I have been happily flashing ROM's, creating a Goldcard for a couple of weeks since getting my Hero and have just done a Radio update. I just realised I have no idea what the Radio update actually does.
Could someone explain in fairly simple terms what it is all about, I guess I have cat blood and curiosity has got the better of me
Sure. The radio update flashes the software on the little 'chip' that deals with mobile network/GPS/WiFI/Bluetooth etc. (basically all communications).
The update changes the software to a newer version, which can give better signal and battery life (It's a bit like flashing a normal ROM, except it's only for the communications hardware or baseband as iPhone users call it).
For more info, see http://android.modaco.com/content/h...-update-zip-format-for-gsm-hero/#entry1059164 which also gives you a list of them
Thanks for the prompt reply and simple terms. I am almost getting to the stage where I am qualified to make a phone call
Ah, great, I was wondering about this too. Is there any difference which radio rom you flash apart from GSM/CDMA? (My Hero has a suspicious "EU" in it which the roms I've seen online have not. Might just be some versioning, but then again it might be "europe"...)
How do you update your radio? Do you have to wipe?
EU doesnt mean europe, it is a way of identifying the radio version, like there is JU, JH, etc.
I found this out from other sources in the mean while (and forgot about this thread; it's been a couple of weeks after all), but thanks for replying anyway, it'll surely help the next guy wondering.
torstenk said:
How do you update your radio? Do you have to wipe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the link posted a few posts up, you'll find the radio updates in the update.zip format needed to update via recovery mode, like any other custom ROM flash to your phone. However, Radio updates are typically included in the official RUU updates as well, but those will obviously unroot your phone.
Aside from increasing battery life/signal strength, radio updates can bring bugfixes and features. Newer OS ROMs typically work best with the latest Radio ROMs. After I rooted, I had an "EU" radio on my Telus Hero, and I couldn't make long distance calls unless the phone number had a "+" in front of it in my contact list. Updating the radio fixed that. Hope this info helps.
yeah it helped
But i dont understand the order of updating. First i transfer the update of the ROM to the phone and call it update.zip and the flash that ROM. But then i have to boot up the phone, to transfer the new radio and boot that.
Can it be true that i have to boot the phone and then tranfer the new radio, and the go into bootloader and flash the new update.zip?
torstenk said:
yeah it helped
But i dont understand the order of updating. First i transfer the update of the ROM to the phone and call it update.zip and the flash that ROM. But then i have to boot up the phone, to transfer the new radio and boot that.
Can it be true that i have to boot the phone and then tranfer the new radio, and the go into bootloader and flash the new update.zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Well, the file doesn't *have* to be called update.zip. The recovery image has an option to choose a zip file, which makes things much much easier, as you can flash several files without rebooting, although I believe you have to reboot as part of the radio flash process. With this in mind, I would flash the OS update first, then the radio update. However, it really doesn't matter what order you flash them in. While the OS and radio rely on each other for the phone to operate properly, they are completely separate and individual from a flashing standpoint. They both get flashed in the exact same way from the recovery image, however with the radio, rebooting the phone is a necessary part of the process. If you were (for some dumb reason) to flash the radio and then remove the battery before the phone had completely rebooted, you'd end up with a broken (and possibly bricked) phone.
I wouldn't flash a radio without having an os installed, so if you have wiped then flash an os first. Just to make sure everything goes smooth.
A new radio file won't install until you do the first boot after installing which from memory is forced on you, so you will want to have a rom installed.
Thanks for the information about radio, quite useful. I have tried several ROMs lately but haven´t touched the radio yet. I guess if update to more recent one can improve battery and signal as it has been mentioned before.
I will try and see how my Hero behaves
jsampedro said:
Thanks for the information about radio, quite useful. I have tried several ROMs lately but haven´t touched the radio yet. I guess if update to more recent one can improve battery and signal as it has been mentioned before.
I will try and see how my Hero behaves
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Click to collapse
Yeah once again just make sure you install the radio for your phone type.
E.g. GSM (I am guessing as you are on this forum and not he sprint one)
Lennyuk said:
Yeah once again just make sure you install the radio for your phone type.
