Quarky Intellio Wi-Fi Connection Guide

Introduction

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.

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

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

Prerequisite

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

1. Download and Install PictoBlox Software
   Ready to explore projects with Quarky Intellio? Start coding with Block Coding or Python. To start coding with Quarky Intellio, you’ll need to install PictoBlox on your device. PictoBlox version 9.1.0 or later is required for Quarky Intellio support. Click Download PictoBlox to visit the download page, select your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux), and follow the on-screen instructions to install the latest version.
   
   Note: Web browser support for Quarky Intellio on pictoblox.ai is currently under development.

   
2. PictoBlox Configuration Steps
   1. Open PictoBlox and choose Blocks or Py Editor.
   2. Go to the Board and select Quarky Intellio.
      
   3. Select the appropriate Serial Port if Quarky Intellio is connected via USB, then click Connect to proceed.
      
   4. Click the Upload Firmware button. This will upload the latest firmware to Quarky Intellio.
      
      Note: If Quarky Intellio already has the latest firmware, PictoBlox will display the message “Firmware is already updated.”
   5. Click Connect to begin connecting Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox.
      
   6. If Quarky Intellio is not yet turned on, slide the Power Switch to turn it on.
      

Method 2: Device as a Mobile Hotspot (Windows), Using Internet Sharing (macOS) and Device as a Wi-Fi Hotspot (Linux)

Use this method to connect Quarky Intellio to a 2.4 GHz hotspot created from your device. On Windows, you can use Mobile Hotspot. On macOS, you can use Internet Sharing. On Linux, you can create a Wi-Fi hotspot using Terminal commands.

1. Select Device as a Mobile Hotspot (Windows), Using Internet Sharing (macOS), and Device as a Wi-Fi Hotspot (Linux).
   
   Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. The Serial Port (USB) is used to upload firmware. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.

   
   
   

2. On Windows, click the Open button in PictoBlox to open the hotspot settings on your device; on Linux, click the Open button for the documentation page with step-by-step instructions for creating a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi hotspot.
   

Create a Mobile Hotspot in Windows

1. In Windows, the Mobile Hotspot settings open directly; simply turn the hotspot ON. In macOS, you need to enable it manually, as explained below.
   
2. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and turn on Bluetooth.Note the Network Name and Password from the Mobile Hotspot settings, and enter these details in the Wi-Fi tab of PictoBlox.

Enable Internet Sharing on macOS

Follow the steps below to create a 2.4 GHz hotspot using your Mac:

Step 1: Connect your device using Ethernet.

Step 2: Go to System Settings → General → Sharing.

Step 3: Click on Configure.

Step 4: In “Share your connection from”, select USB LAN connected source.

Step 5: Under “To devices using”, turn ON Wi-Fi.

Step 6: In the Configure window, set the Internet sharing network.

Step 7: Set the Channel to 1, 6, or 11 (supports 2.4 GHz).

Step 8: Note or copy the Network Name (SSID) and Password.

Step 9: Turn ON Internet Sharing, then click Done.

Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot on Linux

Use this method to create a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi hotspot from your Linux system. Quarky Intellio can connect to this hotspot through PictoBlox.

Step 1: Check whether your Linux system is connected to the internet or not

Before starting, make sure your Linux system is connected to the internet using one of the following methods:

1. Ethernet Connection

2. USB Tethering from a Mobile Device

1. Plug your Ethernet cable directly into the LAN port on your Linux system.
2. Open your system launcher (press the Super/Windows key), type Settings, and open it.
3. Click on the Network tab in the left sidebar.
   
   
4. Look for the USB Ethernet toggle switch to be turned ON.
   Note: If your Linux system is already connected to a Wi-Fi network, turning on the hotspot may disconnect that Wi-Fi connection. This happens because some Wi-Fi adapters cannot connect to Wi-Fi and create a hotspot at the same time.
   

Step 2: Check Supported Wi-Fi Bands

First, check whether your Wi-Fi adapter supports the 2.4 GHz band.

1. Open your Terminal.
   
   
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
   iw list | grep MHz
3. This command lists the Wi-Fi frequencies (channels) supported by your Wi-Fi adapter. You may see output like this:
   
4. If you see frequencies between 2412 MHz and 2472 MHz, your Wi-Fi adapter supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
   Note: Quarky Intellio supports only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and does not support 5 GHz or 6 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, the hotspot must be created on the 2.4 GHz band.

Step 2: Turn ON Wi-Fi

Follow these steps on your Linux system:

Even though your computer is getting internet from a wire, the internal Wi-Fi adapter must be powered on so it can broadcast a signal.

1. Go to Settings > Wi-Fi from your Linux desktop environment.
2. Toggle the main Wi-Fi switch to ON.(Note: Do not connect to a local Wi-Fi network; just ensure the adapter itself is powered on.)

Step 3: Create a Wi-Fi Hotspot

We will use the Network Manager Command Line Tool (nmcli) to quickly deploy the hotspot network.

1. Run the following command in your terminal to initialize the hotspot:

nmcli dev wifi hotspot ssid TestHotspot password Test12345

Here:

• TestHotspot is the hotspot name.
• Test12345 is the hotspot password.

