I recently bought an unlocked SGS3 GT-I9300 in amber brown. This is my first smartphone and I'm just learning there are many variants of each model. I bought a Net10 sim card labeled to include 3G & 4GLTE but now I understand my phone isn't 4G capable. That doesn't bother me but what does is as I'm commuting daily through a fully-saturated 3G area I never see 3G on my phone. If I watch it closely as I drive (not a good idea...) I have seen it flicker for a split second a few times. I've called Net10 customer "service" and was guided through the entire configuration a 2nd time but it's still the same. They had no further suggestions.
I like everything about the phone and can't complain about the performance. I get 3-5Mbps download speeds on H+ (whatever that is) and web pages load fast. One of my main desires is to stream internet radio through the phone to my car radio and I'm concerned the limited speed might give me trouble with keeping connected to a station.
How do I find the cause of the limited speeds? At this point I don't know if the issue is with the phone, the sim or Net10. I'm open to switching carriers as long as I stay on GSM. I have a cottage in northern MI where GSM is strong but CDMA is almost non-existent. I stopped at an AT&T store yesterday hoping they might be some help since it's their network Net10 buys time on--but the 2 kids there were clueless.
Keep any suggestions simple, I'm a noob and old--a bad combo
I'd suggest you try Wikipedia for an explanation of mobile data, H+ is 3G and the best you are going to get without a 4G capable phone.
Also, the i9300 isn't sold in the USA so you probably have a variant which has a specific forum here on xda -as our files will brick your phone. Check under the battery for your actual model number.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
I'd suggest you try Wikipedia for an explanation of mobile data, H+ is 3G and the best you are going to get without a 4G capable phone.
Also, the i9300 isn't sold in the USA so you probably have a variant which has a specific forum here on xda -as our files will brick your phone. Check under the battery for your actual model number.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my noob questions. I have been searching the net for info. The wiki S3 page was helpful, but I didn't find a mobile data page. Does the US version have the H and H+ status indicators? If not then I can understand why I never found an explanation and why the folks at the AT&T store didn't know either. That really doesn't excuse Net10 CSRs not knowing--especially since they are all "international".
Regarding the I9300 thing--do you mean there is a sub-forum for international I9300 phones? I thought I had found the right spot...?
My phone came from a guy in Alaska and it still has their (GCI) oem software on it. Does that mean it's already been reloaded with local OS? My Device Status is "Modified" but I have no idea to what extent.
Also--if "H" = HSDPA and "H+" = HSPA+ is my phone fully compatible with US 3G and what kind of real-world speeds should I be seeing?
I'm heading up to my cottage after work today and will be testing the phone there. If I can't get data there I will be discarding Net10, and possibly this phone. On Verizon I could not talk and texts took a long time to get through. I bought a cheap flip phone on Tracfone for use there & it gets pretty good signal.
The i9300 isn't sold in the USA for good reason, as it won't get the best out of the networks. It will work, as you've found, but how well I have no idea.
I'd suggest, again, that you check the actual model number printed under the battery.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
I'd suggest, again, that you check the actual model number printed under the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The actual model number printed on the label under the battery is...GT-I9300. Are we on the same page re my phone or is there something I'm not understanding?
guy48065 said:
The actual model number printed on the label under the battery is...GT-I9300. Are we on the same page re my phone or is there something I'm not understanding?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the I9300 page .
But as said really we are clueless about use of the international model used your country .
Basics are any firmware and a modem to suit your local network .
As said you are on 3G already .
H+ is actually 3.5G, etc, just Google it, all explained somewhere in a wiki for example http://readwrite.com/2010/09/16/3g_35g_4g_lte_wimax_beyond_the_marketing_speak#awesm=~opViZD2o1WYsB0
Sent from my Nexus 7 (2013)
There have been one or two users who use the phone in NA .
Been looking at some "how fast are you" posts here and it looks like I am getting pretty typical speeds.
I guess it's working as it should.
Related
can i use an unlocked at&t atrix in the philippines?
and can it be upgraded to GB in the philippines?
im new here.. tnx..
Yes, it will makes calls.
No, 3G will not work. Edge however, should.
Yes, you will be able to update it manually using motorola's update guide.
mvolkhart said:
Yes, it will makes calls.
No, 3G will not work. Edge however, should.
