yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
narthexs, rafuz!

Please keep on comparing and researching!! As prepro (and postpro) owners you have excellent conditions, and we need your help. This topic has 5,948 visits now:-).
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Just open them up and find out where the antenna connects in the pre and if the antenna is indeed missing in the other (like in other models).
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
I am like a lot of other viewers here waiting to see if the s730 really can be the ultimate smartphone with the hopeful (re)activation of the GPS , just look at the thread viewership: >6,700 times!!

I am on the fence with this and I really do want to buy one, but only if the GPS can be activated. It is such a shame that it is not GPS ready 'out-of-the-box'. Come on HTC, it must be heavily damaging the sales of the device. Do they realise this?.

I am hopeful that some of you fine cooks/developers can find a simple fix for this, even if it means fabricating/manufacturing an aftermarket aerial (if it is a hardware issue).

Keep up the great work
[HTC Wings] amaric:
We need to speed this up!

1. Someone should write step by step to rafuz on how to dump ROM on both pre-production and production models.

2. We need those dumped ROMs somewhere uploaded so that more people can have access to it and make comparisons.

I think there are two options to find out whether there is some hardware missing on production model or it is just software that is different :

1. Open both models and see (obviously nobody wants to do that)

2. Load pre-production ROM on production model and see if it's working.

I own production model, so if i can be of any help, just ask.
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
I agree. Things have been slow for a while. Can anyone help rafuz or narthexs?

Also, amaric, I believe that there is a dumped pre-production rom somewhere on this thread. Can you do anything with it?
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
Here is a suggestion:

As I mentioned earlier the huge thread viewership, if just 10% of these donated just €1 to a fund we could nearly buy a used-pre and new-post production S730 and reverse engineer them to see exactly what is stopping the GPS.

Thoughts?
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
I think all we really need is someone to put a pre-production rom on a production model phone. This is the first step to see if the hardware even exists.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
For that u need a SSPL and HardSPL. I'm willing to develop these but I'd need some incentives :D
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
***hardware Is The Same***

I just got off the phone with HTC support. I asked about the S730 hardware. The person I was talking to asked someone from the development department (or something like that), and confirmed to me that the hardware is the same in all HTC S730 models (pre-production and production models). All we need is the rom from the pre-production models. :D
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
Like what? :)
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
Well as I promise before I have paid 10 USD for GPS s730 research to you just now.
[HTC Wings] amaric:
I don't think that donation is the problem. I would pay much more then €1 to make it work, but free option must be first options and then everything else.

I didn't find pre-production rom on this thread, can anyone post a link?

I am not sure what i can do with it because this would be the first try. But at least i could start with something.
[HTC Wings] saman-cz:
So, rafuz, could you, pls, dump the ROM from pre-production model?
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
I suppose that rafuz (if he visit forum again) will need the concrete steps how to do it.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Someone has sent me the 0.91 MFG Wings SPL.

I will try to build a SSPL asap. I can probably also patch it such that it can dump entire OS from flash to sd and back from sd to flash (of course we need a hardSPL first before doing that!).

The dump in this thread (or was it in another) is the OS partition from a pre model.

Stay tuned!
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
SCHWEET! Keep us posted!
[HTC Wings] rafuz:
Ok, if you explain me how to do it :p

Or you can give me a link which explains it. I'm back at work and I don't have much time to experiment with my two phones :(
[HTC Wings] A.Bagatov:
Keep it up! :D
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
The attached SSPL is just a test version where I want to know if you see tri-color bootloader display and if "USB" appears after a few seconds.

Here is how to test:

- remove sd and sim card

- connect usb cable

- copy sspl-0.91-wings.exe to your device

- keep the usb cable connected and run sspl-0.91-wings.exe on your device

- check if screen changes to tri-color mode (red green blue) and if "USB" appears

- should it indeed show USB, then unplug and replug usb cable and check in device manager if there is a Windows CE device -> Microsoft Sync device

Don't worry if the screen stays white or messes up. Just remove and replug the battery and restart your Wings after testing this.
[HTC Wings] amaric:
I followed this steps, copied exe file to temp folder and when i run it and press Continue button device just restarted. :(
[HTC Wings] dohnutts:
Same thing happens for me... just restarting.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Ooops stupid mistake.

