Introduction:
After witnessing more and more people messing up their phones and 3G connectivity, while attempting to root and flash ROMs, I felt that it was time to write up something dedicated for the Bell Mobility Dext. After all, most of what is on this forum centers around the T-Mobile US Cliq - or the European and Asian Dext. Some of the stuff overlaps each other - and indeed most of what is written in this guide apply also to the Cliq and UK/Asian Pacific Dext - but there are a couple of major differences between the devices. And not understanding these differences and what they mean, can have fatal consequences when rooting and flashing.

Acknowledgments:
tonymy01 - for patiently answering all of my questions and sharing his wisdom
HandlerExploit/simply-android.com - for the 2.1 leak as well as the recovery
adlx - for the 2.1 ROM without a radio to mess us up
Skrilax_CZ - for the new method of rooting
toxigenicpoem - for coming up with a solution on how to get the recovery working
ModMyMobile.com - for being a great source of information

Disclaimer:
Tampering with your phone's firmware and software is not risk free. You will most likely void your warranty, and there's a possibility that you may end up with a non-working device. Understand the risks of what you are doing before you do it. Research and understand what you are actually doing to your device, and do not just follow a guide blindly. What is written in this guide works for me, but understand that it might - for whatever reason - create problems for you. You and only you is responsible for what happens to your device.


Index:

Chapter 1: About the different models of Cliq and Dext, 3G frequencies.
Chapter 2: About firmware differences.
Chapter 3: What is baseband and how to find what version you have.
Chapter 4: How to find the baseband version.
Chapter 5: About rooting, recovery and ROM.
Chapter 6: Understanding the risks involved.
Chapter 7: Setting up your computer for rooting.
Chapter 8: How to root - the easy way.
Chapter 9: How to backup your stock 1.5 recovery for unrooting.
Chapter 10: How to backup your stock 1.5 APN's and prop files.
Chapter 11: How to flash a custom recovery to your phone + Nandroid backup of your stock 1.5 firmware.
Chapter 12: How to flash a custom ROM + restore your stock 1.5 APN's.
Chapter 13: ROMs that will not screw up your Bell Mobility Dext.
Chapter 14: How to undo everything: Return to stock 1.5 ROM, recovery and unroot.

1. Understanding the differences between the Cliq and Dext:

The Motorola MB200/MB220 comes in three flavors:

The Motorola T-Mobile Cliq for the US market.
The Motorola Dext for the European and Asia/Pacific market
The Motorola Dext for the Latin American and Canadian market.

The major difference between the versions is the 3G frequency that they use:

The Cliq uses 900/1700/2100 3G bands.
The EU/Asia Dext also uses 900/1700/2100 3G bands.
The Americas Dext uses 850/1900/2100 bands.

Most of Latin America uses the 850/1900 3G bands. Aruba, Brazil and Uruguay also uses the 2100 3G band.
Bell Mobility is 850/1900 only. Other Canadian operators also use the 1700/2100 bands for 3G.
AT&T uses 850/1900 only. T-Mobile USA only use the 1700/2100 bands for 3G.

To learn more about the difference in 3G bands across the world, please refer to this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UMTS_networks

The Cliq and all versions of the Dext are quad band 2G - 850/900/1800/1900. Hence, an unlocked T-Mobile US Cliq could be used with a UK sim card and would have 3G. A T-Mobile US Cliq, UK Dext and Aussie Dext could be used with a Mexican sim card, but one would only have 2G connectivity. Aside from the differences in 3G bands, the models are also "branded" with custom firmware for each market and operator.

Sources:
UK Dext: Motorola DEXT - MOTOBLUR - Android phone - Tech Specs - Motorola United Kingdom
Asia Pacific Dext: Motorola DEXT - MOTOBLUR - Android phone - Tech Specs - Motorola Asia Pacific
Australia Dext: Motorola DEXT - MOTOBLUR - Android phone - Tech Specs - Motorola Australia
Mexico Dext: Motorola DEXT - MOTOBLUR - teléfono Android - Especificaciones - Motorola México
Canada Dext: Motorola DEXT - MOTOBLUR - Android phone - Tech Specs - Motorola Canada
T-Mobile US Cliq: Motorola CLIQ - MOTOBLUR - Android phone - Tech Specs - Motorola, Inc. USA

2. Understanding the difference in firmware:

The Cliq as well as all versions of the Dext currently come with Android 1.5 pre-installed. However, because of the difference in the 3G bands, the models have variations in the firmware. One cannot apply T-Mobile USA firmware to an American Dext without the risk of at least loosing the 3G bands, if not bricking the phone completely.

