Jay's reference base for modding Motorola phones

[Jay2TheRescue]

A lot of people have been reading posts I've made about the modifications I've made to my V551 and have been PM'ing me with questions. In this post I am going to try to list most of the reference sources I used to make these changes. I've gotten a few really advanced questions that I couldn't answer, so hopefully this can point people in the right direction, and get a good idea of what goes on inside a Motorola phone.

Please note that changing the setup of your phone beyond the menus given to you by your provider will void your warranty, and you could end up with a very expensive paperweight. Usage of the information contained in the pages below is at your own risk.

1. REQUIRED READING: Lord Farkward's detailed n00b guide. PLEASE read this before you ask questions.~V.1.3~ http://www.motomodders.net/Default.aspx?g=posts&t=6727
   
2. More required reading: Customizing the Motorola Vxxx http://www.xlr8.us/hofo
   
3. Fantastic overall reference base & source for software: www.motomodders.net
   
4. Great guide to Flashing & flexing Motorola phones (For V600 but it applies to most Motos out there): http://www.mob453.com/phones/motorola_v600/
   
5. Nice site specific to the V3 Razr: http://www.motox.us
   
6. Master list of hacks (seem map) for Motorola Vxxx phones: http://xlr8.us/hofo/map.txt

This list is not complete, but contains all basic information needed for someone to :

1. Decide if modding is for them
   
2. Where to go to learn
   
3. What to do when something goes wrong

Enjoy ! Jay

[MOTOhooligan]

I think Jay's reference base for modding Motorola phones should be a sticky.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by rancidhooligan

I think Jay's reference base for modding Motorola phones should be a sticky.

Thanks! But the credit goes to the authors of the articles. I just compiled a list of good reads.

[ShoresGuy]

Interesting stuff but I'm not in the mood to mod my V525, I like it as it is.

[Gabriel]

i am!! i just got my data cable in today... im ready to erase all that cingular crap i never use...

thanks again jay!

[Gabriel]

update: i cannot get the damn drivers to work!! all i have to do is plug in the cable, point the conputer to where the drivers are, and presto, right? it doesnt work!! aaggggggg

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by Gabriel

update: i cannot get the damn drivers to work!! all i have to do is plug in the cable, point the conputer to where the drivers are, and presto, right? it doesnt work!! aaggggggg

What model phone are you using, and what software are you trying to use?

[Gabriel]

hey my friend, i was able to get it going... 4 hours later!!! hehehehe. i was able to change my outer LCD display to my last name. i even had dreams about this, no kidding!

anyway, i was following driver/p2kman installing instructions in http://www.xlr8.us/hofo, but they didnt work. then i looked at http://www.mob453.com/phones/motorola_v600/ and it said some different things. this is what i did, so any of you out there is pulling his hair çause it is not working (just like i did), give this a try:

1- go to http://www.mob453.com/phones/motorola_v600/, (and in this order) download PST 6.7 general, then PST 6 patch. install them in that same order (first general, then patch). no need to restart your computer for now

2- now go to http://www.motomodders.net, sign up/register (must do this), go to the download section (on top of your screen), look for and download p2kman, and install it. now restart your computer.

3- plug the phone in with your data cable, and open up p2kman. when you open up p2kman, dont do anything, just relax. you will see that the drivers you need will start loading. all you have to do is press "next" and "ok". a few of them will load, one after the other, so dont worry if you see the installation screen many times.

4- now go to http://www.xlr8.us/hofo, download and install XVI32. DONE!!! then spend some time reading this excellent tutorial. it is very clear and easy to understand.

5- now go to www.rogain.com and get your hair back

ps. Jay2TheRescue, thanks for your help with the sites!!! excellent work

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yeah, when I set up my computer I followed mob453.com's instructions as well, they seemed to have it explained very well, and had pics of screenshots along the way.

[Tony E!]

I'll make this a sticky per request.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Thanks Tony! My first Sticky! I am deeply honored.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Hello everyone. I just wanted everyone to know that there was a new updated SEEM map released the other day with more hacks listed.

Last Modified (GMT -0400) 2:46 AM Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Latest Changes: kjava/j2me*.pat files
seem 0032, offset 69, bit 3
seem 0254 and 0278 added to other interesting seems (with details)
seem 004a, offset 1D1
seem 0032, offset 83, bit 4
added more gain_table hacks (microphone gains, master gain, volume control steps)
added more gain_table hacks (speakerphone keypad, voice name; bluetooth voice name/voice record)
added seem 004e for max video record size setting (V635)
added numerous gain_table hacks (wired headset gains, BT headset gains, voice name/voice record gains, system tone gains)
added some new seem 0032 hacks provided to me (mostly items that are set 'on' by default in almost all flexes)

What does this all mean?
See http://xlr8.us/hofo/ for a tutorial.

Disclaimer:
Use this information at your own risk!
I cannot be held responsible if you damage your phone.
If you have questions, contact me via PM on http://www.howardforums.com/ - my handle is 'xlr8'.
DO NOT E-MAIL ME ABOUT THIS. PM via Howard Forums only.
By keeping this page open and reading the information below, you agree to these stipulations.

I just added many of the new hacks from the gain table and it rocks. It is nice that you can finally boost the volume of your bluetooth headsets, and I increased the gain on all of the mic settings too.

I tried a different program to make the changes this time. I used MotoKit v1.06. I liked the hex editing features and think I have a new program to do seem edits and such instead of using a separate hex editor as I did before. Motomodders has MotoKit available for download, and how to change the program's text from chinese to english is also available there.

