[Q] HTC aria - which image for use in europe - HTC Aria Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys,
I'm really new to this, so please excuse me asking basic stuff.
I am an iPhone user and I am familiar with linux and flashing of a huge number of different devices (Nokia, Xbox360, Xbox, Siemens, PSX...). I am living in the US, but my girlfriend lives in Germany. What I did is, I got her a AT&T locked HTC Aria for x-mas. I am aware of the difference between rooting and unlocking, but still I have some basic questions:
1. Do I unlock the device before or after I root? Does it make a difference at all?
2. As the phone is meant to be used in Germany, which (as unbranded as possible) image should I use? Can I use liberated R012/FR006 or doesn't this work in Europe? Could I use the Gratia Image?
2a.) Shall I go for FroYo or rather stick with Eclair?
3. Does the change/upgrade/renew of the image affect the unlock in any way?
4. Can I unlock the phone with an app or similar, when the device is rooted or do I have to pay for the unlock code?
Thank you so much in advance, I really appreciate your work and your help,
Tim
P.S. I used the forum search and did not find an current answer to my questions

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Maybe someone can also give me some advice on what to read, just to understand the basic stuff.
Thanks!

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Hi, I'm not an expert, but here is my experience in case it helps:
Diction said:
Hi guys,
1. Do I unlock the device before or after I root? Does it make a difference at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I unlocked first with HTCSimUnlock.com - had to pay the extended search fee.
2. As the phone is meant to be used in Germany, which (as unbranded as possible) image should I use? Can I use liberated R012/FR006 or doesn't this work in Europe? Could I use the Gratia Image?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used liberated_aria_R012, then the "update": la_www_update_R002_signed referenced in the first post in his thread. However I can't get Titanium Backup to remove the bloatware social networking stuff like facebook, ppok, etc., as others recommend. I also couldn't remove them using the complicated "SDK" method as the "ADB" can't find the phone. I don't know whether this is anything to do with the version of the ROM (I know there are more recent versions), but I got fed up after 6 hours trying, so now my wife (it's her phone) just has to live with the clutter
2a.) Shall I go for FroYo or rather stick with Eclair?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The version I have is Eclair - works fine, not noticeably faster or slower than the stock ROM.
3. Does the change/upgrade/renew of the image affect the unlock in any way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think so - not for me anyway, I have used many network SIM cards in the UK, US, Poland, Macedonia, Qatar, UAE, Italy (haven't been to Germany recently, sorry!)
4. Can I unlock the phone with an app or similar, when the device is rooted or do I have to pay for the unlock code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't find a free way to do it. There is a thread here which lists a few.
Maybe someone can also give me some advice on what to read, just to understand the basic stuff.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think I know how you feel. Even after a few years of familiarity with custom ROMs for Windows Mobile phones, this business of android "rooting", "ADB-ing", etc. and commands that look like Unix, it all sounds a a bit intimidating, especially since the "flash menu" entries aren't quite as the guides say in respect of the USB connection, bot following this thread about "unrevoked" is the way I went.
Good luck

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I don't think the rom you use will really matter, so I'd recomnd (if you don't mind running on the experimental side) the cm6.1 roms.
For unlocking, just call att and tell them you want to use it for international travel. They'll give you the code for free. I did this with my old blackberry 9000, took a few weeks, but it was basically 0 hassle. My experience was with an off contract phone, but I understand it works with on contract phones as well, someone correct me if i'm wrong, but theres no harm in trying.

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hi
i would suggest to wait for gratia in europe (i think it should be released in some days)
i use a aria in austria (ordered a week before htc pronounced that gratia will come to europe ) - works fine but only edge not hsdpa is working for data connection (due to differenze frequences in us & europe)
otherwise no problem with that greate phone

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dopsi said:
... works fine but only edge not hsdpa is working for data connection (due to differenze frequences in us & europe)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get HSPDA with my wife's AT&T Aria, in all the European countries & Middle Eastern I visited and except rarely when in the UK and she doesn't get an Orange signal (her carrier), and it switches to T-Mobile's GPRS. Not sure if Austria's different, or may be the APN settings are working, but in my experience HSPDA is possible with the Aria phone hardware.
ostsjoe said:
...For unlocking, just call att and tell them you want to use it for international travel. They'll give you the code for free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that but they refused as I wasn't the original AT&T owner (got it from eBay). Maybe you'll be luckier.
There's a helpful looking video on youtube by the way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjgg__m-KHc. Although it doesn't look like an AT&T phone, it seems to cover all the steps.

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@kc1: are you sure?
i would be happy it it would work!!!
when you look at the specification at htc.com for aria and gratia you will find
gratia
* HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz
* GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
and aria (us)
Dual Mode UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (1900/850MHZ) &
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Quad band 850/900/1800/1900MHZ);
and i tried at with different carriers (orange, t-mobile, a1) - no change to get even a connection when changing into WCDMA mode...

