Differentiating US VS. International - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Trying to decide whether to get it from T-Mobile with a dual core processor, or an International model with a quad core.
Does the international model work on either 3G, HSPA+,or HSDPA on T-Mobile? What other differentiation are there?

liftsifter said:
Trying to decide whether to get it from T-Mobile with a dual core processor, or an International model with a quad core.
Does the international model work on either 3G, HSPA+,or HSDPA on T-Mobile? What other differentiation are there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the international wont work on TMO. Well it will but you will only get 2G speeds. When TMO switches over to the 1900mhz band it will work(HSPA+) and I think they already switched in a couple of locations but it will take a while before it's fully switched over.

graffixnyc said:
No, the international wont work on TMO. Well it will but you will only get 2G speeds. When TMO switches over to the 1900mhz band it will work(HSPA+) and I think they already switched in a couple of locations but it will take a while before it's fully switched over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do we know if any of the Chicago area has switched yet?

liftsifter said:
Do we know if any of the Chicago area has switched yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no clue

Chicago has not switched. Honestly only like ten markets have made the switch.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Related

[Q] 3g/4g on t-mobile US

I recently purchased an unlock galaxy s2 i9100. It is supposed to be GSM unlock with HSPA+ 21Mbps/HSUPA 5.76Mbps, EDGE/GPRS Class 12, Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900, Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 hardware capabilities. since I have gotten the phone i have not been able to connect to anything but edge. Tmobile assured me i had the correct APN setting. I would like to know if anyone know what I could to to enable the HSPA+ T mobile US uses UMTS 2100 to connect. I rooted and flashed the lite'ning rom.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1095274
I am a bit of a newby and would appreciate any advice.
Nope you won't get hspa speeds on Tmobile with the current international version. You have to wait for the Tmobile variant. International version gets
3g speeds only on att.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Kantankerousmind said:
T mobile US uses UMTS 2100 to connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is correct. However, it's only used for one way traffic (either uploading or downloading, i'm not sure which). UMTS 1700 is used for the other direction of traffic on T-Mobile. This means no 3G/4G without both frequencies.
Your 2 options:
1. Get a T-Mobile phone.
2. Switch to AT&T.
Electroz said:
This is correct. However, it's only used for one way traffic (either uploading or downloading, i'm not sure which). UMTS 1700 is used for the other direction of traffic on T-Mobile. This means no 3G/4G without both frequencies.
Your 2 options:
1. Get a T-Mobile phone.
2. Switch to AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kirdroid said:
Nope you won't get hspa speeds on Tmobile with the current international version. You have to wait for the Tmobile variant. International version gets
3g speeds only on att.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the quick and concise responses. I have a clarification: does this mean that I when Tmobile comes out with the variant my phone will be able to upgrade to Hspa via a rom or radio update or that if i want to keep this model i will have to wait to swap it out for the tmobile version
Kantankerousmind said:
thanks for the quick and concise responses. I have a clarification: does this mean that I when Tmobile comes out with the variant my phone will be able to upgrade to Hspa via a rom or radio update or that if i want to keep this model i will have to wait to swap it out for the tmobile version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The I9100 will NEVER work on T-Mobile. The SGS2 that they are releasing has different HARDWARE. There will never be a way to make the phone you have now work on T-Mobile 3G.
As others have said you'll need a different phone in order to get it to work on T-Mobile USA's 3G/4G frequencies.
You'd need a penta-band phone in order for it to work on all of them. I think Intel is curently working on that or already did but that's all there is. You'd need both 1700/2100mhz in order to use it with 3G.
I don't get how people don't research before they buy!!
Sent from yo momma

T-mobile, unable to detect HSPA?

