for those curious about v200 chinese firmware

[Dust]

as per attached pic (about 170k, and as i'm hosting the image from geoshitty, so sometimes either it takes a long while to load, or it doesn't load at all if exceed the hourly bandwidth. doh.)

Pic looks blurry, because snapshots were taken using my dad's nokia 7250.
http://sg.geocities.com/simon_simple69/V208_8G_BETA2.txt


The firmware installed in my phone is commonly known as the G3 beta version.
It basically adds v208 capability (chinese text support) to yr v200.

However it has one bug which may be hard to adjust to: caller ID is disabled!
You can still access your phone book on the Menu, but when anyone in your phonebook calls, if you have caller id, ONLY THE NUMBER will show up, not the Name.

Also, for this version you need not bother to assign caller group. this function is 'dead' too.. though you can assign, but it will not work (since this beta version firmware doesn't have caller id, Caller Group function is effectively disabled too).

when you flash your phone, there is also a chance that the firmware MIGHT NOT WORK.

As an example,when i first tried to flash to E5 (which is actally the default firmware for v208, the chinese version of v200, for china market) firmware, my phone died... as in it only keeps flashing. Scary experience.

It pays to back up. or failing that, have another firmware version ready on standby (thanks again to Godai's sms help! and also my boss.. he 'helped' me by leaving a spare nokia 2100 lying around in the office, which i used to send sms for help while my v200 was dead).

About the only other plus in this firmware is that you have more default ringtones (though a few, like the Cat Dance, are gone.. but replaced by many many more).

Also, when you flash your phone, all downloaded stuff (ringtones, pic, notes, GPRS and MMS settings, and any other stuff that's not saved in your sim card) are gone. Erased. Poof.

And the IMEI number of the phone gets changed too. noticed that sg doesn't have tight control over the IMEI tag (or i would't have able to use my phone last weekend when i successfully flashed it). Anyway also figured how to change it yesterday. although it was somewhat irritating when i discovered that resetting your phone's IMEI no. ALSO ERASES all GPRS/WAP/MMS settings. bah.

P.S. that wallpaper is cropped and retooled by myself. original source of wallpaper is www.boyis.com (just search for wallpapers called "GA Graphics" there)

[NSman]

wahhh, got so many bugs huh?!! But are you able to load back to original V200 firmware??

And, though you are going to trading tis V200 to LG 8000? still can trade meh??

[Dust]

nope, i did not save my original firmware, although if i wanted to, i guess i can easily borrow one v200 from my friends, then use the backup of his firmware.

nah, i'm saving $$$ for something else.. so no spare cash to allow me to trade. but got a bit or spare time, so i researched into chinese firmware for v200 again.

And for this firmware there's only one major bug (the disabled caller-id).. not spotted any other bugs so far.

The other stuff, such as changed IMEI no., erased settings etc. are all standard "Features" as a result of flashing your firmware.. Think of it as if you are formatting your mobile phone, since anything (and everything) that's stored inside the phone gets wiped out.

[jonzhong]

woulkd like to ask u a question....did u upgrade ur phone to become chinese applicable by using ur warranty card....or u have other ways

would also like to ask u how do transfer melody downloaded from internet, from my com to my phone using infra....is it only able to transfer .mmf files only....

thanx for ur time reading....

[Dust]

i using other way hehee. (downloaded the stuff from the net at home).

shld be able to transfer ringtones from PC to phone using EasyGPRS.. need to convert midi tunes to mmf format though. So you are correct.. v200 only accepts .mmf tunes.

[duelnight]

Well, then how? U need my help to get the current V200 firmware???

[Dust]

nope duelnight.. i'm more than happy with this buggy G3 (beta) firmware. of course, i'm also keeping a lookout for the G3 final version. when its out, i'll definitely try it :)

In the meantime, i FINALLY understood what the author of this firmware was saying.

Major bug: no caller-id (as what i've posted in my first post in this thread).

Secondary bug: connection to EasyGPRS is UNSTABLE, if you are using infra-red. You might get disconnected in the midst of a file transfer. (oh bummer).

connection is ok though through data cable.. not experienced any problems.

