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Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6 (SM-T560) (samsung-gtelwifi)

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Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6
Stock image of Galaxy Tab 3 9.6 running Android
Stock image of Galaxy Tab 3 9.6 running Android
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy Tab E 9.6
Codename samsung-gtelwifi
Model SM-T560
Released 2015
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset Spreadtrum SC7730SE
CPU 4x 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU Mali-400 MP2
Display 800x1280 TFT
Storage 8 GB
Memory 1.5 GB
Architecture armv7
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
Android 4.4.4 (Linux 3.10.17)
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
Android
postmarketOS
Category downstream
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
no
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
3.10.17
Device package device-samsung-gtelwifi
Kernel package linux-samsung-gtelwifi
Features
Flashing
It is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Works
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
Battery
Charging and battery level reporting works
Works
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Untested
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Broken
Camera
Untested
Connectivity
WiFi
Works
Bluetooth
Untested
GPS
Untested
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Untested
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Untested

Contributors

Maintainer(s)

Users owning this device


User Interfaces

  • Gnome starts but is pretty unusable
  • Phosh/Plasma Mobile do not work (require mainline)
  • Xfce4 works

Installation

  • pmbootstrap init
    • User interface: xfce4
    • Extra packages: matchbox-keyboard[1] or corekeyboard [2] to get an on-screen keyboard
  • pmbootstrap install --android-recovery-zip
  • pmbootstrap flasher --method=adb sideload

What works

  • Flashing rootfs and kernel via TWRP
  • Screen
  • Touchscreen
  • WiFi

Attention: latest edge won't come up with ssh cause of missing /etc/network/interfaces do a "pmbootstrap chroot -r" create and edit the missing interface file and add: auto lo iface lo inet loopback

After that do a install as usual and network comes up with ssh

What doesn't work

  • Audio
  • USB-OTG
  • charging sdl

Additional notes

  • ADB sideload stops at 50%, but it actually succeeds.
  • The power button instantly shuts down the entire system
  • LightDM Hangs after a while but can be restarted from USB/SSH
  • Some audio devices do show up, but they don't actually work.

How atipls made wifi work

How atipls made wifi work (with a bit of confusing detours). Inspired by the (sort of) helpful How_bonsaiblue_made_wifi_work.

  • Since the kernel provided by Samsung has built-in support for the BCM4343, enabling it was enough to get wlan0 to show up.
    • I actually have tried loading it as a kernel module, which ended up with horrible messages like no wifi platform data, skip and DHD wifi platform data is required for Android build
  • Grab nvram_mfg.txt and bcmdhd_mfg.bin from /etc/wifi from either a stock install or an unofficial lineageos port.
    • I have also tried firmware-aosp-broadcom-wlan, but the firmware seems to be newer than wanted thus either not loading or straight up soft bricking the OS.
  • Bring the interface up: $ ip link set wlan0 up
  • Use XFCE4's menu or nmtui to connect to a wifi network.

Useful key combinations

  • home + volume up + power: flash mode (TWRP)
  • home + volume down + power: reboot

See also