Getting Started with Raspberry Pi

Starting today, I will introduce a popular machine – Raspberry Pi.

1. Introduction to Raspberry PiWhat is Raspberry Pi? Raspberry Pi is a small computer the size of a credit card. You can connect Raspberry Pi to a TV, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and other devices. Raspberry Pi can replace various uses of a daily desktop computer, including word processing, spreadsheets, media centers, and even gaming. Moreover, Raspberry Pi can play high-definition videos up to 1080p. We hope to promote Raspberry Pi to young computer enthusiasts around the world to cultivate their interest and skills in computer programming.

Can I buy shares in the Raspberry Pi Foundation? As a registered charity in the UK, we do not issue shares, sorry. However, if you want to express your support, we welcome you to buy a “Raspberry Pi” machine itself.

2. Purchasing and DeliveryWhere to buy? We have partnered with Element14 and RS, and you can purchase Raspberry Pi from these two distributors. They sell Raspberry Pi globally, including mainland China (Chinese company names: Element14 Electronics, RS Electronics).

How many can I buy at once? There used to be a limit of one per person when production capacity was insufficient, but that has been lifted. You can buy as many as you want.

What is the price? Model A is $25 (currently not released), and Model B is $35. This price does not include local taxes and shipping fees. In mainland China, the prices when purchased through Element14 and RS are: pre-tax ￥235 and ￥221 (17% VAT, no customs duties). Element14 charges a shipping fee of 30 yuan, while RS offers free shipping. If you buy from abroad and ship back to China, you may be charged customs duties.

What is included in the Raspberry Pi package? You will receive the Raspberry Pi circuit board itself without any accessories such as an SD card or power supply. If you need a power supply, SD card, or other accessories, you can purchase them together from Element14 or RS, which also sell SD cards pre-installed with the system. It is not recommended for Chinese users to purchase any other accessories from Element14 and RS, as the prices for accessories there are several times to dozens of times more expensive than other online stores. You can choose local computer markets or online stores like Taobao, Amazon, or JD.com.

Why do you price in USD when you are a UK organization? Because we purchase components and incur production costs in USD. Due to the rapidly changing forex market, we maintain the pricing of Raspberry Pi in USD to avoid frequent changes.

Is there a “buy one, donate one” program? Not at the moment, but there are plans for such activities. If you wish, you can buy a unit yourself and give it to someone in need.

Can Raspberry Pi be purchased worldwide? Yes. We planned to sell globally from the beginning, so our chosen sales network is also worldwide.

What is the minimum order quantity? One unit.

Can I be a distributor for Raspberry Pi? We have signed exclusive distribution agreements with Element14 and RS. Currently, what “distributors” do is buy in bulk from these two distributors (to reduce shipping costs) and resell. Therefore, if you want to become a distributor for Raspberry Pi, you do not need to sign any agreements with us. Element14 and RS are happy to supply you in bulk. However, unfortunately, due to our pricing model and our nature as a charity, there are no discounts or benefits for bulk purchases of Raspberry Pi. Distributors mainly profit by selling Raspberry Pi peripherals and related services. Many sellers on Taobao are doing this! Please search for “Raspberry Pi” on Taobao.

3. General InformationWhat is the difference between Raspberry Pi Model A and Model B? Raspberry Pi Model A (not released) has 256MB of memory, one USB port, and no wired network interface. Raspberry Pi Model B has 512MB of memory, two USB ports, and a 100M wired network interface. Note: The B model machines sold before October 15, 2012, have 256MB of memory.

What is the difference between Raspberry Pi Model B and Model B+? The “Raspberry Pi B+” version still uses the BCM2835 processor and the same system software as the previous generation Raspberry Pi. The memory is still 512MB; however, several key components have been improved:

• More GPIO pins, 40 pins! (The old version had 26 pins)

• More USB ports, 4 in total, which is 2 more than the old version! Improved hot-swapping and overcurrent protection.

