Incredibly invasive! My solution is to drive older cars, but if you check my Art of Diesel Substack https://artofdiesel.substack.com/ , you'll see that this is already a hobby of mine. I'm also building my own Raspberry-Pi-based car stereo head unit (OpenAuto) that will run Linux, giving me all the usual functions and it will pair with my de-Googled phone. Eventually I'll lose the SIM in the phone and just use a personal hotspot and XMPP for text and phone.
Thanks! I haven't posted the head unit work on there, or much of anything else in a while, though... I've been spending a lot of time working with some guys on anti-censorship tech. I'll point people to a new website shortly on my other Substack (also dormant a while) https://paracontrarian.substack.com/
This is a very cool solution! Is it easy enough for a non-tecchie to employ your Linux stereo head unit? If not, how would I go about inquiring of my community who does this kind of thing?
I'm driving a 2016 4Runner, which by the reckoning of vehicleprivacyreport.com, is a rolling hard drive. Any thoughts?
I too am in the process of trying to remove my SIM as well and just using a hotspot. What SIM cards/plans are you looking at at this point? Have you looked into Brax Virtual Phone yet? It's a Rob Braxman It's a virtual number that can be used for phone, VOIP, etc.
Hey, I think there are some fantastic solutions out there. I'm still messing with that head unit, which is essentially a linux computer that will be installed in my dash. I wouldn't recommend this to somebody non-technical. I spent several hours just getting a volume encoder working, as the OpenAuto documentation at https://bluewavestudio.io/ is weak at best. The solution you wind up with is "search the forums" to find technical solutions -- the WORST possible way to store information.
Honestly, replacing the head-unit with an aftermarket unit probably won't fix a lot of the tracking issues in the car, because it's more than the car stereo collecting on you. However, it might reduce your exposure some. You can still buy aftermarket units, but who knows what the Chinese are putting into those systems. I'd love to find an Android-based unit that could be bootloaded and run LineageOS or another de-Googled OS.
I also like Rob's work and I have a Brax2 phone in the drawer (right next to a Linux PinePhone that wasn't ready for daily-driver use). I didn't think it was really an improvement over my OnePlus6T with LineageOS loaded. Fact is, I shattered the case, it isn't as durable as some other options.
I haven't explored his VOIP option, but he's somebody I'd trust, and it would definitely be worth checking into. Probably easier than setting up XMPP and JMP.chat.
I’m re-reading this gem of a reply and see you make mention of the Calyx institute hotspot. I too learned about it from the lovely Naomi in her wonderful “No SIM? No problem!” video. 😄
While I really like the idea of it, it’s a bit too expensive for me. And, it’s exclusively on TMobile or AT&T I believe. I need a hotspot with access to the “big 3”, that would include Verizon, which is strongest at my homestead.
Do you have a hotspot and data only, SMS-enabled SIM?
Sorry for the delayed response. I've been slammed this week.
The Calyx Institute hotspot only sounds expensive until you realize that the amount they are asking is for a whole year at once. I've also heard that the base system offered is a known glitchy unit (blame T-Mobile, not them) and it's better to take the upgrade up one notch, which is what I did. Still a better price than I can find otherwise.
As far as the provider, it is T-Mobile. So, if T-Mobile doesn't work well where you live, you probably won't be able to use it. If you are talking about what to use in a stationary location, consider a booster with a Yagi antenna you can mount on your roof. YMMV, of course!
Thank you, good sir, for taking the time to create such a thoughtful response.
I will explore the jmp.chat option for sure. Rob’s site is so darned glitchy and non-intuitive, and quite poor on tech support so I ditched the virtual phone number.
Anyway…..I happened upon an absolutely amazing privacy compendium recently. I wonder if you have seen it.
Incredibly invasive! My solution is to drive older cars, but if you check my Art of Diesel Substack https://artofdiesel.substack.com/ , you'll see that this is already a hobby of mine. I'm also building my own Raspberry-Pi-based car stereo head unit (OpenAuto) that will run Linux, giving me all the usual functions and it will pair with my de-Googled phone. Eventually I'll lose the SIM in the phone and just use a personal hotspot and XMPP for text and phone.
