# Configure Wi-Fi This information describes the setup and configuration procedures required to establish a Wi-Fi connection. ## Start the Wi-Fi subsystem If the device is started in STA mode, Wi-Fi is active by default, that is, the Wi-Fi host driver and wpa\_supplicant are launched during the boot process of the device. 1. Ensure that the device is connected to the host over UART by performing the steps listed in [Connect to a UART shell](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-254/how_to.html#connect-to-a-uart-shell). 2. To confirm if the Wi-Fi host driver is loaded, run the following command on the debug UART console: iw dev Copy to clipboard 3. Search for the `wlan0` interface in the output: **Sample output** root@qcm6490:~# iw dev phy#0 Interface wlan0 ifindex 5 wdev 0x1 addr 12:78:04:00:ae:15 type managed channel 60 (5300 MHz), width: 80 MHz, center1: 5290 MHz txpower 20.00 dBm multicast TXQ: qsz-byt qsz-pkt flows drops marks overlmt hashcol tx-bytes tx-packets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Copy to clipboard 4. To verify if wpa\_supplicant is active, run the following command: ps -ef | grep wpa_supplicant Copy to clipboard The following output indicates that the wpa\_supplicant has been successfully enabled: root 1415 1 0 00:00 ? 00:00:00 wpa_supplicant -Dnl80211 -iwlan0 -ddd -c /etc/wpa_supplicant.conf -f /tmp/wpa_supplicant-log.txt Copy to clipboard ## Scan for Wi-Fi APs A Wi-Fi scan finds the APs listed in the vicinity that must be initiated through the `nmcli` command line tool. To initiate a Wi-Fi scan using `nmcli` run the following command: > > > nmcli dev wifi list 2>&1 | less > Copy to clipboard > > > **Sample output** > > > IN-USE BSSID SSID MODE CHAN RATE SIGNAL BARS SECURITY > 20:DB:AB:98:57:EE JioPrivateNet Infra 9 130 Mbit/s 89 **** WPA2 802.1X > 20:DB:AB:98:57:EF JioNet Infra 9 130 Mbit/s 89 **** -- > 20:DB:AB:98:57:E1 JioPrivateNet Infra 44 270 Mbit/s 80 *** WPA2 802.1X > 20:DB:AB:98:57:E0 JioNet Infra 44 270 Mbit/s 77 *** -- > F0:61:C0:FB:96:A1 QGuest Infra 11 260 Mbit/s 75 *** -- > F0:61:C0:FB:96:A0 Hydra Infra 11 260 Mbit/s 75 *** WPA2 > 20:DB:AB:9E:CA:CF JioNet Infra 5 130 Mbit/s 72 *** -- > F0:61:C0:FB:96:B0 Hydra Infra 140 540 Mbit/s 72 *** WPA2 > F0:61:C0:FB:96:B1 Pandora Infra 140 540 Mbit/s 72 *** WPA2 802.1X > F0:61:C0:FB:96:B2 QGuest Infra 140 540 Mbit/s 72 *** -- > 20:DB:AB:9E:CA:CE JioPrivateNet Infra 5 130 Mbit/s 69 *** > Copy to clipboard > > > Note > > > To exit from the standard input shell, press **CTRL+C**. ## Set up a Wi-Fi station In the STA mode, the RB3 Gen 2 device operates as a client and it can connect to a wireless hotspot or router. Establish a wireless connection through the `nmcli` command line tool. To set up the Wi-Fi in STA mode, perform the following steps: 1. Ensure that the device is connected to the host over UART by performing the steps listed in [Connect to a UART shell](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-254/how_to.html#connect-to-a-uart-shell). 2. To establish a connection to an AP, run the following command: nmcli dev wifi connect password Copy to clipboard For example, run the command root@qcs6490-rb3gen2-vision-kit:~# nmcli dev wifi connect QualcommWiFi password 1234567890 Copy to clipboard where, the Wi-Fi SSID is `QualcommWiFi` and the Wi-Fi password is `1234567890`. **Sample output** Device 'wlan0' successfully activated with 'df4250eb-45f6-4ce2-bd90-a2513e016536' Copy to clipboard Note If you see a network error message while running the command, then run one of the following commands to trigger the Wi-Fi scan and verify the intended AP. nmcli dev wifi list Copy to clipboard iw dev wlan0 scan Copy to clipboard 3. To verify the connection state, run the following command: root@qcs6490-rb3gen2-vision-kit:~# nmcli general status Copy to clipboard **Sample output** STATE CONNECTIVITY WIFI-HW WIFI WWAN-HW WWAN connected full enabled enabled enabled enabled Copy to clipboard 4. To verify the