Just 1 question regarding unlocking my 3GS's baseband version with the new 4.2.1 firmware...

In this below tutorial iClarified just posted for unlocking the 3GS on the new 4.2.1 firmware they mention the steps required to update your baseband to the iPad 06.15 Baseband if you are stuck on the 05.14 or 05.15 Basebands and need to unlock. My question is what if I'm currently on a baseband earlier then those 2 basebands do I still need to upgrade to that iPad baseband to unlock it? My current baseband is 05.11.07 on firmware 3.1.2 and I want to upgrade my 3GS to the new 4.2.1 firmware and I need to jailbreak AND unlock it so do I need to be checking that box in the new redsnow to upgrade my baseband to the iPad 06.15 Baseband or do I not need to since my baseband is currently earlier then those two 05.14 & 05.15?

Here is the current state of my iPhone 3GS right now:

Model: iPhone 3GS
Firmware: v3.1.2 (7D11)
Serial Starts With: 86928Yxxxxx So I'm Assuming It's A Week 26 Production Meaning A Older 3GS And Older Bootrom)
Baseband: 05.11.07
Jailbreak/Unlock Status: Its Currently Jailbroken & Unlocked On v3.1.2

Here's the tutorial I was referring to:

iClarified | iPhone | How to Jailbreak and Unlock Your iPhone 3GS Using RedSn0w (Windows) [4.2.1]
iClarified - iPhone - How to Jailbreak and Unlock Your iPhone 3GS Using RedSn0w (Windows) [4.2.1]


Thanks in advance to anyone that can help, it's appreciated! I just don't want to needlessly take the plunge and change to the iPad Baseband if I don't need to and my baseband is fine because it's a earlier version then the versions there talking about since I won't be able to undo that in the future. So seriously any advice is appreciated!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Originally Posted by nab7007

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Huh? That makes no sense in this scenario. If you didn't have a real answer why bother posting? Fixing a iPhone is upgrading from firmware 3.1.2 to 4.2.1? So with that thinking everyone that had the original iPhone 2G unlocked on the v1 firmware should never upgrade when new firmware upgrades are released that are also unlocked?

Anyone else know if it's needed for my earlier baseband?

Originally Posted by nab7007

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Originally Posted by elistian

Huh? That makes no sense in this scenario. If you didn't have a real answer why bother posting? Fixing a iPhone is upgrading from firmware 3.1.2 to 4.2.1? So with that thinking everyone that had the original iPhone 2G unlocked on the v1 firmware should never upgrade when new firmware upgrades are released that are also unlocked?

Anyone else know if it's needed for my earlier baseband?

The response was cryptic but actually correct.

You absolutely should AVOID upgrading/restoring directly to 4.2.1 and then needing to use the 6.15 baseband if you don't have to.

The whole procedure for 6.15 baseband is for people who have already gone to 5.14 or 5.15 baseband (which have no public unlock exploits)

As you have a 3.1.3 baseband plus (99% likely) an old bootrom 3GS - you should use the traditional "custom IPSW" via pwnagetool to prevent baseband upgrade. This is a far less risky option than the original one you suggested. Although generally safe, flashing your baseband is one of the riskier operations, even a normal standard apple update has occasionally ruined an iPhone due to a failed baseband update.

There is an "advanced users only" pwnagetool bundle for old bootrom 3GS on 4.2.1 - I suggest you use this (after confirming 100% that you have old bootrom, serial numbers are not reliable enough - put the device into DFU mode and check what is reported via USB)

Of course you will end up with lovely new features and the performance difference is negligible between 4.2.x and 3.1.x on a 3GS - but don't risk your baseband rushing into this.

Originally Posted by elistian

Huh? That makes no sense in this scenario. If you didn't have a real answer why bother posting? Fixing a iPhone is upgrading from firmware 3.1.2 to 4.2.1? So with that thinking everyone that had the original iPhone 2G unlocked on the v1 firmware should never upgrade when new firmware upgrades are released that are also unlocked?

Anyone else know if it's needed for my earlier baseband?

