Quarky Intellio Connection Guide

Quarky Intellio communicates with PictoBlox wirelessly over the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. Once Intellio and your device are on the same network, PictoBlox can send code, stream camera feed, and get real-time responses.

This guide explains all available Wi-Fi connection methods and helps you choose the best option based on your device, network availability, and usage scenario.

Available Connection Methods

You can connect Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using any one of the following methods:

1. Method 1: Via Wi-Fi Router
2. Method 2.1: Device as a Mobile Hotspot (For Windows)
3. Method 2.2: Using Internet Sharing (For macOS)
4. Method 3: Intellio as a Hotspot
5. Method 4: Using IP Address of Intellio

Prerequisite

Before choosing any of the connection methods, make sure the following steps are completed:

Install PictoBlox

Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Quarky Intellio connects to PictoBlox over Wi-Fi for real-time communication. Since Intellio does not have a screen or keyboard, PictoBlox first uses Bluetooth (or the USB Serial Port, if required) to securely transfer the Wi-Fi network details. Once the credentials are shared, Intellio joins the Wi-Fi network and remains connected to PictoBlox.

Before continuing, ensure that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on your device. This allows PictoBlox to share network details and complete the connection process securely. Follow the steps below based on your operating system.

1. For Windows

1. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar, and turn on Wi-Fi and connect to a 2.4 GHz network.
   
2. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and turn on Bluetooth.
   

2. For macOS

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner of your Mac screen.
2. Turn Wi-Fi ON and connect to a 2.4 GHz network.
3. Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your mac screen, then select and turn Bluetooth ON.

Find and Connect your Quarky Intellio.

1. Enter your Wi-Fi Network Name (SSID) and Password, then click Next. Enable Remember Me to save your credentials for future connections.
   
2. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
   Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Click Refresh to scan again, or press the Reset button on Intellio and ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device.
   
3. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
   
   Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Intellio ****) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.
   
4. Once you reach this screen, click Go to Editor to open the PictoBlox main screen and start coding with Quarky Intellio.

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Via Wi-Fi Router method. Quarky Intellio is now ready to respond in real time.

Method 2.1: Device as a Mobile Hotspot (For Windows)

Use the Device as a Mobile Hotspot method to connect Quarky Intellio to your device’s mobile hotspot, set to a 2.4 GHz network band, enabling real-time camera streaming, AI processing, and interactive project control.

Create a Mobile Hotspot

1. Select Device as a Mobile Hotspot.
   Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.
   
   
2. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and turn on Bluetooth.
3. Click the Open button in PictoBlox to open the hotspot settings on your device directly.
4. Turn the hotspot ON.
   
5. Click the Edit button in the Properties section.
6. Create a 2.4 GHz mobile hotspot by setting a Network name (SSID) and Network password, then click Save.
   Note: Please note the Hotspot Name (SSID) and Password.
   

Find and Connect your Quarky Intellio

1. Enter the Hotspot Name (SSID) and Password in the Wi-Fi connection tab, then click Next.
   
2. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
   Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Click Refresh to scan again, or press the Reset button on Intellio and ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device.
   
3. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
   
   Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Intellio ****) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.
   
4. Fetching your IP address.
5. Once you reach this screen, click Go to Editor to open the PictoBlox main screen and start coding.

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Device as a Mobile Hotspot method. Quarky Intellio is now ready to respond in real time.

Method 2.2: Using Internet Sharing (For macOS)

Use the Using Internet Sharing method to connect Quarky Intellio to your Mac’s shared internet connection, set to a 2.4 GHz network band, enabling real-time camera streaming, AI processing, and interactive project control.

Create a Mobile Hotspot

1. Open the Wi-Fi tab and select Using Internet Sharing as your connection method.
   Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.
   
   
2.  Enable Internet Sharing on Your Mac.

Follow the steps below based on your macOS version:

1. macOS Monterey (v12) and earlier

1. Go to System Preferences, then select Sharing.
   
2. Select Internet Sharing in the service list.
   
   
3. Change “Share your connection from” to Thunderbolt Bridge.
4. In the “To computers using” list,  check the Wi-Fi checkbox and click Wi-Fi Options.
   
   
5. In the pop-up, set the Channel to 1, 6, or 11 to enable 2.4 GHz and copy the Network Name and Password; you’ll need them in the next step.
6. Click on the OK Button.
7. In the service list, check the Internet Sharing checkbox to turn it on.
   

2. macOS Ventura 13 and later (Coming Soon)

Find and Connect your Quarky Intellio

1. Enter the Hotspot Name and Password in the Wi-Fi connection tab, then click Next. Enable Remember Me to save your credentials for future connections.
   
2. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
   Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Click Refresh to scan again, or press the Reset button on Intellio and ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device.
   
3. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
   
   Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Intellio ****) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.
   
4. Fetching your IP address.
5. Once you reach this screen, click Go to Editor to open the PictoBlox main screen and start coding.

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Using Internet Sharing method. Quarky Intellio is now ready to respond in real time.

Method 3: Intellio as a Hotspot 

In this method, Quarky Intellio itself acts as a hotspot, creating its own Wi-Fi network that your computer connects to directly, no external router or mobile hotspot needed.

Note: Internet access will not be available in this method.

Create an Intellio Hotspot

1. Select Intellio as a Hotspot as your connection method.
   Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.
   
   
2. Click Auto-Generate to automatically create a unique Hotspot Name and Password for your Quarky Intellio.
   
3. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
   Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Click Refresh to scan again, or press the Reset button on Intellio and ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device.
   
4. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
   
   Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Intellio ****) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.
   
5. Follow the instructions on the screen to find and connect to your generated hotspot (for example, Intellio****).
   

Connecting to a Previously Created Intellio Hotspot

For Windows

1. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and connect to the hotspot network created previously using the Auto-Generate button (for example, Intellio****).
2. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and turn on Bluetooth.
   

For macOS

1. Click on Wi-Fi from the top-right corner of your menu bar, turn on Wi-Fi, and select your generated hotspot name (for example, Intellio718) from the network list.
2. Enter the Password created previously using the Auto-Generate button and click Join.
   
3. Return to PictoBlox and click Next.
   
4. Once you reach this screen, click Go to Editor to open the PictoBlox main screen and start coding with Quarky Intellio.
   

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Intellio as a Hotspot method. Quarky Intellio is now ready to respond in real time.

Method 4: Using IP Address of Intellio

This method allows you to connect to Quarky Intellio directly over a network using its IP address. It is useful when Quarky Intellio is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to reconnect, troubleshoot, or establish communication without re-pairing.

Initial Steps

1. First, connect Quarky Intellio using any one of the following Wi-Fi connection methods:

• Via Wi-Fi Router
• Device as a Mobile Hotspot
• Intellio as a Hotspot

2. Once the connection is successful, click the Disconnect button.

Find and Connect your Quarky Intellio

1. Open the Wi-Fi tab to select Using IP Address of Quarky Intellio as your connection method.
   Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.
   
   
2. If Intellio was connected earlier, the IP address is automatically fetched from the previous connection.
3. Once you reach this screen, click Go to Editor to open the PictoBlox main screen and start coding with Quarky Intellio.
   

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Using IP Address method. Quarky Intellio is now ready to respond in real time.