T-mobile 3(4)G Information - Motorola Photon 4G

Hey guys,
I was looking around and there seemed to be a lot of confusion why their Photon's are only getting Edge when unlocked and on T-mobile, while others are getting 3G (some ROMs show an H (standing for HSPA+), because it's technically 4g - yes we can get this on our Photons because it's not WiMax). Here's a quick explanation, hopefully it'll help some people out. Oh, and a quick intro here: T-mobile markets their 3G as 4G because it's pretty fast in most areas. Anyway, our Photons look for 3G on the 1900 MHz range, which is a problem since T-mobile used to broadcast (and still does in many areas) on the 1700 MHz range. Recently, T-mobile started moving everything over to the 1900 MHz range, which makes our Photons happy.
What does that mean for us? If you live in an area where T-mobile has "refarmed" (moved frequencies), you will get 4G (again, displayed as an H or H+, depending on the ROM. I also noticed if the signal gets weak, it will show 3G. Kinda interesting). Otherwise, you will get only edge speeds (an E).
Good news: Yes, you will get 4G on your Photon on T-mobile very soon
Bad news: Some of us will have to wait until mid-2013
Hopefully this helps people out who were just curious or debating getting rid of their photon
You can view where T-mobile 4g will work on our phones here​

Related

AT&T Titan Lies about 4G Service...

SO, I have a Samsung Focus and I have a HTC Titan (both AT&T Branded). I also have a AT&T 3g Microcell.
BTW, Has anyone seen an AT&T Titan show 3G at all or anything other than 4G?
Anyways... Here is where the AT&T Titan lies about 4G service.... the 3G Microcell only support a maximum of UMTS. It does not support HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA, HSPA+, or LTE. Only HSPA+ & LTE are official 4G technologies as classified by the ITU.
On my girlfriends and my phone (when attached to the microcell) it shows 4G (we both have Titans). And Yes, I am positive we are on the microcell since both our phones list AT&T Microcell as the carrier.
I think AT&T is starting to pull one over on people with the Titan. Wish I had a Focus S to verify what it says too....
It has been reported that ATT is branding some H devices as 4G, not even H+... but the Titan is indeed H+. I haven't been very far with my Titan yet, so I wouldn't know if it ever shows 3G.
I may be a bit confused with the network types; to my understanding there is
GSM
Edge
3G
H
H+ (aka '4G')
4G LTE
My HTC Titan has shown E for the Edge network as it has also displayed 4G for HSPA + as well.
link68759 said:
It has been reported that ATT is branding some H devices as 4G, not even H+... but the Titan is indeed H+. I haven't been very far with my Titan yet, so I wouldn't know if it ever shows 3G.
I may be a bit confused with the network types; to my understanding there is
GSM
Edge
3G
H
H+ (aka '4G')
4G LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know the Titan does have the HSPA+ capability, that was not my gripe. My grip is that AT&T is listing a true 3G network as 4G which is a bold faced lie altogether and causes us to question if we truely are on 4G or not. Not the fact the device support it or not.
SO, all these throttling threads and stuff about 4G can not use the Titan as a testing source as the tester can not trust if they truely are on 4G or not. Thus skewing true testing results and perceived capabilities.
I live in Las Vegas and AT&T has had HSPA+ for a while and recently LTE. The issue I have, is I can't tell which network I am on wether it be 3G, HSPA+ or LTE since the Titan always will show 4G for all of them.
As added info for you about network types, your 3G disgnation is the same as the network types that I listed. 3G Network types include (In order of evolution):
UMTS - True Desgination for 3G
HSDPA - 3.x
HSUPA - 3.x
HSPA - 3.x
The 3.x is where I am not sure about the history of their release but I know one of them was refered to 3.5g before the true 4g designation came out for HSPA+ & LTE.
I don't think the titan has lte support, so you're definitely not on that.
The best way to go about this I guess is finding the diagnostic menu: where you dial some number and it gives you hidden info and options.
Sent from my PI39100 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
AT&T GoPhone Service here with X310e from Europe, it stay on H all the time, displayed as "3G" sometime.
maybe the way they display the icon on the Europe Phone is different.
Anyone confirm as H is HSPDA+?
BTW, i don't download torrent on my phone either.
Its not exactly a lie. Yes, 4G is now the old 3G. When the other carriers started calling their service 4G, it made AT&Ts service look slower (when reality is that ATT 3G was the fastest).
