Root [International] Latest modems

[Hawker]

Or you could just try flashing your previous modem via Odin. (I'll get me coat! :vroam

If you're lucky, yes butty, but there have been reports where S4 modem flashes has been fubarring efs+IMEI information, and curiously in some cases, breaking the sound on the GS4, so you may have more work than you bargained for.

I'll wait until a bootloader-fiddled release of MH8 emerges.

 

[dynomot]

In all seriousness, I really don't know why I stick with Vodafone (all right I do, I screw them every upgrade time or threaten to leave) in towns and city centres it's fine. Suburbs generally fine. Anywhere where you can see sheep (Hawker would be FUBARED) nada, or very poor GSM signal.

 

[ironass]

If you're lucky, yes butty, but there have been reports where S4 modem flashes has been fubarring efs+IMEI information also, so you may have more work than you bargained for.

Point taken. In that case, as you say, an original ROM flash is the way out.

 

[Hawker]

I've tried renaming the file before and it still doesn't work. It'll either fail or won't even let me attempt to flash because of the wrong partition or something like that.

Biting the bullet, I'm trying the MH8 modem now
The ordinary flash didn't work for me neither
The instructions at the OP of the modem thread did work for me however. Ie:

Use Odin v3.04
Untick Autoreboot
Flash modem
Reboot once again into Download Mode using (Vol Down plus Home button combi)
Flash Modem once more
Once done,unplug then reboot device manually.

 

[ironass]

Been on the MH8 modem for a couple of days now. Haven't noticed any difference from the MGG modem which was very good for me.

Touch wood, no problems flashing with Odin PC.

 

[Hawker]

I wonder if the trick is perhaps not by following those steps line-by-line, but just by entering download mode manually, as opposed to using the power menu.

How are you getting into download mode butty?

 

[ironass]

How are you getting into download mode butty?

That is a very personal question!


Just turn off and the 3 fingered salute.

 

[Hawker]

That is a very personal question!


Just turn off and the 3 fingered salute.

This may well be the reason then.
Shotty, were you getting into download mode via the power menu?

 

[Rudedawg]

Ive had constant issues with getting into recovery since rooting this phone. All in relation to the manual way (holding buttons). Always had to go in via rom manager or power menu.


Luckily download mode is 100% succesful 100% of the time.

 

[Hawker]

I can confirm going into download mode through the power menu as opposed to manually going into download mode with the three-fingered knuckle shuffle affects the ability to flash the modem.

I was getting problems on MH8 modem, with it taking a long time on boot to get a signal, and also it seemed to be affecting my GPS lock speed (which is odd as GPS is kernel-related as far as I know) Anyway, I went into download mode using the traditional method, reflashed MGA modem, and it worked first time.

So, don't use the power menu to go into recovery mode for a modem flash it seems.

 

[Sydney99]

Thanks Hawker

 

[ironass]

Just flashed the latest modem, MI1, which has been taken from the XXUDMI1 firmware for Vodafone Germany and Spain.

Early results, as with all the S4 modems I have flashed to-date, are good but no different to previous releases for me, at my desk. Will test extensively over the next few days.

The MI1 modem can be downloaded, here, for the GT-i9505 and needs to be flashed via Odin. Note... the file reads XXUDMHI1 but is in fact XXUDMI1.

 

[Sydney99]

Report back old bean.....

 

[sntaylor]

Any excuse for a piss up eh?

"Sorry dear, New modem just come out, must do I public duties and head to the pu....erm I mean black spot testing area"

 

[iT0mm0]

Im having a lot more luck with the MHB modem

Dev-Host - I9505_XXUDMHB_MODEM.rar - The Ultimate Free File Hosting / File Sharing Service

MI1 was pretty much the same as all the others ive tried

 

[Sydney99]

Ok ironass, report on my desk on mhb and mi1, by the weekend please.

 

[ironass]

Ok ironass, report on my desk on mhb and mi1, by the weekend please.

I'll get right onto that then Syd, shall I?

Perhaps I could stick a broom handle up where the sun don't shine and that way I could sweep the floor as well!



UPDATE

At my desk, there is no discernible difference between MHB and MI1.

 

[Sydney99]

Perhaps I could stick a broom handle up where the sun don't shine and that way I could sweep the floor as well!

careful wot u wish for...

 

[lotus49]

Is it worth experimenting with different modems?

The only shortcoming of my S4 is the apparently poor reception compared to my S2. I changed carrier at the same time so it's hard to compare but I am now on 3 (from O2) and I used to use a 3 MiFi dongle and it had far better reception than my S4 does.

