Is the Alpha fully compatible with US AT&T? - Samsung Galaxy Alpha

It seems like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha has all the necessary bands to be used with AT&T in the US. But does anyone know for sure? If Samsung takes too long to release this in America can I buy the UK version and use it in the US?
Thanks

derekmarch said:
It seems like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha has all the necessary bands to be used with AT&T in the US. But does anyone know for sure? If Samsung takes too long to release this in America can I buy the UK version and use it in the US?
Thanks
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Click to collapse
Bump. I have the same question.

GSM Arena says this about the device:
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600
If what wikipedia says, AT&T uses the following frequencies:
2G: 850 / 1900.
3G: 850 / 1900.
4G: 700 block B (main frequency) / 1700 AWS / 1900 / 2300.
So, if I read correctly, you can use the international Alpha for 2&3G, but for LTE, you are covered only by one LTE band, 1900, and this being not a main frequency, won't have good coverage everywhere, I think.

sirobelec said:
GSM Arena says this about the device:
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600
If what wikipedia says, AT&T uses the following frequencies:
2G: 850 / 1900.
3G: 850 / 1900.
4G: 700 block B (main frequency) / 1700 AWS / 1900 / 2300.
So, if I read correctly, you can use the international Alpha for 2&3G, but for LTE, you are covered only by one LTE band, 1900, and this being not a main frequency, won't have good coverage everywhere, I think.
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Does this pertain to HSPA+ too?

blairh said:
Does this pertain to HSPA+ too?
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HSPA+ is 3G, so you shouldn't have problems with it.

sirobelec said:
HSPA+ is 3G, so you shouldn't have problems with it.
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Click to collapse
So I'd get HSPA+ anywhere I'd get it from an AT&T phone, just not LTE necessarily?

blairh said:
So I'd get HSPA+ anywhere I'd get it from an AT&T phone, just not LTE necessarily?
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Yes. If it was me to make the decision, I'd want my phone with an unlocked bootloader, HSPA+ is good enough speed for me.
Though, practically, I've never tested LTE in my life, until recently we didn't have any 4G networks.

International Galaxy Alpha NO US LTE on ATT or TMO
derekmarch said:
It seems like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha has all the necessary bands to be used with AT&T in the US. But does anyone know for sure? If Samsung takes too long to release this in America can I buy the UK version and use it in the US?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought an unlocked international/Euro Galaxy Alpha SM-G850F at the London Samsung store... Installed my USA ATT SIM and have no prob w. calls or H or H+ data but can NOT get LTE band in the USA on either ATT or TMO even though the device seems to have the right bands for ATT or TMO LTE. On advice from an ATT Wireless store manager, I updated my APN settings to match ATT setup but still did not get LTE. FYI my H+ is quite fast for most purposes but I want LTE. Hope that answers your question.... Mine is how can I get LTE???

stevensmiami said:
I bought an unlocked international/Euro Galaxy Alpha SM-G850F at the London Samsung store... Installed my USA ATT SIM and have no prob w. calls or H or H+ data but can NOT get LTE band in the USA on either ATT or TMO even though the device seems to have the right bands for ATT or TMO LTE. On advice from an ATT Wireless store manager, I updated my APN settings to match ATT setup but still did not get LTE. FYI my H+ is quite fast for most purposes but I want LTE. Hope that answers your question.... Mine is how can I get LTE???
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Are you sure the European version has correct U.S. LTE bands? I was under the impression that it does not....

