HTC Advantage / Athena

This page was created by users to provide a place to locate information about a really interesting line, the HTC Advantage. Currently in two models, the x7500 and new x7501 from HTC and also available as Dopod U1000 and T-Mobile Ameo. This device as well as its provider-branded versions are based on the HTC Athena.

This page was created by users to provide a place to locate information about a really interesting line, the HTC Advantage. Currently in two models, the x7500 and new x7501 from HTC and also available as Dopod U1000 and T-Mobile Ameo. This device as well as its provider-branded versions are based on the HTC Athena.

Features (Courtesy HTC):

	HTC Advantage X7500	HTC Advantage X7501	HTC Advantage X7510
Processor	624 MHz with ATi™ Graphic Chip W2284	624 MHz CPU with ATi™ Graphic Chip W2284	Marvell® PXA270 624 MHz with ATi™ Graphic Chip W2284
Operating System	Windows Mobile® 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition	Windows Mobile® 6 Professional	Windows Mobile® 6.1 Professional
Memory	ROM: 256 MB RAM: 128 MB SDRAM Microdrive 8GB	ROM: 256 MB RAM: 128 MB SDRAM Microdrive 8GB	ROM: 256MB RAM: 128MB SDRAM Flash: 16GB
Dimension	133.5 mm (L) x 98 mm (W) x 16 mm (T) Thickness with keyboard: 20 mm	133.5 mm (L) x 98 mm (W) x 16 mm (T) Thickness with keyboard: 20 mm	133.5 mm (L) X 98 mm (W) X 16 mm (T) Thickness with keyboard: 20 mm
Weight	359g (with battery)	359g (with battery)	375g (with battery)
Display	5" transmissive TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen	5" transmissive TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen	5-inch TFT-LCD with backlight LEDs, touch-sensitive screen
Network	HSDPA/UMTS (2100 MHz for Europe, 850/1900 MHz for USA) Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network)	HSDPA/UMTS (2100 MHz for Europe, 850/1900 MHz for USA) Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network)	HSDPA/WCDMA: 2100 MHz for Europe and 850/1900 MHz for USA, with up to 384 kbps upload and 1.8 Mbps download speeds GSM/GPRS/EDGE: Quad-band 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz (The device will operate on frequencies available from the cellular network.)
Device Control	5-way Navigation Control HTC VueFLO™ motion sensor assisted browsing experience	5-way Navigation Control HTC VueFLO™ motion sensor assisted browsing experience
Keyboard	Dual usage QWERTY keyboard for text input and display protection	Dual usage QWERTY keyboard for text input and display protection	Dual usage QWERTY keyboard for text input and display protection
Connectivity	Bluetooth® 2.0 Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g HTC ExtUSB™(11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one) HTC proprietary 16-pin combined port (USB 1.1 host/VGA and TV Out)	Bluetooth® 2.0 Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g HTC ExtUSB™(11-pin mini-USB and audio jack in one) HTC proprietary 16-pin combined port (USB 1.1 host/VGA and TV Out)	Bluetooth® 2.0 Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0 and audio jack in one) HTC proprietary 16-pin combined port (USB 1.1 host/VGA and TV Out) 3.5mm stereo audio jack with microphone
Camera	Main camera: 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash light Second camera: VGA CMOS imaging sensor	3 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash light	Main camera: 3.1 megapixel color camera with auto focus and flash light Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera
Audio	Built-in/Dual, Hands-free (microphone and speaker) Headphone: AMR/AAC/WAV/WMA/MP3 codec	Built-in/Dual, Hands-free (microphone and speaker) Headphone: AMR/AAC/WAV/WMA/MP3 codec	Built-in microphone and dual speakers Ring tone supported formats: - MP3, AAC, AAC+, WMA, WAV, and AMR-NB/WB - 40 polyphonic and Standard MIDI format 0 and 1 (SMF)/SP MIDI
Battery	Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery Capacity: 2100 mAh Standby time: Up to 300 hours (for GSM/UMTS) Talk time (Screen off): Up to 5.5 hours for GSM Up to 4.5 hours for UMTS	Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery Capacity: 2100 mAh Standby time: Up to 300 hours (for GSM/UMTS) Talk time (Screen off): Up to 5.5 hours for GSM Up to 4.5 hours for UMTS	Rechargeable Lithium-ion polymer battery Capacity: 2100 mAh Standby time: Up to 300 hours for GSM/WCDMA Talk time (Screen off):  Up to 5 hours for WCDMA  Up to 6 hours for GSM Video call: Up to 2 hours (The above are subject to network and phone usage.)
Expansion Slot	miniSD™ (Hot swap and SDHC compatible)	miniSD™ (Hot swap and SDHC compatible)	miniSD™ (Hot swap and SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter	Voltage range/frequency: 100 - 240V AC, 50/60 Hz DC output: 5V and 1A	Voltage range/frequency: 100 - 240V AC, 50/60 Hz DC output: 5V and 1A	Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz DC output: 5V and 1A

Current Software Update
You can use the following information to access the software update available at the official HTC America X7501 page:

• Page: http://www.htc.com/europe/product/advantage/overview.html.
• Owner's Manual http://www.htc.com/europe/faq_detail.aspx?p_id=7&act=um

GPS Settings

Many people are having issues with the GPS settings on the device, the following discussion should be able to help: http://www.x7501.com/forum/X7501-GPS-Issues-1184315093.html.

The GPS is connected to COM5, at 9600 baud (note that forums report using 38400 baud allows faster satellite connection). Unfortunately, only one application at a time can connect to the GPS COM port. HTC provides an application that allows multiple applications to use the GPS at the same time. This application will connect to the GPS hardware on COM5, then create a 'virtual' COM port that other applications can connect to. This application is found under under the 'Settings' menu, 'System' tab, called 'External GPS'.

If you use the 'External GPS' application, use the following settings.

• Programs: GPS Program Port: Select the COM port of your choice (e.g., COM4)
• Hardware: GPS hardware port: COM5
• Hardware: Baud Rate: 38400 (forums report that this baud rate works, and your GPS will connect to satellite faster).
  
• GPS Settings: Select (x) the "Manage GPS automatically" checkbox

You application will connect to GPS through the GPS hardware port that you have selected (e.g., COM5).

If you want to connect to the GPS directly, unselect the "Manage GPS automatically" check box.

Factory Default/Hard Reset
To reset the unit to factory default settings, do the following:

1. Slide the Volume slider down and at the same time, use the stylus to press the RESET button at the back of your device.
2. After a brief period of time, two choices will appear on-screen. Press the CENTER OK button to perform the hard reset.
Note If you do not want to perform a hard reset, press the CAMERA button to exit.
3. Press the POWER button.

HTC Software Installation after Factory Reset
Note: If you have an SD card with software that will autoinstall (such as Tom-Tom Navigator), remove the SD Card before performing the factory reset. The third-party auto-installation may interfere with the HTC automatic installation process, and applications such as TeleNav and Opera may not install.

Detailed Technical Specifications of HTC Advantage X7501

HTC Advantage Reviews



Here are some user suggestions to make this product more useful.

• Remove the 8GB Microdrive and replace it with a CF+ slot.
  - I can now buy at retail an 8GB x100 speed CF card for $80USD. Faster cards will be out soon, and likely the 8GB CF will drop in price. CF have no moving parts, so less chance of drive damage in a fall.
  - Probably longer battery life as a drive is not kept spinning.
  - More importantly, loading 8GB can take a LONG time to load/unload via an ActiveSync connection; it's much faster to plug the CF card into a media slot of a PC or laptop.
• Add support for other cell phone systems, such as Verizon and VZW.
  Is there a benefit to HTC to exclude one of the largest cell phone networks in the US? If their standard (CDMA) can't be incorporated to make Athena a truly universal phone, how about a version with just the CDMA voice and data support?
• Backlight the keyboard.
  Whether it's an LED in the Athena body that reflects into the keyboard or a power tap where the keyboard clips on, having lit keys makes the keyboard more useful in dark situations.
• Thumbwheels please!
  One on top, one on the side, for easy scrolling, maybe even one-handed. The joystick can't be used easily one-handed.

And in the nice to have, but not a big market (yet):

• Can the GPS in the Advantage interface with Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)? If not, can it be done?
  As people travel more in new places, the idea of bringing along a Personal Locator Beacon is growing. The recent safe recovery of several hikers on Mt. Hood in a blizzard because they had a Personal Locator Beacon makes them inexpensive life insurance. However, most rely on being found by searchers triangulating on the signal; they do not transmit a location. If able to talk to a GPS, they WILL send that location information. The GPS-PLB protocol is standard, and could be included. Note that PLB are supported around the world.

Other Resources
X7501 Owner's Manual
Advantage questions
X7501 Tips & Tricks