How to Replace Radio Firmware for Lenovo S920
How to Replace Radio Firmware for Lenovo S920 – Replacing radio firmware sometime needed when you have a problem with signal reception on your device. This happens when china phone flash with ROW (Rest of World) firmware or vice versa, If you experience the signal reception problem then this guide is right for you, through this guide it recommended you to try any different radio firmware that fits with your conditions. This guide needed to modified system files that are not recommended for you to do before you have a system backup, even this guide already tested but it has the possibility to brick your device, read carefully and be safe.
Disclaimer: This guide for educational purposes only, We not responsible if your device bricked after following this tutorial. Even this guide is already tested but it has the possibility to brick your phone.
Conditions :
- Must be ROOTED, If your firmware already Android KitKat then follow this guide for rooting How to Rooting Lenovo S920 with Android KitKat ROW Version, but if your Lenovo S920 still using Android Jelly Bean then use Framaroot v1.91
- Already have a custom recovery installed, Alternative Custom Recovery for Lenovo S920 Carliv Touch Recovery 2.4
- ROW
- CN
Using Custom Recovery Method :
- After 2 conditions above already fulfill, move the modem file to your device. Put it on the root of your SD Card, do not inside the folder.
- Turn off your device and boot to recovery mode, press and hold Power button + Volume Down + Volume Up button and release until you can see recovery main menu
- On the custom recovery main menu select Install zip from sd card ↦ Choose zip from sd card ↦ point it to downloaded modem file
- After installation finish back to custom recovery main menu, select Reboot System Now
- Boot normally and confirm with go to System Setting ↦ About Phone ↦ look on the Baseband Version make sure it same with the downloaded modem file.
Using Manual :
- Install Root Explorer on your device, this program needed ROOT to be run
- Extract downloaded modem file to your computer and move it to external sd card, there will be 1 folder with 2 subfolder ↦ /system/etc ↦ firmware ↦ mddb
- Open Root Explorer and navigate to /etc/firmware, rename modem.img then navigate to /etc/mddb rename BPLGU*******.
- Move modem.img from downloaded modem file to /etc/firmware then set permission to RW–R–R.
Move BPLGU******* from downloaded modem file to /etc/mddb then set permission to RW–R–R
- Done, now reboot your phone.
Hi Andy, already rooted my phone, and tried all of the above modem firmware without succes… By chance, do you have any other modem firmware that I can use?
Only used the first way, as the doing the second I receive the error message that the file can not be renamed as it's a reading only file
My phone has installed the band base: S960.ROW.V103 and compilation number S960_ROW_S211_140702. Really appreaciate your help as I have very poor signal and not 3G at all. Thanks and best regards.
Hi miguel,
Can you give me more description what mean with "without success" there is any error or what? If your phone is cn phone suggest you use cn modem file. Waiting your answer on this
hi andy please help me…
i use v51 but only 2g connection i have.. no 3g connection.. im useing kitkat s211.. please help me
Try one by one and find the fit one for your device, i already told that every modem file depend on network servuce and provider so you need to try one by one
its still the same.. only 2g i have.. 🙁
ok, the last change is to re flashing your device, sometimes re flashing can fix the problem that cannot be fix with any solution.
ok.. i bvack original modem… the problem is i get really weak signal… too weak… that why i chnge.. but after change just 2g.. no 3g.. so strange i using vibe x (s960_ROW_s211)
china devices flash with international ROM often got this problem, because of this always backup your modem file and flash it after you change ROM. but if you already miss it just try to re flash your ROM again, and if still not success just use china firmware.
ermm… how to know mine china version… by using uncle tools all gsm are on.. but UMT just band 2000… anyway to enable all of it? and i update my phone using lenovo smart assistance.
because if you devices international version you will never got this problem, band is factory setting and for sure don't try ever to change it you will just mess the band rather than fix it.
thanks admin.. but why i can detect other company 3g network? but not mine? its my carrier band different?
try ask you network provider, who know your network are in trouble so the only available on 2G, before you modified your device.
ok admin… after chnge other simcard(company too) my 3g work.. but original sim fail..and my original sim can use 3g in other device.. walao.. pening fikir admin.. T_T gimana mas.. T_T
so not ROM problem, good now we know it SIM problems.
My suggestion is just check your SIM configuration on your devices or bring our SIM card to network provider customer services let them handle the problem for you
Does the V23 ROW works for lenovo S820 ROW?
hi,
you must tried it, if you say work it will be work but i don;t know about signal strength because different country. so you must tried yourself and see the signal strength in your country.
hi andy,
how to flash or patch light sensor and proximity sensor s920, after upgrade to kitkat, those sensor doesnt work, thanks
Hi,
Cannot if you wanna fix it you must modified your kernel, because it related with hardware all hardware related is on the kernel not on the ROM. Just wait for next update ROM maybe it will fix it.
Can i use this radio firmware on my s930?or do you have other tutorial…thanks
Hi,
Yes you can, modem file can be use to any devices but make different is the system. If you use ROW use mofem for ROW but if you china use China version. Or you can try combine it. It will not make your device brick. Just try and try.