stevensmiami said:
I bought an unlocked international/Euro Galaxy Alpha SM-G850F at the London Samsung store... Installed my USA ATT SIM and have no prob w. calls or H or H+ data but can NOT get LTE band in the USA on either ATT or TMO even though the device seems to have the right bands for ATT or TMO LTE. On advice from an ATT Wireless store manager, I updated my APN settings to match ATT setup but still did not get LTE. FYI my H+ is quite fast for most purposes but I want LTE. Hope that answers your question.... Mine is how can I get LTE???
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Click to collapse
phositadc said:
Are you sure the European version has correct U.S. LTE bands? I was under the impression that it does not....
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Originally Posted by sirobelec
GSM Arena says this about the device:
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 / 2600
If what wikipedia says, AT&T uses the following frequencies:
2G: 850 / 1900.
3G: 850 / 1900.
4G: 700 block B (main frequency) / 1700 AWS / 1900 / 2300.
So, if I read correctly, you can use the international Alpha for 2&3G, but for LTE, you are covered only by one LTE band, 1900, and this being not a main frequency, won't have good coverage everywhere, I think.

I am trying to solve this also.
I think that the Euro Version with the Exynos does not have the proper LTE Bands for North America LTE.
But the Qualcomm version does, though not sure about
TMobile.
I am looking at this from Canada GSM for $ 549. Factory Unlocked with following Bands:
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G & LTE 2100, 1900, 1800, 1700, 2600, 700, 850
Obviously for AT&T you just buy theirs.
I have read that the EXYNOS versions do not function in North America on LTE.
With all phones it seems that you must be very very
Specific about Model Numbers including Suffixes etc.
Especially SAMSUNG loves to make 24 versions of ALPHA, 50 versions of S4 etc.
Frequency Bands are a real WTF for amateurs like me:
For example are there TWO DIFFERENT 1700 bands, one for4G LTE and one for 3G , HSPA + or are they the SAME BAND with dual usage ?
In example ABOVE the Alpha Factory Unlocked Canada GSM @$ 549.
IF used for TMobile the LTE Bands look fine, but the 3G
1700 Band is not there. Will 3G merely use the 1700 LTE
band or does the SOC ( QUALCOMM) need to have
allocated the 1700 band for dual usage LTE and.3G
?

Related

German SGS2 in the US?

Heya
A buddy of mine, who's located in the US, is hunting for a SGS2.
One idea was, I buy one here (=Germany) and send it to him.
Question: Will the german SGS2 work fine in the US with his US sim card?
He mentioned something about "boost" or "sprint" being the carrier he has a sim card of.
Of course the device would be unlocked and all, so that wouldn't bother us.
If it your buddy has a "Sprint" network contract he needs a 4G/CDMA phone. Sprint has a specific version of SGS II called "Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch" (SPH-D710) .
2G Network CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Network CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Announced 2011, August
Status Available. Released 2011, September
Hmm, but that'd mean he'd need special FWs/ROMs and couldn't just flash all the ROMs and stuff floating around here, right?
What carrier/network/whatever would he need to be able to use a "normal" I9100?
delete....
Samsung Galaxy S2 (international) has support for
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Samsung Galaxy S II T-Mobile
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 1700 / 2100
but I believe T-Mobile also suport HSDPA 900
AT&T: Samsung Galaxy S II AT&T
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
Sprint: Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch
2G Network CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Network CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
So the international SGS II should work best in AT&T networks. And maybe in T-Mobile. For data 3G network is important.
3g will not work on t mobile with international version... don't mislead people. In order for 3g to work on t mobile both 1700 and 2100 freq must work... one is used. For upload and the other download.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Thanks guys! This helped, I think.
Looks like he should get an AT&T SIM and all shall be fine

ATT SII - 3G Bands

I'm looking at purchasing an SII on Craigslist. I need quad band 2g and 3g as I travel a lot. According to GSM Arena the AT&T version of the SII only has HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100.
Is there a way to enable the 900 band or is the antenna not capable of 900 in the ATT version?
Thanks!

