[Tilt, TyTN II, MDA Vario III Windows Mobile ROM De] raywaldo:
Battery use in v8 versus v9

Ok. Here are the results of my testing of the battery life of version 8 verus version 9.

1. Technique: I tried to have everything at a minimal install. First, I flashed back to the recommended SPL 3.34.hard (dave shaw) then, in both cases, I flashed the att357 rom (w/radio); did a hard reset; let the rom run through the "clearing the storage" function - up to the point where I am asked to click on the screen to begin. Then, I did a hard reset and flashed the recommended radio (1.70.18.02). Then, I flashed the TPC rom (either v8 or v9) and did another hard reset. At that point, I allowed the rom to do the normal setup. At the connection setup, I allowed it to copy the 210 contacts from my SIM and then selected the ATT/USA options and completed the setup. After the setup did a reset, I allowed the rom to stabilize for about 5 minutes. Then, the only cab that I installed was BatteryGuard (BG) version 0.0.1.3. Although I flashed the FULL version of both roms, all tests were from the initial Chome UI. I changed nothing in the configuration. I did not use Bluetooth or WiFi. Everything was in the default state.

2. With TPC V8 Full (patched version), here are the results:

a. Reception: slightly variable from 1 to 2 bars; Data was Edge and varied from 2k to 12k using the Speed Test program in the connections folder.

b. GPS: 34secs to first satellite (measured using the HTC GPS Tool in the navigation folder); 90sec to 2nd; & 200secs to a fix (outside on patio under a light, dry tree cover, clear, sunny day) with phone face up on patio table.

c. Battery drain: (read from BatteryGuard); initial reading (just after install, execute BG and read drain): 155mA; at rest (just after the screen dims: 104mA; at sleep (I allowed the phone to go into full sleep mode then awakened it and read the drain from BG): 19mA

3. With TPC V9 Full:

a. Reception: Wildly variable. It went from HSPA 2 bars with no data on the speed test to Edge 4 bars with data at 4k to Edge with 2 bars with data at 24k. On two occasions, I was able to get an HSPA connection with 270k and 660k (WHEEEE!). So it was totally unpredictable.

b. GPS: It took 100secs to see the first satellite; 140secs to see the 2nd and after 10 minutes, the tool reset with 4 satellites showing. I executed the tool again and the warm boot brought up the 4 satellites immediately but at 260secs it still only showed 6 then at 330 secs it showed 8 satellites but still had no fix. Finally, after the initial 10 minutes and another 9 & 1/2 minutes, it got a fix - a total of 19 mins & 30 secs.

c. Battery drain: This was also wildly variable (possibly due to the varibleness of the radio?). The initial reading was 520mA; when the screen dims; 115mA; and after sleep 128mA. I realize that the last value does not make sense relative to the value of "dimmed" - I am just reporting my findings.

So, you can make of this whatever you want. My take is this... The reception is highly variable and when it is good, it is very good but when it is bad, it is very bad. Consequently, when it is very bad, the battery drain is also very bad. The GPS function might have been a fluke. However, after about 5 minutes, I executed the tool again (warm boot) and it opened with 6 satellites. It still took 90 secs to get a fix. I redid the speed test (with Edge 3 bars) and got 16k.

My recommendation: If you are in a weak reception area and you MUST have consistent reception and decent battery life, switch back to Version 8. This is what I plan to do.

Ray

PS. For what it is worth, I used the HTC Router program that TPC cooked into version 8 and it worked great. I was out of town (and away from my DSL) for a few days and it was my link to the world. I have not tried it in version 9.