Some HTC Hero units shipping sans EV-DO Rev. A on Sprint? (update: nope!)
By Darren Murph 
posted October 12th 2009 9:09AM
posted October 12th 2009 9:09AM
[Via Examiner, thanks Tracknod]
Update: We just heard directly from HTC about this snafu, and as it turns out, the message that Sprint Hero users are seeing is merely a mislabeling. If you're within an EV-DO Rev. A area, you'll get Rev. A speeds -- despite that fact that your phone says it's only on Rev. 0. We're also told that a future maintenance release will address the message. Check the full quote after the break.
It turns out that while the phone reads that it is operating at EV-DO Rev. 0, there is a message error in the UI that states this, even if the device is working on a Rev. A network. So, the good news is that this does not at all impact the operation of the phone – if you are in a EV-DO Rev. A coverage area, you will get Rev. A speeds. However, any future maintenance releases will address the message that users see on their phones.
Sprint, when will you cary the LEO /HD2 / Whitestone /Touch 3?
can i haz relevance?
boe, when will you learn to spell?
asoccer345 - I defy you to find any postings about the HD2 that don't have a ton of people complaining that it doesn't come with android on it. Is it so odd that in an article about a Sprint android that someone mentions WM?
boe: and why does that make it alright?
My problem is sprint is blocking "Mobile Network Sharing" I get error 65 and 67 registration failure! :(
I have the Hero here in Chicago where there is most certainly Rev. A, but I am stuck on Rev. 0.
Apparently, there are rumors swirling that 1.5 was not intended to be run on CDMA and it may be the root of the problem. Additionally, 1.6 may be released soon for the Hero:
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195876
I work at Sprint- it's just a text error. The actual phone is in RevA but reporting Rev0.
Maybe you're right. I just used www.mobilespeedtest.com and I'm right in the 1.5Mbps range.
i love sprint's evdo coverages in PA! havent listened to the radio ever since i got Pandora on the phone. best investment evaaar!
Pandora is the best!!!
OR it says Rev. 0 by mistake when its on Rev A. People with HTC Heros including myself have done speedtests and we're getting Rev. A speeds even though it says Rev. 0. Sprint community forum reps are also thinking it might just be a reporting issue rather than anything else. Makes most sense to me. BTW, I love my Hero.
My Tilt on AT&T often said I was on Edge when I was on 3G. Hard resets and reg hacks never worked. In the end it was a reporting issue which was fixed by a firmware update. Might be an HTC thing.
in OR here, picked my Hero up on Saturday, getting Rev. A speeds.
I'm getting 1.5Mbps on that mobile speed test... So as long as I'm getting the results. I dont care what its running off of.
@Jim:
Or you haven't made band selection only select 3G data so its not jumping around Edge and 3G like on hot coals. . .
Yep mine is running at Rev 0 atm. But still the phone is quite good and the Rev 0 issue will get fixed soon. Just like any early adopters we are paying the price.
After a full weekend of use (i got it on Friday at BB) I still believe its the best phone I had.
I concur. its pure phone sexy!!!!
Mine says Rev. 0 but seems to be running at Rev. A speeds as well. Overall my coverage has been excellent here in Chicago.
Any Raleigh users buy this phone yet? How is the reception?
People, people. Android 1.5 (Cupcake) (the current build Hero has) is not supporting CDMA frequencies because T-Mobile was the only Android carrier for a while. With the release of the Hero on Sprint, 1.6 (Donut) is the update that offers different types of towers for more Android networks. Since Sprint itself has a problem with OTA, you might have to hack your Hero with the 1.6 update but even then, you'll go to Stock android until Sprint/HTC can figure this out.
Sprint has a problem with OTA? Please explain as my Pre disagrees with you.
this comment is retarted, There is no such thing as an android network, and the os has nothing to do with the frequency, Jack off.
I wish you knew what you were talking about.
I concur.
