Traveling with my pi! No keyboard or internet how to setup ?

Efriim

@trekdrop Have you used LanDroid to find the IP address?
You have got the 192.168.42.___ as that is the IP assignment that Android uses.

trekdrop

@Efriim

Can you see the screenshots?

Efriim

I'm not sure, I'll try to do it on my phone. Did you enter the username: pi

trekdrop

@Efriim

Yes, I made screenshot from all the steps.

Efriim

I just did it successfully. Try disabling Wifi and 4G on your phone, and make sure USB tether is still enabled. And not a loose charger connection.

Other than that I don't know what it is that is missing, is ssh enabled on the RaspberyPI, if it isnt you can enable it using the controller to navigate to. It isn't likely you changed the username previously. pi@192.168.42.174:22 all good.

Let me check if there was something different to enable ssh that I missed.

Efriim

https://nostalgiatechs.com/enable-ssh-retropie/

this is how, I think we missed it.

Efriim

It took me a minute to check the screenshots, I had the internet going out on me at home it is a storm. They are separated by commas I didn't realize there are multiple. I can confirm this works on my phone.

There is yet another solution, and it is easier but we learn a lot on the way. I didn't know that the import function was accessible https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Wifi The second half of the wiki says that it is possible to add the wifikeyfile.txt to the sdcards boot partition.

The layout of wifikeyfile.txt is as follows

ssid="NETWORK_NAME"
psk="NETWORK_PASSWORD"

Once that file is set it is possible to import wpa-passkey using the wifi setup on the pi.
I hope I helped, I was glad to.

trekdrop

@Efriim

Thank you so much! Sorry for the late reply like I said I am traveling and need to socialize sometimes 😁. But I was just so stupid, i didn't activated ssh, everything works perfectly! Really awesome, and even it did take a while now I now more about the pi thanks to you!

ClassicGMR

I had this problem on my last trip to New Hampshire. I figured "It's all set up I won't have an issue"... yeah....

I decided to change a video setting and I got locked out. I couldn't do anything. WiFi wasn't connected, I couldn't ssh in. Nothing worked.

I had my laptop so I just re-imaged the card. No controller setup when you do that... so I had video but no way to reconnect the controllers.

I played ONE game all week... moral of the story is I will never go away without a USB keyboard!

Efriim

Rewrite:
For people without a usb keyboard. On any android you can use an app like ConnectBot to SSH into your pi using RNDIS USB ethernet.

Activate SSH on the Raspberry Pi
navigate to raspi-config >> Interfacing Options >> SSH
or (untested)
create an empty file named ssh in the boot directory of the raspberry sdcard
Install the apps on your android
ConnectBot (or preferred ssh client)
LanDroid (optional)
F-Droid (optional - Free Open Source Software for Android)
Activate the RNDIS USB ethernet
use your phone charger to connect the Android device to the raspberry pi USB.
android settings >> network & internet >> Mobile Hotspot/Tethering >> USB tethering
or if you're phone provider has this service blocked
for android 2.3 - 4.4
Use an app like Notification Bar will sometimes allow you to enable tether using the widget. Or install an unbranded rom like cyanogen-mod.
for android ?5.0 - 8.0
android settings >> system >> about phone >> x7 build number (click on the build number 7 times)
with "developer mode" enabled
android settings >> developer options >> "select usb configuration" - RNDIS (USB Ethernet)
(This is a good way to turn your phone into a wifi adapter if your router allows internet connection sharing)
Aquire the IP address of the Pi using arp
navigate to "show IP" on the raspberry pi
or
using ConnectBot app; add a host; change protocol to "local"; or use local terminal emulator
type cat /proc/net/arp or ip neighbor into android terminal
look for the ip-address 192.168.42.*
or
open the app LanDroid, and select the ARP & ND Cache
or on windows
use commandline arp -a look for a dynamic address that is not listed in ipconfig
Open a SSH to the Raspberry Pi
Use ConnectBot to add a ssh host filling out the username "pi"(default) and host "ip.address"(from the arp cache)
other apps can be used and configured including sftp, I use the apps Total Commander and SFtp plugin for Total Commander
or on windows
windows 10 has ssh built in, simply type ssh ip.address
or use one of these programs
PuTTY(ssh)
BitVise SSH client with ftp (easy to advanced)
KiTTY (PuTTY with more features, easy)
WinSCP (scp, sftp, ftp, advanced)
FileZilla (sftp & ftp)
And many more inlcuding Terminus, Super Putty and the amazing though complex Cygwin

Android RNDIS creates IP addresses from the range 192.168.42.[1-255] these are generated randomly and will change when you reconnect the tether. When I figure out how to assign a static ip or save the dhcp or create some sort of order I will share. And if anyone know how to do this then please do.

Alternatively to setting up ethernet, import the wpa passkey (wifi passkey) create a wifikeyfile.txt with the contents

ssid="NETWORK_NAME"
psk="NETWORK_PASSWORD"

save it to the main folder of the microsd with retropie installed using a microsd reader.
Reinsert the micro sd with RetroPie installed and power on the Raspberry Pi.
Navigate Emulationstation using your controller to WiFi and Import wifi credentials from /boot/wifikeyfile.txt

So it is possible with any android phone with a usb charging cable to tether and access configurations. or if you have a ethernet cable for your computer.

I'm happy to help. Feel free to practice and take notes. It is difficult to find memories like this from while travelling. @trekdrop

~Bon voyage.