Decent explanation of LTE radio

[zuben el genub]

The second operating system hiding in every mobile phone

I found it interesting. The way I use the phone, I don't care if it's Edge, 3g, 4g, or H (HSDPA? TMO) so I never bothered to read up on the benefits, just the basics to see what it was.

 

[binaryhermit]

Kinda scary if it's true.

 

[codesplice]

The article is less about the LTE radio specifically, and more about the various radio firmwares in general. I also find the title of the article to be a bit misleading; the radio firmware isn't really an Operating System, but much closer to the firmware BIOS of a RAID controller or other specialized hardware interface.

That said, the gist of the article is accurate. The baseband firmwares are very closed and very proprietary, and there's not really a good way for a user or even OEM to know exactly what is going on within that firmware.

 

[funkylogik]

Hypothetically could someone build a custom modem/baseband firmware for a device?

 

[codesplice]

Hypothetically could someone build a custom modem/baseband firmware for a device?

It would be exceptionally difficult as none of the low-level radio stuff has published documentation available.

 

[Demache]

Hypothetically could someone build a custom modem/baseband firmware for a device?

Hypothetically: yes. After all almost every phone has a method of flashing baseband updates and all someone would have to do is write and compile a firmware.

Realistically? No. Its the exact same thing as building an engine without being able to measure anything or even look at it. Everything is proprietary and none of it is publicly documented. Effectively, impossible. And even if you could, I'm sure they check that they are signed by Qualcomm, Broadcom, VIA, etc.

 

[funkylogik]

Thats what i thought kinda. Same as devs have trouble writing kernels for say Samsung Exynos chipsets because theyre so so stingey with the basecode?
its a shame because id trust some of the 3rd partys to squeeze an extra 1mb/s out of my 3g speeds lol
Tbh ive been on same modem for maybe a year, since i started using aosp based roms. Not sure if i should update it or not?

 

[Demache]

Thats what i thought kinda. Same as devs have trouble writing kernels for say Samsung Exynos chipsets because theyre so so stingey with the basecode?
its a shame because id trust some of the 3rd partys to squeeze an extra 1mb/s out of my 3g speeds lol
Tbh ive been on same modem for maybe a year, since i started using aosp based roms. Not sure if i should update it or not?

The latest one on my Eris was updated in 2011. It still has the late-2010 radio firmware since I never bothered to update it. If you aren't having radio related issues, its not really a pressing issue. My VZW GNex had tons of radio related issues dealing with EVDO to LTE handoffs. They are far better since installing them.