[hammerhead] Enhancing Nexus 5 IDEAS, SOULUTIONS, DISCUSSION

BigB

Introduction:

Hi,
I decided to play with nexus 5 (hammerhead) to have better performance on Ubuntu Touch.
I want to start discussion If it is even possible.
It may be useful for people that want boost some parts of this phone which won't ever end

Feel free to suggest and write what you know about hardware of this device or skill sets in customizing.

Ideas:

Bigger Battery - 2300mah with Ubuntu Touch is definitely not enough
Kill switches - for paranoids like me, to feel 100% safe
SDXC Card reader - microSD card reader for more memory

Ideas, explained:

Here will be explanations and needed information

Solutions:

Here will be solved "problems"

Important posts:

@C0n57an71n posted nexus 5 service manual:

First post Changelog:

2020.07.28 - Added tags, added link to service manual
2020.07.25 - Added footer.
2020.07.24 - Topic Creation, I'll be expanding it of course.

(If You think this topic doesn't suit UBports forum, please let me know, down vote first post, then I'll close it)

A Former User

@BigB Let me understand that better: you want to "tune" the hardware of N5, or enhance its capabilities? Is that correct?

BigB

@C0n57an71n

Enhancing capabilities is definitley better little.
Sorry for mistake.

rocket2nfinity

@BigB There's the Nexus 5X battery mod that really expands the N5's battery life, but it's a lot of work and can easily break your phone if you mess it up.

Find the mod on xda-developers

A Former User

@BigB Is no mistake, but from your post I understand that you want to improve your N5 at the hardware level. If that's the case, I would tell you:

changing the battery. This would be the easy one, that is, if you can find a battery that was designed for N5 with the same dimensions, same connection, same voltage, but a bigger capacity. If this battery exists and you find it, just be careful when opening the phone back cover because you have the coil for the wireless charging and these wires are quite thin.
kill switches. Forget it. Nobody on this world will take a phone like N5 and try to modify it at this level. Better design a new phone from scratch. Once the PCB is done, that's it. I don't even want to start talking about PCB with more than 1 layer... Where you gonna fit the new switches? Just... NO.
Card reader: same as above. Once the design is done, that's it.
And, to be honest, redesigning the N5 hardware shouldn't be on the UT Forum since nobody would be able to help you in this regard.

stanwood

@C0n57an71n There’s a guy in France who was able to connect a micro SD card to the memory board. But this is a hard DIY stuff. Not sure an end user could manage to do so...

Keneda

@stanwood said in [hammerhead] Enhancing Nexus 5 IDEAS, SOULUTIONS, DISCUSSION:

Not sure an end user could manage to do so...

Only a link to his mod could answer that.

EDIT : after searching the net, the only mod i found use the usb connector to add a sd slot, and then make the usb connector unusable, without to mention you can't put the back cover, and then loose all the hardware that is on it.

https://liliputing.com/2016/01/give-a-nexus-5-a-microsd-card-slot-at-your-own-risk-with-this-dirty-hack.html
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/42hju9/hardware_modification_marshmallow_supports/

A Former User

@stanwood Unless you have a microscope and a hot-air/infrared soldering station...., and then you need the schematics.
Let's say the +DC track that powers the camera is in the middle of the PCB sandwich, layer 2 or 3... How do you access it to put your DipSwitch... etc...
As long as you don't have the tools, the know-how and all the information you shouldn't even dream for such a feat.
And even then, would you physically be able to do it?
Costs more the tools and the time and in the end you'll have something that will look like a bomb initiator...
Maybe you can track all the components and schematics, modify all the CAD files accordingly, and look in Shenzhen for a company that will do that. There is a guy that posted on youtube o video showing how he build it's own iPhone with audio jack. He did it in Shenzhen, gather all the components and build it. It took him 2 weeks and he had to be in China in order to find what he need it.

A Former User

@BigB https://docviewer.yandex.com/view/0/?*=wx%2FNqbkms%2F74qBD6NXrJ2j%2B3c8N7InVybCI6InlhLWRpc2stcHVibGljOi8vaWhtajZOVm1MY3pSTUYvTWUxUGJEdXQ2TG9hbnhkZWV2OTJlQlNDQnBmVT06L0QgU0VSSUVTL0Q4MjFfTmV4dXNfNV9TTS5yYXIiLCJ0aXRsZSI6IkQ4MjFfTmV4dXNfNV9TTS5yYXIiLCJub2lmcmFtZSI6ZmFsc2UsInVpZCI6IjAiLCJ0cyI6MTU5NTY3OTc2ODczNCwieXUiOiIyNjE2Mjc0MjIxNTk1Njc5NzY4In0%3D
Here is the N5 service manual. I think you should look over it (this apply to me as well) and see what you getting into.
At the end of the day we all might learn how things works!

BigB

Thank you for, explanations and needed links!
I decided to post it on UBports Forum because I want all this modifications working with Ubuntu Touch installed. Ordinary nexus 5 battery life on UT is not acceptable for me and I want to solve this by modifying hardware, test it and post results here.

You're right @C0n57an71n, we have to be careful.
Without tools or knowledge, in the end it may be unusable.

I thought about buying PinePhone instead of parts, tools, but it's not usable as daily driver...
For now though, let's check service manual. Again, thanks for link.

(If You think this topic doesn't suit UBports forum, please let me know, down vote first post, then I'll close it)

Rebecca58

Another issue I would add is the GPS not working on this device with UbPorts. And also issues with the microphone, sometimes.

A Former User

@Rebecca58 Do you mean on Nexus 5?

Rebecca58

@C0n57an71n yes indeed

A Former User

@Rebecca58 My GPS is working normal. Have you tested outside? On which channel are you: dev, stable...? Have you tested them with Sensor Status app from Open Store?

AppLee

Hi @Rebecca58,

Welcome. GPS is working well on the Nexus5 but it's slow to get the first location.
The trick is to let the phone outside for 20-30 minutes to get the GPS connection.

You need to have the phone unlock and running a GPS app.
I use PureMaps to navigate some location, the app keeps the screen on and request your location.
Once you got the pin at your current location, you're good to go.

Hope this will help you.

Rebecca58

I think I need to manage to get the first location. thank you.

cliffcoggin

@Rebecca58

I think I need to manage to get the first location. thank you.

You may need as much as 15 minutes to get the first fix. Subsequent starts from the same location should only take a few minutes. I find GPS location works well on Nexus 5.

Rebecca58

@cliffcoggin Finally I am happy without the GPS. No one can track me, and I still have my old GPS for driving. lol