4G was supposed to be LTE, but the marketing departments screwed that one by trying to one-up each other.
So, the answer is that where you saw 3G previously, you will now see 4G.
I have two microcells and they both show 4G on my Titan as well.
Blame the marketing departments (at all the carriers) for using the 4G moniker where it did not belong.
LTE will hopefully be LTE.
I've seen E, H & 4G on my at&t Titan
You see H? That's a good sign, at least; we can differentiate from E, H and H+. My town is fairly rural and is also a historical district, so I find it extremely suspect that there is 4G wherever I've gone, but I guess we've somehow become modern.
I have also never seen "H", only E and 4G, but I've only been in 3 small towns since I've had my Titan. My "4G" speeds are very 3G-like too... (between 1-2Mbps down and .75Mbps up)
Is there any way to see more detailed radio information in the OS? I dont really trust the indicator at the top of the screen.
As someone quoted the ITU designations. In their final decission it was declared that only technologies being theoretically able to reach speeds of up to 100 Mbps are actually 4G.
This means that WiMax, LTE and HSPA+ don't qualify as 4G. Currently LTE Advanced and WiMax 2 would be the only ones.
The idea of calling HSPA+ 4G as far as I know originates from T-Mobile USA as they are not about to deploy LTE/Wimax anytime soon.
That's even beyond the point. Didn't ATT say HSPA+ users should see actual speeds of around 6Mbps? Many aren't even getting the upper range of "3G" speeds.
I just got off the phone with ATT CS and he did tell me I am NOT in a 4G area, even though my phone is saying so. He told me the nearest 4G area was about 20 minutes south, which is exactly what their data map shows. From that I take that ATT is just calling their 3G network 4G, at least on this phone.
StevieBallz said:
As someone quoted the ITU designations. In their final decission it was declared that only technologies being theoretically able to reach speeds of up to 100 Mbps are actually 4G.
This means that WiMax, LTE and HSPA+ don't qualify as 4G. Currently LTE Advanced and WiMax 2 would be the only ones.
The idea of calling HSPA+ 4G as far as I know originates from T-Mobile USA as they are not about to deploy LTE/Wimax anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is false, the ITU adjusted this decision and enveloped HSPA+, Wimax and LTE into the 4G fold.
"As the most advanced technologies currently defined for global wireless mobile broadband communications, IMT-Advanced is considered as '4G,' although it is recognized that this term, while undefined, may also be applied to the forerunners of these technologies, LTE and WiMax, and to other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third generation systems now deployed,"
http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2010/48.aspx
In relation to this post, I have used my Interop Unlocked Focus all around this area and home. On my Focus I enabled the ability for it to show 3G+ areas and I was able to map out areas that were E, G, 3G and 3G+
However, when I trek those same areas with my Titan, I see a somewhat magical "4G" over all 3G and 3G+ areas.
Whether these areas were all H+ capable the whole time is unsure, but somehow I tend to doubt it.
As of yet, I have never seen 3G but I have seen E and G on my Titan.
link68759 said:
I don't think the titan has lte support, so you're definitely not on that.
The best way to go about this I guess is finding the diagnostic menu: where you dial some number and it gives you hidden info and options.
Sent from my PI39100 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tried that on my Titan by dialing ##3282#, and all the diagnostics are for 3G, HSDPA, no item for HSPDA+, still on screen my phone shows 4G.
arg... is there any way to infiltrate ATT's customer support and actually talk to an engineer, no tricks or PR crap?
I just thought that I'd chime in and say that my HTC Titan shows "3G" when I am at my place of work in Franklin Lakes, NJ.... so it must say 3G for some networks at least.
Do you have an unlocked international phone or an ATT phone?
Is there a Registry Editor for the Titan yet? If so, I wonder if you can change the 4G to what you want it to be like you can on the Samsung Focus? On the Focus, you have the option to change each individual network to show whatever you want it to show.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Connectivity \CellularUx\DataConnectionIcon
6G Speeds on Samsung Focus
Using ATT's methods, I've modified my Samsung Focus to receive 6G Speeds. Yes, this is the SAME method ATT uses to get 4G speeds...
They just edit the Registry like I did.

Enable HSPA+ on Atrix 4g?

How do you enable hspa+ on an atrix 4g? I can never seem to get the "H+" or "4g" icon, only H (i've checked inside the phone settings and it is definitely just hspa, not hspa+, or hspa: category 10 or otherwise)
I bought my atrix 4g off craigslist and used it on ATT straight talk for a month and had horrible speeds and never had hspa+ (only hspa) so I had the phone carrier unlocked and took it to tmobile monthly 4g but still I am only getting hspa (not hspa+).
Basically, is this phone capable of getting "pseduo-4g" hspa+ or is it locked to hspa? I've seen several mentions of ATT shipping the phone with hspa+ disabled, but no way of knowing how to enable it.
Other info: I am currently using neutrino ROM.
Thanks!
You will only get edge on t mobile with any att phone.............
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2
Well, its now an unlocked phone and I know I get more than edge because I have hspa right now.
tgeo said:
Well, its now an unlocked phone and I know I get more than edge because I have hspa right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already gave you the answer... If you believe you can get 3g with an atrix 2 on t mobile, you must be a hero.
The bands are not compatible. A quick google search will plainly show you that.
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2
fireforhire said:
I already gave you the answer... If you believe you can get 3g with an atrix 2 on t mobile, you must be a hero.
The bands are not compatible. A quick google search will plainly show you that.
Sent from my MB865 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that Tmobile is refarming their 1900mhz pcs from 2g to 3g... so yeah you can. Las Vegas and Kansas City are already official... so what?
---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:52 PM ----------
Also, someone correct me if I'm wrong, the Atrix 4G does 14.4mbps hspa, isn't the 21mbps the actual hspa+?
I know it may not be possible but, Hes talking about an ATRIX 4g. Not ATRIX 2. READ MUCH???
Sent using AT&T DROID BIONIC.
The Atrix 4G and the Atrix 2 both support T-Mobile's "4G" network which is simply HSPA+ but the best you'll do with the Atrix 4G is 14.4 Mbps (good luck getting that actual speed). The Atrix 2 can hit the 21.1Mbps but not the 42Mbps speeds, and again, good luck with that.
The Atrix 4G is fully capable of being used with T-Mobile now that they are refarming/rolling out their 3G and "4G" 1900 MHz band, people in some areas still haven't gotten the upgrade yet but in many places in the US you can get 3G speeds and even the "4G" HSPA+ with that device on T-Mobile without issues. Here in Vegas when they turned that on a few weeks back (the day the iPhone 5 was released) I had an Atrix 4G and got T-Mobile 3G/HSPA+ service that afternoon with speeds in excess of 6Mbps because I live across the street from a cell site for them, average is about 3-5Mbps most of the time.
The Atrix 4G will most commonly show HSPA:10 when used with T-Mobile, in my experience (that's on ICS or JB ROMs, GB won't show that level of detail/info).
As for the HSPA or HSPA+, they all basically work the same way. 14.4Mbps is considered under the HSPA+ "umbrella" as the saying might go.
br0adband said:
The Atrix 4G and the Atrix 2 both support T-Mobile's "4G" network which is simply HSPA+ but the best you'll do with the Atrix 4G is 14.4 Mbps (good luck getting that actual speed). The Atrix 2 can hit the 21.1Mbps but not the 42Mbps speeds, and again, good luck with that.
The Atrix 4G is fully capable of being used with T-Mobile now that they are refarming/rolling out their 3G and "4G" 1900 MHz band, people in some areas still haven't gotten the upgrade yet but in many places in the US you can get 3G speeds and even the "4G" HSPA+ with that device on T-Mobile without issues. Here in Vegas when they turned that on a few weeks back (the day the iPhone 5 was released) I had an Atrix 4G and got T-Mobile 3G/HSPA+ service that afternoon with speeds in excess of 6Mbps because I live across the street from a cell site for them, average is about 3-5Mbps most of the time.
The Atrix 4G will most commonly show HSPA:10 when used with T-Mobile, in my experience (that's on ICS or JB ROMs, GB won't show that level of detail/info).
As for the HSPA or HSPA+, they all basically work the same way. 14.4Mbps is considered under the HSPA+ "umbrella" as the saying might go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know tmob where deploying a hspa frequency that at&T use. Thanks for that tip.