Nice, I'll take a look!
Thanks! I haven't posted the head unit work on there, or much of anything else in a while, though... I've been spending a lot of time working with some guys on anti-censorship tech. I'll point people to a new website shortly on my other Substack (also dormant a while) https://paracontrarian.substack.com/
I will gladly be following you for your anti-censorship doings!
This is a very cool solution! Is it easy enough for a non-tecchie to employ your Linux stereo head unit? If not, how would I go about inquiring of my community who does this kind of thing?
I'm driving a 2016 4Runner, which by the reckoning of vehicleprivacyreport.com, is a rolling hard drive. Any thoughts?
I too am in the process of trying to remove my SIM as well and just using a hotspot. What SIM cards/plans are you looking at at this point? Have you looked into Brax Virtual Phone yet? It's a Rob Braxman It's a virtual number that can be used for phone, VOIP, etc.
I don't recommend using a cell number, I recommend using a voip app. So all you need is a data plan on your SIM for that.
Hey, I think there are some fantastic solutions out there. I'm still messing with that head unit, which is essentially a linux computer that will be installed in my dash. I wouldn't recommend this to somebody non-technical. I spent several hours just getting a volume encoder working, as the OpenAuto documentation at https://bluewavestudio.io/ is weak at best. The solution you wind up with is "search the forums" to find technical solutions -- the WORST possible way to store information.
Honestly, replacing the head-unit with an aftermarket unit probably won't fix a lot of the tracking issues in the car, because it's more than the car stereo collecting on you. However, it might reduce your exposure some. You can still buy aftermarket units, but who knows what the Chinese are putting into those systems. I'd love to find an Android-based unit that could be bootloaded and run LineageOS or another de-Googled OS.
Naomi has already done some good work discussing how to go SIM-less and I've compiled notes here: https://paracontrarian.com/index.php/Phone_Without_Phone
I believe that one of the very best options is to do XMPP, setting up a phone number with https://JMP.chat and get yourself a hotspot from https://calyxinstitute.org/
I also like Rob's work and I have a Brax2 phone in the drawer (right next to a Linux PinePhone that wasn't ready for daily-driver use). I didn't think it was really an improvement over my OnePlus6T with LineageOS loaded. Fact is, I shattered the case, it isn't as durable as some other options.
I haven't explored his VOIP option, but he's somebody I'd trust, and it would definitely be worth checking into. Probably easier than setting up XMPP and JMP.chat.
Hello again!
I’m re-reading this gem of a reply and see you make mention of the Calyx institute hotspot. I too learned about it from the lovely Naomi in her wonderful “No SIM? No problem!” video. 😄
While I really like the idea of it, it’s a bit too expensive for me. And, it’s exclusively on TMobile or AT&T I believe. I need a hotspot with access to the “big 3”, that would include Verizon, which is strongest at my homestead.
Do you have a hotspot and data only, SMS-enabled SIM?
If you already addressed this, please forgive me.
Sorry for the delayed response. I've been slammed this week.
The Calyx Institute hotspot only sounds expensive until you realize that the amount they are asking is for a whole year at once. I've also heard that the base system offered is a known glitchy unit (blame T-Mobile, not them) and it's better to take the upgrade up one notch, which is what I did. Still a better price than I can find otherwise.
As far as the provider, it is T-Mobile. So, if T-Mobile doesn't work well where you live, you probably won't be able to use it. If you are talking about what to use in a stationary location, consider a booster with a Yagi antenna you can mount on your roof. YMMV, of course!
Thank you, good sir, for taking the time to create such a thoughtful response.
I will explore the jmp.chat option for sure. Rob’s site is so darned glitchy and non-intuitive, and quite poor on tech support so I ditched the virtual phone number.
Anyway…..I happened upon an absolutely amazing privacy compendium recently. I wonder if you have seen it.
https://anonymousplanet.org/
...and while I believe Rob is a great guy and very technically knowledgeable, I have to wholeheartedly agree about his website!
Very cool @AncientHeart369, I'll go check it out!