New file posted above.
[HTC Wings] amaric:
This time screen just becomes black, no red green blue.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Ok, while it is in that state pls unplug and replug usb cable and check if you have the forementioned usb device in device manager.

(in many cases tri color isn't required)
[HTC Wings] amaric:
Is it important to disable ActiveSync USB connection or it doesn't matter?
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Doesn't matter. Only matters if you want to connect with MTTY.

About 10 seconds after running sspl it's important to unplug and replug usb cable. Then check in device manager.
[HTC Wings] amaric:
When i unplug and replug, the device does not show in device manager. It's like i didn't connect it.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
ok, next version follows in a few minutes
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
New file posted. Always check if the usb driver is there, even if display white, dark or garbled.
[HTC Wings] amaric:
Now i get red green blue (and white :) ) screen with this text :

wing220 mfg

spl-0.91.1000

cpld-7

"USB" doesn't show and when i unplug and replug i get that "USB device not recognized" message and "Unknown device" in Device Manager.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Ok, we're very close :)

Next version in a few minutes. Stay tuned!
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Try the new version posted above.

Here is how to test:

- remove sd and sim card

- connect usb cable

- copy sspl-0.91-wings.exe to your device

- keep the usb cable connected and run sspl-0.91-wings.exe on your device

- check if screen changes to tri-color mode (red green blue) and if "USB" appears

- should it indeed show USB, then unplug and replug usb cable and check in device manager if there is a Windows CE device -> Microsoft Sync device
[HTC Wings] amaric:
It's the same. No "USB" and "USB device not recognized".
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Just posted a new version which I expect to work.

It runs fine on my Kaiser. Please try again :)
[HTC Wings] amaric:
It works now!

What are the next steps?
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Wonderful! :)

Next steps will be to make a real SSPL out of this one which bypasses all security. Then I will also produce a HardSPL so we have an insurance against bad flashes.

I also will prepare instructions for dumping your OS to SD card.

The guy with the pre model will then also have to dump his OS so we can compare and flash that pre version to your devices.

Make sure you have a micro sd card of at least 256MB (512 or 1GB is better).

Also make sure you install MTTY 1.42 (search).

Just wait for further instructions from my side :D
[HTC Wings] NoNco:
MTTY

MTTY 1.42

http://xdaforums.com/download.php?id=9864

think thats the correct version. Just to answer the inevitable question to where it is, hehe

:D
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Does anyone have a link to an official Wings Rom update?
[HTC Wings] WasStoNed:
Have there been any?
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Dunno, just askin
[HTC Wings] NoNco:
mmm

I havnt seen any updates for the s730 on HTC's site. No updates via WM6 Update either.

just checked no updates on the HTC European site in there eClub

PS. Thanks for all the hard work being put into this...
[HTC Wings] rafuz:
Ok when it's done I'm ready to dump :p
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
I will send instructions shortly. You have a at least 512MB SD card in ur pre-production model?
[HTC Wings] amaric:
I have everything that you said. I am ready when you are.
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
Hi Amaric, Rafuz: see please also new topic "Wings SSPL and HardSPL" = how to dump/flash ROM.
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
Hi, narthexs, rafuz we need your dumped prepro model ROM, please visit thread:

"Please do me a favor and dump ram"

thanks
[HTC Wings] rakusson:
gps

hey,

I found this screen shot with GPS here.

http://windowsmobilesk.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!2C19B58AE653A521!824.entry

This is really getting confusing. I don't understand why HTC does not says anything about it. It seems they have built-in GPS chips but why hidden?
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
No rom support from HTC in the released version. Hardware is there (see post #91). I believe that a fix is close. :)
[HTC Wings] moneytoo:
Content of hopreject.lst (production rom), you may notice HTCGPSTool.exe and GPSRouter.exe (but the exe files are missing).