10Mbps achieved on Atrix on at&T 3g network here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1905464
hspa category 10 is 'characterized' as hspa+ but is not hspa+ (evolved hspa) and should not display h+ or 4g on the status bar for that reason. The 4g branding is exactly that... "branding" and at&T should have never used 4g in the name in my opinion. They always said "4g like speeds"
See post #4 at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1912716 where there are also a couple links I posted that I found interesting on this subject.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
Hmm, interesting info guys. I do indeed live in Vegas and have been using a GB ROM (maybe I'm not seeing hspa: category 10 because of this).
Sounds like I've done all I can then, thanks!
tgeo said:
Hmm, interesting info guys. I do indeed live in Vegas and have been using a GB ROM (maybe I'm not seeing hspa: category 10 because of this).
Sounds like I've done all I can then, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only ics and jb display the additional radio info.
The key is that you are on a radio that is suited to your rom and provider. 36p and 37p are the two most popular at&t radios, 37p being the official production release and used on many releases. Both 36p and 37p operate at hspa 10. Each provider is at differing phases, as well as having differing standards in their network, for how they implement the any bells and whistles of cellular. There is so much to it.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
Terrible speeds with H+ Icon. Hspa marked as H+.
I am only getting Edge, Umts and HsPa.. My phone marks hspa as H+. I check on status and Umts and Hspa is marked as H+.. My speeds are terrible, only getting 1.8 mbps.
ASPTHEONE said:
I am only getting Edge, Umts and HsPa.. My phone marks hspa as H+. I check on status and Umts and Hspa is marked as H+.. My speeds are terrible, only getting 1.8 mbps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might get the app on Google Play called Antennas, it'll show you the cell sites/towers you're connected to on maps; if you're connected at a given mode (like HSPA or UMTS) but you're pretty far from the site/tower, that could be the primary reason you get the "terrible" speeds. Antennas does work best, however, by putting the phone in 2G/EDGE mode but it is capable of doing 3G/4G/HSPA/UMTS/etc as well.
I live literally across the street from the main site/tower that I stay connected to so I pull 5-8Mbps when I'm in HSPA+ mode but, I keep my Photon in 2G/EDGE mode probably 99% of the time, I have Wi-Fi at home also so there's just no reason to use up any of my 5GB of bandwidth for the "4G" side of things.
T-Mobile 1900 mhz service on Atrix 4G in MD!!
So having played with a couple of 4Gś @ work (and how unawesome they made my G2x look!) I purchased a combo phone and lapdock. This before i realized they worked on different frequencies!!! DOH!
Fortunately, T-Mobś been ahead of me on the curve. I read that they started the long road to providing their service to the souls stranded out in Verizon &/or AT&T limbo...
So I swapped my sim and...Yaaaay! 4 of 5 bars of....wait for it... H+!!!:laugh:
Then, BOOOOO! No data! No MMS. No internet!:crying:
A few hours of online (and Iḿ ashamed to say, trial and error build prop editing) plus 3 calls to T-Mob yielded this in an email:
¨APN settings for data and picture messaging (MMS): Android" on T-mobileś support page (as a noob I cannot post the link):silly:
Iḿ now docked, working, spotifying and sharing ´ẃif my XDA fam!¨
Hope this helps!

Bounty for T-Mobile US 3G on Rezound

Hey all, I'm starting a bounty and I personally will pay $50 for anyone that can help get 3G on T-Mobile in the refarmed areas (1900mhz) I will help anyone that's attempting to make this work and needs testing because I am located in a refarmed area. I followed the thread that got AT&T working by writing the NV values, I also tried the Sensation NV values but still stuck on EDGE. I figured the refarming process wasn't finished, however I decided to pop my sim card into my old Pantech Matrix Pro 3G (850/1900) and to my surprise it was on 3G where as it has always used EDGE before the refarming of my area. I live in Jersey City and everywhere around I get a consistent and strong 3G signal on this Pantech Matrix Pro. I've seen a lot of people saying you'll have to wait till your area gets refarmed to 1900 to use TMO 3G on the Rezound but I am proof that the refarming still does not allow the Rezound to lock onto 3G when on T-Mobile and that there must be an underlying problem with the Rezound itself.
1900 is 4g
Sent from my Infected Rezound using xda app-developers app
If I'm not mistaking the 1900 spectrum being refarmed allows for 3g and 4g because a bunch of non T-Mobile iPhone's and other phones such as the Inspire, Vivid, etc have been reported getting 3G in the refarmed areas.

