Thanks for the feedback and advice.

So...I finally got on with Max from RIM. He advised the GPS function is disabled by RIM as the result of a contractual obligation with VZW and RIM is not allowed to enable it. He advised that I am certainly welcome to purchase a separate GPS devise and pair it to my phone.

He did indicate VZW is supposed to be coming out with an update to VZ Navigator which, for a price, will allow you to use the GPS function ONLY with VZ Navigator. So, basically, they're going to hold you hostage and allow you to ONLY use the GPS functionality if you're willing to pay extra for it. WHAT A JOKE!

I guess every provider has their pro's & con's but I find it ridiculous that VZW won't let you use ANY mapping program with GPS - even if they limited it to bbmaps - until their proprietary, pay program is available.

For now, one of the folks I know is working on a way to unlock the GPS functionality on VZW phones -we'll see how it goes.

Wow, you must not be reading the posts.

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clamder (Offline)
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Default 05-19-2007, 01:03 AM
anyone get video to work for the 8830? i've tried all sorts of codecs... no luck..

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mattk0 (Offline)
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Default 05-19-2007, 11:44 PM
Clamder- I'm curious if you are getting an error with it. I also have an 8830 and for every video am getting a "The media being played is is of an usnsupported format" error, even if I've converted it with the converter..

I also downloaded some of the videos from the seabyrd website and transfered it to the blackberry and got the same error(s). Anyone else seeing this? help?


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Runamuck (Offline)
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Default 05-20-2007, 09:33 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by mattk0 View Post
Clamder- I'm curious if you are getting an error with it. I also have an 8830 and for every video am getting a "The media being played is is of an usnsupported format" error, even if I've converted it with the converter..

I also downloaded some of the videos from the seabyrd website and transfered it to the blackberry and got the same error(s). Anyone else seeing this? help?
I'm hearing reports on HOFO boards that users are finding out that VZW, in addition to crippling the GPS on the 8830 also modified the media player as a means of allowing users to access VCAST content. Could it be that they intentionally crippled certain codecs on the 8830's media player?


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mattk0 (Offline)
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Default 05-21-2007, 07:45 AM
I'll give that a try, thanks for the info.

(Sounds like runamuck is correct: Verizon has definitely crippled the GPS feature and even the media player with 'normal' codecs. Thanks Verizon ;-(




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Good luck. At&t isn't any better.

All media-capable BB's only support certain formats and CODECs. Check out the knowledgebase at Blackberry.com. It's not a Verizon-imposed limitation.

...and your CDMA carrier would have to be willing to activate a device from another CDMA carrier. Most won't IIRC.

If this is true then how come all of my videos on my 2gb card work on my ATT 8800 and not on my VZW 8830. Not to mention there are lots of users reporting the same issue.

Ack -- I'm apparently not reading the posts either... Please ignore that last post of mine.

I called Verizon yesterday and asked what the end date was for my trial period.
The date the person on the phone gave me did include the 30 day extension. So it seems that part is accurate. (Yes, I have names and ID numbers...)

Now we'll see if the other part about the GPS being free with my current rate plans once it is enabled...

nice

Who cares about GPS. Get a AVIC or something else...

.... did you even read the thread? I don't care too much about the GPS but it's a nice addon / toy.

Lets try an analogy to that: "Who cares about the built-in, integrated radio in your brand new car. If it doesn't work, get a boom-box or something else...

Sounds pretty silly, doesn't it?

While not GPS related, VZW also disables your ability to change TCP settings (like if you wanted to use another WAP). Isn't that nice of them. We seriously need to class action VZW for this crud.

Can someone with a Sprint phone use javaloader cmdline program and rip out the net_rim_locationapi.cod file from their handheld?

This makes so much sense.

Well, I don't care about Voice Dialing but I do care about GPS.

Every person has different reasons and things that are important to them.

One of the core issues here is that this seems to be a classic example of "Corporate Greed" where Verizon deliberately, via their contract with RIM, had RIM disable the built-in GPS capacity. The assumptions floating around imply that it was for the purpose of Verizon requiring an additional $10.00 per month to enable what is already present in the device. Now, these are all still assumptions. We will see once the capability is released.

I don't think it's that simple.