#\Windows\RegisterEditor.exe#
#\Windows\RegeditSTG.exe#
#\Windows\DebugTool.exe#
#\Windows\Battery.exe#
#\Windows\BTRouter.exe#
#\Windows\BTTest.exe#
#\Windows\ByteCounter.exe#
#\Windows\FieldTest.exe#
#\Windows\NetworkTestPPC.exe#
#\Windows\Uni_AT.exe#
#\Windows\WLAN_eMapi.exe#
#\Windows\ComSwitcher.exe#
#\Windows\Qxdmsdlog.exe#
#\Windows\HTCGPSTool.exe#
#\Windows\GPSRouter.exe#
#\Windows\fexplore.exe#
#\Windows\DevHealth.exe#
#\Windows\Launcher.exe#
#\Windows\memoRx.exe#
#\Windows\Uni_ATs.exe#
#\Windows\WLAN_LOG.exe#
#\Windows\WLAN_MAN.exe#
#\Windows\A911Switch.exe#
#\Windows\jeodek.exe#
#\Windows\BTFtpClient.exe#
#\Windows\JBlend_AMS.exe#
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
Very interesting.
[HTC Wings] A.Bagatov:
What do you mean the .exe files are missing?

So if we get the .exe from pre-prod model and include them we solve the problem?
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
Can somebody please upload the GPSRouter.exe app to test?
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
Maybe that these files are also in Kaiser.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
The file hopreject.lst lists all files HTC has left out of the ROM.

Someone with a pre-prod should also look for this file and list the contents.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Can't find them on my Kaiser.
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
Have a look at this thread in the Modaco forums:

http://www.modaco.com/content/HTC-Kaiser-Kaiser-MoDaCo-com/261102/Kaiser-Extended-ROM/

Post ~5 shows that the GPSRouter.exe is in the Kaisers '' hopreject.lst''
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
.. which means it's not installed on Kaiser either
[HTC Wings] moneytoo:
Some Kaiser/Wings GPS related registry key differences

Kaiser

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\Drivers\GPSOneDevice]
"InterfaceType"="POLL"
"FriendlyName"="QualComm GpsOne Card, version 0.0"

Wings

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\Drivers\GPSOneDevice]
"InterfaceType"="COMM"
"FriendlyName"="GPSOneDevice"

Another interesting thing - Wings' Camera application seems to supports GPS location tagging
[HTC Wings] moneytoo:
All right... Its probably because of some application I have used for testing GPS then.
[HTC Wings] raventoo:
I tried GPSTest / 1-2 sattelites.
[HTC Wings] WasStoNed:
That's all I manage on Prod ROM very weak too
[HTC Wings] asimolo76:
see here

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms894901.aspx

My settings seem to be correct, I find further and not on the registry must miss other things ....
[HTC Wings] bigflavor:
I had contacted the user vactor who reported having a pre-prod s730 via hofo yesterday, and he responded saying he sold it ten days ago. He gave me the email of the person who bought it. I haven't contacted him, since i'm not sure how to dump, etc., so me contacting them would be relatively useless. I'm trying to help where I can (google stalking).

I have contacted butzchan with the info, but send me a PM if you would like the email address vactor gave me.

Thanks,

Matt

P.S.

This may already have been determined (either as right or wrong)... but aren't all reg keys and DLLs presented previous related to Windows Mobile's function of multiplexing GPS info to multiple applications? As in COM4 is not a GPS unit, but the GPS multiplexer?
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
Thanks bigflavor. I sent an e-mail to him.

Any other leads? Anyone? Is this dead? Where are the two with the pre-production models that posted on a regular basis before we needed a rom dump?
[HTC Wings] 10332007:
They are busy with their normal lives. They will dump the rom when they get a chance.
[HTC Wings] A.Bagatov:
Hope so.. im about to get a GPS receiver... but I don't know if I should wait for this internal GPS to work...
[HTC Wings] bigflavor:
dood man... don't they underrrrstand?! wtf
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
How about offering the money to the first to crack the problem?

As there are around 15,000 viewers, surely at least 50 of them are in the market to buy a BT GPS receiver, so €50 x 50 = €2,500 ! (~$3500). That is a nice incentive!
[HTC Wings] dilorenzo:
i offer 100 swiss francs (~89 USD) to the first who gets gps (suitable of course!) working with a production rom without modifying the hardware

payment via paypal or bank transfer (IBAN).

if enough people do join this campaign we can make it interesting for developers to find a solution, not?
[HTC Wings] rakusson:
I am also willing to offer 100 Swedish Kroner (about 16 USD) who gets GPS (working) with a production ROM without modifying hardware (same term like previous user).

payment could be done through paypal or money transfer agency.