connection status, perform the following steps: 1. To view the device status, run the following command: root@qcs6490-rb3gen2-vision-kit:~# nmcli dev status Copy to clipboard **Sample output** DEVICE TYPE STATE CONNECTION wlan0 wifi connected QualcommWiFi eth0 ethernet unavailable -- eth1 ethernet unavailable -- can0 can unmanaged -- lo loopback unmanaged -- Copy to clipboard 2. To view the additional connection information, run the following command: nmcli device show wlan0 Copy to clipboard **Sample output** GENERAL.DEVICE: wlan0 GENERAL.TYPE: wifi GENERAL.HWADDR: 00:03:7F:12:F7:F7 GENERAL.MTU: 1500 GENERAL.STATE: 100 (connected) GENERAL.CONNECTION: QualcommWiFi GENERAL.CON-PATH: /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/ActiveConnection/5 IP4.ADDRESS[1]: 192.168.117.130/24 IP4.ADDRESS[2]: 192.168.117.131/24 IP4.GATEWAY: 192.168.117.126 IP4.ROUTE[1]: dst = 192.168.117.0/24, nh = 0.0.0.0, mt = 3005 IP4.ROUTE[2]: dst = 192.168.117.0/24, nh = 0.0.0.0, mt = 600 IP4.ROUTE[3]: dst = 0.0.0.0/0, nh = 192.168.117.126, mt = 3005 IP4.DNS[1]: 192.168.117.126 IP6.ADDRESS[1]: 2401:4900:658c:d8b0:3a86:b071:fd59:7ade/64 IP6.ADDRESS[2]: 2401:4900:658c:d8b0:37d5:d37f:675c:3313/64 IP6.ADDRESS[3]: fe80::c930:1be0:3ac0:496c/64 IP6.ADDRESS[4]: fe80::28a6:3dc0:f535:75f1/64 IP6.GATEWAY: fe80::14c1:74ff:feef:f40f IP6.ROUTE[1]: dst = fe80::/64, nh = ::, mt = 256 IP6.ROUTE[2]: dst = fe80::/64, nh = ::, mt = 1024 IP6.ROUTE[3]: dst = 2401:4900:658c:d8b0::/64, nh = ::, mt = 3005 IP6.ROUTE[4]: dst = ::/0, nh = fe80::14c1:74ff:feef:f40f, mt = 3005 IP6.DNS[1]: 2401:4900:658c:d8b0::dc standard input Copy to clipboard 3. Verify if the IP address is assigned on the `wlan0`interface by running the `ifconfigwlan0` command in the UART console. root@qcs6490-rb3gen2-vision-kit:~# ifconfig wlan0 Copy to clipboard **Sample output** wlan0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:03:7F:12:F7:F7 inet addr:192.168.117.131 Bcast:192.168.117.255 Mask:255.255.255.0 inet6 addr: 2401:4900:658c:d8b0:3a86:b071:fd59:7ade/64 Scope:Global inet6 addr: fe80::c930:1be0:3ac0:496c/64 Scope:Link inet6 addr: fe80::28a6:3dc0:f535:75f1/64 Scope:Link inet6 addr: 2401:4900:658c:d8b0:37d5:d37f:675c:3313/64 Scope:Global UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:1365 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:1141 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 RX bytes:127462 (124.4 KiB) TX bytes:160302 (156.5 KiB) Copy to clipboard 4. Verify if the AP or router is connected to the Internet by pinging the following public DNS IP: root@qcs6490-rb3gen2-vision-kit:~# ping 8.8.8.8 Copy to clipboard **Sample output** PING 8.8.8.8 (8.8.8.8) 56(84) bytes of data. 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=1 ttl=55 time=174 ms 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=2 ttl=55 time=96.9 ms 64 bytes from 8.8.8.8: icmp_seq=3 ttl=55 time=84.8 ms ^C --- 8.8.8.8 ping statistics --- 3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2003ms rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 84.809/118.472/173.684/39.352 ms Copy to clipboard Note If you are connected to one network, but want to use a different connection, you can disconnect by switching the connection to down by specifying the SSID `nmcli con down ssid/uuid`. Alternatively, if you have multiple connections with the same SSID, use the UUID. Note To connect to another saved connection, simply pass the up option in the `nmcli` command line tool by running the following command. nmcli con up ssid/uuid Copy to clipboard Ensure that you specify the SSID or UUID of the new network that you want to connect to. Note To exit from the standard input shell, press **CTRL+C**. For more information about `nmcli`, see [https://www.linux.org/docs/man1/nmcli.html](https://www.linux.org/docs/man1/nmcli.html) and [https://networkmanager.dev/docs/api/latest/nmcli.html](https://networkmanager.dev/docs/api/latest/nmcli.html). ## Set up a Wi-Fi hotspot Ensure that you