[Desire HD General] Wacco001:
Radio: Preferred Network types and info

GSM => GSM(2G), GPRS(2.5G), EDGE(2.75G), UMTS(3G), WCDMA(3G), HSDPA(3.5G/3G+) HSUPA(3.75G) {Cell Carrier examples: AT&T and T-Mobile}

CDMA => CDMA(2/3G) EV-DO(3G) WiMax(3/4G) {Cell Carrier examples: Verizon and Sprint}

HSPA+ Evolved High Speed Packet Access (84 Mbit/s in the downlink and 22 Mbit/s in the uplink)

H: HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access (Category 8 - 7.2 / Category 10 - 14,0 Mbit/s in the downlink)

H: HSUPA High Speed Uplink Packet Access (Category 6 - 5.76 Mbit/s in the uplink)

3G: UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (384 kbit/s -> (max 2 Mbit)

E: EDGE Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (384 kbit/s)

G: GPRS General Packet Radio Service (52 kbit/s)

GSM Global System for Mobile Communications (14.4 kbit/s)

Remark:

The ROM has a file called "build.prop" with various important settings in it.

One of these settings is "ro.ril.hsxpa=2", this means you (might) have/use a HSDPA/HSUPA network (also called "HSPA") with high speed downloads and uploads, and this setting gives you the "U" in the radio name found in "Settings - About phone - Software information - More - (Baseband version)"

ro.ril.hsxpa indicates hsxpa support of the target network:
#
# Network parameters
#
#ro.ril.hsxpa : inidcates hsxpa support of target network :
# 0 - UMTS r99
# 1 - HSDPA
# 2 - HSDPA/HSUPA
#
#ro.ril.gprsclass : inidcates GPRS class of target network :
# Class 2 : 3 slots : 8 - 12 kbps upload / 16 - 24 kbps download
# Class 4 : 4 slots : 8 - 12 kbps upload / 24 - 36 kbps download
# Class 6 : 4 slots : 24 - 36 kbps upload / 24 - 36 kbps download
# Class 8 : 5 slots : 8 - 12 kbps upload / 32 - 40 kbps download
# Class 10 : 5 slots : 16 - 24 kbps upload / 32 - 48 kbps download
# Class 12 : 5 slots : 32 - 48 kbps upload / 32 - 48 kbps download
#
#ro.ril.hsdpa.category :
# Cat 1 = 1.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 2 = 1.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 3 = 1.8 Mbit/s
# Cat 4 = 1.8 Mbit/s
# Cat 5 = 3.6 Mbit/s
# Cat 6 = 3.6 Mbit/s
# Cat 7 = 7.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 8 = 7.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 9 = 10.1 Mbit/s
# Cat 10 = 14.0 Mbit/s
# Cat 11 = 0.9 Mbit/s
# Cat 12 = 1.8 Mbit/s
# Cat 13 = 17.6 Mbit/s
# Cat 14 = 21.1 Mbit/s
# Cat 15 = 23.4 Mbit/s
# Cat 16 = 27.9 Mbit/s
# Cat 19 = 35.3 Mbit/s
# Cat 20 = 42.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 21 = 23.4 Mbit/s
# Cat 22 = 27.9 Mbit/s
# Cat 23 = 35.3 Mbit/s
# Cat 24 = 42.2 Mbit/s
# Cat 25 = 46.8 Mbit/s
# Cat 26 = 55.9 Mbit/s
# Cat 27 = 70.6 Mbit/s
# Cat 28 = 84.4 Mbit/s
#
#ro.ril.hsupa.category :
# Cat 1 = 0.73 Mbit/s
# Cat 2 = 1.46 Mbit/s
# Cat 3 = 1.46 Mbit/s
# Cat 4 = 2.93 Mbit/s
# Cat 5 = 2.00 Mbit/s
# Cat 6 = 5.76 Mbit/s
# Cat 7 = 11.5 Mbit/s
#
#Not speed related, but still nice to have :
#ro.ril.enable.3g.prefix : adds the 3G prefix to the operator name.
# ro.ril.enable.dtm : Only set this to 1 if your network allows simultaneous
# transfer of Circuit switched (CS) voice and Packet switched
# (PS) data over the same radio channel (ARFCN).

Preferred Network types:

WCDMA preferred - Automatically switches between G/E/3G/H based on the best/strongest signal available and is supported by all providers.

Has high battery usage since it constantly scans the network for the strongest signal to switch.

GSM only - Only uses G/E and never switches to 3G/H. Should have minimal battery usage.

(there is a problem with GSM only on some older networks... so if data is used, you can miss calls, thus GSM auto (PRL) is the safest setting)

WCDMA only - The GSM phone is capable of using only 3G data communication. When the 3G signal is too low you get nothing at all.

Only uses HSDPA and will not switch to G/E/3G even if the HSPDA signal is too low. Use this only if you use your phone in a area with good coverage. Should have moderate battery usage.

GSM auto (PRL) - Automatically switches between G/E/3G/H based on the PRL (Preferred Roaming List) for a provider on your phone.

Not supported by all providers and may not be supported in certain regions. Should have moderate battery usage since it uses a predefined list to switch.

CDMA auto (PRL) - The CDMA phone is capable of using both 2G and 3G data communication and when signal strength is low 2G is favored more.

CDMA only - The CDMA phone is capable of using only 2G data communication. When the 2G signal is too low you get nothing at all.

EvDo only - The CDMA phone is capable of using only 3G data communication. When the 3G signal is too low you get nothing at all.

GSM/CDMA auto (PRL) - Some phones are equipped with both GSM and CDMA capabilities. This setting appears to just have the phone attempt to stay connected to the data communication type that works the best.

Unknown - If none of the above fit or the phone is acting weird as far as connecting to the carrier, you will see your preferred network type is set to this

General NOTE:

If not known how to get a preferred network type, dial *#*#4636#*#* , this brings you in the "Testing" menu, select "Phone information" and scroll down to "Set preferred network type: "

Always be careful with switching to "PRL" as device issues might occur if "PRL" is not supported by your network provider !!