Google's Nexus 4 has an LTE chip, but why is it disabled?
It turns out that Google's new Nexus 4 contains a hidden LTE
chip that can be activated using a simple hack. But, there's a good
reason why that LTE modem has been disabled.
The modem was initially discovered by the eagle-eyed folks over at
repair firm iFixit, who found a Qualcomm WTR1605L seven-band 4G LTE
modem on the mainboard during the course of a teardown.
Then, technology site Tek.Gadg posted a video showing how to
activate the LTE modem using a simple keystroke command, and showed the
sorts of speeds you could expect from the hidden modem.
If the Nexus 4 has an LTE modem, why has it been disabled? According
to LG, the manufacturer of the Nexus 4, it has been disabled for cost
reasons.
Speaking to TechRadar,
an LG spokesperson confirmed that the Nexus 4 uses the same Qualcomm
Snapdragon chipset as found inside the LG Optimus G, and that this
chipset is only available as a package with the processor and modem
combined.
But Nexus 4 owners don't get a free LTE modem. While the Nexus 4 has
LTE capabilities, according to LG, "it is only effective when combined
with other essential hardware parts such as a signal amplifier and
filter in order for it to work." These components have been omitted from
the Nexus 4 in order to reduce cost.
So, given this, how do we explain the video? My guess is that the LTE
modem may still be able to work in areas where the signal is strong
enough to not require the signal amplifier and filter. This explains why
some Nexus 4 owners have managed to get the hack to work, while others
have not. Image source: iFixit.
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