BlackBerry Forums Support Community

axelm · 03-12-2009, 07:11 AM

Hi, this is my first post here. This forum rocks!

I never had a BlackBerry before and I wanted to get a cheap one with QWERTY to try out the service. My local telco is Movistar and they are charging an arm and a leg for a BB, so I bought a new unlocked 8707v on newegg and brought it to Argentina.

Movistar does not suport UMTS2100, so I was wondering if anyone has been able to hack the firmware to get the WCDMA chipset to work on 850 or 1900 Mhz. Maybe there is a way to crossflash the radio module from another device.

I tried to get info on the Qualcomm WCDMA chipset, but I could not find a teardown on the web.

Any ideas?

Axel

dc/dc · 03-12-2009, 07:19 AM

This is totally impossible.

axelm · 03-12-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc/dc

This is totally impossible.

Hi, thanks for the response.

Do you happen to know the part number of the Qualcomm WCDMA radio the 8707 uses?

Being a software developer I am curious so I'd like to check it out.

axelm · 03-12-2009, 07:45 AM

The radio frequency could be locked to 2100 due to marketing strategy or network certification. Maybe it does support other frequencies. I wonder if the internal antenna would work...

dc/dc · 03-12-2009, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axelm

Hi, thanks for the response.

Do you happen to know the part number of the Qualcomm WCDMA radio the 8707 uses?

Being a software developer I am curious so I'd like to check it out.

I don't know the part number unfortunately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by axelm

The radio frequency could be locked to 2100 due to marketing strategy or network certification. Maybe it does support other frequencies. I wonder if the internal antenna would work...

No, it does not support other frequencies.

If you'd like to use a BlackBerry on UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900, you'll need a Bold 9000.

axelm · 03-12-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc/dc

I don't know the part number unfortunately.

No, it does not support other frequencies.

If you'd like to use a BlackBerry on UMTS/HSDPA 850/1900, you'll need a Bold 9000.

The 8707 cost USD 149, while the 9000 with UMTS 850/1900/2100 costs USD 549. Too much money for what I need, just simple email reading/writing and Messenger service when I am travelling.

I guess I'll upgrade in a year or so when the prices are reasonable.

dc/dc · 03-12-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axelm

The 8707 cost USD 149, while the 9000 with UMTS 850/1900/2100 costs USD 549. Too much money for what I need, just simple email reading/writing and Messenger service when I am travelling.

I guess I'll upgrade in a year or so when the prices are reasonable.

In understand, I was just letting you know that that is the only way to have UMTS on 850/1900.