[Q] 4G with LTE in Singapore

Hi,
All Guys in Singapore specially pay heed
I bought this lovely phone to be able to enjoy quad core for one and LTE data access. It seems that when I try to connect to the 4G LTE on Starhub (in Singapore), I only get 4G, not the LTE speeds.
Please correct me if I am wrong, that the e970 has 1700 and 2100 band for the LTE, while Singapore only has 1800 and 2600 bands available.
Is there any possibility of enabling 1800 and 2600 bands?
The local variant is the E975, can I flash the stock e975 firmware to the e970 without adverse effects?
milind
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 1700 / 2100
You can use 2G, not sure what the 3g band is in Singapore.
Sent from my Optimus G
My quick search shows Singapore uses 2100 for 3g, so the phone will support it. However, you cannot add or enable new frequencies. The hardware does not support them unfortunately. Your local LTE is not compatible with the E970
Ace42 said:
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 700 MHz Class 17 / 1700 / 2100
You can use 2G, not sure what the 3g band is in Singapore.
Sent from my Optimus G
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You can use 3G/HSPA+, I was there last week and I was getting 5-6 Mbps using SingTel prepaid.
EDIT- No LTE, sadly. But 3G was enough for anything I'd do on my phone.
H+ in singapore
stewartsoda said:
You can use 3G/HSPA+, I was there last week and I was getting 5-6 Mbps using SingTel prepaid.
EDIT- No LTE, sadly. But 3G was enough for anything I'd do on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HI,
yes the HSPAP works quite well. Im on the StarHub network, I also get a decent data rate. But LTE is LTE, it would have been nice to be able to coax the E970 somehow into those bands.
milind
bad that and convert it to other frequencies cannot be

Galaxy S4 for GSM Use

I am getting an Verizon S4 for use in Asia. Any idea/guide to make it as a proper phone for GSM Use? What are the things I need to do to make that as a GSM Phone since I will be using the S4 with majority of carriers in India.
jhbalaji said:
I am getting an Verizon S4 for use in Asia. Any idea/guide to make it as a proper phone for GSM Use? What are the things I need to do to make that as a GSM Phone since I will be using the S4 with majority of carriers in India.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GS4 will work as a GSM phone if the bands match. According to the Samsung specs, it does the following:
2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 and CDMA 800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
4G Network: LTE 700 MHz Class 13 1700 / 2100
Since India is GSM 900/1800, it should work if you install a local carrier's SIM (and configure their APN). But it looks like you'll be 2G.

[Q] What About These Bands for TMobile USA -ALPHA $549.

Here is a good tip for cheap factory unlocked NEW Galaxy Alphas:
At $ 549. From Canada GSM .
The question like Giant Neutron Stars vs. Black Holes and questions about whether Dark Matter really exists is :
Samsung's complicated inclusion/exclusion of different Radio Bands on dozens
of Models.
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G & LTE
LTE 2100, 1900, 1800, 1700, 2600, 700, 850
Above are the Radio Bands for the Specific Model at Canada GSM.
How does this look for full coverage TMobile USA ?
Here is a Link to Canada GSM Alpha page:
http://canadagsm.ca/products-Samsung-Galaxy-Alpha-SM-G850W8-Metal-Unlocked
robertkoa said:
Here is a good tip for cheap factory unlocked NEW Galaxy Alphas:
At $ 549. From Canada GSM .
The question like Giant Neutron Stars vs. Black Holes and questions about whether Dark Matter really exists is :
Samsung's complicated inclusion/exclusion of different Radio Bands on dozens
of Models.
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G & LTE
LTE 2100, 1900, 1800, 1700, 2600, 700, 850
Above are the Radio Bands for the Specific Model at Canada GSM.
How does this look for full coverage TMobile USA ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anymore info on this on whether it'll work on T-Mobile's 1700/2100 bands? I'm thinking about getting one to see if it works. Hope it's not a typo in their specifications that's listed.
***UPDATE***: DO NOT buy from CanadaGSM.ca website. They are fraudulent. I received a blank confirmation page upon order completion and the chat line said I needed to give them my CC's 3 digit security code even after they've charged my bank account. They also said my product will not be shipped. The number listed on their website is fake as well. Google... beware CanadaGSM.

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