I have read a few comments regarding people using old SIM cards, designed for older 3G phones, I live in an area that does not have LTE and my signal icon reads 4G and service is listed as HSPA under the settings screen.
If I was to get an old 3G SIM would my phone be running only on 3g and stop hunting for LTE signal? Perhaps HSPA towers are the same and my phone already has the connection? As you can see I am a bit confused with the subject
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Its not technically the sim card itself that determines this but the service or carrier that it associated to that matters...and then the phone hardware. The carrier info that passes through the sim tells the phone what network it is on or supposed to use and then searches for that service level dependind on the hardware that's in the phone and the settings one may have the phone set to.hope this makes sense.
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Curious if anyone else had experienced this.
Over the weekend I could not connect to Verizon's 3g network. When I was in a 3g only area, I would have grayed out bars and no 3g icon. I was able to connect to the 1x network and make phone calls. When I was in a 4g area, I could connect to the LTE network and use data fine. I first re-flashed the 4.0.2 factory radios (I had the 4.0.3 leaked radios) to no avail. Then re-flashed the entire factory image and that didn't change anything either.
I brought the phone to my local Verizon store and they swapped out the SIM card. I was under the impression that the SIM card was only used to connect to the LTE network, so i didn't think it would have any effect. To my surprise, the phone was able to connect to the 3g network again.
bairdi said:
Curious if anyone else had experienced this.
Over the weekend I could not connect to Verizon's 3g network. When I was in a 3g only area, I would have grayed out bars and no 3g icon. I was able to connect to the 1x network and make phone calls. When I was in a 4g area, I could connect to the LTE network and use data fine. I first re-flashed the 4.0.2 factory radios (I had the 4.0.3 leaked radios) to no avail. Then re-flashed the entire factory image and that didn't change anything either.
I brought the phone to my local Verizon store and they swapped out the SIM card. I was under the impression that the SIM card was only used to connect to the LTE network, so i didn't think it would have any effect. To my surprise, the phone was able to connect to the 3g network again.
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According to a friend of mine, the SIM card actually holds the CDMA data in it now, so having a bad SIM card will actually mess up your CDMA.
Guess VZW is GSM now.
Yes, over the weekend my sim died as well. Same exact problem. It happened to a friend as well. For us, it happened Friday.
Longcat14 said:
According to a friend of mine, the SIM card actually holds the CDMA data in it now, so having a bad SIM card will actually mess up your CDMA.
Guess VZW is GSM now.
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<yoda> A sim, GSM does not make. </yoda>
Longcat14 said:
According to a friend of mine, the SIM card actually holds the CDMA data in it now, so having a bad SIM card will actually mess up your CDMA.
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Verizon validates LTE subscribers via the SIM, like a GSM carrier. There is no ESN, as found in CDMA carriers. This is part of their eHRPD bridge from CDMA to LTE. It is also why people couldn't get 3G when the LTE network crapped out last month.
On the plus side, you can swap phones by inserting the SIM now. Welcome to 1995.
The kid at the Verizon tried to tell me that It probably happened from toggling the preferred network mode from LTE/CDMA to CDMA. I hope that the design isn't so poor that this would be the case.
ATnTdude said:
Verizon validates LTE subscribers via the SIM, like a GSM carrier. There is no ESN, as found in CDMA carriers. This is part of their eHRPD bridge from CDMA to LTE. It is also why people couldn't get 3G when the LTE network crapped out last month.
On the plus side, you can swap phones by inserting the SIM now. Welcome to 1995.
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Ohh, so thats why when your SIM craps out, you lose CDMA too.
And @ adrynalyne, that's funny, but you know I was just joking? xD
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bairdi said:
The kid at the Verizon tried to tell me that It probably happened from toggling the preferred network mode from LTE/CDMA to CDMA. I hope that the design isn't so poor that this would be the case.
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I really doubt that.
ATnTdude said:
On the plus side, you can swap phones by inserting the SIM now. Welcome to 1995.
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Sooo if somebody steals my phone now they can just use it? I can't call and report the ESN stolen and blacklist it?