E.g. GSM (I am guessing as you are on this forum and not he sprint one)
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Click to collapse
So basically you just have to watch out if the radio is for GSM or CDMA and then you are good to go?
alpha124 said:
So basically you just have to watch out if the radio is for GSM or CDMA and then you are good to go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes
And don't panic when it takes up to 5 mins to boot first time.
Radio update
HI ALL
please ,if i flah the radio , i loste des root ?.
And please wish methode to flash wihtout lost the root
PS:I have the hero
thanks for help
flashing radio doesn't do anything to the rom, you won't lose your root.
thanks Lennyuk,
Please you confirm that if i flash only the radio ,the root is not pacted ?
Sorry for my bad english and my bad request
Related
Does anyone have a VOGUIMG.NHB of this. I tried the one for the titan it did not work. My brother have a Titan with this radio & he has service in places I do not, and I would like to be on the same footing as him.. I have a Sprint.. I've looked and I can not find a working NBH for that radio..
Radio
ftp://up.ppcgeeks.com/Vogue/Radios/VOGUIMG.3.42.40
Rename to VOGUIMG.NBH
Thanks for the new Radio
Just what I was looking for. A 'simple' radio only update. Perfect. Now lets see if the new radio [ I was at 3.42.30 ] is better signal wise.
Where do I have to put that file???
use a micro sd card formatted to fat32. copy file there. put it phone. enter bootloader mode and it will auto start. press power button to flash, when its done restart phone. easy
cnr0616 said:
ftp://up.ppcgeeks.com/Vogue/Radios/VOGUIMG.3.42.40
Rename to VOGUIMG.NBH
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may be a stupid question but will updating the radio have any impact on GPS? I know that the cellular radio and gps are on the same chip but is the radio update solely for the cellular radio?
ambivalent-one said:
This may be a stupid question but will updating the radio have any impact on GPS? I know that the cellular radio and gps are on the same chip but is the radio update solely for the cellular radio?
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Click to collapse
It should update GPS, it is a catch22 in some regions like here in Salt Lake Utah the sprint radio works better for GPS but has poor signal on my phone.
does this work better than 3.42.50?
I live in Michigan (Detroit) idk about you, but here I went from 1-2 Bars with .30 and .50 to 7 with .40.. It's a major upgrade the GPS is juss a tad bit slower.
whitey10tc said:
It should update GPS, it is a catch22 in some regions like here in Salt Lake Utah the sprint radio works better for GPS but has poor signal on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the life of me I can't get it to update using the micro SD or through usb using RUU. Keeps telling me the RUU isn't for my model of phone. The last one I tried got to 8% on the phone and then the phone rebooted and the RUU stated I had an incompatible handset. I have unlocked the SPL and succesfully loaded NSFFANs WinMo 6.5. So I know it's not a lock issue. The SD problem is likely caused by the card being 4gb (I have read that it has to be below 2gb). I really preffer doing the update using a RUU. So. My Vogue is a Telus Touch 3050. Does anybody have a link I can look at that addresses my particular phone and updating the radio only? Don't want a stock ROM loaded. Just a radio update to help with GPS lock times (hopefully).
SD card must ben NON HD, so 2gb or less.
ambivalent-one said:
For the life of me I can't get it to update using the micro SD or through usb using RUU. Keeps telling me the RUU isn't for my model of phone. The last one I tried got to 8% on the phone and then the phone rebooted and the RUU stated I had an incompatible handset. I have unlocked the SPL and succesfully loaded NSFFANs WinMo 6.5. So I know it's not a lock issue. The SD problem is likely caused by the card being 4gb (I have read that it has to be below 2gb). I really preffer doing the update using a RUU. So. My Vogue is a Telus Touch 3050. Does anybody have a link I can look at that addresses my particular phone and updating the radio only? Don't want a stock ROM loaded. Just a radio update to help with GPS lock times (hopefully).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll upload them to my 4shared site here shortly.
I have the 3.42.30, 3.42.40, 3.42.50 As far as using an RUU I have never updated my radios that way but I know it can be done. Also you may want to partition your 4 gb card to 2 2gb partitions and see if that works. Also just to verify these are for CDMA Vogues AKA Touch. You will need to also use an RUU that is designated for the Touch Vogue.
