PINE64
Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? (/showthread.php?tid=15573)

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Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - jirow - 12-20-2021

Hello Smile

Is there a way to physically or software off Wifi on PineBook Pro?

The reason is that it is necessary to avoid special regulations in Japan. In Japan, if you want to use a wifi device, you have to obtain a license called technical conformity certification. For example, the Japanese model of iphone is sold under this license.
[Image: 125px-Giteki_new.jpg]
technical conformity certification（ = 技術適合証明）
URL: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%8A%80%E9%81%A9%E3%83%9E%E3%83%BC%E3%82%AF


Using a wireless device without this type of approval is illegal under the Radio Law and will result in penalties. So We cannot legally use PineBook Pro in Japan (ToT)

Obtaining a technical conformity certificate individually is time consuming, costly and impractical. So is it possible to turn off the Wifi on the PineBook Pro completely?

It's not enough to just turn off Wifi in NetworkManager. This is because it is illegal to make wireless radio waves available without using Wifi radio waves. Even if I get PineBook Pro, the moment I connect it to the charging cable, it is illegal under the Radio Law.

Is it possible to remove the Wifi module from the PineBook Pro motherboard? I am a little confident in using the soldering iron. If I remove the module, will the OS boot succeed without error? Or is there a Linux command that does not draw current only to the wifi module?If possible, it would be nice if there was a way to turn off the power by software.

I would like to use the PineBook even with a USB wired LAN adapter, and would like to buy it as soon as I can clear this wireless problem.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - maxjrh - 12-20-2021

The WiFi can be completely disabled with the privacy switches https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinebook_Pro#Privacy_Switches
You can disable WiFi once, and then it will stay disabled across reboots.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - jirow - 12-20-2021

(12-20-2021, 05:57 AM)maxjrh Wrote: The WiFi can be completely disabled with the privacy switches https://wiki.pine64.org/wiki/Pinebook_Pro#Privacy_Switches
You can disable WiFi once, and then it will stay disabled across reboots.

Thank you for your reply Smile

Private Switch is a great answer! I didn't read the Wiki very much. Thank you for teaching.

It's great that a simple keyboard shortcut will stop the current supply to the wifi module.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - jirow - 12-21-2021

From this thread
How does the kill switch work?
https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9990

I found that the ON / OFF information of the private switch is stored in the memory of the keyboard. This means that private switch information will be lost if the PineBook's main battery is completely discharged.

If the PinBook is started with the private switch turned off, it may be illegal under the Radio Law in Japan. This is not good.

Is there a way to force the private switch on when the pinebook boots from 0% battery? I'm sorry to ask you more questions even though the above reply has suggested a fairly effective method.

Could you give me some hints?

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - Arwen - 12-21-2021

(12-21-2021, 08:09 AM)jirow Wrote: From this thread
How does the kill switch work?
  https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9990

I found that the ON / OFF information of the private switch is stored in the memory of the keyboard. This means that private switch information will be lost if the PineBook's main battery is completely discharged.

If the PinBook is started with the private switch turned off, it may be illegal under the Radio Law in Japan. This is not good.

Is there a way to force the private switch on when the pinebook boots from 0% battery? I'm sorry to ask you more questions even though the above reply has suggested a fairly effective method.

Could you give me some hints?

The privacy switches, including the WiFi, are stored in Non-Volatile memory. This chip is physically separate from the keyboard controller and is wired to an I2C bus if I remember correctly. If the keyboard processor comes up, it reads the privacy switch configuration and programs the external device power as appropriate.

The default power state is almost certainly off. So if the keyboard processor fails to boot, WiFi power will likely stay off.

You can find the schematics here;

Pine64 Wiki - Pinebook Pro - Schematics

The page for the keyboard controller is 19, and the privacy switch storage chip is the lower right one, U7005, if I remember correctly. It's tiny, I think like 256 bytes. But, more than enough for it's purpose.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - jirow - 12-23-2021

(12-21-2021, 11:46 AM)Arwen Wrote:
(12-21-2021, 08:09 AM)jirow Wrote: From this thread
How does the kill switch work?
  https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9990

I found that the ON / OFF information of the private switch is stored in the memory of the keyboard. This means that private switch information will be lost if the PineBook's main battery is completely discharged.

If the PinBook is started with the private switch turned off, it may be illegal under the Radio Law in Japan. This is not good.

Is there a way to force the private switch on when the pinebook boots from 0% battery? I'm sorry to ask you more questions even though the above reply has suggested a fairly effective method.

Could you give me some hints?

The privacy switches, including the WiFi, are store in Non-Volatile memory. This chip is physically separate from the keyboard controller and is wired to an I2C bus if I remember correctly. If the keyboard processor comes up, it reads the privacy switch configuration and programs the external device power as appropriate.

The default power state is almost certainly off. So if the keyboard processor fails to boot, WiFi power will likely stay off.

You can find the schematics here;

Pine64 Wiki - Pinebook Pro - Schematics

The page for the keyboard controller is 19, and the privacy switch storage chip is the lower right one, U7005, if I remember correctly. It's tiny, I think like 256 bytes. But, more than enough for it's purpose.



Thank you for your reply Smile . It took me a while to understand the reply and the PDF of the circuit.

Even if the main battery is completely exhausted, the stored data will not be erased. I'm glad to hear that, and I'll read more schematics with less knowledge of mine.

thank you.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - pimbuk - 01-04-2022

(12-23-2021, 06:42 PM)jirow Wrote:
(12-21-2021, 11:46 AM)Arwen Wrote:
(12-21-2021, 08:09 AM)jirow Wrote: From this thread
How does the kill switch work?
  https://forum.pine64.org/showthread.php?tid=9990

I found that the ON / OFF information of the private switch is stored in the memory of the keyboard. This means that private switch information will be lost if the PineBook's main battery is completely discharged.

If the PinBook is started with the private switch turned off, it may be illegal under the Radio Law in Japan. This is not good.

Is there a way to force the private switch on when the pinebook boots from 0% battery? I'm sorry to ask you more questions even though the above reply has suggested a fairly effective method.

Could you give me some hints?

The privacy switches, including the WiFi, are store in Non-Volatile memory. This chip is physically separate from the keyboard controller and is wired to an I2C bus if I remember correctly. If the keyboard processor comes up, it reads the privacy switch configuration and programs the external device power as appropriate.

The default power state is almost certainly off. So if the keyboard processor fails to boot, WiFi power will likely stay off.

You can find the schematics here;

Pine64 Wiki - Pinebook Pro - Schematics

The page for the keyboard controller is 19, and the privacy switch storage chip is the lower right one, U7005, if I remember correctly. It's tiny, I think like 256 bytes. But, more than enough for it's purpose.



Thank you for your reply Smile . It took me a while to understand the reply and the PDF of the circuit.

Even if the main battery is completely exhausted, the stored data will not be erased. I'm glad to hear that, and I'll read more schematics with less knowledge of mine.

thank you.
Did you find a way to do it?

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - Arwen - 01-04-2022

@pimbuk , a way to do what? Disable WiFi?

If it's to permanently disable WiFi, you can either use the privacy switches. Or dis-connect the antenna. Both are documented in the Pine64 Wiki for the Pinebook Pro.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - daisiemagrob - 05-12-2022

I'm not sure about it but I think you can disable wifi through a driver, if you can disable a driver might be possible for your wifi to disable too until and unless you did not reinstall the driver.

RE: Is there a way to turn off Wifi completely? - regretfulpineuser - 06-20-2022

You need a license to use a wifi device in Japan? I thought China was communist and not Japan?