I hope there are some guys for the offer. Eventually, it'll benefit us.
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
Thanks for offers. I made similar. What is new - today we obtained both ROMs, from preprod model with working GPS and actual with nonworking one. Now we have to wait for somebody, who will compare it and say the result - it is HW or SW problem. I am ready to donate also the clear HW way description - f.e. How opening your s730 and how to attach f.e. 3mm piece of wire to make the GPS aerial (antenna) :-).
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Yes xactly! If I would have a s730, it would surely be open :)
[HTC Wings] butzchan:
AWESOME!!!! jockyw2001, if you can get 3G on 850 and 1900 and GPS working, I will also follow in the footsteps of dilorenzo, rakusson, and roomish. I need 3G for AT&T. :-)
[HTC Wings] asimolo76:
upload rom pre and post release

rooomish can you upload the two rom or you can send me its in pv ? thank's
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
ftp://xdaupload:xda@ftp.xda-develop.../ROM (Pre-production model)/S730_Pre_Prod.zip

ftp://ftp.xda-developers.com/Smartphone/Wings/ROM (Production model)/
[HTC Wings] asimolo76:
bad link

sorry but the link of production s730 no is ok , denid permission.

Pre_production link ok !

thanks
[HTC Wings] Zliver:
Use the same User and Pwd:

User: xdaupload

Pwd: xda
[HTC Wings] rooomish:
ftp://xdaupload:xda@ftp.xda-develop...M (Production model)/ROM(productionModel).zip
[HTC Wings] asimolo76:
no news ?

No news? OK ... Now I have the two ROM .... How to open. "RAW" contained in ZIP to see the differences between the two ROM? I do not want to mount the pre rom production but I would change that production to enable the GPS.

Sorry for my bad English;)

From the we almost ...... Up with a small effort are confident that we will find the solution and then our s730 will be truly complete!
[HTC Wings] amaric:
I am not sure if this is the right way to go, but this is what i was doing regarding this whole GPS thing:

I used ImgfsToDump.exe to extract files from Part02.raw from s730 production (pro), pre-production model (pre) and Kaiser.

I compared pro i pre exe and dll files. I found some files that are missing on pro model. So i was thinking, since kaiser and pre both have working gps, then, if the problem is with missing dll and/or exe files, i have to find files that pre have and pro doesn't and then, out of those files i have to find files that exists on Kaiser.

Guess what?I didn't find a single one that would match that criteria! (except filedtest.exe which is not related to gps)

So, is it possible that solution is in registry settings only?
[HTC Wings] NoNco:
mm

the same files are there, maybe there is a diff. between the actual files. Did you compare file size's etc.

Just an idea
[HTC Wings] amaric:
Almost all files are different. I guess those are debug builds.
[HTC Wings] el_lo:
NoNco, here is what you asked for. I post it here so everybody can play with it.

These are all the files from pre-production rom (from Rafuz dump) related to GPS (that I know of :D)

I tried everything I could with these files, without results (one satelite or two hardly detected) so I think the next step is here : Jockyw2001 Radio Dump thread
[HTC Wings] moneytoo:
Did anyone really see working internal GPS on the pre-production model?
[HTC Wings] asimolo76:
Quote

Good question !!!! anyone ?
[HTC Wings] gingerprince:
and has anyone compared the hardware side-by-side to see whether there actually IS an antenna in production unit?

It seems to me that if there is any signal at all received, then the software must be there to support it - you don't have "weaker" drivers that aren't as good at picking up satellites - you either see them or you don't.

Given that people have had weak signals on 1-2 satellites, this seems to me that the software is there but the hardware antenna is not. Therefore you can hack ROMs as much as you like, you ain't gonna get a better signal.

I'd love to see this phone with GPS, but I really can't see it without a hardware de-crippling.

Thanks, HTC!
[HTC Wings] spirravipdk:
I have an s730 and have isntalled the gpd test program, it start perfectly but i haven't see any signal at any time... but have a friend who also have an s730, he also installed the gps test tool and he gets 1 - 2 or 3 sats on the display some times, but we both have excactly the same ROM: 1.31.402.0 and the same Radio Version: 25.62.30.03H_1.58.17.02 but for some reason my s730 dosen't show anything even when we hold the phones 1 cm from eachother, excact same weather condition and no blocking or anything.. just no signal on my s730.... i find that wierd
[HTC Wings] gs-ireland:
Member 'Vactor' says he has a GPS working pre-prod version !:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=1633327&postcount=30
[HTC Wings] 10332007:
His Google Maps could be using the "my location" in stead of GPS.... Can hope he has working GPS but something in the post doesnt make me believe its full on GPS...
[HTC Wings] Dazzer:
I have been following these threads for a while now, as it was GPS that originally drew me to the s730, and I would definitely get one if it had it, if not, it will probably be a TyTN2/Kaiser.