T-Mobile [Dev Edition/TMO Version] vs Sprint in Maryland

[I'm cross-posting this in the Sprint HTC One forum as well]
My situation:
1. I've been with Sprint since the OG Evo, but after getting the One, I was really frustrated with the slow LTE speeds especially after years of Network Vision promises and paying an extra $10 a month (per phone) for "high speed data" that was anything but. I was also irked at all the crap I had to go through to get the SIM unlocked.
2. The area I live in has refarmed HSPA+ to the 1900Mhz band.
3. The area I live in has AWS LTE.
4. I currently have a Sprint, T-Mobile, and Developer Edition One.
My original plan was to use the DE to test the TMO network to see if it was faster than Sprint and available in all the places I frequent. If so, then I'd sell my (now SIM unlocked) Sprint model and keep the DE, otherwise, I'd return the DE for a refund.
But over the last week and a half I've noticed that, while LTE speeds were frequently pretty high (15-20Mbps) there were still plenty of times when I was only seeing an H or an E. I couldn't even tell if the H was HSPA or HSPA+. So then I began to wonder if I was missing out because of the lack of the 1700Mhz band, thus I bought the TMO version to see if I was missing anything.
Turns out, I wasn't. The H I've been seeing is indeed HSPA+ but nowhere near the advertised 42Mbps. Granted, I wasn't naive enough to think I would pull 42Mbps even with the TMO version, but I expected to get at least in the 20-30Mbps range, instead I've been seeing 5-9Mbps. (Thanks to the Sensorly app, I can now tell which H I'm seeing).
After running around with TMO version, I'm seeing the exact same speeds in the same places. So, I'm not missing anything by not having 1700Mhz. In the meantime, TMO is still refarming more areas so the 1700Mhz is becoming less and less important.
So what about Sprint? At their lowest, the TMO speeds are equal to or a little above the Sprint speeds I've been seeing (my wife inherited the Sprint version during this trial run), and at their highest, Sprint can't touch them (in this area--I've gotten up to 20Mbps in PA).
So T-Mobile it is. When the wife's contract is up at the end of the month, the Sprint model is going up on Swappa. Meanwhile, the TMO version is going back to the store tomorrow.
What about AT&T you ask? Way faster, but way more expensive. Truth is, I spend most of my time on wifi anyway, so I'm not willing to pay AT&T prices for cable internet speeds for the times in between.
Hope this helps anyone else facing the same dilemma.
What are your apns for t-mobile. The LTE apn settings are slower than the HSPA apn. Unless you're in a LTE T-Mobile area.
magicriggs said:
What are your apns for t-mobile. The LTE apn settings are slower than the HSPA apn. Unless you're in a LTE T-Mobile area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My area is actually pretty saturated with LTE, but I still I tried both fast and epc. The speeds were the same.
Dang thats crazy.
KiamatDusk said:
My area is actually pretty saturated with LTE, but I still I tried both fast and epc. The speeds were the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have different result with comparing a Dev edtion and T-Mobile edition One. NY is a refarmed market but there would be times I would still get EDGE in some spots. In the same area the T-Mo One would have a constant 4G/LTE connection while the Dev One would fluctuate between 2G/4G/LTE. I would recommend stick with the T-Mo One just in case you go into area that is not refarmed. I had faster 4G speed on the T-Mo one as well. (Single digits with PCS 4G compared to double digit AWS 4G)
Just popping in to say congrats on leaving Sprint.
I had them for about 8 months and could not stand them anymore. Paid $350 ETF and been happy ever since.

Mistake to get for T-mobile

I went from a note 2 on T-mobile to the mega. (paid $515 us, no tax). I knew what i was getting into, about the bands, but i went for it anyway. I think in retrospect it may have been a mistake. The issue is, that it doesnt have the right bands for hspa+ a lot of the time. It has the edge and the 1900 that was refarmed for hspa+. Granted, i live in NYC which was refarmed, and it my house i do have hspa+, but it was a mistake because a lot of places i go, i dont have service, or i only have edge. And i do wedding jobs all over the tri state area, and that is going to suck. To me, Tmo is awesome, they have 3g, hspa21, hspa42 and now also lte. I can do without the LTE but now i'm limiting myself to only one band of hspa.... Not the smartest idea.
