AstroPi3 Part 1 - Raspberry Pi 3 as a autoguider computer
AstroPi3 Part 2 - Creating the Installation Image
AstroPi3 Part 3 - Installing Ubuntu Mate
AstroPi3 Part 4 - Installing AstroPI3
AstroPi3 Part 5 - PhD2 Configuration
AstroPi3 Part 6 - DSLR/Guide Camera Setup and Control
AstroPi3 Part 7 - Raspberry Control with Tablet/Cell
AstroPi3 Appendix A - Index of Possible Problems, Causes and Solutions
In this section we will deal with everything related to the installation of the operating system.
Prerrequisites
a) Download and install in your computer the Notepad++ application
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/
b) Have access to the Internet via a Wifi or Ethernet network
Installation of Ubuntu Mate for Raspberry Pi 3
1. Remove the micro SD card from your computer and from the adapter (if applicable) and insert it into the Raspberry.
2. Connect the Raspberry to a TV or monitor via an HDMI cable. Also add a USB keyboard and mouse. Also connect the power supply, in this case is connected to a USB lithium powerpack battery.
3. If the image creation was successful, you will see the green and red indicator lights on the raspberry and the following screen on your monitor/tv.
4. Wait until the Ubuntu Mate language screen appears. Select your preferred language, in this case we will install in English. Then click Continue.
5.The screen that allows you to choose a Wifi network will be displayed.
a) Click on the second circle that says "Connect to this network"
b) Select from the list the Wifi network you want to connect to
c) Type the password in the "Password" field
d) Click on the "Connect" button
6. On the next screen, choose your time zone and location. Click "Continue".
7. Select your keyboard language and click "Continue".
8. On the following screen, you will be asked for certain information. Fill in the information as follows:
Your name - Full name
Your computer's name - Name you will give to your raspberry
Pick a user name
Choose a password - Confirm your password
Note: Click on "Log in automatically". This is to avoid having to enter your username and password every time you turn on your Raspberry.
**** Important: *****
Write down and remember these data well: username and password as they will be used later, especially in the remote control section of the raspberry with mobile devices.
Click on "Continue". The rest of the installation will take place.
9. The system will perform a quick reboot and the welcome screen will be displayed. The installation has been completed successfully.
Wifi verification
It is possible that at the end of the installation you do not have a connection to the Wifi or it does not show the available networks, as the following image shows:
The problem is solved simply by resetting Ubuntu. To do so, follow these steps:
10. Click on the shutdown icon, which is located in the upper right corner.
11. In the window shown immediately click on "restart".
12. After reset, the WiFi networks will be available.
Setting the mobile device screen resolution
This step is a bit tedious but it's super important, because if we don't do it, when we connect to a cell phone in the field, if the raspberry doesn't have a monitor connected, it will adapt to the size of the cell phone screen and won't give us much room to maneuver.
13. Open the application Mate Terminal by clicking on the menu Applications->System Tools-Mate Terminal
14. Type in the following lines:
a) cd /boot
Press enter
b) nano sudo ./config.txt
Press enter
c) Type your password (the one you defined at the time of installation) and press enter key
15. We will enter the editor to modify the configuration file. Press the down arrow key on the keyboard until you find the following lines, and modify them until they are the same as indicated (removing the # symbol if they have it and writing the numeric value at the end of the line equal to the one indicated here )
hdmi_force_hotplug=1
hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=46
16. Press the ctrl + O key and then enter, to save the changes.
17. Press the ctrl + X key to exit the editor.
18. Type exit and press enter to exit the terminal.