The quest for the best Radio for T-Mobile UK

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Hello everyone,

I'm starting this thread following my replacement of the standard radio (1.02.25.19) that comes with the UK Touch Pro with the Cingular Rom (1.02.25.31), thanks to MrVanx for the suggestion and to Olinex for the great HardSPL 1.90 (all these in Raphael Wiki here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=419746, except MrVanx of course).

EDIT: By the way, if you're new to this radio game, replacing the radio only DOESN'T erase your memory (as long as it's extracted of course, and despite what updateRUU will tell you), so you can go back and forth very easily, no fastidious reinstall needed.

Following some questions by Athanaso77 in the HardSPL thread, I thought we could share our experiences here about the different radios we try, give feedback and try to see if problems / improvements are general or specific to each phone.

MrVanx has started a more general thread somewhere for feedback about different ROMs/Radios/Protocols (link needed!), so if you're not specifically interested in finding the ultimate T-Mobile UK radio, please post there!

As most (EDIT:many) T-Mobile UK users, I've experienced dropped calls when on 3G and not so good reception in 2G/3G (at least compared to my Vario III/Tytn II), which has prompted the quest [EDIT: along with bad Wifi performance)...

I haven't been able to fully test the 1.02.25.31 radio yet, but here are my first impressions:

- Slightly improved 2G/3G reception
- Not tested yet the dropped calls issue
- Slightly degraded data speed (around 10%) but not sure yet
- Had a problem initially with GPS fix (became longer with TT7) and I'm still testing this. I initially got better results by setting the GPS to Other NMEA GPS, 56700bps, COM4, but it's not consitent so I'm not happy yet.

For those (like Athenaso77) who want to play with the GPS settings in TT7:
from your main TT7 screen, click on the GPS signal strength on the lower right corner, then on the signal strength again on the right (below battery), then configure. You can chose Internal GPS, Other BT GPS or Other NMEA GPS (all three should work and can affect the strength of the signal/lag issue/time needed to get a fix). When asked for speed, select 4800 (default) or 57600. When asked for Com Port, always select COM4 (these should be the default settings in the External GPS app in EDIT:settings/system/external GPS), you can have a look there but don't m*** up with the parameters there, it's the shortest way to a hard reset!).

Please don't ask generic questions about TT7 in this thread (there are plenty on this subject), unless it's related to the performance of the GPS with a new/different Radio.

I'll post a more detailed report in a little while after more testing.

Please let us know about your specific experience. Also before any feedback/question, please give your radio number at the time, as your signature may change....

PS: Any suggestions to make this thread more useful are welcome!

To be honest I am still using the radio that my device was supplied with (1.02.25.19) because I haven't had any problems. Nearly always got H in my bar where ever I go in my local area (bearing in mind I live in the bottom of a valley), only had one or two dropped calls at the most in the month I have been using it, GPS works fine for me, always get a lock quickly and never noticed lag that is out of the ordinary (even going at questionable speeds on the motorway )

It may just be that I am in a great signal area (North Kent btw, if your interested) but I am more than happy with the radio in my phone!

EDIT: It may also be pertinant for people to oost what ROM they are using, as it could be a combination of ROM and Radio that produce a good result! Mine is currently DCSTouchPro-v13 WWE

Great to hear that at least it worked out of the box for you!

As I said, I'm comparing with my Tytn II/Vario III (same area, Salisbury/Wiltshire).

Although the 3G signal was good (not as good as my Vario III), I missed 2 or 3 calls the first day so promptly switched to forced 2G.

The Wifi reception (is it the Touch Pro or the shipped ROM, I don't know) was appalling with the initial ROM, which is also what prompted my quest for a better radio, as I hope the TP can do better than that!

I compared it with my Vario III (before I sold it!) in real time, and I couldn't connect in some rooms where the Vario III had always been absolutely fine (and still was until its last day).

Haven't tested Wifi coverage with the new radio yet, but I will report....

Only have a long fix problem with TT7 since I changed the radio. Not tested the lag yet to see if it's still there, but I think this is more a TT7 software issue as I believe it's fine with TT6 (although not tested on the TP yet).

Out of interest as as everything seems to work for you with stock radio
1) which version of TT7 are you using (I'm using Black VGA repack 3)
2) what are your GPS parameters (in TT7 and in the External GPS app)?
3) do you use QuickGPS or not?
4) are you happy with wifi cover/signal strength and stability?

It may help us less lucky people to improve our experience...

Originally Posted by Manni01

Great to hear that at least it worked out of the box for you!

As I said, I'm comparing with my Tytn II/Vario III (same area, Salisbury/Wiltshire).

Although the 3G signal was good (not as good as my Vario III, I missed 2 or 3 calls the first day so promptly switched to forced 2G).

The Wifi reception (is it the Touch Pro or the shipped ROM, I don't know) was appalling with the initial ROM, which is also what prompted my quest for a better radio, as I hope the TP can do better than that!

I compared it with my Vario III (before I sold it!) in real time, and I couldn't connect in some rooms where the Vario III had always been absolutely fine (and still was until its last day).

Haven't tested Wifi coverage with the new radio yet, but I will report....