This has the 3 radios mentions in my last post zipped together
http://www.4shared.com/file/143967240/244c2d8f/Vogue_radios.html
So just to be sure, out of the ones you posted, which is the best and latest radio for the CDMA Vogue? Is it .40 or .50? I have a Sprint Touch (CDMA Vogue) and I want to install NFSFAN's WinMo 6.5 ROM on it but I want to update the radio because I think that is recommended to get this ROM. Also, I would like to improve signal and GPS in general, so I want to update the radio anyway.
Also, can you please clarify how exactly I update the radio using these files. I read the post about renaming it properly (.nbh), putting it onto a microSD card with fat32 file system, going into bootloader mode, then restarting the phone. How exactly do you go into bootloader mode to install this update? If someone could link me to step by step instructions for beginners, or explain it here that would be great, thanks a bunch!
Hello
First insert an SD card with the radio properly named.
To enter BL mode just press and hold the power and camera buttons simultaneously and poke your stylus in to the soft reset hole located next to the usb /charger connector.the screen becomes three coloured.
Now follow the on screen instructions.finally soft reset after successful flashing and you are done.
I hope this helps.
Thanks for the reply. I just installed the new WinMo 6.5 ROM from vin on my phone and it worked. I still want to update my radio but I just want to make sure that the radio update won't overwrite the ROM upgrade, or make me have to do it over again.
This shouldn't happen right, like I should be able to just update the radio after installing this ROM and it should be fine?
Oh and one last thing, which is the best radio version to use for this phone? 3.42.40 or 3.42.50? I am currently using 3.42.30.
My original guess was .50, but apparently someone gets better signal with the .40 so I just want to be sure, thanks!!
Both .50 and .40 work well. .40 is newer than .50 but I used .50 for over a year and it was great.
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=694930&postcount=1
Apparently Telus have the best radios over each system. And our 3.42.40 is equal to their 1.04.05v.. So check that list and see if .40 is in your range.
xadjustx said:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.php?p=694930&postcount=1
Apparently Telus have the best radios over each system. And our 3.42.40 is equal to their 1.04.05v.. So check that list and see if .40 is in your range.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link provided is for the Diamond and should not be used on a Vogue.
mfpreach said:
Both .50 and .40 work well. .40 is newer than .50 but I used .50 for over a year and it was great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.40 is only newr to the Vogue it was ported to the Vogue from the Titan.
GaMeBoY439 said:
Thanks for the reply. I just installed the new WinMo 6.5 ROM from vin on my phone and it worked. I still want to update my radio but I just want to make sure that the radio update won't overwrite the ROM upgrade, or make me have to do it over again.
This shouldn't happen right, like I should be able to just update the radio after installing this ROM and it should be fine?
Oh and one last thing, which is the best radio version to use for this phone? 3.42.40 or 3.42.50? I am currently using 3.42.30.
My original guess was .50, but apparently someone gets better signal with the .40 so I just want to be sure, thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be fine just updating the radio it does nothing to the ROM. As for the best I think it depends what region you are in. You just need to experiment.
Hi All,
I have tried to flash a new radio on my new Vogue (Sprint HTC Touch) but for some reason I have been unable to do it. I have tried the following:
* Via SD (2GB non-SDHC)
* Via RUU in normal mode
* Via RUU in bootloader mode
* Re-downloading the files in case they were corrupted or something.
I have:
* Renamed the file(s) to VOGUIMG.nbh
* Unlocked and superCID unlocked my device
My phone is working fine with fairly good signal, but I read a few threads that mentioned that .40 has a faster lock for the GPS (as well as slightly better signal quality). I am currently on 3.37.10 and on WM 6.5.1 build 21864.
This is not my first time flashing anything by any means, but I cannot seem to be able to do this for some strange reason.
Any help is appreciated.
I actually got the RUU to start doing something but it stopped at around 30%
Right, as the title says.. I'm pretty new to this game and it's pretty frustrating, trying to trawl Google and this forum for something which can tell me about what a Radio Image is.
I want to use one of MoDaCo roms, which is used in the Online Kitchen as it's pretty nifty to pick and choose what you want, and what you don't! (I'm not so much of a fan of the Sense UI, been using another UI).
