The Volla 22 (Gigaset GS5) Thread

[Fellfrosch]

Sorry, can’t help on that side. I got my rephone with Android 11.

[pamoedo]

Hi @Fellfrosch, I can see that rephone is basically a GS5 PRO rebranded, with 6GB of RAM and 64MP camera, right? did you have any issue installing VollaOS or SFOS on it? I’m asking because I can see some on ebay at excellent price, I’m thinking on returning the GS5 (amazon refurbished) and give it a try at the rephone instead (better specs and android 11/12). Thanks in advance.

[Fellfrosch]

@pamoedo I’ve had some problems, but in the end no big issues. Everything is written here in this thread, starting with this post: The Volla 22 (Gigaset GS5) Thread - #416 by Fellfrosch
I don’t know if the rephone is really just a rebranded GS5 PRO. But it’s not unlikely. If I remember correctly, there were problems with the GS5 lite. And big problems with Android 12 as a basis. So you should keep an eye on the Android version. At the moment you should be save if you can get a rephone with android 11.

[poetaster]

I also have a rephone as a daily. There are a few with Android 11 and practically new still available.

[pamoedo]

Thanks @Fellfrosch, the thread is too long to read it all, I skipped some parts

I will definitely investigate if those rephone come with A11

ACK @poetaster, thks for the confirmation.

[Fellfrosch]

If you can get a android 11 rephone, the most important things for setting it up are here to read:

Volla Installation guide

This thread is intended to contain install guides to the Volla like ports from @piggz. In the main, they cover the basics of using ubports to flash a supported android and the following install of images provided by the buildservice setup on gitlab. Obtain Ubports UBports Installer • Ubuntu Touch • Linux Phone (0.10.0) Ensure you have unlocked the OEM bootloader Follow the instructions in ubports installer to install VollaOS You can boot VollaOS to test that all systems function (camera, bluet…

[Pingutux]

With the Android 11 Rephone I did not use ubports installer and no volla OS, I flashed it directly after oem unlock. This one works just fine, as a daily.

[Fellfrosch]

I had some smaller Problems. But I don’t know if these came from direct flashing. Anyway I prefer the Volla Bootscreen and even more rhe readable fontsize of the recovery mode, after I flashed Volla OS.

[poetaster]

@Fellfrosch

Anyway I prefer the Volla Bootscreen and even more rhe readable fontsize of the recovery mode, after I flashed Volla OS.

Yes, the recovery mode menu is a lot nicer to use. I prefer it for that, too.

[Pingutux]

Nice thing I got my Rephone repaired back. Again with Android 12. Now I will wait for a solution from mr. Piggz. Or I will try the recovery and sideload thing with volla images. Without UBPorts Installer. Let’s see no hurry.

[Pingutux]

How about the local downgrade? See the following pictures. With the warning at the end… I would like to test it, because it’s an official signed zip and it has been compatible (last year). I didn’t oem unlock yet. Should I do that before? or later on if I got the VollaOS?

[Pingutux]

What do you think about that?

[poetaster]

@piggz

I do …however, because the V22 build flashes the entier super partition, it wipes both system and vendor, so, I include a vendor partition in the sailfish build. So, it shouldnt really matter what the base image is.

@Pingutux

What do you think about that?

As can be seen from the quote of @piggz answer to my question ‘do you flash the vollaOS first’ it shouldn’t matter what the base image is. If system and vendor are overwritten, it’s only a question if the recovery image is usable. The vollaOS installer adds a a more useful than stock Recovery image, so, in my opinion, Just ignore the system, make sure it’s unlocked and usb debugging on, etc, and use the ubport installer to get a clean vollaOS/recovery installed. But this is just my opinion.

[Pingutux]

Well, I give up. I’m not able to flash an Android 12 Rephone. Flashing started and succeeded. Then stack in fastboot. After fastboot reboot it stack in bootloop. I turned it off. Now it doesn’t power on anymore. Akku out, in waiting. …pressing all button combinations. Does not power on - bricked again. So I just have my first one Rephone, which was on Android 11.

[Fellfrosch]

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried to flash Volla OS first like @poetaster suggested or have you tried to flash SF directly?

[Pingutux]

Directly, I am not interested in Volla bootmanager, recovery. My other Rephone works just fine. But thank you. I can not confirm that flashing will work, no matter which image is on the Rephone. Any idea how to power it on again?

[Fellfrosch]

Unfortunately I can’t help on this front. I hope somebody else can give you some hints.

[Pingutux]

Thanks to Rephone, I will try this tonight after work. …

[eson]

And in English…

Good morning

1. Press and hold the power button for about 20 seconds to turn off the device (or remove the battery directly).
2. Press the volume down button and the power button at the same time.
3. Release the power button until the startup animation logo appears.
4. On the screen, the Chinese words for factory mode will be displayed.
5. Use the volume button to follow up down to the last menu and press the power button to confirm.
6. The device will restart in a few seconds.

Friendly Griie

NormCap is the sh*t!

[Fellfrosch]

Sometimes it is better to wait with translating things, until it is clear, that the procedure was successful.