Librem5 Update

I have been experimenting with my Librem5 for about a month now. Here are some findings.
This is a follow up to my previous post here: Link
Topics I mention: 4G calling, Encrypted Messaging, Battery, Suspend, Animatch, Purism

Quick summary:

Not my every day phone yet but I’m making real progress. My previous issue with 4G calling is resolved. I managed to get encrypted messaging using the matrix protocol working using the Nheko client. Battery life remains an issue but is manageable. There is still work to be done with energy savings, camera, suspend, etc.
Its important to remember that this is running a desktop computer operating system. Software is being developed, or modified, to be usable on a Linux based phone. While it will run many desktop applications they often don’t fit on the screen, have poor touch interfaces, or just use to much power.

4G calling

When I received the phone, calling didn’t work. I thought calling was completely broken but after traveling a bit I found it did work using 2G in some locations. After some reading I assumed VoLTE or 4G calling just didn’t work yet. That assumption was incorrect. I finally, today, created a support ticket with Purism and received a quick reply with instructions to update the modem. It worked. Now I can make 4G calls.

If you have a similar issue I suggest you email support@puri.sm, as I did.
Subject line should be something like: [Purism_12345678] VoLTE issues (replace the number with your order number) The email should include what version your modem is currently running and a description of the issue. I found my firmware by installing bm818-tools and running ‘BM818 VoLTE’. This tool is designed to enable VoLTE but also reported the firmware. Funny thing is now the firmware is updated this tool is no longer reporting it. But it did originally work and here is my screen.

I wanted to share the instructions and firmware files but am afraid it could lead to me assisting people in bricking their devices. The instructions and firmware files are likely dependent on what modem and region you are in. So I’ll just stick with contact support.

Encrypted Messaging with Matrix protocol

Short version: Matrix.org account, Nheko client, custom notification script because I didn’t get audio notifications when on the lock screen, NO automatic suspend. I may just be overcomplicating this. If you find that to be the case, please report what setting or option I overlooked.

Long version: I understand Chatty, the default texting ap, can handle the matrix protocol but I don’t think its ready for the masses yet. I had lots of trouble including crashes and not able to read encrypted messages. I tried several other matrix clients and found Nheko works, fits the screen, and seems like a nice program.

In Nheko notifications work fine as long as:
–Your device isn’t suspended. Only texts and calls wake up the device, not messages through Nheko.
–The incoming message isn’t coming in to a currently open chat window. This kinda makes sense. It sees the chat as active, having focus, it doesn’t need to notify you. This is very easy to work around. Hit the arrow to return to the all chats view.
–You are not on the lock screen. If you are, for some reason, I get a visual indication but no audio notification. The LED turns blue but I hear no sound. I don’t know why. I found a work around but it wasn’t a simple thing. I really hope its just me over complicating something there was a setting for.
The script I used:

#!/bin/bash
linesInFile="0"
#close dbus-monitor if its open. Close any running copies of this script if open.
killall dbus-monitor
killall myscript.sh
#start a dbus monitor process and output to a file
dbus-monitor --profile "sender='im.nheko.Nheko',interface='org.freedesktop.Notifications'" > /tmp/dbusmon.txt &
while true; do
        linesInFileNow=$(wc -l /tmp/dbusmon.txt | cut -f1 -d ' ')
        if [ "$linesInFileNow" -gt "$linesInFile" ]; then
                linesInFile=$linesInFileNow;
                aplay -q /usr/share/sounds/purple/receive.wav
        fi
        sleep 1
done

This script needs to be started after any reboot to work. I start it with ‘./myscript.sh &’ so it runs in the background. When I close the terminal window it gives a warning but I ignore it and my notifications still work.
Not sure it was needed but I enabled an option in Nheko about exposing room information to dbus.

Battery

I need to do more testing but I feel pretty safe saying you can manage about 6 hours when not allowing the phone to suspend. You can let it suspend and you will likely get a lot more but you will only received texts and phone calls. Other chat applications will only function when the phone isn’t suspended. Plug in when you can and have a portable supply as needed for longer outings without power available.
I purchased one of these: Link

Keep in mind if you have a resource hogging application, its using more power. Perhaps close it. I was keeping a browser tab to Microsoft online open for work and recently discovered it was using a lot of power. I used htop at the command line and did some testing to confirm this.

Suspend

Using suspend only allows you to receive phone calls and text messages. Other applications stop working while suspended. Also when resuming from suspend I find my cell modem isn’t always working as apparent by there being no cell signal strength or 4G indicators. I fix this by cycling the modem hardware kill switch on and off. For now I am not letting the phone suspend.

Hardware Kill Switches

These, in my opinion, are awesome. I can save power, reset hardware devices, be more private all with the flick of a switch. I tend to turn off WiFi when traveling. Camera and mic when at home and not using them. One time removing the phone from a pouch, I turned off something by accident. I noticed right away and turned it back on. Other then the single accidental switch toggle, I have had no issues.

Animatch

Don’t start using this application. It is addictive and bad for productivity. :)

Purism

What is going on with Purism? My guess is they have good intentions and ambitious goals and are struggling to keep up. It was pretty frustrating to wait almost 4 years for my Librem 5 phone and easy to feel angry. Its also easy for me to want them to succeed in their goals. I am tired of being the product and want other options. Purism is trying to provide other options.

Now I have my device I am working with them. Here are thoughts on my experiences.

Email support has been great. Pretty sure every Email I have sent, both while waiting for my phone, and since, has received a reply within 24 hours. The replies have been direct and helpful. The only negative has been the replies to ‘when will I get my phone?’ were not accurate. Not sure how much of that was unforeseen circumstances.

I have interacted with them via their matrix channel, again very responsive, direct, helpful.

I have attempted to use the Librem.one services. So far I have used chat(Matrix), social(Mastodon), and email.

–Email works fine, no issues.
–Social works but appears to have no local timeline. I suspect they were getting a lot of hate posts from people tired of waiting for their Librem 5 phones and had to do away with the local timeline. People can be mean, and really mean when waiting 4 years for their Librem 5.
–Chat (Matrix) is outdated and won’t even work with many clients. I have seen this discussed very recently. Seems the DB migration hangs for days with no completion in site. They discuss hiring a professional DBA to fix this for them. I hope they do as I would like to use this service. I am using matrix.org but think it too big. I would prefer to use Purism’s server or another small server.

Closing thoughts

I plan to continue to support them through their products and services and hope for the best. I think they have lofty goals, good contributions to open source, and I hope they succeed. I’ll just hold off on any pre-orders they offer. :)