Use MacBook as Raspberry Pi Display (FTDI)

There are times when I want to use my MacBook as the Raspberry Pi's display. For example, when I go on travel. I would like to continue working on my Raspberry Pi projects. At home, I ssh into the Raspberry Pi using a terminal window on my MacBook. On travel, I need to change the Raspberry Pi so it can connect to the new Wi-Fi and I may need to grab the Raspberry Pi's IP address. So, I can ssh like at home.

This guide shows how to use an FTDI cable to connect a MacBook to a Raspberry Pi using three GPIO pins to display a terminal window on a MacBook

Parts:

FTDI TTL-232R-RPI Serial to USB cable from Mouser $15

Working Raspberry Pi (any model)

MacBook

Step 1. Enable Serial I/O on Raspberry Pi

raspi-config uses TAB, ENTER and ARROW keys to move through its menu. SPACEBAR will toggle a selection.

With a monitor and keyboard attached to the Raspberry Pi, do the following:

$ sudo raspi-config

Select Interfacing Options

Select serial

Enable login shell to be accessible over serial

$ sudo reboot

Disconnect the monitor and keyboard from the Raspberry Pi

Step 2. FTDI Connections

One end of the FTDI cable goes into a MacBook's USB port.

The other end connects to the GPIO pins as shown:

Step 3. Install or Update Drivers on MacBook

Visit this page: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm

Download the driver for your MacBook

Locate the .dmg file (something like: FTDIUSBSerialDriver_v2_4_2.dmg)

Open then dmg

Open the pkg

Follow the installation instructions

The OS blocked the install, so I opened the Security Settings and clicked Allow to let the software install.

It takes a few minutes

Close and move installer to trash.

Eject the FTDI dmg and move it to trash

Step 4. Determine USB Port

Determine USB Port being used by USB-Serial adapter. My MacBook uses a chip from FTDI.

Open terminal window on the MacBook

There are a lot of devices in /dev. Use this command to identify the device:

$ ls /dev/tty.*

/dev/tty.Bluetooth-Incoming-Port

/dev/tty.usbserial-FT9314WH

Here is an alternate way to discover the device:

$ ls /dev | grep FT | grep tty

tty.usbserial-FT9314WH

If neither of the above work, then try this:

Unplug the FTDI cable from the MacBook and run:

$ ls /dev | grep tty

Plug the FTDI cable back into the MacBook, wait a few seconds and run the command again

Step 5. Open a terminal window on MacBook

On a MacBook, open a terminal window. Set up the terminal window preferences as shown:

Terminal, select Preferences, click Advanced tab

xterm and vt100 work, but ansi works better when using nano editor

Set Western ASCII instead of unicode (UTF-8))

Step 6. Check if it works

In a terminal window with the settings above enter:

login to Raspberry Pi: username = pi password = raspberry

Troubleshooting:

The USB-serial cable may drop characters. If characters are dropped you may not get a prompt, press Return or enter username and press Enter.

The display may be messed up. Check the settings above are correct.

If recovery mode appears, then micro SD card is not set up correctly. Start over by reflashing the microSD Card.

• The prompt for recovery mode is #

• Raspbian's normal prompt is $.

NOOBS recovery login and password is: root and raspberry

Screen command shows an error

If an error message like one or more of the following is shown

Then run the command:

If the port is free then nothing will be displayed, otherwise something like the following will be shown:

The session number follows screen. In the above, it is 2526. Run the command:

To terminate the session

Use CTRL-A CTRL-\ to close the session

http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/InstallGuides/Mac_OS_X_Installation_Guide.pdf