Develop Bugs

HTC DESIRE 8181 V's 8183 NEXT G DESIRE:

i found this on another forum. thought it be good for the confused ones thinking of buying. hope this explains a little better
So your looking to pick up a HTC Desire of eBay reasonably soon.
Is there any difference between Aus (delivered/imported 8181 Desires on eBay) vs NextG 8183 branded HTC Desires sold on eBay ?
because The NextG 8183 ones on eBay are currently fetching approx $100 more than none NextG 8181 Branded ones.
Q:
Is there any difference between Aus delivered/imported Desires (on eBay) vs NextG branded HTC Desires sold on eBay. From what I can tell they should all support the same frequency space, so there shouldnt be any difference.
A:
There are two different models of Desire....
Telstra sells one that supports UMTS 850/2100 The actual Telstra Next G branded ones have got some Telstra "Apps" loaded into the ROM which cannot be easily removed, however they are simply links to Telstra services. They are unlocked.
Models sourced overseas usually support UMTS 900/2100, which won't work on NextG.
Pick wisely.
Q:
The NextG Versions will still operate on Optus/Voda/etc right? The frequency ranges all seems to match up. Some online stores are selling NextG and none NextG versions, just dont want to shoot myself in the foot.
A:
Yes, the Next G version will work on Optus 3G, but only in metro areas. It does not support the 900 MHz frequency used by Optus or Voda in regional areas, meaning outside city, you'll only get 2G.
It does not support the 900 MHz frequency used by Optus or Voda in regional areas
Hmmm ok, thats weird because according to the HTC Site (and this is where im getting confused) with all the "Exclusive to Telstra NextG" Branding, it supports the following
HSPA/WCDMA:
* Australia: 850/2100 MHz
GSM:
* Australia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Q:
Do they cripple the NextG version and rip out the 900mhz ?
A:
Australia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Those are GSM frequencies, not UMTS.
To make it abundantly clear:
Telstra specs:
HSPA/WCDMA:
•Australia: 850/2100 MHz
GSM:
•Australia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
Optus specs:
HSPA/WCDMA:
•Australia: 900/2100 MHz
GSM:
•Australia: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
3G is around the world but Yes the US carrier At&T use it..
To help you, AT&T use the 850MHZ band while the other mobiles providers (ie T-Mobile) all use the 900 etc if you are grey importing a US phone the rule of thumb is if the phone works on AT&T then it will work on Telstra 3G network..
Telstra have two different 3G networks and they are 'branded' differently, yet they are both technically 3G at the end of the day.
1. Telstra 3G = 2100mhz, is only implemented in metropolian areas.
2. Telstra NextG = 850mhz, is implemented Australia wide and superceeds their 2100mhz implementation.
As you can see they are both 3G. The NextG branded product has more bandwith available to it, (not that 2100 doesn't have enough, just the way Telstra's implementation is).
Speed wise, telstra do have the fastest network, but in time, others will catch up. NextG is not some magical creative, even if Telstra subtly make you think that.
The issue with handsets is that they either come in 850/2100 variants (i.e compable on Telstra 850 3G) or 900/2100 variants (compatible with other networks in australia including the Telstra 3g branded service on the 2100 network).
Futher, this is not to be confused with similar GSM frequencies (then you get 2G coverage)
Q:
So is NextG just better coverage, or is it faster too? I was lead to believe there was a speed increase.
A:
Both.
The downside to having more coverage and web speed, is being stuck with Telstra..
If you have voda or Optus, you need the desire A8181.. if you're with Telstra you need the A8183
I have Optus meaning my phone model is A8181 & it's $100+ cheaper
CHEERS:

This is well written explanation, I'm sure it/has helped many ;-)
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Rural coverage for HTC Desire with 3 Mobile
I just want to clarify if the same is applicable with 3 Mobile as Voda have meraged. I'm a 3 customer and I'm moving to Trentham, Victoria. 3 and Voda have said there would be call and text coverage only in the area. 3 is bringing out the Desire later this month but I don't know which one. I've been told there's more Telstra towers in the area but will not swap suppliers as I have a good plan from when they were Orange. Thanx for the help.

If you get an 81 and use telstra, it will be slower.
if you get an 83 and use a Non-telstra network, it will be slower.
If you get an 83 on telstra, Root and grab T-Mod.
Simple! XD
</shamelessplug>

Hi there.
I am confused. I am thinking of getting A8183 and am a vodafone user. Will 3g work for me?

