Any way to unlock the 5GHz WiFi band for US-version?

[woody1]

Sorry to be asking the obvious, but does my tablet need to be rooted to make these changes with Root Explorer? Thanks!

Yes, it has to be rooted.

 

[mscott.md]

Without being rooted one probably can't even see the file to edit.

Sent from my BTV-W09 using XDA Labs

 

[Windows_Washer]

Without being rooted one probably can't even see the file to edit.

Sent from my BTV-W09 using XDA Labs

Hi All -
Long time lurker. You guys have helped me figure out things many times but never posted anything. Finally sick of fighting with old junk tablets and just purchased BTV-W09.
First thing I found was a post on Amazon that you didn't have to root to get 5G but, don't quite see what poster was hinting (Step 3?).
Anyway, Why do you have to root? It seems to me that a script could make modification?
This is where the Amazon poster pointed:
<ministryofsolutions tutorial>
Last thing I want to do is brick a tablet I received yesterday, 128 memory card coming today and the thought of getting 5G has captured my attention.
Thanks

 

[TehPsychedelic]

Anyway, Why do you have to root? It seems to me that a script could make modification?

Without root you're basically on iOS mode with extra access to "media" folders and such. You don't have access (read or write) to system folders, like the one required here.

This is where the Amazon poster pointed:
<ministryofsolutions tutorial>

I checked that site, seems to be nothing but how to root tutorials and whatnot. Nothing about magic 5 Ghz without root.
But since the guy's tutorial is cleaner than the mess on this forum regarding unlocking bootloader I will give it a go today (what I mean is at least the guy's link to Huawei's request code site is the right one, the one on XDA redirects to a 404).

 

[Windows_Washer]

I checked that site, seems to be nothing but how to root tutorials and whatnot. Nothing about magic 5 Ghz without root.
But since the guy's tutorial is cleaner than the mess on this forum regarding unlocking bootloader I will give it a go today (what I mean is at least the guy's link to Huawei's request code site is the right one, the one on XDA redirects to a 404).

On Amazon he wrote:
TIPS
- 5 GHz WiFi can be enabled by rooting the tablet (which I didn't want to do). Instructions can be found on xda-developers forums (Google it)
- You can upgrade to Android Nougat 7.0 quite easily by following the instructions found on MinistryOfSolutions (I'm unable to paste the link here -- Amazon restriction). Google for the search term: "ministryofsolutions huawei btv-w09 mediapad m3 nougat". Only "Installation Method 3" (which does not require Root) worked for me. Note: for your reference, the USA model I received is "BTV-W09".
- 5 GHz WiFi was enabled during Step 1 of 2 (Firmware Upgrade) of when I upgraded to Android 7.0 Nougat, confirming with 100% certainty that the tablet is capable of it. After finishing Step 2 of 2 (Data Upgrade), however, it lost support for it. Again, probably of FCC licensing restrictions. So you know, the tablet worked perfectly fine after the 1st step (Firmware upgrade) (which also enabled 5 GHz WiFi). However, I went ahead with the 2nd step to ensure I got EVERYTHING upgraded.

Update: I think I confused the upgrade with the wifi - It helps to be awake...

 

[elcidroyale]

God I almost gave up on this tablet. Bricked two of them just because I wanted 5ghz but in the end didn't want to root.

In any case, the easiest way to get 5ghz and stay on stock was to install an EU firmware as EU has 5ghz available to them. I found some downgrade to MM method online that had EU firmware files.

Now stuck on MM trying to get to Nougat.

Sent from my BTV-W09 using Tapatalk

 

[sam10000]

God I almost gave up on this tablet. Bricked two of them just because I wanted 5ghz but in the end didn't want to root.

In any case, the easiest way to get 5ghz and stay on stock was to install an EU firmware as EU has 5ghz available to them. I found some downgrade to MM method online that had EU firmware files.

Now stuck on MM trying to get to Nougat.

Sent from my BTV-W09 using Tapatalk

Hi

Any luck with getting back 5 GHz with a European ROM, without rooting?

Is there a EU ROM zip available for download and which the US BTV-W09 can flash with?

Please let us know.

Thanks.

---------- Post added at 06:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 AM ----------

To have the 5ghz WiFi band you have to install the European version BTV-W09C100xxxx.My tabblet is from USA bought in amazon and the 5ghz WiFi band works.But only after installing the European version.