• Micro SD socket replaces the old SD socket.

• Lower power consumption, reduced by 0.5-1W.

• Audio optimization, the audio circuit uses a dedicated low-noise power supply.

• A more streamlined shape; the B+ version aligns the USB ports with the edge of the circuit board, removes the AV interface, and has 4 mounting holes on the mainboard for easy fixing.

For details, please click.

What is the difference between Raspberry Pi 2B and Raspberry Pi B?

• Equipped with a 900MHz quad-core processor (900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU), expected performance is 6 times that of the previous B+ version.

• 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM, 2 times that of the previous B+ version.

• Fully compatible with the first generation.

Since the CPU has been upgraded to ARM7, Raspberry Pi 2 will support running the entire range of ARM GNU/Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and even Microsoft’s Windows 10. For details, please click.

What are the dimensions of Raspberry Pi? Length, width, and height are 85.60mm x 56mm x 21mm, weighing 45g.

What SoC do you use? (System on Chip) We use Broadcom BCM2835. This SoC includes an ARM1176JZFS ARM CPU core that supports hardware floating point, running at 700MHz, and a Videocore 4 display core (GPU). The GPU supports H.264 decoding for Blu-ray quality video playback at a data rate of 40MBit/s. It also includes a 3D core that can use OpenGL ES2.0 and OpenVG libraries to develop 3D applications.

Why choose ARM11? A comprehensive consideration of cost and performance.

How is the graphics performance? The GPU supports OpenGL ES 2.0, hardware-accelerated OpenVG, and H.264 hardware decoding up to 1080p30fps. The GPU’s typical computing power reaches 1Gpixel/s, 1.5Gtexel/s, or 24 GFLOPs, providing a range of texture rendering filtering and DMA functions. Comparatively, the graphics performance of Raspberry Pi is roughly equivalent to that of the original Xbox. The overall performance of Raspberry Pi may be close to that of a 300MHz Pentium 2, but its graphics capabilities far exceed that era.

Can it be overclocked? Most Raspberry Pis can run safely and stably at 800MHz. Using the latest version of the Raspbian system, you can modify the system’s overclocking settings during the first boot or at any time you like (by running the raspi-config command), and this will not void the warranty of Raspberry Pi. Please note that overclocking is limited; not all Raspberry Pis support the highest overclocking options. If you find the system unstable after overclocking, please reduce the frequency.

Can it be blended? Yes. We have verified this with virtual experiments – “No Raspberry Pi was harmed during the experiment.” (Note: “Will it blend?” is an advertisement for a blender brand in the United States. The advertisement shows the blender crushing various items like Rubik’s cubes, tapes, baseball bats, and even iPhones and iPads, promoting the machine’s durability. This advertisement is a well-known pop culture topic in the US.)

How to boot? The system boot must use an SD card, but you can specify to read the operating system from a USB hard drive after booting, to “take over” the boot process. If no SD card is inserted, Raspberry Pi cannot boot.

Where is the power switch? Power on: Plug in the power plug; Power off: Unplug the power plug. Special reminder: Raspberry Pi is still a computer! Please use the shutdown command (halt or sudo halt) to ensure Linux stops all read and write operations to the SD card before cutting off power! Otherwise, data loss is likely.

Why is there no real-time clock? Raspberry Pi does not have a real-time clock and cannot maintain time after shutdown. A Raspberry Pi that is not connected to the network needs to manually set the time each time it boots. (If connected to the network, it will automatically get the time when booting.) Adding a real-time clock circuit is surprisingly expensive. Once a battery is added to the board, both the space and interface circuits would greatly increase the cost of Raspberry Pi. If your application or electronic project requires it, you can consider using GPIO expansion ports to connect a real-time clock circuit externally.

Do you sell component kits? Not possible. If we were to organize component kits while making finished products, the labor investment would be substantial. Moreover, Raspberry Pi cannot be manually soldered. The BGA packaged chips and other small components on the board require automated production lines for assembly, which cannot be done with just a soldering iron.

