the Pico W is connected.

   • Write and run the following code in Thonny to connect the Pico W to Wi-Fi:

     pythonCopy codeimport network
     import time
     
     ssid = "your-SSID"  # Replace with your Wi-Fi name
     password = "your-PASSWORD"  # Replace with your Wi-Fi password
     
     wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
     wlan.active(True)
     wlan.connect(ssid, password)
     
     # Wait until connected
     while not wlan.isconnected():
         print("Connecting to WiFi...")
         time.sleep(1)
         
     print("Connected to WiFi", wlan.ifconfig())

   • Run this code to confirm your Pico W can connect to Wi-Fi. The output should show the IP address once connected.

2. Enable WebREPL on Pico W:

   • Write the following code in Thonny to enable WebREPL:

     pythonCopy codeimport webrepl
     webrepl.start()

   • You’ll be prompted to set a password. This is for securing your WebREPL connection, so choose a strong password.

3. Download and Install WebREPL Client on Your Computer:

   • Download the WebREPL client provided by MicroPython.

   • Open the webrepl.html file in a web browser.

4. Connect to Pico W Using WebREPL:

   • In the WebREPL client in your browser, enter the IP address of the Pico W (as displayed in step 1) and the password set in step 2.

   • Click Connect. You should see a REPL prompt if the connection is successful.

5. Connect Thonny to WebREPL:

   • Open Thonny and go to Tools > Options > Interpreter.

   • Set the interpreter to MicroPython (WebREPL).

   • In the WebREPL address field, enter ws://<Pico_W_IP_address>:8266 (replace <Pico_W_IP_address> with the IP address displayed in step 1).

   • Enter the WebREPL password, then press OK.

6. Test the Connection:

   • You should now be able to run code on the Pico W via Thonny over Wi-Fi.

   • Try running a simple script like print("Hello from WebREPL!") to confirm the connection.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Check IP Address: Make sure the IP address of the Pico W hasn’t changed after each reboot.

• WebREPL Not Starting: If WebREPL doesn’t start, try restarting the Pico W and re-running the webrepl.start() command.

• Connection Issues: Ensure both the computer and the Pico W are on the same network.

This setup lets you interact with your Pico W over Wi-Fi, providing flexibility in working with wireless devices in MicroPython.