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Best Radio? Please read before flaming me!

Ok, I've been on here a while and I've flashed many custom ROMs and many radio versions for my HTC P4600. And I know that the "best" radio version for one person may not be the best for another person based on their location, etc. But, that's my problem.
I tend to travel on occasion and I need my phone to have at least as good of reception as everyone else when I'm away because I use it for work. I can't really go to Wyoming and "test" which radio works best there, then go to Orlando and "test" which radio works best there, much less keep several radio versions to flash before I get there. I've read on here that some level of experimentation is necessary to find what works best, but I can't really go cross-country and try each version out ahead of time.
I know that "what's the best radio version" is a topic that tends to get flames, "read the sticky you noob!" type comments, etc. but I'm really wondering if anyone who does a lot of traveling in the U.S. has a radio version that seems to be at least universally average on their Raphael. Maybe not the absolute best, mind you, but one that works pretty reliably well in a variety of locations. My current ROM is in my signature line, as is my radio version. I'm only using radios that are compatible with the Raphael (not trying to port over another device's radio or anything).
So, is there a "best" radio for general use in a variety of locations?

BPB21 said:
Ok, I've been on here a while and I've flashed many custom ROMs and many radio versions for my HTC P4600. And I know that the "best" radio version for one person may not be the best for another person based on their location, etc. But, that's my problem.
I tend to travel on occasion and I need my phone to have at least as good of reception as everyone else when I'm away because I use it for work. I can't really go to Wyoming and "test" which radio works best there, then go to Orlando and "test" which radio works best there, much less keep several radio versions to flash before I get there. I've read on here that some level of experimentation is necessary to find what works best, but I can't really go cross-country and try each version out ahead of time.
I know that "what's the best radio version" is a topic that tends to get flames, "read the sticky you noob!" type comments, etc. but I'm really wondering if anyone who does a lot of traveling in the U.S. has a radio version that seems to be at least universally average on their Raphael. Maybe not the absolute best, mind you, but one that works pretty reliably well in a variety of locations. My current ROM is in my signature line, as is my radio version. I'm only using radios that are compatible with the Raphael (not trying to port over another device's radio or anything).
So, is there a "best" radio for general use in a variety of locations?
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(Sparking his lighter, Bruce responds.....)
I think the radio performance depends on your carrier and location, for example a radio on an A&T device will work the same on the same network (AT&T) regardless of where it is.
But since this forum is international, thats where you run into the location issue.
Best to look at Mods or Seniors that have the same carrier and are in the same network and test those radios.
Some may prefer better HSDPA than GPS which is a trade off for some radios.
The radio in your signature should work just about as good as any other radio out there.

That helps greatly
Bruce Inman said:
(Sparking his lighter, Bruce responds.....)
I think the radio performance depends on your carrier and location, for example a radio on an A&T device will work the same on the same network (AT&T) regardless of where it is.
But since this forum is international, thats where you run into the location issue.
Best to look at Mods or Seniors that have the same carrier and are in the same network and test those radios.
Some may prefer better HSDPA than GPS which is a trade off for some radios.
The radio in your signature should work just about as good as any other radio out there.
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Click to collapse
Ah, international locations. I didn't make that distinction. Good to know that about my current radio as well. Thanks for the info.

N00b question:
When I hear discussions on "radios" I always though we was talking about the FM radio. So are we talking about the phone radio software or the FM radio?

phone firmware radio not the fm one lol.

qtipextra said:
N00b question:
When I hear discussions on "radios" I always though we was talking about the FM radio. So are we talking about the phone radio software or the FM radio?
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XDA-Wiki said:
Radio ROMs available for your Raphael
The Radio stack in your Raphael is responsible for the connections via GSM and UMTS(3G) - things such as reception and download speeds, etc are affected by the radio stack. Generally some issues with poor reception and bad call quality can be remedied by updating your radio stack using one of the versions found below.
The radio stack is not responsible for wifi or bluetooth connections. This is catered for by the drivers inside the ROM itself.
To find out your current radio version, go to start>settings>system(tab)>Device Information. Your radio version will be displayed there along with some other information about your ROM and protocol versions.
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See this page from the Raphael Radio wiki for a list of extracted Rapheal Radios, install/upgrade procedure, and more info.

Greetings!!!