I know that $60 unlimited plan with T-mobile provides me with 2gb of Data however, I can never get H+ or H or 3G at all. All I get is edge is there an issue with it? Can anyone help me?
Rich_RH said:
I know that $60 unlimited plan with T-mobile provides me with 2gb of Data however, I can never get H+ or H or 3G at all. All I get is edge is there an issue with it? Can anyone help me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Galaxy SII do you have? The T-Mobile version you get directly from T-Mobile? (SGH-T989) Or the International version you bought unlocked? (GT-I9100) It makes a difference. The International version (GT-I9100) doesn't have the hardware to pick up T-Mobile's 3/4G bands, so you would NEVER get H+, H, or 3G with that phone.
If you have the T-Mobile version (SGH-T989), you're in the wrong place. You need to be in this forum.
I have the international version but i thought that t-mobile freqs are 1700 which is AWS and 2100 IMT?
or is the 2100 band AWS as well?
edit:
GSM arena states that the t-mobile vers is 850/1700/2100 and the eu vers is 850/900/1900/2100
I know that 1700 isnt supported but isnt 2100 workable?
Rich_RH said:
I know that 1700 isnt supported but isnt 2100 workable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's like trying to walk with one leg, not gonna happen, you need support for both bands kinda like what the gsm galaxy nexus has.
Rich_RH said:
I have the international version but i thought that t-mobile freqs are 1700 which is AWS and 2100 IMT?
or is the 2100 band AWS as well?
edit:
GSM arena states that the t-mobile vers is 850/1700/2100 and the eu vers is 850/900/1900/2100
I know that 1700 isnt supported but isnt 2100 workable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with what peachpuff said. And if I remember correctly, T- Mobile uses one of those bands for upload and one for download. So you would definitely need both.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
AFAIK the international I9100 only works fine on AT&T in the US.
HellcatDroid said:
AFAIK the international I9100 only works fine on AT&T in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's say you're in the U.S. and you've got the international i9100 SGS2.
And let's say you can't get an AT&T signal in the place where you most need it.
You might well say screw AT&T's 4G speeds (which don't seem all that fast anyway), just give a freaking signal.
You might then go with a pre-paid, or a pay-as-you-go, or whatever, T-mobile 2G/EDGE data plan, because it's the only thing you can do.
The situation sucks, but you have, AFAIK, no other choices.

Cannot run 4g. please help

Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
The international i9100 does not support 4G. Only option would be to get a 4G enabled one.
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Tkdinh101 said:
Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you started another thread on this, where I also answered your question. This phone will never get HSPA+ speeds on T-Mobile USA - or what they call "4G". It lacks one of the necessary frequencies for it. It will only get Edge speeds. From what I remember on how T-Mobile USA's network functions, 3G and "4G" need both 1700 and 2100 mhz to function, as it uses one frequency for download and the other for upload.
EDIT: Here's the wikipedia article on AWS, which is the band T-Mobile uses for 3G/4G. In brief, AWS uses 1700 Mhz for uplink, and 2100 Mhz for downlink. So since it only gets half of the band, it won't do "4G".
akusokuzan said:
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, the bolded/underlined part is simply not true. T-Mobile USA needs your phone to be able to get both 1700 mhz and 2100 mhz UMTS frequencies to do 3G/4G. If your phone doesn't have one of the frequencies, it won't do 3G/4G at all, and fall to Edge (2.5G).
What if I overall another ROM? Will it help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Tkdinh101 said:
What if I overall another ROM? Will it help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The phone simply doesn't have the hardware to receive the frequency. Nothing you can do to fix this.
akusokuzan said:
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Tkdinh101 said:
Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need Galaxy2 HD LTE to access 4G. That particular model is not available outside Korea at the moment. If you want 4G, try Samsung Galaxy Note or LG Optimus LTE - also known as Nitro HD, or HTC phones.
Visentinel said:
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That indeed is weird and inconvenient, but I guess telco's can setup their system however they like... It may have lot to do with number of people using mobile services. In OZ we have 22 million potential mobile users using 4 major telco companies, whereas in USA, they would get most of OZ population just in New York city, let alone rest of the country.
Ah systemcrasher I think they might be load balancing the hspa+ mimo across the two freqs. Telstra nextg doesn't need to coz there's allot less people here.
If that's the case still should be allowed to fall back to a non mimo mode.
Let this be a lesson to the OP, always research all carrier pre requisites before buying, also consider other carriers encased you'd like to stay open to other options.
sent from I9100 using Omega
Visentinel said:
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Visentinel said:
Ah systemcrasher I think they might be load balancing the hspa+ mimo across the two freqs. Telstra nextg doesn't need to coz there's allot less people here.
If that's the case still should be allowed to fall back to a non mimo mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
systemcrasher said:
That indeed is weird and inconvenient, but I guess telco's can setup their system however they like... It may have lot to do with number of people using mobile services. In OZ we have 22 million potential mobile users using 4 major telco companies, whereas in USA, they would get most of OZ population just in New York city, let alone rest of the country.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ctomgee said:
EDIT: Here's the wikipedia article on AWS, which is the band T-Mobile uses for 3G/4G. In brief, AWS uses 1700 Mhz for uplink, and 2100 Mhz for downlink. So since it only gets half of the band, it won't do "4G".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the answer is the link to the wikipedia article in my quote above. It's not T-Mobile USA's doing per se - they just purchased the AWS-1 (also known as UMTS band IV) band of the spectrum. That's just the way this band is set up. Wind and Rogers in Canada also use this band.

