vB Easy Archive - v635 questions

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v635 questions - compatibility
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Posted by: easykill

First off, I have searched and read a bajillion threads on it, but they seem to have conflicting or incomplete information.

I have Cingular and am stuck with them for a while yet. I'd like a moto phone, because I am sick of LG phones not working correctly, but I don't like Cingular's offerings.

I have been reading a lot of positive reviews of the v635 here, so I'm very tempted to get that.

What concerns me is that it is a non-US phone. Now, I'm a very competent UNIX Sysadmin, but I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to cell phones. I realize that it has the quad-band, so I'm not worried about it not working at all, but I am concerned about what will/won't work with it.

My requirements: SMS messaging MUST work. I'd like MMS and GPRS to work as well (media.net), but I can live without those two.

Will I have to flash the phone to get any of this working, and if so, how much risk is involved? Some say it's easy, some say "don't flash the v635 as your first flash." So, I'm a bit apprehensive about it. If I can get a working phone without flashing, that's a bit better for me.

Also, I read that the German ones are troublesome in teh US. I was looking at howardforums.com.com to order it, since it seems to have positive reviews here (although not at resellerratings, which is a bit of a concern, but most of those reviews seemed a bit clueless). Will that be a good place to get it from?

Sorry that a lot of this is rehashing of other threads, but as I said, a lot of it seems rather conflicting/confusing.

I'll be happy to provide any other info needed. As I said, I'm fine with technology, but I haven't ever messed with my cell phones before.

Thanks,

-stefan

Posted by: aresthoth

Everything will/should work, you just have to enter the settings for data to work; voice will work straight out the box.

Posted by: easykill

Quote:

Originally Posted by aresthoth

Everything will/should work, you just have to enter the settings for data to work; voice will work straight out the box.

I assume I should be able to pull most of them off of my LG phone, since I bet cingular won't tell me.

I am guessing I will need stuff like the Message Center Number, Email Gateway, etc... for SMS.

As I said, I can deal without media.net and MMS messaging (as long as I can get pictures off with bluetooth or some other means) but I really can't live without SMS.

Thanks,

-stefan

Posted by: ucajun

I am also concerned about compatibility. The V635 has all the features that I want on a cell phne and more. I don't want the German V635 I would rather have the UK phone. I called howardforums.com.com and the sales person said that they get their V635 from all over so they don't know If I would get UK V635 phone. Some threads that I have read say flash, some say you don't have to flash because the phone will work without flashing. I don't download a whole lot but I would like to have that option. I have read some threads were they say that MeditNet will not work with Cingular on the V635 so you can't download. I am like easykill I have never flash or did any major changes to my cell phone in fear that I would destroy my phone.

Posted by: Kyle9875

I think that all the SMS settings are on the SIM, so that should work just fine, without having to set up anyhting.

As far as the German version goes, if you reflash it, then it would work just as well and any other version..right? Or is it a something hardware related that makes it less suitable for the US

Posted by: xJeSTeRx

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

My requirements: SMS messaging MUST work. I'd like MMS and GPRS to work as well (media.net), but I can live without those two.

SMS info is stored on the SIM. You just pop in the SIM and it will work! MMS/WAP and all that fun stuff will have to be set up! Its easy and you can even look in the CINGULAR FAQ section and there is a website that will send you the info so you dont have to type it all in! Plus, there are tons of people in the "Motorola" section that will help you if you have problems!

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

Will I have to flash the phone to get any of this working, and if so, how much risk is involved? Some say it's easy, some say "don't flash the v635 as your first flash." So, I'm a bit apprehensive about it. If I can get a working phone without flashing, that's a bit better for me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

Also, I read that the German ones are troublesome in teh US. I was looking at howardforums.com.com to order it, since it seems to have positive reviews here (although not at resellerratings, which is a bit of a concern, but most of those reviews seemed a bit clueless). Will that be a good place to get it from?

The one I have is German and it works great! LOL! But I also heard that, although it would seem mine contradicts it!

All in all, you should be happy with the v635! I love mine and I know many other guys/girls that love theirs!

Good Luck with whatever you do! Feel free to ask as many questions as you want/need!

Posted by: xJeSTeRx

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

I am guessing I will need stuff like the Message Center Number, Email Gateway, etc... for SMS.

I was having trouble with a MMS setting on mine and I took it to my local Cingular store and the guy there looked it over and even called tech support to try to help!

Posted by: xJeSTeRx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle9875

I think that all the SMS settings are on the SIM, so that should work just fine, without having to set up anyhting.

Correct!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle9875

As far as the German version goes, if you reflash it, then it would work just as well and any other version..right? Or is it a something hardware related that makes it less suitable for the US

Correct!

Posted by: easykill

Thanks for the help guys - I decided to brave it and order it. It should show up Monday. I'll post my results for the other people like me who were a bit apprehensive about it.

