EVO 4G gets 802.11n WiFi by changing two lines of code
The EVO 4G has a lot of weight in the smartphone arena thanks to WiMAX and that 4.3-inch screen, but though its Broadcom BCM4329 silicon also technically supports 802.11n WiFi over 2.4GHz, the protocol was disabled for some reason. Thankfully it's just a matter of ten characters to enable greater throughput, as the fine folks at xda-developers recently discovered. Better yet, you don't even have to edit those characters yourself -- if your EVO's nice and rooted and the word "brick" doesn't inspire fear, you'll find instructions and flash-ready ZIP files at our source link.
























Weird. Why are HTC restricting this phone so much?
@Apple Google Microsoft
Its being reported that they are working on an update to fix this and the screen grounding issue. Both are software related and they say it should be fixed shortly
@Apple Google Microsoft
The Nexus One I believe has the same chip set as the EVO and Google waited for FroYo to activate the 802.11N. Does N wireless use more battery? I don't know but that could be why Google waited for FroYo to activate it since the battery life is better with FroYo.
@dswatson83
If it's true that Sprint/HTC is making and update then I think it's best to wait because the instruction to root and further unlocking the Evo features is a pain in the neck although very tempting..
@Apple Google Microsoft It was probably to keep the battery life above 4 hours.
@Apple Google Microsoft
Nice, all we need is for them to change 2 lines of code to "insert android diss here"
I love android, and I used to have a Hero, but come on.. Android practically ran right into this one..
@Apple Google Microsoft
They aren't restricting it at all. Whatever they are doing probarbly has a valid reason for being in that state..
@Shalabi
I got my Evo to lasted more than 2 full days with some calls and internet. People is just abusing it with heavy self video recording while naked that's all. I remember I had my iphone and I got less than 4hr because I was playing a 3d game on it. Battery is not an issue, fanboi bashing is.
@Shalabi On androidcentral, there's a poll about battery life.
92% get over 10 hours, including me.
In fact, I get 30+ hours cause I flashed the "baked snack" rom.
Stop spreading misconceptions.
@Kedar
10 hours of use? That is ridiculously low. Cant even get a full day worth of use without me carrying an extra battery AND charger.
This, while engadget got 30 hrs of use out of the ip4. That is something that apple at least gets right.
@cdf74dc9 It is a HUGE pain in the ass.
In terms of easiness to get more access, from easiest to hardest:
jailbreaking, hard spl, rooting
I just quit, reverted back to stock, then applied unrEVOked.
@MoonWalkerCTE Exactly - seriously - why mess with this?
@Apple Google Microsoft : Dear Baby Jesus, please let OneLove get an EVO 4G soon (for less than $400).
@Kedar Actually its you the fanboys that are spreading inuendo.. You just lie to make yourself feel better about your purchase.
@blindguymcsqueezy I wondered if it was battery related. Even if it uses more, you should probably have wi-fi off when it's not being utilized and if you use it in place of 3G/4G to surf you'd save battery while also getting more accomplished. I think the FroYo comment might indicate laziness/rush from HTC as the Galaxy S allows 802.11N without FroYo, not sure why this device would be any different.
@Apple Google Microsoft
they restrain it so it dosent become self aware
@MoonWalkerCTE
Except if Apple did this it would be the talking point of the century for Android users. I agree that it's not a big issue but come on...
Evo continues to deliver.
@Appl As long as you jailbreak the wifi...
@Shalabi
"jailbreak the wifi..."
You are an idiot.
@Shalabi
I don't think Jailbreak means what I think it does.
I hope some one will investigate and see if this has any significant drain on battery life. (Because that's the only reason I could see to leave it out...)
Well maybe it doesn't have two physical antennas so it doesn't qualify for 802.11N so they don't even bother. Any one know for sure?
@apairofdocs 802.11n doesn't need 2 antennas. You can add 2 for dual band on a router (so you can connect wireless g and n at the same time), but what possible reason would the device connecting to the router NEED 2 antennas? Some use it to pick up a better signal, but it's in no way required or even too common on portable devices.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
Actually the n spec involves the use of 3 antennas to eliminate reflections and improve reception, optionally, I no idea if they mandate two or if one is OK, the iPhone 4 only seems to have one though.
@engadgetcomexcludeengadget Yes, it does in fact need (at least) two antennae because the 802.11n wifi standard uses MIMO (multiple input multiple output) to achieve its greater bandwidth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11n
Before:
802.11n = 0
No_802.11n_fer_realz = 1
After:
802.11n = 1
No_802.11n_fer_realz = 0
;-)
@darkazure lol nice one xD
@darkazure
Lol
@uckApple hey, i can do that. thats how i change things on my source game servers XD *checks 1 for destroy apple fanboys* woops.
The word brick inspires laughter actually
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH3f8V18rS0
Now the only thing missing is the hack to make it transform into an actual android.
Any speculation in regards to why it was disabled?
@wolfticket II
I'd very much like to know that aswell.
First the frame cap, then n-capabilities. Both seemed to be included but commented out afterwards.
Legal reasons?
FCC maybe? (at least regarding the n network capabilities, not a valid explanation for the frame cap issue)
Battery life?
Why withhold features that are abviously there?
what about FM transmitting?
So now it has full root, 60fps video and wireless n? Goddamn CDMA, I want a GSM version :(
@Bratyr
Sprint isn't bad at all. Been with ATT and T-Mo and I can say Sprint top them with 4g to spare... At least to where I lived.
@cdf74dc9
Yeah i'd definitely be on sprint.... if their nearest tower is 8000km away from me, I live in this little place called The Rest Of The World, you may not have heard of it :P
@Bratyr
that should be but not if :)
@Bratyr Buy a microcell of eBay. :P
And why do Android users complain about Apple again? Pot calling kettle situation right here.
@Shalabi you don't even know what your talking about kiddo. They intentionally left wireless n disabled for more than just a few reasons. First, it sucks up battery life like hell. Second, it does not have two physical antennae, so it doors not meet the Ieee requirements for a n level device, so it would not be granted approval by the fcc if they attempted to release it. Third, your on a freaking phone, you dont need wireless n speeds.
@centizen
I'm not sure your claims about the FCC are correct regarding N wireless, seeing as the iPhone 4 does not meet the spec according to you.
Remind me why we don't need wireless "n"? Is it because we don't need the throughput increase, penetration increase, or distance increase?
@pinetreehater
The improvements that you would get from having a second antenna in a phone would be marginal at best. They would be to close to make much of a difference
@centizen
"you don't need wireless n speeds"
That's the best excuse you can come up with? You know what you have to do to an iPhone 4 for it to have wireless n? You turn it on. But sure, keep making excuses for why the Evo doesn't have it by default.
Additionally, nobody should be turning wireless n on the Evo. You know why? Because you don't need wireless n speeds on a phone. That is what you said, right? You don't need it?
@Jack
Jack you dont belong here move on. Lets the grown ups talk. EVO has 4G son! What button do you need to press to turn that on on the iPhone!
=)
xda-developers. Heroes of the smartphone world.
the screen isuse has been fixed lol what planet are you on
Man, is there anything this phone can't do?
@Alfred E Neuman
When there is no limit to what driod gets, Driod does!