I'm pretty sure it says above only in metro areas mate
Sent from my CM7.1 Desire using XDA App

www.vodafone.com.au/personal/aboutvodafone/network/network-850/index.htm
vodafone going 850mHz

I have the 8183, rooted and running on LiveConnected (Optus). I have very little drama with mobile internet, regardless where I use my phone around Cairns.
I find I get drop outs if I venture too far west, but north to Pt Douglas/Mossman, inland to Atherton Tablelands/Millaa Millaa/Malanda and all the way south to Townsville (including Hinchinbrook region), signal is strong and on song.
I have never understood people that gripe about their 8183s not working properly on other networks...unless they happen to live in Oodnadatta, there should not be an issue.

Desire Frequency in use?

Apologies if this is a stupid question;
Can I find out what frequency the Desire is using at any time? ie which 850/900/2100 band?
Just replaced an 850/2100 Desire with a UK-originated 900/2100 and the speedtest results have almost doubled.
Just want to see if it is still using the 2100mhz network or somehow it's using a 900mhz band with better results
Sidenote: in Australia we have 850mhz desires

Does anybody have any solution on finding out which frequency the Desire is using at a given time?
Thank you

ix9 said:
Apologies if this is a stupid question;
Can I find out what frequency the Desire is using at any time? ie which 850/900/2100 band?
Just replaced an 850/2100 Desire with a UK-originated 900/2100 and the speedtest results have almost doubled.
Just want to see if it is still using the 2100mhz network or somehow it's using a 900mhz band with better results
Sidenote: in Australia we have 850mhz desires
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 850Mhz is only for Telstra. If you with any other provider (3, Vodafone, Optus) you should get the EU version! If you use telstra one with let say 3 card in it, you will only get 3G when you have access to 2100Mhz network.
My Desire is telstra one and im with telstra, speed test results are better comparing to HTC Hero on 3. Im getting around 500-1000kbps better results.
Only problem is that Melbourne server is gone from speedtest.net, and now we testing connection to Canbera and Adelaide so results will be diffrent.

ix9 said:
Apologies if this is a stupid question;
Can I find out what frequency the Desire is using at any time? ie which 850/900/2100 band?
Just replaced an 850/2100 Desire with a UK-originated 900/2100 and the speedtest results have almost doubled.
Just want to see if it is still using the 2100mhz network or somehow it's using a 900mhz band with better results
Sidenote: in Australia we have 850mhz desires
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Mexico and have a European Desire and want to change to 850 since Telcel (cel provider) is what uses.
Any help on how I can achieve this?

wrong problem explained
What I meant was for the 3G 850 band

You have to buy a new phone! The A8181 Desire does not support that frequency - you need an A8183 Desire.
Regards,
Dave

foxmeister said:
You have to buy a new phone! The A8181 Desire does not support that frequency - you need an A8183 Desire.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the answer dave, I was hoping there were some software tweaks.
Regards

I know I'm dredging up an old thread, but I searched and have not found a way to display which of the 3G frequency bands is being used at any given moment by my Desire. Does anyone know of an app that does this? I would be surprised if there is not an android app that does this, since it seems there are such apps for other platforms.

What does A8181 stand for?

According to my "about phone", phone identity, model number, my device model is A8181.
As far as I know, there is A8381 (or something like that too).
Can someone share what is the difference between this two models?
Thanks.

I think it's to do with differentiating between hardware versions. Different markets have different standards, i.e. the US and Japan use a different UTMS frequency for maobile data to the ROW thus might need a slightly different hardware version for full compatibility. Or, there may be a slightly different hardware versions over the life of a product which may come about through the guise of "continuous product improvement".

ljesh said:
As far as I know, there is A8381 (or something like that too).
Can someone share what is the difference between this two models?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The A8181 and A8183 are essentially identical, except for the radio bands that they support 3G on. For the most part, if you are on Telstra in Australia, Rogers in Canada, or AT&T in the US, you need an A8183 otherwise you need an A8181.
Regards,
Dave

Thanks alot for clearing this up for me

8181 in Australia
I,m in Australia, my desire is a 8181, seems to work like a dream, if the other version is better for Australia then I,d like to know more

I believe you only need the A8183 in Australia if you want to use the phone on Telstra.
Regards,
Dave

