Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus (B+) Technical Specifications

Same thing happened to me. What I found was the software MUST be up to date before trying it out. If you try the correct 3B+ version this will solve this problem. The rainbow indicates the firmware is maybe older than supported by your SD card.

>Best to use an external usb device, even those tiny little ones!

Right! I've been using those on my pi1 and pi2 and those have been behaving really well. Pi1 has one of those cheapo little things off EBay even. (Pi2 has a WiPi)

-Nico

Hey Nico,must of been typing at the same time . Yes I just find the WIFI unreliable expecially in my office where there loads of tech busineses and no doubt a high noise floor. Best to use an external usb device, even those tiny little ones!

is the extra power requirement solely down to the extra clock rate ...in which case you could under clock the cpu to get thepower your application demands

>Is the 5Ghz band a feature that is not yet supported?

I'm finding the Pi3 Wifi in general to be very unreliable so far. I'm not far from the WiFi hub either.

I wish they would add an external antenna option (like that little button-snap type the Arduino Yun has).

-Nico

" New dual band wireless LAN chip, 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz with embedded antenna".

I have 2.4G and 5G bands on my network. The 5G band is not detected by the B+. I'm using most recent, up to date Raspbian Stretch image. Is the 5Ghz band a feature that is not yet supported?

Hi David,

I agree, if you don't need the features/deltas then it's better to just purchase a Pi 3B instead of 3B+, and save some power in the process.

A couple of months back we needed some more Pi's and went with 3B too, since sometimes it's better to go with what you know, rather than take on a new platform, power requirements, etc. However it's been several months now, and the 3B+ is more mature now, so I might reconsider it for the next purchase.

Thanks for the bad news.   For me the extra power requirements is very disappointing and for my project a show stopper.   So I need to go find some replacement Raspberry Pi 3B that fit my system and will work.   For my projects the 3B+ is a killer.   Too bad the geniuses that keep figuring the upgrades to a perfectly operating unit suddenly makes it totally unusable.  I don't understand the hype for the new 3B+ downplayed the extra power requirement.  The only improvement that would even make a very minor improvement to what I am doing is the minor increase in processing speed to 1.4GB.   I probably wouldn't even notice it as the Pi is Loafing doing what I have it doing now.   So, I am off to find some Raspberry PI 3B's to buy and throw these 3B+ in the Junk box.  I am Very Disappointed with the only thing I could get out of them was a multicolored screen and 4 long and 4 short red flashes of the power LED.  To bad the Raspberry PI utility is being ruined by UPGRADES that don't really improve it's utility. 

73 Dave WA5DJJ

Hi John,

Please see the graph here:

https://raspi.tv/2018/how-much-power-does-raspberry-pi-3b-use-power-measurements

Depending on what PSU and cable you're using, it may need upgrading. The official Pi PSU should work.

I just got my B+, plug it in with a 5V plug and nothing happens. Shows a rainbow screen with a electric bolt at the top right corner. The red light flashes and that is it. I have the B and it works fine, same power plug. What could be the problem....