 

[Sydney99]

Ironass. Please see me after school. You're report has not been handed in on time.....

 

[ironass]

Is it worth experimenting with different modems?

Syd... whip round and have a strong word with your fellow Yorkshireman will you and explain to lotus49 about the arduous and dedicated testing of modems that I have carried out at the Twilight Zone pub!

To be serious, for a change, unlike the S2 modems that did fluctuate between releases, the S4 modems have been virtually identical and consistent after the initial early releases.

The only shortcoming of my S4 is the apparently poor reception compared to my S2.

For me, the S4 offers a significant improvement over the S2 for signal strength in my location and with my carrier. However, I cannot comment on the 4G capabilities as the nearest coverage for Vodafone is London or Birmingham for me at the moment and is unlikely to materialise in my area for another year.

Ironass. Please see me after school. You're report has not been handed in on time.....

I tried MHB and MI1 and as mentioned above, there was really no difference for me in a variety of locations. However, for some strange reason, I found a bigger battery drain when using MI1 as opposed to other modems I have tried! I have re-downloaded and re-installed it again to see if BBS will give me a reason for this... maybe a higher FD or something similar.

One of the pains is that unlike the S2 which had flashable .zip files, the S4, i9505, modems need to be flashed via Odin PC suite, (Mobile Odin doesn't seem to work for me on modems), and so I need to keep returning to the Twilight Zone.

 

[Hawker]

Just a small word of warning.
Flashing modems on the S4 isn't quite as innocent compared with the good old days of the S2 where we would hurl our cac-covered flashing boots at it and still come up smelling of roses.

As yet, modems cannot be flashed via CWM, only Odin. To me, this poses the question "why not?", so you should be cautious from the offset. Even then, odin only flashes a modem properly if the device is put into download mode through a power-down and not through the power menu. Again, alarm bells ring at me.

Personally speaking, I would not recommend flashing modems on the S4. On the S4, modems seems to be more tightly linked to the firmware version for which it is intended. Flashing alternatives is not without risk and can lead to serious problems like wifi and sound disappearing. Getting these back to a working state has been a very long winded and laborious task for quite a few unfortunate people, with cwm restores and even reflashes of stock firmware not being sufficient to return to the status quo.

Of course, if you have nads the size boulders, akin to ironass' then this will not represent a problem to you, but to the mere mortals amongst us, its not something that is to be taken on lightly.

I really don't think its worth the risk considering the minimal (if any) "benefits".

 

[lotus49]

Thanks gents, that has answered my question. It doesn't sound like it's worth bothering with.

 

[iT0mm0]

@ lotus, i have flashed every eu modem that is possible to flash with 0 repercussions

Hawkers words whilst wise are also very cautious

flashing a

 

[ironass]

Just a small word of warning.
Flashing modems on the S4 isn't quite as innocent compared with the good old days of the S2 where we would hurl our cac-covered flashing boots at it and still come up smelling of roses.

As yet, modems cannot be flashed via CWM, only Odin. To me, this poses the question "why not?", so you should be cautious from the offset. Even then, odin only flashes a modem properly if the device is put into download mode through a power-down and not through the power menu. Again, alarm bells ring at me.

Personally speaking, I would not recommend flashing modems on the S4. On the S4, modems seems to be more tightly linked to the firmware version for which it is intended. Flashing alternatives is not without risk and can lead to serious problems like wifi and sound disappearing. Getting these back to a working state has been a very long winded and laborious task for quite a few unfortunate people, with cwm restores and even reflashes of stock firmware not being sufficient to return to the status quo.

Wise words from the old Soggy Moggy!

The only way that I am able to flash modems is via Odin and by booting into Download Mode, manually, 2 fingered salute of Volume Down and Power. I have flashed modems up to and including MI1 with no issues thus far. See disclaimer in next paragraph.

Of course, if you have nads the size boulders, akin to ironass' then this will not represent a problem to you, but to the mere mortals amongst us, its not something that is to be taken on lightly.

Two things should be borne in mind...

1. Hawker has been peeking in the showers!

2. That I am still on a pre locked bootloader and Knox Security firmware, MH1, and I believe that the problems that the old boy is warning us about, occurs when you are on a post MGG firmware and attempt to mess about with flashing older firmwares and or modems on the locked devices.

I really don't think its worth the risk considering the minimal (if any) "benefits".

I have to agree with this as I have found that all the modems I have tried since the very early MEA releases, have all been virtually identical for me and no one modem has been appreciably better than another so far.

However, having said that, this will not deter me from testing future releases at my usual proving ground... strictly in the interests of science you understand! :cheers: