Raspberry Pi Devices

The audio of the video incorrectly stated the processor is 64 bit, 8 core. The processor is 64 bit, 4 core and has been corrected.

These instructions are only applicable to Raspberry Pi 4b devices. While there are other current and previous models available, they may not work with the particular applications that will be presented on this website.

This website will not be covering how to use these devices for video game machines. While there are some options available, they do require ROM packs (the video game software) purchased and/or installed on the device. There are options to acquire the ROMs that may not be legal due to copyright concerns.

Availability

As of August of 2021, these devices are in short supply. As a result of supply and demand, the price has increased as well with 8gb models going up to $200 on Amazon.

During 2021, a 400 series model was introduced that is equiped with it's own keyboard and heat sink. This device is overclocked from the standard 1.5 ghz to 1.8 ghz and contains 4gb of RAM.

The 400 is availble as a kit with the mouse and power supply as well and can be purchased for $150.

Packages

Raspberry Pi can be purchased with just the motherboard or as a package with the case, heat sinks, power cord, fan, memory card, and card reader.

If this is your first Raspberry Pi, it is a good idea to purchase the kit. Amazon has several options for purchasing the kits.

It's an 1980's computer

If you are used to your phone, Windows, and Macs, there are great many things that appear when you first plug the device. With Raspberry Pi, that isn't the case. It is empty (remember, this is Linux device). While your phones and Mac computers operate under a Linux operating system, the OS has been taken care of by the manufacturer to make the device easy for you to use.

If you purchased the kit, with the memory card included, the operating system should be on the memory card. It is just a matter of inserting the memory card into the memory card slot (located on the bottom of the motherboard) to work.

Once installed, there are a few things you will need to plug into.

Power

These devices operate with a USB C adapter (rated at 5 volts with 700 milliamps minimum (5.1V, 3000mA maximum)). With the kit, the power supply contains a button or rocker switch to turn the device on or off. If you choose to use a standard USB port from another source, it may only be rated for 5v with fewer volts resulting in less power to the device.

Video

One side of the device provides two HDMI outputs. These outputs are designed to use Micro HDMI cables.

If you purchased the kit, you may have two micro HDMI cables included with standard HDMI connectors on the other end of the cable. These devices will support dual monitors. For setup purposes, this video will focus on one cable to go through the setup process.

Audio

Micro HDMI doesn't supply audio through the smaller cable (you can turn it on in the settings). If after turning on the audio HDMI in the settings doesn't work, the audio cable can work when connected to speakers.

Raspberry Pi's do include bluetooth so that bluetooth speakers will work for the device (saving you a cable you don't have to plug in).

USB

Raspberry Pi's include four USB ports. Two are USB2 while the other two are USB3.

For this installation, the keyboard and mouse will be using the USB2 ports, while the external hard drive (to be shown later) will use the USB3 port.

Network

Raspberry Pi's contain Ethernet (Gigabit) and wi-fi (802.11ac) connections.

For this installation, wire Ethernet will be used. The video will discuss how to setup wi-fi connections as well.

One setup option that you will have to be aware of. Since this device is being used as a permanent server application, it is important to have a static IP address connected to the network so that the device address doesn't change.

This video series will demonstrate how to create this in the network settings of Linux at a later time. This can also be accomplished in your router settings by reserving the IP address to this device as well.

Using Raspberry Pi with 4k televisions

Because of the configuration of the video features of the Raspberry Pi, plugging the device into a 4k televsion may result in difficulties getting a picture to appear. In order for the device to work with your display, the following settings must be applied:

From the command screen (may have to use SSH to log into the computer as discuessed in the video series) type in the following:

sudo nano /boot/config.txt (press enter)

The following lines should be added to the file on the screen:

hdmi_group=1

hdmi_mode=16

Once entered, press ctrl X. Press enter to save the file.

Once you are out of nano, type in the following:

sudo reboot (press enter)

The screen should appear on a 4k televsion (using 1080 resolution).

If the screen isn't appearing, make sure that you are using the mini HDMI connector next to the power supply.

If after plugging in your display into the first HDMI connector and there isn't any improvment, edit config.txt and add the following:

hdmi_max_pixel_freq:0=200000000

hdmi_max_pixel_freq:1=200000000

Once the file is saved and the computer is rebooted, this will disable 4k mode using a lower resolution to match your display.

Unless you plan on using a Raspberry Pi to watch 4k videos (using Kodi), having 4k isn't necessary for this device.

Using magnetic hard drive storage on Raspberry Pi's

Unless you are using a Raspberry Pi as a MySQL server, it should be avoided.

