Changing ROMs on a UK DEXT

[nextmick]

Hi All,

I've have a Orange UK Motorola Dext, I'd like to know what is the best 2.1 rom for me to put on this device.

How stable are the alpha roms?

Is it a case of me just rooting my device then following the instructions to install the new rom and (WHEN) Motorola release the official 2.1 in the UK I un-Root my phone and apply their rom.

Has any other UK users of the Dext changed rom and how stable are they.

Mickey

[gigeaky]

News: the 2.1 update is for the Cliq (Motorola MB220 US Version - T-MOBILE) for the European market the update is "Under evaluation". So if you want an upgrade to 2.1 i guess you have to install a T-Mobile US firmware.
I have an UK Orange Dext that i have rooted and i am using Handler's 1.5 working great from my point of view

[robrob119]

I have an Orange UK Dext also, I started with Handler's 1.5 and now im on Eclair2Cliq chich is Android 2.1

It IS a sweet ROM, BUT you will not have any 3g connectivity. Seems that there is no fix/workaround for this at the moment. But WiFi does work fine.

Also you might wanna look at adlx's ROM too.

PM me if you have any questions, I remember when I was deciding whether or not to do this :P

[psykosonik]

News: the 2.1 update is for the Cliq (Motorola MB220 US Version - T-MOBILE) for the European market the update is "Under evaluation". So if you want an upgrade to 2.1 i guess you have to install a T-Mobile US firmware.
I have an UK Orange Dext that i have rooted and i am using Handler's 1.5 working great from my point of view

I also have a Dext, so we will not be able to flash the 2.1 stock t-mobile rom when it is released?

[gigeaky]

well you won't receive that upgrade OTA with you version of ROM but you can flash a stock T-Mobile and you will receive the upgrade (Remember that doing that you lose your root)

[Freddie34]

I have a Orange UK Dext originally on 1.3.20 UK stock.

I first rooted and tried out HandlerExploits 1.5 ROM.

Then I updated the radio and ROM to 1.4.8 with KB7SQIs 1.4.8 ROM to get it to 1.4.8 radio so I could then load PureHandler 0.0r1 ROM. This works okay and seems stable although i've had a few problems with the messaging apps ... specifically corporate email sync stopped working properly. Had a few scary moments on the way (1st time rooting) however I have retained 3G radio throughout.

Just waiting now for PureHandler 1.0 which should remove all motoblur from the phone ... then i'll see if I can get it to the point where its worth shelling out to unlock it so I can use it on my VF contract.

[-ajgp-]

UK Dext here as well.

New to the rooting thing as well.

Over the course of the weekend I have put every ROM on this forum onto my Dext - as well as updating the radio to 1.4.8

Currently have Opencliq V2.1 R1 installed. No 3G though know idea why it wont pick up the APN list.

[Double0EK]

The Eclair Alpha ROMs does not have APN support atm.
Also depending on what carrier you have for your Dext will depend on if you will have 3G coverage.
I believe Bell uses 850mhrz for radio frequency so 3G will be lost. Orange users mite still have 3G. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[-ajgp-]

Orange UK use 1900mhz range, according to what i have found.

[tickler136]

The alpha release Eclair ROMs are pretty much totally stable on the UK DEXT. No camera, accelerometer or APN support as yet though so if these features are more important to you than battery life or speed, you are better off using one of the other ROMs. I use either OpenCliq or PureHandler personally, kinda switching between the two a lot at the moment as I try to suss out which I prefer. Eclair is absolutely epic though.

[neils58]

Could anyone tell me if you can have 3G connectivity on the UK Three network with eclair2cliq rom?

I've been thinking about rooting and flashing mine for a while, can anyone confirm that following the [How to]Root ... sticky and putting handler 1.5 on will retain 3G connectivity on Three? It was originally an Orange UK Dext, but has been unlocked.

[tickler136]

I can only reply with 100% certainty regarding the Orange network (in the UK), but I can confirm that flashing any of the custom 1.5 ROMs WILL allow you to retain 3g connectivity. Flashing it with Eclair2Cliq or OpenCliq WILL NOT allow this, because of a problem reading and saving to the new SIM cards (therefore wave goodbye to all of your contacts and any form of data connectivity - but LIVE WALLPAPERS!!!!!1111eleventy)

Seriously, you've got nothing to lose by rooting your phone and having a play around with all of the ROMs available, deciding whether you prefer a phone with 100% functionality or the latest features. That is the beauty of Android and the community - or at least it should be.

Unless you brick it, the very worst thats going to happen is an improvement in battery life and speedy ROM goodness.

Edit - check your radio version first! Orange released an OTA upgrade to 1.4.8 radio not so long ago. You may need to use KB7SQI. Obviously then, you'll be wanting one of the 1.4.8 ROMs on your phone, ie NOT Handler 1.5. A briq is not what you need.

[neils58]

Thanks! My Baseband version has 5025 in it, which I think I read somewhere is the 1.3.20 radio.

So 1.4.8 Roms will work properly with 3G in the UK then, but if I update I can only use other 1.4.8 roms?

One last question - reflashing. Say i've followed the guide and got Handlers 1.5 on there, Do I 'Wipe/Factory reset' from the recovery before flashing any new rom?

Unfortunately I need 3G and bluetooth, so it looks like I won't be trying 2.1 until Moto pull their fingers out

[tickler136]

1.4.8 ROMs are working fine in the UK with 3G, KB7SQI and Purehandler0.0 both work fine for me, but I can get by without 3G so I've upgraded to E2C.Try using a 1.3.20 ROM with a 1.4.8 radio - and you are likely to end up with a briq. (I believe, funnily enough I didn't want to test the theory out). I think the case is that you can upgrade but not downgrade.

You may get away without wiping... I have done once or twice, but don't be at all surprised if it doesn't work

[neils58]

Just to let you guys know, I rooted tonight, smooth process, running HandlersExploit 1.5 now.

It's noticably faster than stock, only issue i've noticed so far is that Swype doesn't seem to work (I can install it, but it force closes ) It worked fine on stock.

Wireless tether works great, which was the main feature I was looking for, what other good root utilities are there?