The FCC filing for the T-Mobile Springboard suggests that it includes PCS 3G (1900) in addition to AWS.
Has anyone been able to verify that an unlocked Springboard can get this frequency? Typically this would entail trying an AT&T SIM in an area where AT&T uses PCS 3G, or alternatively on a Canadian "Big 3" carrier.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Bump. Anyone?
Well I have one now and it'll be unlocked by the end of the week, so I guess I'll have my answers soon!
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Well - I have verified it myself now.
YES, the Springboard supports at least one of 850/1900 3G. Presumably 1900 because that's what the FCC says.
I verified after unlock using a PC Mobile (Bell Canada) SIM. Bell does not have AWS 3G, so this must be coming from 850 or 1900 3G.
I got 4152 down / 2325 up on a speed test. Not as fast as I've had with that SIM on the Galaxy Nexus, so it's probably because it lacks one of two bands. Nonetheless, not too shabby for a T-Mobile tab!
If it's 1900 though, the downside is that it'd drop out in rural areas or dense concrete buildings. Still for what I paid for this slab, no complaints.
Related
(Forking original thread)
I confirmed that the TMOUS Radar *is* capable of 3G on AT&T.
I unlocked it this morning and put in a prepaid AT&T SIM (GoPhone). HTC Connection Setup ran and a few minutes later I was on AT&T with 3G support. The phone recognizes the HSPA+ signal and lights up the indicators with the '4G' label.
The phone's box says it supports UMTS 1900 -- this fact is not listed in any other spec I've seen on-line for the device. That band is only one of the 2 AT&T use for UMTS, so if you are unlucky and have only 850 then 3G/4G probably won't work. Guess AT&T uses 1900 where I am.
Do you know of any way to tell which band at&t uses in various areas?
Sorry, I don't know of any way to know that. I am not an AT&T expert -- knowing whether the phone could be used w/ AT&T 3G was an academic exercise for me just to satisfy curiosity.
What did you use for unlock?
Wonder if it'll work, roaming on AT&T 3G, with a T-Mo US prepaid SIM...
- Sent from my HTC Radar 4G using the OMG XDA WTF WP7 BBQ App. =D
I got the unlock codes from T-Mobile.
I am thinking about trying to get an sgs iii and wondering if it is possible to get it on the $30.00 mo 100min unl data plan through walmart?
I have the exhibit ii on this plan, had it for a couple months, anybody know how I would do this?
If it will work with Tmobile band why not, best to ask the source. I don't think we have a Wal Mart rep guru here.
Sure you can, if you don't want 3G.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
You have prepaid plan, you can put your sim into just about any unlocked GSM phone (and T-Mobile phones) and use it. If you want a good phone right now, get the Galaxy Nexus (GSM), it supports T-Mobile 3G (1700/2100 band). T-Mobile version of SIII will be coming later.
thanks for the responses, a Galaxy Nexus is probably a more realistic option than the sgs3 price wise, going to take a good look at it on the play store.
cheers.
T-Mobile and AT&T both support compatible band.
the SGS3 uses HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
T-Mobile uses HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
AT&T uses HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
now we play match the bands. we see at&t shares 3 bands with the international SGS3, thats great. T-Mobile shares 1, not as awesome, but 1 band is enough.
its true what theyre saying up there about "only having 2G", well i should correct myself, it WAS true. however recently T-Mobile has upgraded their 2100 band to 3G, as theyve been expanding. so it will work fine on Walmart's plan, as they use T-Mobile's network.
T-Mobile will come out with an SGS3 later in the year, for SGS2 it was 6 months behind the international version. the T-Mobile version will use HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100. what do more compatible bands mean? well it means if youre in an area you normally wouldnt get good 2100 band signal, you may get 1700 signal. if you live in the city, youll see no difference at all, its only when youre in rural areas.
so in short; you can totally use the i9300 SGS3 on tmobiles network, and yes, you will have HSDPA 3G
soraxd said:
T-Mobile uses HSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100
now we play match the bands. we see at&t shares 3 bands with the international SGS3, thats great. T-Mobile shares 1, not as awesome, but 1 band is enough.
its true what theyre saying up there about "only having 2G", well i should correct myself, it WAS true. however recently T-Mobile has upgraded their 2100 band to 3G, as theyve been expanding. so it will work fine on Walmart's plan, as they use T-Mobile's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could really use a source for this, please. Everything i've looked up has suggested that their HSPA+ is only 1700 and 2100, and that phones with only 2100 would not work.
thebobp said:
Could really use a source for this, please. Everything i've looked up has suggested that their HSPA+ is only 1700 and 2100, and that phones with only 2100 would not work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you know what, i made a mistake, i was using this
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-4261
looking at the bands the T-Mobile One S (along with all other tmobile phones) support, but the 900 band is just added to the phone so it can be used if taken abroad. so my mistake.
to reiterate the sgs3 will only work on 2g on tmobile, it will only work on at&t for 3g.
im glad you questioned it, i would have gone along giving bad information
I know the Jetstream was designed to be run on AT&T and Rogers, but I am curious if it is possible to flash a radio to enable usage of T-Mobile's HSPA network, much like the Samsung Galaxy Note has been enabled to, as seen here.
