Database Develop

[GUIDE] : Flashing a baseband and why you should do it

Hello All.
I had a small talk with DoomLord about flashing base-bands over the phone and the difference it would make for your phone so have decided to make the information that I got available for the public here so that no one else has to go to the same hassle I did Googling for all the stuff.
I am a power user of Android. But completely unbeknownst to the development side of the OS. So if I make any mistakes, I request you to point them out to me and I will make the necessary corrections.
So what exactly is a baseband ?!
Inside of your cellphone, there is a chip embedded that enables it to communicate with your carrier's transmission towers. This chip is known as a "baseband processor" and it is responsible for signal processing and realtime radio transmission operation. (Got that bit from WikiPedia)
The baseband is actually a piece of software that instructs that processor on what frequencies to operate on.
Kind of like a driver for any hardware that you might install on your computer.
So any gain in the level of harmony between the hardware and software that make data transmission happen on your phone (GSM/DATA) is only going to benefit the phone's performance. ( READ battery life, signal reception, etc.)
Also, each baseband has it's corresponding libraries which also need to be provided for it to be working optimally.
So that's that for the theory part.
I'm open to corrections. If anyone can point them out, I will be happy to edit the post. But I had a lot of trouble trying to understand WHY I should flash a particular baseband and what difference it will make.
Currently, at XDA we have baseband patches for baseband -36 and -64 available.
So as per your ROM requirements, it would be better to flash any of these base-bands onto your phone with their corresponding libraries.
Which brings us to the next part.
ACTUALLY flashing the baseband.
Pretty simple process actually.
But from what I know, you will need a rooted phone with an unlocked bootloader to do this. (!! Not sure !! )
And a custom recovery (Clockwork MOD) that can allow you flash .zip to NAND.
EDIT : You just "NEED" root. (Thanks Flo95)
Please follow post 2 for further info on how to do it without root.
My ARC S is rooted and has an unlocked bootloader.
So all that you need to do now is download the following :
1.Flashtool.
2.Baseband that you require.
3.Corresponsing baseband libraries
I will be posting more on this with screenshots so that everyone can enjoy the same benefits that I have currently after using my phone on -36 baseband and using the corresponding patches.
Credits to DoomLord (For awesome DOOM Kernel) and Iridaki (For baseband patches). If there is anyone else to credit, please do point and I will acknowledge the same here.
I invite inputs from other experienced XDA members to provide more technical Know-how on why this is necessary. Sadly, there is insufficient material right now on this topic here.
Thanks.
EDIT :
Lets share a list of working Basebands in various areas :
For eg. :
Gujarat, India : 36 works fine on Vodafone 3G
64 works fine on Vodafone 3G and Airtel.
NSW Australia (on the Optus network) : Baseband 36 tested to be working great
Finland:
-64 works great for Sonera / Saunalahti / Elisa / DNA
-36 drops connection alot for Saunalahti / Elisa
Croatia
baseband 56 works great in Croatia
You can point to the baseband working for you and your location and I will update the post accordingly.
Thanks
Please click the "THANKS" button if you feel you've benefited from the info !

You can flash basebands without an unlocked bootloader, as it happens when "normal" users update their devices the official way without need of an unlocked bl.
You can get recovery with SE Extreme Tweaker on locked bootloader, too.
Only thing you need is root.
But for kernel awesomeness I'd definitly recommend to unlock the device.
Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

What baseband is actually the best for uk in terms of signal battery and gps?
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk

Thanks for this topic!! ok I attach here the post I published in the other thread with no answer :
" @Iridaki: Sorry for my stupid question... But is there a way to flash another baseband directly from recovery?? Or I don't know, with root explorer... I'm on firmware. 42 rooted, with locked bootloader and with recovery. Thanks!
Sent from my Arc S LT18i using Xda Premium App"
Thanks in advance for your answer!!

rkanwar said:
What baseband is actually the best for uk in terms of signal battery and gps?
Sent from my LT18i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is a great idea to discuss what basebands work best in what areas, it will certainly help a lot of people make the right (and informed decision).
To start off, I am in NSW Australia (on the Optus network) and I have found that the ideal baseband for me is .36 - All the other ones work fine of course but the .36 offers best/optimum battery and radio output for everyday use (with the latest DooMKernel of course!)