Yes, you will be able to update it manually using motorola's update guide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks man! appreciate it.. i know that the atrix have quadband for gsm which supports 900/1800 here in the phils and for the 3G, the band here is 2100, why it wont work? ... and other than updating manually, can i update it via wi-fi?
The 2100 band is the problem. AT&T Atrix doesn't support that band.
I don't think the OTA works using wifi but you can download the stock update using wifi and apply it.
CORRECTION: it does support the 2100 3G frequency. I didn't understand the whole WCDMA vs GSM thing correctly
i have read some old reviews when it is still in Froyo and there are a lot of complaints about the laggy pinch to zoom of Atrix.. how is the pinch to zoom of pictures in Atrix GB?
I have not experienced any problems. The zoom is very responsive
well i just hope someone who bought an unlocked at&t Atrix from the US and used it here in the Philippines would post their experience about the phone. i have read from different sites and forums that they have complaints about Atrix connectivity like wi-fi and bluetooth in different countries.
it's just too bad only few people here in the Philippines use Atrix.
I used my phone in the philippines. I was able to get internet on it. Not sure it was 3g but it was the h+ symbol on both smart and globe. I went to their offices to help set it up. Just remember, most places won't have 3g yet especially those place that don't support smartbro or globe broadband which uses the 3g signal I believe. Just ask for help there.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
pilboyz said:
i have read from different sites and forums that they have complaints about Atrix connectivity like wi-fi and bluetooth in different countries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth use the same standards around the world. I wouldn't pay too much attention to those complaints.
The issue with GSM coverage is that the phone must support the frequency bands for the local carrier's equipment, and the carrier must support the specific GSM standards (GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSUPA, LTE, etc.) that the phone is capable of. The Atrix 4G does indeed support 2100 MHz but as other folks have noted in this thread, the main carriers in the Phils (Smart and Globe) don't support HSPA+.
https://developer.motorola.com/products/atrix-mb860/
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/List_of_Deployed_HSUPA_networks
im quite confused about that 3G thing.. your post was right.. Philippines do not belong to the list of HSUPA networks.. but when I viewed the list of HSDPA networks, Philippines was there.. (i could not share the link for the meantime, 3 more posts needed).. this got me really confused.. im afraid i cannot use internet services by ISP.. maybe wi-fi only..
thank you guys for helping.. i really appreciate it.
mamoranto said:
I used my phone in the philippines. I was able to get internet on it. Not sure it was 3g but it was the h+ symbol on both smart and globe. I went to their offices to help set it up. Just remember, most places won't have 3g yet especially those place that don't support smartbro or globe broadband which uses the 3g signal I believe. Just ask for help there.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks man.. i felt a little relieved..
can i ask something? after the GB update, i have read that it does not offer settings in the SMS regarding its delivery reports? and when u send messages, does it have sent items?
im sorry for such inquisitions and being a noob..
i just want to know more about this phone before buying so that i wont have regrets..
thanks again..
pilboyz said:
your post was right.. Philippines do not belong to the list of HSUPA networks.. but when I viewed the list of HSDPA networks, Philippines was there.. (i could not share the link for the meantime, 3 more posts needed)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd be interested to see your link, but if it came from the same site as the one where folks think that wi-fi and BT won't work in the Phils. then again, I wouldn't put much stock in that claim. HSPA upgrades aren't cheap and with 1 Peso per minute calling plans I don't think the carriers there have much of an upgrade budget. (My wife is a Filipina and has had GSM phones here in the states ever since AT&T has been selling them.)
pilboyz said:
after the GB update, i have read that it does not offer settings in the SMS regarding its delivery reports? and when u send messages, does it have sent items?
im sorry for such inquisitions and being a noob..
i just want to know more about this phone before buying so that i wont have regrets..
thanks again..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem with the questions.
I don't recall if my Atrix had an option for SMS delivery reports prior to me applying the OTA update to GB. I don't see that option now, but maybe I'm looking in the wrong place. In any event that sounds like a feature of the Android OS (if it actually exists). So if it's lacking (or present ) on other Android phones then I would expect the same for the Atrix.
thanks andy for the informative replies. Im quite relieved now after i have read the previous post by mamoranto.
because i have have had 5 GSM phones from the states which came from different carriers and i have no idea on their specific details (because mostly are gifts), out of the 5 phones only 2 phones are used for "all around, daily purposes" because here in the philippines, texting is the number purpose of a phone. does the Atrix have sent items/messages stored after you send an sms?
sorry for my noobish questions.