However, a UK Dext user may be successful in flashing T-Mobile firmware since the 3G frequencies - or 3G radio - is the same. Granted that the baseband versions match. However, the UK Dext user would now be presented with the issue of having T-Mobile bloatware and branding on his phone. And unless you've taken a backup of your stock recovery and a Nandroid backup of the stock Orange UK 1.5 firmware, you're going to be stuck with the T-Mobile US firmware.

3. Finding your baseband:

To determine what your baseband is:
1. Go to "setting"
2. Scroll down to "About Phone"
3. Scroll down to "Baseband version"

My Bell Mobility Dext shows the following: 76XXC-63805030-SDCBALUM.

In baseband terminology when looking at ROM compatibility, my baseband would be "5030". This number is important for determining which ROMS are compatible with your device.

4. Finding your bootloader version (Windows only):

1. Install Motorola USB drivers:
32-bit: http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto..._bit_4.2.0.zip
64-bit: http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto..._bit_4.2.0.zip

- or here 32 bit or here 64 bit.

2. Google, download and install "RSD Lite 4.5.7"
3. Turn off phone. While off, hold down "MENU" key first and then "Power" key. Release both when blue screen appears displaying: "Bootloader USB Init".
4. Connect USB cable to computer, then to phone.
5. Open RSD Lite and in the "Model" section click on the phone - In my case it says "Flash MSM7201A". Look in "Device properties" to find your bootloader versions. In my case it's "v0x000518"

6. To exit "Bootloader USB Init" mode, press the "power" key on the phone. The phone should now restart.

Hence, my bootloader version is 05.18. This number is important in determining what firmware is compatible with your phone.

However, one might mistakenly make the assumption when looking through the Firmware Superthread, that T-Mobile US 1.4.8 firmware is compatible since it shares the 05.18 bootloader version. Yes and no. You will be able to flash it to your Dext, but since it's 3G bands cover 900/1700/2100, you will lose your 850/1900/2100 3G bands.

As of writing, there doesn't seem to be any firmware available, that is compatible with the Bell Mobility Dext.

5. Understanding ROOT, Recovery and ROM:

To flash a custom ROM to your phone, you must first flash a custom recovery to the phone. For whatever reason, Motorola has made it impossible to flash custom ROMs to it's devices out-of-the-box. The recovery - this is where you would flash new ROMs - is locked down to prohibit you from doing this. Therefore we must first flash a custom recovery to the phone - one that has been altered slightly to allow for non-Motorola ROMs and other goodness. But to be allowed to flash a custom recovery, we must first ROOT the device. So to recap:

1. Rooting allows for user access to the system files, device partitions, etc., and is needed to change the recovery.
2. Flashing a custom recovery makes it possible to flash a custom ROM - one that is not made by Motorola.
3. Flash a custom ROM makes it possible to upgrade your Android system to 2.1. (2.2 Anyone?)

More on this process later.

After a custom recovery has been installed, you should now be able to flash ROMs to your Dext. Extreme caution should be shown here because some ROMs contain 3G radios that are intended for T-Mobile US Cliqs and EU/Asia Dexts only. Flashing incompatible ROMs and radios is the number one way to lose your 3G connectivity on your Bell Mobility Dext.

6. Understanding the dangers - Before you flash:

If done right, it's possible to safely root and flash ROMs to your Dext. But understand that there are always risks involved in messing with your phone's firmware as well as flashing ROMs. Be sure to read everything twice. Search, google and ask questions about the stuff you don't understand. Don't go ahead with something without fully understanding what is involved.

Also understand that as of writing there is no stock OEM firmware available for the Bell Mobility Dext. Therefore you must be sure to backup everything yourself on your end to make it possible to unroot and go back to stock recovery and OS in case you need to send your Dext back to Bell/Motorola for repairs. And even if everything is backed up and then restored, there no guarantee that some smart Moto repair guy won't be able to see that you've messed with your device and perhaps void your warranty.

