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[Q] To flash a radio, or not to flash a radio.

Im running Revolution 5.1.11 on my Inspire with radio 12.28b.60.140eP_26.03.03.26_m.
I cant tell if service is actually worse, or if the status symbol is just accurate now. First, it NEVER shows H+, mostly shows 3g, and sometimes shows an E. My concern stems from the fact that data speeds are very sporadic. Sometimes .06Mbps down, sometimes 2.5 Mpbs down on either 3G or H. I havent tested on E.
Fortunately, I have access to many Android devices including Inspires. I ran a speed test and mine performed either as well showing 3G versus the stock one showing H+. Unfortunatly, I cant take a stock one home and see how it compares in other places.
I tried to flash the radio to the one that Mike recommends and I got an error.
Should I go through the trouble of turning eng-s off? It seems like a lit of risky work for something that may or may not effect my signal and data speeds.
Advice from the pros please?

In my not so humble opinion, there's no real difference in the radio firmware. I've used 'em all and I don't really notice any difference that couldn't be explained as just normal random signal variation effects. There's probably little bugs in the actual code for say, spreading algorithms or rate calculations or something, that might crop up like 1 in a thousand times which none of us will ever notice, but when you've got millions of customers, it might add up. I just use the latest firmware assuming that it's going to be the most up-to-date and bug-free, but I really have no concrete evidence for this.

Gene Poole said:
In my not so humble opinion, there's no real difference in the radio firmware. I've used 'em all and I don't really notice any difference that couldn't be explained as just normal random signal variation effects. There's probably little bugs in the actual code for say, spreading algorithms or rate calculations or something, that might crop up like 1 in a thousand times which none of us will ever notice, but when you've got millions of customers, it might add up. I just use the latest firmware assuming that it's going to be the most up-to-date and bug-free, but I really have no concrete evidence for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP, listen to this man.^^^^
And I will just finish off answering your post by saying no, there's no reason to do eng s-Off.
It's overkill for your stated goal. If you really want to flash other radios anyway, just for ****s and giggles, visit the inspire only radio thread in the dev section to familiarize yourself with the "no eng s-Off needed" method of flashing radios.

Scott_S said:
OP, listen to this man.^^^^
And I will just finish off answering your post by saying no, there's no reason to do eng s-Off.
It's overkill for your stated goal. If you really want to flash other radios anyway, just for ****s and giggles, visit the inspire only radio thread in the dev section to familiarize yourself with the "no eng s-Off needed" method of flashing radios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I read through that thread but the developer of the os specifically stated to have eng off. I didnt know if that radio was unique in some way that really required it.
If its overkill for data speeds, then why do people do it? Im not being confrontational, thats a real question. What is to gain by a user? I see how a carrier could benefit, but what about us?
Do all rooted Inspires show 3G service? Ive never seen a stock one show that and Ive seen a ton of stock ones.

somewhastock said:
Thanks, I read through that thread but the developer of the os specifically stated to have eng off. I didnt know if that radio was unique in some way that really required it.
If its overkill for data speeds, then why do people do it? Im not being confrontational, thats a real question. What is to gain by a user? I see how a carrier could benefit, but what about us?
Do all rooted Inspires show 3G service? Ive never seen a stock one show that and Ive seen a ton of stock ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please reread my post. I said nothing regarding being overkill for data speeds. I was referring to the use of one of two methods used for flashing a different radio on your phone. The eng s-Off method is "overkill" because a safer method that does the same thing... Flashes a radio... Has since come into existence and doesn't require the potentially dangerous modification of eng s-Off to be performed on your phone.
I think you're referring to the ROM thread. If it started as a desire hd based ROM, or one of the first ones for the inspire, chances are it says you need eng s-Off for the radio because that was the way it started out... The non eng s-Off is a slightly more recent development, and for some reason, the eng s-Off method seems to be continued to be promoted on the desire hd sections.
Everyone who's anyone here in inspireland, namely Attn1, will recommend the non eng s-Off method for basic radio changes over the eng s-Off method.
Any radio that a ROM recommends can be flashed this way, as long as you use the flashable file from the thread linked below, assuming its a radio that is referenced in that below linked thread.
This is the thread I was referring to last post.

Scott_S said:
Please reread my post. I said nothing regarding being overkill for data speeds. I was referring to the use of one of two methods used for flashing a different radio on your phone. The eng s-Off method is "overkill" because a safer method that does the same thing... Flashes a radio... Has since come into existence and doesn't require the potentially dangerous modification of eng s-Off to be performed on your phone.
I think you're referring to the ROM thread. If it started as a desire hd based ROM, or one of the first ones for the inspire, chances are it says you need eng s-Off for the radio because that was the way it started out... The non eng s-Off is a slightly more recent development, and for some reason, the eng s-Off method seems to be continued to be promoted on the desire hd sections.
Everyone who's anyone here in inspireland, namely Attn1, will recommend the non eng s-Off method for basic radio changes over the eng s-Off method.
Any radio that a ROM recommends can be flashed this way, as long as you use the flashable file from the thread linked below, assuming its a radio that is referenced in that below linked thread.
This is the thread I was referring to last post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely misread it...I thought that you were saying that flashing the radio was overkill for my stated goal of getting better service/data speeds.
To clarify my understanding, that thread says to download p98img and "Place this file on the root of your SD card." Should there be a folder called "root"? I looked using astro and es, and dont see one called that. Should I create one and just copy the file in there?
Ill use a file from that thread and cross my fingers. thanks!

somewhastock said:
I definitely misread it...I thought that you were saying that flashing the radio was overkill for my stated goal of getting better service/data speeds.
To clarify my understanding, that thread says to download p98img and "Place this file on the root of your SD card." Should there be a folder called "root"? I looked using astro and es, and dont see one called that. Should I create one and just copy the file in there?
Ill use a file from that thread and cross my fingers. thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. You just have to transfer the PD98IMG zip file to your sd card. Do not place it in any folders. The root of your sd card is the main area where all of the folders and files reside. Then boot into H Boot and your phone will find it. You can flash the matching Ril files for the radio through CWM recovery. Read the directions for doing this, (mount system first).