[kRaZeAzN]

where do u think we can find this g3 firmware and whats the best bug free chiense firmware thanks...

[Dust]

hmm i think i posted the link in another forum.. leme dig.. (because i'm in office now, no bookmark to the webby)

http://www.mobiledia.com/forum/topic5369.html

scroll down until you see a post by Dust_ .That's my nick over there, The link is noted there. Be advised, that link is in chinese.

EDIT: i believe the link's dead. oh well


this is the "best" version for chinese. because i've tried E5 and H2 firmwares. both do not work.. apparently only meant as upgrades for v208 (meaning, they will work ONLY if you have a true v208. v205/v200/v200c will not work).

meanwhile, i think i've found another bug. i think this was mentioned quite awhile ago when someone bought v208. It concerns saving a new phone entry.

For example, let's say you key in 61234567 to save inside phone. Then the user name pops up. BUT you will never be ever to save the name (say, Dan) in the phone. If there is already an entry in phone book called 'Dan', then it will add the no. inside, as secondary no. If not, it will simply tag the no. to another person's number who starts which a letter D.

So this is what i did to get around this problem *mutter*

1. i save the no. 61234567
2a. i save the number to anyone's name, for example Amy (first entry in my phonebook)
2b. in my phonebook example, let us assume that Amy's number is 62222222.

3. then i edit the original entry (Amy should now have two nos. 61234567 and 62222222). i edit 62222222 to be saved as Amy_dot.

4. then i rename the Amy entry (tel 61234567) to Dan.
5. finally i rename Amy_dot (tel 62222222) back to Amy. -phew-

[kRaZeAzN]

yes apparently i tried the e5 from that site and h2 is from 52samsung rite?both doesnt work :(

[Dust]

Originally posted by kRaZeAzN
yes apparently i tried the e5 from that site and h2 is from 52samsung rite?both doesnt work :(

yeah. i really was scared the hell out of my life, when my first attempt at flashing v200 failed! (was attempting to flash using e5 firmware). later i used g1 firmware (non-chinese) which revived my phone. then tried F1 (also no chinese support) firmware.. that worked. then i tried e5 again (failed), and got hold of H2 (also failed). Finally, got G3 beta.

And so, till the next firmware comes , i guess v200 users either live with g3 beta's bugs, or wait (for a better version).

[Dust]

Originally posted by kRaZeAzN
yes apparently i tried the e5 from that site and h2 is from 52samsung rite?both doesnt work :(

:btw: welcome over to keeptouch :)

[kRaZeAzN]

=)

[Dust]

hehee resurrect an old thread

according to what i see at
http://www.mobiledia.com/forum/topic5172-0-asc-20.html

there's supposed to be a v208, H2 firmware that supports chinese. not sure if its buggy like G3 (which i'm using) though.

[angeline782002]

hehee resurrect an old thread

according to what i see at
http://www.mobiledia.com/forum/topic5172-0-asc-20.html

there's supposed to be a v208, H2 firmware that supports chinese. not sure if its buggy like G3 (which i'm using) though.

hmmm i c...but is it the same as if i sent for hp shop to upgrade???
they told me need to put the hp beside the computer for 2 hours of installaton lei..???

[Dust]

yeah its the same. if all goes well you don't even need 2 hours.

its because i screwed up the first time i took so long.. otherwise let's see:

1) backing up firmware : 35 mins
2) installing new firmware: 40 mins
3) if anything wrong, reinstall backed-up firmware: 40 mins

that's it.

[angeline782002]

yeah its the same. if all goes well you don't even need 2 hours.

its because i screwed up the first time i took so long.. otherwise let's see:

1) backing up firmware : 35 mins
2) installing new firmware: 40 mins
3) if anything wrong, reinstall backed-up firmware: 40 mins

that's it.

hmmm i c...wa...so there's bug i c...actually i dun type sms but wanna see sms those who send to me one...and also wanna send out lor.. :)

[angeline782002]

yeah its the same. if all goes well you don't even need 2 hours.

its because i screwed up the first time i took so long.. otherwise let's see:

1) backing up firmware : 35 mins
2) installing new firmware: 40 mins
3) if anything wrong, reinstall backed-up firmware: 40 mins

that's it.

so if install liao then dun like wanna install back is it have to borow friend hp to backup firmware??