Only have a long fix problem with TT7 since I changed the radio. Not tested the lag yet to see if it's still there, but I think this is more a TT7 software issue as I believe it's fine with TT6 (although not tested on the TP yet).

Out of interest as as everything seems to work for you with stock radio
1) which version of TT7 are you using (I'm using Black VGA repack 3)
2) what are your GPS parameters (in TT7 and in the External GPS app)?
3) do you use QuickGPS or not?
4) are you happy with wifi cover/signal strength and stability?

It may help us less lucky people to improve our experience...

I do use QuickGPS and I have made sure A_GPS is turned on (by default it was disabled), but I haven't been able to try TT7 yet because I haven't got any maps! iGO8 seams to work fine but the only real testing I did was with google maps, just making sure I kept up, and I let it auto detect the settings.

As for WiFi I don't really use it extensivly, as my office doen't have it and if I am at home I just use my computer but it seamed to be quick enough. I did use it in a pub for a good hour (checking film times, restraurants in the area, general browsing stuff really) and it never dropped out on me, although it did slow down on occasion.

As for dropped calls (i.e straight to answermachine) I can honestly say I haven't had any, the first couple of weeks I still had my old contract running so only 3 people had the new number, so I would have known if someone had
tried to contact me and been unable to. According to T-Mobile I am in the highest level of coverage so maybe I am just lucky in that respect. Like I say it could also be a combination of the ROM, DCS's stuff is very quick and I am very impressed with it

This makes more sense then. The GPS Fix / Lag is only an issue with TT7 on the TP. Google Maps fixes in about 10s (and can be used to improve your fix with TT7) but I'm trying to improve TT7 native response.

The Wifi is specifically a COVERAGE issue. If you're next to the router, or away with no walls, no problems. But I used to be able to get a good signal with my Vario III one or two floors down (I stream TV on my Touch Pro with my Slingbox Pro), and I'm really struggling with the TP (doesn't connect, or loses the connection constantly). I'm not telling you in which room I'm using it most but it's really annoying to suffer such lack of performance compared to the Vario III. Again, this was tested with same router, and simultaneously with Vario III, so I know it's a TP issue.

I may give a new ROM a try once I've decided on the radio...

Originally Posted by Manni01

This makes more sense then. The GPS Fix / Lag is only an issue with TT7 on the TP. Google Maps fixes in about 10s (and can be used to improve your fix with TT7) but I'm trying to improve TT7 native response.

The Wifi is specifically a COVERAGE issue. If you're next to the router, or away with no walls, no problems. But I used to be able to get a good signal with my Vario III one or two floors down (I stream TV on my Touch Pro with my Slingbox Pro), and I'm really struggling with the TP (doesn't connect, or loses the connection constantly). I'm not telling you in which room I'm using it most but it's really annoying to suffer such lack of performance compared to the Vario III. Again, this was tested with same router, and simultaneously with Vario III, so I know it's a TP issue.

I may give a new ROM a try once I've decided on the radio...

Fair enough, I thought it was a general GPS issue as opposed to a program specific issue. As for wi-fi I was in the pu so I have no idea where the signal was broadcast from, athough I can say it was a traditional building with incredably thick stone walls by todays standars, so even one room over would have had an effect.

Good luck with your search, if I ever take the plunge for the TT7 maps I will let you knwo how I get on!

Okay, I've done more tests, and here are my first conclusions for1.02.25.31 with stock WWE ROM:

- 3G dropped calls doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, although I need more time - more calls! - to see if it's definitely gone (I usually have 3/4 bars in 3G, and almost all 3G calls were dropped with stock radio).
- 3G data seems to be 10% slower than with stock, but that could be T-mob's mood
- Wifi seems definitely more stable. I used to have trouble connection right next to the router, the new radio is rock stable. From further away (weak signal like 1/2 wifi bars, router in loft , TP in ground floor), it also seems to connect more easily and keep the connecting for longer, where stock used to lose connection every few seconds. It doesn't displays more bars by the way, it's just more stable in borderline locations.
- I have setup my GPS for 4800bps/COM4 in both TomTom and in the external GPS app in settings/system, using "other NMEA GPS" in TT7, and with A-GPS switched on (using Schapps ACT) I get a hot fix in 10-30s consistently, which is good enough for me. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out about a cold fix!

So all in all, quite happy with the new radio, which is for me a definite improvement over stock. Now I need to check if the lag in TT7 is still there...

well, I think I'll go for it. I haven't so much had an issue with dropped calls....it's being able to receive the calls in the first place!!.

I also wonder if this will address the data connection issue I've had (push email works fine 90% of the time, if I try to collect my pop mail it connects immediately, but no internet until I do a soft reset.!!)

are there some simple instructions in the wiki about doing the Radio upgrade from the SD card?

Re the data connection, did you uncheck the proxy in your t-mobile connection settings? I had a problem with exchange initially, which was related to a wrong proxy being used by default.

yup..the proxy is unchecked.

it just seems odd that I can't connect to the internet using GPRS etc, but if I connect to my pop3 account ot check email..it works imediately....back to internet explorer...no connection. yet push email works fine too.

surely if my pop3 email connction works when required, and push email works, then connecting to the web via IE should work too??...but no...sometimes it will, sometimes it wont.