AndyPhreak said:
HSPA upgrades aren't cheap and with 1 Peso per minute calling plans I don't think the carriers there have much of an upgrade budget. (My wife is a Filipina and has had GSM phones here in the states ever since AT&T has been selling them.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I stand corrected.
The "Globe Telecom" page on Wikipedia claims both 3G and HSDPA support on their networks. Apparently they've just begun rolling out WiMAX in Metro Manila and points south as well. This page reads like marketing copy, so I assume this info comes straight from Globe.
Dang...wish I was in the Philippines again!
oooppss sorry for the previous post... it was answered.
pilboyz said:
because i have have had 5 GSM phones from the states which came from different carriers and i have no idea on their specific details (because mostly are gifts), out of the 5 phones only 2 phones are used for "all around, daily purposes" because here in the philippines, texting is the number purpose of a phone. does the Atrix have sent items/messages stored after you send an sms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think *every* phone in the Phils originally came from the states, LOL. Or at least that's the way with my wife's family. My sis-in-law just got my daughter's barely-used iPhone 3Gs, and my niece there just got my wife's BlackBerry Curve (wife and daughter had to get new iPhone 4).
Are you gonna buy this Atrix new there? You must be rich...
P.S. The Atrix does keep copies of sent and received SMS messages. It shows them in threads/conversations like iPhone, or Chikka.
It uses the Text Messaging app which I think is part of the Android OS. Motorola also throws in their own messaging widget if you want you want to use that.
My dinner break is over and I need to quit this thread for now...
Mabuhay!
I have been around the forum for many years now, but am new to Android. I purchased a GT-i9100 in India for work travel between US and there. I have rooted and upgraded to 2.3.4, and applied a new kernel to remove the exclamation point. So, with that said, here is my question:
I am in the US right now, and in an area supported by T Mobile HSPA, but the phone will only connect to Edge. I am PRETTY sure it was only connecting to Edge before I did the work, but I cannot be sure. Would there be anything I did to the phone that would prevent it from getting onto the "4G" network? Is there anything I need to do now to change so it can connect?
I am not sure if this is related either, but I have a Verizon LTE data card, and if I place that SIM in the GT-i9100, it won't recognize it at all. It seems to only see T Mobile and ATT in the US.
I have spoken to T Mobile and they confirmed the 4g availability where I am, and they also reset my network connection, so the issue does not appear to be on my account or with TMobile.
Sorry for the long post, but I have been searching around and can't seem to get my small mind around resolution.
The SGS2 does not work with T-Mobile's 4G bands here in the US. If you want 4G you'll need AT&T.
dvinnola said:
Sorry for the long post, but I have been searching around and can't seem to get my small mind around resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because there is no resolution. As stated in several other threads on these forums (learn to do a search, and there's even one on the main page of Q/A right now) THERE IS NO WAY to get 3G on T-Mobile. The hardware in the phone does not support their 1700MHZ band.
Your 2 options:
1. Buy a T-Mobile phone
2. Switch to AT&T
Hello, I'm going to Japan in May/June & I was wondering if the international I9100, not the Japanese SC variant, is compatible with the data networks over there. I did some Googling but didn't find any conclusive answers. I apologise if the question is "noob", or if this is not the right section to post this in.
In addition, this is my first time in Japan (specifically, Tokyo) with a smartphone so I was looking at prepaid data plans for non-Residents, and chanced upon b-mobile (http://www.bmobile.ne.jp/) which appears to offer pretty good choices. My Japanese is at around the N3 level but reading a wall of text gives me a headache so I've been referring to softbanksucks.blogspot.com for more cognitively-friendly, English translations of certain related news.
1) They've launched a new prepaid card (at least I think it's prepaid) called the Chameleon 4G which rides on DOCOMO's 4G network. My question is, since my I9100 is not LTE-capable, will I still be able to tap on the data network (if I get that card) but maxed out at a speed my phone is able to handle.
2) Since this is my first time, I would like to ask if anyone who has been to Japan has any recommendations for getting a prepaid SIM card with data (eg. Plans, things to look out for, tips, etc). I was looking at data SIMs with talktime too but they all seem to be post-paid.
Many thanks for any help rendered!
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サンソングガラクシS II からタパトクで書いた。
Docomo should work the i9100 as it uses a GSM network. From my memory, either docomo or softbank may actually deny giving you a sim card for unlocked phones. At least that was the case for my friend while he was working in tokyo.
