Hacked AT&T Carrier Update Promises To Improve iDevice Network Performance
by Joe White
May 20, 2013
While a hacked carrier update recently allowed T-Mobile iPhone users to improve cellular download speeds on their iDevice, one new method - put together by the same engineer - now allows AT&T subscribers to do the same. As with the previous hack, methods are available for both jailbroken and non-jailbroken AT&T iPhone owners, and the update can be applied on either a Windows- or OS X-powered computer.
Since this hack enables Release 9 DC-HSPA+, it is said to be "very convenient" for AT&T subscribers located in areas not yet covered by the carrier's growing LTE network. LTE data and signal, however, will also be enhanced after applying the hacked carrier update, according to the engineer:
This hack also includes a fix to any and all iPhone 5 users who have experienced degraded/weakened signal over the past couple to few months on the PCS 1900MHz and/or CLR 850MHz bands for HSPA+ as well as the APT 700MHz and/or AWS 1700MHz band for LTE. The issue was due in part to the newer revised iPhone 5's that came with the AWS band enabled for HSPA+, if you were to ever choose to leave AT&T for T-Mobile. It set the band preference for HSPA+ to CLR and LTE to APT which can cause conflictions and problems when you're in an area with towers on different bands with stronger signal. The setting has been set back to the default “auto” setting and should help the 4G HSPA+/LTE signal perform a bit better, whether your iPhone 5 is the older edition or the revised edition. This hack will also help you connect to the strongest tower rather than the preferred type of tower, whether on HSPA+ or LTE.The hack is designed for iPhone 5, iPad 3, iPad 4, and iPad mini devices. For step-by-step instructions, along with a detailed "tech talk" discussion, visit iTweakiOS, and let us know how the hack works for you in the comments below. As always, proceed with caution - and remember to back up your iDevice before tampering with its carrier update files! Alternatively, for further news, see: Learn All About The Delicious Art Of Making Pizza With DIY Pizza Pie For iPad, Cydia Tweak: How To Force Safari To Always Open Blank Pages Upon Launch, and Are You A Specially Skilled Match-Three Ninja? Find Out By Playing Kurabi.