Adding Archive repo?

Tried to install a spectrum analyser on an Android 5.1 device. I know Oscilloscope | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository worked well in the past on that device.

Unfortunately the F-Droid client on that device can’t install it.. it says downloading but doesn’t download anything and says not installed.

It suggests version 1.38 of the App so I thought I would use my main device to get that and copy over.

Unfortunately .. I am too stupid to add the F-Droid archive repo to the list of repositories. I know it used to be totally easy.. and now I have tried scanning the qr code, tried to enter the URL, nothing works?

Tried Where is the archive repo of f-droid.org? but don’t see the option.

After trying a few things it turned out the archive repo was actually enabled but didn’t not work at all.

Only thing that helped to get the old APK was Oscilloscope - F-Droid Archive Repository

Old F-Droid Client might have it as a separate repo, which repos do you have?

Your link literally says “the latest version is 1.38, so NOT in the Archive”, it also says “version 1.38 NEEDS Android 6 or later”

Then you scroll lower, see version 1.37 which needs “Android 5” and you press
Download APK

Right?

I see it now - on the App page below the title I have to switch repos from F-Droid preferred to F-Droid archive and than I see all the older versions.

I was used that some time ago the F-Droid client merged the list of the archive repo into the list of the main repo?

Maybe not for Android 5, see Running on old Android versions | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository

The F-Droid client on the old Android is 1.15.2 and is displaying 3 versions that were installable but downloading failed for some reason.

Most likely certificate error but didn’t see any error message when trying to download the package on the old device. Previously it likely attempted to update the repos in the background but if it displayed an error message I have missed it.

After trying to update the repos manually it shows me as suspected many certificate errors.

The summary..

  • on an old device with a long ago installed F-Droid client the certificate error messages are very easy to miss
  • on a new device with the latest F-Droid client enabling the archive repo is slightly confusing and actually displaying the archived versions required switching repos in the package view of the client which was unexpected - I thought/remembered there would simply be a much longer list of package versions if the archive repo is enabled
  • IMHO it would be more intuitive if below the list of the packages from the active repo there would be a button or fold element to display the list of archived versions or the two lists very just separated by some line with a hint like “archived versions below”

Got the package.. next will try to install the necessary certificates.

You can’t see (more than 3) old versions without actually parsing the Archive.

The place where the Archive can be enabled has moved >2 years ago (Dude, Where's My Archive? | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository with development time), and for now it stays there.