Wolf_2 said:
No. You just have to transfer the PD98IMG zip file to your sd card. Do not place it in any folders. The root of your sd card is the main area where all of the folders and files reside. Then boot into H Boot and your phone will find it. You can flash the matching Ril files for the radio through CWM recovery. Read the directions for doing this, (mount system first).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate that, thanks!

somewhastock said:
I appreciate that, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll add to what Wolf_2 said by also reminding you to verify the MD5 checksum for your downloaded file and make sure it matches those given for the file in the radio thread.

I did it. It worked.
I just dont see a damn difference. LOL
Just to o verify, Im verifying that the md5sum for the actual downloaded file matches the one that the person posted in the thread that I got it in right?
Thanks again for making this easy for me.

somewhastock said:
I did it. It worked.
I just dont see a damn difference. LOL
Just to o verify, Im verifying that the md5sum for the actual downloaded file matches the one that the person posted in the thread that I got it in right?
Thanks again for making this easy for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. You can check your files MD5 using a variety of methods, one of which is astro file manager, mentioned in that thread.
As far as flashing new radios is concerned, the differences may not be apparent right away, if there are any at all, as gene was saying.
You have to run the radio at least a few days to even have a chance of getting a somewhat objective idea of its performance.
I've only flashed two in as many months. It's very difficult to see much difference between the more recent radios.

Gene Poole said:
In my not so humble opinion, there's no real difference in the radio firmware. I've used 'em all and I don't really notice any difference that couldn't be explained as just normal random signal variation effects. There's probably little bugs in the actual code for say, spreading algorithms or rate calculations or something, that might crop up like 1 in a thousand times which none of us will ever notice, but when you've got millions of customers, it might add up. I just use the latest firmware assuming that it's going to be the most up-to-date and bug-free, but I really have no concrete evidence for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1, I tend to think the same thing. I've had the same experience.

I think I'm banging my head against the wall because the speedtest.net app is a joke. I used it on several unrooted phones, and they show about the same speeds .02-.10 Mbps. I used xtremelabs speedtest and its showing higher speeds 2.75Mbps. Its not even close.
I did some back to back testing.
I ran speedtest.net and xtremelabs on a stock Infuse, Stock Inspire, and a Rooted Inspire.
Stock Infuse Speedtest.net .01-.02 Mbps down, .05-.01 up.
Stock Infuse xtremelabs 4.51Mbps down, .4-.5 up.
Stock Inspire Speedtest.net .02 Mbps down, .06 up.
Stock Inspire Xtreme 1.14 Mbps down, .148 up.
Rooted Inspire Speedtest.net .02 Mbps down, .51 up.
Rooted Inspire Xtremelabs 2.74 Mbps down, 2.8 up.

The Speedtest app really depends on the server location and the time of day, and it also depends on your location and time of day. Depends on their load. I have had huge variances with results with Speedtest.

Wolf_2 said:
The Speedtest app really depends on the server location and the time of day, and it also depends on your location and time of day. Depends on their load. I have had huge variances with results with Speedtest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
You'd really have to have a "clinical" grade testing environment to even be able to see what impact any radio/other OS related changes would have on signal/data performance.
I stopped trying to use speedtest.net types of things. I use WiFi most of the time anyway.

Scott_S said:
+1
You'd really have to have a "clinical" grade testing environment to even be able to see what impact any radio/other OS related changes would have on signal/data performance.
I stopped trying to use speedtest.net types of things. I use WiFi most of the time anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using them to see if I created an issue when rooting. I dont need to know exact speeds, but wanted to see a general comparison. I was nervous when I saw the .0x speeds and thought I ruined the phone. Im talking panic mode. lol

