Disable AMR-HR on Q Global? - Motorola Q Forum

acedj123 · 01-24-2008, 09:31 PM

Has anyone figured out how to disable AMR-HR on a Motorola Q Global when the unit is on the 2.5G network?

I've looked in just about every forum out there and have gone though the registry and various .exe files in \windows...but nothing that looks promising.

mexiken · 01-24-2008, 10:51 PM

amr hr ????

acedj123 · 01-24-2008, 11:13 PM

AMR-HR = Adaptive Multi Rate - Half Rate.

Basically, GSM has a variety of different audio codecs that are used for cell phone voice. AT&T is notorious for using AMR-HR on their 2.5g networks because it is the audio codec that uses the least bandwidth possible (thus allowing the tower in use to have as many subscribers possible using it at the same time). The problem with AMR-HR is that since it is the audio codec with the least amount of bandwidth used, when you are in fringe coverage areas (or even in a good coverage area that is being used by a lot of customers at the same time) the audio quality of the conversation is horrible!

AT&T does support AMR-FR (full rate) which uses more bandwidth but has MUCH better audio quality than HR and is much better suited for conversations in the fringe and congested coverage areas. The drawback for AT&T using this codec as default is that they wouldn't be able to have as many customers using the same tower if they were all using FR instead of HR.

Almost all Motorola phones have the ability of disabling HR all together and forcing the handset to use FR all the time. The result is GREAT audio!

If you look at other forums, you'll find all kinds of info on how to disable HR in Motorola handsets...but so far...nothing about the Q Global.

mexiken · 01-25-2008, 01:16 AM

Great explanation. I had heard about that actually.

Hope we can find a solution for our phones.

acedj123 · 01-25-2008, 02:07 AM

After reading some other posts in various forums tonight, I've found that earlier Q models had "hidden" menus that could be accessed by pressing a key sequence and then hitting send. I tried the different possibilities listed in the other posts to no avail with the Q Global.

What interests me about this "hidden" menu (if it exists on the Q Global) is that a screen shot for the menu of a different Q showed a setting to change the audio codec of the phone. It seems resonable to believe this is the place to change from half rate to full rate AMR.

If anyone knows how to get into this programming menu for the Q Global, please let us know!

LuvrGirl · 01-25-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acedj123

After reading some other posts in various forums tonight, I've found that earlier Q models had "hidden" menus that could be accessed by pressing a key sequence and then hitting send. I tried the different possibilities listed in the other posts to no avail with the Q Global.

What interests me about this "hidden" menu (if it exists on the Q Global) is that a screen shot for the menu of a different Q showed a setting to change the audio codec of the phone. It seems resonable to believe this is the place to change from half rate to full rate AMR.

If anyone knows how to get into this programming menu for the Q Global, please let us know!

Indeed, PLEASE keep us posted. I'll be watching this thread for a solution to this!

Thanks!

~maria

mexiken · 01-28-2008, 05:24 AM

Anybody come up with anything yet ????

acedj123 · 01-28-2008, 04:44 PM

Guess they're aren't too many people out there with this phone that know about this topic....what a shame!

In any case, based on a post in another forum, I was able to find a dial parser entry in the phone registry that takes the "secret codes" people put into the phone and press send that then access "secret menues".

In the Q Global, there were only two entries in the registry. One for a code that brings up call settings (that can be accessed also in the "settings" area of the phone) and the other had to do with regional settings on the phone (also accessed in another place).

I would think that this Motorola phone has to have a service/programming menu somewhere. Every other Moto phone does. I don't have the ability to explore much more...and I'm hoping someone has info regarding this issue.

Until 3G makes it to Maine, I have to suffer with AMR-HR on GSM...and it sucks!

mexiken · 02-05-2008, 07:59 PM

No updates ????

acedj123 · 02-05-2008, 08:02 PM

No updates...I guess until someone is able to find a way to get into the engineering menu of the phone, not much is going to happen (provided there is an engineering menu).

Personally, I've been too involved with the Windows Live issue on the Q Global to put any real time into exploring key sequences, but may here soon. It's too bad an AT&T techie or Motorola techie that has more info doesn't share it

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