Did you put the unzipped European Nougat firmware (a dload folder) in a micro SD card and flash it?

Thanks.

 

[elcidroyale]

. I already said with the EU rom, I have 5ghz.easy peasy. Just take the .update and out in root of sd or phone. Problem now is wifi slows to a crawl when connection to Bluetooth. I'm so sick of these problems with this tablet!

Sent from my Self

 

[rnb123]

Ok, I found it. For anybody else who's looking, here's what seems to work:

File location: /cust_spec/(version)/special_cust/BTV-W09/ hw/usa/vendor/etc/cfg_btv_hisi.ini
Search within the file for the section after#wifi call params
Change 'band_5g_enable=0 ' to 'band_5g_enable=1'

Reboot and it should stick.

I used Solid Explorer and the SE Explorer file editor. Of course, you have to be rooted to do this.

I think the file in the previous version had a different name, but I'm not sure. It might have been: /cust_spec/system/etc/cfg_btv_wifi_only_hisi.ini

Thanks for your post, woody.

Well, I certainly hope someone can help me out because I am exhausted from working on this device. I guess the good news is that I am almost to the finish line on this but I have fallen flat on my face a step away from the finish line, haha, and I am sure it is something so simple and dumb that I am missing.

So I am all rooted and have a US-wifi only version (purchased from Amazon) and am running B353, but when I try to save my edit of this file to change 'band_5g_enable=0 ' to 'band_5g_enable=1', I am not able to and I have tried Total Commander Editor, ES File Explorer, and fx TextEdit (and installed the root add on for fx File Explorer). Also, I have granted super user permissions to the apps. Total Commander gives the most info about the error so when I go to save, it says...

"Re-mount drive?
Re-mount as read/write: /version/
Command: mount -o rw,remount /version"

So I hit "OK" (I have done this many times so tried "cancel" at this point even though I am sure it is not correct), then I get "Re-mount succeeded" banner at the bottom but at the same time, I get an error message...

"Change permissions
Error writing to file: /version/special_cust/BTV-W09/hw/usa/vendor/etc/cfg_btv_hisi.ini
Change permissions?"

So I hit "YES" (but have done this many times so even tried "NO" even though I am sure it is not correct), then I get something like the above error in a splash banner at the bottom of the screen...

"Error writing to file: /version/special_cust/BTV-W09/hw/usa/vendor/etc/cfg_btv_hisi.ini" (approximately)

I have rebooted many times and like I said, tried many times and different options when I get errors and I have never been able to save the 1 for band_5g_enable and obviously don't have 5GHz working.

Any ideas on this? Is it maybe a setting in an app somewhere or a step I missed or something? I am so frustrated with this and it is just simply changing and saving one number in one file (it seemed deceptively so easy and in fact, it should be...smh).

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Franko30]

Now stuck on MM trying to get to Nougat.

Install the app FirmwareFinder - I used it to get all the latest updates up to the current Huawei Nougat version with Google security patch lever Feb. 2018.

But first read FirmwareFinder's FAQ and Instructions after installing it (can be found in its menu).

Frank

 

[sam10000]

Now stuck on MM trying to get to Nougat.

Is it possible that OEMinfo on your M3 still indicates US, and therefore European OTA updates are unavailable?

 

[Franko30]

A little OT, but still: im in Germany and almost all of my Huawei devices so far (except the M3 up to now) didn't get the OTA updates they were supposed to get. I then had to get the the OTA updates as downloads from somewhere... That's why I'm glad FirmwareFinder exists...

 

[elcidroyale]

Is it possible that OEMinfo on your M3 still indicates US, and therefore European OTA updates are unavailable?

I'm on EU version B006. No OTA update to Nougat. Not one single update on FF works for my EU version. There is supposed to be a specific path from B006 to Nougat BUT the next Firmware update I need is not on FF or anywhere to be found. So I'm stuck.

I pretty much hate this tablet now. I had to go through all this nonsense just for 5ghz. And now I find if I use Bluetooth whith wifi, my wifi speeds crawl. Huawei customer service is horrible as well.

Sent from my Self

 

[sam10000]

God I almost gave up on this tablet. Bricked two of them just because I wanted 5ghz but in the end didn't want to root.

In any case, the easiest way to get 5ghz and stay on stock was to install an EU firmware as EU has 5ghz available to them. I found some downgrade to MM method online that had EU firmware files.

Now stuck on MM trying to get to Nougat.