Scott_S said:
+1
You'd really have to have a "clinical" grade testing environment to even be able to see what impact any radio/other OS related changes would have on signal/data performance.
I stopped trying to use speedtest.net types of things. I use WiFi most of the time anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will disagree somewhat. I use Open Signal, which indicates which tower (CID, with the location plotted on a Google Map in reference to the user's location) one is connected to, along with fun stats such as dBm of the signal, RSSI, ASU. After a while, one can characterize the environment. I live in an area with multiple towers. I am rarely more than 900 meters from a tower in my normal routine, and there are multiple towers within the radius. I can run Test 1, and be connected to tower X, for Test 2 within a minute later, be connected to tower Y, and for Test 3, be connected to tower Z. These 3 towers have totally different signal characteristics, and produce wildly different results. However, after "mapping" the results over time, I have a basic idea what sort of results to expect by which tower I am connected to for a given test, coupled with time of day and the ASU given at the time.
I have also identified one curious "dead zone", and a major intersection about 800 meters from my house (where I go frequently to buy smokes and whatnot). There are 3 towers within a 500 meter radius. One would think it would be "Speed Test Heaven" at this location. It is not. There seems to be some sort of interaction at this location that produces dismal test results time after time, day after day, week after week, regardless of indicated signal strength. Conversely, I know if I want to hit over 7 down and 1.5 or more up, all I have to do is at around 5am, go stand in a particular location, and connect to good ol' CID102. BAM!!!! It's like crack (not that I know anything about using crack but metaphorically speaking).
I will also take issue with the radio firmware not making a difference. I have only used the OTA radio. However, when my friendly and awesome dev updates my ROM, it provides me a different (unmatched) RIL. I can certainly tell the difference, based upon my characterizations over time. It''s like "Wow, WTF is wrong here? At this location at this tower at this time of day my speed should not suck like this". Sure enough, the RIL is for a Euro radio. Match up the RIL to good ol' 79HM again, let it warm a little, and all is well.
One thing you do not want to ask me about with all these tests and characterizations is my battery life. It sucks due to all the testing .
Just my 0.02.

somewhastock said:
I was using them to see if I created an issue when rooting. I dont need to know exact speeds, but wanted to see a general comparison. I was nervous when I saw the .0x speeds and thought I ruined the phone. Im talking panic mode. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries. I get crap speeds during the day, but if I go out into my backyard at 2:00am and test then you would think I was hard wired into a modem or something. A lot of variables to take into consideration.

Wolf_2 said:
No worries. I get crap speeds during the day, but if I go out into my backyard at 2:00am and test then you would think I was hard wired into a modem or something. A lot of variables to take into consideration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that there are so many variables so I would never question a 1 MB change, but to see that I was getting supposed .02Mbps most of the time was definitely concerning. I dont think anyone should have consistent .02 speeds with any variables other than a broken phone.
Im really happy that I narrowed it down to the app.

Out of curiosity, would you mind checking what radio and Ril you are using currently. Mike states with 5.1.x ROMs I strongly recommend flashing 12.54.60.25_26.09.04.11_M2 radio. The matching Ril would be HTC-RIL 2.2.0131HM. I am just curious to make sure what combination you have and to see if it actually flashed correctly.

No connectivity after trying new radios

Hi all,
Having a bit of a problem right now. I decided to take the jump and flash a custom ROM on my Thundebolt, and settled on GING3R3DTH3ORY V6.2 DKS Rom
In preparation for installing that I downloaded the new 627 radio. Went ahead and flashed it and then rebooted. After the phone launches I have no data or cell connectivity (I can connect to wifi for what that's worth).
Seeing problems I went ahead and tried the MR2.5 radio as well. Still no connectivity. Here are the pertinent entries in Software info:
Baseband Version: unknown
Build Number: 1.13.605.7 CL341545 release-keys
Software number: 1.13.605.7
PRI version: Not Ready
PRL version: Not Ready
ERI version: Not Ready
Running Adrenalyne's Control Freak 2.0 kernel (2.6.32.21)
Current ROM is rooted Stock.
I'd say perhaps it was a bad download, but two different kernels are having problems so I'm slightly concerned. MD5 of the downloaded file is correct.
Any help is appreciated!
Robert

I think 1.13.605.7 is the old radio. Where did you download the 627 MR2?

Was in the XDA thread for the ROM I'm planning to install:
[TH3ORYROM] [GB] GING3R3DTH3ORY V6.2 DreamKernel (DKS) [7/20/2011]
I went ahead and reflashed the radio from when I rooted the Stock ROM and it's working now. However, I'm at a quandry now and where I can get the updated radio from so I can flash the ROM.
Robert
jschecter said:
I think 1.13.605.7 is the old radio. Where did you download the 627 MR2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I tried the link you sent me and the radio download might be bad b/c the md5 is "undefined" for me. Anyway, try this MD5 f38d27c32875778c9b586761d328a455 This is the file I used.
Let me know if it works for you.
EDIT: Baseband should say 1.39.00.0627r, 0.01.69.0625r if you have installed the OTA MR2 correctly.

So do I need to install MR2 before MR2.5? If so, that would be an issue as I went directly from the basic one to 627r.
Robert
jschecter said:
I tried the link you sent me and the radio download might be bad b/c the md5 is "undefined" for me. Anyway, try this MD5 f38d27c32875778c9b586761d328a455 This is the file I used.
Let me know if it works for you.
EDIT: Baseband should say 1.39.00.0627r, 0.01.69.0625r if you have installed the OTA MR2 correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

So the naming is kinda funny and don't let that trick you. MR2.5 is actually older than this one i just gave you (MR2 627). My link is the most recent thing Verizon has put out.
Just in case you're wondering, here's the story. A radio was leaked to xda and ppl started calling it MR2. A few weeks later another leak came out and ppl called it MR2.5. Verizon or HTC rejected both of these and finally released an official radio version 627 that got sent to every thunderbolt. Now people are calling this 627 one the real MR2.

