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Sxmo/Tips and Tricks

From postmarketOS Wiki

Here is a growing list of tips, tricks and configuration snippets for using Sxmo.

This pages is intended to focus mostly on "non-core" issues, such as running apps and everyday usability. The core configuration issues should end up in sxmo doc, as discussed on https://todo.sr.ht/~mil/sxmo-tickets/275


Calls, SMS, Modem

Sometimes Modem gets stuck

Sometimes the modem gets irresponsive, stops receiving/sending calls, even when toggled. Rebooting sometimes doesn't change this situation as it seems the modem then needs a hard reset.

Prefered solution: remove battery and reboot.


Sometimes SMS dont get sent/received

It may be a problem with MMS getting "stuck" in the pile, not being processed, and blocking further processing of SMS.

One solution involves mmsd-ng

Another solution is to manually use Modem Manager to delete the incriminated mms:

mmcli --modem 0 --messaging-list-sms

mmcli --modem 0 --sms 0

mmcli --modem 0 --messaging-delete-sms=##

mmcli --modem -r


How to send an SMS via command line (or ssh)

cat mysupersmsfile | sxmo_modemsendsms.sh +33123123123 -


General configuration

How to easily change the size of the text, system-wide?

Change the value in: /usr/share/sxmo/appcfg/xresources_xft.xr (try 160!)

Xft.dpi: 192


if you remove the dpi line there you can set dpi on the fly via

xrandr --dpi x


How to launch programms on startup?

The easy way is to edit the following file:

vi .config/sxmo/xinit

and add your programms somewhere. Warning: they have to execute quickly and/or not keep stay in focus, or the window manager won't start (don't forget to add "&" at the end)


make /tmp/ in RAM, to save write cycles on EMMC

add the following in /etc/fstab

tmpfs /tmp tmpfs rw,nodev 0 0


How to customize the colours/fonts of the interface?

Get example in the [alpine blooms them] by Tetrakist, as parameters to add in /home/user/.Xresources


Some notifications stay stuck on the screen!

pkill dunst


A simple way to share sxmo's connection through USB (aka "USB tethering")

  • launch nm-tui (a rotated screen is usually better)
  • add a new connection, type "ethernet", in ipv4 settings chose "shared".
  • activate that connection.

voilà!

Applications specific

What to use for cartography/navigation?

Pure-maps sort of works (using OpenTopo or Sputnik tiles), as well as Marble (QT/KDE, heavy...). Unsure yet how to make the GPS work for both of these, but it has reported being feasible...

Apparently a good start to enable GPS should be:

sudo /etc/gpsd/device-hook "" ACTIVATE

then...?


QT app (vlc-qt, etc.) doesnt fit the screen!

try adding the following in your .config/sxmo/xinit

export QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=1 export QT_SCALE_FACTOR=.07

(change the factor until it suits your need)