Longcat14 said:
Ohh, so thats why when your SIM craps out, you lose CDMA too.
And @ adrynalyne, that's funny, but you know I was just joking? xD
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My comment was pretty much tongue in cheek
I can't do a <yoda> and keep a straight face
I'm on att and my nexus constantly goes from h to e to 3g and all around. It pisses me off. I called att and had a case opened because my phone was on a 3g plan and they can't change it to a 4g hspa + plan because my device is unknown. Is anyone else on att and had this? What did you do?
The phone should always switch back to UMTS (3G) when the data connection is "idle", and only switch to HSPA+ (H) when data is actively transferring. This is a power-saving feature of GSM because UMTS has a much lower power draw than HSPA+. Your phone should not be switching down to EDGE unless you're in a bad coverage area (0-1 bars of 3G, for example).
As far as AT&T not provisioning the plan for HSPA+ "4G", how did you start the account? If it was started with any other non-LTE smartphone, you should be provisioned for HSPA+ already. AT&T does do some weird provisioning and uses APNs often to restrict speeds, but unless you were previously on an LTE plan you should be provisioned just fine for the full speeds.
If you're constantly switching between EDGE and 3G but you're in a good signal area, you may have problems with your SIM. It may be easiest to go into a store to get the SIM replaced, and talk to someone to make sure its provisioned properly for HSPA+. I really hate that AT&T messes with this stuff, it makes it hard to move around the SIM into different devices, a huge feature of being on a GSM carrier.
Try the scotch tape trick, put 1 layer of tape on the non contact side of sim card. There have been issues with sims being too thin by less than .5mm and not making good connection.
If that doesn't work, get a new sim from any att store, it's free.
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martonikaj said:
The phone should always switch back to UMTS (3G) when the data connection is "idle", and only switch to HSPA+ (H) when data is actively transferring. This is a power-saving feature of GSM because UMTS has a much lower power draw than HSPA+. Your phone should not be switching down to EDGE unless you're in a bad coverage area (0-1 bars of 3G, for example).
As far as AT&T not provisioning the plan for HSPA+ "4G", how did you start the account? If it was started with any other non-LTE smartphone, you should be provisioned for HSPA+ already. AT&T does do some weird provisioning and uses APNs often to restrict speeds, but unless you were previously on an LTE plan you should be provisioned just fine for the full speeds.
If you're constantly switching between EDGE and 3G but you're in a good signal area, you may have problems with your SIM. It may be easiest to go into a store to get the SIM replaced, and talk to someone to make sure its provisioned properly for HSPA+. I really hate that AT&T messes with this stuff, it makes it hard to move around the SIM into different devices, a huge feature of being on a GSM carrier.
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Thanks so much for the help I'll head into a store and see what the issue really may be.
c5satellite2 said:
Try the scotch tape trick, put 1 layer of tape on the non contact side of sim card. There have been issues with sims being too thin by less than .5mm and not making good connection.
If that doesn't work, get a new sim from any att store, it's free.
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Funny you said that its the first thing I tried
Hi Guys,
I have LTE coverage where I am, but phone keeps going to 4G.
Is there any way to force it so it stays on LTE?
I have tried the following app but no luck. Once I select the LTE Only mode it switches to WCDMA Preferred mode some how.
LTE OnOFF - HTC Thunderbolt, https://play.google.com/store/search?q=lte+on+off
Any way, any idea any one??
Thanks
If it keeps dropping back to 4G then the LTE service probably isn't strong enough where you are. You can't just force it on either. That's like forcing any service at all in the middle of the ocean.
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Previous poster is right.
But u can play around. Reboot to recovery, wipe cache, reboot. Flash different ROMs, usually one Stock based, another AOKP - I believe modems are vastly different there.
The only way to fix this is make a new APN there's a post on skyrocket fourms that shows you how
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I have done forcing on other devices such as Galaxy Nexus, currently using Sierra 754S that has feature where you can force it to stay on LTE, and it stays put.. Only problem it gets WICKED HOT if I pump a lot of data
Assuming you subscribed with your provider for LTE-service, then definitely it's because your LTE coverage is not great.