Thank you soooo much for explaining that. Yes, I was totally confused about what was what.
I'll give the one you linked to a try later when I get home.
Robert
jschecter said:
So the naming is kinda funny and don't let that trick you. MR2.5 is actually older than this one i just gave you (MR2 627). My link is the most recent thing Verizon has put out.
Just in case you're wondering, here's the story. A radio was leaked to xda and ppl started calling it MR2. A few weeks later another leak came out and ppl called it MR2.5. Verizon or HTC rejected both of these and finally released an official radio version 627 that got sent to every thunderbolt. Now people are calling this 627 one the real MR2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I just don't get it! It again returned me the unknown baseband and other notices just like the one I started the thread with using the file you sent me the link on.
MD5 checksum matched OK. I loaded it on my microSD card and named it the correct name. Powered phone off and then held vol down while powering back up.
It boots into the white HBOOT screen and gives me:
Parsing...[SD ZIP]
[1] MDM9K
[2]RADIO_VZ
Do you want to start update?
<VOL UP> Yes
<VOL DOWN> No
I select Yes and it starts the update, with a red progress bar along the upper right side while there's a pink Updating to the right of the items it is updating.
However, when the phone reboots there's no cell or data connection.
Sigh!!
Robert

Sounds like you put the radio on correctly. Have you already flashed the gingertheory rom in recovery?

I gave that a shot a little while ago. Looks like the rooted stock ROM couldn't handle the OTA radio as the Gingertheory gives me connectivity! STRANGENESS!! I actually ended up downloading the latest leaked radio by way of themikmik.com and Cingy51o, but I'm wondering now if the other stuff would've worked too.
Thanks for your help. Still playing around with the new ROM. Not sure I like the lock screen. May just flash to something else in a few days.
Robert
jschecter said:
Sounds like you put the radio on correctly. Have you already flashed the gingertheory rom in recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Glad everything worked out for you

Question
I have tried a couple Rom's since rooting my TB. Got stuck a couple times in a boot loop. Do not know what went went wrong, but all has been good ever since... EXCEPT my LTE is weak and sometimes only 3g, couple times 1x. My radio is current and I have gone back to what I understand to my noob knowledge ROOTED MR2. My phone reads-
Android 2.2.1
Base 1.39.00.067r, 0.01.69.0625r
Kernal 2.6.32.21-g060a3a [email protected] #1
Build 1.70.605.0 CL343953 release keys
Software 1.70.605.0
Im still having these issues with my signal. I have read many threads and I thought well I use my LTE for everything... but i just looked only 12gb used and my cycle ends in a few days.. This because of possible throttle by VZW????? I called and asked them to read me in their contract where I as a valued customer would be throttled due to excessive LTE usage. She kinda chuckled and said there is no section and we do not restrict our customers unlike our competitors. I then asked about any know issues with TB's calling in from PHX. NONE
I'm a noob, but I know enough to play and have fun. Now.... Could I have fried something when it got stuck in the boot loop. The boot loop with white HTC screen occurred after a bad rom install on my part. It did it again when messing with DAS MAF settings. I was only able to get it back and running by HBOOT rooted RUU. any insight would help. Don't yell at me for being a NOOB if this problem is in another thread.. THANK YOU ALL... I live to learn new things and with everyone one here being so involved with their passions is AWSOME.. I need neighbors like YOU!

Couple things. First, I'd suggest a new thread as your issue isn't the same as mine and will probably be missed by most people.
Regarding speeds, it might be any of several issues. First is environment. Are the local towers actually upgraded to LTE already? I am in Albany, which is deep in the heart of the LTE San Francisco Bay Area. However, they're having issues with the city in upgrading towers so I bounce between 4g, 3g and 1x when sitting in my bedroom, but a few houses away I get awesome solid 4g!
If your ROM has the option to set which frequency to use (LTE Only vs CDMA/LTE, CDMA Only) try switching to LTE Only.
Did you cook your phone? Probably not. Most phones are a LOT more robust than people think they are. Boot into Clockwork Mod Recovery and wipe cache andbDalvik Cache to see if that's helps.
Good Luck!!
Robert
KonellAZ said:
I have tried a couple Rom's since rooting my TB. Got stuck a couple times in a boot loop. Do not know what went went wrong, but all has been good ever since... EXCEPT my LTE is weak and sometimes only 3g, couple times 1x. My radio is current and I have gone back to what I understand to my noob knowledge ROOTED MR2. My phone reads-
Android 2.2.1
Base 1.39.00.067r, 0.01.69.0625r
Kernal 2.6.32.21-g060a3a [email protected] #1
Build 1.70.605.0 CL343953 release keys
Software 1.70.605.0
Im still having these issues with my signal. I have read many threads and I thought well I use my LTE for everything... but i just looked only 12gb used and my cycle ends in a few days.. This because of possible throttle by VZW????? I called and asked them to read me in their contract where I as a valued customer would be throttled due to excessive LTE usage. She kinda chuckled and said there is no section and we do not restrict our customers unlike our competitors. I then asked about any know issues with TB's calling in from PHX. NONE
I'm a noob, but I know enough to play and have fun. Now.... Could I have fried something when it got stuck in the boot loop. The boot loop with white HTC screen occurred after a bad rom install on my part. It did it again when messing with DAS MAF settings. I was only able to get it back and running by HBOOT rooted RUU. any insight would help. Don't yell at me for being a NOOB if this problem is in another thread.. THANK YOU ALL... I live to learn new things and with everyone one here being so involved with their passions is AWSOME.. I need neighbors like YOU!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

