CDMA Basic Terms

[Tannus]

CDMA VOCAB Basic terms

This will help you understand some of the basic terms used in phone flashing.


Flashing vs. Unlocking: The technical meaning of flashing is rewriting the Firmware (software) to a phone. Although it is more commonly used when referring to changing a phone's settings so that it works on a different provider's network e.i. Verizon to Cricket, Sprint to Metro PCS... ect.
Unlocking means entering a specific code into a GSM phone so as it will accept a different providers SIM card to be used on that network. We will not be discussing this in this section.

TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access/Digital AMPS- This 2G technology and has been basically phased out.
for more information see
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access- This is the network in which it's phone's are programed
For more info see
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications- This is the network that uses Sim cards
For more info see
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

ESN: Electronic Serial Numbers- The Serial number dedicated to each phone
More info
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

MEID: Mobile Equipment Identifier-This also is the Serial number dedicated to each CDMA phone but in a different form. Can Be seen in HEX (hex decimal) and DEC (decimal) form
more info
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

(pESN): pseudo ESN- a newer form of the ESN links to MEID

IMEI: International Mobile Equipment Identity- The serial number used in GSM phones
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

NOTE: The ESN, pESN, MEID, and IMEI are all the same thing just written in different forms

PRL: Preferred Roaming List- This lets the phone know what network to connect to
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

SPC/MSL: Service Programing Code/Master Subsidy Lock- This is a 6 digit code used keep the average phone user from programing the phone. Some providers have codes that are specific to each phone based off of the ESN e.i. Sprint, USSC. Other providers use a universal code e.i. Verizon uses 000000, Cricket uses 333333.

SID: System Identification- Determines which towers to go off of.
NOTE. if the PRL and SID do not match up the the phone will stay in roam or get no service

NID: Network Identification- This number usually does not need to be changed

MDN: Mobile Directory Number- The phone number that is dialed to connect

MIN: Mobile Identification Number- This number is used by the system to identify the phone
NOTE. This number does not always match the MDN
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

MMS: Multimedia Messaging Service- Picture messaging
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

WAP: Wireless Application Protocol- This is the phones mobile web
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

MIP: Mobile IP- This is the the IP gateway settings used to connect to the web
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

ERI: Enhanced Roaming Indicator

EVDO: Evolution-Data Optimized- This is used to enhance Mobile web
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

BIN: Binary file- In phone flashing the bin refers to the firmware(software) for a phone

Monster File: This is basically a bin file used for Motorola phones

ROM: This is a bin file used for PDA's

OTA: Over the Air Activation- Done by dialing *228, *22804, or *22808

NAM: Number Assignment Module-The section of phones designated to Number Assignment, PRL, SID, NID... ect

Brick: This is when a phone is broken & can no longer be used. Some times a phone can be unbricked by reflashing however sometimes you need special equipment such as a JTag

Service Books: Used on Blackberry's- Used to set up things like MMS, WAP,... ect


These are basic terms you should know before perusing any phone flashing endeavor.
If there is anything missing you think should be there please let me know.

I hope this helps

1 last thing, if you find a post that is helpful please hit the thank you button on the bar above that post.

[Mr._Pseudonym]

;^) Great thread, dude; we need one of these.

:^/ However, some of your links are broken. Wikipedia reports no pages for:

[Only registered and activated users can see links] ,
[Only registered and activated users can see links] or
[Only registered and activated users can see links] .

;^) Basically, any URL with an ellipsis in the middle is wrong. Soooo, I'ma gonna fix 'em for ya.

[Tannus]

Thanx 4 that

[Tannus]

Here's a few more I forgot

These terms are a bit more intermediate though

EFS: This is the internal file system of a phone

SCR: This is a file that holds settings for a specific provider- SCR's pertain to LG phones

MMC: This is a file that holds settings for a specific provider- MMC's pertain to Samsung phones

DLL: Dynamic-link library- These files pertain to a specific phone and are needed to edit settings. They are used in conjunction with the phone manufacture's PST

PST: Phone Service Tool- The program used for phone setting editing. These program are manufacturer specific e.i. SamsungPST is for Samsung phones, LG Download & LGNPST is for LG phones, RSD General is for Motorola phones... ect
NOTE. There are also lite versions of many PST programs

BREW & JAVA: This is the Web scripting used.
NOTE. These can not be inter changed per carrier e.i. Verizon can not use Java, Sprint can not use Brew

DM mode: Download Mode- Phones generally need to be in this mode before it can be written to and read from

OS: Operating System- This is basically the Bin for a BlackBerry

[eric303]

what about a list of basic programs that are needed to flash?