I'm confused about the Radio Image, being on Orange and in the UK, should I include the "32.41.00.32U_5.08.00.04" or, if I install the ROM without it, will my phone work properly, or get locked? I'm currently on "32.30.00.28U_4.05.00.11".
Sorry for sounding like a newbie, it's because I am! But I'm getting there slowly
Dan.
Being on Orange you can't install any other radio than what your phone is provided with, shame really. You can purchase an unlock code and then flash any radio you want though.
Thanks for the clarification! Muchos appreciated. That's pretty strange, so after you purchase an unlock code, you can flash any radio, and it'll be unlocked for good? Now that's impressive
the radio is not the radio you think of like an fm radio
the software radio controls communications within the phone, this included GSM, 3G, WIFI, BLUETOOTH etc
with the latest roms this updated radio is required as it contains features the rom needs, an outdated rom will therefore not be compatible anymore.
remember that once flashing a radio to never interrupt the process, the phone will reboot several times by itself and seem to be turned off but once you've flashed the radio just do NOT touch it, it will restart itself i promise or else you could end up with a brick
yes with orange you need to first unlock your phone and then you can install whatever radio/rom your heart wishes
You're both stars, and that is exactly what I will be doing! Mm, I've never ended up with a HTC Paperweight, let's hope this doesn't occur!
hey
Everyvhere i go i read about radios. But i don't know, why are they important? why do i need to instal a new rado? do i need it every time i instal a new rom? or are they installed with the rom
why are they so important, what is the difference between them and what effect does it have on my phone?
using:htc desire
tnx
Hiya,
Basically, the radio is the software in the phone that allows all the communications to work. These include making and receiving calls, sending text messages, using blutooth, and wifi etc.
It's a critical part of the phone's software and if you have a bad radio flash you will permanently brick your device.
You don't need a new radio for every ROM and I'd actually advise you only flash one if its states on the ROM thread you need to, or if you are having reception problems.
If you choose to flash a radio, be sure to let it run the full way and never ever interrupt it. A bad radio flash is one of the few ways you can totally and permanently brick the phone!
That's how I understand it anyway...
rolfd said:
Hiya,
Basically, the radio is the software in the phone that allows all the communications to work. These include making and receiving calls, sending text messages, using blutooth, and wifi etc.
It's a critical part of the phone's software and if you have a bad radio flash you will permanently brick your device.
You don't need a new radio for every ROM and I'd actually advise you only flash one if its states on the ROM thread you need to, or if you are having reception problems.
If you choose to flash a radio, be sure to let it run the full way and never ever interrupt it. A bad radio flash is one of the few ways you can totally and permanently brick the phone!
That's how I understand it anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that explained everything
tnx man!
one question...
can i flash a new radio with clockworkmod recovery, or is there a different way to do that?
Use clockwork. You flash it the same way as you do a ROM.
ok, tnx...
Hello, i have purchased my Htc desire Hd a few days ago and i love it. I came across these forums and found them very helpful. I decided to _root my phone and install the latest Cm ROM and all went well. When i bought the phone the supplier (three) said that i would be able to get speeds up to to 6mb on the mobile broadband in my area. Sadly this is not the case as i am on EDGE.
I was wondering is there anyway to boost signal either by app or a different radio or ROM.
Thanks in advance.
Well, it could be from some setting maybe, but if i was in your shoes i'd ask the people in the Original Thread.
When upgrading from an fairly old ROM to a new ROM, i'd suggest the flashing of a new radio.
BE CAREFUL, AS FLASHING RADIOS ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.
See the OP of the ROM thread and see if flashing a radio is mentioned (if its not mentioned on the thread, dont flash a new radio, or you can ask them if you can). Normally, ROM are supplied with a RECOMMENDED radio that works perfectly with it.
So ask the people in that thread (or see the OP) if and which radio you should flash.
FLASHING RADIOS COULD BRICK YOUR PHONE, AND ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRICKING IT
- just a little warning with a happy face
Thanks alot for your time I didnt know flashing radios was as dangerous :/ i've done it twice. well thanks for the warning with the happy face
Is there any fail safes for flashing ? anything like roms or radios ?