I've heard that a new ported radio may help this but....
mottyengel said:
I went from a note 2 on T-mobile to the mega. (paid $515 us, no tax). I knew what i was getting into, about the bands, but i went for it anyway. I think in retrospect it may have been a mistake. The issue is, that it doesnt have the right bands for hspa+ a lot of the time. It has the edge and the 1900 that was refarmed for hspa+. Granted, i live in NYC which was refarmed, and it my house i do have hspa+, but it was a mistake because a lot of places i go, i dont have service, or i only have edge. And i do wedding jobs all over the tri state area, and that is going to suck. To me, Tmo is awesome, they have 3g, hspa21, hspa42 and now also lte. I can do without the LTE but now i'm limiting myself to only one band of hspa.... Not the smartest idea.
I've heard that a new ported radio may help this but....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you buy this phone knowing you wouldn't get consistent HSPA? I would return it if I were you. Good luck.
mottyengel said:
I've heard that a new ported radio may help this but....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a link for this? I'm used to slow speeds where I am anyway, so edge to HSPA isnt a difference for me. The only places it gets faster is in the areas where they have the 1900 bands anyway...
mottyengel said:
I went from a note 2 on T-mobile to the mega. (paid $515 us, no tax). I knew what i was getting into, about the bands, but i went for it anyway. I think in retrospect it may have been a mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is me pretty much exactly.
It is not bad in Atlanta, I get H+ most of the time and my prior tablet (LG G Slate) wasn't really better coverage wise so I'm not unhappy, I just keep thinking I could be happier if I had that extra band of H+
If you find out something that improves TMo experience please note it here so others can benefit also.
damastah said:
Do you have a link for this? I'm used to slow speeds where I am anyway, so edge to HSPA isnt a difference for me. The only places it gets faster is in the areas where they have the 1900 bands anyway...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think a modem has been ported yet. I don't think there is a compatible radio out there for this phone. AT&T MIGHT get a version of the Mega (the I-527). If so, someone might be able to port it's radio over to our device and we MIGHT get better signal. Until then, we will have spotty / inconsistent coverage. I get HSPA+, Edge, G, and complete loss of signal almost every day in New York (I drive around a quite a bit between Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan in New York). AT&T and T-Mobile (refarmed), for the most part, use the same bands now.
I came from the AT&T original Galaxy Note (LTE) which I used on T-Mobile's network. I knew I would be taking a step back in terms of data speed by getting the Mega but figured I would at least get HSPA+ which is sufficient for what I do (email, internat and streaming video). When I have HSPA+ signal, I have no data lag even when streaming live tv so it's definitely fast enough (for me at least).
The only issue is, as I already said, the inconsistency. I like the device though and am trying to stick with it until the AT&T Mega comes out (no telling when that will happen - it has been rumored for this month but I'm not holding my breath).
I see the Mega as a mini tablet with GSM phone connectivity, mobile internet connectivity, bluetooth, wifi, nfc, gps, and infra-red (for infrared tv remote control capability). Looking at it from that perspective, I stick with it (because not many tablets have this much connectivity).
Plus, it fits in my pocket (a lot more portable than normal sized tablets).
curgervending said:
I don't think a modem has been ported yet. I don't think there is a compatible radio out there for this phone. AT&T MIGHT get a version of the Mega (the I-527). If so, someone might be able to port it's radio over to our device and we MIGHT get better signal. Until then, we will have spotty / inconsistent coverage. I get HSPA+, Edge, G, and complete loss of signal almost every day in New York (I drive around a quite a bit between Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan in New York). AT&T and T-Mobile (refarmed), for the most part, use the same bands now.
I came from the AT&T original Galaxy Note (LTE) which I used on T-Mobile's network. I knew I would be taking a step back in terms of data speed by getting the Mega but figured I would at least get HSPA+ which is sufficient for what I do (email, internat and streaming video). When I have HSPA+ signal, I have no data lag even when streaming live tv so it's definitely fast enough (for me at least).
The only issue is, as I already said, the inconsistency. I like the device though and am trying to stick with it until the AT&T Mega comes out (no telling when that will happen - it has been rumored for this month but I'm not holding my breath).
I see the Mega as a mini tablet with GSM phone connectivity, mobile internet connectivity, bluetooth, wifi, nfc, gps, and infra-red (for infrared tv remote control capability). Looking at it from that perspective, I stick with it (because not many tablets have this much connectivity).
