WLAN kill switch doesn't work

[bernd]

Hi,

I use the Librem5 without a SIM card, but with WLAN. When I boot it, it normally has no WLAN, even if the WLAN switch is “on”: in the quick settings, the Wi-Fi notification is grey. I have to flip the WLAN switch (and wait for 8 seconds) up to 20 times, then the Wi-Fi notification gets blue and shows the name of the network.

But the WLAN switch always does one thing: If the Cellular switch is off and the Mic/Camera switch is off, the WLAN switch toggles the Portrait/Landscape setting between Portrait and Off immediately. If the Cellular switch or the Mic/Camera switch is on, the WLAN switch doesn’t toggle.

Is the WLAN switch defect? If so, how can it be repaired?

Thanks for any useful information!

[carlosgonz]

As far i know Redpine with firmware 2.5 it has this issue. ATM i do not have a solution.

[irvinewade]

@bernd

Is the WLAN switch defect?

No

@bernd

But the WLAN switch always does one thing

This is expected intentional behaviour i.e. lockdown mode.

If all three switches are off then the phone goes into lockdown mode.

So if the cellular switch is off and the mic/camera switch is off then by definition the state of the WiFi switch controls lockdown mode.

In lockdown mode other hardware is also disabled and specifically the sensor that determines the device orientation. So by killing the WiFi, in your scenario, you are also killing the ability to detect portrait v. landscape automatically. (You can still control portrait v. landscape manually if you need to.)

From memory, from looking at the schematics, lockdown mode is implemented in hardware. So you cannot override this behaviour but it does suggest that your WiFi switch is working fine.

@bernd

I have to flip the WLAN switch (and wait for 8 seconds) up to 20 times

I suspect that this is known, undesirable, unintentional behaviour i.e. a bug. Discussed in other topics e.g. Redpine wireless gone after upgrade into 6.6.0-1 from which

On one of my devices I sometimes need to toggle it back and forth a dozen or two times for the Redpine card to register.

I don’t know whether this behaviour is specific to the Redpine card and hence whether upgrading to the SparkLAN card would help. In any case you would need to confirm which WiFi card you have: Tips & Tricks · Wiki · Librem5 / docs / Librem 5 Community Wiki · GitLab

[tracy]

@irvinewade

In lockdown mode other hardware is also disabled and specifically the sensor that determines the device orientation. So by killing the WiFi, in your scenario, you are also killing the ability to detect portrait v. landscape automatically. (You can still control portrait v. landscape manually if you need to.)

Reminds me of an earlier video I posted some one made a mechanical mock up of how the accelerometer works. (There is a short advert first.) Reposting it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X4frIQo7x0

[bernd]

First of all: Thank you very much!!

I know I’m late, but I enjoyed not being online the last 10 days. But now I know the reason why my phone isn’t really usable (and to be more precise: it is one of the reasons).