Kaze105 said:
Docomo should work the i9100 as it uses a GSM network. From my memory, either docomo or softbank may actually deny giving you a sim card for unlocked phones. At least that was the case for my friend while he was working in tokyo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm that's strange, especially since he was working there and all. I heard both companies started selling prepaid SIM cards not too long ago, albeit at an exorbitant price. Thanks for clarifying the networks though!
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サンソングガラクシS II からタパトクで書いた。
I'm actually going in late May as well and was wondering the same thing. Fact that SGS2 will work is great news, as far as getting a sim, can't you just bs them and say a friend will give you some old phone when you meet up or whatever? If they offer and sell prepaid sims, I wouldn't imagine it being that much of a problem...
As far as networks, I gathered that majority over there is UMTS aka HSDPA these days, which most GSM phones have anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem at all.
Skv012a said:
I'm actually going in late May as well and was wondering the same thing. Fact that SGS2 will work is great news, as far as getting a sim, can't you just bs them and say a friend will give you some old phone when you meet up or whatever? If they offer and sell prepaid sims, I wouldn't imagine it being that much of a problem...
As far as networks, I gathered that majority over there is UMTS aka HSDPA these days, which most GSM phones have anyway, so that shouldn't be a problem at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure the bs will work, 'cause from what I hear, you need an actual Japanese address & some kind of Japanese identification.
It's much easier to get a data-only SIM card & maybe couple that with a Skype Premium subscription for the period of time you'll be there, for calling.
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サンソングガラクシS II からタパトクで書いた。
Or via a friend, which is what i ended up doing. IMO much easier to just connect with or make a new friend and have them hook ya up.
Sent strait from the oven
Safe travels :laugh:
Ok, just a disclaimer (I am well-aware of my n00b status here)... I spent quite a few hours already on this site and on the Android forums, and on Google searching for answers to this... Not to mention time at the AT&T store and chatting w/some other phone reps (including Samsung tech support and AT&T tech support)... And while I've made some progress, I still can't get any definitive answers here.
So... that being said, first (and big 'sigh' I'm sure to many) is that I'm using a South Korea Note - the SHV-E160S. I know this is the I717 forums, but before I get flamed and booted, let me explain...
Well, I am on AT&T. No problems with calls or texting (minus the annoying 80-character limit, but anyways)... However, I have a BIG problem with the LTE. I'm on the LTE data plan, however, I cannot access any data network other than GPRS. Yes, my pings take about 533ms. My download speeds are about 53kb/s. This sucks, quite a lot. Esp when compared to my fiance's Note, which side-by-side gets about 13mb/s on the LTE network.
So... Did some research, and got the run-around... Less all the crap I heard from AT&T reps... It seems that the antenna for my Note is set to LTE850/LTE1800, and the actual AT&T SGH-I717's antenna is set to LTE700/LTE1700/2100. My sources for this come from PDAdb.net (I'd hyperlink, but my post count is not high enough to do that, yet).
So... Here come the questions. First... Is the antenna frequency tuning something built-into the hardware, or is it something that can be tuned via software?
-If it's in the hardware, would it be possible to buy an AT&T-spec LTE antenna? Which antenna gets replaced (from what I understand, there are two, and I can't find a legit source that tells me which is which), and where could I buy such a thing?
-If it's in the software, what would I have to do to re-tune the antenna? My phone is rooted with the latest Gingerbread Tegrak kernel.
Lastly... Though there is a difference between the LTE antennas... I still cannot access any network other than GPRS. I should at least be able to access EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+ as well, but I can't.
If ALL else fails, I guess I could get a portable tethering device with a contract... But that'd be oh-so-annoying to have to carry around all the time, and I'd like to avoid that option as much as possible. I'm paying $30/mo for LTE service on my phone already!
Anyways... Any thoughts or advice would be very appreciated, and my apologies if anything here is out-of-place. Thanks in advance!
U have the international note. Doesn't have late chip in it. But ur note has better CPU then the att note. The international note CPU is not comparable with att lte chipset that's y Samsung use 2different CPU. Yes u should be able to get 3g. Reset your apn. And search around. To find the code to reset your apn. I forgot. Its something like *2260*
I had an international first, had to rest everything to get data. But after few days. I return it cos I prefer to have lte speed more then CPU speed. And I found out the u can just over clock att note to 1.85 instead of stock 1.5. So now I am very happy with my att note.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Hmm I'm not sure if this method works with the International Note but it's worth a try. You need to get into ServiceMode. On your phone dialer keypad type *#2263# and choose 2 WCDMA Band Preference and select (6) WCDMA all.