If you've never seen your phone connect to LTE before, I suggest you contact your provider and make sure you are on their LTE-network.
LTE-device doesn't automatically mean you're getting LTE service. I've seen people make that incorrect assumption.
Well, all you really need is LTE Sim card for AT&T, it works awesome ... as I said it works great with Sierra 754S air card.
So any device that has LTE capability it works perfect with that.
Jirv311 said:
If it keeps dropping back to 4G then the LTE service probably isn't strong enough where you are. You can't just force it on either. That's like forcing any service at all in the middle of the ocean.
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cue_32 said:
Assuming you subscribed with your provider for LTE-service, then definitely it's because your LTE coverage is not great.
If you've never seen your phone connect to LTE before, I suggest you contact your provider and make sure you are on their LTE-network.
LTE-device doesn't automatically mean you're getting LTE service. I've seen people make that incorrect assumption.
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No voice coverage on Lte so the phone still needs hspa to make and Recieve calls and text messages. Until all the voice over Lte and hand off standards are in place Lte is a data only feature.
On a data stick it makes sense to allow an Lte only mode but on a phone it would not be a good idea.
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So, I'm debating right now between the Hox and the gs3 and honestly the only reason why I can't get this phone is because its lte. I use a 3G sim for all my phones (except my nitro, I don't have a sim in that at all) so I need to know if one can insert a 3G sim and still get data. Oh, and I heard this uses a microsim slot? Tim to get my sim cut....
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Both hox and GSIII have micro sim slots. It does have 3g, I use it all the time as there is no 4G in Pennsylvania. Not sure if you'd have to sim unlock it though.
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corythug said:
Both hox and GSIII have micro sim slots. It does have 3g, I use it all the time as there is no 4G in Pennsylvania. Not sure if you'd have to sim unlock it though.
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Oh. Thanks. Just asking cuz my nitro only works with specifically designed 4G at&t sims. All other carriers, whatever sims they give, work fine.
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why are you resistant to update your SIM card? also your 4G LTE connectivity will depend on your data plan.
I had a iPhone 4 3G Microsim and i had to go to AT&T to get a new sim card because my S3 would not pick up data. After a new sim card and adjustments to my account it was finally able to pick data.
J Prime said:
I had a iPhone 4 3G Microsim and i had to go to AT&T to get a new sim card because my S3 would not pick up data. After a new sim card and adjustments to my account it was finally able to pick data.
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Same thing for me, except i didnt need a new sim. All they had to do was change the imei on my account so my phone with that imei can receive data. The rep told me that its because you can only have one phone with data at a time, as opposed to just being able to switch sims just to receice cellular service for calls.
Post questions in QnA please
meaintsmart said:
Same thing for me, except i didnt need a new sim. All they had to do was change the imei on my account so my phone with that imei can receive data. The rep told me that its because you can only have one phone with data at a time, as opposed to just being able to switch sims just to receice cellular service for calls.
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I went through similar a long time ago when I got my Atrix. I upgraded from a iPhone 3G and just continued using same SIM. At&t just updated my data to "4G" and updated my imei and everything was groovy from then on. I'm on a whole new account for my S3 though
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3g will work if you use the regular apn. If you use the LTE apn (PTA), that will only work with an LTE sin card.
But it works perfectly with another phone, BTW my phones unlocked and i was trying out my friends sim because he has a 25$ unlimited test talk and data plan and im going on the same thing but his sim card says out of service on my phone
Different bands? There is a dedicated section for questions...
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It means the following; stop trolling the developers and moderators (I know I'm not the only one tired of your abundant idiocy), read the xda rules to discover where to post questions (or borrow some common sense from a friend), and learn to use Google. TMYK.
Sounds like a hardware issue, bro.
so
What kind of band issue, i got the s2 x and the carrier sim was mobilicity and apparently my phone supports their 3g aws 1700 band right, but for some reason it says out of service, but all the apns show mobilicity and i can see the phone number of the sim so i know the sim is detected but I'm not getting a signal whatsoever