Been lurking here for a few weeks, reading, studying, learning, and my eyes are still red...
I just wanted to share my experience so far and get some feedback.
Rooting
I followed the 1 click Ace Hack Kit to the letter, still had an issue where my phone wouldn't boot, screen was on but black, and had to re-install stock from the Ace Kit to correct it. Phone Rooted
Custom Rom
Reviewed all the Inspire Roms and decided on the Revolution HD 6.1.3
Again following everything to the letter, I couldn't get SuperWipe to run, it would abort, but did the full manual wipe (wipe data/factory reset - dalvik cache) in the the boot loader as in the sticky guide for flashing roms, radio's, etc. Was able to install 6.1.3
Q: Is there really any difference between doing it manually and running the SuperWipe Script?
Radio's - Read the Radio Sticky numerous times. Shoot, so far the recommended radio for HD is kicking but however, still have a fundemental question.
Q. I get that it's a gamble, but what sets these radio's apart from what AT&T gives on their stock phone?
I read in the radio sticky they are sort of area specific or vary by location. May or may not be good, try it... I don't get that because I could buy a Inspire in CA, use it in FL, and the stock radio doesn't change. I get that these coders and developers are freaking awesome and above my head, but intrigued none the less.
Doesn't it really come down to tower coverage? Still putting the radio puzzle together after much reading.
Anyway, I wanted to post a BIG THANKS in the Revolution HD Thread but can't as of yet.
I really like the 6.1.3 ROM so far. Some here may hate Sense, but I like the eye candy.
XDA is cool site and still have a lot to learn.
Hey, at least my first post wasn't "How do I boot loop my new phone?"
I'll see you around

Some will say the radio is region specific. I and others find no evidence of that. The Dev will recommend the radio for the matched ROM you choose. That should be your best bet.

Welcome!
I actually don't know if superwipe does anything special or just takes the hassle out of wiping partitions and FDR and cache. in my experience it doesn't make a difference which I do as long as I do one or the other, or both.
As for radios, there are different settings in the build.prop I believe (correct me if i'm wrong) that's set by each version of each radio (and other settings in more places?) but basically it boils down to different settings causing the phone to interact with the network differently. I never had luck with any of the recommended revolution radios so I would always stick to an inspire OTA or update radio and flash the corresponding RIL (radio interface layer, must match the radio you install).
come to think of it now, it might be the RIL that sets the build prop and other settings. now i'm just confused...

The build prop will remain the same regardless of what RIL or radio you use. The devs tweak settings in the build prop to try and squeeze a little more bandwidth but honestly I have never seen a definite increase in speeds by changing these settings. When the inspire was released it did not have the necassary settings to run 4g. They released a radio and new build prop with an update that enabled 4g. People on 3g would not have seen a difference even to this day. This all took place in the froyo days. The build prop has several settings for many aspects of the phone. The build prop only changes when edited by you or the dev.
It's always good to use recommended radios as that will match the RIL in your phone. I have read that new RIL's are backwards compatible as long as you are using a froyo radio on froyo and a gingerbread radio on gingerbread. The only official gingerbread radio released for the inspire is 26.10.04.03 which goes with RIL 2.2.0160. So in my exeperience as long as the RIL is this or higher you might as well just use the official radio. The one recommended for arhd is 26.13.04.19 which is what matches 2.2.0179 but 26.10.04.03 will also work since the RIL is newer than the radio. But if you used 26.13.04.19 on an older RIL like 2.2.0160 you may encounter problems.
As always though, do not report bugs or make any judgements on performance, unless you are using the recommended radio and have not changed the RIL.
Sent from my Inspire 4G Using XDA Premium

Agoattamer said:
Some will say the radio is region specific. I and others find no evidence of that. The Dev will recommend the radio for the matched ROM you choose. That should be your best bet.
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I travel alot and can tell you that it really can depend on where you are. One radio and ril works great in alaska but if I go to the lower 48 I normally have to swap them for a different set to get better signal.

zelendel said:
I travel alot and can tell you that it really can depend on where you are. One radio and ril works great in alaska but if I go to the lower 48 I normally have to swap them for a different set to get better signal.
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Technically as there is only 1 official radio/ril for ATT gingerbread I would be curious to what you use and where. I know you have mentioned radios being location dependant but I can't recall you ever saying what you use.

