you could also download the deb from https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/bm818-tools/-/jobs/403435/artifacts/raw/debian/output/bm818-tools_0.5+librem5ci79939.828d337_arm64.deb
Bm818-tools source is here https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/bm818-tools
After installing, i have to reboot to be able to use the gui.
You do need to reboot the phone after installing the bm818-tools package to get the permissions set correctly but you should not need to reboot the phone to switch VoLTE. Switching the HKS should be enough for the modem.
For those saying the bm818-tool is showing empty firmware did you install via the deb or just by copying the app. If you copied the app you need to make sure that you are part of the dialout group.
I have tested bm818-tools witch Czech Republic OpenCall test SIM which uses O2 Czech Republic network and connection stays at 4G when VoLTE is enabled. When disabled, connection is downgraded to 2G during calls, so it seem stat VoLTE woks there. I have used only two phones from both sides of my head so I cannot say much about quality yet. There was echo problem.
Recipients of my T-Mobile VoLTE calls also complain of echoing on their side. Their voice quality that I hear on the L5 is excellent, however.
In my case it was physical local echo between two phones, one Librem 5 and one local âPanasonicâ handy to âfixedâ VoIP gateway. But I need to test with somebody other what is real quality for VoLTE. For GSM it was good in the previous tests.
I installed the patch for switching on the VOLTE.
It does not work (neither via the command line, nor using the GUI).
The phone drops to 3G during calls every time.
My phone is part of the most recent batch.
Back to the drawing board, I guess.
Dissapointing, I must say.
If call quality and/or reliability is a big issue, you can email support and see if you need a firmware update. They can guide you on how to do it
You realise that it depends on what country you are in / what carrier you are with?
I wouldnât just dive in and enable VoLTE unless you have confirmation from someone as to what the expected outcome will be.
I would also point out that you should make sure the carrier has enabled VoLTE for your device. I had an older phone that wasnât VoLTE capable so they disabled it, I had to call in and get them to enable it on my account.
I live in the Netherlands, and have T-mobile as my provider. They still have their 3G network up, and they do offer (I checked) VoLTE. VoLTE is switched on for my connection. My L5 was part of the latest batch and sports the European version of the modem.
As I said, when making calls the phone drops back to 3G. Running the patch does not change this.
So, any insights and/or advice on the subject of VoLTE are most welcomeâŚ
I have experimented with our network here, I even asked one of our wireless planners about VoLTE and he said that as long as the device is VoLTE capable it should make a VoLTE call. I forced my phone into 4G and the call does not complete. He also told me that you can tell itâs doing a VoLTE call if the call setup is quick, if there is a lag, itâs dropping to 3G mode.
One other ancillary thing I have noticed is fairly often I have to toggle mobile data to make it active.
Volte requires a data connection, doesnât it? So if your phone canât access the internet or otherwise use data, you canât use volte? Asking to refresh my memory.
Yes I believe you are correct, if data is off it will default to 3G
EDIT: I believe that VoLTE calls are not determined by the mobile data setting as that pertains to internet traffic and not calls which the mobile network will route differently to the voice core on their side. I think as long as it says 4G youâre good to go, even if you have mobile data disabled. If of course it drops to 3 or 2 G after call setup then youâre definitely not using VoLTE. In my particular case it may display 4G but the tool shows the call as HSPA and not VoLTE so I donât think the G indicator is useful here, you definitely need the tool to determine if the call is VoLTE or not.
If, and only if, your carrier still has a 3G network.
You donât have to guess â the L5 tells you directly. Mine is set to prefer 4G, but drop to 3G or 2G.
I use Mint Mobile (T-Mobile MVNO), but have not activated VoLTE. Most of the time, the notifications bar shows 4G. When I get /make a call, it almost always displays 2G. Every now and then, when I am on the road, I will see 3G. I assume that is when I am roaming and coverage is being provided by another carrier (T-Mobile) has turned off 3G in California as far as I know.
Are these the same commands the bm818 tool sends to the modem? Or does it use a different method?
brave and sounds interesting -would love to know how it goes.
I ask, because the BM818 tool did not give the hoped for results, and I want to know whether there is a chance the manual reconfiguration might do a better job. If the BM818 tool is simply an automated version of these configuratiion strings, there is little need to even try.
Same hereâŚ
I believe the GUI tool uses the same commands. Ultimately enabling VoLTE is just about setting a particular set of flags on the modem. We recommend using the tool as that way there is no risk of setting the modem into a strange state by making a typo when typing out the AT commands.