When used, the power supply should be attached to the hard drive (WD Book drives work well).

Using magnetic hard drives that require power from a USB 3 connection (hopefully you are using 3) will work on Raspberry Pi operating systems if they are connected to a powered USB 3 hub. The power to the hub must be connected before booting the computer.

These devices are better to use in Ubunutu on the self powered USB drives in Ubuntu but it isn't recommended to store default files (using the home directory).

They have tendancy to crash the system (when defined using /etc/fstab). The default SD card should be used.

Installing the Operating System

While the video focuses on the Raspberry Pi operating system, most of our installations are only running on Ubuntu Server (64-bi).

If you are already using Windows, Mac, or Chromebook, you won't be happy with the graphical user interface (GUI).

As was stated earlier, the devices perform like a 1980's computer (sometimes early 90's). That means there it no seperate video memory and/or processor. As a result, this means that you will have to go into raspi-config and allocate some memory to work with graphics.

Using these computers can be misserable to setup on a 4k television with 60hz. You may have to configure the settings (using /boot/config.txt) or operate they system using remote desktop.

Running it on remote connection can help but it does require plugging in video cable, mouse, and keyboard to operate (into the computer).

If you buy the kit

If you purchased the kit with the memory card, chances are the Raspian system is already installed. It just has to be inserted into the card reader and powered on.

If you didn't buy the kit

If you didn't buy the kit (or the kit didn't include the memory card) the Raspian system must be added to the card.

Micro SD Cards to use

San Disk memory cards are recommended for this project for speed and reliability.

When you purchase the cards, there is a number on the card. The higher the number, the faster the memory. The number is the fastest and is recommended for these devices.

Most of the time when ultra SD cards used, the San Disk Ultra card is used. They are used in mobile electronic devices from 32gb (gigabytes) up to 2TB (terabytes).

The minimum size that you should use to operate a Raspberry Pi 4 is 128gb. This will allocate enough space for updates.

You should be able to get away with using up to 512gb in an ultra SD without slowdowns.

Using more that 512gb can overheat the computer. There are transistors in the tiny storeage device and they are inadequate to use as at terabyte storage source.

If you need 1TB or more, it is better to use SSD devices or NVM memory modules (to be covered on a future video).

It is a good idea to keep a backup memory card in the event of a crash. Most of the files can be retrieved on the crashed card and transferred to the new card.

Installing the Operating System on the card

Installing the operating system on the card require access to another computer that has the Raspberry Image app installed. This can be installed on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

This app is available on the website:

http://www.raspberrypi.org

Overclocking

With three Raspberry Pi's installed (as of December, 2021) overclocking was decided to do on the Nextcloud and media server for 1.5 ghz to 1.8 ghz.

Because of the need for performance on the cloud server, it was dedcided to test the performance to increase the provessor speed safely.

With the right case, heatsinks (or thermal colling), a higher end power supply (they recommend using the official Raspbery Pi power supply), and cooling fans, this can help with peformance if it doesn't exceed 2.0 ghz (which could void the warranty). Clocking at 2.0ghz can crash the device.

With the release of Raspberry Pi 400 series computers being overlocked to 1.8 ghz (using the enlosed heat sink, it appears that having the devices clocked to the default of 1.5 ghz was a safety measure for those that don't use heat sinks, fans, or adequate power supplies.

The graphic processor can be overclocked as well (this hasn't been attempted at this time) it is recommeded to follow the threads on the internet to know how to do it safely.

Retropie (video games)

These devices can be used to play retro video games by installing the Retropie operating system onto an SD card.

This website won't address the subject but there are several videos avaialable on You Tube that cover many 1980 computer and video game platforms that can be played on these devices using a keyboard and a usb controller.

These devices can work with more than one platform on the same device capable of supporting libraries from Atari, Intellivision, Texas Instruments Home Computer (99/4a), Coleco, Sinclair, Commodore, and others.

While the operating system and the emulators are free, the ROMS to install to work with them are not.

There are proper ways to purchase ROMS legally and there are some sources that may provide for them that may not necessarily be legal. There are many internet sources that can provide information about the way to own and purchase the ROMS legally.

Installing emulation apps is legal in the United States as well as the support but video game ROMS are licensed using the same guidelines that intellectual property for movies, television shows, music, and other copyright media materials. Even though many of the apps were produced 40 years ago, the companies that produced them (especially video games produced under license by Atari, Namco, Nintendo, Activision, and Midway (Midway, Bally, and Williams)) are still followed by these companies.

Information about Retropie is available at the website:

https://retropie.org.uk/