Can any of the amazing Devs out there shed some light on this?
jdavis08 said:
I know the Jetstream was designed to be run on AT&T and Rogers, but I am curious if it is possible to flash a radio to enable usage of T-Mobile's HSPA network, much like the Samsung Galaxy Note has been enabled to, as seen here.
Can any of the amazing Devs out there shed some light on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jdavis08, Simple answer is yes. It is a standard 2G / 3G / LTE (AT&T / AWS band) phone. So you can use it on ANY 2G / 3G / LTE network with a SIM. But you may need to break the SIM Lock on any handset.
Just wanted to clarify. The Jetstream is 2G/3G/LTE /capable, 2G (GSM): 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G (UMTS/HSPA): 850/1900/2100, and LTE: 700mhz & AWS-1700/2100.
Currently, T-Mobile only uses the AWS for their HSPA+ network, not LTE (from what I understand, AWS will be transitioned for LTE and 1900mhz refarmed for 3G/4G early 2013) - and if I'm not mistaken, the HSPA+ is only supported by the "3G" band of this device, not the "LTE"
So - to make a long story short. I am a T-Mobile subscriber with various "4G" phones from T-Mobile. Their 4G only works if the phone has a radio with AWS for HSPA as T-Mobile (unlike AT&T) does not use the 1900mhz for their HSPA (yet). I own this tablet.. It has been SIM unlocked and it simply does not get anything above EDGE... and I live near and visit major cities in Washington State, Seattle/Bellevue/Tacoma, which definitely have TMo's 4G coverage.
I know I should just cool my jets until TMo rolls out the network upgrades, as I have no interest in joining AT&T. I was just curious if there was some way to "trick" the phone to use the AWS frequencies for HSPA, like the Galaxy Note has been made to do as the radio specs are identical.
I know that the Note was enabled to do this by flashing another radio. Support is minimal for the Jetstream these days... so I was just reaching out.
Thanks guys
Is there an app or command to log the different frequency bands available in an area? I'm thinking of getting a Galaxy Note 2, but the Note 2 doesn't support the 1700MHz frequency band, and I'm on T-mobile. Any way to figure out if the new phone will get reception, other than just plonking down ~$650 and hoping for the best?
TheEyes said:
Is there an app or command to log the different frequency bands available in an area? I'm thinking of getting a Galaxy Note 2, but the Note 2 doesn't support the 1700MHz frequency band, and I'm on T-mobile. Any way to figure out if the new phone will get reception, other than just plonking down ~$650 and hoping for the best?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have EDGE coverage anywhere, but I wouldn't buy an expensive new phone that doesn't support 3G for your carrier.
Why aren't you buying via T-Mobile, that does support their speeds?
https://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phone...ll-phone=Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-Titanium-Gray
stevedebi said:
You will have EDGE coverage anywhere, but I wouldn't buy an expensive new phone that doesn't support 3G for your carrier.
Why aren't you buying via T-Mobile, that does support their speeds?
https://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phone...ll-phone=Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-Titanium-Gray
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, because the phone is at least $70 more expensive on T-mobile's store.
Second, even that version of the phone does not do HSPA+ over 1700 MHz (it's actually the same N7100 you see everywhere). The trick is, T-mobile is supposedly switching all of their 1700-band HSPA+ towers to 1900 band, partly in preparation for their LTE rollout and partly because that's the only way they'll be able to get the iPhone to work with their network, but they haven't gotten it done everywhere and I'm concerned that I'll plop down ~$600 on a phone that only gets 2G speeds at work.
TheEyes said:
First, because the phone is at least $70 more expensive on T-mobile's store.
Second, even that version of the phone does not do HSPA+ over 1700 MHz (it's actually the same N7100 you see everywhere). The trick is, T-mobile is supposedly switching all of their 1700-band HSPA+ towers to 1900 band, partly in preparation for their LTE rollout and partly because that's the only way they'll be able to get the iPhone to work with their network, but they haven't gotten it done everywhere and I'm concerned that I'll plop down ~$600 on a phone that only gets 2G speeds at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You had me worried so I looked it up. According to the news sources I found, T-Mobile is converting it's 1900 2g towers to support HSPA+. So for the present the current 3G network is not in danger. I suppose my Amaze will continue working for a while!