Mine also lists the network type as Rev 0. Hasn't made a whole lot of difference for my current usage, and I haven't really noticed; it may well just be the above mentioned reporting issue. Picked her up on Friday, among the nicest experiences I've had to date with a smartphone and I do not regret the purchase at all.
Nothing to worry about. Sprint will fix it. This is their stellar phone, thus they are going to make heroic attempts to vanquish any obstacle.
"Rev A, Rev A, Rev A, Rev AAAAAAA HO!"
Sprint techs are on the move
Rev 0 is still loose
But feel the magic
hear the roar
Rev A is now on your phone
ahhhh, comment editors. nice engadget. at least you updated the pic too. wonder how long it'll be before you remove this comment too?
I picked up my Hero on Friday from Best Buy. It's also showing EVDO Rev 0 but so far the speed seems decent.
Do all areas have Rev. A available, or just certain markets?
I believe Sprint's entire 3G market is updated to rev a
Who with the what now?
Mine says Rev. 0
I just ran the Xtremelabs Speedtest app, got download speeds of ~500 Kbs, upload ~150 Kbs.
I ran the same test here in Atlanta. Mine says Rev 0 as well but i'm getting about 560 kbs easy. i think it's a reporting issue.
That's about what I'm getting as well. But isn't That a little slow? Rev a should be 700-1400k down. I do believe this is a display issue. When I have good signal, I get over 1Mb down. The thing is that my signal is bad most of the time. If I'm outside holding a damn coat hanger over my head it's all good. I live in a metro area. I don't get it.
I got mine thru BestBuy, and it says Rev.0. But if they fix it within a month I'll be fine with that, this is a quality phone with a fun OS. It's almost too configurable, almost.
@darkstar,
Are you in eastern or western PA?
How weak. Doesn't allow u to use gps while on a call
unlike the iPhone can handle that flawlessly.
Congratulations... To bad this thing can run multiple apps at once. Let's see your iPhone do that.
That is an issue with CDMA networks in general. No data and voice at the same time. I'm not sure if you're not getting GPS, or just not able to download the maps in the GPS app. GPS and voice works simultaneously on my Hero in the UK. Sorry =/
My iphone can run Pandora and browse the web, all while I'm on hold w/ Comcast while waiting for a CSR to fix my bill.
Nice try tho....
Right, you can listen to music and surf the net (the extent of the iPhone's "multitasking) while chatting on the phone (something that's GSM, not iPhone specific) while a CSR rep fixes your terribad AT&T bill (if you're in the States).
Zing! You sure got us Android users there!
@logic
well lets just hope you don't get a text during all of this... then that would screw up everything.
From what has been deducted so far, this is definitely a software issue. Phones built after 9/28 are all showing a PRL & PRI of 60652 and 1.70_003 while phones before this date are showing 60654 and 1.68_003 respectively. I am in a fully REV A area and have never been dropped down to Rev 0 since it's inception 4 years ago on any of my phones or my card. If your getting speeds of ~500 Kbs, upload ~150 Kbs.. That is Rev O. Side by side, with other phones and a card, my speeds were ~450 Kbs, upload ~110 Kbs on the Hero while I am getting ~1251 Kbs, upload ~400 Kbs with a Pre and my wireless card sitting next to each other.
I love this phone, I just hope sprint sorts it out before I have to return it for a newer version.
Forgot to mention.. you can check your build date by going to the phone keypad and typing ##786#. Then just scroll down to find your phones build date.
Good information here.
I have a build date of 9/16, PRL 60652 and PRI 1.68_003. From Best Buy.
@Jon: There is an update you can do to PRL in menu/settings/about phone/System Updates/Update PRL. This will bring you to 1.68_003. Both Heros I purchased ran an update within 5 minutes of turning them on; Some peoples didn't.
Oh, and my phone is showing Rev 0. I'm getting 975 kbps down and 270 kbps up according to testmyiphone.com
@tracknod I have 1.68_003, and the phone did run a PRL update. Just manually ran one and still have 60652 and 1.68_003.