Thanks in advance
By 'Fail Safes' do you mean 'a mechanism that manages failures and results in minimum harm'? (just googled it )
If so, well, android itself has MANY mechanisms. And by flashing ROMs, all it does is overwrite the current files. So flashing something (given that the script to flash it is correct - if not, then it wont flash - or could flash it to the wrong place) doesnt have any fail safes, which is why, if an incorrect radio is flashed, the phone wont do anything, but when you come to boot it, it could be bricked (worst possible case).
Flashing ROMs with errors can be fixed easily if you know how. Just build a flashable .zip file that'll overwrite the files that have errors with correct files.... - determining the error could be done by using 'adb logcat'
Thanks ! you couldn't have done more Thanks again for everything i will be more cautious when flashing Another big thanks !
Luke
Your Welcome , anytime
Hi
I've got a Bell Desire Z. I bought it brand new and "unlocked" from a guy on Craigslist, who told me it came direct from HTC as a sample for a photoshoot and was already unlocked. Sure enough, it worked with my non-Bell SIM card just fine. I now use MIUI, love it.
I've been having a few funny issues with the radio (12.28b.60.140eU_26.03.02.26_M) such as sometimes I make a call and the other person can't hear me, or I answer a call, same problem, or the call comes through all garbled. I want to see if upgrading the radio will fix this.
1. How do I know what type of unlock my phone has? I didn't put the engineering HBOOT on there, but if it is already on there, how can I tell? I've got it rooted, can I tell if the radio is already S-OFF? I've read tons of stuff and I can't figure this one out.
2. How do I flash the PC10MSgwhatever.zip file onto the phone?
3. Will flashing this break my unlock?
Thanks for taking the time to help me. You guys are the best
Answers
Hi,
to answer your questions:
1. one way of getting some information out of your phone is to use the AMT-Tool to query the device info and the security status. You can find the tool in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097977&page=1
The latest version 1.8.5 is somewhat wacky though and sometimes claims, that it can not query or manipulate your phone, although you are already rooted and have the right software version installed. So do not rely on this tool for further flashing your phone. But the queries usually work fine and produce results.
If you run into trouble with the 1.8.5 you might want to download and try the older 1.8.1 which seems to be more stable and can be found here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26590769/AMT181.zip
You don't have to install the files, just unzipping them to a new directory is sufficient, so you can unpack and use both versions parallel without any troubles.
Another way to find out the version of your HBOOT is by shutting off your phone and then holding the ON-Button and the TrackPad-Button (that square thing at the bottom of your display) at the same time until the phone boots into the bootloader screen. There is the version of your HBOOT displayed.
2. I am not sure, what exactly you want to flash, but if it is something like a PC10IMG.zip, usually all you have to do is put it into the root-area of your SD-Card (so do NOT put it into any subfolder) and then again boot into the bootloader by the method above. Then select the first option called "Bootloader" (which usually is already pre-selected) and press the ON-Button once to confirm the choice. The phone automatically searches for any PC10IMG-Files on your SD-Card and then asks you, if you want to flash that Image.
Don't forget to delete the file from your SD-Card afterwards, otherwise your phone will try to flash the Image again the next time you boot into the Bootloader!
3. Depends. As far as I have learned, flashing only the Radio should not tamper with your root or unlock. But I am quite new to the Android-World myself and would not want to guarantee the correctness of that statement. All I can tell is, that the 2nd phone I have rooted was the Vodafone Branded and SIM-locked phone of my wife. After de-branding, rooting and unlocking it, I flashed it with the Virtuous Sense 2.0.0 ROM and in a 2nd step also flashed the latest Radio onto it. Both did NOT break the UNLOCK. But since I don't know by which method your phone was rooted and unlocked, all I can do is speculate.
But even if you should break your UNLOCK somehow, it shouldn't be too hard to re-ROOT and re-UNLOCK it by following any of the many HOW-TOs published in this forum.
You can find the Link to all the HTC Desire Z Radios in my signature. There are a lot versions available that are newer than yours. As far as I have read in other threads, you can safely flash and try out several radios on your phone, but again no guarantees on that statement.
But keep in mind, that you might also need to align the Radio Library with the Radio depending on your ROM. This thread will tell you more about that process.
Hope that helped...
Tronar