Hi, Im from the Philippines and wondering what baseband suits for my Arc S?

theduke89 said:
But is there a way to flash another baseband directly from recovery?? Or I don't know, with root explorer... I'm on firmware. 42 rooted, with locked bootloader and with recovery. Thanks!
Sent from my Arc S LT18i using Xda Premium App"
Thanks in advance for your answer!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is a way to flash the baseband without Flashtool, but we wont publish it for now, since it's not working reliable on me. For theorie its working like an SE fota update. Which uses binary diff and flashes the diffs to the corresponding areas. This way you could flash all partitions. But this is only theory for now, because with flashtool we have a better way which is very very safe. Even if flashtool fails the phone can be restored everytime. Via FOTA you can really brick it forever
@All asking for which baseband fits best:
Please please DON'T start flashing basebands without thinking about now.
Normally ALWAYS use the baseband which comes with the ROM! For example SE always has the corresponding baseband included. This baseband fits the android libs it comes with.
On custom Roms please read what the developer of the customRom telly you. If he/she has developed the Rom for specific baseband libs.
All other things like baseband patches are tested and developed by other developers which know what they are doing. So if you use such a patch ALWAYS read the manual and the requirements. Because it CAN happen that it is NOT possible to use a GB baseband on a ICS rom and vice versa. The is a little more than "just" libs and firmware. Also the java part framework/base/com/java/internal/telephony....
has to fit the baseband (SE is very special here).
So i hope now you all understand. Please please please leave the decision which baseband is best and which is working to the devs who know what they are doing!!!!!! Don't come here and tell "i tried baeband xxxxx now my phone randomly disconnects data/voice/..."
Thanks

I'm in Victoria, Australia on the Telstra network. Does anyone know which is the optimal baseband for me to use?
Cheers.

Crikey83 said:
I'm in Victoria, Australia on the Telstra network. Does anyone know which is the optimal baseband for me to use?
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You completely ignored the post above yours, didn't you?
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk

Finland:
-64 works great for Sonera / Saunalahti / Elisa / DNA
-36 drops connection alot for Saunalahti / Elisa

baseband .56 works great in croatia

iridaki said:
You completely ignored the post above yours, didn't you?
iR¡[email protected]!* via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, maybe just a little bit. The rest of the post was supposed to read that I am currently running baseband 64 but have **** internet connection even with full network reception.
Sent from my LT18i using XDA

ive been using baseband 36 so far, not bad might try 64 soon

[Q] L-07C Baseband

I'm using docomo l-07c with baseband l07c_v10d on Zeus v6.4o but its battery drains too fast. I tried some basebands of p970 but my signal is weak.
So can anyone suggest an other baseband for me?

Theres no more baseband i no.
Did you get ril-patch?
Sent from my LG-KU5900 using xda premium

ducanh.do88 said:
I'm using docomo l-07c with baseband l07c_v10d on Zeus v6.4o but its battery drains too fast. I tried some basebands of p970 but my signal is weak.
So can anyone suggest an other baseband for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do relize that your in the wrong forum and flashed a ROM thats not for your phone.
l-07 is Optimus Bright if I'm not mistaken.

Croid Kang said:
Theres no more baseband i no.
Did you get ril-patch?
Sent from my LG-KU5900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will try
xonar_ said:
You do relize that your in the wrong forum and flashed a ROM thats not for your phone.
l-07 is Optimus Bright if I'm not mistaken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, L-07C is a clone of P970 in Japan. You can use ROMs of P970 on L-07C if you have suitable baseband I think I'm not wrong

ducanh.do88 said:
Dude, L-07C is a clone of P970 in Japan. You can use ROMs of P970 on L-07C if you have suitable baseband I think I'm not wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I didn't know that but the baseband is only one part of the network. You need to use all of it's network files.
If it can't pick up the network properly (data calls and everything might work despite this) it will eat away your battery which is probably whats causing the drain.

xonar_ said:
Sorry I didn't know that but the baseband is only one part of the network. You need to use all of it's network files.
If it can't pick up the network properly (data calls and everything might work despite this) it will eat away your battery which is probably whats causing the drain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Docomo suspended updating firmware for L-07C since December 2011. I got that baseband from stock rom V10D. Stock rom also drains battery fast. I got same issue from many L-07C users in my region.
I'm going to try CM7 baseband of boype but in my opinion, Docomo maybe did something to make L-07C to only work with their released firmware

ducanh.do88 said:
Docomo suspended updating firmware for L-07C since December 2011. I got that baseband from stock rom V10D. Stock rom also drains battery fast. I got same issue from many L-07C users in my region.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try using the ril from your official firmware. It acts as a link between the baseband and the OS. Theres a couple of other network related files that you can also try (I don't think they will have an effect though).
You can also try another baseband from P970. Start with Europe Open as it seems to work in most countries. Other than that theres not much you can do.