Plus, it fits in my pocket (a lot more portable than normal sized tablets).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I hear you. What will be the difference with the AT&T one? I'm really looking for a radio port like they did for the AT&T Note with the Galaxy Blaze and S II modems
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
damastah said:
Right, I hear you. What will be the difference with the AT&T one? I'm really looking for a radio port like they did for the AT&T Note with the Galaxy Blaze and S II modems
Sent from my EVO using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
The AT&T Mega will have LTE so the data speeds will be faster. However, if AT&T gets the Mega, it will be locked to their network and it's currently illegal to unlock your phone yourself (you're supposed to ask the carrier to unlock it for you). I would imagine that AT&T won't be so quick to unlock the phone for you since they wouldn't want to make it convenient for anyone to take the phone to another GSM carrier. Oh well...welcome to America. In Europe (and probably the rest of the world), when you get a phone (even if its carrier-branded and purchase directly from the carrier), it's unlocked. I usually only buy unlocked phones.
I want to wait for a radio port. If I get consistent HSPA+ connectivity, I'm fine. I got about 15mbps download and about 2mbps upload on an HSPA+ connection in Manhattan this morning. That's fast enough for my data needs. I WAS using a Galaxy Note on T-Mobile's LTE network and got up to 22mbps down and 11mbps up. To be honest though, I could only tell the difference between HSPA+ and LTE when downloading huge files (500MB and up). For web surfing, email, streaming video, and live tv, I saw no noticeable difference between LTE and HSPA+.
IF, at the end of the day, you get the data performance you need with HSPA+, having LTE won't really matter that much.
It's kinda like upgrading your car from one that has 160mph on the dash (current Mega with HSPA+) to the exact same car with 320mph on the dash (AT&T Mega with LTE) when the legal speed limit is 70mph (the data speed you need). You may be able to brag about it being faster but do you actually need the extra speed? Bottom line, you have to determine your data speed needs and then make a choice..
curgervending said:
The AT&T Mega will have LTE so the data speeds will be faster. However, if AT&T gets the Mega, it will be locked to their network and it's currently illegal to unlock your phone yourself (you're supposed to ask the carrier to unlock it for you). I would imagine that AT&T won't be so quick to unlock the phone for you since they wouldn't want to make it convenient for anyone to take the phone to another GSM carrier. Oh well...welcome to America. In Europe (and probably the rest of the world), when you get a phone (even if its carrier-branded and purchase directly from the carrier), it's unlocked. I usually only buy unlocked phones.
I want to wait for a radio port. If I get consistent HSPA+ connectivity, I'm fine. I got about 15mbps download and about 2mbps upload on an HSPA+ connection in Manhattan this morning. That's fast enough for my data needs. I WAS using a Galaxy Note on T-Mobile's LTE network and got up to 22mbps down and 11mbps up. To be honest though, I could only tell the difference between HSPA+ and LTE when downloading huge files (500MB and up). For web surfing, email, streaming video, and live tv, I saw no noticeable difference between LTE and HSPA+.
IF, at the end of the day, you get the data performance you need with HSPA+, having LTE won't really matter that much.
It's kinda like upgrading your car from one that has 160mph on the dash (current Mega with HSPA+) to the exact same car with 320mph on the dash (AT&T Mega with LTE) when the legal speed limit is 70mph (the data speed you need). You may be able to brag about it being faster but do you actually need the extra speed? Bottom line, you have to determine your data speed needs and then make a choice..
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I see. So the at&t one will have an extra T-Mobile compatible band in it? I thought the only one was the 1900 band getting converted into affect by T-Mobile
damastah said:
I see. So the at&t one will have an extra T-Mobile compatible band in it? I thought the only one was the 1900 band getting converted into affect by T-Mobile
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The AT&T Mega should have both the 1900 (the refarmed HSPA+ band on T-Mobile) and the LTE 1700/2100 band (which is the same frequency that both AT&T and T-Mobile use for LTE). The I-9200 version Mega only has the 1900 band and no LTE at all. The I-9205 version Mega has the 1900 band and LTE but not the 1700/2100 LTE band that works on T-Mobile and AT&T .