I believe the internal gps reciever is disabled at the firmware level. I would be looking at the "..\cdma\rim8830.sfi" file. In order to enable the internal gps receiver, we will have to devise a patch for this firmware flash file. This certainly will not be easy as very little is known about the internal structure of this file.

Although the Sprint firmware is not "officially" released, you can still get your hands on it by downloading the Telus or Bell Mobility Device Software for the 8830. These packages are nearly identicle and actually contain firmware for just about ALL 8830 vendors, including Verizon and Sprint.

The Sprint 8330 is currently distributed with device software version 4.2.2.123 (software package is 4.2.2.240) which is already available for download via the links provided above. Although this STILL won't enable the internal gps receiver, you can easily load this version of the firmware onto you Verizon 8830 by modifying your "Vendor.xml" file. There are some good enhancements in 4.2.2.123. To load 4.2.2.123 onto your Verizon 8830, simply add the following XML node to the Verizon vendor entry:

OR

Replace the "Vendor.xml" file with the one i've attached to this post and launch the Application Loader via the Desktop Manager. It should tell you that an update is available for your 8830.

Also, there are some other cool things that can be done to the 8830 that are not "publicly" known or posted anyware. One of them providing the ability to use your Verizon 8830 as a high speed dial-up modem a.k.a. "Enabling DUN".

To do this, check out my post on HowardForums. Just be sure to have the BlackBerry Device Manager running first.

How to enable EVDO DUN on ANY EVDO capable phone in 10 easy steps!

This method works on ALL EVDO capable phones built on Qualcomm chipsets. Thats just about EVERY Verizon phone (including other BlackBerry models!) with the exception of a few that are built on Non-Qualcomm CDMA chipsets.

If anyone has been trying to unlock the internal gps reciever for the Verizon 8830 and feels they have valuable information to share, PM me. Maybe we can work together to devise a patch.

Cheers,
randyman

Humm, well, if that file is the same throughout each carrier OS release (which apperently it is because loading up the Bell OS does nothing), then I'd be willing to bet that the file (if it is the one controlling the GPS capability) is written in such a way that it looks at the phone's internal config to figure out what "carrier" it's for. So, that being said, the only way this is apperently controlled is via the carrier ID... for testing purposes why not just change the carrier ID on the phone? Is there a way to do this? Technically speaking the phone would load up the OS options for whatever test carrier you set it as, some things may not work properly, but at least GPS functions can be tested. Once it's verified that this is really what it is, then it's just a matter of finding a way to change the carrier ID lockout in the sfi file. Even a single digit edit on the "exclusion" statement from 105 to something else would render the statment useless. That is, if that's the file that really controls this.

Exactly.

I have also been trying to gain some insight into the locking mechanism by contacting various BlackBerry enthusiasts who have a niche for reverse engineering cod files. Hopefully they can provide me with some hints as to how receiver is disabled.

I will be sure to post my findings.

Cheers,
randyman

Just read this post from Hexx in another forum:

See the full thread here:
BlackBerry OS - RCE Messageboard's Regroupment

Looks like patching is out of the question.

-randyman

Only if the disable code is in the bin file. It may or may not be. Until we know exactly what controls it it's useless to say it won't be unlocked.

Maybe the "Hacking the BlackBerry" discussion belongs in it's own thread.

the intent of this thread was to discuss getting Verizon to properly enable the GPS capability.

Unfortunately this doesn't seem to work with a 8703e: no M.IP menu in the Service Programming step.

Brittonx, good luck with this. I do hope you're successful in getting VZW to act. They're the only carrier that cripples phones. I'm not sure how they get away with this. My wife's old Razr had a camera - but she could never get pix off it b/c VZW disables bluetooth file transfer and USB file transfer. Specifically b/c they wanted everyone to pay to transfer their photos over their network and pay data charges! Seriously, WTF? They disabled tethering on my XV700 as well. I was so pissed that I switched back to AT&T. Even if they have better coverage (which they dont seem to in Manhattan), I'd never go back b/c of how they try to screw their customers over. that said, we're both on At&T now with an 8800 and 8300 and relatively happy.

Did QPST prompt you to select a base model chipset? If so, try selecting one of the entries starting with SURF6300. That should give your MIP tab.

cheers,
randyman

- FYI -

The method described in my previous post should also enable Bluetooth DUN. It has for me on my 8830.

cheers,
randyman

No it gave me some other types to choose from like FFA3100-1900 and FFA3300-1900,
none of them had the M.IP tab.

But on top of that I noticed QPST Configuration is not seeing the right ESN (way off), or phone number (right area code, but wrong number) even though that's the only phone attached, so something more basic is wrong -

Anyway thanks for the suggestions... - Scott

Scott,
I have faced similar issued when doing this. A couple things to be sure of before "giving up". Be sure that you don't have any other phones connected to your PC. Are you certain that the ESN that is shown is incorrect? The ESN in QPST is displayed in HEX. Maybe you are reading your ESN in decimal, leading to confusion?

Regardless, if QPST is prompting your for a Base Model, that means it can't recognize your chipset for what ever reason. Although, this doesn't mean that your chipset isn't supported by QPST. I have that most RIM phones aren't recognized by QPST, even when the chipset is supported by that QPST version!

What version of QPST are you using? It is essential that you use at least version 2.7 Build 215. I have found newer build available on the net, particularly build 264.

Be sure to check ALL available options. I have tested and verified this method works. Try using the base model "SURF6300-ZRF6000". That one should give you the MIP tab. You can test the different base models by working in "Offline Mode" and seeing what tabs are available for that chipset, util you find the MIP tab.

Good luck,
randyman

That really stinks. I am testing a generic version of the 8830 and it even has autonomous GPS. I used both AGPS and standalone and it works with Blackberry maps and Google maps fine. It does take longer to acquire the sats with it standalone but it works.

Care to tell us what carrier you're testing for?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/1)

A regional carrier out of Virginia. I can't name the company until I get our offical release date.

Look at your service books and give us a list. See if you see anything in there about GPS. I'm getting conflicting info from some people. They say GPS is controlled via service books while others say throught the firmware.

Man this is getting to be alot of technical stuff for GPS. I use my every now and then but it wouldnt be worth all this to me.

Phonetester, im guessing a certain company that begins with "N" and ends in "S"? Im in NC and travel to VA every now and then and have come across them.

For the maps program i got the gps to work by going to blackberry's site and rolling back the maps program to an older version then i could use the internal gps. But some of the function with the ball instead of the wheel cause script errors.

I find this very hard to believe.

I second that.
I'm calling shenanigans on dux007, he's just adding fuel to the fire.

I have the AT&T 8800. AT&T doesn't allow the Blackberry maps to be installed on the 8800 (their effort to increa$e profit) as they want users to subscribe to telenav (sic). [Their is a way to get them in spite of AT&T's efforts!]

The GPS works fine on the 8800

Google and Yahoo both offer mobile mapping software for the 8800. The mapping software from both offer traffic conditions (in major urban areas) and the navigation interface of both are worth what you pay for them (nothing).

I have a Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS, and the traffic data doesn't offer very good coverage (poor signal strength of the traffic receiver). The traffic subscription from Garmin is $60. per year.

I use the Yahoo and Google traffic (Google has more geographic traffic coverage in my area than Yahoo) and they both work great.

VZW appears to have forced RIM to disable the GPS. Reviewing this forum, it does appear that they are paying for this decision (returned 8830s) and that is as it should be.

People (and corporations) make choices. Choices have consequences.

I have confirmed via a very reliable source that the blackberry device software is littered with explicit check to block the verizon 8830. No service books can help us now. I have already patched the associated cod files but unfortunately they are signed and if the hash fails (which it will after patching even a single byte), the module will not load and the BB JVM will give you some very unfriendly messages. I learned this the hard way .

I will keep everyone posted.

Cheers,
Randyman

I did not notice a service book listing anything about GPS. I believe it is in the firmware. We have a different firmware then Verizon.

Dump the firmware. We really only need one file off the phone. Get with Randyman... should be the rim8830c.sfi file. You can get it off with javaloader. Maybe the sfi firmware on your tester doesn't have the vzw limitations in it since it's a tester.

Randyman, seems that the only way is to change the Carrier ID on the phone. I can't belive no one has figured out a way to resign the files. Is it just a simple checksum issue or something higher? Can the files simply be padded to match up?

I guess this is why the JVM was throwing me error messages when I mixed and matched versions from one OS version load with another.