I am asking this for a friend not for myself and I am sorry if this has already been answered I tried searching and got nothing back. I managed to get my buddies phone rooted a few weeks again following the howto on here. As with everyone else who is stuck with a stock rom on there phone there is too much junk and not enough space. I am hoping there is a CM7 or better ROM out there for this phone but if not is there a good working stripped down ROM that will give him 100% functionality but also get rid of a bunch of the useless junk that's on the stock ROM.
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Root [Merit] Cyanogen Mod for the Straight Talk Merit?
jamespfassett
Well-Known Member
If I may through my own name into the hat... Have your friend check out my ROM, SpeedFreak1.0
The download link is posted in the SpeedFreak ROM thread. All feedback is welcome.
The download link is posted in the SpeedFreak ROM thread. All feedback is welcome.
stayboogy
Android Expert
i've been trying to build CM7 for our phone this morning actually, so no it doesn't exist.
and unfortunately it's not going to exist either. there are some "prebuilt" files that don't exist for our phone that are developed by cyanogenmod developers. without someone making them it will never happen.
i built CM7 using them from Blade and all i got was recovery boot loop
I like the stock ROM. Just delete the junk you don't want except for the music App that looks like a record & the email app. I removed gmail & use the email app to get my gmail. If your removing the camera App you can get rid of the email App. If your getting rid of blue tooth you can get rid of the music app. If you turn on blue tooth without the music app it breaks the dailer.
I use link2SD to delete junk & convert to user Apps. It makes this a very useful phone. I use ES explorer to delete other junk like that horrid boot image & sound. I also switched to Holo launcher. Good luck.
I use link2SD to delete junk & convert to user Apps. It makes this a very useful phone. I use ES explorer to delete other junk like that horrid boot image & sound. I also switched to Holo launcher. Good luck.
nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
A shame really, this phone is both looks wise and performance wise exactly like my old LG Optimus V (sprint) and that was the ROM I put on it. I really liked it too. But Sprint was too low signal for me which is why I switched to the Merit. I wonder if the LG Optimus V will work in a GSM network? I did some code on my Merit awhile back and it gave me connection options for all GSM and even CDMA bands despite this being an AT&T phone. I wonder if something similar can be done with the old Optimus, so then all is have to do is swap SIM cards and get back to CM7
Motorhead1991
Android Expert
The OptV has no SIM card 
. As for CM7, the files needed to port from the Blade to the Merit/Avail are there, it just takes some playing around, and maybe a modified kernel (which I'm not set up for).
. As for CM7, the files needed to port from the Blade to the Merit/Avail are there, it just takes some playing around, and maybe a modified kernel (which I'm not set up for).
stayboogy
Android Expert
The Straight Talk Merit actually runs on Sprint's network from what I understand, despite what the apn settings say. Not only is the android coverage map identical to that of Sprint's, but I used to have sprint, and this phone acts exactly like my Sprint phones used to--save type of signal strength and high and low signal locations. it does not pick up as good as my previous Straight Talk slider that run on Verizon's network did.
Motorhead1991
Android Expert
The Merit, like it's AT&T counterpart, is a GSM phone I believe. And the menu you referred to is a testing menu accessed by typing *#*#4636#*#*. My Rugby has the same menu, and I know for a fact that it's GSM.
Did the menu look loke this by chance?
Did the menu look loke this by chance?
jamespfassett
Well-Known Member
It could absolutely be re-themed but it would be a pretty big job, as the saying goes...
"Gimp'in aint easy, but its nessasary"
or somthing like that
I'll eventually release multiple theme patches that will completely swap all blue theme mods to red or green or purple, whatever other colors that people running the ROM want to see.
nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
The Merit, like it's AT&T counterpart, is a GSM phone I believe. And the menu you referred to is a testing menu accessed by typing *#*#4636#*#*. My Rugby has the same menu, and I know for a fact that it's GSM.
Did the menu look loke this by chance?
Yes that's the one. That is how I forced edge over 3G because I'm in a spotty coverage area for 3G. But my merit is AT&T network. Sprint is a dead zone for me. I was hoping my old LG will run in a GSM network because it did have a SIM card. It was a virgin phone I rom flashed and did tons of stuff with
stayboogy
Android Expert
The Merit, like it's AT&T counterpart, is a GSM phone I believe. And the menu you referred to is a testing menu accessed by typing *#*#4636#*#*. My Rugby has the same menu, and I know for a fact that it's GSM.
Did the menu look loke this by chance?
this doesn't work on my Merit. that menu doesn't come up at all with that code. what comes up instead is a prompt for the "service number" with a 'save' or 'cancel' button. nothing else.
nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
It was a different code but it produced the menu. I forget the proper code for the Merit
out of ideas
Android Enthusiast
Yeah the merit is gsm on att. I dont see how the same phone would be on sprint especially since net10 and ST are both tracfone.
Did you ever have att there?
Did you ever have att there?
stayboogy
Android Expert
ya'll don't know what ya'll are talking about... it's on Sprint's network, not ATT--not only do i know by experience, and not only by the coverage map, but there is ample info on the web that verifies this...
TracFone's Straight Talk Android phones will use Sprint's network - FierceWireless
Straight Talk's Android smartphones to use Sprint's network
why you guys can't figure this out is beyond me...
i do tend to know what i'm talking about...
Motorhead1991
Android Expert
TracFone Wireless - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
You were saying? If the Merit were CDMA, AT&T ROMs wouldn't run correctly on it, and vice-versa.