[Q] XMM6160 baseband

Hi there, i read few threads about baseband problems. i found this in older post (not my phone lol)
Details of my phone are
1) Model Number : LG P970
2) Android Version : 2.2.2
3) Baseband Version : XMM6160
4) Kernel Version : 2.6.32
5) Build Number : FRG83G
6) Software Version : LG-P970-V10d
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i guess this answer one of my question, that xmm6160 is froyo baseband the v10x or whatever. ??? is it correct ??
if it does than it would answer my second question, that i can flash any BB no matter if its from froyo, gb, ics and it should work with the phone. am i correct in this or not???
so now the question is, if my phone have xmm6160 BB and everything works fine except the auto time and date. should i flash v30 baseband? you think its worth it ?? is there a way for me to backup my current BB or i need togo the long way and extract it from the KDZ.
last question: if LG didnt release ICS in my region will the v30 BB work in my region, as far as i understand it may not work properly ?? am i correct ??
thanks
sol

deleted

Try it... If that dont work, reflash your v10 baseband. That will take 5min
I suggest to download Clock Sync. Uncheck automatic time in option and use clock sync

Mini Franki said:
Try it... If that dont work, reflash your v10 baseband. That will take 5min
I suggest to download Clock Sync. Uncheck automatic time in option and use clock sync
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your reply, i will try clock sync, about the flashing of BB im guessing that the post i found is indeed a v10 BB bcs the guy said that is phone is still in stock and unrooted, if i extract the v10e KDZ, is there a way to verify the BB version before i flash it??

BB version can be different for each country. A v10e from USA or v10e from EUR will have a different bb
If you want the good BB, take it from your country stock rom. Just need to flash the .fls file

Mini Franki said:
BB version can be different for each country. A v10e from USA or v10e from EUR will have a different bb
If you want the good BB, take it from your country stock rom. Just need to flash the .fls file
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
am i correct that all custom roms do not have a bb ? if that is so, then my phone has the xmm6160 which is suppose to be from my old stock v10e
and if im correct about the above, than i should not even try to flah v30 bb, cause my country has only v10x version and not even v20 so ill stick to current BB i got.
and if im wrong can xmm6160 be a gingerbread BB?? that was flash when i had zeus 6.4 or marvel v9 cm7 or cici??
how can i verifay the .fls file that is xmm6161 file or maybe different ver. ??
thanks so much for clearing this stuff for me. :good:

Exactly, custom rom dont have BB. You are on which rom?
That depend... Im on IZS with the EUR baseband and automatic time work perfectly(im from canada). V30 bb fixed auto time problem. But im not sure if v30 bb will be good with your v10d rom. I can only say, try it

Mini Franki said:
Exactly, custom rom dont have BB. You are on which rom?
That depend... Im on IZS with the EUR baseband and automatic time work perfectly. V30 bb fixed auto time problem. But im not sure if v30 bb will be good with your v10d rom. I can only say, try it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right now im on marvel v11 and auto time date not working, but all else including gps work fine. and i have xmm6160 bb .

Oh!
Flash v30b baseband, that will fix your auto time problem. Sorry i was sure you was on v10d lol

Mini Franki said:
Oh!
Flash v30b baseband, that will fix your auto time problem. Sorry i was sure you was on v10d lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, my old stock was v10e, israel region. do you know by any chance if i should try and use the v30b open europe or it doesnt matter which region .fls as long as its v30b ?? cause israel didnt get the ics update so no v30 for us, only the froyo.
thanks again brother

AW: [Q] XMM6160 baseband
cookiepuppy said:
lol, my old stock was v10e, israel region. do you know by any chance if i should try and use the v30b open europe or it doesnt matter which region .fls as long as its v30b ?? cause israel didnt get the ics update so no v30 for us, only the froyo.
thanks again brother
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant you use the UAE version?
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app

Well I'm kind of a noob , what's UAE version? If this can work I'm sure gonna try.
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app

AW: [Q] XMM6160 baseband
cookiepuppy said:
Well I'm kind of a noob , what's UAE version? If this can work I'm sure gonna try.
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
United arab emirates. Look into v30 thread in general, someone posted, there is an arab ROM now.
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app

N00BY0815 said:
United arab emirates. Look into v30 thread in general, someone posted, there is an arab ROM now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just flashed the v30b open eur. baseband and when i got to phone setting->about phone-> baseband version. it seems that it was flashed ok, now its not unknown the ver. no' is 1035.23_20110405. s/w ver. p97030b-eur-xx
when i check the lg hidden menu->version->baseband shows as XMM6160.
is it ok? does it suppose to be like that ??
phone was rebooted only and no factory reset was done by SFT.

