Satellites a function of Radio?

[over2land]

I just noticed my Tom Tom only tracks 8 satellites anymore, and I read somewhere else that a guy thought that the number of satellites the phone tracks is a function of what radio you are running.
ie: the newer radios don't track 12 satellites anymore.

Why do I care? Well, I've found that I can't get a fix as well in low-signal areas as I used to be able to.

I'm running Radio 1.79.09.01.

[Flying Kiwi]

I just noticed my Tom Tom only tracks 8 satellites anymore, and I read somewhere else that a guy thought that the number of satellites the phone tracks is a function of what radio you are running.
ie: the newer radios don't track 12 satellites anymore.

Why do I care? Well, I've found that I can't get a fix as well in low-signal areas as I used to be able to.

I'm running Radio 1.79.09.01.Where'd you get that radio from, the latest I've seen are 1.70.xx.xx and the 1.71 eMO radio? It seems as if over time HTC has reduced the power supplied to the GPS circuitry with newer radios. In many locations (such as where I live) this is false economy because then the GPS has to work overtime to actually get a lock and maintain it, often with sluggish/intermittent results. I think their intention was to extend battery life but it's a bit like saying we'll introduce a fuel flow limiting valve onto a car to improve economy. It may work OK in ideal situations such as on the flat but give it a hard work scenario like a hill (or areas of the planet with lower overhead Navstar satellite density) and it just falls apart not getting enough fuel (or in this case power) to do it's work properly. I've tried 1.71 and 1.70 series radios with HTC original WWE WM 6.1 ROMs and found the GPS performance poor compared to the 1.27.12.32 version I currently use on my WM 6.0 ROM. Unfortunately this radio won't work with a WM 6.1 ROM so you have a choice to make.

[over2land]

My bad, that was a typo... I'm running 1.71.09.01 for a radio.

Thanks for the info. I've been thinking all along that they have been dialing back on actual talking capabilities of the radio in favor of internet/data capabilities. I remember my phone holding a call much better when I got it than it does now. That is, I drive a lot and I'm on the phone a lot, and this phone drops calls all over the place where it didn't used to.

Its come to the point that I use my MPx for important phone calls while on the road, because it doesn't drop nearly as much as the Kaiser does, and it gets better signal for longer in remote areas. Kinda sad that a 5-year old phone is a better phone than what we've got now.

Anyone have any other info on the changes in radios as it effects satellite, data, and phone reception? Obviously I started this mainly about the satellite reception, but now I'm curious.

[Flying Kiwi]

My bad, that was a typo... I'm running 1.71.09.01 for a radio.And there I was thinking you have a secret underground radio development lab all of your own;)

Thanks for the info. I've been thinking all along that they have been dialing back on actual talking capabilities of the radio in favor of internet/data capabilities.Glad that my points have been helpful although I've gotta say my experience doesn't substantiate your claims regarding voice call reliability - it only relates to GPS performance changes. It wouldn't surprise me if they'd cut back on general radio transmission power because that seemed their intention as far as GPS was concerned. It's really not something I can comment on as voice calls/reception was acceptable for me with the WM 6.1 ROMs as well as my current WM 6.0 setup.

[over2land]

I wish I had my own underground radio lab! I'd crank up GPS, voice, and data, battery be damned.

I hear ya on the GPS stuff... I went searching and didn't find anyone else asking the same kind of questions though.