[Q] AT&T Galaxy S II i777 on T-Mobile

Once unlocked,will the i777 be able to access data at 3G and 4G speeds on T-Mobile USA's cellular network?
monoloco1 said:
Once unlocked,will the i777 be able to access data at 3G and 4G speeds on T-Mobile USA's cellular network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to put it plainly,
NO
the i777 does not support the required bands for accessing TMobile's 3g/4g network.
Had the merger gone through, possibly. But as of right now, no.
Tmobile is on 1700MHz and 2100MHZ while AT&T is on 850MHz and 1900MHz.
No, and this is the case for every AT&T device in existence to my knowledge.
In fact, the ONLY device I know of that is not sold by T-Mobile and supports their HSPA bands is the GSM Galaxy Nexus, which is one of the first (if not the first) phones to do pentaband HSPA.
Personnally I tested the Unlock Process with a T-Mobile SimCard...not sure if working properly due to a operation range described by the fellows
Entropy512 said:
No, and this is the case for every AT&T device in existence to my knowledge.
In fact, the ONLY device I know of that is not sold by T-Mobile and supports their HSPA bands is the GSM Galaxy Nexus, which is one of the first (if not the first) phones to do pentaband HSPA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually....
in even more bastardization provided by Samsung, the skyrocket can work on TMobile's 3/4G as long as you flash a TMo modem.bin to it.
jcomana said:
Personnally I tested the Unlock Process with a T-Mobile SimCard...not sure if working properly due to a operation range described by the fellows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can still get 2G on T-Mo because T-Mo uses the standard 850/1900 for 2G. What OP asks is 3G/4G.
Entropy512 said:
No, and this is the case for every AT&T device in existence to my knowledge.
In fact, the ONLY device I know of that is not sold by T-Mobile and supports their HSPA bands is the GSM Galaxy Nexus, which is one of the first (if not the first) phones to do pentaband HSPA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actualy the T-Mobile version of the Samsung Galaxy SII Can work on AT&T`s 3G network. with BETTER Speeds than the AT&T version Data wise
hyelton said:
Actualy the T-Mobile version of the Samsung Galaxy SII Can work on AT&T`s 3G network. with BETTER Speeds than the AT&T version Data wise
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is that an exception to what I'm saying. The T-Mobile version is not a device sold by AT&T, and is, by definition, a device sold by T-Mobile.
It's always been a bit easier to get T-Mo phones to work on AT&T - a number of them support the AT&T bands. But it's never been easy (and with the possible exception of the Skyrocket, never even possible) to go the other way without losing 3G.
Entropy512 said:
How is that an exception to what I'm saying. The T-Mobile version is not a device sold by AT&T, and is, by definition, a device sold by T-Mobile.
It's always been a bit easier to get T-Mo phones to work on AT&T - a number of them support the AT&T bands. But it's never been easy (and with the possible exception of the Skyrocket, never even possible) to go the other way without losing 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly. The skyrocket is the ONLY at&t phone i have seen that has this capability, and i have been hacking away on phones for a while, and i have both carriers
Pirateghost said:
to put it plainly,
NO
the i777 does not support the required bands for accessing TMobile's 3g/4g network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be the obvious answer based on the published specs, but I found an unselected listing in the hidden modem/ band settings for WCDMA 1700 MHz (Band IV) on my i777. I don't know if it works, but it's listed. From the phone keypad on the stock version, type in *#2263# and then look under Combinations. The phone lists 7 different GSM/PCS/WCDMA frequencies and only the obvious 5 are selected.