KonellAZ said:
I have tried a couple Rom's since rooting my TB. Got stuck a couple times in a boot loop. Do not know what went went wrong, but all has been good ever since... EXCEPT my LTE is weak and sometimes only 3g, couple times 1x. My radio is current and I have gone back to what I understand to my noob knowledge ROOTED MR2. My phone reads-
Android 2.2.1
Base 1.39.00.067r, 0.01.69.0625r
Kernal 2.6.32.21-g060a3a [email protected] #1
Build 1.70.605.0 CL343953 release keys
Software 1.70.605.0
Im still having these issues with my signal. I have read many threads and I thought well I use my LTE for everything... but i just looked only 12gb used and my cycle ends in a few days.. This because of possible throttle by VZW????? I called and asked them to read me in their contract where I as a valued customer would be throttled due to excessive LTE usage. She kinda chuckled and said there is no section and we do not restrict our customers unlike our competitors. I then asked about any know issues with TB's calling in from PHX. NONE
I'm a noob, but I know enough to play and have fun. Now.... Could I have fried something when it got stuck in the boot loop. The boot loop with white HTC screen occurred after a bad rom install on my part. It did it again when messing with DAS MAF settings. I was only able to get it back and running by HBOOT rooted RUU. any insight would help. Don't yell at me for being a NOOB if this problem is in another thread.. THANK YOU ALL... I live to learn new things and with everyone one here being so involved with their passions is AWSOME.. I need neighbors like YOU!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been having the same issue since rooting my TB. Were you able to find a fix?

Q: return to stock tmo branded for waranty repair?

I want to return to stock on my tmobile branded HTC sensation 4G. I have flashed the radio, eng s off, and CSL recovery.
I am going to give them a shot at fixing my reception issues before I destroy the phone and buy something else.

Did you have reception problems before flashing your radio or after? I think you should be fine with having a rom since HTC released their bootloader if its a big deal and your really worried just flash a stock rom on that bad boy and call it a day. Just my 2 cents new to the site so hopefully a vet will chime in here for help

Though I've never returned to stock on my phone, you just need to download one of the TMOUS RUUs in this thread:
[ROM][11 May] Shipped Pyramid ROM Collection
There are two listed for TMOUS (there was only one when last I checked the thread), but it supposedly doesn't matter which one you pick according to one of the posts later on in the thread.
They're big old files, but just run the .EXE and it ought to walk you through every necessary step to proceed properly.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

Thank you very much for the great responses.
Yes I had reception problems on all 3 sensation 4g's I've had my hands on. It's terrible. Side by side, on the same tower, it gets far lower reception than my old Motorola Cliq (piece of slow crap.)
It's ridiculously low and drops calls. It's so unreliable at my house that I have to use WiFi calling and take a drop if I get more than 30' from my extremely good wireless router. meh. crap.
To the other gentleman, than you very much. I figured it included the radio, but I was unsure about the bootloader/recovery. I will start there and then figure out if there is anything else I need to fix before I send it in. I don't want any more BS from them. I'm sure they are just going to send it back and say "nothing is wrong".
They have said that it is comparable to reception on their other models. If this is the case, this will be the VERY last HTC phone I ever own, and our company has just gotten to the point that I can invest in things such as this for business. If we only get 2 at a time, every 6 months or so, That is $10,000 in lost business in the next ten years, provided they are only $500 phones.

chisleu said:
Thank you very much for the great responses.
Yes I had reception problems on all 3 sensation 4g's I've had my hands on. It's terrible. Side by side, on the same tower, it gets far lower reception than my old Motorola Cliq (piece of slow crap.)
It's ridiculously low and drops calls. It's so unreliable at my house that I have to use WiFi calling and take a drop if I get more than 30' from my extremely good wireless router. meh. crap.
To the other gentleman, than you very much. I figured it included the radio, but I was unsure about the bootloader/recovery. I will start there and then figure out if there is anything else I need to fix before I send it in. I don't want any more BS from them. I'm sure they are just going to send it back and say "nothing is wrong".
They have said that it is comparable to reception on their other models. If this is the case, this will be the VERY last HTC phone I ever own, and our company has just gotten to the point that I can invest in things such as this for business. If we only get 2 at a time, every 6 months or so, That is $10,000 in lost business in the next ten years, provided they are only $500 phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion and ask a few questions....
1. Have you tried reverting to stock and see if you still have the same problems with reception?
2. Are you aware that the Sensation suffers from the grip of death?
3. Have you noticed performance with reception after flashing a new ROM in comparison to stock?
I think I may have some insight to the real problem but need this info first.

mystikal87 said:
If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion and ask a few questions....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best 3 Stooges voice: "Sauwtainly"
mystikal87 said:
1. Have you tried reverting to stock and see if you still have the same problems with reception?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, They (3 different phones) had this problem from day 1. Purchased from different places, at different times.
mystikal87 said:
2. Are you aware that the Sensation suffers from the grip of death?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but this isn't to what I refer. Holding the phone in a weird way to make the radios D/C isn't my problem so much as the design that allows this to happen in the first place is my problem. If I set the phone down, I get more bars than if I hold it normally. If this is the difference between 2-3 and 1-2, I can get dropped calls. My wifi range (max performance on) is 1/10th of my tablet and 1/20th of my laptop.
Even without touching the phone, just setting it on a wood counter top, it has less reception than my Motorola Cliq or Mytouch 4g, even when on the same tower. The cliq's reception does not change if I pick it up.
It's a bad design. If it is what HTC considers acceptable, then their phones aren't acceptable to me. It's cool. I'm not really that pissed about it. I just won't buy another. There are options.
mystikal87 said:
3. Have you noticed performance with reception after flashing a new ROM in comparison to stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I've found no increase in reception with any change I've made. I've flashed 5 different radios other than stock with no changes in this department.
I have heard people have speed changes, but I was not tracking that so I can't really respond to that.
mystikal87 said:
I think I may have some insight to the real problem but need this info first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you have some help.
I've already tried a new back. It did nothing. There simply aren't enough towers in my area (all edge towers anyway) to support a phone with such poor reception. My Cliq had no issues with dropped calls in many of the areas I drive through, but this sensation just can't make it down my parents road without dropping.

