Category Archives: Linux

All Linux related posts

Meshtastic Setup notes for uConsole

Finally managed to get some stability in using Meshtastic on the uConsole.

  1. Managed to get the GPS device to be available to Meshtasticd without having to shutdown GPSD. Updated write up below.
  2. Managed to get my Meshtastic node to join the local Singapore mesh network. Given that i can have Meshtasticd now running as a daemon most of the time, it finally makes sense to keep the node running and perhaps contribute to the density of the LoRa network here (?). The notes and learnings below. Mainly congestion optimisation.

GPS on Ubuntu

Mucked around GPS on Ubuntu mainly because of my uConsole.

Managed to learn something about getting that set up properly and brought that over between my desktop as well as uConsole device. Did a write up on the setup for it here.

uConsole Custom Designs

Made some mods to my hardware. The forums are a great resource over at clockworkPi.

As i am awaiting my hackergadgets kit for the new adapters meant for CM5, i made some hardware mods to accomodate the potential increase in heat. At the same time, also designed some casing improvements to my unit.

  1. Screen cover: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7206323ClockWorkPi Forum Post
  2. Back Plate and cover: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7197472ClockWorkPi Forum Post

Do note that i used PLA only to prototype. i have found that the heat deflection temperature of 58 degrees to be insufficient. So i ultimately printed at JCL3DP.com as it allowed me to pick materials such as Nylon which had a deflection temp of 158 degrees.

Printing the screen cover in transparent resin is also very cool. i can now peek at my screen without exposing my unit to dust.

Some pictures here to share.

uConsole + Ubuntu 24.04 + Geary

Bought a uConsole from ClockworkPi and have been enjoying it. I have made some post into the forums there and thought that perhaps i should post here as well.

Copying the post that i made there.

FWIW. I have been using @Rex’s wonderful image for Ubuntu 24.04 on my uconsole. and its been working great. However, when using the Geary (v44) email client, it doesn’t seem to leverage the 3 panel view that i get when using Greay on a larger monitor.

As such, i have rebuild a git build of Geary (v46), which supports 3 panel view on small screens, and tweaked the UI a little to provide a better proportion of the panels for uConsole. I have packaged this into a deb file which can be installed along side the Stock Ubuntu Geary build. i don’t have a repo for it (yet?), but happy to share the deb file to anyone who is interested.

Clearly, at this point, i have not made a repo for it. i am not sure if i am capable for maintaining a package long term. But this deb file is really to solve an issue i was facing with Geary and small screens and wanting the latest v46 which solves the issue.

So i’m uploading the file here so folks can just download it. Simply just do

sudo apt install ./geary-custom……

This will then install geary-development into /usr/local and run along side the stock install of geary, just in case you still want that. The resulting interface will be the familiar 3 panel which i have grown to love.

Hope someone enjoys this too!