Agoattamer said:
Technically as there is only 1 official radio/ril for ATT gingerbread I would be curious to what you use and where. I know you have mentioned radios being location dependant but I can't recall you ever saying what you use.
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Radio: 12.56.60.25_26.10.04.03_M
Ril: HTC-RIL 2.2.0153HM
Is what I use in alaska as the ATT rom and ril give me less signal then this one and when I go into the lower 48 I use
Radio: 12.39a.60.19x_26.06.06.30_M
Ril: HTC-RIL 2.2.0079HM

Can different roms make a big difference in signal strength?

I am many times in hotel rooms without free wifi, so I rely on my 4g for internet. I assume that there would be differences between stock and aosp roms, but within each rom type is a big difference in signal strength possible? Sorry if newbish question.

Correct me anyone if I'm wrong but based on MY experience different ROMS should NOT make a differnce in signal quality/connection...however different kernels I believe can. The different kernels sometime handle the switch over from 3g to 4g better and/or help maintain that 4g connection better than others. Also the other determining factor on your radio signal is different radio software...search the forums for radios and I'm sure you'll find mention of vgl1 and/or f2 etc etc...these are different radio software and some people have better results with others. Its always best to simply try each rom/kernel even radio and see what works best for you. We all have galaxy s3's however that does not make them identical.
EI

[Q] Poor wifi T959v AOKP Milestone 6, build 5

I already try to flash CM7 and CM9 mtd(KG4,KG6,KD1) modems to see if that help and nothing , always weak wifi reception.. I need help with this...What can i do to improve signal reception ?
Wifi was fine with stock rom 2.3.6
AOKP Milestone 6, build 5 is a great and fast rom but only two problems weak wifi and a little battery drain

This has been discussed a bunch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1807871&highlight=weak+wifi
If you search you'll find a lot of others as well.

No solutions ?
hechoen said:
This has been discussed a bunch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1807871&highlight=weak+wifi
If you search you'll find a lot of others as well.
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thanks for the quick reply
Why this happens ?
its something with the kernel ? or drivers why no use original ones ?

That's a question for "Google"

Actually if you read the threads taking about this specifically the one by jeffsf he has a theory that Samsung knew many of the devices had crappy WiFi hardware and that is why the device had tons of leaked builds. They kept releasing then in hope of fixing the reception and ultimately just faked a better signal.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

I dont know how erik did it but the ics stock imm76l rom has excellent wifi signal. Other then that its what the guy b4 me said
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app

Rom imm76l Available for t959v
turtlepa said:
I dont know how erik did it but the ics stock imm76l rom has excellent wifi signal. Other then that its what the guy b4 me said
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda app-developers app
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Thanks for the reply
I would like to know if i can flash the rom that you said to my T959v ?
I saw that the big impact with wifi is make by the kernel you install, cause switching modem always the wifi signal is the same but when you change the kernel you see some diferents.

There is no super duper trick to get better wifi. What Samsung did was modify the data file to reflect a higher level. It is a visual trick and one that tricks the OS into thinking the signal is higher also so it does not disconnect as much.
What erikmm did before is change the signal bars from a actual representation to a false reading that made people think they had a better signal. Turn off the bars and use dBm readings and you will see the real signal.
This phone has a really crappy radio reception and there is not much you can do outside of what samsung did and make the signal bars read I higher rating. I think it was jeffsf that said the best solution would be to hack the wifi module and make it read all signals at a increase of 5-10 dBm so it wouldnt drop the wifi so often.

eollie said:
There is no super duper trick to get better wifi. What Samsung did was modify the data file to reflect a higher level. It is a visual trick and one that tricks the OS into thinking the signal is higher also so it does not disconnect as much.
What erikmm did before is change the signal bars from a actual representation to a false reading that made people think they had a better signal. Turn off the bars and use dBm readings and you will see the real signal.
This phone has a really crappy radio reception and there is not much you can do outside of what samsung did and make the signal bars read I higher rating. I think it was jeffsf that said the best solution would be to hack the wifi module and make it read all signals at a increase of 5-10 dBm so it wouldnt drop the wifi so often.
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What file do i have to edit to get a fake wifi signal read and avoid disconnecting ?

