Unknown Carrier Upgrade?

[bradyr]

it's amazing how small a world we live in. I have a little info that I can add to this thread, as I was about to start another thread almost identical to this one..

I, too, have Golden State Cellular as my carrier (i'm a new subscriber, but got the 6800 phone). I am also interested in upgrading the phone to 6.1 and have been lurking these forums lately trying to educate myself on the entire process and the risks involved.

Here's some additional info that I know regarding the GSC 6800's:

-they are [based on?] the US Cellular variant of the 6800

-stock rom version info is as follows:
ROM version: 2.17.557.0
ROM Date: 11/20/07
Radio Version: 1.64.00
Hardware Version: 0003
PRL version: 04000
PRI version: 1.31_105

key thing that concerns me right now is that while GSC is partnered with verizon for voice roaming, they currently do not have data roaming in place (it's forthcoming).

therefore, if i flashed my phone up with, say, a verizon based rom (or any rom for that matter) I am concerned about the data syncing. I know that the GSC variant dials #777 for data connection and I was just looking at some of the HDR settings:

username: msid@gscdata.com
pass: msid

also on m.ip default profile, NAI is just the MSID (not msid@blah.blah)

now, i'm sure i'm forgetting some key settings, were I to actually flash the phone..

I'm sure my main concern, or maybe my main ignorance is that if i write down every scrap of information from the ESPT settings and the phone in general, if we were to flash up to 6.1 with a verizon based (or us cellular based rom, being that this is the us cell variant 6800, just used on a small-town carrier) would doing this mean that the phone would be trying to look for a verizon or other cell tower? or is the main problem with flashing "off brand" 6800's that you introduce (say) verizon or us cell customizations to the (in this case) Golden State Cellular phone, and the golden state cell towers still recognize your phone, but the settings are wrong? in which case, if i re-configured all the settings to be "correct", the phone should work just fine?

pardon my ignorance on the last paragraph, i'm learning this as i go.

(also not my intention to hijack the thread, I'm simply amazed there is another GSC user up in here)

-bradyr

[timm9]

Bradyr,

Thank you for the response! That's very interesting... I was under the impression (based on an e-mail from GSC tech support) that the ROM was based on an Alltel version. If it is indeed based on US Cellular that would change things a little. One of the really great things about GSC is they don't cripple the phones features and add fees for something the phone was designed to do. Would not flashing to a Verizon based ROM result in loosing some of the features/capabilities we currently have? Also, is not Version's GPS an aGPS "assisted" and require fees along with access to Verizon's towers? While we can roam with Verizon, I wonder if accessing the other features from verizon will result in additional fees. Is your "understanding" of the carrier base for the ROM being US Cellular pretty certain?

Thanks!

[bradyr]

Originally Posted by timm9

Bradyr,

Thank you for the response! That's very interesting... I was under the impression (based on an e-mail from GSC tech support) that the ROM was based on an Alltel version. If it is indeed based on US Cellular that would change things a little. One of the really great things about GSC is they don't cripple the phones features and add fees for something the phone was designed to do. Would not flashing to a Verizon based ROM result in loosing some of the features/capabilities we currently have? Also, is not Version's GPS an aGPS "assisted" and require fees along with access to Verizon's towers? While we can roam with Verizon, I wonder if accessing the other features from verizon will result in additional fees. Is your "understanding" of the carrier base for the ROM being US Cellular pretty certain?

Thanks!

timm9,

interesting that we're both getting different answers regarding which variant the GSC 6800's are. After asking about it, i was told it was the US Cellular 6800.

I can't speak much to the GPS stuff, right now my main focus has been to educate myself on how the data syncing works and how to deal with data-related problems after doing a rom (custom or otherwise) upgrade. I want to be 100% sure that I know what i'm doing if i were to flash the 6800.

I'm with you regarding the fact that GSC doesnt seem to cripple their 6800, the drawback is their phones just have that old moldy 6.0 rom on them. I'm beginning to think that a custom rom would be the way to go, i just need to do more research on the radios and stuff (things that i dont know enough about yet).

-bradyr

[timm9]

Brady,

I'm hoping that the ROM is based on Alltel as I have the most recent "offical" 6.1 ROM and as I understand it, it does not require unlocking/locking to upgrade. I have been working on this for quite a few months and have not come across an "offical" US Cellular 6.1 ROM for the 6800.

I currently have TomTom installed and working but only with the external antenna which is a PIA to carry from vehicle to vehicle. I also understand that 6.1 will allow us to take full advantage of MSVC. I have it semi working now but would love to be able to have it fully functional.

What County are you in?

Timm9

[bradyr]

Timm9, check your PM.

[timm9]

brady,

Got it, check your PM.

tim