what is the difference between CDMA and GSM? - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

just wondering why some things work for one and not the other? is it the radio? or are there other differences how hard is it to make something work for both?

CDMA = Verizon US
GSM = Everyone else
Pretty much sums it up. Different network, different hardware, different SIM card

EddyOS said:
CDMA = Verizon US
GSM = Everyone else
Pretty much sums it up. Different network, different hardware, different SIM card
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Click to collapse
ya i get that. but what makes them different to the point that some things wont work on one and will work on the other? are we going to see more dev love for the GSM version? or is it pretty easy to make something work for both?

The CDMA version has two radios. You have a 3G CDMA Radio and a 4G GSM LTE Radio. For the most part what one gets the other will have a version made for it. There is just minor alterations that need to be made so the 4G and 3G Radios work.

Should be pretty equal dev, but if I had to bet on something happening for only one of the devices I'd go with GSM getting it. It's the world versus some of the US. Plus Verizon is always trying to exert control.

Related

Between the CDMA enabled version and this pure GSM...

Is there really much of a difference?
I'm in Canada and have been contemplating getting the TP2 from Telus for a while now, but reading up I noticed are versions that do not have CDMA/GSM bundled together?
Is one better than the other? I tried searching around but either my keywords suck or I'm blind becaue i couldnt find another thread like this. sorry if its a repeat (i'm almost sure it is..)
Which carrier branded version would you suggest I try to get (and why?).
Thanks again
if you are getting a carrier branded, just go with your carrier. all cdma versions of the tp2 have a gsm radio for international usage. if you buy a gsm version of the tp2 (ones without cdma) you can not use it on a cdma network such as telus.
I'd say the biggest difference between them, to the end user, is the absence of the 3.5mm headphone jack on the GSM exclusive versions. As The Jack of Clubs said, just get the version your carrier offers, since it's guaranteed to support all the carrier's features, like 3G bands and such.

[Q] Verizon G-Nex on AT&T?

Will the G-Nex from Verizon be able to fully utilize AT&T's network if it is rooted and a new radio and rom flashed to it? i.e. is it capable of jumping the CDMA/GSM divide with software updates?
Thanks,
Akh
No. It only has a CDMA radio, not GSM. Software can't change that.
I thought I had read somewhere that Samsung was dramatically changing the radio design in the GS2 and G-Nex, so I was hoping it might be possible.
Thanks
Nope, not at all possible.
one point twenty one jiggawatts!!!!!
I'm curious about this too. Because the Sim card/4G is GSM, if we were to go into phone settings and set it to "GSM ONLY" would it work?
This is more an issue of curiosity than anything.
I understand that the CDMA radio won't work on a GSM network.
Just curious is all.
No it definitely will not work in any way whatsoever unfortunately.
Yes LTE is a form of GSM but the GSM radio in to only works with Verizon LTE, nothing else
cokm4n said:
i'm curious about this too. Because the sim card/4g is gsm, if we were to go into phone settings and set it to "gsm only" would it work?
This is more an issue of curiosity than anything.
I understand that the cdma radio won't work on a gsm network.
Just curious is all.
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Click to collapse
No. It won't work.
It has even been shown that Verizon and AT&T are using different bands for 4G.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I didn't even think to look at the freq bands.
Thanks everyone for enduring my curious nature.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus, straight from Google!

Galaxy Nexus GSM vs. CDMA

What's the differences between the two, if any?
I've been contemplating whether or not I should get the GSM version or CDMA. Are there any major differences between the two?
Sent from the future.
If you're on sprint, you kind of need to change to Verizon if you want the CDMA version. CDMA also has LTE aka true 4G, so speed will probably be better. VZW also has further reaching 3G coverage than AT&T, generally. On top of this, in my experience VZW's customer service is great, but everyone's mileage varies there.
The GSM version is not "official" for the US - you will have to pay full retail price on one ($600-ish) and sign up with tmobile or att to use it. No carrier subsidy.
Without further information about you, it's hard to say anything more.
I think the op was asking about the hardware spec. CDMA version has bigger battery and twice the storage space.
Does this mean that the Verizon version will not work on at&t? Or have slower speeds?
thanks. I wasn't referring to carrier information, though. I meant as far as hardware and software.
Did android 4.1 come with the Verizon version as promised?
Sent from the future.
SocialReject said:
thanks. I wasn't referring to carrier information, though. I meant as far as hardware and software.
Did android 4.1 come with the Verizon version as promised?
Sent from the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon comes with 4.0.1 with a small update leading it to 4.0.2
ootz0rz said:
Does this mean that the Verizon version will not work on at&t? Or have slower speeds?
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Click to collapse
Yes, verizon version will not work on ATT.
In the US is very simple. Two types of radios: CDMA and GSM.
Verizon and Sprint use CDMA.
ATT and TMO use GSM.
The smaller carriers generally use either CDMA or GSM and piggy back off the larger carrier towers.
Hopefully android devices which have hardware and software capable of using both radios will arrive and it'll become less of an issue, but as of now, the galaxy nexus is either GSM or CDMA, but not both.
Hope that helps!
How about in the UK? Is there only one of these versions? And how do I find what version I have?
UK is gsm
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
ZPrimed said:
If you're on sprint, you kind of need to change to Verizon if you want the CDMA version. CDMA also has LTE aka true 4G, so speed will probably be better. VZW also has further reaching 3G coverage than AT&T, generally. On top of this, in my experience VZW's customer service is great, but everyone's mileage varies there.
The GSM version is not "official" for the US - you will have to pay full retail price on one ($600-ish) and sign up with tmobile or att to use it. No carrier subsidy.
Without further information about you, it's hard to say anything more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LTE IS NOT true 4G.
There is no True 4G in the US.
Google the definition of 4G.
Hi everybody, I have a verizon Galaxy Nexus I understand it's a CDMA, is there any hardware differences between this and a GSM one? or is only software? will this device work on a GSM network if I flash a GSM Rom on it?
thanks for your help!
jhonyDroid said:
Hi everybody, I have a verizon Galaxy Nexus I understand it's a CDMA, is there any hardware differences between this and a GSM one? or is only software? will this device work on a GSM network if I flash a GSM Rom on it?
thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't even think about flashing a GSM rom on it.
mudferret said:
Don't even think about flashing a GSM rom on it.
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Click to collapse
thanks for your answer!
I thought it was some kind of adventurer try to mix roms but can you tell me what would happen by doing this? and, is there any way to get this CDMA phone work on a GSM network?
best regards!
jhonyDroid said:
Hi everybody, I have a verizon Galaxy Nexus I understand it's a CDMA, is there any hardware differences between this and a GSM one? or is only software? will this device work on a GSM network if I flash a GSM Rom on it?
thanks for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your CDMA version has a CDMA radio, a LTE radio, and antennas tuned to the correct LTE and CDMA frequencies used by Verizon.
The GSM version has a GSM radio with antenna turned to all common GSM frequencies.
The radios and antenna hardware are completely different in these versions and so by this fact the firmware (the software or flash able 'radio') is 100% different. Flashing the wrong one can cause all kinds of issues from not working until reflashing the correct ones yo bricking your radio (depending on how the firmware is flashed, size differences, etc.)
CDMA and GSM and LTE are all very different. LTE is based off GSM which is why you have a SIM card in LTE (though CDMA can have SIM cards if that is how the company set it up, which also is why without the SIM card you can't use your CDMA parts either).
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
jhonyDroid said:
I thought it was some kind of adventurer try to mix roms but can you tell me what would happen by doing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will destroy your phone. It won't work ever again.
is there any way to get this CDMA phone work on a GSM network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It's a hardware issue that can't be fixed with software.
---------- Post added at 10:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 AM ----------
siberslug said:
LTE IS NOT true 4G.
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Click to collapse
Sure it is. Just like EDGE is "officially" 3G whenever carriers think it's in their marketing interest to say so. No one owns the term "3G" or "4G" so there's no such thing as "true" or "official". It is certainly marked performance advance over HSPA+, with real world LTE uplink speeds higher than HSPA downlink. It's at least as big of a jump from EDGE to UMTS (200kbps to 600kbps) was.
If you're referring to LTE Advanced, expect that technology to be labelled 5G when it hits the carriers. Why? Why the hell not? It's just a stupid marketing gimmick. Most consumers don't even know what the hell it means, with something like 70% of the population thinking that the iPhone 4/4S has 4G. Mo G's mo money.
Just to go along with what you are saying, the ITU changed it so that the current "4G" techs such as LTE, WIMAX, and HSPA+ are considered 4G.