Reply with your findings.
babymatteo said:
Hmm I'm not sure if this method works with the International Note but it's worth a try. You need to get into ServiceMode. On your phone dialer keypad type *#2263# and choose 2 WCDMA Band Preference and select (6) WCDMA all.
Reply with your findings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, but all I get is an error: "Connection problem or invalid MMI code."
:\
Maybe the issue is your kernal and/or radio? Isn't the Tegrak kernal Korean? Most likely your radio is also. That is probably your issue. The way I see it you have 3 choices: Live with it, Sell it and buy an I717 variant, Take the risk and at least flash the ATT Gingerbread radio.
home screen/ menu/ system settings/ more/ mobile networks/ access point names/ AT&T
Do all your entries match these? Write down your current ones before changing or take screen shots. You must use the menu key and save changes. Also make sure that is the APN checked after rebooting.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7298567918_306aaab920.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7298567982_82c3b41861.jpg
chak29 said:
U have the international note. Doesn't have late chip in it. But ur note has better CPU then the att note. The international note CPU is not comparable with att lte chipset that's y Samsung use 2different CPU. Yes u should be able to get 3g. Reset your apn. And search around. To find the code to reset your apn. I forgot. Its something like *2260*
I had an international first, had to rest everything to get data. But after few days. I return it cos I prefer to have lte speed more then CPU speed. And I found out the u can just over clock att note to 1.85 instead of stock 1.5. So now I am very happy with my att note.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
he doesn't have the international note(n7000) he has the South Korea Note - the SHV-E160S (he says it in OP), which it has the same processor as ours but some minor diferences in other things.
To the OP, why do you have a korean Note when from your avatar you're in the US?, I'm sure there's your problem, that note is set to use bands in korea and not in US, so the data is going to be crap, and for you to attempt to swap out the antenna is risking braking the phone because you run a chance after swapping it, not working and not having a working phone anymore.
aj_vogtman said:
home screen/ menu/ more/ mobile networks/ access point names/ AT&T
Do all your entries match these? Write down your current ones before changing or take screen shots. You must use the menu key and save changes. Also make sure that is the APN checked after rebooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I matched the APN settings of my fiancee's LTE Note first, and that did not work... It's pretty much exactly what you have posted. However, there are a couple things of note (bad pun, sorry). I do not have a 'APN enable/disable' or 'Bearer' field... However, everything else is set the same.
roloracer said:
To the OP, why do you have a korean Note when from your avatar you're in the US?, I'm sure there's your problem, that note is set to use bands in korea and not in US, so the data is going to be crap, and for you to attempt to swap out the antenna is risking braking the phone because you run a chance after swapping it, not working and not having a working phone anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Korean Note because I was living in Korea for a while, and I just got back to the US last week.
As in my OP, I found that the LTE bands are different; however, I can't even get on any other data networks other than GPRS. I've tried some APNs for HSPA+, and the results are the same.
Swapping the antennas shouldn't be THAT big of a deal if I had to... I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Obviously, I need to know if it would provide the intended results or not first.
Pscheoverdrive said:
I have a Korean Note because I was living in Korea for a while, and I just got back to the US last week.
As in my OP, I found that the LTE bands are different; however, I can't even get on any other data networks other than GPRS. I've tried some APNs for HSPA+, and the results are the same.
Swapping the antennas shouldn't be THAT big of a deal if I had to... I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Obviously, I need to know if it would provide the intended results or not first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, was just wondering where you got a Korean note. hope you can figure it out and good luck.
Sent from my CM9 Note.
Hi folks,
I've got an unlocked HTC One Max which I bought SIM free from Amazon UK. I'm using Three as my network provider in the UK and they've begun rolling out 4G to Glasgow where I live. One of my colleagues is also on Three with a Samsung Galaxy S4 and he started picking up a 4G signal this morning in the office whereas I'm still only seeing 3G. We had a poke around on our respective phones and in the Mobile Network Settings under Network Mode he's got more options than I do, including one for LTE. I've only got two options: WCDMA only and GSM/WCDMA auto. Without being able to select an LTE option in here I don't see how I'm ever going to pick up a 4G signal. Does anyone know why I'm seeing no LTE option in here and how I go about sorting that?