-stefan

Posted by: ziddey

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

Thanks for the help guys - I decided to brave it and order it. It should show up Monday. I'll post my results for the other people like me who were a bit apprehensive about it.

-stefan

good for you! And you've worked your way in unix, you can for sure learn the flash game.

I'd really recommend you upgrade to 6FR. You probably should do a lot of reading on this. People say you should upgrade flashes in steps but I was able to go right from 25R to 6FR with no issues other than a reverse flip problem that was corrected by pulling out the battery.

You'll find that 6FR is far less headache. I've had my phone crash so many times doing anything (sms included) with 25R

Posted by: xJeSTeRx

Quote:

Originally Posted by easykill

Thanks for the help guys - I decided to brave it and order it. It should show up Monday. I'll post my results for the other people like me who were a bit apprehensive about it.

-stefan

Good Luck!

Posted by: vandan

Quote:

Originally Posted by xJeSTeRx

You wont have to flash your phone! I still have mine running the 24R that it came with! Some people have had problems with it, I havent! Not yet at least! LOL! I have had it for a while now too! Its something you dont have to do unless you have major problems or you want to!

The one I have is German and it works great! LOL! But I also heard that, although it would seem mine contradicts it!

Just to back up what xjesterx has said:

I also am still using 24R and I also have no problems using the phone with Cingular. WAP and MMS, etc, all work well.

I don't know whether mine was German or British, but I think it was British as it came with O2 settings in English. I first had one with Vodaphone settings, but returned it due to a high pitched noise. I think the O2 one I received is better in a few small ways.

Posted by: ucajun

Quote:

Originally Posted by vandan

Vandan where did you buy your V635?

Posted by: easykill

Well, I seem to have hosed the phone.

Using MultiFlashFlex, I am trying to put on different monster packs. I tried the 6DR one, and it went on fine, but the phone won't turn on. No combination of the charger/miniflash thing/whatever will bring it back to life. And it's not doing the reverse flip thing.

Trying to install any other monster pack (24R, anything) gives the same error:

Summary: ERROR: The superfile selected is for reflash. You must use a rom superfile with blank subscriber units.

This is with Monster Packs - I'm not sure what I should be using here. I think the phone is toast. Hopefully, I can exchange it for a different one.

The reason I was flashing was that it was locking up constantly.

-stefan

Posted by: easykill

Further update:

Zero progress made. Phone will not power on at all. It shows up as a Blank Neptune Unit in MultiFlashFlex and the PST Flash/Test tools show it as a SECURE NEPTUNE DEVICE or something along those lines.

However, it gives the above error no matter what Monster Pack I use (I am POSITIVE I am using monster packs, they are around 70MB)

The phone shows up in Device Manager as a Motorola Flash Device.

Any help? I've read all the threads, I've tried shorting pins 13-14, I've tried making it go into bootloader mode, and nothing will flash this thing.

I can't use the other flash tool (Rwhatever Lite) because I don't have a C: (windows installed itself as F: and i can't change it and it won't install to F

Any help would be wonderful - I don't want a $250 paperweight.

-stefan

Posted by: bobolito

You probably did this already, but when I flashed mine with the 6CR monsterpack, it refused to boot. It only lighted the keypad for a second and then shut off. Is this what yours is doing?

I just took the battery out for a minute, put the battery back in, and then it came back with the flip reversed problem. I then took the battery out again, then put it back, plugged in the charger and THEN turned it on. At this point the phone came back to life!

I flashed because, as many have confirmed, the 24R and 25R flashes are POS. The phone would freeze/reboot almost everyday. Ever since I upgraded it hasn't rebooted anymore and I have not had any more problems whatsoever. I am now running 88R.

If you want to make sure the phone is flashing correctly, but you keep getting errors, the only thing I can recommend is take it to another computer, make sure it has Windows XP SP2 with all the updates up to date, and install all the P2K drivers, MultiFlashFlex, etc. from scratch and then try again. Some computers are just too stubborn to communicate with the phone properly.

Good luck!

Posted by: easykill

Yeah, no dice.

Nothing will make this phone go it seems. It consistently complains about the selected file being a Re-Flash. I am sure it's a monster pack.

I have noticed that when it's creating the image, it runs up to about 40%, resets back to 0%, and gets back up to 40% again. I wonder if it's not creating the image correctly??

Well, I learned my lesson from this - phones are not to be trifled with. Also, I am an idiot.

-stefan

Posted by: johnnysc22

That happened to mine when i reflashed it to 6dr. It wouldn't load and then it would come up as 'neptune device' or something like that. What finally got mine to flash and work correctly was have the power cord plugged into the phone as i flashed it. If you look where the data cable goes into your phone you'll see on the side where the 2 prong charger can go. I plugged it in and reflashed the phone from 6dr to 88r and it worked perfectly fine. hope that helps.