Nexus One Radio Ruined by Applications ?
Is your radio broken?
The HTC/Google Nexus One is an awesome phone, but it sounds like everyone is still having major radio issues. I know I frequently have issue’s when I’m driving through a certain spot on my way home from work. I’ll frequently drop calls and when I look at my phone, there will be NO data connection what-so-ever.
What is the problem and why is it taking so long for the team of HTC, Google and T-Mobile to work out a solution? At least they are all admitting that there is a problem and they are working on a solution.
We’ve had an official ERE27 radio update that everyone received, and from my experience, did nothing to help with the issue. We’ve also had the Leaked ERE36b radio and I’ve tried that one which appeared to be worse for me.
If you want any if these radios, you can download the packaged update ZIP file’s from Enomther below:
ERE27 Radio Version 4.03.00.21
ERE36B Radio Version 4.04.00.03
* Remember that you need a rooted Nexus On to install these updates.
My partner in crime, Allen, also has the same issue on his Nexus One that he’s had for just 3 days. He’s been on the phone with T-Mobile who said “Everything is fine sir” and passed him on to Google Technical Support. Google Technical Support proceeded to inform him that the problem is related to applications and that some applications are breaking the radio.
After trying many alternative solutions to get his data connection restored, they eventually asked him to do a factory reset and completely clean out his phone to ensure that no residual application settings or components where left on the phone. It worked immediately.
Now, I’m no hardware or operating system guru, but my understanding is that the actual radio driver is protected from the applications by the RIL.
From Wikepedia:
The Android Open Source Project provides a Radio Interface Layer (RIL) between Android telephony services (android.telephony) and the radio hardware.
Isn’t this supposed to protect the hardware from the operating system and prevent applications corrupting things like the radio drivers themselves?
So are Google saying that android is so unstable that installing applications can botch the radio?
Any Android OS experts or hardware geeks out there care to comment? We’d love to hear from you!
About the Author
Simon was an IT consultant for almost 20 years and ran his own web design and development company for another 3. He has been involved with technology from his teenage years. Simon is also an avid Home Theater geek and self appointed installer for all his friends and relatives. His first serious modding of SmartPhones started with his T-Mobile WING and now Android devices.
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2010/03/10 at 21:24:37
the ERE36B radio completely cured my Nexus of ALL 3G/ dropped calls issues.. i have 3G/H in places that ive never had with ANY T-mobile phone before.. the ERE27 radio flat out sucked.. data woes.. dropped calls TERRIBLE call quality.. and was worse than the ERD79 one it was shipped with
2010/03/10 at 22:01:22
The RIL should be safe, the interface would be pretty basic between Android and the radio. I have had several times where I have cleaned (re-installed the same CM update), and things can get better. I think part of the problem may be related to transition periods and demanding background tasks. If you are switching radios on/off (3G,Edge,Wifi,Bluetooth,GPS) it seems to slow I/O down a bit; so if some some programs fight for precious I/O maybe your foreground task gets starved?
To be fair in testing, you really need to compare the same hardware at the same location at the same time during the same day of the week, weather, season, phase of the moon, etc.
2010/03/11 at 00:07:47
As far as I can tell, the problem is that it’s switching between UMTS and HSDPA too much. T-Mobile can’t deal with it on their end, and problems start happening.
the iPhone has similar problems. As a battery-saving strategy, it’ll switch it’s data connection off when no data is being transferred. This puts a strain on the carrier though, and can overwhelm it if they’re not ready for it.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2010/02/how-smartphones-are-bogging-down-some-wireless-carriers.ars
I’m guessing the Nexus One does something similar, and the simplest solution would probably decrease battery life too much. The other alternative would be for T-Mobile to step up their game, but they’d have to spend a lot of money on a phone that they aren’t even selling directly, so they may not have much incentive.
NOTE: All this is pure conjecture, and I don’t work for T-Mobile, OR Google, so I’m not authoritative in any way.
2010/03/11 at 08:59:16
[...] Just read this article stating that some apps might be damaging the radio on the Nexus One. Nexus One Radio Ruined by Applications ? | AndroidSPIN | Your No.1 source for Android news. __________________ Don't Mess with [...]
2010/03/11 at 12:40:35
Data service from TMO does drop out. It is rare, but does happen. I noticed a post in another forum that the op reported no data, not even gprs at a specific location. TMO reported “Everything is fine sir” I drove the location and confirmed the outage. I worked with a switch tech who confirmed no data and restarted the sector and viola! Problem solved. Too bad they are all that simple to fix.
It is obvious that the N1 is having issues with the radio, but isolated issues with the network do exist. I’ve just ordered my N1 so I expect to get some first hand experience.
2010/03/11 at 15:40:51
Ill also verify that the leaked ere36 radio is remarkably betterin terms of connections everywhere… and maintaining those connections.
if your not into rooting Id go for the HTC desire which should have this straightened out of the box.
2010/03/12 at 14:00:26
This is not happening in TM network. Other countries are having same issues in networks other than T-Mobile
2010/03/12 at 14:27:19
I’m on T-Mobile and it happens to be frequently.
2010/04/01 at 16:27:45
I am using the N1 in a network in South America (Oi) and I can confirm the problem occurs here too. And I can also confirms that it only started occurring after I installed extra apps. which one, I don’t know. here is the list of extra apps I have (on top of the default ROM)
act 1
ak notepad
astro file manager
audiomanager
fring
gmote
google sky map
just compass
layar
maps
movies
qik
seesmic
shazam
taskiller
wavesecure
wavesecure uninstall protecion
wordpress
yelp
2010/04/02 at 14:05:57
Very informing post. If you want to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone – I strongly recommend BBC Radio iPhone Streams – it is easily the best way to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and it’s free at BBCStreams.com.
2010/04/07 at 04:55:44
[...] foray into the hardware market sadden me. I’ve had issues from day one. First we have the 3G signal problems that are still ongoing for me. I’ve tried 3 radio updates released in the community and [...]
2010/04/29 at 06:09:31
never had any 3G problems here in australia and no one i know with a nexus has…