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Truck GPS Raspberry Pi: Initial Setup & Networking

Date: December 21st, 2025 
Category: Raspberry Pi / Linux / Networking
Backlink: Pi Toolkit Menu With ARP and Network Scanning

🧠 Project Overview

This page documents the initial setup and networking foundation for a Raspberry Pi–based GPS logging and mapping project designed for in-vehicle use.

The long-term goal of this project is to build a reliable, headless system capable of:

  • GPS route logging

  • Automatic stop detection

  • Time-on-site tracking

  • Mileage calculation

  • Syncing data to a VPS for web-based visualization

This entry focuses on hardware bring-up, OS selection, headless access, and resilient Wi-Fi configuration.

📦 Hardware Used (Initial Phase)

  • Raspberry Pi 3 B+

  • 128 GB microSD card

  • Active cooling fan (wired directly to 5 V)

  • Phone hotspot (temporary network access)

  • Home Wi-Fi (persistent network access)

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🔌 Cooling & Power Verification

The cooling fan was wired directly to the Raspberry Pi’s 5 V rail:

  • Pin 4 → 5 V (red wire)

  • Pin 6 → Ground (black wire)

Results:

  • Fan spins immediately on power-up

  • No GPIO or software control required

  • Consistent airflow suitable for a vehicle environment

An always-on fan was chosen for simplicity and reliability.

🖥️ Operating System Selection

Installed OS:

  • Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32-bit)

Reasoning:

  • Lower memory overhead (ideal for Pi 3 B+ with 1 GB RAM)

  • Headless by design (no desktop services running)

  • Best compatibility with:

    • gpsd

    • Python and Node.js tooling

    • systemd services

    • Networking utilities

  • Proven stability for long-running deployments

The OS was written using Raspberry Pi Imager with Advanced Options enabled:

  • SSH enabled

  • Username and password set

  • Wi-Fi configured for initial hotspot access

  • Custom hostname configured (pi-gps)

💻 Headless SSH Access

After first boot:

  • The Pi appeared on the phone hotspot

  • SSH access was established using JuiceSSH (Android)

  • No monitor or keyboard was required

This confirmed:

  • OS integrity

  • Network stack functionality

  • Full remote administration capability

📶 Wi-Fi Management (Scanning, Adding, Deleting)

This project uses NetworkManager on Raspberry Pi OS, so Wi-Fi is managed using the nmcli command-line tool.

Scan for available Wi-Fi networks

sudo nmcli dev wifi rescan
sudo nmcli dev wifi list

Check current network status

sudo nmcli device status
sudo nmcli -f GENERAL.CONNECTION,GENERAL.STATE dev show wlan0

Add / connect to a Wi-Fi network

(This also saves the network for future use.)

sudo nmcli dev wifi connect "SSID" password "PASSWORD"

If the SSID is hidden:

sudo nmcli dev wifi connect "SSID" password "PASSWORD" hidden yes

List saved Wi-Fi connections

sudo nmcli -f NAME,TYPE,DEVICE connection show

Switch networks manually (useful for testing)

sudo nmcli connection up "HomeWiFi"
# or
sudo nmcli connection up "PhoneHotspot"

Rename a saved connection

(Helps keep connection names readable.)

sudo nmcli connection modify "OldName" connection.id "NewName"

Delete a saved Wi-Fi connection

⚠️ Delete by connection NAME (from nmcli connection show), not necessarily the SSID.

sudo nmcli connection delete "ConnectionName"

Set auto-connect priorities

(Higher number = preferred when multiple known networks are available.)

sudo nmcli connection modify "HomeWiFi" connection.autoconnect yes
sudo nmcli connection modify "HomeWiFi" connection.autoconnect-priority 10

sudo nmcli connection modify "PhoneHotspot" connection.autoconnect yes
sudo nmcli connection modify "PhoneHotspot" connection.autoconnect-priority 5

Restart networking (if things get weird)

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

📶 Multi-Wi-Fi Configuration

The Pi is intended to operate across multiple networks:

  • Home Wi-Fi when taken home

  • Phone hotspot while mobile

Wi-Fi management is handled by NetworkManager, allowing:

  • Multiple saved Wi-Fi profiles

  • Automatic reconnection

  • Priority-based network selection

Saved connections:

  • HomeWiFi

  • PhoneHotspot

Verified using:

sudo nmcli connection show

🔁 Automatic Network Failover

Network priorities were configured to prefer home Wi-Fi:

sudo nmcli connection modify HomeWiFi connection.autoconnect-priority 10
sudo nmcli connection modify PhoneHotspot connection.autoconnect-priority 5

Behavior:

  • Home Wi-Fi is preferred when available

  • Phone hotspot is used automatically when mobile

  • Switching occurs without reboot or manual intervention

Failover was verified by disabling the hotspot and confirming the Pi automatically connected to the home network.

📡 Wi-Fi Band Notes (Pi 3 B+)

  • The Pi 3 B+ supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz)

  • 5 GHz networks require:

    • Correct WLAN country configuration

    • Non-DFS channels (36–48)

  • 2.4 GHz is preferred for mobile hotspot reliability

  • Both bands were successfully tested during setup

🧾 Current Status

At this stage, the system has a solid foundation:

  • OS installed and verified

  • SSH access confirmed

  • Cooling operational

  • Multiple Wi-Fi networks configured

  • Automatic failover tested and working

  • Network behavior stable for mobile use

The Raspberry Pi is now ready for GPS hardware integration.

📌 Next Steps

Upcoming phases will document:

  • GPS hardware installation

  • gpsd configuration and testing

  • Route and stop logging

  • Mileage calculation

  • Local web UI

  • VPS synchronization and map visualization

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