Okay, so I did a live chat with an HTC rep who confirmed that if there's not LTE option available in the settings then I've got the 3G only variant of the handset. I've no idea why HTC would even sell a 3G variant in the UK as it makes no sense at all, but I looked on Amazon and they only sell a single variant of the phone (which is definitely the one I bought) and curiously the listing for it doesn't clarify either way which network protocols it supports. I even tried Googling the product number (99HWN005-00) but I can't find any solid information about which version of the phone that represents. I'm hoping here that it's just a mistake and I should've been sent the proper 4G variant but it's impossible to say for sure when the Amazon listing gives no info at all about what they think they're actually selling. Either way I'll still be trying to get Amazon to take some amount of responsibility here because I think I made a fair assumption that I'd be buying the 'proper' version of the phone from them; especially as there's nothing on their site to tell me otherwise. I suppose it'll be down to how seriously Amazon take customer service as to how far I get with them. God damn it!
Grrrr. So I did another live chat with HTC to try and find out more about which models they sell in the UK. The Amazon listing has a model number and I was hoping HTC would tell me that's the model number for the LTE variant so I could go back to Amazon to say they'd mis-sold me the wrong version. This time though I got a different story; the HTC rep told me my handset is definitely LTE capable and what options you see for networking are tied to what the SIM card is capable of. His assertion was that Three had given me a 3G only SIM card and getting that sorted would fix it.
However, I swapped SIM card with my colleague who's getting a 4G signal from Three and it made no difference on my handset; I still only got the same 3G network options and, of course, only got a 3G signal. It also occurs to me that I checked with another colleague this morning who's got an HTC One but only on a 3G contract with O2 and he's already got the LTE network options (although he only ever gets a 3G signal of course).
So, yeah, this second call to HTC was a load of nonsense. Excellent. Back for a third time I go...
Medulla said:
Grrrr. So I did another live chat with HTC to try and find out more about which models they sell in the UK. The Amazon listing has a model number and I was hoping HTC would tell me that's the model number for the LTE variant so I could go back to Amazon to say they'd mis-sold me the wrong version. This time though I got a different story; the HTC rep told me my handset is definitely LTE capable and what options you see for networking are tied to what the SIM card is capable of. His assertion was that Three had given me a 3G only SIM card and getting that sorted would fix it.
However, I swapped SIM card with my colleague who's getting a 4G signal from Three and it made no difference on my handset; I still only got the same 3G network options and, of course, only got a 3G signal. It also occurs to me that I checked with another colleague this morning who's got an HTC One but only on a 3G contract with O2 and he's already got the LTE network options (although he only ever gets a 3G signal of course).
So, yeah, this second call to HTC was a load of nonsense. Excellent. Back for a third time I go...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps the variant you purchased does not support the lte bands that your carrier is using. That's usually the difference between the variants....radio support.
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using Tapatalk
dottat said:
Perhaps the variant you purchased does not support the lte bands that your carrier is using. That's usually the difference between the variants....radio support.
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if that was the case I would still need to see the option in the settings to turn on LTE; I don't even have that option so regardless what bands my carrier is using my phone wouldn't pick up a 4G signal of any kind.
I've basically somehow ended up with a 3G only variant of the phone which frankly they shouldn't even be selling because there's no point. I might ping HTC again with a more direct question but they don't seem to be able to tell me what I've got so it's more likely I'll just go back to Amazon and see what they have to say about it.
Also I did a quick check and Three are using the 800 MHz band which the 4G version of the HTC One definitely supports.
Okay, so, I sort of got it fixed but it's a really stupid situation. There's a key code to get into a hidden setting menu on Android (*#*#4636#*#*) which bypasses the normal options and allows you to force the network mode to any of the ones Android itself supports; so it's got all sorts of weird **** like EVDO and whatever in there. I went in there and forced on 'LTE only' mode and now I can pick up 4G if I stand in certain parts of the office. I've put it to 'GSM/WCDMA/LTE auto' and it should now go up to 4G whenever it gets a strong enough signal and work as it should. Why I've had to do that hack to get it working, and why the normal user level UI doesn't expose the LTE related options, is a ****ing mystery though. With KitKat rolling out that might might sort it but I shouldn't need an OS update to expose functionality the hardware's already capable of. It's really ****ing stupid all in and not doing HTC's rep any favours with me as I'll probably have to repeat the same stupid hack every time I reboot the phone.