The reason I ask is that I think that the Radio-Interface-Layer (RIL) files must be screwing with your radio. The RILs are like drivers for your radio. Different radios work with different RILs depending on your location. Long-in-short-version, Since the Sensation is fairly new, we are still exploring what works best and therefore your mileage may vary.
You may want to check this thread
And check out your RIL version. To check to see what RIL you have run getprop "gsm.version.ril-impl" in Terminal Emulator or adb shell and it will print out the RIL version.
T-Mo users should utilize HTC-RIL 2.2.0159HMQ if not running 2.3.4 ROMS
2.3.4 ROMS require HTC-RIL 2.2.0169HMQ. The matching radio versions are included in the thread posted above.
Hope this helps.
If that fails, tonight, TMOUS released an OTA update. See if you can get it through Settings-> About Phone -> HTC Software updates.
The changes for the T-Mo update can be found here
Hope this helps!
EDIT : I am assuming that you have a T-Mobile Sensation 4G and not an unbranded HTC Sensation and that you current location is in fact Myrtle Beach, SC. But then again, I hate assumptions and I really should have asked >.< **having a simpson 'doh' moment here**

Change your cid to all ones and flash the stock ruu.exe and send it back to tmobile.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App

charlieb620 said:
Change your cid to all ones and flash the stock ruu.exe and send it back to tmobile.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sending it to HTC, not tmobile.
I will play with the MILs right now (installing the tmo one)
I'm on stock RUU now, but it did not replace the PVT S-OFF and recovery crashes and requires a battery pull to reboot. It goes to a icon of a phone with a red triangle thingie on it.
EDIT: MIL's match.
EDIT: Texts from 10076200000 is tmobile related. WTF it does is WTF.

chisleu said:
I'm sending it to HTC, not tmobile.
I will play with the MILs right now (installing the tmo one)
I'm on stock RUU now, but it did not replace the PVT S-OFF and recovery crashes and requires a battery pull to reboot. It goes to a icon of a phone with a red triangle thingie on it.
EDIT: MIL's match.
EDIT: Texts from 10076200000 is tmobile related. WTF it does is WTF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be trying to push the OTA update. Have you tried applying the OTA update?

iNFORMATION
I have personally reset my phone a couple of times using the tmo ruu and know that it sets your phone back to absolute stock, with no root and only being s-off. What this means is, if you wish to reroot then you are going to have to go back through the rooting process.
As far as the symbol that you are seeing when you try to do an ota update? The reason that you are seeing the phone with a red triangle is because your phone is being recognized as being rooted and once rooted htc will not allow an ota to your phone. You have to trick HTC into thinking that the phone is not rooted in order to get the ota, there is a thread in the forums for this. I do not remember which thread it is, however, I know that it works as I did it for all four of the HTC sensations that I own.

A Little Lost - Help? Root/Unlock Status

Hi,
Sorry I've been away for a few weeks. I used to follow these threads like a hawk but I just got too busy with a huge dev project that ate my life like they can sometimes do... I read through threads about rooting 1.85 and unlocking...But I'm just confused. Sorry if this is redundant but...
I'm currently on 1.74 (if I'm reading that right, 1.73.502.1 710RD ... oddly enough I tried to update but it didn't let me... assuming that annoying message I kept declining for days was the 1.85 update).
Now I could go to check for updates again but I'm not. I figured I better ask around and see what the best course of action is.
I rooted a while ago when it was first available. So I have root.
So that's where I'm at. Now, my question is what's the best course of action?
Am I not able to update OTA to 1.85? Because I already rooted?
If I can check for updates and get the update, will it remove my root?
The last post in the 1.85 root thread says that they may have fixed their servers to avoid rooting 1.85??
Can I just now unlock my phone and flash ROMs? and not worry about carrier updates?
Is there anything I'm missing with the 1.85 update? That I couldn't get elsewhere?
I may or may not flash a ROM. I just don't want to be prevented from doing so if I want. HTC's Sense is not crashing like it used to, so I have no major need to flash a ROM yet... Improved performance would be the only reason. Maybe some development reasons as well.
Opinions?
Thanks much. I appreciate the help.

crap this isnt under general is it...

tom_m said:
crap this isnt under general is it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha no it's not. Also, it should be under Q&A.
You can go ahead and unlock and flash a custom rom. There's no need to get the OTA (which would most likely make you go through the rooting process again). Since your'e already rooted pre-1.85 you can flash a rom and guarantee that you'll retain your root status.