Where did you see a report that they are changing out the 1700 band HSPA+ towers?
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"In May, T-Mobile's chief technology officer Neville Ray said the company would be repurposing its existing 1900MHz 2G service with 4G HSPA+, in order to "provide customers with the ability to use a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on T-Mobile's 4G network.""
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12...nvert_its_4g_network_to_support_apples_iphone
stevedebi said:
You had me worried so I looked it up. According to the news sources I found, T-Mobile is converting it's 1900 2g towers to support HSPA+. So for the present the current 3G network is not in danger. I suppose my Amaze will continue working for a while!
Where did you see a report that they are changing out the 1700 band HSPA+ towers?
-----
"In May, T-Mobile's chief technology officer Neville Ray said the company would be repurposing its existing 1900MHz 2G service with 4G HSPA+, in order to "provide customers with the ability to use a broader range of devices, including the iPhone, on T-Mobile's 4G network.""
http://appleinsider.com/articles/12...nvert_its_4g_network_to_support_apples_iphone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Almost every tech news site that discusses the 1900 band refarming mentions that the reason is to re-deploy 1700 for LTE (that, and to get the iPhone running on T-mobile because Apple outright refuses to make the iPhone pentaband for some reason). It's a fairly easy Google away.
TheEyes said:
Almost every tech news site that discusses the 1900 band refarming mentions that the reason is to re-deploy 1700 for LTE (that, and to get the iPhone running on T-mobile because Apple outright refuses to make the iPhone pentaband for some reason). It's a fairly easy Google away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link I provided quoted a t-mobile representative. And I got it from a Google search...
Sent from my IdeaTabA2109A using xda premium
Hi guys,
I am on T-Mobile prepaid plan. I bought a Lumia 920 from Singapore few months ago in anticipation of the 1900 refarm from T-Mobile. But while the default APN profile has been updated to "T-Mobile LTE" from the carrier from months ago, the max speed I see now is 3G in Chicago. I've done some research and tried a couple of the following:
1 Added new APN under epc.tmobile.com
2 Enable ENS
3 Limit the connection speed to 3G instead of 4G
But none seems to bring me to the LTE speed. I thought maybe because LTE has not arrived in Chicago yet, but few days ago I went to one of the T-Mobile store and found that their demo Lumia 925 showed LTE. The stuff from the store said because I am using an unlocked 920, LTE is not supported. I don't think this is the right answer.
Does anyone has the same issue with your international 920 under T-Mobile in the US?
t_huankiat said:
Hi guys,
I am on T-Mobile prepaid plan. I bought a Lumia 920 from Singapore few months ago in anticipation of the 1900 refarm from T-Mobile. But while the default APN profile has been updated to "T-Mobile LTE" from the carrier from months ago, the max speed I see now is 3G in Chicago. I've done some research and tried a couple of the following:
1 Added new APN under epc.tmobile.com
2 Enable ENS
3 Limit the connection speed to 3G instead of 4G
But none seems to bring me to the LTE speed. I thought maybe because LTE has not arrived in Chicago yet, but few days ago I went to one of the T-Mobile store and found that their demo Lumia 925 showed LTE. The stuff from the store said because I am using an unlocked 920, LTE is not supported. I don't think this is the right answer.
Does anyone has the same issue with your international 920 under T-Mobile in the US?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version you bough RM-820, 821 or 822 from Singapore. I think you have not supported LTE bands, so probably you got 821 / 822
boril said:
What version you bough RM-820, 821 or 822 from Singapore. I think you have not supported LTE bands, so probably you got 821 / 822
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
RM820 is the North American variant. Has pentaband UMTS (850/900/1700/1900/2100) and North American LTE bands.
RM821 is rest-of-world (except China). Has quadband UMTS (850/900/1900/2100) and European LTE bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
t_huankiat said:
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because it supports the 1900 band, does not mean that the ROM and hardware are setup to support LTE. The market the 821 was released for does not have LTE so the protocols where never implemented in that model. The 3G you see the phone operating at is the highest speed the market it came from supports. So that is the highest protocol that was installed into that model. You may want to sell it and get one of the other models.
