The command to use is nmcli and is contained in the package network-manager.
apt-get install network-manager
This also install the command nmtui which is a text UI for the nmcli command.
List the device names controlled by the NetworkManager.
nmcli device
To be sure switch on the radio.
nmcli radio wifi on
To list the available SID's with their signal strengths run this command.
nmcli device wifi list
Outputs i.e.:
IN-USE BSSID SSID MODE CHAN RATE SIGNAL BARS SECURITY
* 38:10:D5:6F:6F:05 Stockholm Infra 6 195 Mbit/s 100 ▂▄▆█ WPA2
3A:10:D5:6F:6F:05 Oslo Infra 6 195 Mbit/s 100 ▂▄▆█ WPA2
4E:1B:86:C1:50:EA H369A7F5AE9 Infra 1 130 Mbit/s 80 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
4E:1B:86:C0:EB:B2 H369A7F5AE9 Infra 1 130 Mbit/s 74 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
0C:8E:29:44:5F:9C VRV9517445F9C Infra 11 195 Mbit/s 74 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
56:67:11:E0:9F:F4 Ziggo Infra 6 130 Mbit/s 67 ▂▄▆_ WPA2 802.1X
BC:0F:9A:5A:61:54 Helsinki Infra 10 270 Mbit/s 67 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
64:CC:22:43:4C:5E VRV9517434C5E Infra 11 195 Mbit/s 67 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
FC:EC:DA:FD:C7:F0 Red.Net Infra 6 195 Mbit/s 60 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
92:5C:14:D1:D4:06 Ziggo Infra 6 130 Mbit/s 54 ▂▄__ WPA2 802.1X
Connecting to new SID a password needs to be given.
nmcli device wifi connect <sid-name> password <password>
List the possible connection names.
nmcli connection
Outputs:
NAME UUID TYPE DEVICE
Wired connection 1 dabde361-aeea-3073-95fa-10ff8fd16238 ethernet enp39s0
Stockholm d0beba07-c95d-4e80-b769-e9b853ae9831 wifi wlp37s0
Actual reconnect using this command.
nmcli connection up <connection-name>
To disconnect from a connection us this command.
nmcli connection down <connection-name>
To remove an existing connection use this command.
nmcli connection delete <connection-name>