enable SSH by following the steps listed in [Sign in using SSH](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/topics/80-80021-254/how_to.html#use-ssh). Set up a Wi-Fi hotspot in SoftAP mode by performing the following steps: Run the SSH using the following command: ssh root@ Copy to clipboard For example, if the IP address of the device is `192.168.1.22`, run the following command: ssh root@192.168.1.22 Copy to clipboard Note If there is a WCN6750 chipset, ensure that the Wi-Fi SoftAP operating channel configured on the Qualcomm Dragonwing RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit is the same as the one on the Wi-Fi STA operating channel (excluding the DFS channel). Note Use either STA or SAP with a DFS channel because STA+SAP SCC DFS concurrency is currently unavailable. By default the `hostapd.conf` file is available at `/etc` location. This file configures the RB3 Gen 2 device as a Wi-Fi SoftAP operational mode with SSID as `QSoftAP` and password as `1234567890.` 1. Add the Wi-Fi SoftAP operational mode interface by running the following command: iw dev wlan0 interface add wlan1 type managed Copy to clipboard 2. Reconfigure Wi-Fi SoftAP operational mode by performing the following steps: 1. Open a new command prompt/terminal. 2. Pull the default `hostapd.conf` file from the device by running the following command: scp -r root@: Copy to clipboard To pull a file to the current file path, enter the `` as `.` in the command. For example, the IP address of the device is `192.168.1.22`, to pull `hostapd.conf` from `/etc`, run the following command: scp -r root@192.168.1.22:/etc/hostapd.conf . Copy to clipboard 3. Update the `hostapd.conf` file with the required SSID, password, and relevant hostapd configurations. Note Update `hw_mode` accurately while modifying the Wi-Fi channel. For more information about hostapd configuration, see [https://w1.fi/cgit/hostap/plain/hostapd/README](https://w1.fi/cgit/hostap/plain/hostapd/README). 4. Push the file to the device by running the following command: scp -r hostapd.conf root@192.168.1.22:/etc Copy to clipboard 5. To verify that the configuration parameters are updated, run the following command in the device for the `hostapd.conf` file: Copy to clipboard 3. Set a MAC address for `wlan1` on the Qualcomm Dragonwing RB3 Gen 2 Development Kit that has a WCN6750 Wi-Fi chipset. The following example can be used as a reference while setting up a MAC address. ifconfig wlan1 hw ether 00:03:7F:12:B5:B6 Copy to clipboard 4. To set up the SoftAP, run the following command in the `ssh shell`: hostapd -B /etc/hostapd.conf Copy to clipboard The following output indicates that the AP is set up: U:\>ssh root@192.168.1.22 The authenticity of host '192.168.1.22 (192.168.1.22)' can't be established. ED25519 key fingerprint is SHA256: FikBVhxqv9RX0rCP8FP3x0Fr1zGWhgaNhLtD5/7xAJA. This key is not known by any other names Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])? yes Warning: Permanently added '192.168.1.22' (ED25519) to the list of known hosts. Last login: Sun Jan 6 00:06:18 1980 root@qcm6490:~# root@qcm6490:~# root@qcm6490:~# iw dev wlane interface add wlanl type managed root@qcm6490:~# hostapd -B /etc/hostapd.conf wlanl: interface state UNINITIALIZED->COUNTRY_UPDATE wlanl: interface state COUNTRY_UPDATE->HT_SCAN root@qcm6490:~# ps -ef | grep hostapd root 1726 1 0 00:14 ? 