I actually wanna do it myself but also scare stuck in the middle.. :laugh:

[Dust]

so if install liao then dun like wanna install back is it have to borow friend hp to backup firmware??

I actually wanna do it myself but also scare stuck in the middle.. :laugh:


best is to backup your firmware BEFORE attempting to flash. this is because, if you run into problems while flashing, you can load the backup file for minimum hassle.

my first attempt at flashing also failed halfway (phone refused to switch on) then i panicked.. thanks to some advice from Godi i was able to collect my wits and flash another firmware.

Once again, i strongly recommend against flashing because:

1) the chinese firmwares (G3 beta, E5 and H2) are all buggy.

2) the other versions all do not support chinese (G1, F1, and I2, which is actually singapore version firmware). So, a bit no point lor.

3) flashing firmware is just like formatting a hard disk drive - this process WILL erase everything stored inside your v200.. phonebook entries, caller group, photographs etc.

Bear in mind that the EasyGPRS software, UNLIKE Nokia, does not allow you to send your photos back to the phone from PC.

Example: i have 99 pics in v200. using EasyGPRS, i can send them all to my PC. BUT i cannot send the same 99 pics back from the PC to my v200. It is one-way only.

[angeline782002]

best is to backup your firmware BEFORE attempting to flash. this is because, if you run into problems while flashing, you can load the backup file for minimum hassle.

my first attempt at flashing also failed halfway (phone refused to switch on) then i panicked.. thanks to some advice from Godi i was able to collect my wits and flash another firmware.

Once again, i strongly recommend against flashing because:

1) the chinese firmwares (G3 beta, E5 and H2) are all buggy.

2) the other versions all do not support chinese (G1, F1, and I2, which is actually singapore version firmware). So, a bit no point lor.

3) flashing firmware is just like formatting a hard disk drive - this process WILL erase everything stored inside your v200.. phonebook entries, caller group, photographs etc.

Bear in mind that the EasyGPRS software, UNLIKE Nokia, does not allow you to send your photos back to the phone from PC.

Example: i have 99 pics in v200. using EasyGPRS, i can send them all to my PC. BUT i cannot send the same 99 pics back from the PC to my v200. It is one-way only.

oh is it???

[angeline782002]

but i just transfer to and frm, can lei,,

[Dust]

but i just transfer to and frm, can lei,,

transfer what? using what software?

what i mean in my earlier post was - the photos taken on v200 are 352 x 288 pixels. transferred the photos from v200 to PC = success.

However, was unable to transfer the same photos back from PC to v200, in their ORIGINAL resolution (i.e. 352 x 288 pixels)..

So, what did you transfer successfully from PC to v200?

[blue_quartz]

If GeoCities is down, use this link for that image posted by Dust in the first post: :)

http://m-life.ikueb.com/V208_8G_BETA2.jpg

[Dust]

If GeoCities is down, use this link for that image posted by Dust in the first post: :)

http://m-life.ikueb.com/V208_8G_BETA2.jpg

cool.. thanks :)

[angeline782002]

transfer what? using what software?

what i mean in my earlier post was - the photos taken on v200 are 352 x 288 pixels. transferred the photos from v200 to PC = success.

However, was unable to transfer the same photos back from PC to v200, in their ORIGINAL resolution (i.e. 352 x 288 pixels)..

So, what did you transfer successfully from PC to v200?


hmmm i dunno lei i can transfer back the photo...got different meh??? not sure liao...haha..

[Dust]

oh well. i lazy to go SFC to see if got new version of easyGPRS.

if its true, then its good lor.

[angeline782002]

oh well. i lazy to go SFC to see if got new version of easyGPRS.

if its true, then its good lor.

:laugh:

[patricktoh]

Hmm... guys any updates to this? I just bought the V200 as a backup Tri-band phone coz I'm going to the US for 3 months training. But I need to be able to receive Chinese characters. I tried searching for a "G3" firmware but cannot find leh. Not even G1 or I2 (which I want to use as a backup in case flashing failed). Sorry for being such an idiot :confused: but please help! :)


Regards,
patrick