Incompatible Bands
t_huankiat said:
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi t_huankiat,
To the extent of my knowledge, T-Mobile has only deployed LTE on the 1700/2100MHz frequency band (different from 2100MHz, that is IMT) commonly known as AWS spectrum or Band 4. The only variants of the 920 that contains these are RM-820 models. The good news is, an unlocked AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 can be used on T-Mobile's LTE network because they both use AWS spectrum to deliver LTE service. The downside is that in areas without LTE or refarmed HSPA+, your service will drop to 2G. In order to prevent these shortfalls, the only RM-820 variants that run on AWS HSPA+ are the Canadian and Developer Edition, given out at Microsoft BUILD 2012.
You may be thinking, what is with this confusion. Previously, T-Mobile USA rolled out their 3G HSPA network on AWS spectrum, because they hadn't won any PCS spectrum (1900MHz). In the Americas, AWS spectrum was not deployed as prevalent as PCS. The result, T-Mobile required special handsets to access 3G. When they transitioned over to HSPA+ and DC-HSPA+, they continued to use AWS widening the compatibility gap. After the AT&T/T-Mobile buyout fell through, T-Mobile gained PCS licenses as part of the deal. T-Mobile, shortly after, announced the jump to LTE and the refarm of HSPA+ (current 3G/4G service) to the PCS spectrum. As of now, the refarm isn't fully complete so some areas still broadcast 3G/4G on on the AWS spectrum. To add insult to injury, these areas do not have have LTE deployed either. Summing up what has been said, the best options for a seamless wireless experience is to use a Nokia Lumia 925 or find a non-AT&T RM-820. If you look on eBay, you will find a few for sale right now. I really hope this helps!
-Arekusandaa
Solarenemy68 said:
Just because it supports the 1900 band, does not mean that the ROM and hardware are setup to support LTE. The market the 821 was released for does not have LTE so the protocols where never implemented in that model. The 3G you see the phone operating at is the highest speed the market it came from supports. So that is the highest protocol that was installed into that model. You may want to sell it and get one of the other models.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have done more research before I bought the phone! I did not realize 920 has so many variation even in Singapore! While I will miss the LTE, I can live with 3G speed since I don't use the phone for streaming or anything bandwidth intensive.
Arekusandaa said:
Hi t_huankiat,
To the extent of my knowledge, T-Mobile has only deployed LTE on the 1700/2100MHz frequency band (different from 2100MHz, that is IMT) commonly known as AWS spectrum or Band 4. The only variants of the 920 that contains these are RM-820 models. The good news is, an unlocked AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 can be used on T-Mobile's LTE network because they both use AWS spectrum to deliver LTE service. The downside is that in areas without LTE or refarmed HSPA+, your service will drop to 2G. In order to prevent these shortfalls, the only RM-820 variants that run on AWS HSPA+ are the Canadian and Developer Edition, given out at Microsoft BUILD 2012.
You may be thinking, what is with this confusion. Previously, T-Mobile USA rolled out their 3G HSPA network on AWS spectrum, because they hadn't won any PCS spectrum (1900MHz). In the Americas, AWS spectrum was not deployed as prevalent as PCS. The result, T-Mobile required special handsets to access 3G. When they transitioned over to HSPA+ and DC-HSPA+, they continued to use AWS widening the compatibility gap. After the AT&T/T-Mobile buyout fell through, T-Mobile gained PCS licenses as part of the deal. T-Mobile, shortly after, announced the jump to LTE and the refarm of HSPA+ (current 3G/4G service) to the PCS spectrum. As of now, the refarm isn't fully complete so some areas still broadcast 3G/4G on on the AWS spectrum. To add insult to injury, these areas do not have have LTE deployed either. Summing up what has been said, the best options for a seamless wireless experience is to use a Nokia Lumia 925 or find a non-AT&T RM-820. If you look on eBay, you will find a few for sale right now. I really hope this helps!
-Arekusandaa
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main reason I got the phone from Singapore was because it supports 1900MHz and it's in Chicago now. But I overlooked the fact that the ROM matters too. So now I am pretty much stuck with 3G speed. It's a lesson learned, I will have to be extra careful next time when I get an unlocked phone. Thanks for your insight!
It's Not The End of the World
t_huankiat said:
The main reason I got the phone from Singapore was because it supports 1900MHz and it's in Chicago now. But I overlooked the fact that the ROM matters too. So now I am pretty much stuck with 3G speed. It's a lesson learned, I will have to be extra careful next time when I get an unlocked phone. Thanks for your insight!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, you will still be able to use their DC-HSPA+ network, where available. This technology is capable of up to 42.1Mbps theoretically. Even before T-Mobile began deploying LTE, their DC-HSPA+ network was usually testing faster than Verizon's LTE network. While you may not see LTE until you upgrade to an AWS capable handset, their "fallback" 4G should suffice.
-arekusandaa