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The Right To Repair (and Modify) The “Right to Repair” broadly refers to consumers (and presumably, businesses) having the legal right to repair their own equipment, or get non-factory service agents to do so, if desired or necessary. P roponents argue that this ‘right’ comes from the fact that they are (apparently) the legal owners of the equipment in question. It is spurred on by the fact that many manufacturers won’t sell or otherwise provide spare parts, service documentation such as circuit diagrams, specialised tools and the software required to service equipment. Consider that a manufacturer could go out of business, or decide to stop servicing a particular product. This would leave owners with no means to repair or modify that equipment should it become necessary. And even if the manufacturer does offer service, it could be limited in scope, overpriced, slow, require long-distance transport of the equipment in question etc. So there are many reasons why owners of equipment could argue that they need the ability to repair it themselves, or have a third party do it for them. “Right to modify” in this context refers to enhancing a device’s 12 Silicon Chip performance or capabilities by modifying software settings alone. A device might have a certain capability, but it is disabled in software unless a payment is made for the additional features. Note that generally, this equipment is out of its warranty period; this is not about a manufacturer avoiding an obligation to repair equipment for whatever reason. Companies that are currently in the right to repair spotlight include: • Apple (and other phone and computer manufacturers), for not providing spare parts to non-authorised service agents. • Tractor manufacturer John Deere in the United States, for not providing the software to diagnose, repair or integrate new accessories into the tractor system to individual farmers or mechanics. Another example is companies By Dr David Maddison (including automotive manufacturers) using “tamper-proof” fasteners on their products, making them more challenging to repair. Fortunately, though, third party manufacturers now make appropriate driver bits so that this is less of a problem. Other ways manufacturers can restrict non-factory repairs include: • requiring proprietary software (possibly available to manufacturer representatives only) for service, such as requiring dealer tools to install a new starting battery in a vehicle. • “serialising” components, so that replacement parts can only work if their particular serial number is programmed into the device’s firmware. An identical replacement part with a non-matching serial will simply not work or will give an error message. This was a strategy introduced by Apple in their iPhones, even including batteries. See the videos titled “Apple’s NEXT move in the war on repair” at https:// Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au youtu.be/GlvlgmjMi98 and “An important message from Louis Rossmann” at https://youtu.be/PPnz7DjM4CE Valid reasons to restrict service For fairness, we should present both sides of this story. Manufacturers might offer some or more of the following points: • They wish to maintain certain performance standards (and thus reputation) for their equipment, so they want control of the repair processes and software, including updates. It is arguably beyond the scope of third-party technicians to diagnose and repair the complicated software used in many products today (although some specialists are well-qualified). • Using “hacked” software or other unauthorised repair procedures might compromise the safety of a machine, or cause it to operate illegally (such as transmitting on an unlicensed frequency). • Botched repairs or modifications by third parties of devices under warranty could cause extra warranty service work down the track for the manufacturer (although in this case, they could refuse service if they realise what happened) • A manufacturer repair ensures a service record is maintained for equipment maintained by them (but it’s questionable how important this is). Reasons for self-repair Individuals might want to repair their own equipment, or have an independent repairer do it for them, especially if manufacturer repairs are expensive or take too long. If the item is within warranty, you would typically expect the manufacturer to repair it (although, in our experience, they don’t always do so successfully). There are many experienced exfactory technicians and other highlyexperienced individuals who can competently make repairs, as long as they have access to the required tools and software. A manufacturer might declare a part or device to be unrepairable. Louis Rossman and Jessa Jones have both repaired devices that Apple said were unrepairable. See the following videos: • “Apple REFUSED to fix our siliconchip.com.au Phillips Phillips II Phillips/Slot Combination (Combo) PoziDrive Phillips1a Phillips Square Supa Drive Slotted Square Slot Combination Torx external (6-lobe) Torx internal (6-lobe) Torx – internal Tamper-proof pin (6-lobe) Frearson Clutch Fluted Socket 4 flutes Fluted Socket 6 flutes Mortorq Tri-wing Hex Socket Allen Head internal Hexagon external Hexagon internal Tamper-proof