Finally - when flashing a ROM, make sure that it is compatible with your baseband. And be extra sure that it does not contain a radio. Most ROM Devs remember to include this information in their threads, but some forget. If you flash a ROM with a radio to your Bell Mobility Dext you can be almost certain to say goodbye to your 3G.

A note about rooting as well. Gaining root on your device means that you gain "Superuser permissions", and will have access, and be able to change system files and folders. Be careful here. Be aware of what you're doing. Make sure you backup everything before starting to delete or move things around. If you root your device and start making changes to your stock 1.5 Android system, then these changes will be permanent. They will not be undone even by resetting the phone and returning to factory settings. This is not so much an issue for T-Mobile US Cliq users because they can simply go to the Firmware Superthread, flash a stock OEM firmware and everything will be good. Currently, the Firmware Superthread only covers firmware for T-Mobile US Cliq, Telcel Mexico (AmericaMovil) Dext and Italy retail Dext. IE. - If you flash T-Mobile US Cliq firmware to you European/Asian-Pacific Dext, it will not screw up your 3G - but it will give your phone a permanent T-Mobile tan.

7. Preparing to root your Dext:

There are already excellent guides available on how to setup your computer in preparation for root. These cover the Bell Mobility Dext just fine. Many thanks to sublime1184 and Danation for making them available:

- Getting Connected

- Setting up and using adb

- Setup Android-SDK & JDK

8. Rooting your Bell Mobility Dext:

Thanks to Sebastian Krahmer at C Skills (and Skrilax_CZ for posting it), rooting your Bell Mobility Dext has never been easier or safer. Using this method there is zero chance of messing up your 3G. Simple follow the steps in this guide:

[ROOT] Another version - USE THIS ONE IF YOU HAVE WCDMA850/1900/2100 3G bands

You should now be rooted. Now we need to take some backups to make it possible to return to the stock recovery.

9. Backing up recovery etc.:

Using your newfound ADB skills, launch the CMD in Windows. We will now backup the boot, system, userdata, misc, recovery, cache and splash partitions on your phone. The most important one here is the stock recovery, since we will replace this in the next couple of steps.

1. Plug phone into computer.
2. Make sure that "USB debugging" is enabled in "Settings-Applications-Development"
3. Make sure you have a SD card in your phone with plenty of space
4. Open CMD or command prompt
5. Type in:

cd C:\wherever-your-sdk-tools-folder-is
adb devices (to verify the connection)
adb shell
su
cat /proc/mtd

- you should now see a list similar to the one below. Note that your mtd number for boot may differ.

dev: size erasesize name
mtd0: 00300000 00020000 "boot"
mtd1: 08ac0000 00020000 "system"
mtd2: 0df80000 00020000 "userdata"
mtd3: 00040000 00020000 "misc"
mtd4: 00500000 00020000 "recovery"
mtd5: 06000000 00020000 "cache"
mtd6: 00080000 00020000 "splash"

- Now we backup everything to the SDCARD:

cat /dev/mtd/mtd0 > /sdcard/boot.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd1 > /sdcard/system.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd2 > /sdcard/userdata.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd3 > /sdcard/misc.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd4 > /sdcard/recovery.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd5 > /sdcard/cache.img
cat /dev/mtd/mtd6 > /sdcard/splash.img

Make sure you keep these backed up in a safe place if you decide to revert back to stock.

tonymy01 also suggests that it's a good idea to backup the original stock prop files found in /system as well as apns-conf.xml in /system/etc. More on that in the next chapter. If you're interested in what the above mtd's contain, here's an explanation from tonymy01:

Boot = Core operating system - Kernel & root filesystem
System = Ancillary operating system mounted in /system, includes all stock apps, blur, binaries etc
Userdata = User added apps, all apps data (stored settings, contact history, SMS, MMS etc)
Cache = Section for apps to leave cached versions of them for fast load/operation (I think the davlik cache is here).
Recovery = 2nd boot partition that can be triggered by camera key on boot, has basic linux filesystem and tools to flash updates, clear cache, clear data, etc.
Misc = Dunno, perhaps some carrier ancillary stuff? Mine is all 1s for 50% of it and all 0s for the rest.
Splash = Dunno, mine doesn't have a custom splash screen (has 2 zero byte partitions splash1 and splash2 looking at some old nandroid backups), but presumably you could have some other logo instead of the M on bootup (I certainly know you can have bootanimation which is part of the main filesystem, I think this splash is more for the logo that proceeds any bootanimation, by default the M for motorola).

