Hello all!
Due to the recent statements by Google (as well as their track record the last few years) I've decided I do not want to use Android as a phone operating system anymore. But Apple is just as bad, if not worse. So I've decided to build my own custom device.
I am working on building a phone using a single board computer, right now I'm using the raspberry pi 5. This is still a proof of concept, but I want to share my ideas with others, so like minded individuals can start messing around with this idea in their own homes to further this goal.
You can view more images of the device here, as well as the step by step instructions here (these are still very rough and incomplete) https://github.com/muhammadmanwar/cheaphone OR https://codeberg.org/muhammadmanwar/cheaphone
Right now it just runs raspberry pi OS, with a different desktop look and feel. Everything that normally works in a pi 5 works on this device, additionally I am experimenting with a Mobile Broadband modem, to allow the device to text and call, as well as access internet, like a normal phone off wifi
The total cost is around 200 dollars, not including the 3d printer to make the custom case.
This project is barely off the ground, and I've got a lot to learn before I can stop relying strictly on the raspberry pi 5, my end goal is to custom design SBCs, and release those designs for free alongside the plans for the device, so that interested parties can select their own System on a Chip to use for the device. I need to get into designing boards, I'm interested in trying Stephen Hawes' Lumen PnP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkTcxh-9gA) for that phase.
But that's for the future, for now, I'm hoping to get more people interested in the prototype so that I'm not the only one noodling around on this idea. I'd love some feedback, and if anyone was willing to put one together for testing, I would appreciate it greatly!
This is fucking awesome. I have been seriously considering building something similar, but the high cost and uncertainty of functionality with 4g modems is putting me off. My plan is to use a cm4 with this 2.8 inch carrier board from Waveshare that also has a 480p 2.8 inch touchscreen, since I want something that could actually fit in my pocket.
To make up for the small screen, I would use something like the fairberry so that I don't need to use an on-screen keyboard, so the final device would have a similar layout to the Blackberry q10. I was planning on using this SIM7600G modem from Waveshare meant for a pi-zero since I want to be able to actually use LTE, SMS and take phone calls on whatever I build.
Fortunately, where I live, VoLTE is not required, but I feel like the mandate of VoLTE in other regions means that my modem should also be VoLTE capable.
You might want to look into postmarketos, since they have support for the Pi and it might make working with Phosh and the modem a bit easier.
EDIT:
I would also probably just use a battery bank that's cheap with around 37wH of capacity for powering the thing. I would extract the battery and BMS from the casing to reduce the size and weight since it would go in a 3d printed case anyways.
Another Option for the OS is Maemo Leste https://maemo-leste.github.io/ Successor of Maemo, the OS for for the famous Nokia Internet Tablets (N900)
It is based on Devuan
I gotta remember to give this one a try. I kinda dig the aesthetic of it's UI, though it's a very different project compared to PostmarketOS.
I did not realize postmarketos had pi3b support...
Well, time to take a spare out of the bin and hook it up to the only working touchscreen I have (my 7" appears to be damaged... But ive got a 27" on my desk)!