Apart from the few instances that I’d find morally justifiable (e.g. whistleblowing, or using different identities for travelling), I was wondering if those interested in changing/burning IMEIs are aware that in addition to changing the IMEI they’d have to also use a new SIM that was never used with another IMEI, is not registered on their name and never used in a location where they usually reside.
And yet, it might be cheaper to buy the cheapest (new or used) Androids on the market than buying replacement modems…
More on topic, I’d also hope that Purism will offer to buy extra modems in the shop. But maybe not day one. Those who have an urgent need should probably contact them directly.
I’d change it only 2 clone my phone, in case L5 comes with an adequate modem w/ VoLTE , but carrier refuses to activate that feature, just bc the device itself/modem too is not certified. swap out the SIM and continue using the phone.
I was wondering if they would sell them too. Would be nice to have the option to have both modems - Gemalto & BroadMobi, so I can switch if I find issues with one
he would also have to open the “back” by unscrewing the lid first then take out the current m2 and put another in then put the screws back and screw them in (assuming he didn’t lose them while running to the airport).
can’t really do it in a vibrating-moving car either since very precise movements are required. not exactly a great choice even if you do have the propper m2s with the modems and sims installed.
Like @Caliga said, they by the modem as a raw bga chip and the custom part is to make a m.2 card auto of it. To refere to the supportet baseband. So they could have used other chips to solder on the custom m.2 card which support other/more bands. But i think gemalto gave them the most of the other features they look for. No runtime firmware, free driver, voice support.
It would be nice to be able to buy additional modems, especially when traveling. E.g. the US version of the available models from Purism will not work at all in Japan…
For people traveling more, maybe we’ll have to settle for another option with firmware blobs?
Even within the US, there might be good reasons to change modems (change carriers, location with different technology for coverage). I would not be surprised if an aftermarket M.2 is created for the Librem 5. Proprietary runtime firmware would be no problem for a company that is not trying to achieve “Respects Your Freedom” certification.
I know the implication of the IMSI as well, but this thread is about modems only. SIMs are easy to change, a suitable modem is not.
I’m not part of an international criminal enterprise, so no need for hurry while changing the modems or SIMs
And having a bag full of modems is much better in my opinion than having a bag full of old mobile phones
mmm, my concern has slowly become “crap, where do I have this thing set to ship to?” as I read threads regarding the modem(s).
If there is going to be any issue of working in the US vs elsewhere I’mma need “elsewhere” lol. My shipping address is USA, but I’m only there about 1.5 months a year… Thoughts? Advice?
It seems unlikely that the modem will be based on shipping address. As I understood it you will be contacted about which modem you want when they are ready to ship. So your ordering address should not affect which modem you get.
i guess this is debatable and depends on how you organise how large/slim/heavy those “old” mobile-phones are … i read “old” as in classic but it could be you meant something else …
Before we can buy modems from Librem, as versus companies such as 4G LTE (https://4gltemall.com), there needs to be some supply of B-slot M.2 card modem choices out there. While there are many SATA cards for data transmission, there are nearly none with voice compatibility that I can find on the market. Perhaps Quectel EM06, though I am not even sure of that!
I would hope for some independent development and some need for chip development and software writing for firmware to give voice compatibility is needed. A clear problem has been lag time necessary for development of ARM chip manufacture.
Some prospect of risc-v (“risc-five”) developed chips as an alternative to ARM allows for some potential for a rapid development free from licensing. Qualcomm as well as Western Digital is supporting this hardware alternative and modem chips have been developed such as Espressif (https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-idf/en/latest/get-started/). The chip noted here is easily small enough to use for an M.2 card modem with Linux compatibility present and Bluetooth 4.0 and modem functionality, but applications need to be made for both hardware utilization for this as well as firmware to allow it to interact properly with CPU designs for voice capability if not voice capacity.
Whether some present hardware already on M.2 card can be given modification, some chip already in Qualcomm or other company’s domain can be made to function with M.2 placement as Librem has done with the existing Gemalto chips, there need to be options. Perhaps some rapid development may come to the market with risc-v chips as I have noted. A problem here is that choice generally is based on demand and even Gemalto probably has no demand for M.2 card modems beyond Librem 5.
In essence, what I am arguing is that until the market becomes large enough to make it worthwhile, we may fantasize about alternative modems to purchase, whether from Librem or elsewhere, but we will hardly have any selection worth a tinker’s darn. I am not sure that much of a potential for upgrade can be had even if we are vocal with Librem of Qualcomm or other manufacturers.
Input?
With these efforts being supported by the open source community, there is one big advantage. Any one who can read a datasheet and who has a surfacemount soldering station and some basic PCB design skills can adapt a modem chip IC to an M.2 card. It’s a little more complicated than that, but not by much. Then all you need is to find someone out there who can write the drivers (the more difficult part, but more people have these skills). For someone like me, the hardware part would be an easy hobby project. The hardware part should be very easy for a lot of people. With everyone sharing their hardware designs and their code, the best modems will rise to the top as the most popular. If a PCB designer wants to, he or she can give their PCB fabrication company permission to sell unpopulated boards of their design to anyone who wants to place the order from the board manufacturer. Small custom designed unpopulated PCBs (no components soldered in yet) are very inexpensive (a few dollars per square inch with minimum quantities as low as ten). With enough people working on this issue, it won’t take long to have the best solution out there in everyone’s hands.