Can memory be increased? No. The memory is a PoP package that is “stuck” on the CPU/GPU and cannot be removed.

Is there a manual for XX chip available for download? Unfortunately, Broadcom does not provide a complete manual for the BCM2835 chip, which is the core of Raspberry Pi. We will provide technical documentation to explain the relationship and use of BCM2835 and the onboard resources of Raspberry Pi (GPIO, etc.). We will also release the circuit diagram of Raspberry Pi.

But I want the hardware XX information! We will release other documents in the future. However, what is released is at the discretion of the Foundation.

I must have the XX information!! Give it to me!! If you need the complete documentation for BCM2835, you need to sign a confidentiality agreement with the chip supplier, Broadcom. However, you will also need to provide Broadcom with your production and sales plan for using this chip, as well as your expected usage volume. (In other words, only bulk commercial cooperation will be entertained.)

Why doesn’t Raspberry Pi come with XX hardware or XX interface? Raspberry Pi is a product for charitable purposes – we aim to create the cheapest computer with the most basic functions. Given the pricing constraints, the trade-offs on hardware and interfaces are very difficult decisions.

Can Raspberry Pi be used for XX purposes? We only study the use of Raspberry Pi for educational purposes. If you want to use Raspberry Pi for any other purpose, as long as you are responsible for the relevant research, it is fine.

How to connect keyboard and mouse? Use USB ports. Raspberry Pi Model A has one USB port, while Model B has two USB ports. If you want to connect more USB devices, you can use a USB HUB. It is recommended to use a wireless keyboard and mouse set. Besides being convenient, the most important thing is that it can save one USB port. Recommended: Logitech MK240 or MK220.

4. CasingDoes Raspberry Pi have a casing? The official FAQ states that there is no casing as of now, but this statement is outdated. Raspberry Pi now has an official casing, sold by Element14 and RS. However, the price of over 60 yuan is obviously unacceptable. Taobao already has acrylic, injection-molded, and other material casings available for your choice. If you DIY, there are options to make casings using wood, business card boxes, or even cardboard.

Can Raspberry Pi fit into an Altoids mint tin? Probably not. Although the sizes are similar, that tin has rounded corners, while the Raspberry Pi board is square. (Note: This mint tin is a symbol of “tin boxes” in the US. It is very common and often used as a casing for electronic works.)

5. Display DevicesWhat display devices can Raspberry Pi connect to? Raspberry Pi provides both HDMI and composite video outputs. You can connect Raspberry Pi to any TV’s A/V input or the HDMI port of a new TV. You can also use a cheap HDMI to DVI cable (adapter) to connect to a monitor that supports DVI input. Raspberry Pi does not support VGA. If you want to use VGA or YPbPr component video, you will need a relatively expensive HDMI to VGA converter. The cheapest reliable HDMI to VGA converter can be bought for around 72 yuan on Taobao, and the introduction document will be posted in the forum later. Of course, although it may be a bit difficult for beginners, Raspberry Pi can also be operated remotely without a monitor!

Why doesn’t it support VGA? Because the BCM2835 chip only supports HDMI output. Moreover, VGA technology has begun to gradually exit the display market and is becoming outdated. Therefore, we do not plan to support VGA.

Does the GPU have firmware? Yes. In fact, the GPU firmware also serves as the first stage bootloader (first stage bootloader, developers of ARM can take a look?).

Can a touchscreen be added? We have not experimented in this area, but from an electronic perspective, there is no reason it can’t be added! There are many discussions on the forum, but the main trouble is still the price: touchscreens are very expensive!

What is the operating temperature range? The chips used in Raspberry Pi are all commercial grade, with specific temperature ranges differing: the LAN9512 LAN and USB chips are rated for 0~70°C, while the core chip is rated for -40~85°C. It may work outside the temperature range, but we have not conducted such extreme tests. (In fact, this means a general indoor environment and outdoor environments not lower than 0 degrees.)