AW: [Q] XMM6160 baseband
cookiepuppy said:
i just flashed the v30b open eur. baseband and when i got to phone setting->about phone-> baseband version. it seems that it was flashed ok, now its not unknown the ver. no' is 1035.23_20110405. s/w ver. p97030b-eur-xx
when i check the lg hidden menu->version->baseband shows as XMM6160.
is it ok? does it suppose to be like that ??
phone was rebooted only and no factory reset was done by SFT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it works properly,especially in calls, it s fine
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app

Well, I tested calls, gps, WiFi, SMS and everything works fine.
Thanks guys for your help.
Sent from my LG-P970 using xda app-developers app

[Baseband] V30A Germany

Today I downloaded the latest German stock ROM (700 MB) just to get this little thing (8 MB). So I thought, maybe save somebody the trouble and share it. The V30A Germany Baseband (see attachment). Flash it with AIO-Toolkit (option 7).
It is recommended to use a baseband which was made for your country/phone. So Germans (with ICS/JB) should probably use this one.
Check with your IMEI which baseband (ROM) you would normally receive:
http://csmg.lgmobile.com:9002/csmg/b2c/client/auth_model_check2.jsp?esn=IMEI (Replace IMEI at the end of the URL with your IMEI - it's under your battery.)

Hummmmm...here you are Germany BaseBand v30B
You have the complete firmware on my signature!!...

trocopassu said:
Hummmmm...here you are Germany BaseBand v30B
You have the complete firmware on my signature!!...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no V30B for Germany. Not even for Europe Open. I don't know where you got that from.
http://lg-phone-firmware.com/index.php?id_mod=3

JUMPhil said:
"...There is no V30B for Germany. Not even for Europe Open..."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK! ... If you say so!! ...
http://www.smartphenom.com/2013/01/lg-firmware-update-central-beta.html

In germany we have a v30B but only for vodafone but you can use it as normal with every provider

trocopassu said:
OK! ... If you say so!! ...
http://www.smartphenom.com/2013/01/lg-firmware-update-central-beta.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is most probably V30B Spain, as that's the only Vodafone V30B ROM available. There are no Vodafone ROMs for Germany or Europe.
We have a thread for that baseband already.

sgspluss said:
In germany we have a v30B […]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where? How do you get it from LG?
sgspluss said:
[…] but only for vodafone but you can use it as normal with every provider
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also use a Chinese baseband in Germany. But that's not recommended.

JUMPhil said:
This is most probably V30B Spain, as that's the only Vodafone V30B ROM available. There are no Vodafone ROMs for Germany or Europe.
We have a thread for that baseband already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. .. they are different, as you yourself can observe through the LINK I posted!
But for me everything is perfect ... I use v30B Germany and I am Very Happy with it ...
---------- Post added at 03:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------
JUMPhil said:
"...You can also use a Chinese baseband in Germany. But that's not recommended..."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used for a long time baseband v30B India and never had problems!
My LG has always worked perfectly and without any errors ...but, obviously, was certainly not recommended by the brand! Which is not equivalent to say no funcion as well or even better?!...:good:

trocopassu said:
No. .. they are different, as you yourself can observe through the LINK I posted!
But for me everything is perfect ... I use v30B Germany and I am Very Happy with it ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The firmware is not available from your link. But I downloaded your attachment and compared it to my V30A Germany and Vodafone V30B Spain.
V30A Germany is completely different to yours. Vodafone V30B Spain has exactly the same size of 8,351,116 bytes like yours, but has a different MD5 for me.
trocopassu said:
I used for a long time baseband v30B India and never had problems!
My LG has always worked perfectly and without any errors ...but, obviously, was certainly not recommended by the brand! Which is not equivalent to say no funcion as well or even better?!...:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was also always using basebands from Korea or such. There were always problems for me, but I can't allocate them. But I think if you flash the baseband that the manufacturer would flash on your phone, you're on the safe side.

