@Luke

Is there any way to permanently block someone? Due to my, and many others, responses to a certain forum individual they have been on a down vote/negative rating crusade and have sought out every post I have basically made in order to negatively rate them.

I have ignored that person via the control panel, but that has no effect judging by the 10 negative reputations in basically 2 days.

I mean I know reputation is fake internet points, but this is getting harassing.

Thanks in advance for any help!

I just recently received this Pinephone, here in Australia. Phone cannot make/receive calls & SMS, as it does not detect the telco's network - in fact, it clearly says "NO NETWORK". This was the case with the preinstalled version of Ubuntu Touch, and did not improve just now after I tried an updated version of UT I downloaded from UBports on 2nd Sept (#76, I think), and I followed UBPorts' directions for flashing the SD card.

Other things I've tried / checked:
Turning phone on / off
re-seating SIM card
SIM card works fine in another handset
DIP switches on the back of the phone are all in the 'up' position (I haven't touched them at all)

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Ken.
***

It all started with figuring out audio quality issues in the Mobian room over on the Matrix server.

Long story short, I messed around with gain settings but couldn't make it sound as expected. So I started digging around in the schematics and datasheets to see if there was a hardware issue. Turns out I was right; there are hardware issues.

Let's start in the middle with the centerpiece of the discussion, Broadchip BCT4717ETB-TR. This is an analog switch and in the PinePhone it's wired up to switch between headphone audio and debug serial. In the PinePhone v1.2 schematic on page 8 you can see it's connected to HPOUT_L/HPOUT_R on the A64 through inductors, to PB8-DEBUG-RX/PB8-DEBUG-TX on the A64 and to HP_L/HP_R on the headphone jack.

The issue here stems from the BCT4717ETB-TR being an analog switch. The way it is connected on the schematic implies it's being used as a non-inverting audio OpAmp even though it's meant for signaling. It lacks the linear properties of an audio OpAmp and the datasheet gain graphs don't even go below 1 MHz. The graphs cover 1 MHz to 1 GHz and 300 MHz is the point where it reaches -3 dB attenuation at 1.65 V_CC which matches up well with its rated bandwidth of 300 MHz. The graph isn't exactly flat in between which leads me to believe it's unlikely to be flat for lower frequencies as well, but that's still not the main issue.

The main issue is both the analog switch range and the output impedance. The analog signal range is specified as 0 to V+, which in our case should mean 0-3.3 V. That is sort of fine since we're using a virtual ground (connected to HP-FB on the A64) but it's a point of concern. The output impedance isn't explicitly defined but the output resistance is specified as 4 Ohm typical and 8.5 Ohm maximum. Together with the inductance that becomes a low pass filter, I haven't been able to find accurate data for our components in the audible range but the shape of the curve is inverse logarithmic. This could explain why the amplifier is so incredibly bass heavy. Furthermore even if we apply a constant impedance at 4 Ohms that's still way too high for most headphones you'd connect to a phone, which are somewhere in the ballpark of 8 to 40 Ohms at 1 kHz. This could lead to strange harmonics, especially at the lower end of that range.

Then there's yet another issue I discovered while trying to measure the DC offset which turned out to be in the mV range and too small to accurately measure with my old analog scope and a twitchy cable. After about 10 seconds of pausing the music the DC offset rose to a whopping 200 mV! This is not really a good thing if you leave headphones plugged in overnight as they typically don't like DC at all, let alone 200 mV.

This is about as far as I can go tonight, it's way past bedtime and I'm super tired but I wanted to get this written down somewhere before I forget the details. My conclusion for now is that someone needs to validate my results, if the 200 mV idle offset is reproducible on other units then we might need to issue a PSA about not leaving headphones plugged in when they're not in use. Furthermore I'd really encourage the hardware people to either use a proper headphone amplifier or separate out the debug serial port from the headphone jack.

I'll see if I can figure out a way of getting frequency response curves.

Hey guys... I have had several people login to MY BBS after they followed my how-to on building the SyncTerm from source post. That's really cool, and to be honest MY BBS is just a project. There is actually many that are leaders in the Bulletin Board world.