:laugh: Suffer the wrath of trolls.
Nah, I would download the 1.85 firmware update RUU [ran from your computer to install instead of OTA] and root [SOON] or root / unlock bootloader / install custom recovery then flash a new rom. First idea for a rom would be CleanROM. If all you want is root status, I would start there because It gives you basically a clean slate with bloatware removed and some minor tweaks I believe. Otherwise you could use CM9 or one of the few other roms that you may like. Personally I get the best performance out of KingCobra's rom. So idk :b

Gotta add my two sense for unlock and flashing Sick Sense. Very smooth.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Thanks guys, sorry again for misplacing this post.
I think I might browse the ROMs then. I didn't realize there were already so many options. I thought the 1.85 update may improve my issues with the signal being lost...I have to turn on airplane mode and off again to reconnect to their network despite the 4G (and sometimes LTE) icons showing up the whole time...But I'm just thinking I'm unfortunate in that my apartment has poor signal. Though my wife's iPhone works just fine...Oh well.
Thanks again. Time to check out some ROMs. I definitely don't want to grab some update and get locked out of it all.

my vote goes to scott standard clean rom! it has eqs, and a couple other little tweaks, that way u can add whatever u want!

tom_m said:
Thanks guys, sorry again for misplacing this post.
I think I might browse the ROMs then. I didn't realize there were already so many options. I thought the 1.85 update may improve my issues with the signal being lost...I have to turn on airplane mode and off again to reconnect to their network despite the 4G (and sometimes LTE) icons showing up the whole time...But I'm just thinking I'm unfortunate in that my apartment has poor signal. Though my wife's iPhone works just fine...Oh well.
Thanks again. Time to check out some ROMs. I definitely don't want to grab some update and get locked out of it all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had the same issues with data and have had my phone swapped twice because of it and the 1.85 update nor any of the other radios has made any difference so I would just unlock the bootloader, flash a custom recovery and then rom of choice.

tom_m said:
Thanks guys, sorry again for misplacing this post.
I think I might browse the ROMs then. I didn't realize there were already so many options. I thought the 1.85 update may improve my issues with the signal being lost...I have to turn on airplane mode and off again to reconnect to their network despite the 4G (and sometimes LTE) icons showing up the whole time...But I'm just thinking I'm unfortunate in that my apartment has poor signal. Though my wife's iPhone works just fine...Oh well.
Thanks again. Time to check out some ROMs. I definitely don't want to grab some update and get locked out of it all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a new radio that should fix that stuff. Lemme find it. Here ya go. the latest ATT at the bottom. ATT 2.09 (0.17a.32.09.24_2_10.91.32.19L http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1694012
This should help wifi and mobile data. I also replaced a phone because of the mobile data issues. New phone did it also. Once i installed 1.88 ruu it was all fixed. You dont have to install the ruu now. Just pick your favorite custom rom and then flash this radio. The radio from 1.88 fixes it also but its from an asia ruu,. This new ATT radio is promising, i'd go with that.. Thank Designgears for that leak
Clean rom is good. Sick Sense as well as King Cobra. I'm rockin the new king cobra 1.2 and its pretty amazing. Any of these roms will be much much much better than stock. Tons of great mods, Speed and stability is great with all of them. You will think your CPU speed doubled..No lies! Install Titanium Backup (purchase it) and back up all of your apps. If you get the paid version, you can restore them all to your new rom 1 touch. The free version you have to do each app 1 at a time.
Edit. Of course you are rooted. But did you unlock the BL through HTC Dev also? If you mentioned it i must have missed it. If not you need to do that first.

nugzo said:
There is a new radio that should fix that stuff. Lemme find it. Here ya go. the latest ATT at the bottom. ATT 2.09 (0.17a.32.09.24_2_10.91.32.19L http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1694012
This should help wifi and mobile data. I also replaced a phone because of the mobile data issues. New phone did it also. Once i installed 1.88 ruu it was all fixed. You dont have to install the ruu now. Just pick your favorite custom rom and then flash this radio. The radio from 1.88 fixes it also but its from an asia ruu,. This new ATT radio is promising, i'd go with that.. Thank Designgears for that leak
Clean rom is good. Sick Sense as well as King Cobra. I'm rockin the new king cobra 1.2 and its pretty amazing. Any of these roms will be much much much better than stock. Tons of great mods, Speed and stability is great with all of them. You will think your CPU speed doubled..No lies! Install Titanium Backup (purchase it) and back up all of your apps. If you get the paid version, you can restore them all to your new rom 1 touch. The free version you have to do each app 1 at a time.
Edit. Of course you are rooted. But did you unlock the BL through HTC Dev also? If you mentioned it i must have missed it. If not you need to do that first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have data issues even with the leaked radios.

Tiffany84 said:
I still have data issues even with the leaked radios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of issues? :crying: the same as before? they completely went away for me.:fingers-crossed: Have you seen anybody else still having issues with 1.88 or newer? Maybe you actually have bad hardware..coincidences happen.. I'd swap again if the new radios are working for most others. You paid to much for that phone for it to be poopoo.

nugzo said:
What kind of issues? :crying: the same as before? they completely went away for me.:fingers-crossed: Have you seen anybody else still having issues with 1.88 or newer? Maybe you actually have bad hardware..coincidences happen.. I'd swap again if the new radios are working for most others. You paid to much for that phone for it to be poopoo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I've swapped it 3 times now. The first one I do not remember having that problem. Not saying it didn't but I can't remember. I returned it due to random reboots. Other than that the 1st one was flawless. Ever since then the phones I've received and have swapped have an issue where if I got into work where I have a hard time getting a signal the phone doesn't automatically re-connect when I go outside and have great signal. Even though it shows I have 4g and full bars if you look in the settings menu at mobile network it says turning on instead of connected and the only way to be able to make or receive phone calls or text messages is either toggle airplane mode or reboot the phone. Problem now is I'm past my thirty days so it would probably have to be done threw the warranty and not an in store swap.