Sent from my BTV-W09 using Tapatalk

I'm on EU version B006. No OTA update to Nougat. Not one single update on FF works for my EU version. There is supposed to be a specific path from B006 to Nougat BUT the next Firmware update I need is not on FF or anywhere to be found. So I'm stuck.

I pretty much hate this tablet now. I had to go through all this nonsense just for 5ghz. And now I find if I use Bluetooth whith wifi, my wifi speeds crawl. Huawei customer service is horrible as well.

Sent from my Self

Has any fellow forum member who successfully rolled back from Nougat to Marshmallow using the method and the two files in the following link
https://consumer.huawei.com/it/support/tablets/mediapad-m3-8/
ending with C100B006, managed to upgrade to Nougat via OTA, Firmware Finder or other means?

All feedback welcome! Thanks.

 

[elcidroyale]

Has any fellow forum member who successfully rolled back from Nougat to Marshmallow using the method and the two files in the following link
https://consumer.huawei.com/it/support/tablets/mediapad-m3-8/
ending with C100B006, managed to upgrade to Nougat via OTA, Firmware Finder or other means?

All feedback welcome! Thanks.

This!

Sent from my Self

 

[woody1]

I'm on EU version B006. No OTA update to Nougat. Not one single update on FF works for my EU version. There is supposed to be a specific path from B006 to Nougat BUT the next Firmware update I need is not on FF or anywhere to be found. So I'm stuck.

I pretty much hate this tablet now. I had to go through all this nonsense just for 5ghz. And now I find if I use Bluetooth whith wifi, my wifi speeds crawl. Huawei customer service is horrible as well.

Sent from my Self

Well, you sort of went rogue by switching to the EU version. Why not go back to the US version, then update and root to get 5mhz? That's what most of us have done.

 

[elcidroyale]

Well, you sort of went rogue by switching to the EU version. Why not go back to the US version, then update and root to get 5mhz? That's what most of us have done.

Hah you have a point! I didn't want to root so I could continue getting OTA updates. I just remember back when it was rooted, it was impossible to unroot. I tried so many many ways and eventually it bricked and I had it replaced. Hmm maybe I just stick with stock US and 2.4ghz

Sent from my Self

 

[sam10000]

Hah you have a point! I didn't want to root so I could continue getting OTA updates. I just remember back when it was rooted, it was impossible to unroot. I tried so many many ways and eventually it bricked and I had it replaced. Hmm maybe I just stick with stock US and 2.4ghz

Sent from my Self

Is it possible that, after the rollback using EU files, your tablet's oeminfo stays as US, and as a result cannot do OTA upgrade to Nougat.

The assumption is that the "Build number" is not the same as oeminfo. "Build number" showing C100 (after using the rollback procedures and EU files) does not mean that oeminfo was changed during the rollback.

oeminfo
https://forum.xda-developers.com/mediapad-m3/help/oeminfo-collection-t3518535

To receive OTA upgrades, is it therefore necessary to:

1 Root (including replacing stock recovery with TWRP)
2 Replace original US oeminfo with EU oeminfo, and
3 Unroot and replace TWRP with stock recovery?

This is effectively rebranding (to an EU BTV-W09), isn't it?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[vwolf2]

Hi, so I was able to root my Huawei and get it to 5ghz wifi but I need to unroot it to access certain apps. The only problem is that after I unroot it 5ghz wifi gets locked again. Is there any way around this?

 

[tek3195]

I would imagine most have this figured out by now. But I have the U.S. variant and used Hisuite to upgrade choosing the Developer version. It still shows as US version and 5 Ghz wifi was no enabled. Then installed TWRP and Magisk. Found files at /vendor/etc/cfg_austin_hisi.ini , ...../cfg_btv_hisi.ini and ..../cfg_btv_wifi_only_hisi.ini. All three contained "band_5g_enable=0" edited 0 to 1 and rebooted tablet with 5ghz wifi working fine. I connected to hisuite again and there was another update which did not install. I then took the update which I had captured from tablet and flashed it with TWRP

wiped data before flashing update. Makes me wonder if possible for those not wanting to root if it could be done with Magisk and a root file manager. Upon uninstall Magisk will restore stock boot.img. No TWRP or perm root just unlocked bootloader which I haven't had cause issue with update before in other Huawei devices. At worst it re-locked bootloader after update.

I found Magisk had to have correct boot.img per update version increment or patched.img would not boot.