Want 4G on your T-Mobile G1? Install FroYo

Brian Ambrozy 19 Mar, 2011 at 4:07pm ET Article published in Tech

This weekend during Icrontic St. Patty’s Day, we started doing phone rooting as a group project. People lined up to sign up for having their Android phones rooted and upgraded, while community phone nerd Thrax spent hours doing the work and explaining the benefits and steps to anyone who cared to know.

One of the people who got their phones upgraded was UPSLynx. He has a T-Mobile G1. T-Mobile stopped upgrading this phone at Android 1.6 “Donut” and left it to flounder and die as they released newer phones with better operating systems. The G1, however, is capable of running Android 2.2 “FroYo”, a fact which was proven at our rooting party.

UPSLynx was happy with the snappiness and overall improved performance of the new OS on his old G1. In his words, “It’s like getting a whole new phone.”

I grabbed his phone to mess around with it, because I’m thinking of rooting my girlfriend’s G1 as well. I wanted to see how it responded next to my T-Mobile G2. As I was playing with it, I noticed the connection icon changed from “3G” to a “H”, which stands for “HSDPA“, which is what T-Mobile calls their “4G” network. (The ITU recently expanded their definition of 4G to include HSDPA. Thanks to PRP2 for the tip)

Could the G1 be running on 4G just like my G2 does? Merely because it’s been upgraded to Android 2.2?

I downloaded Ookla’s SpeedTest app and did a side-by-side test. Sure enough, Bobby’s G1 matched my G2’s network performance in every test.

The G1 matching the G2's speed byte-for-byte

So if you’re looking for a new lease on life for your aging G1, and you live in an area that has T-Mobile 4G coverage, you should definitely consider rooting your phone and installing FroYo.

Comments

19 Mar 2011 ~ 5:54pm firehawk You are so wrong it's sad. H is for HSDPA not HSDPA+. The reason you're getting the same speeds is tmo hasn't activated it yet in your area. The G1 is not physically capable of 4g speeds. I get those same speeds on my N1.
19 Mar 2011 ~ 6:46pm Kwitko No reason to get bitchy, firehawk. People make mistakes.
19 Mar 2011 ~ 7:30pm fatcat UPSLynx makes millions working for a company that makes billions and he still has a G1

that is the sad tale here

;p
19 Mar 2011 ~ 7:54pm QuadWhore Millions? You sir are mistaken. We all know that he really is the only trillionare in the world, since he is an evil genius, and all.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 12:28am Aaron Monse This article is so incorrect it is both physically and mentally astonishing. This website should be shut down, every line of code that makes up its innards cast into the fires of hell.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 12:33am QuadWhore

Aaron Monse wrote:

This article is so incorrect it is both physically and mentally astonishing. This website should be shut down, every line of code that makes up its innards cast into the fires of hell.

Please sir indicate every incorrect point in the previous article.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 2:59am primesuspect Call it whatever you want. My girlfriend's G1 is stock and it gets 1.5mb at the most. The upgraded G1 gets the same speeds as the G2. Your pedantism is very impressive, but the end result that I'm trying to get across is: if you want your G1 to be faster, upgrade.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 11:31am Cliff_Forster

Aaron Monse wrote:

This article is so useful it is both physically and mentally astonishing.

Fixed...

Astonishing! Kinda like these guys?
20 Mar 2011 ~ 5:48pm Garg I for one have never gotten close to the theoretical bandwidth of either "3G" or "4G" service, so I think it's plausible that the G2 is indeed connected to HSDPA+ but still not pulling down any more Internets than the G1 does.

Random quasi-related tidbit that has bothered me in the past: The only place I've seen an H+ icon on the status bar is on packaging materials. I don't think there is an icon in Android to differentiate between HSDPA and HSDPA+. Meaning, the only way you'd be able to differentiate is through a speed test.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 7:13pm Snarkasm Whether or not there's an icon for it actually depends more on your phone's ROM than it does on the phone. If the framework-res in your Android phone contains an H+ image to display in the title bar, it'll be activated when it hits an appropriate trigger (i.e. speed goes up, or you connect to the better network, etc). If it doesn't, you won't. I think a lot of ROMs just don't have that icon. Mine, for instance:

Carrier-specific ones you might think would have them, especially if they tout the tech, but maybe not. Especially when it's not... really 4G. First thing I thought when I read the headline was "It's not 4G, that's just T-Mo marketing bullshit." Hardly a consumer's fault, though.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 8:35pm ardichoke

primesuspect wrote:

Call it whatever you want. My girlfriend's G1 is stock and it gets 1.5mb at the most. The upgraded G1 gets the same speeds as the G2. Your pedantism is very impressive, but the end result that I'm trying to get across is: if you want your G1 to be faster, upgrade.

While I disagree with their tone... they are all correct. While you may be getting faster speeds than stock, you're not getting 4G (even the T-Mo pseudo-4G). HSDPA (which is an enhanced mode for 3G) is not the same as HSPA+ (which requires different hardware). If you read the link you posted closer, you will note that ITU includes HSPA+ NOT HSDPA as a 4G standard.

The International Telecommunications Union has expanded its definition of 4G service to include WiMax, LTE and HSPA+.

In fact, there is no mention of HSDPA on that page anywhere. Sloppy journalism Brian, I've come to expect better from IC.
20 Mar 2011 ~ 10:54pm Cliff_Forster Being serious for a moment....

There is a level of rudeness here that is not necessary. Nobody likes to poke and play on mean nothing issues more than I do, and I'm saying, guys, its going a little too far over an article that was just trying to help a few people make a cell phone a little faster.

Its not like he called the President's citizenship into question, or falsified the size of his own political rally.