[Q] Please help a newb understand and possible fix my 4g.. long journey

Okay lets start from the beginning.... about a year ago I switched to Verizon ONLY so that I can get 4g as they have the best 4g in my area. (Detroit). I loved it at first...smoking hot 4g almost everywhere I went. When my home internet went out I could tether to my phone... life was good. Sometimes when entering a building I would drop to 3g but my desk and PC are by a picture window so I always had 4g to tether with.
Then came that update a couple months ago.. don't remember the update number but it was the one that was pulled. Every since then I can only get 4g when I am in a prime area outdoors near a tower. This makes the phone almost worthless to me because I use it to play an online game and surf the internet at work, not to mention I no longer have a backup connection for my PC... without 4G I might as well be using a cheap flip phone. I have 3 S3's on my account and they all show this same behavior change.
I have tried changing the sim card.. flashing many different radios and am currently running Jelly Beans build 15 ROM to see if a different ROM might help. (I am rooted and unlocked) So far nothing has helped.. I have also tried having my SIM reprovisioned.
I ran across this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1530203 in the HTC forums discussing hardware antenna mods and even some success claimed and was wondering if anybody has experimented with this with the S3??? I have already had the phone apart looking for ideas but I am afraid this is out of my league without some assistance.
Also while sitting in the house I still get good reception based on DBM, currently at 82 as I type this with only a 3G signal and even drops to 1x on occasion, So what is the deal with being able to get 4g outdoors with a lesser signal while only 3G while indoors?? Toggling airplane mode and other tricks I have tried will not get me 4g indoors.
Now... if it came down to it can I give my current phones a try on AT&T to see if that helps anything? Also does anybody remember what radio firmware we where on before the OTA of death?? I may have missed a radio or two in my testing,
Any advice, opinions, suggestions... any input is appreciated. I am somewhat OCD so I will not rest until I resolve this issue or switch carriers.
Thanks in advance.

OK I don't know if I missed it but do you have a custom recovery ? If so flash a different radio and see which does your phone like . invisiblek has all in one packages that are easily flashable . charge your phone and don't interrupt the process . try md3 radio .

jmichaels1982 said:
OK I don't know if I missed it but do you have a custom recovery ? If so flash a different radio and see which does your phone like . invisiblek has all in one packages that are easily flashable . charge your phone and don't interrupt the process . try md3 radio .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been down the list and installed them all last night... took me hours because I wanted to test each radio for a few min before trying the next. Just got off the phone with verizon and samsung 3 way call, samsung will repair the phones if I send them in, but I would be without phones for about 2 weeks,,, damn.
Update.. don't know if it will help but I filed an FCC complaint. Don't know how well it will work but Sprint bent over backwards over FCC complaints.

Which firmware package are you using. Mf1 was the one sent out to fix md3 or whatever that botched one was. Mb1 was the one before that I think. Just flash the mb1 firmware. You can also flash the mf1 firmware. Filing a FCC complaint is a bit extreme for something you can fix by flashing a new firmware package.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium

bbqsfire said:
Which firmware package are you using. Mf1 was the one sent out to fix md3 or whatever that botched one was. Mb1 was the one before that I think. Just flash the mb1 firmware. You can also flash the mf1 firmware. Filing a FCC complaint is a bit extreme for something you can fix by flashing a new firmware package.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am currently using MB1 along with the associated rpms on the jelly beans rom. MF1 never solved anything for me, except reduce the overheating and battery life a little. All 3 of my phones are pretty much garbage now. From what I am hearing the bad update put some phones in a non repairable status.
A possibly unrelated issue is that my phones seem to be a different version than most.... I have watched many S3 teardown videos... and in every one a small screw was used to hold the sim card/sd card slot into place. My phone has no such screw nor a place to put one... the assembly just snaps into place and is held in by the surrounding hardware. I think I may have a very early release of the phones.. all 3 are 32 gig models and from what I understand they didn't sell very well on verizon, last time I checked they had quit even listing the 32 gig option.
I have tried to exhaust all options before complaining to the FCC. One thing I would like to play with some more is APN values but have had very little luck because it always reverts back to the same APN and if I try to force anything I get no data at all.
I am also willing to void the warranty one one phone by trying internal antenna mods but I cant do this alone and there seems to be nobody here that has tried it . At the very least the wifi antenna looks easy to mod... just spiral some copper wire around it and spay it with some kind of non conductive coating should help a little. and that ridiculous thermal pad to keep the cpu cool should be trashed and replaced with copper shims and quality thermal paste.
While there is not a lot of room inside for modding I think we could make some small changes that will help.
With the lack of phone hardware modding support on cell phones in general I will probably jump ship to a S4 since it comes in a 32 gig flavor..and I intend on trying an AT&T sim in the phone to see how it performs there.
My wifes phone that has never been modded/rooted/unlock and is on the latest update is much worse than mine... she is stuck in 1x mode most of the time and cant even download her voicemail without a long struggle.
We are in a prime LTE area so there is no excuse for this.

My Mf1 firmware actually gave me more bars and a faster connection. That is to bad it messed up your lte.
Sent from my GT-P5113 using xda premium