The way is same for every device so you can use this guide for Lenovo S930
Hi andy
Can i use this tutorial on my Lenovo S939? My network not stable. Some place ok some spot its drop.
hi,
yes you can. try and leave comments about it
My phone is S920 with KITKAT, baseband version v104.Build number is ROW S220.My problem is when use phone at outdoor both SIM signal strength are strong.When I enter the building under the roof. Both of the signal strength go low drastically. SIM2 signal is weak and SIM1 is no signal all the time. I wondering is hardware or software problem. This phone still have few days warranty. This condition is suitable for this guide tutorial? Please give some advise to me. (If hardware problem I still can go for warranty, but with this guide i rooted my phone warranty will… Read more »
Hi,
I think your condition is not same with this guide. Because this guide is told that your signal is weak on insideand outside, not just on inside. My suggestion is ask to your supplier first if you can try t9 claim the warranty don't modified first because you still have warranty and not make sure the problem cause by hardware or software or network provider
Thank you, for your advise.
No problem, nice can help you
Hi,
I did Custom recovery method, and now, my baseband should be V23, as you say, but my phone shows that my baseband is V103. What I did worng?
Tnx
How about the log, can you tell me what it say? I don't know until you say the log that show when you install modem via custom recovery
Hi, let me be more clearly. 🙂I have Kitkat baseband S920 ROW V104,2014/07/14 15:05. My build number is S920_ROW-S213_140714.So, I rooted it, as u said.Than I used custom recovery method to instal ROW – V23, firmware S113. I had no problem, but you say to verify the baseband nomber to be the same. And in my case is not and nothing happend with slot 2.Than, I tried the manual way. When I open rootexplorer and go to each file to rename, it say they are read-only. But if i check for permisions, these are right, rw-r–r–, for both of them.Now,… Read more »
On the root explorer there is onption on the top that make it read only or read write, as long as your device rooted you can make root explorer to mode read write, and for the custom recovery method look at the progress or log that show when you install from custom recovery it will show you what happen.
SP Flash Tool V3.1324.0.sn177 runtime trace is ON.
Build: 2013/06/07 17:33 (r1188)
Comment: [Official Build][Customer Release][W1324 Customer Release]
Load Path: D:lenovoROOTNew folderFlash_tool.exe
==================================================================================================================================
==================================================================================================================================
Smart Phone Flash Tool runtime trace is OFF
What is that? Not log on the flash tool, log when you install modem from custom recovery. It show on your device when install modem from custom recovery.
I did everything all over again. I did the rooting, went ok. I did the custom recovery method and it said that it was installed. But still doesn't work and when I enter in kinguser I see this message Su upgrade failed. missing root permission…..
Don't know what to do.
i need screen shot or view from your problem, begin with your rooting, installing custom recovery until you say that installing modem from custom recovery success and root permission missing.
you can sent the image on my hangout or facebook. search for andylah on facebook.
Hello Andy,
Just a question, if you flash a Row Rom on CN phone, but you use the previous CN modem, could you do OTA update after? If yes, what would be the consequences?
Hello,
Yes you can still recieved and install update, OTA update cannot be done if you already change the recovery to custom. No there is no consequences
Thanks for your quick reply. You say no consequences?
If I unserstand, I can received Row updates but they will not change the CN modem that I use? I can easily update my phone and don't loose the modem file/Radio Firmware, that's right?
yes,
except the new update, update the modem file. if not then the modem file will not replace by the update..
OTA update is like a patch as long the change is not for modem then your modem is safe
hi, i am using Vibe UI 4.4.2 DEV V2.0, and i have a problem about low signal both of my sim card….
I already replaced my modem file with a lot of kind modem file version, but nothing changes…
i am even flashing and downgrade my phone back to stock rom s110, but still bad signal…
can you help me to solved my problem???
Hi,
Usually they back to the first rom they got, so if you first ROM S124 and have good signal then back to it. But to solve the signal problem usually they just try all modem and see the best signal strenght
I've tried ROM S110, s117, and s124 but still nothing .. is that normal ??
When i check band mode on mobileuncle, my phone only support EGSM900, DCS1800,PCS1900,GSM850 and WCDMA-IMT-2000, WCDMA-GSM-900, is that correct band for Indonesia? in your opinion, do you think my problem caused by different band mode or hardware problem? because, as i know Indonesia is on GSM900/2100… CMIIW
What is your first ROM? Or are you have signal problem from the first you buy the phone? If it baseband problem you can try to switch different mobile provider and see if it have good signal. I think yes indonesia use GSM900/2100, but i think it not because baseband problem
i don't remember, because i've always update my phone until kitkat official ROW from system upgrade…
nope.. my phone works properly before. i just found this problem when i tried to use Vibe UI V1.5, 3 weeks ago..
i've tried switch different mobile provider and not help.. even my current sim card works properly in other device with very strong signal..
Hmm, i just can tell you to try change the modem file until you can found the best signal if you cannot find it than just bring your device to lenovo service center and ask to fix your phone.
Because it all ian do for you… Sorry cannot help you more..
it's okay,… so, if i still cant find the best modem file, it means there are posibility my problem caused by hardware problem??? if yes, do you know the way i could to do some trouble shooting for my hardware?? thank you by the way…
No there is no hardware problem, the problem is NVRAM partition you cannot make it without your backup so bring to lenovo center lete them make for you
i have nvram backup with format .img… how can i restore it?
If you alreadyr oot your phone you can restore using mobileuncle but if not just reflash using flash tool remove __ on nvram section in the checksum and just check nvram om flash tool.
Can you show me about restore tuturial?
What your mean restore tutorial? I dont understand. Restore what?