(My old HTC Alpine/O2 XDA 2i is starting to show it's age)

On the note of taking one appart, obviously doing this with a working unit is a risk incase it breaks it.

I have seen this week on eBay an s730 with a cracked screen, but fully functional.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HTC-S730-Smar...oryZ3312QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If anyone were to buy this for the purposes of fixing themselves, just replacing the outer shell by the look of it, perhaps they would be willing to investigate the GPS antenna itself?

Unfortunately I do not have the funds currently to purchase one, getting through university is expensive enough, but it does have it's advantages.

As part of my degree I have done some work with hardware GPS receivers that simply output the NMEA strings (the chips built in to devices like Satnav and PDAs), and the type/quality of antenna attached does greatly affect the number of satellite locks the unit will obtain. When used without any antenna, it will detect some satellites, but not usually many.

What gingerprince has said makes sense, that if the software is able to detect 1 or 2 satellites, the GPS software in the ROM is itself functioning, but there is less signal reaching the chip, likely due to lack of antenna. To be specifically doing this in the ROM, allowing it to show satellites, but only a small selection of the ones currently 'visible' in the sky sounds like too much effort than simply not connecting an antenna.

Has anyone confirmed if only the 'strongest' satellites currently visible are being picked up by the device by doing a side to side comparison with a working GPS device (possibly even the Kaiser)? I have read through most of the threads here on s730 GPS, and do not recall seeing anyone perform this test.

I do remember even on some TomTom devices they list satellite identification numbers, positions and signal strengths in a status menu. If someone were able to access the same data on the satellites detected by an s730, and compared it to those picked up by a working device, it might prove the antenna theory.

I believe even the GPS Test utility (http://classic.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=24687&associateid=9) being used on the s730 for testing displays this information, listing the satellite ID number at the base of each signal strength bar.

If those with the strongest signal on the working device show up but with much weaker signal on the s730, this may hold more proof that it is a hardware issue (no antenna) and not a ROM/software issue.

Just thought I'd put my thoughts out there,

Darren.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
Your thoughts are nothing new, it's all been said.

There are 2 ways to proof if it is hw (most likely antenna) or sw: 1. open the pre and prod hw and compare; 2. flash pre sw to a prod

Since so far no one has tried 1. which I can understand, full attention is given to 2.
[HTC Wings] dohnutts:
I've compared 'GPS Test' beside a TyTN II, the TyTN II found satellites (5-7) within a minute. My S730 did not see any at all at that moment.
[HTC Wings] NoNco:
hi

hehe, yeap i think no one wants to see there money going down the drain when the screw driver slips and makes a hole some place.

Surly as you say if its an antena that is missing you would get one or 2 sats, but as far as i can see the one sat i ever gets is always in the N position and the meter is always the same, never goes up or down. Iv even had it comming up 2 floors down in the ground with no windows.
[HTC Wings] jweekhout:
about the missing antenna or a bad reception

there are GPS signal repeaters on the market, maybe somebody can

test it in combination with the S730
[HTC Wings] boggle:
The important thing to remember is that COM4 is NOT the hardware, it the Microsoft Intermediate GPS driver. Using the HTCGPSTest tool on my S730 to compare the output from a Holux bluetooth connected receiver on COM6 and the "internal" GPS on COM4 it's clear that the data received on COM4 is NOT true GPS data at all. I can "see" up to three satellites at a time on COM4 but their IDs do not correspond with strongest signals received by the Holux (which you would expect if this was just a missing antenna issue). In fact, a couple of the IDs that appear on COM4 don't appear on the Holux at all (and it sees 10 or more satellites with varying signal strengths).

Additionally, if you look at the raw NMEA messages received on COM4 there is no GPS data in there at all. All this leads me to think that the intermediate driver is not "connected" the hardware GPS at all and it's the low-level hardware driver that's missing or disabled. I guess until someone takes the plunge and flashs the pre-prod rom to their S730 we'll never know.
[HTC Wings] jockyw2001:
I'm sure many want to take the plunge, but for that an official RUU is needed which isn't available yet.