[Q] Verizon Nexus run on GSM network?

I'm getting ready to deploy, and I was curious if you can convert the Verizon Nexus to run on GSM/international networks. If yes, how?
sorry
there is no way my friend. i just got back from deployment. I was in the same boat as you. sell that g nex my friend, and get the gsm one. i found one by going on ebay, searching for guys selling one close to me and off to buy it locally so you're not waiting on shipping. or put on craigslists for a trade for the gsm version, u never know.
Yep, what he said was right - you can't convert it over. The Verizon one has a CDMA antenna and all the other networks require the GSM antenna (why couldn't they have both!! probably for this reason..). And even if the other networks used CDMA, they have to specifically accept your phone into their network (some kind of CDMA authentication thing, whereas GSM accepts everything it can talk to).
So flashing a GSM baseband to the CMDA phone will not work?
NO! Do not flash a GSM baseband on your nexus. The VZW nexus doesn't have any of the GSM radios or frequencies and wont work.
Unfortunately the GN only comes with either GSM or CMDA/LTE. It may be worth looking into getting a global phone that supports both CDMA and GSM.
Masoa said:
So flashing a GSM baseband to the CMDA phone will not work?
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Click to collapse
As already stated, definitely never do this.

Can I use the H/K Sprint M8 on T-Mobile and get LTE?

Looked around and not sure if this is even possible. Could I get a H/K M8, unlock it and use on T-Mobile's network to receive LTE? Thanks!
Is there a reason why you are looking at the Sprint version?
Its been argued whether the CDMA versions of the M8 are any different in hardware, but I haven't seen anything definitive either way. I'd err on the side of caution, assume the CDMA version is different hardware, and stay away from it. Buy any GSM version and you can convert it to work on T-Mobile (after s-off, unlocking the bootloader, etc.), no question there.
quailallstar said:
Looked around and not sure if this is even possible. Could I get a H/K M8, unlock it and use on T-Mobile's network to receive LTE? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, Sprint version got some weird **** to it...
redpoint73 said:
Is there a reason why you are looking at the Sprint version?
Its been argued whether the CDMA versions of the M8 are any different in hardware, but I haven't seen anything definitive either way. I'd err on the side of caution, assume the CDMA version is different hardware, and stay away from it. Buy any GSM version and you can convert it to work on T-Mobile (after s-off, unlocking the bootloader, etc.), no question there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason I'm looking for the Sprint version is because of the look. I like the dark back metal and gold upfront a lot. Sucks its an exclusive look only to Sprint. I read that you can flash the other non H/K models to have the same software so that is confirmed and all good.
Now I need to find someone who is using this Sprint model and can confirm it has the needed GSM radio(s) for TMO LTE.
quailallstar said:
The only reason I'm looking for the Sprint version is because of the look. I like the dark back metal and gold upfront a lot. Sucks its an exclusive look only to Sprint. I read that you can flash the other non H/K models to have the same software so that is confirmed and all good.
Now I need to find someone who is using this Sprint model and can confirm it has the needed GSM radio(s) for TMO LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure that Sprint models are CDMA only. You can't use their phones on GSM networks. I don't think what you are trying to do will work. I may be wrong here, but I really doubt I am.
xunholyx said:
I'm pretty sure that Sprint models are CDMA only. You can't use their phones on GSM networks. I don't think what you are trying to do will work. I may be wrong here, but I really doubt I am.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is incorrect (that the Sprint variant does not work on GSM). Both the Verizon and Sprint variants support GSM and CDMA. Folk on here (including myself) tend to refer to them as "CDMA" for simplicity; but they are in fact also compatible with GSM, as well as HSPA, LTE.
http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_(m8)_cdma-6233.php
Now the question is whether the difference between the GSM and "CDMA" variants are purely in software, or there is an actual hardware difference. Its been argued both way, and I haven't seen any proof either way (although my gut tells me the latter is the case). And the question relevant to the OP is whether the T-Mobile LTE bands can be "added" to the Sprint device by software.
I used a verizon LG g2 on T-mobile a few and the phone im writing on now is a verizon iPhone full lte but i dont know aboit the sprint versions

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