Hi,
I have tried searching the forums but I can't seem to find whether the custom ROMs will work with A8181 or A8183.
Thanks!

mynameisnotjames said:
Hi,
I have tried searching the forums but I can't seem to find whether the custom ROMs will work with A8181 or A8183.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've flashed DeFrost and OpenDesire and I'm having no problems (got an A8183).
As for the difference between the A8181 and A8183, does anybody know if there's a physical hardware difference between the two?
If it's just a software problem, theoretically, couldn't the radio rom be hacked to use all 3 bands?

it's hardware

Both work fine in Australia on any carrier.
The A8181 works on the 2100mhz frequency which all AUS carriers work on (yes - even Telstra).
The A8183 works on the 850mhz frequency, which is the Telstra NextG frequency, so either model will work on Telstra.
Main advantages of NextG (as claimed by Telstra) are faster data speeds and better coverage compared to 2100mhz.
So, A8181 for 3g and A8183 for NextG.
ROMs arent model specific, however with radio upgrades you may find some suit your carrier/area better than others.

I am using a Telstra Desire with an Optus sim and it works fine. I still get H for connection and it's pretty fast internet. When I have full coverage webpages load in just a second or so, and it's more then fast enough to stream movies and music.

okay, so i've got a newbie question to ask.....mine's A8181, and im in toronto using Rogers, but so far i've been using wifi only, no 3G data plan for me as of now......my question is, is it totally unusable for the 3G with Rogers? cuzi heard ppl told me its still usable, but with a little bit performance deduction....perhaps as not 100% fast as it should be.....anyone got a clue for me?

[Q] Telstra Next G network with foreign Desire

Hi,
I have a HTC Desire that I bought in France with Orange. The phone is now unlocked and rooted, with a LeeDroid 1.8 rom.
I'm currently in Australia with a Telstra sim card and it seems I can't use the Next G. I have the HSDPA in few cities like Sydney, but everywhere else it's only Edge.
Does someone know if my phone is able to access the Next G ? And if yes, how to do it ?
Thanks a lot !
Antoine

Looks like you bought a Desire without 850MHz. Out of luck I'm afraid. The "Next G" you are seeing is 2100MHz which your phone supports but in rural areas Telstra uses 850MHz.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Is your Desire a A8181 or a A8183? The 83 denotes Telstra NextG 850mhz support.
If you have an 81, you will get 3G signal on every carrier except Telstra. If you have the 83, you only get 3G (NextG or 3.5G) on Telstra.

Yeah I have an A8181 so it explains why it doesn't works.
Thanks for your help guys !

arrow224 said:
Is your Desire a A8181 or a A8183? The 83 denotes Telstra NextG 850mhz support.
If you have an 81, you will get 3G signal on every carrier except Telstra. If you have the 83, you only get 3G (NextG or 3.5G) on Telstra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, same problem for me !
I have a 81 and had chosen Telstra for the nextg and the cover...
The 850mhz support is software or hardware ?
Is it possible to do something on my desire to be able to use the NextG network ?
Cheers,
Quentin

No.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Your best bet is to use one of the other carriers in AUS such as Optus, Vodafone or 3.
The 850 Mhz radio is hardware based, and your phone has 900 Mhz radio.

3 doesn't support 900, I think Voda are deploying 850(but don't know how far their UMTS currently extends on 900) so the only long term alternative to a new handset would be Optus.

[Q] Radio for 850UMTS - Telstra AU

Hi, I have a HTC Desire HD A9191 purchased from Vodafone Australia.
The phone is unlocked and now I'm using a different carrier (Telstra)
However the telstra 3G operates on 850MhZ Umts. At this stage my phone supports only 900 and 2100MHZ Umts.
I'm intending to upgrade radio. Firstly I want to know whether this will resolve my problem, or I need to change the inbuilt antenna.
If so, can any one suggest a 850Mhz radio compatible for Australian networks.
Systems Specs:
Hboot-0.85.2425
Micorp-0438
Radio-26.10.04.03M
S-OFF
Tried various custom roms. (eg ,stock MIUI, CodefireX).

Changing antenna cannot change operating frequencies of the phone, the frequencies are hardware dependant and can't be changed, even by New radio firmware.
I was lead to believe that Telstra 850mhz band was the new 4g not 3g.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda app-developers app