Radio Question
curgervending said:
The AT&T Mega should have both the 1900 (the refarmed HSPA+ band on T-Mobile) and the LTE 1700/2100 band (which is the same frequency that both AT&T and T-Mobile use for LTE). The I-9200 version Mega only has the 1900 band and no LTE at all. The I-9205 version Mega has the 1900 band and LTE but not the 1700/2100 LTE band that works on T-Mobile and AT&T .
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Sorry, bit of radio ignorance here. So is this a physical hardware difference or could it be adjusted on an existing I-9205 to use the 1700/2100 LTE band by flashing a new radio/rom once TMo/AT&T have a specific version out?
I must admit, this is the only thing that is keeping me from getting the Mega. IF I knew with certainty that a version of this phone would work 100% with T-Mobile, I would jump on it. Unfortunately, i'll probably just have to wait for the Note III. I know there will be a version of that for T-mo.
Mega
Coming to the US carriers soon?
http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/17/galaxy-mega-6-3-press-render-surfaces-with-navy-blue-body-atandt/
I know I want the Mega so bad & I see them unlocked on Ebay. I've asked a couple of sellers if it will work for TMobile but they say either edge or 3g. I have the Note 2 now and I'm more into size wise so not really looking forward to the Note 3. I was wondering if the AT&T one would work unlocked but they don't want you to leave the store without activating it. So I just have to wait patiently like you friend.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
jminatl said:
Sorry, bit of radio ignorance here. So is this a physical hardware difference or could it be adjusted on an existing I-9205 to use the 1700/2100 LTE band by flashing a new radio/rom once TMo/AT&T have a specific version out?
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Click to collapse
Physical hardware difference. The I-9205's LTE physical hardware is "tuned" (for lack of a better word) to bands LTE2100, LTE850, LTE1800, LTE2600, LTE800. AT&T / T-Mobile uses band LTE 1700/2100 frequency. Using a different radio in the I-9205 won't change the bands that the phone is tuned to. If anyone out there knows better please chime in. I certainly don't claim to know much. One thing I'm not clear on is whether LTE2100 band in the I-9205 will partially work on T-Mobile / AT&T. I think the phone specifically has to have LTE1700/2100 which is different from LTE2100. Again, someone with more knowledge, please chime in.
would the att version work on T-Mobile? Here are the specs on it;
GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900,
UMTS850 (B5), UMTS900 (B8), UMTS1900 (B2), UMTS2100 (B1)
LTE700 (B17), LTE850 (B5), LTE1700/2100 (B4), LTE1900 (B2)
I live in a refarmed area with LTE.
mottyengel said:
I went from a note 2 on T-mobile to the mega. (paid $515 us, no tax). I knew what i was getting into, about the bands, but i went for it anyway. I think in retrospect it may have been a mistake. The issue is, that it doesnt have the right bands for hspa+ a lot of the time. It has the edge and the 1900 that was refarmed for hspa+. Granted, i live in NYC which was refarmed, and it my house i do have hspa+, but it was a mistake because a lot of places i go, i dont have service, or i only have edge. And i do wedding jobs all over the tri state area, and that is going to suck. To me, Tmo is awesome, they have 3g, hspa21, hspa42 and now also lte. I can do without the LTE but now i'm limiting myself to only one band of hspa.... Not the smartest idea.
I've heard that a new ported radio may help this but....
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By the way, what version of the Mega do you have (i9200 or i9205)? I have T-Mobile and live in a refarmed area (NYC). I've heard people say that the i9205 gives them H+ speeds here.
T-mob 4G with AT&T mega?
I have just bought an AT&T mega (SGH-I527) from a guy. It's 8 days old, unlocked and running T-mob 4GLTE no problem.
21940kbps dl with the 4GLTE icon.
Sweet!
Does it give you spurts of edge 3g and lte or is it steady lte. In other words does it work pretty good to get online or does it lag sometimes?
Sent from my SGH-T889
MR.MEMORYLANE said:
Does it give you spurts of edge 3g and lte or is it steady lte. In other words does it work pretty good to get online or does it lag sometimes?
Sent from my SGH-T889
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I've had it for only a few hours but when 4GLTE lights up and I stay in the same position then it holds the icon no problem. The area is patchy and not far away I loose 4G and it drops to 3G but it gets back the 4G where it can. In that regard it works like my previous phone but it didn't have the benefit of of LTE!
I went to the AT&T store today and I can buy it cash without contract but I just don't want it to be just edge service if you know what I mean.
Sent from my SGH-T889

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