Seriously guys, the issue at hand here is not that important. A small flub, give our boy a break will ya?
21 Mar 2011 ~ 10:31am Garg

Snarkasm wrote:

Carrier-specific ones you might think would have them, especially if they tout the tech, but maybe not. Especially when it's not... really 4G. First thing I thought when I read the headline was "It's not 4G, that's just T-Mo marketing bullshit." Hardly a consumer's fault, though.

I've given up the fight against the marketers. If everyone is calling pseudo-4G 4G, then that's what I'll call it. Besides, with everyone adding LTE soon, their premature marketing will come back to bite them in the ass.
21 Mar 2011 ~ 11:44am UPSLynx Fact is, my phone is fast now, Nicole's is not ('specially since it's bricked now trololol), and I'm neck and neck with the G2. Argue the semantics all you want, but the evidence is conclusive.

Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger. G1 on Froyo.
21 Mar 2011 ~ 2:28pm fatcat

fatcat wrote:

UPSLynx makes millions working for a company that makes billions and he still has a G1

that is the sad tale here

;p

I retract this. UPSLynx is the smartest T-Mobile user there is right now. He is not in contract, and with AT&T flopping it's big wanker in T-Mobile's face, he is free to choose whoever for his SMS sextext.
22 Mar 2011 ~ 1:49pm UPSLynx

fatcat wrote:

I retract this. UPSLynx is the smartest T-Mobile user there is right now. He is not in contract, and with AT&T flopping it's big wanker in T-Mobile's face, he is free to choose whoever for his SMS sextext.

hahahaha! I was talking to my roommate last night about this. I can go wherever I want now.

Only problem is that I don't want to
22 Mar 2011 ~ 2:52pm ardichoke

UPSLynx wrote:

Only problem is that there's rapidly becoming nowhere else to go

FTFY
22 Mar 2011 ~ 3:00pm UPSLynx

I hate this so much. Effing ATT.
22 Mar 2011 ~ 3:15pm ardichoke I second your h8. I was just as mad when VZ bought Alltel too.
25 Mar 2011 ~ 5:59pm GHoosdum Oh man Brian you should be SHOT for making ONE mistake and then your innards should be dragged across the interwebs. Seriously, this website is the WORST in the world for having an article like this.

Oh, I'm sorry, my ASSHAT was on. What I really meant to say was, thank you for trying to help people improve their phones.
17 May 2011 ~ 2:31am WiggiTy513 I think its funny how everyone is still questioning wether or not to install Froyo. Come on people. . . . Froyo is a thing of the past. I've been running Gingerbread on my G1 for months now.

@UPSLynx, if you bricked your g/f's G1 and cannot bring it back to life, then maybe you shouldn't be playing around with ROOT.

I brick my phone damn near everyday to bring it back just for kicks.
17 May 2011 ~ 11:47am Garg

WiggiTy513 wrote:

I think its funny how everyone is still questioning wether or not to install Froyo. Come on people. . . . Froyo is a thing of the past. I've been running Gingerbread on my G1 for months now.

This article is a thing of the past, too. I've got Gingerbread on my G1 now, and it's sublime. Runs better than Cupcake did or CM6. If my G2 broke, I'd have no problem going back to using my G1 on a daily basis now that it's running Gingerbread.

WiggiTy513 wrote:

I brick my phone damn near everyday to bring it back just for kicks.

Usually, brick means an irreversible state. I think it'd be more appropriate to say you break your Android on a daily basis, necessitating a reflash, or have developed a taste for unstable builds.
17 May 2011 ~ 12:14pm Kwitko

WiggiTy513 wrote:

I think its funny how everyone is still questioning wether or not to install Froyo. Come on people. . . . Froyo is a thing of the past. I've been running Gingerbread on my G1 for months now.

@UPSLynx, if you bricked your g/f's G1 and cannot bring it back to life, then maybe you shouldn't be playing around with ROOT.

I brick my phone damn near everyday to bring it back just for kicks.

Are you using a Sense or AOSP ROM?
17 May 2011 ~ 12:31pm Thrax Yeesh, I would never try to run Sense on a G1. The RAM requirements are quite high compared to an AOSP build, and the G1 is desperate enough for RAM.
17 May 2011 ~ 12:51pm Kwitko Quiet! I was trolling.
17 May 2011 ~ 1:58pm QCH Cannot wait to have my G2 rooted... I will play with it for a week or two then give to my wife so I can get the HTC Sensation!
17 May 2011 ~ 2:43pm UPSLynx

WiggiTy513 wrote:

@UPSLynx, if you bricked your g/f's G1....

YES! I have a girlfriend now! The internet RULES.
17 May 2011 ~ 4:53pm BobbyDigi Yup WiggiTy513 being the all knowing all powerful Guest has deemed that you have stolen Prime's lady. A gentleman's dual is no doubt to be had.
17 May 2011 ~ 6:27pm Jokke

BobbyDigi wrote:

Yup WiggiTy513 being the all knowing all powerful Guest has deemed that you have stolen Prime's lady. A gentleman's dual is no doubt to be had.

Seconded!

*/me Brings out two sets of battleaxes, six shields and makes a small square on the ground*

First to break all three shields win! Fight!
17 May 2011 ~ 6:29pm fatcat

BobbyDigi wrote:

Yup WiggiTy513 being the all knowing all powerful Guest has deemed that you have stolen Prime's lady. A gentleman's dual is no doubt to be had.

*sigh* I remember the good 'ol days when Mortal Kombat was an acceptable payment option for LAN|Expo
17 May 2011 ~ 10:47pm Garg

fatcat wrote:

*sigh* I remember the good 'ol days when Mortal Kombat was an acceptable payment option for LAN|Expo

Might still be in the TOS somewhere. Bet they forgot to take it out.