[deleted]

See, with me, I must be very careful. I guess I would describe myself as one who knows more than the average person, but not even close to having or actually wanting the type of tech knowledge of those who are on this forum. I get involved not because I enjoy it, but out of necessity and in this case, I seek personal privacy because if things continue on current path, we will soon have none at at. We have lost so much already and with the proposed legislation on the table, "The Restrict Act", Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology Act of 2023, time to make appropriate changes.
FYI, For those not familiar with it:
S.686 — 118th Congress (2023-2024):
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to review and prohibit certain transactions between persons in the United States and foreign adversaries, and for other purposes.

[bitchute]https://www.bitchute.com/video/vOCGAIQseLDz/[/bitchute](https://)

Back to my matter, so, I will go ahead and get the P7P direct from Google and will be returning here with most likely many more questions and also for support because could it be imagined that I buy a near $1k device and brik it or do something really wrong with it. The warranty will be null and void and I'd find myself on Walmart Boost or Cricket! Mine you, this old boomer could care less about fashion and trend and would be happy with a flip at this point, but unlike so many out there who just don't get, I surely do!

    BIRDIE If the cost of a P7P is a concern you might consider a 6a. It's genuinely not a terrible phone!

      • [deleted]

      BIRDIE it was mentioned somewhere here, I can attempt to look it up later but by bricking device trying to install Graphene on it, you will not void your warranty.

      de0u

      I am feeling the way Im did when I purchased my Note8 back in '17 for almost a grand then and been using it until now and can say that I got my money worth out of it even with a cracked screen for almost 2 years. I feel I should get the most recent model since I know that I will have it for the next few years. I'e read the 3's are not getting updates for Graphene and dont want to have worry about that happening. Forking over that hefty price is going to hurt just as it did when I got the Note8, which came unlocked and Verizon locked it! So, I know just as soon as the new device gets delivered that the new os needs to be complete prior to setting up with the network and SIM insertion. I plan to utilize the free 14 day trial with a piggyback carrier called "Visible" by Verizon. Now I do not the the name of the brand, but I am leaving Verizon since they are just too expensive. A pp plan with Visible, which is Verizon, is $45/mo unlimited and with throttling. With that, I can make a decision if I like it or will have to do a pp with the traditional Verizon. I locked in with Verizon any way I look at it since it is the only one thatnworks in my area.

      [deleted]

      Scary, really scary. Gosh, I hope that I can do this. Risky for someone who does not have a great depth of this. I just wish the device could be purchased straight up and ready to go with Grapheneos, but understand why that is not possible too.

        • [deleted]

        • Edited

        BIRDIE just follow the web install guide on GrapheneOS site. Read everything properly to make sure you understand before you go on the next step. My last install took like 10 minutes. You'll be alright.

          Well, well, looking over the fine print for that potential carrier I'm looking at, "Visible" and there you go:

          "Coming soon. Restrictions apply. Some data is not transmitted through VPN."

          Wonder if Grapheneos thought of a"Swift" add-on to Wireguard.

          [deleted]
          Thank you the confidence.
          Yes, been watching videos, reading up on it and the Gos website. I am on Macos though, so I hope that won't complicate things since it is usually more difficult and have to do these things with alternate means.

          I've got Android Studio Flamingo downloaded on the Mac just to play around with the oldNote8 and can't get anywhere with it. But I can discuss that on another thread.

          BIRDIE I just wish the device could be purchased straight up and ready to go with Grapheneos, but understand why that is not possible too.

          Some people do sell Pixel devices with GrapheneOS pre-installed. Some charge a lot for the service!

          If you're near a university you might be able to find a student who could help.

          Either way, check the verified boot signature hash on the yellow-text pre-boot screen to ensure you have a legit and complete install.

            de0u

            Thanks for the tip.

            I have decided to go with the smaller 6a as you suggested previously. When I saw photos of people holding the 7 Pro, I could tell that it is just way too much phone for me. In all honesty, if they made a Pixel flip phone, that would be my choice. But I live in a rural area and don't use my phone much while home. Reception is negligible even with assist. It is that bad. I do need a phone when I leave the house.

            • de0u replied to this.

              Do not, repeat do not, ever buy a phone from your provider, especially Verizon.

                The 7 looks nice too and hardly larger then the 6a.

                BIRDIE I live in a rural area and don't use my phone much while home. Reception is negligible even with assist.

                I live in a fairly urban area with solid LTE coverage. But my home and around 20 others are in a bit of a dip which is an LTE hole. I have a Samsung LTE extender that makes regular phone calls work.

                And so do a bunch of my neighbors! Carriers know exactly where each LTE extender is, so my carrier must know they have a coverage hole in my neighborhood. But I guess it's fine for them because we are all paying for the cellular infrastructure and also for the backhaul.

                If you have an extender and still have trouble, maybe see if a nearby ham radio operator could help it work a bit better.

                  Blastoidea

                  Yes, I have read about them removing the bootloader and they did it to my Note8. When in dev mode, I wasn not even given the option of OEM, not even greyed out, but it was gone altogether. So, I plan to get my phone direct from Google.

                  Thanks for the info.

                  de0u

                  I had one when I worked high up on a mountain back when it was 3G at best. Yeah, the GPS is precise. I didn't like it then and wouldn't like it now, but sometimes got to do what got to do.

                  Am thinking about the phone long and hard before I shell the $. Will a newer model phone bring in the 4G signal better than my 2017 old Note 8? I would think it would. I've read that people say it is clearer.

                  Now I scoping out the 7. It is $100.00 difference.

                  BIRDIE

                  Wherever you get the phone make sure it has a good return policy, preferably no questions asked and where you don't have to pay return shipping.

                  I don't have actual links to this but I remember several threads Reddit and XDA where people bought phones from Google with the assumption you could unlock the boot loader, but the buyer soon found out they could not. It was explained in the threads why this occurred (I can't remember exactly why) but it was something to do with they were sold previously returned phones as brand new.

                  I've bought 6a and 6 off ebay new .
                  If it says unlocked and or google edition its direct from google .
                  You can find a decent price of you take you time and scope some out .