00:00:00 hostapd -B /etc/hostapd.conf root 1762 1674 0 00:15 pts/0 00:00:00 grep hostapd root@qcm6490:~# | Copy to clipboard 5. To start the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server on the Wi-Fi hotspot interface, run the following commands: brctl addbr br0 Copy to clipboard brctl addif br0 wlan1 Copy to clipboard ifconfig br0 192.168.225.1 netmask 255.255.255.0 up Copy to clipboard killall dnsmasq Copy to clipboard dnsmasq --conf-file=/etc/dnsmasq.conf --dhcp-leasefile=/var/run/dnsmasq.leases --addn-hosts=/data/hosts --pid-file=/var/run/dnsmasq.pid -i br0 -I lo -z --dhcp-range=br0,192.168.225.20,192.168.225.60,255.255.255.0,43200 --dhcp-hostsfile=/data/dhcp_hosts --dhcp-option-force=6,192.168.225.1 --dhcp-script=/bin/dnsmasq_script.sh Copy to clipboard 6. To establish a connection with the `hostapd_cli`, run the following command in SSH: hostapd_cli -i wlan1 -p /var/run/hostapd Copy to clipboard Monitor the `hostapd_cli` console for the Wi-Fi STA connection notifications such as `AP-STA-CONNECTED`, `EAPOL-4WAY-HS-COMPLETED`. **Sample output** root@qcm6490:~# hostapd_cli -i wlanl -p /var/run/hostapd hostapd_cli v2.11-devel Copyright (c) 2004-2022, Jouni Malinen and contributors This software may be distributed under the terms of the BSD License. See README for more details. Interactive mode > <3>AP-STA-CONNECTED aa: a4: fd: 8b: ec: 90 <3>EAPOL-4WAY-HS-COMPLETED aa: a4: fd: 8b:ec:90 > list_sta aa: a4: fd: 8b:ec:90 Copy to clipboard 7. To verify the connection status, connect to SoftAP from other devices. For example, connect to SoftAP from a mobile device by performing the following steps: 1. On the mobile device, go to the Wi-Fi settings. 2. Wait for the Wi-Fi STA to detect SoftAP (with the SSID **QSoftAP**). 3. Select SoftAP and enter the corresponding `wpa_passphrase` that was configured for SoftAP on the RB3 Gen 2 device, then connect. **Sample output** > status state=ENABLED phy=phyR freq=2412 num_sta_non_erp=0 num_sta_no_short_slot_time=0 num_sta_no_short_preamble=0 olbc=0 num_sta_ht_no_gf=0 num_sta_no_ht=0 num_sta_ht_20_mhz=0 num_sta_ht40_intolerant=0 olbc_ht=0 ht_op_mode=0x0 hw_mode=g country_code=US country3=0x20 cac_time_seconds=0 cac_time_left_seconds=N/A channel=1 edmg_enable=0 edmg_channel=0 secondary_channel=0 ieee80211n=1 ieee80211ac=0 ieee80211ax=0 ieee80211be=0 beacon_int=100 dtim_period=2 ht_caps_info=000c ht_mcs_bitmask=ffff0000000000000000 supported_rates-02 04 0b 16 Oc 12 18 24 30 48 60 6c max_txpower=30 bss[0]=wlan1 bssid[0]=00:03:7f:95:8e:8e ssid [0]=QSoftAP num_sta[0]=1 > | Copy to clipboard 4. To verify the connection, ping the IP address of the mobile from the RB3 Gen 2 device in the `ssh shell`. The following output indicates that the Wi-Fi connection has been established successfully and the data transfer has begun: sh-5.1# ping 192.168.1.42 PING 192.168.1.42 (192.168.1.42): 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 192.168.1.42: seq=0 ttl=64 time-11.175 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.42: seq=1 ttl=64 time=14.528 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.42: seq=2 ttl=64 time=29.735 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.42: seq=3 ttl=64 time=223.822 ms 64 bytes from 192.168.1.42: seq-4 ttl=64 time-23.675 ms ^C 192.168.1.42 ping statistics --- 7 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 28% packet loss round-trip min/avg/max = 11.175/60.587/223.822 ms sh-5.1# Copy to clipboard Alternatively, you can verify the Wi-Fi connection status in the **Settings** of the connected device. For example, to get the IP address of a mobile device connected to the RB3 Gen 2 SoftAP, perform the following steps: > > > 1. Go to **Settings** > **Wi-Fi**. > 2. Verify the SSID of the AP. ## Stop a Wi-Fi hotspot Note Ensure that the Wi-Fi hotspot has been set up. To stop the hotspot, do the following in SSH: 1. Stop the hostapd by performing the following steps: 1. To stop the hostapd process, run the following command: killall hostapd Copy to clipboard 2. To disable the interface, run the following command: ifconfig wlan1 down Copy to clipboard 2. To delete `ctrl_interface`, run the following command: rm -rf /var/run/hostapd/wlan1 Copy to clipboard The Wi-Fi hotspot stops successfully. Last Published: Mar 10, 2026 [Previous Topic Wi-Fi software](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80021-14/topics/Check_WLAN_host_and_SS_platform_driver_source_codes.md) [Next Topic Debug Wi-Fi issues](https://docs.qualcomm.com/bundle/publicresource/80-80021-14/topics/report_a_w_fi_issue_to_qualcomm.md)