So, I hope you'll read along with me and enjoy more information about BBSing in 2020. If you missed the first writeup, search for BBS and read my how-to on building the terminal program SyncTerm. And furthermore, please apply for access at my BBS - 20 For Beers BBS. I'm thinking of adding Pine64 message bases there, too. Come on over - theres a lot to be had in the 'BBS Scene' in 2020.

Heres some of the BEST OF BBSing IN 2020:

Best ANSI Art Group:
BLOCKTRONICS @ www.blocktronics.org
runner-up, Impure Ascii Group @ impure.nl

More Info... checkout 16colo.rs (website) for everything ANSI. They have *every* ANSI release since 1990 - 2020! Be sure to checkout the releases in 2020... there is STILL a great ANSI scene in the BBS world. The artists never went away, and its not all about ACiD anymore!

Best BBS Software:
Mystic BBS @ mysticbbs.com
runner-up, Enigma.5 BBS @ enigma-bbs.github.io

Mystic BBS software is the front runner in BBS servers - You can *run* your own bulletin board over telnet using Mystic... Enigma.5 is also currently being developed, and Synchronet (www.synchro.net) is currently being developed. They also are the authors of SyncTerm terminal software.

Best BBS Terminal Software:
SyncTerm @ syncterm.bbsdev.net
runner-up, NetRunner @ mysticbbs.com/downloads.html

These are the terminal softwares you'll need to call BBSes and take advantge of the ANSI (or petscii, RIP, etc) graphics that BBSes still use in 2020... if you just use Telnet or Putty, BBSes will NOT display correctly and your experience will... suck.

Best FTN (FidoNet style) Message Networks:
fsxNet @ The Agency BBS agency.bbs.nz port 23
runner-up, Dove-Net @ Vertrauen BBS cvs.synchro.net port 23

These are message networks, so you'll find them carried at MANY BBSes. However, I've listed their HOME bulletin boards. Remember, to 'call' into the links for BBSes you'll have to use SyncTerm or NetRunner Terminal softwares. There may be others available, but your regular linux terminal using Telnet or simple Putty will not work. You need one that can display ANSI graphics, like SyncTerm, NetRunner, etc.

Best Door Games Network:
Door Party! @ The Throw Back BBS bbs.throwbackbbs.com port 23
runner-up, BBSLink @ bbslink.net

Door Game Networks are the new way we play door games on BBSes. They are networked, and when you now fire up TradeWars 2002 or Legend of the Red Dragon or Kannons and Katapults... and all your old BBS door game favorites, the boards can use these networks. Door Party has a home BBS, and BBSLink does not. However, you can find these networks used at many many BBS systems. Finally, there are plenty of users to play your favorite online ANSI door games with! Just find a BBS that carries your favorite. BTW, my BBS 20 For Beers BBS carries both. Login @ 20ForBeers.com port 1337

Best BBS List:
The Telnet BBS Guide @ www.telnetbbsguide.com
runner-up, BBS Guide @ bbs.guide

These are all some of the most current features of the BBS scene in 2020... and now for the best part, I'll give you my BEST OF BBSes list. These are all actual bulletin boards; so give them a telnet call and apply for access! The following are the BEST bulletin boards that are available today!!

Best BBSes in 2020:
Remember, you must use a BBS terminal as stated above to TELNET into the following. You must use the correct port #, which you enter in the terminal program entry.

THE BEST:
aBSINTHE BBS, an Amiga C-Net BBS @
absinthebbs.net port 1940

Best 2020 BBS:
The Underground @
www.theunderground.us port 10023
Mafia-style bulletin board, where you have to be a capo to not get capped!!

ACiD ANSI WHQ:
ACiD Underground @
blackflag.acid.org port 31337

Best 'Underground Commodore' BBS:
Anarchy Underground @
aubbs.dyndns.org port 2300
[40 column, c-64 BBS. must specify c64 in terminal software entry]

Best ZINE BBS, Hosting NULL MAGAZINE:
Another Dr01d BBS @
andr01d.zapto.org port 9999

Badass ANSI BBS:
Bottomless Abyss @
bbs.bottomlessabyss.net port 2023

Most Door Games [local, not networked!] BBS:
Danger Bay BBS @
dangerbaybbs.dyndns.org port 1337

Best Networked Door Games BBS:
Serion BBS @
connect.serionbbs.com port 23

Best Hacking Simulator 'BBS'
TeleHack @
telehack.com port 23
This is one board you CAN simply use Telnet to connect. telnet telehack.com and get to HACKING!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was fun to write up, ladies and gents... I hope some of you dig this and get some use or happiness out of the write up. If you go checkout some ANSI art, great... if you decide to learn about older BBSes that I didn't list, theres tons of less-new age ones and plenty that will remind you of exactly how it was BACK THEN. Use the Telnet BBS Guide and search for the BBS software that was YOUR favorite from back in the day.