JUMPhil said:
The firmware is not available from your link. But I downloaded your attachment and compared it to my V30A Germany and Vodafone V30B Spain.
V30A Germany is completely different to yours. Vodafone V30B Spain has exactly the same size of 8,351,116 bytes like yours, but has a different MD5 for me.
**_**_**
I was also always using basebands from Korea or such. There were always problems for me, but I can't allocate them. But I think if you flash the baseband that the manufacturer would flash on your phone, you're on the safe side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange!?! ... Now I just check LINK's and everything is fine!
As for the firmware, it is possible that the Baseband's are identical in size, but the firmware is different in all ... I think the v30B Spain is higher than v30B Germany ... now I'm at work and can not see it .
I know I've posted something like that, I'll see if I find the post and inform.
How to flash baseband one another Country, I do not say that you're right there, on the contrary, what is certain is that I never had problems.

firmware LG
JUMPhil said:
Where? How do you get it from LG?
You can also use a Chinese baseband in Germany. But that's not recommended.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Friends
Here you will find all the firmware LG
http://www.smartphenom.com/2013/01/lg-firmware-update-central-beta.html
as seen looking spain and germany have 2 firmware V30A and v30b/vodafone both
reading the links exhaust servers they are official LG
closed practice I think ...
v30b spain and germany are good for everyone in europe (released on different dates)
Please see this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2015630&page=40
sorry for bad english ...

PinoDG said:
Hi Friends
Here you will find all the firmware LG
http://www.smartphenom.com/2013/01/lg-firmware-update-central-beta.html
as seen looking spain and germany have 2 firmware V30A and v30b/vodafone both
reading the links exhaust servers they are official LG
closed practice I think ...
v30b spain and germany are good for everyone in europe (released on different dates)
Please see this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2015630&page=40
sorry for bad english ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perfect!
Was already mentioned here, (But Many Thank's)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=45938273&postcount=4

Does the v30b bb fix the bsod problem when plugging the phone into USB while screen is off? V30A works perfectly for me.
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

mas2112 said:
Does the v30b bb fix the bsod problem when plugging the phone into USB while screen is off? V30A works perfectly for me.
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again????!...OMG...WTF!!...
ENABLE 2nd core!!!!!...On KKernel setup.
LG O2x[P990]@TapaTalk4HD v4.1.3

Thanks for repeating this for me. My Google search didn't find me this info!
Let me reiterate this so it's easier for people to search for this info.
So if you get a BSOD (Black Screen of Death) or crash when plugging in your phone (LG Optimus 2x P990) to your PC computer USB port, and you have the Kowalski Kernel (KK) installed, the solution is to turn on or enable 2nd core auto hot plug in the Kowalski Manager.

I flashed firmware and baseband v30b Germany. I'm on tonyp build 18 the ROM. When I go about baseband version it says February13 2013 ? Is that
OK ?

g3ar said:
I flashed firmware and baseband v30b Germany. I'm on tonyp build 18 the ROM. When I go about baseband version it says February13 2013 ? Is that
OK ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah!...That's correct
LG O2x[P990]@TapaTalk4HD v4.1.3

so that means , that v30b germany isnt "more fixed" its just relased later ?

I have BSOD on Stock rom and i can't enable second CPU, is some solution for this?

lolypop000 said:
I have BSOD on Stock rom and i can't enable second CPU, is some solution for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Baseband version?
Sent from my LG-P990 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] How to update modem baseband when using custom ROM?

Hi,
I'm using Paranoid Android 4.5 Alpha 2 and I wonder how to update modem baseband to latest version without losing my actual configuration and ROM.
Is it possible?
If so, can you tell me how and what do I need.
Thanks by advance

zeduck said:
Hi,
I'm using Paranoid Android 4.5 Alpha 2 and I wonder how to update modem baseband to latest version without losing my actual configuration and ROM.
Is it possible?
If so, can you tell me how and what do I need.
Thanks by advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why do you want to flash baseband?

Because I have issues with phone calls.
So I would like to take advantage of the latest baseband that would maybe fix those.

zeduck said:
Because I have issues with phone calls.
So I would like to take advantage of the latest baseband that would maybe fix those.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it might be an operator issue/rom bug.
dont fiddle with the baseband

It's not an operator problem.
So I suppose the problem is from my side (phone).
I used to have a Nexus 4 and ROM and baseband are 2 different things that you can flash independently.
Are you sure it's not the same with Xperia Z?
I already saw some topics with titles like Baseband Generic US something. But I did not find any Generic FR at the latest version.

zeduck said:
It's not an operator problem.
So I suppose the problem is from my side (phone).
I used to have a Nexus 4 and ROM and baseband are 2 different things that you can flash independently.
Are you sure it's not the same with Xperia Z?
I already saw some topics with titles like Baseband Generic US something. But I did not find any Generic FR at the latest version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can download the french firmware and just flash the baseband from flashtool
Edit: Why dont you try EU firmware

I found out one topic for generic FR latest firmware and I used your trick flashing only the baseband.
Thanks!
Now I will see with the time if it's making my phone work better.

zeduck said:
I found out one topic for generic FR latest firmware and I used your trick flashing only the baseband.
Thanks!
Now I will see with the time if it's making my phone work better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:highfive::good: