AT&T Nexus One: Downgraded Radio - Improved Reception

[Guest slyydrr]

Hi all, I figured I'd just post some of my findings. I just received my new Nexus One for AT&T to replace my Nexus One for T-Mobile.

I had originally tried 32.26.00.24U_4.04.00.03_2 on my T-Mobile phone and didn't have great results and ended up reverting to the previous radio (32.24.00.22U_4.03.00.21_2).

My AT&T N1 came with the 32.26.00.24U_4.04.00.03_2 radio and I was having VERY spotty 3G service at my office. My colleague's iPhone 3GS had no issues maintaining a signal. I understand that it's different hardware, but my connection compared to his was atrocious. Of my time in the office, I had 13% without signal (according to battery status). Remembering my prior luck with the newer radio, I flashed the previous ERE27 radio (32.24.00.22U_4.03.00.21_2).

Since the radio downgrade, I have had a tremendous improvement. My time without signal is now 0%. Before I had to use only 2G networks to maintain service in the office. Now I don't have to worry about it.

Just wanted to share my findings and potentially help any other users who might be having similar issues.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: Adding step-by-step instructions!

The following steps are for those w/ Aman_RA Recovery image, however step 5 will be very similar for those w/ Clockwork Recovery image.

1) With Nexus off, hold down trackball and power button. You can release the power button, but continue to hold the trackball until the white fastboot screen appears (the android skateboarder one)

2) Select Bootloader.

3) Select Recovery.

4) You phone will reboot back into the Recovery image - No additional buttons need to be pressed for this to occur. (Minor note: from here on out, use the trackball to navigate and the power button to go back)

5) One of the options will mention applying a zip from the SD Card. Select this one

6) Find the update that you downloaded (it does NOT need to be renamed to update.zip) and select it. It will confirm that you want to apply the update. Press trackball to confirm.

Now, AFTER you have done this, it will mention that it's unpacking the radio image and applying it. Then it will reboot and you'll see the little Android guy with the exclamation triangle thing. Do not do anything at this stage, this is normal. Just be patient. After about 1-2 minutes, it will reboot again and your new radio update will have been applied.

Two very big things to note:

• Do not turn off your phone at any time during the update process
  
• Make sure your battery has more than 40%. Personally, when flashing a radio, I go for above 75% battery life.
  

Hopefully this helps!

Edited May 7, 2010 by slyydrr

[Guest DXL700]

As an AT&T N1 user I thankyou, I will try this and reprot back

[Guest DXL700]

Is there a way to downgrade the radio with out reflashing?

[Guest slyydrr]

Just remember to be very careful when flashing your radio, please! Follow the instructions and be patient. NEVER pull your battery while flashing a radio as it WILL brick your phone. :P

[Guest nbulp]

I'm thinking about downgrading as well... Do you guys have a working link to the radio?

[Guest slyydrr]

http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...insecure-himem/

[Guest nbulp]

http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...insecure-himem/

Thanks. That was actually the site I tried to download from :P Unfortunately, I keep getting taken to the Modaco front page every time I try to download the "32.24.00.22U_4.03.00.21_2" radio :-\

[Guest nbulp]

It's still taking me to Modaco front page :P

(Tried it on different computers and with different web browsers)

:( No radio for me, I guess.

[Guest DXL700]

The link works for me... Strange....

[Guest nbulp]

The link works for me... Strange....

I finally got it working with a download manager! Weird that it didn't work on any web browser (I tried three!) and on two different computers! :P

[Guest DXL700]

So I've looked and it seems you have to install it with a ROM? Is there a different way?

[Guest bobtentpeg]

You dont have to install it with any rom at all.. Just place the signed radio update zip on your SD card and flash it in recovery

[Guest brian82]

I tried to flash it but when it booted back up it had the same baseband... didnt change

What did I do wrong?

[Guest slyydrr]

I tried to flash it but when it booted back up it had the same baseband... didnt change

What did I do wrong?

When you flash the radio from the recovery screen, you should see it unpacking the radio image. After this, it'll tell you to reboot to finish the installation and doing so will actually write the radio. It'll go through a 30-60 second process (during which you'll see an image of a package with an arrow and an android) after which you come back to the recovery screen. From here you can then reboot back into the OS.

Now it's likely I'm telling you something you already know but I'm just playing it safe :P

Assuming all that happened, the radio image should have been installed correctly, so assuming you didn't install the same radio image again, it should be updated.

[Guest happyandy]

i'm getting teribbly spotty coverage on the new netowrk that launched called "wind" just in my house i can't get a signal. do you think this'd work in my case?

[Guest slyydrr]

It's possible that it may but you really won't know until you try. Just remember to follow the exact instruction for flashing your radio. It's pretty simple, you just have to be patient and you'll be fine :P

[Guest brian82]

When you flash the radio from the recovery screen, you should see it unpacking the radio image. After this, it'll tell you to reboot to finish the installation and doing so will actually write the radio. It'll go through a 30-60 second process (during which you'll see an image of a package with an arrow and an android) after which you come back to the recovery screen. From here you can then reboot back into the OS.

Now it's likely I'm telling you something you already know but I'm just playing it safe :P

Assuming all that happened, the radio image should have been installed correctly, so assuming you didn't install the same radio image again, it should be updated.

Yes, all that happened, but then I checked and it had the same radio version as before...

[Guest geniusdog254]

Yes, all that happened, but then I checked and it had the same radio version as before...

Try to take the radio.img out of the zip file with 7-Zip (or WinZip, or any other ZIP program) and then use fastboot to flash it. The command (once you have the phone in the bootloader) is:

fastboot flash radio radio.img

Also, I flashed it and I haven't done any definitive tests yet (just at my table, not my around my house/neighborhood) but it does at least seem to have better signal. May post back when I test more.

[Guest yangotang]

I did as the OP said and it drastically improved my radio reception on HSDPA.

[Guest slyydrr]

I did as the OP said and it drastically improved my radio reception on HSDPA.

Glad it helped! :P

[Guest Bay Harbor Butcher]

http://android.modaco.com/content/google-n...insecure-himem/

Link works only with Explorer browser..I use a macbook and with Safari,Firefox and Google Chrome doesn't work and show me Modaco main page.

Now I try to flash..

[Guest anosis]

Got the ATT Nexus One with one of the Rom upgrades. Is it still save to downgrade the radio or should I only perform this with the stock ROM (54B)?

[Guest slyydrr]

Got the ATT Nexus One with one of the Rom upgrades. Is it still save to downgrade the radio or should I only perform this with the stock ROM (54B)?

I performed this on my phone after already installing Cyanogen's ROM.

[Guest Bay Harbor Butcher]

I downgraded to older Radio..today I was underground and my Nexus showed no signal.It did not get roaming signal for one hour.SO I tried to flash newest radio and It started to get roaming signal.

I'm italian with H3G operator..In my case I prefer last radio available.

Thanks anyway..

[Guest rimrocka0834]

Just a quick newbie question. after I got my nexus I installed the latest cyanogen along with the google apps for epe54b. If I downgrade my radio will the apps stop working? Thanks in advance.