Anyone with an unlocked i777 on Tmo want to try it out?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
Even though there is a setting for wcdma on 1700, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Still stuck on edge.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
desertflyer said:
Even though there is a setting for wcdma on 1700, it doesn't seem to make a difference. Still stuck on edge.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WCDMA is 2G/Edge technology. HSPA is 3G/4G technology.
maybe it will possible if we can flash a T-Mobile midem on out phone with out breaking it
jaysix79 said:
maybe it will possible if we can flash a T-Mobile midem on out phone with out breaking it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlikely. Unless the phone has the hardware support for it.
I found out after extensive research on the Nexus One, that even though the radio chip inside it supports both frequency sets (pentaband, I suppose); the power amplifiers were only connected to certain frequency outputs, depending on the carrier it was advertised for. Which means even if I flashed a T-Mobile radio, the signal wouldn't be strong enough to get outside the case of the phone, let alone to a cell tower.
Your best bet is with European phones, as I believe they use the same frequencies as T-Mobile (since they're owned by a euro company).
Someone should confirm, but I would guess that the I9100 will work on T-Mobile with 3G.
Phoenix84118 said:
Unlikely. Unless the phone has the hardware support for it.
I found out after extensive research on the Nexus One, that even though the radio chip inside it supports both frequency sets (pentaband, I suppose); the power amplifiers were only connected to certain frequency outputs, depending on the carrier it was advertised for. Which means even if I flashed a T-Mobile radio, the signal wouldn't be strong enough to get outside the case of the phone, let alone to a cell tower.
Your best bet is with European phones, as I believe they use the same frequencies as T-Mobile (since they're owned by a euro company).
Someone should confirm, but I would guess that the I9100 will work on T-Mobile with 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Tmo's AWS band its an odd ball. Only certain Canadian Carriers use the same band.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Red5 said:
WCDMA is 2G/Edge technology. HSPA is 3G/4G technology.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, WCMDA = UMTS = pure vanilla 3G.
2G = GSM/GPRS
"2.5G" = EDGE
3G = vanilla UMTS (WCDMA)
3.5G = HSDPA
3.75G = HSPA+
3.9G (it's not really 4G) = LTE
true 4G = LTE Advanced
Most phones, even if they support advanced modulation schemes (HSPA, HSPA+) will list the band support as "UMTSxxxx or WCDMAxxxx"
I heard (it's actually confirmed, can't find the article), T-Mo has the same 3G bands as AT&T in some remote part of the USA, I think somewhere in Washington state, not sure though? The OP might want to move there
veliksam said:
I heard (it's actually confirmed, can't find the article), T-Mo has the same 3G bands as AT&T in some remote part of the USA, I think somewhere in Washington state, not sure though? The OP might want to move there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That might explain why the Vibrant apparently supported one (but not both) of AT&T's bands.
As I understand it, unlike the N1, the international HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus is full-blown pentaband.
Tmo has roaming agreement with at&t. So it is possible in places there is no tmo tower, your tmo phone could roam to at&t tower without showing the roaming sign.
veliksam said:
I heard (it's actually confirmed, can't find the article), T-Mo has the same 3G bands as AT&T in some remote part of the USA, I think somewhere in Washington state, not sure though? The OP might want to move there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App

t-mobile?

Will this work on T-mobile?
Is galaxy nexus best phone on t-mobile now?
Only BC of ICS. THE GS2 is better except screen Res.....I was disappointed in my gnex.....I think even my rezound is better
Edit: the unlocked works on T-Mo.....
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
ksizzle9 said:
Only BC of ICS. THE GS2 is better except screen Res.....I was disappointed in my gnex.....I think even my rezound is better
Edit: the unlocked works on T-Mo.....
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relivent much i don't think so .. it couldci know.some.cdma work on gsm
Sent from my SGH-T989 using XDA
*snip*
dlb92 said:
Will this work on T-mobile?
Is galaxy nexus best phone on t-mobile now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check back on November 2012, they always release new (old flagship international quad band model of the same phone as) AWS 1700 phone at that time of the year
Does the phone have both the 1700 and 2100 bands, cant find a real spec list.
Thanks
trilaxx said:
Does the phone have both the 1700 and 2100 bands, cant find a real spec list.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here are some websites. I was looking for the same thing.
http://gdgt.com/samsung/galaxy/s/iii/specs/
https://negrielectronics.com/samsun...nlocked-pebble-blue.html#.T6Ldklc6aUs.twitter
Ya i saw both those sites, not that i dont trust them just they may be worng.
The UNPACKED app says:
3g (hspa+ 21mbpa): 850/900/1900/2100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which contradicts many websites which say 1700 will be included. Really hope Samsung's app is wrong...
saltmine said:
The UNPACKED app says:
Which contradicts many websites which say 1700 will be included. Really hope Samsung's app is wrong...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really hoping that is wrong as well. Would love to use this beast on Tmobile!
Excuse the noobish question, but to make sure I have this right - You need both 1700 and 2100 bands for the 3g or 4g to work at all, correct? Was looking into buying it once its released but that may be a deal breaker if no speedy internet.
Twisted Tom said:
I'm really hoping that is wrong as well. Would love to use this beast on Tmobile!
Excuse the noobish question, but to make sure I have this right - You need both 1700 and 2100 bands for the 3g or 4g to work at all, correct? Was looking into buying it once its released but that may be a deal breaker if no speedy internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you need both, or you will be stuck using EDGE if you are on T-Mobile US.
I want to know the same, if the intentional version will surely work on Tmobile.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
I'd like to know about that as well
I think everyone here just wants to know when the hell it'll be coming out to our own carriers. I need a new phone but I'm not waiting until Fall for one.
Doesn't t-mobile uses the 1700/2100 for 3G and 2100 for 4G? so it would be EDGE and 4G.
So your implying that 4g will in fact work? I thought you needed both bands for 4g to work.
I'm in the Philadelphia area and really need to know if this will work or not.
If I can get 4g, ill be preordering the phone asap. If not.... I'm still undecided.
nope, im asking if thats the case. i need to ask the dude that know, since he is the manager at the t-mo store if thats rite. but t-mo one should be coming out in month or two.
What T-Mobile calls 4G is really their 3G HPSA network. They have not yet rolled out LTE. So for you to get the T-Mo 3G, you need the phone to support 1700/2100 band, which I am not sure the international SIII model does, but I'm almost certain it does not. Therefore, you will only get 2G (EDGE) speed, which is around 10-15kilobytes per second download, good enough for web browsing and loading Google Maps, it's about 3 times faster than 56k modem.
The T-Mobile-locked model will support the HPSA+ 42Mbps speed and AT&T version will have LTE of course. Now whether if when this phone get released for T-Mobile and somehow it will preemptively support their future LTE service (launch in 2013), then that would be interesting (which inherently the hardware does support LTE due to the Qualcomm S4 chip to be used in American models). What I predict they will do is like with the Galaxy Vibrant -> Galaxy S 4G, so first release the HSPA+ only version, then release a slightly modified version that support LTE.
http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2012/05/04/GALAXY-S-III
If this doesn't confirm lack of 1700, nothing does.
So basically, count on the international version not being usable (besides EDGE) on T-mobile. You'll have to wait for them to up with their own version.
thebobp said:
http://www.samsungmobilepress.com/2012/05/04/GALAXY-S-III
If this doesn't confirm lack of 1700, nothing does.
So basically, count on the international version not being usable (besides EDGE) on T-mobile. You'll have to wait for them to up with their own version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dammit why does T-mobile use such obscure frequencies!

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