RIL vs baseband update?

[Guest goatee]

Ok, I'm not too clear on what the difference is between the RIL update, and the baseband update. Coming from a Hero, is the baseband, the equivalent of a radio? If so, I thought the RIL is the interface layer between the radio and the OS, and as such would be included in a ROM, no?

[Guest aMpeX]

basically yes.

The baseband is the firmware for the radio chip. This firmware is interfaced by the OS using the RIL (Radio Interface Layer), so the RIL translates the requests by the OS to commands the baseband can understand.

When you flash the baseband you change the firmware for the chip. For everything to work, you need the matching RIL in your ROM, either it comes with the ROM, like MoDaCo's ROMs or you have to flash it yourself by the means Paul provided. If RIL and baseband don't match, malfunctions such as missing signal etc can occur.

[Guest goatee]

Thanks aMpeX - so it's just a matter of keeping RIL and baseband in step - and if you upgrade the baseband, you should ensure the RIL is also updated.

basically yes.

The baseband is the firmware for the radio chip. This firmware is interfaced by the OS using the RIL (Radio Interface Layer), so the RIL translates the requests by the OS to commands the baseband can understand.

When you flash the baseband you change the firmware for the chip. For everything to work, you need the matching RIL in your ROM, either it comes with the ROM, like MoDaCo's ROMs or you have to flash it yourself by the means Paul provided. If RIL and baseband don't match, malfunctions such as missing signal etc can occur.