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dopsi said:
@kc1: are you sure?
i would be happy it it would work!!!
when you look at the specification at htc.com for aria and gratia you will find
gratia
* HSPA/WCDMA: 900/2100 MHz
* GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
and aria (us)
Dual Mode UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (1900/850MHZ) &
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Quad band 850/900/1800/1900MHZ);
and i tried at with different carriers (orange, t-mobile, a1) - no change to get even a connection when changing into WCDMA mode...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Dopsi:
Like it says in the Aria specs you've quoted above: "HSDPA". When I'm roaming in Europe & UAE, etc. I get an "H" and a fast connection if I turn the data on in most cities/countries. In other places sometimes "3G". I don't know what frequency Austria uses for it's networks (Due to be back in Salzburg after x-mas so will try it next month.), but I do know that in the past when I've only had a "G" or "E", it has been if I had the wrong APN settings. e.g. with O2, if you pick the "MMS" or "Wap" APN instead of the o2web, and similar for T-Mobile

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thanks
Hi everyone!
First of all, I want to thank you for all of your advices. I have not been around for the last days, so I couldn't reply earlier. I read your answers and they were really helpful to me!
As I mentioned before, I am a total newbie when it comes to Android OS or HTC handsets. The HTC homepage and many other forums say, that the aria won't operate on the European UMTS standard. Is this due to a hardware limitation or might this be fixed by using a different rom (like the one of the gratia)?
If this won't be working, is it possible to use skype on mobile with Edge?
Thanks again, have a great day!

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kc1 said:
@Dopsi:
Like it says in the Aria specs you've quoted above: "HSDPA". When I'm roaming in Europe & UAE, etc. I get an "H" and a fast connection if I turn the data on in most cities/countries. In other places sometimes "3G". I don't know what frequency Austria uses for it's networks (Due to be back in Salzburg after x-mas so will try it next month.), but I do know that in the past when I've only had a "G" or "E", it has been if I had the wrong APN settings. e.g. with O2, if you pick the "MMS" or "Wap" APN instead of the o2web, and similar for T-Mobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also like to know how you got HSDPA to work in europe. I have a AT&T Aria wich I'm trying to get to work with 3G/HSDPA in Sweden. It's unlocked through the same site you used and has the "liberated_aria_R012" rom with the "la_www_update_R002_signed" update. I have tested several different APN settings but I'm still stuck with Edge. I've read that the Aria's hardware doesn't support the 2100/900MHz band but your experiences says otherwise. Please bring some light to this problem

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Any updates on that? I really would like to operate the phone in europe using full 3G speed!

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Maybe it's possible to reflash the radio image?

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Tunertunes said:
I would also like to know how you got HSDPA to work in europe. I have a AT&T Aria wich I'm trying to get to work with 3G/HSDPA in Sweden. It's unlocked through the same site you used and has the "liberated_aria_R012" rom with the "la_www_update_R002_signed" update. I have tested several different APN settings but I'm still stuck with Edge. I've read that the Aria's hardware doesn't support the 2100/900MHz band but your experiences says otherwise. Please bring some light to this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The AT&T branded Aria does not support the 900/2100MHz bands for UTMS. Only 850/1900, so you probably won't be able to get 3G. Flashing a new radio will not work because the frequencies are in the hardware, not controlled by software.

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*grml* Stupid USA!!! Can't they just use the standard of the rest of the world?
Thanks anyway, maybe Edge is fast enough for my girlfriend's needs.
Do you guys think it is possible that some major cities have installed some antennas for the US standard to make the mobile internet faster for visitors? This would explain the experience of @Dopsi.
Thanks for your replies!
Tim

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Diction said:
*grml* Stupid USA!!! Can't they just use the standard of the rest of the world?
Thanks anyway, maybe Edge is fast enough for my girlfriend's needs.
Do you guys think it is possible that some major cities have installed some antennas for the US standard to make the mobile internet faster for visitors? This would explain the experience of @Dopsi.
Thanks for your replies!
Tim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just reread Dopsi's replies and he said he only gets EDGE, not HSPA despite all of the different settings he has tried.

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Ah, right, it was kc1 saying:
I get HSPDA with my wife's AT&T Aria, in all the European countries & Middle Eastern I visited and except rarely when in the UK and she doesn't get an Orange signal (her carrier), and it switches to T-Mobile's GPRS. Not sure if Austria's different, or may be the APN settings are working, but in my experience HSPDA is possible with the Aria phone hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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Hello guys,
actually there are two types of HTC Aria:
HTC Gratia (HTC Liberty):
GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS900, UMTS2100
HTC Aria A6380 (HTC Liberty):
GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS900, UMTS2100
HTC Aria A6366 (HTC Liberty):
GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900, UMTS850, UMTS1900
So you want to use HTC Gratia or Aria A6380 in Europe and I guess AT&T is selling Aria A6366.
Btw, you can find all 3 of them in the Device Database of this site.
I am not sure where you can verify which version you have. If you figure it out please let me know...
Mage

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Tunertunes said:
I would also like to know how you got HSDPA to work in europe. I have a AT&T Aria wich I'm trying to get to work with 3G/HSDPA in Sweden. It's unlocked through the same site you used and has the "liberated_aria_R012" rom with the "la_www_update_R002_signed" update. I have tested several different APN settings but I'm still stuck with Edge. I've read that the Aria's hardware doesn't support the 2100/900MHz band but your experiences says otherwise. Please bring some light to this problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey may actually have the Aria sold in Asia, which is compatible with euro HSDPA.

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CMage,
my Aria from ATT via Amazon shows Model number "HTC Gratia A6380" from Settings>About Phone>Phone Identity. It was shipped in Aug. Thought this was interesting based on the list of available models.

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Ken1939 said:
CMage,
my Aria from ATT via Amazon shows Model number "HTC Gratia A6380" from Settings>About Phone>Phone Identity. It was shipped in Aug. Thought this was interesting based on the list of available models.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting indeed. HTC didn't even announce the Gratia until October 2010. So does your Aria have the AT&T logo on it?