10. House cleaning and more backup:

This step is possible to do with a command prompt, but I will explain it using the method that worked for me. For this you'll need to buy and download the "Root Explorer (File Manager)" by Speed Software from the Android Market - well worth the money for other uses as well.

1. When installed, open Root Explorer. You should be prompted by the superuser app for root permissions. Allow it.
2. (Optional) Navigate to your "sdcard". Select menu and "new folder". Make a folder for your backups.
3. Go back to the main root of your phone - not to be confused with the actual folder called "root".
4. Tap and hold on the file "default.prop". Select "copy". Navigate to your sdcard and folder of choice, and select "Paste".
5. Hit back and go into the "system folder". Hit menu and "multi-select". Select "build.prop" and "default.prop", and copy them to the sdcard.
6. Navigate back to system and then the "etc" folder. Locate "apns-conf.xml". Copy to sdcard.
7. Exit Root Explorer.
8. Open Android Market App. Search for and download "APN Backup & Restore". When downloaded, open the app and backup your APN's to the SD card. You may need to restore them in step 12.9.

11. Flashing custom recovery to allow custom ROMs:

Again - there are other ways on doing this as well as other recoveries - but this is what worked for me:

1. Download the HandlersExploit recovery from here (Thank you HandlerExploit): recovery.img - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download
2. Connect phone to computer and mount SDCARD so that it shows up in Windows.
3. Copy the downloaded "recovery.img" to the SDCARD.
4. Disconnect phone from computer and launch Root Explorer.
5. Navigate to the location on the SDCARD where you copied the "recovery.img". Tap and hold on it and select "Copy".
6. Navigate to /system/ folder. In upper left corner select the "Mount R/W" button. Then select paste.
7. Turn off and on phone. Let it boot up. Then turn off again.
8. While phone is off, press and hold "power" and "camera" button.
9. Let go of both when message "Please release camera key" appears. Next press the "Volume down" button on the phone.

The new recovery should now be installed, showing "Android System Recovery" by HandlerExploit. Note that this will be the same procedure to follow, should you choose to re-flash the stock recovery that we backed up earlier. IE. - Place the backup stock recovery.img in /system/ folder and reboot.

Next, we need to do a few more backups:

While still in the "Android System Recovery":

1. Using the "Volume up" and "Volume down" keys, select "Backup/Restore" by pressing the "home" button.
2. Select "Backup"
3. Go back to main menu and select "Reboot device".

This creates a "Nandroid" backup of everything, so that we can return to the Android 1.5 ROM should it be necessary or wanted. Look on your SDCARD for a folder called "Nandroid". Back it up somewhere safe.

12. Flashing a custom ROM w/o screwing up 3G:

As mentioned before, you need to make sure that the ROM you flash does not contain a radio. If it does, you will be pretty sure to be without 3G. Thanks again to tonymy01 for explaining, that you can check this by unziping/unraring the ROM files and check if it contains a "radio.img" file. If it does, then it has a radio and you don't want to flash that.

On my Bell Mobility Dext, I went with adlxmod 2.0.1. See here.

