[MDA III, XDA III, PDA2k, 9090 Software Upgrading] luv2chill:
Hmmm... actually I wasn't aware that the Telstra had a newer radio ROM... and I've just confirmed it doesn't. When I extract the Telstra archive fresh and run the Harrier upgrade app, it tells me it will replace my existing ROMs with these versions:

CE image version: 2.03

Extended image version: 2.03.111

Radio image version: HA01_140

And in fact I was able to flash that radio version onto my Sprint phone (see one of my previous posts in this thread) and resulted in not being able to find service.

So maybe try downloading the Telstra package again... if you still can't flash your radio, then we might as well dig up Rod Serling to narrate.

Dan

EDIT: Oh I see now... you were referring to the 1.35 Telstra ROM package. I saw it on your site. Interestingly enough, the 2.03 Telstra package downgrades the radio to 01_140.

EDIT 2: Let that take nothing away from the interesting results you had flashing the 00_140 radio ROM on your phone. My first question is, how close is the nearest EV-DO area, and are you planning a visit anytime soon? :) Second question is did your taskbar show the 1x icon or the blue/black arrows? That's something I haven't been able to figure out thusfar. The Sprint model shows blue left/right arrows when data is connected but idle, and black arrows when data is active. I understand the Verizon model shows a 1x icon when connected at 1x (duh!) and EV when connected and in an EV-DO area. Did your phone still show the 1x with the 00_140 ROM? And if so, I wonder if that is part of the phone firmware or something that gets customized during the extended rom install after a hard reset?

Maybe you could try another flash of the old radio, and then cancel the extended rom install before it can do anything (either by not letting it disable the touchscreen, or my new favorite method, just soft reset right before it starts the install). Then try a data connection and see if you get 1x or the arrows.

For the record, I just hard reset and didn't let the extended rom process install anything, and I can't connect to data. In my extended rom is a program called IOTA that provisions the phone for data over the air... I assume that needs to run in order for me to connect. But I don't think Verizon uses anything like that... so please try it if you have a chance.

OK... I left this post open and it's several hours later. I've just taken my phone through a whirlwind tour of New Zealand by flashing the entire contents of the Telstra ROM package (minus nk.nbf since I already had that on there)... then thought "Can you hear me now?" while flashing it to Verizon. I took notes throughout about what I saw and tried... and also unhid the extended ROMs and copied them to my SD card.

It is very interesting to note all the little differences between these devices. After I clean up my notes I'll post them here, along with the extended ROM contents for the ktichen.

Still no resolution, but my main theory stands. Even after flashing totally to Verizon (Telstra too), there were several Sprint things that remained. Obviously my PRL was still Sprint, my Sprint user name was still stored in the Device Info screen. Curiously, in Phone Options under roaming, my choices were still Sprint or Automatic! So, I think that regardless of the three firmware files, there is some core stuff inside the device that sticks with whatever operator the phone is branded for.

So I guess I remain hopeful that there's some other configuration parameter (either in the radio of the device or in Sprint's CDMA signal) that is preventing this device from hopping on Sprint's network.

that_kid, if you can get your unbranded Harrier provisioned and for VZW and loaded with a VZW PRL, it would be interesting to see what it does with 00_140 and 01_140 radio ROMs. If you have any luck activating it on Sprint I'll be amazed... I think Sprint keeps its list in fort knox! :)

Ok, enough blathering for the night.

Dan