You were saying? If the Merit were CDMA, AT&T ROMs wouldn't run correctly on it, and vice-versa.
stayboogy
Android Expert
first, wikipedia is the worst source in the world for accurate information;
secondly, that information is incorrect because tracfone no longer has any contracts with verizon.
again, the sources i linked to are from one year ago, and it hasn't changed since then. you guys are wrong and that's all there is to it.
gsm or cdma--i couldn't care less, it doesn't matter
the truth is that it runs on sprint's network and that's all that matters in this argument. you guys can believe incorrect information all you want, but i've freely given you the truth...
Isnt the last few posts why we don't run Merit ROMs on the Avail? I can't run a Merit rom on my Avail. Straight talk won't jive with Go Phone. I've tried some Merit procedures on the Avail, and it wouldn't work. Now, if it were carrier unlocked, maybe, but, as it comes from the manufacturer, they won't mesh completely.
out of ideas
Android Enthusiast
first, wikipedia is the worst source in the world for accurate information;
secondly, that information is incorrect because tracfone no longer has any contracts with verizon.
again, the sources i linked to are from one year ago, and it hasn't changed since then. you guys are wrong and that's all there is to it.
gsm or cdma--i couldn't care less, it doesn't matter
the truth is that it runs on sprint's network and that's all that matters in this argument. you guys can believe incorrect information all you want, but i've freely given you the truth...
Pretty sure the proclaim is on verizon.
Alot has changed in a year. The first tracfine droid was the precedent on sprint. I had a prevail and it wad the same network.
I never would have bought the merit on sprint.
Gsm/cdma matters for programming.
Heres some newer free info on the internet if you still dont believe me.
Prepaid Phone News: ZTE Merit - Straight Talk's First Android Phone on AT&T Now Available for $129.99
A T U R D A Y , M A Y 1 9 , 2 0 1 2
Yeswap at 8:38 PM
ZTE Merit - Straight Talk's First Android Phone on AT&T Now Available for $129.99
stayboogy
Android Expert
i still know this isn't correct. this phone doesn't use ATT service. i'm in an area where ATT has both 3g and 4g service perfectly (all my family has ATT) and here in the same place i have Edge service.
why you ask, because this is synonymous with Sprint's roaming, because it runs on Sprint's network. having Sprint for 4 years prior to having ST and knowing exactly where the "spots" are in their service, and it currently being identical using this ST phone, the data asserts the truth and validity of my previous statements.
out of ideas
Android Enthusiast
Dude you are wrong.
Choose Your Phone.
Thats the gsm phones. And this is from the st site.
Straight Talk Wireless Forums • View topic - zte merit
Re: zte merit
by Stephanie_ST Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:51 am
Hi sierrapassion. My name is StraightTalk Stephanie and I will be addressing your question. The ZTE Merit runs off AT&T network. It is on AT&T or T-Mobile if your phone model ends with G (GSM), Verizon if it ends with C (CDMA). If you have the Android phone, it is on Sprint except the ZTE Merit which runs off AT&T network and the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim which runs off Verizon Prepaid Network. Thanks!
Choose Your Phone.
Thats the gsm phones. And this is from the st site.
Straight Talk Wireless Forums • View topic - zte merit
Re: zte merit
by Stephanie_ST Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:51 am
Hi sierrapassion. My name is StraightTalk Stephanie and I will be addressing your question. The ZTE Merit runs off AT&T network. It is on AT&T or T-Mobile if your phone model ends with G (GSM), Verizon if it ends with C (CDMA). If you have the Android phone, it is on Sprint except the ZTE Merit which runs off AT&T network and the Samsung Galaxy Proclaim which runs off Verizon Prepaid Network. Thanks!
nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
If the Merit runs in Sprint 1)it wouldn't have a SIM card, 2) I'd have no service because I live in a Sprint dead zone. Which is why I gave up Virgin for Net10 when I moved here. I was wrong about my Opt V it has no SIM.
However, Tracfone and their companies Net10, Straight Talk, etc use different networks for different phones and it even states it on the box. My first Tracfone was a Nokia 252 on Verizon. The next was Bellsouth which became Cingular which became the " new AT&T"
However, Tracfone and their companies Net10, Straight Talk, etc use different networks for different phones and it even states it on the box. My first Tracfone was a Nokia 252 on Verizon. The next was Bellsouth which became Cingular which became the " new AT&T"
cwwilson721
Well-Known Member
I have the kernel source for the z990 from ZTEThe OptV has no SIM card
You want it? (Just taking up space on one of my hard drives right now. Not doing dev work for the Z990 ATM, just for the G1 and Galaxy variants, so it's just sitting there)
And to address other comments:
Sprint/Verizon et. al. (no sim) uses CDMA for the 'base/voice' network
AT&T/T-Mobile et. al.(uses sim) uses GSM for the 'base/voice' network, and WCDMA for the 3G and above data (different freqs for each carrier. If no 1700 WCDMA sig in your area, no 3G for T-Mobile)
The radios each uses are not compatible with each other, at all. It's hardware. Same way you can't get a TV picture on a CB radio. Software ain't gonna do it.
There are SOME (VERY expensive) very special and very hard to get phones that are CDMA/GSM (Mostly are R&D for the manufacturers)
Motorhead1991
Android Expert
I have a source as well, but I don't have the right toolchain and I'm working on a number of other projects. I'm hesitant to release anything I haven't tested myself, so I'm not really in a position to release kernels as it is.