I actually didn't do what eollie said to trick people I did it because of information another dev told me then I gave it a shot I saw improvements for me and thought it might improved but again if it's not you don't have to flash it or complain. Source is out do instead of complain that something isn't working or a mod isn't 100%
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Beastmode said:
I actually didn't do what eollie said to trick people I did it because of information another dev told me then I gave it a shot I saw improvements for me and thought it might improved but again if it's not you don't have to flash it or complain. Source is out do instead of complain that something isn't working or a mod isn't 100%
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
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/sigh
Show me where I said you did it to purposely to deceive people.
Furthermore at the time you where posting those roms there was NO source code to edit.
If you are still doing that code modification then you are now purposely deceiving people.
To clarify if people think I was saying erikmm did it purposely then you are wrong. I dont know what his intentions was initially.

First off, I want to be clear, I don't know what was/is different in Erikmm/Beastmode's ROM. At the time it was released, source was not available to examine, and I haven't dug into what has since been posted. I also hypothesize that Samsung was, among other things that T-Mobile probably wanted them to change, tweaking the "calibration" of the WiFi in the various leaked releases and that the "nice" version wasn't in the final release. Considering that the "official" release modem has problems with long SMSs, it wouldn't surprise me that the low RSSI numbers reported weren't caught either. I don't work at Samsung or T-Mobile, so this is my personal speculation and opinion of a likely scenario.
I have tested WiFi pretty extensively and it is my personal belief that the RF portion of this phone just sucks; WiFi, GPS, and quite possibly Bluetooth, but nobody has complained about the last one. Unfortunately, the leaks were hosted on sites later shut down by the FBI so that getting those versions to examine as well was not possible.
If you want to "fudge" the signal levels, the details of one way to do it are in the linked thread. It will require you to create a build environment, populate it with the source of your choosing, edit WifiManager.java, and compile at least the framework. It could also be done within the kernel driver. Since I find that levels below where the current crop of ICS ROMs believe are "no bars" I don't get more than around 1 Mbps over WiFi and I do generally have decent T-Mobile signal, I just use my carrier for data when the WiFi level is low.

[Q] What does flashing firmware do exactly? Are Wi-Fi drivers included?

I believe we can all agree that Android is a pretty complex system. And with complexity comes confusion.
As a RC it's important to give the correct information to people so I figured it's best to ask all you smart people about this.
Of course, I've searched around, but couldn't find much conclusive/reliable enough.
I used to give the advice to users to flash other firmwares in case they ran into Wi-Fi issues but at one point, many months ago, some reputable users (could've been mods, helpers or devs; don't remember) corrected me on that, stating Wi-Fi drivers are not a part of a firmware flash. Ever since I've ignored firmware as a possible remedy in Wi-Fi related issues. A recent discussion made me rethink this.
But is it really? Doesn't it make sense that Wi-Fi drivers would be included on the same partition as the cellular connection?
And are the terms modem, firmware and baseband all exactly the same?
The Wikipedia page of Baseband processor causes some reasonable doubt to me:
A baseband processor (also known as baseband radio processor, BP, or BBP) is a device (a chip or part of a chip) in a network interface that manages all the radio functions (all functions that require an antenna); however, this term is generally not used in reference to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios.
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Thank you for your time!

Interesting read!
Thank You
Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Baseband is your modem, ie: the tech that allows your device to connect to cellular networks. Not related to Wifi in this manner.
Firmware is the whole package (eg: stock samsung - bootloader, modem, csc, rom & kernel.....aosp - just the rom/kernel).
Wifi is driven by the kernel.

DSA said:
Baseband is your modem, ie: the tech that allows your device to connect to cellular networks. Not related to Wifi in this manner.
Firmware is the whole package (eg: stock samsung - bootloader, modem, csc, rom & kernel.....aosp - just the rom/kernel).
Wifi is driven by the kernel.
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Yes! That's exactly the kind of answer I was looking for. Simple, clear, complete.
On the side: I've checked some of your post history and believe you should click here for starters
Anyway. So WiFi is driven by the kernel! That is interesting. With this knowledge I did some searching and found @franciscofranco – one of my kernel heroes – saying the following:
franciscofranco said:
I'm using the WiFi drivers straight from LineageOS, which are shipped from Qualcomm's repos. ...
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So I guess that confirms it! Thank you very much for your answer, @DSA