Why is the password not displayed when inputting? When prompted to enter Password: at the Raspberry Pi login interface, you will notice that nothing appears on the screen when you press any key. The password is not echoed at all; this is a normal phenomenon in UNIX/Linux systems. Just “blindly” type in the password and hit enter. The backspace key can also be used.

6. AudioDoes it support HDMI audio output? Yes.

What are the general audio output and input interfaces? It has a standard 3.5mm audio output that can connect to regular headphones and speakers. If you need a microphone or line input, you can use a USB sound card.

7. Power SupplyWhat is the required power supply? Raspberry Pi operates at 5V, powered through a micro USB interface. Distributors sell power adapters. You may not need to buy a power supply: just find any qualified USB 5V 1A power supply and a micro USB data cable to power the Raspberry Pi! (Many smartphone chargers use this configuration now.) Recommended: Pisen iPad charger with any branded micro USB cable.

Can it be powered by batteries? Yes. Raspberry Pi can run on 4 NiMH rechargeable batteries (1.2V), but as the batteries discharge, the voltage will drop to a certain level, causing Raspberry Pi to behave abnormally, so please recharge. If you use 4 non-rechargeable alkaline batteries (1.5V), due to the voltage rising to 6V, you may need to use a linear regulator or other means to reduce the voltage. In short, using rechargeable batteries to power Raspberry Pi is very inconvenient. If you really need battery power, it is recommended to purchase a “power bank.” Power banks are now common accessories for smartphones, providing you with a USB interface that outputs 5V. Reliable brands include Yoobao and Pisen.

Does it support Power over Ethernet (PoE)? The current version does not support this. However, due to the high demand for this feature, we are considering whether to introduce it in the future.

8. SoftwareWhat is the operating system? Various Linux distributions. We recommend using Raspbian (a Debian customized for Raspberry Pi). The operating system is stored on the SD card, and you can burn and replace it yourself. The forum provides downloads for the operating system. Please click here.

Is there an official programming language? We use and promote Python as the programming language for youth education. However, any language that can be compiled for the ARMv6 architecture can be used on Raspberry Pi. We certainly do not restrict you to using Python.

Can it run WINE? (or Windows or any x86 software) No. Explanation: Running Windows programs under Linux using WINE relies on the CPU being the same. Because the instructions in the program need to be compatible with the CPU instruction set to be executed. Therefore, any ARM cannot run x86 programs – unless using an emulator, but performance is extremely low and completely impractical.

What Linux distributions are available? Initially supported Fedora, Debian, and Arch Linux ARM. Now, Raspbian is the first recommendation. Ubuntu is currently not supported. You can either download the system image and burn it onto the SD card yourself or purchase a pre-installed SD card.

Can it run Android? A group has already managed to run Android on Raspberry Pi. Although it is not yet practical, research is ongoing.

Can it run XX programs? Generally speaking, as long as your program can be compiled under ARMv6 architecture, it can be said to be “able to.” (For most Linux software, it actually can.) For specific programs, there may be dedicated discussions on the forum, so please remember to check.

Can it run Windows 8 ARM version? We are not a partner of Microsoft. Assistance from Microsoft is necessary to run Windows 8.

About SD cards and storage devices The maximum tested SD card capacity is 32GB without issues. Our wiki has information on which cards work, have issues, and their performance. You can also connect USB drives and USB hard disks to expand storage. The minimum theoretical requirement for SD card capacity is 2GB. However, to leave space for new programs and files, please do not go below 4GB. It is recommended to choose an SD card with a speed class of Class 10, which can fully utilize Raspberry Pi’s read and write capabilities to maximize speed. Recommended is the SanDisk Ultra Class 10 TF 8GB card. It is widely used, cheap, and mature. 8GB is the recommended size, which is definitely enough and makes backup and recovery easy. 16 or 32GB is too large and lacks flexibility. Note: SD card compatibility can easily cause issues. If the system runs abnormally right after burning, please check if your card is on the official wiki’s “problematic SD card” list.