I also solved my problem of my phone being homed on the Orange network, and the blue network has better coverage at my house. I seem edited the trusty V551 to make it a triband phone, eliminating 850. I know this seems to be a step backwards, but since Orange towers are 850, and blue towers are 1900 in my area this has turned out to be the easiest way to keep my phone on the blue network. I was using the cell sticker, but I found that I would forget it was on and if I traveled far from where I set the sticker I'd loose signal, and the phone still wouldn't look for a new tower. If I travel out of the area, or once integration happens I'll add 850 back and make it a quadband phone once again.

I'm attaching a copy of the new SEEM map for reference. There also are hacks listed there for the V3 as well. Thank You XLR8 for posting this updated list so we can get more enjoyment out of our Motorola phones.

[ShoresGuy]

Very interesting post, Jay, I'm getting interested in adding Field Test mode to my V525 so I can at least see which towers it's connecting to. Looks like I'll get a V525 compatible USB cable in the morning.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Very interesting post, Jay, I'm getting interested in adding Field Test mode to my V525 so I can at least see which towers it's connecting to. Looks like I'll get a V525 compatible USB cable in the morning.

Field test is awesome. I don't think a day goes by where I don't use it at least once.

[ShoresGuy]

It's probably a lot more detailed than other apps/options I've seen for other phones.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

It's probably a lot more detailed than other apps/options I've seen for other phones.

It is extremely detailed. I don't know what half the information displayed means, but its cool.

[Shizam76]

Originally Posted by Jay2TheRescue

Hello everyone. I just wanted everyone to know that there was a new updated SEEM map released the other day with more hacks listed.



I just added many of the new hacks from the gain table and it rocks. It is nice that you can finally boost the volume of your bluetooth headsets, and I increased the gain on all of the mic settings too.

I tried a different program to make the changes this time. I used MotoKit v1.06. I liked the hex editing features and think I have a new program to do seem edits and such instead of using a separate hex editor as I did before. Motomodders has MotoKit available for download, and how to change the program's text from chinese to english is also available there.

I also solved my problem of my phone being homed on the Orange network, and the blue network has better coverage at my house. I seem edited the trusty V551 to make it a triband phone, eliminating 850. I know this seems to be a step backwards, but since Orange towers are 850, and blue towers are 1900 in my area this has turned out to be the easiest way to keep my phone on the blue network. I was using the cell sticker, but I found that I would forget it was on and if I traveled far from where I set the sticker I'd loose signal, and the phone still wouldn't look for a new tower. If I travel out of the area, or once integration happens I'll add 850 back and make it a quadband phone once again.

I'm attaching a copy of the new SEEM map for reference. There also are hacks listed there for the V3 as well. Thank You XLR8 for posting this updated list so we can get more enjoyment out of our Motorola phones.

Jay....the text attachment says it hasn't been tested on the v551 phones.....but I assume that there are no problems....since you have done it?

[Jay2TheRescue]

This, and previous versions is what I used on my V551. Don't forget the primary rule though... ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE CHANGING ANY FILES!!!.

I'm thinking about creating a flex file from my V551 so others may enjoy all of the hacks I've done to my phone in one easy step.

-Jay

[ShoresGuy]

That would be neat

[Jay2TheRescue]

Yes it would, but I'd have to change it back into a quadband before I created the flex otherwise I might get lynched LOL. Right now I have it set to think its a triband so I can focus on checking out the 1900 only coverage of my area. (Which kicks butt I might add.)

[ShoresGuy]

That's ok, Jay....I'm going to try this whole thing on my own anyway so I can get rid of the Vodafone firmware among other things.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Good luck!

-Jay

[ShoresGuy]

All right, went out yesterday morning to get the Motorola UC600 USB cable. It cost only 10 Euros (cheap by German standards for OEM accessories). I'll try to enable Field Test first and then move onto flexing/flashing once I have found the right files.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

All right, went out yesterday morning to get the Motorola UC600 USB cable. It cost only 10 Euros (cheap by German standards for OEM accessories). I'll try to enable Field Test first and then move onto flexing/flashing once I have found the right files.

It may be easiest to do this with a flex as adding the engineering menu also requires updating the menu files - something I've never found a clear tutorial on how to do.

[ShoresGuy]

I see, I'm having problems resolving a PST connection problem. PST doesn't detect my V525. Windows XP couldn't install the patches needed for PST 6.7 so I might have an improper installation at the moment. I'll try to resolve this over the next couple days and do a fresh start.

I followed this tutorial:

http://www.mob453.com/phones/motorola_v600/

[Jay2TheRescue]

try uninstalling everything and starting over.

[ShoresGuy]

Yep, will do so. The only problem is that my Windows XP is a German version and PST 6.7's XP patches require an English version. So it couldn't install the patches. I'll look for a German version of PST.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Yep, will do so. The only problem is that my Windows XP is a German version and PST 6.7's XP patches require an English version. So it couldn't install the patches. I'll look for a German version of PST.

Or get an english version of windows...

[ShoresGuy]

Problem resolved, the German PST 7.23 release has the needed patches, now the Device Manager complains that it can't find the drivers for the USB device. P2K Commander recognizes the phone though so it's probably an .inf or .sys problem.

[Jay2TheRescue]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Problem resolved, the German PST 7.23 release has the needed patches, now the Device Manager complains that it can't find the drivers for the USB device. P2K Commander recognizes the phone though so it's probably an .inf or .sys problem.

Cool. Glad to hear you got something working. Did you try the newest drivers from Motomodders?