Why do u want to upgrade to 4.2.1? Stay where u r and be happy. Your phone is working fine. Why mess with it? If you upgrade, your phone will be locked. Then u will have to fix it by unlocking it. That is what I meant. IMHO There is no need for people with unlocked phones (including myself) to put an ipad BB on their phone. We will get a better upgrade option with a correct iphone BB in the future. Have faith in the devs and stay where u r.

Originally Posted by Olethros

The response was cryptic but actually correct.

You absolutely should AVOID upgrading/restoring directly to 4.2.1 and then needing to use the 6.15 baseband if you don't have to.

The whole procedure for 6.15 baseband is for people who have already gone to 5.14 or 5.15 baseband (which have no public unlock exploits)

As you have a 3.1.3 baseband plus (99% likely) an old bootrom 3GS - you should use the traditional "custom IPSW" via pwnagetool to prevent baseband upgrade. This is a far less risky option than the original one you suggested. Although generally safe, flashing your baseband is one of the riskier operations, even a normal standard apple update has occasionally ruined an iPhone due to a failed baseband update.

There is an "advanced users only" pwnagetool bundle for old bootrom 3GS on 4.2.1 - I suggest you use this (after confirming 100% that you have old bootrom, serial numbers are not reliable enough - put the device into DFU mode and check what is reported via USB)

Of course you will end up with lovely new features and the performance difference is negligible between 4.2.x and 3.1.x on a 3GS - but don't risk your baseband rushing into this.

The bundle your speaking of was released after I posted so I wasn't aware of it at the time. Honestly I was not set on upgrading the baseband to the iPad version in the first place, I really was wondering if it was needed in my case with a older 3GS bootrom and earlier baseband version then the 2 they were referring to. I have a iPhone 2G, the 3Gs and a iPhone 4. The 2G I use with Android, the 3GS I was just using as a second media device and didn't & don't need the phone capabilities since my iPhone 4 is my main everyday phone but if I was upgrading the 3GS I was looking todo it in a way where it was unlocked or at least unlockable in the future incase I ever did need the phone capabilities as a spare phone or incase I sold it.

Anyway I'm definitely waiting and going the custom bundle route in a couple weeks after more apps/tweaks support the new firmware. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

Originally Posted by nab7007

Why do u want to upgrade to 4.2.1? Stay where u r and be happy. Your phone is working fine. Why mess with it? If you upgrade, your phone will be locked. Then u will have to fix it by unlocking it. That is what I meant. IMHO There is no need for people with unlocked phones (including myself) to put an ipad BB on their phone. We will get a better upgrade option with a correct iphone BB in the future. Have faith in the devs and stay where u r.

I'm not going to repeat everything I just said above but, why upgrade? Because I've used ios4 for months on my iPhone4 and using my 3GS as a secondary device it gets annoying when you go try to use features that are in ios4 only to realize they don't work on this firmware, not to mention the many apps/tweaks that either don't work or don't work correctly. As for having faith in the developers, I do and have had faith in them since I drove to the united states to buy the original iPhone right after it was released and went threw the whole process of those original unlocks and jailbreaks. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't have been able to have that first iPhone since they never sold them in Canada and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have been able to get and jailbreak/unlock every iPhone generation that's ever released. I know you probably didn't mean it that way but I just wanted to be clear I definitely have faith in them and respect what they've done and have tried to donate what I can to help them.

Anyway thanks, like I said above, I'm going to go the custom bundle route in a couple weeks.

This is definitely a better approach. We should avoid the ipad BB and do it only if we have to and don't have any other choice.

Originally Posted by nab7007

This is definitely a better approach. We should avoid the ipad BB and do it only if we have to and don't have any other choice.

I don't know why they didn't just implement it this way to begin with in redsnow instead of the whole iPad baseband method? Am I missing something obvious here why they didn't just implement the method that doesn't change the baseband?

It is for those people who have already upgraded to an unlockable BB by "Accident" or bought the phone like that. I have a friend who said that his 3GS somehow "Auto updated" itself to stock 4.1 which I find very difficult to believe. Strictly those people only. IMHO

I personally have 3 iphone 4s that are 4.1 OTB. Waiting pateintly for the unlock. Try comparing the performance of a 3G on 4.0.1 with iphone 4. I am so sick of the slow 3G. Some people have said that it performs much better and faster on 4.2.1 but I am not going to upgrade. Gonna wait for a better solution.