Note: 

• You can change the hotspot name and password if needed. The password should be at least 8 characters long.
• Remember the hotspot name and password, as you will need to enter them later in PictoBlox while connecting to Quarky Intellio. 

Step 4: Find the Hotspot Connection Name

After creating the hotspot, find its connection name.

1. Run the following command:

nmcli connection show

Look at the list under the NAME column. Locate your hotspot profile. It will typically be named Hotspot or Hotspot-1. Take note of this exact name, as we will need it for the next configuration adjustments. 

Step 5: Force the Hotspot to Use 2.4 GHz 

1. Now set the hotspot to use the 2.4 GHz band.
2. If your hotspot connection name is Hotspot-1, run this command:
   nmcli connection modify Hotspot-1 802-11-wireless.band bg
3. If your hotspot connection name is Hotspot, use this command instead:
   nmcli connection modify Hotspot 802-11-wireless.band bg
   The letters bg refer to the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless standards. These specific industry standards operate purely on the 2.4 GHz wireless frequency spectrum, effectively blocking the 5 GHz band from taking over. 

Step 6: Restart the Hotspot

For the 2.4 GHz configuration change to take effect, the network profile needs to clear out of memory and reboot.

1. For Hotspot-1 setups, run:

nmcli connection down Hotspot-1

nmcli connection up Hotspot-1

Find and Connect your Quarky Intellio

1. Enter the Network Name and Password from the Mobile Hotspot settings, then click Next.
   
2. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
   
   Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device, then press the Reset button on Quarky Intellio or click Upload Firmware to update it. Click Refresh to scan again.

   

3. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Quarky Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
   
4. 
   Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Quarky Intellio<****>) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.

   

5. Fetching your IP address.
6. Once you reach this screen, click “Go to Editor” to close the pop-up and continue coding with Quarky Intellio in PictoBlox.
   

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Device as a Mobile Hotspot, Internet Sharing, and Device as a WIFI Hotspot methods.

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, with no external router or mobile hotspot needed.

1. Create an Intellio Hotspot
   1. Select Intellio as a Hotspot as your connection method.
      

      Note: Use the Wi-Fi tab to complete this connection. The Serial Port (USB) is used to upload firmware. Support for connecting via Bluetooth Ports will be available in a future update.

      

   2. Create the Hotspot Name and Password as you prefer, or click Auto-Generate to automatically create a hotspot name and password for Quarky Intellio.
      
   3. PictoBlox is searching for your Quarky Intellio.
      
      Note: Can’t find your Quarky Intellio? Ensure Bluetooth is turned ON on your device, then press the Reset button on Quarky Intellio or click Upload Firmware to update it. Click Refresh to scan again.

      

   4. Select your Quarky Intellio (for example, Quarky Intellio <****>) and click Connect.
      
   5. 
      Note: You can find your Quarky Intellio Name (For example, Quarky Intellio<****>) printed on the right side of the device, as shown below.

      

   6. Follow the instructions on the screen to find and connect to your Intellio hotspot.
      
2. Connecting to a Previously Created Intellio Hotspot
   Follow the steps below based on your operating system to connect to a previously created Intellio Hotspot.
   1. For Windows
      1. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and connect to the Intellio hotspot network created previously.
      2. Open Quick Settings from the bottom-right corner of your taskbar and turn on Bluetooth.
         
   2. For macOS
      
      1. Click on Wi-Fi from the top-right corner of your menu bar, turn on Wi-Fi, and select your Intellio hotspot network created previously.
      2. Enter the Password created previously and click Join.
         
         
   3. For Linux1.  Open Settings → Wi-Fi and turn on Wi-Fi. Select the previously created Intellio hotspot network from the list of available Wi-Fi networks. Enter the hotspot password created earlier and click Connect.2. Open Settings → Bluetooth (or use the system menu) and ensure Bluetooth is turned ON.
      
3. Go to PictoBlox and click Next.
   
4. Once you reach this screen, click “Go to Editor” to close the pop-up and continue coding with Quarky Intellio in PictoBlox.

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Intellio as a Hotspot method.

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 or establish communication without re-pairing.

1. Open the Wi-Fi tab and select “Using IP Address of Quarky Intellio” as the connection method.
   
   
   
   Note: After reaching this screen, follow the instructions shown in the (i) button. Here, you can also check the previously connected network using Wi-Fi (Via Wi-Fi Router or Device as a Mobile Hotspot) or Hotspot (Intellio as a Hotspot).
2. If Intellio was connected earlier, the IP address is automatically fetched from the previous connection.
3. Ensure your device is connected to the same network that was previously connected.
   
4. Press and hold the “L” button on Quarky Intellio until the LED starts blinking yellow if you are using the Via Wi-Fi Router or Device as a Mobile Hotspot method previously.
5. Press and hold the “R” button if you are using the Intellio as a Hotspot method previously.
6. If you previously connected using Intellio as a Hotspot, once the yellow light stays ON (no blinking), connect to the previously connected Intellio hotspot from your device’s Wi-Fi settings.
   
   
7. Your IP address is automatically fetched from the previous connection, and then click on Connect.
   
8. Once you reach this screen, click “Go to Editor” to close the pop-up and continue coding with Quarky Intellio in PictoBlox.

You’ve successfully connected Quarky Intellio to PictoBlox using the Using IP Address method.