THIS list was to cover whats CURRENT in 2020... the BBS scene is ALIVE and kicking... I hope you build SyncTerm and come along and get involved with the BBS scene... heck, maybe a few of you will even become a SysOp and run your own bulletin board.

You can totally run a bulletin board server with these ARM single boards or PBP systems... I run mine on a Raspberry Pi 4... If theres any interest here, I can do a writeup about how to run a bulletin board. Do let me know in the comments.

Hope ya'll meet me on the FTN message network fsxNet or Dove-Net. Jump on in, the water is great!

Hey, sorry for all the dumb newbie questions... however I have one.

When I plug in my high-powered expensive battery pack to USB-C, the laptop DOES take a charge from it. It's one of the ones with a digital read-out, fast charging.. and just a quality battery bank. So I assume it has the fast charging/high watts, etc...

My question is: If I purchase a high quality USB-C charging cable and wall plug, will the Pinebook Pro charge this way as its only charging device? I don't love the barrel charger...

Or, I'd at least like to find a better quality barrel charger.

Does anyone have suggestions on either of these setups? First choice, a good USB-C charging option... and if thats not supported, a better barrel charger for the PBP???

Does USB-C as a charger work good? Great? Better the barrel?

And if you have any suggestions on ones that perform well...

Hi everyone! 
I wanted to know if there's available shipment to Argentina for the PineBook Pro. I know right now there is no stock, but I'd really like to buy one as soon as there are new laptops, but I checked in the store and it says "No shipping options were found" for my adress". 

Hello, I am running Manjaro on my PBP. I want to modify /etc/acpi/handler.sh to run some scripts when AC power is plugged/unplugged.

My understanding is that this should show up as an `ac_adapter` event in the output of `acpi_listen`. However, there is no such output when I plug/unplug from power. Other events do print. I have Power Manager running and it shows a notification that I've plugged/unplugged from power, so it must be using a different mechanism. How can I hook into AC plug/unplug events?

I just bought a case meant for an old model Macbook Air 13" (A1466 A1369), and it fits the PBP like a glove. I almost bought the 14" version of the case, but decided to go for the 13/13.5" version because the PBP is slim for a 14" laptop.
For reference, the PBP is 13" x 8.6" x 0.75", and the old Macbook Air 13" is 12.8" x 8.94" x 0.68"
Here is a picture of the PBP peeking out of the bag:

Hello Everyone,

The new Pine Store is now up. I'll explain the decision behind shutting the old store down for 72 hours and reopening with a new store in the upcoming October community update; at this point in time I just want to give you an intro to the new store. Before I do however, I want to give @fire219 and @gamelaster massive shout-out for helping getting the store operational in such as short time. Thanks guys!

Aside from the modern design and a vastly improved inventory categorization, the new Pine Store also offers a number of new features. Some of the more notable options include credit and debit card payments (via Stripe), as well as VAT and import Tax calculators for certain items. We will also be adding new features in the coming days - notably we wish to implement DHL's Remote Area Surcharge notification and calculator.

As many of you will immediately notice, the store has moved from store.pine64.org to pine64.com. The decision to move the Pine Store's domain to .com signifies the separation between the community .org domain(s) and the business aspects of PINE64. We think that it is the right move... pun intended. The store also runs on a much beefier VPS, on a newer overall architecture and it is much more secure. This, we hope, will assure great end-user experience even at the busiest of periods.

Many other improvements have been made to the system during the downtime too - for instance, order confirmation emails, shipping notifications, etc., will no longer end up in peoples spam folders.  

Lastly, if you run into any issues with the new store, make sure to report them in this thread.

Once again, thank you for your patience!