@binderth i am happy to say i can view the camera now AND got the PIR working thanks to your link https://github.com/cowboysdude/Pir-Sensor/blob/master/monitor_on.sh
BUT when motion is detected, monitor turns on only with the camera stream. nothing else is displayed. no calendar, no weather, no time. just camera stream.
any idea why? i spent 3 hours and still clueless. thanks!