Phillips Hex Head 5 Node Security 7 Node Security Slotted Tamper-proof (One Way) Spanner Drilled (Tamper Proof) Slotted 6-lobe Combo Spanner Slotted (Tamper Proof) Quadrex Square Socket (Robertson) Fig.1: a selection of screw head shapes; most are security types designed to prevent easy removal. iMac Pro” at https://youtu.be/ 9-NU7yOSElE • “Fixing the Unfixable iMac Pro with Louis Rossmann!” at https://youtu. be/EdwDvz47lNw • “An incredibly sad case: iPad 4 found on body of deceased hiker” at https://youtu.be/zMuap2fgGuY There is also a concern that an item becomes useless once a manufacturer stops supporting it. A device could be even made useless by a forced software upgrade or a built-in end-of-life counter. Those who advocate the right to repair are against such actions. For example, read the news article headlined “Apple fined for slowing down old iPhones” at www.bbc.com/news/ technology-51413724 Some examples of repairability concerns follow. 1. Security screws Many manufacturers use screws with special heads to prevent repair Fig.2: the pentalobe screw head. Apple first used this on the MacBook Pro to secure the battery in 2009 – then used from 2011 on the iPhone 4. Source: Wikimedia user Ruudjah2. Australia’s electronics magazine or modification of their products (see Figs.1 & 2). Drivers to fit so-called security or tamper-resistant types were not always readily available. When communication was much slower, these were somewhat effective in preventing access to devices. But with widespread access to the internet, it’s much easier to find suitable drivers. As soon as a new security screw is released, a manufacturer produces a driver for it. These are typically available at low cost from eBay, as well as electronics and hardware stores. An early example of a tamper-proof fastener was used on original Macintosh computers. It was impossible to remove the back without a special tool, which a third party eventually made. This was a combination of a long-handled Torx T15 driver, uncommon at the time, and a “spudger” used to pry the case apart without damaging it (as a flat-bladed screwdriver would). Another example is the pentalobe screws on an iPhone. These were used in an attempt to prevent non-Apple repairers working on the phones, but appropriate drivers were soon released onto the market by third parties. Sometimes when a security bit is used and the screw is recessed deeply in a narrow hole, a typical driver bit won’t be long enough, so the screw might be inaccessible. June 2021  13 Fig.3: an aftermarket water-resistant seal for a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone. Many official factory seals are not available to nonofficial repairers. Fig.4: the infamous “Error 53” when the Touch ID sensor was replaced on certain Apple devices. This resulting in Apple Inc. being fined by the Federal Court of Australia. Image credit: iFixit. Such was the case with a recent uninterruptible power supply (UPS) I tried to disassemble. 2. Water-resistant seals on phones After repair, many independent phone repairers cannot guarantee a phone’s water-resistance because manufacturers will generally not sell the water seals, gaskets, tapes or adhesives needed to render the phone resistant to water. However, there are some aftermarket products available (see Fig.3). If you need to get your water-resistant phone repaired, check with the repairer whether they will guarantee a factory level of water resistance after the repair. Note that most phones are not fully waterproof, but many now offer limited resistance to water penetration. 3. Apple Inc. and “Error 53” In 2018, Apple Inc. was fined $9 million by the Federal Court of Australia after the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) took them to court concerning “Error 53” (see Fig.4). This started to occur in 2016 when some iPhone or iPad users had the Touch ID sensor replaced by a thirdparty repairer instead of Apple. After the replacement, the phone worked correctly until the phone software was updated, at which point the phone was ‘bricked’, ie, unable to be used. Apple argued that this was a security Fig.5: one of the ‘end-of-life’ messages given by Epson printers. The pads referred to are not serviceable in some models, and not economically worthwhile for others. 14 Silicon Chip measure, as the pairing between fingerprint data stored on the sensor and similar data stored in a “secure enclave” would be broken, leading to the phone becoming disabled. Apple refused to help affected users because Apple did not repair the phone. The claim that this was related to security is contradicted by the fact that devices would only be bricked at the time of software update, which could be many months after the sensor was replaced. Anyone with malicious intent would have plenty of time to act, and in any case, the sensor replacement still required a user to know the passcode for the phone. See further comments in the video below. Fig.6: a solution from iFixit to the Epson ‘end-of-life’ problem. An overflow bottle is installed to capture surplus ink, because for the L200 printer, it is almost impossible to remove or replace the ink pads. Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au Fig.7: the ECU encryption on the 2019 C7 Corvette ZR1 has been cracked by HP Tuners, for those for whom the stock 563kW/755 horsepower output is not enough… The ACCC argued that consumers had a right to have the phone repaired. They said, “the court declared that the mere fact that an iPhone or iPad had been repaired by someone other than Apple did not, and could not, result in the consumer guarantees ceasing to apply, or the consumer’s right to a remedy being extinguished”. Apple eventually apologised to customers and issued a software update to fix the affected phones. They also offered to reimburse customers who paid for an out-of-warranty replacement. See the news articles at siliconchip.com. au/link/ab79 and siliconchip.com.au/ link/ab7a for more details. Also see the video titled “Apple FINED MILLIONS for misleading customers on Error 53 in Australia” at https://youtu.be/cDYeby1Vanw That video is by Louis Rossmann, a prominent personality in the right to repair movement (https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Louis _ Rossmann). He has a repair shop in New York City and a popular YouTube channel. Apple also remotely deployed a “feature” that slowed down ageing phones, ostensibly to put less load on old batteries (mentioned earlier). Many investigators disagreed with Apple’s reasoning. Incidentally, Apple will not unlock a device for a new owner of used devices. The onus is on the purchaser to ensure that the previous owner has unlocked the phone. So if buying a use Apple device, make sure that it is not locked. 4. Difficult-to-access car components I recently had to replace the side mirror on my car. I discovered that it was secured with security Torx screws, having the central pin. These screws are not accessible from the vehicle’s exterior (I had to remove a considerable amount of internal trim to get to them). It is difficult to imagine why the manufacturer would use these more expensive screws, unless they wanted you to go to a dealer to replace the mirror. Fortunately, I had the appropriate drivers in my collection. Fig.9: a farmer with a mostly functioning GPS receiver from a John Deere tractor. In this unit, the TCM (terrain compensating module) is no longer functioning, but the manufacturer will not repair or replace just that module; a whole new unit had to be purchased. From the video at https://youtu.be/EPYy_g8NzmI siliconchip.com.au Fig.8: the wiring loom layout for the GM Global B architecture, which features strong encryption. For a description of the OBD connector, see the video titled “Global B architecture Data Link Connector Description” at https://youtu.be/J1gOz2cFDm8 5. Tesla making it difficult for thirdparty repairers Rich Benoit has a YouTube channel called “Rich Rebuilds”. His experience started when he purchased a flood-damaged Tesla vehicle cheaply at auction and tried to repair it. He discovered that as an ‘unauthorised repairer’, Tesla would not sell him parts. This started his quest to find ways to repair Teslas, including using parts from wrecked vehicles. Eventually, he opened an independent repair shop called the Electrified Garage. See the video titled “Tesla Hacker: The Rogue Mechanic Taking On Tesla” at https://youtu.be/3Ytm_ GnTkl0 He has extensively documented Tesla repairs, and the (unnecessary) difficulties involved, on his YouTube channel. 6. Wheelchairs and other mobility equipment A wheelchair user testified in a government inquiry in the USA about how they can more quickly and cheaply Fig.10: a Russian Belarus 3522 tractor, available with US-made Caterpillar or Cummins engines, and relatively simple and accessible diagnostics. Australia’s electronics magazine June 2021  15 “Most consumers who are out of warranty elect to replace a lower-cost printer when they receive an end of life service message.” I have personal experience with this. My printer was working perfectly; then I started receiving these messages. One extension was allowed for a limited number of pages, then the printer ceased working. I could have taken it to Epson for repair, but it was not worthwhile. Replacing the affected ink pads was not possible. Solutions to this problem include software that resets the end-of-life page counter, plus replacement pads or modifications to the printer to enable pads to be replaced or installing an external ink collection bottle (see Fig.6). iFixit has published a guide on how to repair an Epson L200 printer with this problem at siliconchip.com.au/ link/ab7b Fig.11: a page from the freely available manual for a Russian Belarus model 3522.5 tractor, showing error codes from electronic modules. These are displayed on the vehicle dashboard and do not require a plug-in reader or special software. You can view Belarus manuals at siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7k repair their own wheelchair with parts from eBay compared to returning it to the manufacturer. See the video titled “Boston State House - Right to Repair hearing - FULL HQ VERSION” at https://youtu.be/ QHpXJzjin7k?t=435 7. Epson printer ‘end-of-life’ When the print heads of an inkjet printer need cleaning, ink is squirted onto cleaning pads. When these are full, Epson inkjet printers issue a warning that these need replacing (shown in Fig.5), which is not generally worthwhile as it is so involved. According to Epson (https://epson. com/Support/wa00819), “At some point, the product will reach a condition where either satisfactory print quality cannot be maintained, or components have reached the end of their 16 Silicon Chip usable life...” “If you want to continue using the printer, Epson recommends having the printer serviced at an Epson Authorized Customer Care Center. In most cases, when this message occurs, other printer components also may be near the end of usable life, and satisfactory print quality cannot be maintained.” 