1. Make sure that your baseband is at least 5025 - shouldn't be a problem since all Bell Mobility Dexts are 5030
2. Unzip/unrar the downloaded ROM and make sure it doesn't have a radio - Things could have changed since last time.
3. Connect phone to computer and mount SDCARD in Windows. Drag and drop file to SDCARD.
4. Power cycle phone and boot into recovery by following instructions mentioned in step 11-8.
5. Scroll down and select "Wipe data/factory reset". Press "HOME" key to confirm
6. Go back to main menu. Scroll down to "Choose zip to install".
7. Select "SDCARD:adlxmod-2.0-signed.zip" or other name of ROM you wish to install. Hit "HOME" key and again to confirm.
7.1. Apply any patches that are available. Read the instructions from the thread, from which you downloaded the ROM.
8. Wait for everything to finish and then select "Reboot device".
9. Let device reboot. It may display the "Motorola Blur" logo for what seems to take forever. Just be patient. If you don't have 3G Internet connectivity when you get to the MotoBlur login, it means that you need to manually set up the APN's. You can solve this in two ways:

A: Connect to a WiFi network, login to MotoBlur or skip MotoBlur, download the "APN Backup & Restore" app from the Android store and then restore the APN's from the SD card.
B: Press "MENU" key at MotoBlur setup, go to APN settings and enter them manually:

Name: Bell Internet
APN: pda.bell.ca
Proxy: web.wireless.bell.ca
Port: 80
MMSC: http://mms.bell.ca/mms/wapenc
MMS proxy: web.wireless.bell.ca
MMS port: 80
MCC: 302
MNC: 610
APN type: Internet + mms
Authentication Type: none

You should now have a Bell Mobility Dext with Android 2.1 and 3G. Note that it took me two ROM flashes to get it to work. After the initial flash, the phone booted up and immediately showed repeated "Force Close" messages. This will happen if you forget to WIPE in step 12.5. If you forgot, simply repeat step 12 and remember to wipe this time.

13. ROM's without radio and safe for the Bell Mobility Dext:

For rom files see here:

Remember to unzip/unrar and check for a radio.img. The contents the ROM may have changed. radio.img = BAD BAD BAD.

14. How to undo everything and return to stock ROM and recovery:

1. Turn off phone. While off, press and hold "Power button" and "Camera button" as the same time.
2. Release both when message "Please release camera key" appears.
3. Press "Volume down" key. "Volume down key pressed" message will appear, and you should now be in the "Android System Recovery".
4. Select "Backup/Restore" in the menu.
5. Select "Restore" in the menu.
6. Select the Nandroid backup we created earlier. Let it work it's magic and reboot.

You should now have the Bell Mobility Android 1.5 stock back. Next, we replace the HandlerExploit/simply-android.com recovery with the stock recovery:

7. Open RootExporer - We're assuming that it's already installed, if not then reinstall.
8. Navigate to location on SD-CARD where you backed up the recovery in chapter 9.
9. Copy recovery to device folder "/system/". Make sure you have enabled "R/W" as mentioned in chapter 11, step 6. If there is already a "recovery.img" file in the "/system/" folder, delete that first.
10. Exit Root Explorer and power cycle phone. After it boots up, power it off again.
11. Boot into recovery once again - following same procedure as mentioned in chapter 14.1.

You should now have your old stock Motorola recovery back. Next, we unroot (Method by tonymy01):

12. Make sure that "USB debugging" is enabled in "Settings-Applications-Development"
13. Connect phone to PC.
14. Open Windows CMD/command prompt.
15. Type in:

CD C:\Wherever-Your-SDK-Tools-Folder-Is
adb devices (to verify the connection)
adb shell
su (This should give you a "#" prompt)
rm /system/xbin/su
rm /system/app/Superuser.apk
exit
exit

16. Power cycle phone.

Done! You are now back to stock (assuming you didn't remove or alter other system files along the way).

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Day 7 w/ ADLX's ROM: Loving it!!

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Issues/Loose ends:
1. Sometimes it seems that the phone's Internet connectivity cuts in and out - a ROM issue or something specific to my device?
2. Wireless Tether for Root Users reports that my kernel does not support wireless tethering - A ROM issue?

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I hope this guide will be of assistance to all Bell Mobility Dext users. Please don't hesitate to correct any mistakes there may be as well as help me update the guide to make it more streamlined or easy

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DISCLAIMER
AndroidTechie takes absolutely no responsibility nor do do any of the developers for what may go wrong during this entire process. Remember nobody, besides for yourself, is responsible if something happens to your phone. While many, many people have successfully done this, there is always the very odd chance that even if you meet the requirements, things may go wrong. This website is solely for informational purposes and gives credit where credit is due. AndroidTechie links back to all original content. Please visit those sites.