-Samsung PST
-QPST
-CDMA Workshop
-QXDM
-UniCDMA
-Universal PST
-Easy CDMA
-LG Download
-LGNPST
-RSD Lite
-RSD CDMA General

[cricketmodder]

And dont forget a good ol' hex editor, IMHO the best Ive used is UltraEdit but winhex or any free one is always good.

[Tannus]

And dont forget a good ol' hex editor, IMHO the best Ive used is UltraEdit but winhex or any free one is always good.

I use a keygen'd version of BreakPoint Hex Workshop. That program works great 4 me

[_JiGaBu_]

Boot load Mode-this term use by motorola phone
ex.
Hold press * and # then press Power button

Emergency Mode-this term use by LG Phone
ex.
Hold press 5 and then press power button

Download Mode-this term use by Samsung and some General phones
ex.
Hold press 9 and then press power button


This mean when you trying to retrieve or trying to unbricked phones.

[Tannus]

Good post _JiGaBu_

[_JiGaBu_]

Here's a guide for Samsung PST

SAMSUNG_PST_User_Guide.rar ([Only registered and activated users can see links])

[GT*Superbee]

this is suuper helpful, nice post!

[decadude]

Very Nice list working in Information Technology its easy to get the acroynmz confused especially as you migrate over from different areas in information technology

[Pac3comm1]

Ive added an update to some basics as all of these pertain to Android flashing. I will add some more soon.


1) Root Access, Root, Rooting- It gives you super user access aka SU. It will allow you to flash custom ROMs and themes. Some apps require root to work properly. It also allows you to install apps to your SD card.

2) OTA Update- This specific procedure updates the device's software Over The Air. This is an alternative to downloading an O/S for a device and then loading it manually through a program.

3) Recovery- A specific mode that allows for certain functions such as updates, install custom roms, and things of that nature. There is stock recovery, and custom recovery aka SPRecovery or clockwork Recovery. CUstom recoveries also allow you to make backups of data and system files to be reloaded later.

4)Update.zip- Allows you to update system files (like installing/upgrading a custom rom) without damaging any user data/apps/settings.

5)Nandroid Restore- Wipes all user data while installing a custom rom. Its basically a backup of the dev's device.

6)tgz- means 2 things

1. The t part means the file is tarred (a Linux term that creates one file that contains many files combined together) .. tar is short for Tape Archive.

2. The gz part means that the file is gzipped (uses zip compresssion).

The ROM part is just part of the file name. People who provide ROMs this way (like DroidMod) use a program Menu to allow choices in the install ... then after you make your choices, a Nandroid backup is restored.

6)Deodexed- In simple terms it's sort of like decompiling an Android application so you can take it apart and change things about it. There is a more complicated explanation involving the Dalvik Java runtime machine and how dex files are optimized but that seems unnecessary.

7)FroYo- It's a mobile platform...
Froyo (following Google's adorable alphabetized dessert naming convention) is the latest iteration of Android, Google's mobile operating system. Simple enough! If you bought an Android phone recently, Froyo's what it will eventually be running.

8).APK- An .apk file extension denotes an Android Package (APK) file. This file format, a variant of the JAR format, is used for the distribution and installation of bundled components onto the Android mobile device platform.[1][2]
An APK file is an archive that usually contains the following:
AndroidManifest.xml
classes.dex
resources.arsc
res (folder)
META-INF (folder)
An .apk file can be opened and inspected using common archive tools such as 7-Zip, Winzip, Winrar and Ark.

9)7-Zip- Is an open source file archiver designed originally for Microsoft Windows. 7-Zip operates with the 7z archive format, and can read and write to several other archive formats. The program can be used from a command line interface, graphical user interface, or Windows shell integration.