# Prepare the microSD card

1. Assemble your Pi and case, but don't plug the SDR dongle(s) in or connect it to power.
2. Insert the microSD card in your PC or Mac, using an adapter if required.
3. Download and install the Raspberry Pi Imager (Windows/Mac/Linux).  This guide is based on v1.7.4 of the Raspberry Pi Imager for Windows.
4. Launch Raspberry Pi Imager.
5. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**CHOOSE OS**</mark> button.
6. Select <mark style="color:yellow;">**Raspberry Pi OS (other)**</mark>, then <mark style="color:yellow;">**Raspberry Pi OS Lite (32-bit)**</mark>.
7. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**CHOOSE STORAGE**</mark> button.
8. Select whatever item is identifying the microSD card you inserted.  Double-check that the storage size shown in the list closely matches your microSD card.  *<mark style="background-color:red;">**If your microSD card is not listed or not selectable, do not proceed!**</mark>*  Be very careful not to select storage being used by your computer.
9. Click the :gear: icon (settings).
10. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">Set hostname</mark> checkbox and then set the hostname to "<mark style="color:yellow;">carputer</mark>" (don't type the quotation marks).
11. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">Enable SSH</mark> checkbox, then, under <mark style="color:yellow;">Set username and password</mark>, set the <mark style="color:yellow;">Username</mark> to "<mark style="color:yellow;">pi</mark>" and the <mark style="color:yellow;">Password</mark> to "<mark style="color:yellow;">carputer</mark>" (or whatever you want and can remember).
12. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">Configure wireless LAN</mark> checkbox and set the <mark style="color:yellow;">SSID</mark> and <mark style="color:yellow;">Password</mark> for your home wi-fi network.
13. Change the <mark style="color:yellow;">Wireless LAN country</mark> to "<mark style="color:yellow;">US</mark>" (if not in US, select your country).
14. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**SAVE**</mark> button.
15. Click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**WRITE**</mark> button.
16. If you're sure you selected your microSD card as the storage to write to, click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**YES**</mark> button to confirm.  You may be prompted for your computer password to complete this action.
17. Wait for the write to finish, click the <mark style="color:yellow;">**CONTINUE**</mark> button, and then quit the Raspberry Pi Imager.
18. Remove the microSD card from your computer and insert it into your Pi with the gold contacts facing up.