New Galaxy Nexus Radios OUT!

[T_Yamamoto]

FF02/FG02
They're posted in rootzwiki as a zip
EDIT for TORO

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've always wondered what the difference is between ROMs, Kernels, and Radios.

ROMs are like the operating system, right?
Kernels are... what? What exactly can you do with a different kernel?
Radios are a new set of GPS and cell radio drivers? Would these sometimes come bundled in a ROM?

 

[grkM3]

Radios are firmware/updated to the actual modem hardware

Kernels are like the bios and has drivers and tweaks for everything

And the ROM is like the os

 

[cl-scott]

It should be noted that these are for the Toro model only, so the Verizon sold one. So I wouldn't suggest someone with a GSM Gnex try flashing these.

And I would disagree somewhat with grkM3...

The radio files would be more analogous to the BIOS on a computer, but more specialized. It's the software that controls the 3G and 4G antennas, so it can improve signal reception, and improve battery life as a result. When the phone can't get a reliable signal, it'll boost power to the antennas to try and get a better signal.

The kernel is like the central nervous system of the OS. It is the most fundamental part of the OS, pretty much everything flows through the kernel, and then the ROM would be the OS proper.

 

[Bateluer]

ROM is more of a legacy term these days.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Radios are firmware/updated to the actual modem hardware

Kernels are like the bios and has drivers and tweaks for everything

And the ROM is like the os

This sums it up pretty much.

I'm running them and they're nice

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

It should be noted that these are for the Toro model only, so the Verizon sold one. So I wouldn't suggest someone with a GSM Gnex try flashing these.

And I would disagree somewhat with grkM3...

The radio files would be more analogous to the BIOS on a computer, but more specialized. It's the software that controls the 3G and 4G antennas, so it can improve signal reception, and improve battery life as a result. When the phone can't get a reliable signal, it'll boost power to the antennas to try and get a better signal.

The kernel is like the central nervous system of the OS. It is the most fundamental part of the OS, pretty much everything flows through the kernel, and then the ROM would be the OS proper.

Hmmmm...

The radios control the 3G and 4G antennas and can improve reception and battery life.

Does that also include the GPS? What about the Bluetooth and WiFi?

The kernel could affect things like CPU clock speed and power management?

 

[Bateluer]

Does that also include the GPS?

In the case of the Gnex, yes. The GPS was much improved after the radio firmware in the 4.0.4 update.

 

[dguy6789]

I'm using the VZW aosp 4.1 build that includes the newest radios. Along with jellybean being amazing I can report that the 3g radio is noticeably better. Pandora works noticeably better too. I didn't look at DBMS, just noticing much more reliable web browsing.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I'm using the VZW aosp 4.1 build that includes the newest radios. Along with jellybean being amazing I can report that the 3g radio is noticeably better. Pandora works noticeably better than too. I didn't look at DBMS, just noticing much more reliable web browsing.

DBMs don't actually change from radio to radio (I read it someplace).

 

[soccerballtux]

DBMs don't actually change from radio to radio (I read it someplace).

if they have a better filter it's possible they could be getting better SNR and thus gain appears higher

 

[zoiks]

Any perceived improvement using these new radios?

 

[dguy6789]

Anecdotal/possibly placebo but the data connection feels more stable/responsive. Web browsing seems more consistent, there's less times where the data connection seems to be doing nothing. I listen to Pandora all the time at work. Usually there would be times when a song takes a really long time to begin playing a few times a day over 3G. With this radio that didn't happen once.

I'm on Jellybean now so I can't say if any of this is because of the radios specifically or if Jellybean is a factor also.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

Any perceived improvement using these new radios?

I have gotten 4G in areas where I used to get 3G