8. Vehicles with encrypted ECUs Cars have been released with encrypted engine control units, such as certain Bosch ECUs on the BMW M3 and M5 platforms, which were eventually cracked. According to an online report, the cracking of the M5’s ECUs (the vehicle has two) involved a process where they had to be removed and sent to a tuner, where they had to have a hole drilled into them (for reasons not stated). Hardware was used to read the encryption key, at considerable risk to the device and of voiding the warranty. More recently, the ECU of the predecessor of the current model of Corvette, the C7 ZR1 (Fig.7), was also cracked by HP Tuners in the USA (as stated at siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7c). The current model, the C8, makes it considerably more difficult. The GM E99 PCM (powertrain control module, often incorrectly referred to as the ECU) cannot be Fig.12: a Telstra 4GX USB + WiFI Plus E8372H, also known as a Huawei Mobile Broadband E8372 modem (with different firmware). This can be unlocked for a fee so it can be used overseas, or with another carrier in Australia. Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au reprogrammed to provide increased power output or accommodate certain engine modifications tuners may wish to perform. The encryption uses “multi-factor authentication and a Diffie-Hellman 2048-bit key exchange using an SHA256 hash digest that is unique for each VIN and PCM” (VIN being the unique vehicle identification number). It is regarded as extremely difficult to crack, and has not been (yet). There is an alternative to cracking an encrypted ECU; it can be replaced with an unencrypted third-party ECU. This is somewhat more expensive, and might eliminate some of the ‘niceties’ of modern vehicles. But it would run the engine and might offer tuning features that the factory ECU does not, such as better monitoring. See our in-depth articles on ECUs and other automotive modules in the December 2020 & January 2021 issues (siliconchip.com.au/Series/353). 9. Vehicles with encrypted communications General Motors are in the process of introducing their Global B vehicle electronic architecture or “VIP” (“vehicle intelligent platform”), shown in Fig.8. It will be utilised by most GM vehicles by 2023, and is already on the Cadillac CT5, CT4 and C8 Chevrolet Corvette. Its communications systems manage 4.5 terabytes of data per hour, with intra-vehicle communications of 10Gbps. The system can also be updated ‘over the air’. One feature (or not, depending on your point of view) is that the system will be resistant to ‘hacking’, either from tuners or criminals who want to take control of your vehicle. Fig.13: this Belarus tractor wiring diagram shows its relative simplicity and demonstrates the availability of servicing-related data. GM President Mark Reuss is aware of the problems this will cause for tuners but said, “I don’t wanna cut anybody out from an aftermarket Fig.14: Apple’s T2 security chip. It prevents some third-party repairs. siliconchip.com.au Australia’s electronics magazine standpoint, but we have to pick and choose who are the good guys.” Perhaps at some point, tuners will be given access to the ECU, PCM or other parts of the vehicle electronics they need. 10. Tractors and other farm machinery In Australia, many farmers believe they are dealt with poorly by farm machinery manufacturers. This matter is currently under investigation by the ACCC, and there is a discussion paper entitled “Agricultural machinery: After-sales markets” at siliconchip. com.au/link/ab7d (PDF) Matters identified in the discussion paper include: • access to independent agricultural machinery repairs is limited. June 2021  17 Fig.15: a post from Hugh Jeffreys’ Twitter page on repair difficulties with the iPhone 12. • farmers may lack recourse in the event of a problem with their machinery. • agreements between manufacturers and dealers may limit access to repairs. • data ownership and management may raise privacy and competition issues. A report is due out soon. It will be available from the following site: siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7e In the USA, farm machinery manufacturer John Deere has been singled out over right-to-repair concerns. John Deere advocates the concept of “digital agriculture”, which is perfectly valid and by no means unique to them. For more information on this, see siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7f and our articles on “The Farm of the Future” in the June & July 2018 issues, at siliconchip.com.au/Series/324 As part of this, John Deere tractors and implements make measurements of ground conditions such as soil moisture, nitrogen levels, seed placement, fertiliser and pesticide usage, and many other parameters. This data is used to make future farming decisions. This requires highly-digitised farm equipment. John Deere’s reluctance to provide service data to non-authorised service centres reflects a possible concern that inappropriate adjustments to software settings might compromise such an all-encompassing system. Julian Sanchez, John Deere’s Director of Emerging Technology, said, “One tweak could cascade throughout an entire software system and lead to unintended consequences”. On the other hand, it is difficult to see how the replacement of most broken parts would upset such a software system (eg, see Fig.9). To service their John Deere products, some US farmers are turning to pirated Fig.17: the US Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Even it has right-to-repair problems. 18 Silicon Chip Fig.16: the F(x)tec Pro1 is an Android phone, but the bootloader is unlocked so that you can install other operating systems such as Lineage (Android-based) and Sailfish (Linuxbased). Android Apps can also run on Sailfish. John Deere software from Ukraine. They argue that it’s the only way to service their machinery economically and without downtime, or the hefty towing or cartage costs to take broken machinery to the nearest official service centre. See the video titled “Farmers Are Hacking Their Tractors Because of a Repair Ban” at https://youtu.be/EPYy_ g8NzmI If you search YouTube with the terms “john deere right to repair” (without the quotation marks), you can see much more on the topic. It has been reported that some farmers are reverting to older tractors, that are not under computerised control, over these concerns. This is despite the fact that older machinery may not be as productive as more modern equipment, lacking autonomous operation features. Belarus tractors (see Figs.10, 11 & 13) were initially designed with simplicity and serviceability in mind. After the Fig.18: sometimes, it pays to read the End User License Agreement. It earned Doug Heckman US$1000. Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au Fig.19: upgrading some Tesla models from a 60kWh to 75kWh battery pack was as simple as paying the fee. The battery capacity was restricted only by software. fall of the USSR, they became more advanced and comfortable, but retained the ideals of serviceability and relative simplicity. These tractors offer an option to farmers frustrated by the inability to do most servicing on other tractor brands. They are exported to 100 countries including Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the USA and Canada. 11. Network-locked phones and modems Often, when an internet service provider (ISP) supplies modems/routers as part of their internet package, they are locked to that provider and cannot be used with others. This is wasteful given that most ISPs do not ask for the equipment back if a customer leaves (and it would usually be out-of-date by then anyway). Certain modems and phones can be unlocked for a fee; for example, one portable 4G device from Telstra (Fig.12) can be unlocked with the procedure explained at siliconchip.com. au/link/ab7g Similarly, a phone provided as part of a plan is usually locked to that provider. The phone can be sometimes unlocked once the contract has expired, for a fee. Some services claim to unlock a locked phone, but you would have to decide if these are a breach of your service agreement, and they might compromise the software or firmware on your phone. 12. Apple’s T2 chip Apple’s T2 security chip (shown in Fig.14), present in some Apple products such as MacBook Pros, encrypts data and provides other services. It ensures that only ‘genuine’ Apple operating systems are used to boot the computer, and checks fingerprint scans. It removes the job of encryption from the CPU, saving CPU cycles. It also performs Fig.21: the unofficial Ingenext performance improvement module, available for the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y dualmotor variants. siliconchip.com.au Fig.20: the difference in range between a Tesla Model 3 with the extra battery capacity installed locked and unlocked. audio and visual image processing. But it prevents some third-party repairs or modifications, by requiring software diagnostics to be run for some replacement components, which only authorised Apple dealers can complete. 13. Repair difficulties with the iPhone 12 Australian Hugh Jeffreys looks at repair problems for the iPhone 12 in the video titled “iPhone 12 Anti Repair Design - Teardown and Repair Assessment” at https://youtu.be/ FY7DtKMBxBw (see Fig.15). 14. Linux phones for better repairability The F(x)tec (www.fxtec.com) Pro1 (Fig.16) is an example of a phone with support for multiple operating systems and support from the open-source community. It was explicitly designed for repairability, with the intention of Fig.22: an in-vehicle notification from Tesla stating “Incompatible vehicle modification detected”. Australia’s electronics magazine June 2021  19 Fig.23 (above): an example of an iPad opening tool kit available from iFixit. It will apparently open all phones or tablets that use an adhesive to hold the case together, which is released by applying heat during the disassembly process. Fig.24 (right): a replacement screen for the Samsung Galaxy S10 available from iFixit. It comes with installation tools. having spare parts readily available. 15. Right to repair and the US military Of all institutions, you’d think military branches ought to be able to repair their own equipment. But even they have been affected by this problem. There is no reason other militaries, such as Australia’s, aren’t similarly affected. The New York Times has an article at siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7h about how the US military is put at risk by not being able to repair some of its equipment in-house, even though they are fully capable. The equipment has to be sent back to the manufacturer, often taking it out of service for months. The examples given relate to warranty repairs or contractual obligations in mission-critical equipment, with lives possibly at risk. Another right to repair issue with the US Army is the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), shown in Fig.17. According to a report, it was difficult or impossible to repair for the following reasons: “Units [could not] maintain the JLTV without support from the contractor field service representatives due to vehicle complexity; there were issues with ineffective training, poor manuals, and challenges with troubleshooting the vehicle; the maintainer training was not effective and required additional familiarization and hands-on time to increase the competency of military maintainers to troubleshoot the vehicle; and the health monitoring system [was] not accurate and [it] reduce[d] crew and maintainer confidence in the system.” 16. Restrictive software licences Software licences usually state that you have no right to modify the software, even though that is not easy without the source code. The details are in the almost-never-read End User License Agreement (EULA). Someone did actually read a EULA once and got a pleasant surprise. In 2005, a company called PC Pitstop included a clause in their EULA that promised a “consideration” to anyone that read the EULA that far. All they had to do was send an email to the address listed (see Fig.18). It was four months and 3000 downloads before Top five right to repair wins of 2020 In the video by iFixit titled “Top 5 Right to Repair Wins of 2020” at https://youtu.be/gJLLybOzKrk the following are cited: 1) A 2019 Apple iMac repair manual was found online – by accident, they ask? 2) France introduced the index of repairability. 3) During the COVID-19 crisis, manufacturers of medical equipment did not make repair information available, so there was a massive crowdsourcing campaign to create a medical repair database with 13,000 manuals – see www.ifixit.com/Device/ Medical_Device 4) The European Parliament voted in support of consumers’ right to repair. 5) In Massachusetts, USA, the automobile right to repair was extended. Manufacturers have until model year 2022 to install a standard open data platform, accessible to all. 20 Silicon Chip Fig.25: the components of a disassembled Fairphone 3. It is a highly modular design; individual modules can be repaired, and disassembly requires no special tools. This phone has a perfect repairability score. Source: iFixit (Creative Commons License). Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au Doug Heckman spotted that clause and won US$1000. It is not certain whether EULAs legally restrict the purchaser’s rights. According to Wikipedia’s page on the subject, “The enforceability of an EULA depends on several factors, one of them being the court in which the case is heard. Some courts that have addressed the validity of the shrinkwrap license agreements have found some EULAs to be invalid, characterizing them as contracts of adhesion, unconscionable, and/or unacceptable...” It goes on to say that “Other courts have determined that the shrinkwrap license agreement is valid and enforceable...”. Australian consumers have more rights than most worldwide, so it seems likely that many clauses in the typical EULA are unenforceable. It’s hard to say for sure until a particular clause is litigated. Some companies have attempted to use their software copyrights to prevent its use by others to perform thirdparty repairs. 17. Medical equipment repairs US company Summit Imaging (www.mysummitimaging.com) repairs ultrasonic and mammography imaging equipment. They argue that “repair monopolies, created by equipment manufacturers, are driving health care costs up and patient care down”. See the video titled “Right to Repair with Biomedical Equipment Technology” at https:// youtu.be/giTU-UznidQ iFixit has established a medical equipment repair database, but there is also Frank’s Hospital Workshop in Tanzania (siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7i). It comprises a collection of documents and training materials to address the following problems found in Africa: “No spare parts for repairs and maintenance, no technical manuals, poorly or no trained biomedical technicians, no (financial) support by the responsible authorities, no technical support from the manufacturers, lack of awareness of the advantages of preventive maintenance.” 18. Identical equipment with different performance levels This is tangentially related to the right to repair, but worth mentioning. Consider two oscilloscopes available siliconchip.com.au Fig.26: the scene at a typical Repair Café. Source: Wikimedia user Ilvy Njiokiktjien. with 50MHz and 100MHz bandwidths. It is often the case that they use precisely the same hardware, even though they are priced differently. The difference is effected by a bit set differently in the firmware. While we don’t advocate this, some tinkerers have developed software hacks that convert a cheaper (say 50MHz) model into a more expensive (say 100MHz) model by merely changing this internal software switch. Along the same lines, Tesla’s superseded model S 60 and 60D vehicles, with a usable battery capacity of 60kWh, actually had 75kWh batteries software locked to 80% capacity. In the USA, owners paid US$3000 or even more to unlock that extra capacity. See Figs.19 & 20, and the video titled “Model S 60d to 75d upgrade: real time no edits” at https://youtu.be/ VW_w4bQGg4w Another procedure for Teslas is ‘uncorking’. This software-only upgrade applied to some older models such as the model S and model X with a 75kWh battery pack, providing faster acceleration. Newer versions of those models came from the factory with uncorking already applied. See the video titled “Tesla 75D Uncorking experience” at https://youtu. Australia’s electronics magazine be/p9ibsOldbsM Tesla software is inaccessible to non-authorised repairers, making modification or repair difficult, if not impossible. Despite that, unauthorised modifications have been developed and marketed. Tesla offers an official software upgrade for the Model 3 dual motor model that adds an extra 37kW/50hp for US$2000 in the USA. But Canadian company Ingenext (https://ingenext.ca/) offers a similar modification (Fig.21) for US$935, plus extra features are included as well. KEEP YOUR COPIES OF AS GOOD AS THE DAY THEY WERE PRINTED! ONLY 95 $ 1P6LUS p&p A superb-looking SILICON CHIP binder will keep your magazines in pristine condition: no torn pages or dog ears! * Holds up to 14 issues * Heavy duty vinyl * Easy wire inserts Available in Aust only ORDER NOW AT www.siliconchip.com.au/shop June 2021  21 a repairability score comparing, on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the easiest, for various devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. See www.ifixit.com/Search?doctype =pages&query=repairability Of all phones listed, the Fairphone 2 of 2015 and Fairphone 3 of 2019 (shown in Fig.25) are the only ones to get a perfect 10. They are rated highly because frequently replaced components such as the battery and display can be swapped with just a screwdriver; standard Philips screws are used; and “individual modules can be opened, and many components can be individually replaced”. Fairphone’s website is at www. fairphone.com/en/ For documentation of a teardown of the Fairphone 3, see siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7j Fig.27: part of a spreadsheet to calculate the index of repairability for a TV. Rather than being a software modification, an extra module is added that presumably intercepts and modifies certain control signals on the car’s data bus. In response to this modification, Tesla has updated its software to detect it, notify the owner, and presumably Tesla headquarters. The notification reads: “Incompatible vehicle modification detected” (Fig.22) and “Potential risk of damage or shutdown”. At this time, no further action is taken, such as disabling the vehicle. See the video titled “Boost 50 - Add 50 HP to your Tesla model 3” at https:// youtu.be/-VHIyq03mK0 Many Tesla owners believe that once they own the vehicle, they should be able to do whatever they like with it. Naturally, such modifications might void the warranty. Organisations Here are some organisations involved in the right to repair movement. 22 Silicon Chip 1. iFixit iFixit (www.ifixit.com) is both a private company and a global community of people. In its own words, “iFixit is a wiki-based site that teaches people how to fix almost anything. Anyone can create a repair manual for a device, and anyone can also edit the existing set of manuals to improve them. Our site empowers individuals to share their technical knowledge with the rest of the world.” iFixit promotes a consumer’s right to repair and provides free repair guides, product teardowns, a forum to discuss repairs and offering for sale specialist tools (Fig.23) and spare parts (Fig.24) for repairs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has also accumulated a vast collection of repair manuals and guides for medical equipment to support health care providers, due to increased equipment usage and therefore, maintenance and repair requirements. iFixit repairability score iFixit has for some years provided Australia’s electronics magazine 2. The Repair Association The Repair Association (www. repair.org) is a US-based lobby group for independent repairers, and they fight for the right to repair. Their philosophy is, “We have the right to repair everything we own. You bought it, you should own it. Period. You should have the right to use it, modify it, and repair it wherever, whenever, and however you want. We fight for your right to fix.” 3. Repair Cafés Repair Cafés (www.repaircafe.org/ en/) are a worldwide movement consisting of meeting places where visitors bring objects to be repaired by skilled volunteers (see Fig.26). The focus is on repairing things rather than throwing them away. For some, this may be a way to get items repaired that are too difficult or expensive to repair via the usual channels. To find a repair café near you, including in Australia and NZ, visit the website link above. Laws We will now look at some relevant laws and inquiries. Index of repairability (France) The French Government has introduced an index of repairability (“Indice de réparabilité”). It applies to aspects of repairability such as documentation, ease of disassembly, availability of spare parts, price of spare siliconchip.com.au Dave Thompson’s opinion on the Right to Repair Fig.28: examples of the index of repairability scores, with differently-colour icons for different score ranges. parts and specific criteria for individual devices. These criteria include the presence of a usage counter, remote assistance and the availability of software or firmware updates. As a pilot program from 1st January 2021, it initially applies to the following five products: laptops, smartphones, front-load washing machines, televisions and mowers (see Fig.27). It will be later extended to other products. By 2024, there will also be a durability index that rates a product’s durability. Indices of repairability are published at www.indicereparabilite. fr (see Fig.28). You can translate the pages with Google Translate by right-clicking in Chrome (and possibly other browsers). The index is calculated based on five criteria: documentation; ease of disassembly and access, tools, fasteners; spare parts availability; spare parts price; and criteria specific to the product category. will also mostly apply to the UK, since they trade heavily with the EU. EU laws Apart from French laws such as the Index of Repairability, new EU laws already came into effect on 1st March 2021. These require the supply of spare parts to professional repairers for certain appliances such as dishwashers, fridges, TVs and computer displays for seven to ten years. There are also new requirements that devices can be disassembled with standard tools, and that devices come with repair manuals (welders and computer servers were already covered under previous rules). A prominent European right to repair lobby group with a website at https://repair.eu/ feels that the new laws don’t go far enough. These laws Australia currently has no right to repair laws; however, the Productivity Commission is holding an inquiry; see www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/ repair#issues A draft report is due in June 2021. In 2020, the ACCC released a discussion paper on farm machinery repairs at siliconchip.com.au/link/ab7e See also the section on tractors and other farm machinery above. siliconchip.com.au US laws The USA is where the right to repair movement started, and laws were first passed in Massachusetts in 2012 concerning repair issues for motor vehicles. These required manufacturers to provide the necessary information to independent repairers. Car manufacturers voluntarily agreed to observe the provisions of the Massachusetts law in all other states for the 2018 model year. The law was amended in 2020 to remove loopholes used by Tesla, among others. At least 17 states now have right-to-repair legislation of various kinds. Someone in the USA went to prison over the right to repair. See the video titled “Do You Have a Right To Repair Your Phone? The Fight Between Big Tech and Consumers” at https://youtu. be/urPMZwW52Z8 Australian laws and inquiries Other considerations It may well be that much right to repair legislation will become unnecessary. Market forces will provide easily repairable items if that is what consumers demand. Two such examples mentioned above are the Fairphone and Belarus tractors. SC Australia’s electronics magazine We asked our (non!)-resident serviceman, Dave Thompson, what he thought about this article and here is his response... “ Having just read Dr David Maddison’s excellent article on the right to repair, I agree 110% with all the points he makes. I have long railed against those dumb anti-tamper fasteners and deride any company’s attempts to prevent a device from being repaired by anyone with the wherewithal to want to do it, whether they succeed or not. I acknowledge any company’s right to protect their copyright and IP, including having watertight policies regarding voiding of warranties for their products. But I object to those who build in premature end-of-life, deliberate obsolescence or otherwise impede the right to repair, and I’ll continue to raise my voice against those practices. I come from a generation who rolled their sleeves up, broke out the tools and had a go, rather than being shoe-horned into the often expensive and drawn-out repair systems offered by many official servicing agents. Obviously, this carries some risks, though many service-people (with the skills to pull any given repair off) will weigh this against any downsides such as voiding warranties or junking the item in question. At least this is our choice. My point is that deliberately nobbling a device to prevent anybody but the typically slow and money-gouging repair agents to service it is very much against my principles. As such, I’ll continue to fight for the right to repair. ” June 2021  23