[Q] need help : HTC Droid DNA only running EDGE.. - HTC Droid DNA

Guys, I want to buy new HTC Droid DNA, but the seller said, if I used for GSM network its only can running on EDGE only (still locked). any idea how to get full range on GSM Ntework (HSPA / 3G)?
Thanks

+1 to this. I have the DNA in hand but unactivated and have heard mixed things from carriers and online. T-Mobile won't really discuss the refarm of their 1700Mhz to 1900/2100. According to information online they have completed a lot of the refarm so that more GSM unlocked devices can run on their high speed data network. A common denominator from each case is that data constantly switches between low and high speeds. I'm thinking of checking out straight talk or net10 although I've heard negative things about them both and simple mobile. Still looking for a great review of this phone on one of these carriers.

xlxcrossing said:
+1 to this. I have the DNA in hand but unactivated and have heard mixed things from carriers and online. T-Mobile won't really discuss the refarm of their 1700Mhz to 1900/2100. According to information online they have completed a lot of the refarm so that more GSM unlocked devices can run on their high speed data network. A common denominator from each case is that data constantly switches between low and high speeds. I'm thinking of checking out straight talk or net10 although I've heard negative things about them both and simple mobile. Still looking for a great review of this phone on one of these carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it, its fine. Mine has never seen a day of service on Verizon, I use T-Mobile and get H+ all over the place. The fluctuating does occur as they're still refarming towers but it doesn't cause much of a problem.
The refarm isn't for more devices its to move the bands down and use LTE on the 2100 or whatever band instead. It just happens to mean non T-Mobile or pentaband phones gain 3g/H+ ability on their network. Just means phones like the DNA without the higher band support gain faster speeds, or I guess I phones will to, whatever doesn't use the higher bands from at&t networks.
Tapatalked from my HTC DNA - Carbon

pio_masaki said:
Do it, its fine. Mine has never seen a day of service on Verizon, I use T-Mobile and get H+ all over the place. The fluctuating does occur as they're still refarming towers but it doesn't cause much of a problem.
The refarm isn't for more devices its to move the bands down and use LTE on the 2100 or whatever band instead. It just happens to mean non T-Mobile or pentaband phones gain 3g/H+ ability on their network. Just means phones like the DNA without the higher band support gain faster speeds, or I guess I phones will to, whatever doesn't use the higher bands from at&t networks.
Tapatalked from my HTC DNA - Carbon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I said "more devices" I meant the handsets that are only 1900/2100 capable and not 1700 capable. The former is supported by more devices hence "more devices"

It depends on your carrier. On most carriers, like AT&T, it works fine and dandy, on the other hand with carriers like t mobile, it's complicated
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app

Bigandrewgold said:
It depends on your carrier. On most carriers, like AT&T, it works fine and dandy, on the other hand with carriers like t mobile, it's complicated
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
complicated meaning what exactly...can you be more specific. Somebody chimed in and said HSPA+ is indeed working on their DNA on T-Mobile. The coverage obviously varies but do you have any information that would suggest it wouldn't work on T-Mobile?

Related

Unlocked Optimus T for ATT?