What to do if it bricks? Use a computer to re-burn the system image into the SD card. In other words: because Raspberry Pi has no storage, it will not brick itself; any errors are due to the SD card!

9. Network, USB, and WirelessCan Raspberry Pi access the internet? Does it support Wi-Fi? Model B Raspberry Pi supports 100M wired network. Model A does not have a built-in network interface but can use a USB wired network card. It can connect to Wi-Fi via a USB wireless network card.

Is there a Wi-Fi optional module? The current version does not have one. The Wi-Fi support under Linux in the ARM environment is not yet very mature, and discussions on which USB wireless network cards work can be found on the forum. In fact, the cheapest and simplest USB wireless network cards on the market generally work. Many brands are available, including Tenda, Netcore, and TP-Link. D-Link and NETGEAR can also be considered if you are willing to spend more.

Why doesn’t it support Gigabit Ethernet? The wired network is implemented through the USB bus. The bandwidth of the USB bus is insufficient for Gigabit Ethernet. Explanation: In fact, the BCM2835 only provides one USB port. The B model Raspberry Pi adds a chip that acts as a 3-port USB HUB, permanently connecting one USB wired network card. So from the outside, it looks like one network port + two USB ports.

Does the device support network boot or PXE? No. However, Raspberry Pi consumes very little power, so keeping it on all the time is even simpler!

How to connect more than two USB devices? Use a USB HUB to expand the number of USB ports. Some keyboards have built-in HUBs as well. It is recommended to use a powered HUB. Recommended brand: Lite-On Z-TEK ZK033A powered HUB. I will write a detailed article explaining why this is the case.

10. Educational ApplicationsWhat materials are currently available for educational applications? This is really not worth translating at the moment, as there are very few domestic users who use Raspberry Pi for youth learning (the language barrier is the issue). The original text is welcome for self-reading. We’re working with partners to get software materials developed, as well as with the open source community. Computing at School is writing a user guide and programming manual, we’re aware of a few books being planned and written around the Raspberry Pi, and others have already started to produce some excellent tutorials including video. We’re also working with partners to use it as a teaching platform for other subjects, including languages, maths and so on. Once we launch, we hope that the community will help bodies like Computing at School put together teaching material such as lesson plans and resources and push this into schools. In due course, the foundation hopes to provide a system of prizes to give young people something to work towards. There’s lots of discussion of educational uses and resources in our forums – come and have a chat!

I still have other questions! Please refer to the official wiki http://elinux.org/RaspberryPiBoard and the official forum http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/. Of course, don’t forget that any questions are welcome in the “Q&A area” of the forum, where I will be there to answer everyone’s questions~

GlossaryBGA: A type of electronic chip packaging where all pins are ball-shaped and distributed in a square pattern beneath the chip. SoC: System on Chip. All parts of the computer are made on a single chip. GPIO: General Purpose Input/Output interface. Can be controlled directly through programming to change the high and low levels of the pins. GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, manages graphics hardware, equivalent to a general computer’s graphics card. Distribution: A version of Linux that bundles the Linux kernel with related software, carefully customized and named for ease of use by general Linux users. Examples include Fedora, Ubuntu, and Debian, which are widely used on ordinary computers. Bricking: The state where a device cannot boot due to software changes or firmware refreshes, resulting in a black screen or unresponsive state. Commonly occurs in smartphones, game consoles, routers, and other hardware with firmware upgrade capabilities. (Additionally, “bricking” refers to devices small enough to be compared to a “brick.” Therefore, desktop computers and laptops generally do not say “bricking” when flashing BIOS.) PXE: Preboot Execution Environment. A situation where devices are booted through the network. Now commonly used in various server rooms and internet cafes for diskless workstation platforms. PoE: Power over Ethernet. A technology that allows devices to be powered simply by connecting an Ethernet cable.

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