Has anyone had any luck unlocking the tmobile optimus t and using it on AT&T?
I haven't done it on AT&T, but I did unlock my Optimus T for use on my regional GSM carrier (iwireless). I don't know how well the cellular data works though since I have a voice only plan. My understanding when doing the research was that the optimus T would work only as a GSM/EDGE phone on AT&T but it wouldn't have 3G.
Sent from my LG-P509 using XDA App
Awesome! That's all I needed to know. Just wanted to get it for a friend who was on ATT. She only needs voice and text, no data.
hacker01 said:
Awesome! That's all I needed to know. Just wanted to get it for a friend who was on ATT. She only needs voice and text, no data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'd be better getting the Telus Optimus One from Canada and unlocking it. The shelf price is cheaper than Optimus T which may make up a bit for the import hassles. It has the right 3G frequencies, which is helpful because AT&T has some areas where voice reception is degraded without 3G.
cmstlist said:
You'd be better getting the Telus Optimus One from Canada and unlocking it. The shelf price is cheaper than Optimus T which may make up a bit for the import hassles. It has the right 3G frequencies, which is helpful because AT&T has some areas where voice reception is degraded without 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't that only areas without coverage from the 850 band? I live in SoCal and the reception for ATT is generally top notch so I'd like to say I shouldn't have to worry but I'm not sure :\
hacker01 said:
Isn't that only areas without coverage from the 850 band? I live in SoCal and the reception for ATT is generally top notch so I'd like to say I shouldn't have to worry but I'm not sure :\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, it's just been my experience. For example, from the US/Can border at Blaine Washington down to Bellingham, I got much better reception on a phone with AT&T 3G than on one without.
I heard that in some markets where AT&T used to run EDGE on 850 and 3G on 1900, they swapped it around to get better 3G reception. But as a result (and due to the tower spacing), 2G phones don't do so well in those markets. I forget where I read this though.
cmstlist said:
I don't know, it's just been my experience. For example, from the US/Can border at Blaine Washington down to Bellingham, I got much better reception on a phone with AT&T 3G than on one without.
I heard that in some markets where AT&T used to run EDGE on 850 and 3G on 1900, they swapped it around to get better 3G reception. But as a result (and due to the tower spacing), 2G phones don't do so well in those markets. I forget where I read this though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm I see. Thanks for the heads up! Luckily, I can get the Optimus T for free so there's not much of a risk. If I remember correctly, my dad had a blackberry pearl on ATT which was not a 3g phone and his reception was fine. Hopefully it'll be the same with the optimus.
cmstlist said:
You'd be better getting the Telus Optimus One from Canada and unlocking it. The shelf price is cheaper than Optimus T which may make up a bit for the import hassles. It has the right 3G frequencies, which is helpful because AT&T has some areas where voice reception is degraded without 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are there any online site that sales the Telus optimus one?
No idea. They've also now released it on their subsidiary Koodo for $150 Canadian. And incidentally, At&t themselves is releasing a version called the Phoenix very soon.
Sent from my Nook Color!

[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

Logging Cell Tower w/ Frequency Band

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

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
Click to expand...
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..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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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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

Universal phone? Verizon and T-mobile?

Hi, im looking for a phone which would work with both verizon and T-mobile. Why both? well im in an odd situation, where im halfway through my contract with verizon, but want to switch to T-mobile. But my phone right now barely even works at the moment, so i need a new one, which I can bring over with me when i switch to T-mobile
I need a phone which works on both carriers or else I will end up buying to phones at full price, and I wouldnt want to do that!. Any help wpuld be extremely appreciated, there has to be some kind of smartphone out there thats capable of this
robotnikman said:
Hi, im looking for a phone which would work with both verizon and T-mobile. Why both? well im in an odd situation, where im halfway through my contract with verizon, but want to switch to T-mobile. But my phone right now barely even works at the moment, so i need a new one, which I can bring over with me when i switch to T-mobile
I need a phone which works on both carriers or else I will end up buying to phones at full price, and I wouldnt want to do that!. Any help wpuld be extremely appreciated, there has to be some kind of smartphone out there thats capable of this
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Click to collapse
A lot of phones these days are tri/quad-band. This means they operate on 3 or 4 frequencies ranges.
I'm not from the US so I'm not 100% sure but I believe Verizon is a CDMA based network while T-Mobile uses GSM (or WCDMA).
This would mean that most phones cannot be taken from one to the other. However many newer phones are released in carrier specific versions but don't have any hardware differences. Its often very hard to test/confirm this without having the specific device in your hand.
Google suggests that the iPhone 5, 5C & 5S from Verizon is unlocked and works on T-Mobiles 3G & 4G networks. So this could be an option.
As far as android handsets go, most of the phones I can find dont have a good overlap of frequencies for both networks.
Using the LG G2 as an example, the T-Mobile versions of most handsets use 850/1700/1900/2100 for 3G and LTE Bands 2, 4, 17. Verizon uses 850/900/1900/2100 for 3G and LTE Bands 4, 13. There is a little overlap there, 3G @ 850, 900 & 2100, but the LTE coverage is limited to Band 4 which could result in some negative experiences coverage wise on T-Mobile.

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