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Okay, so I have my Galaxy Note 2 and here is the problem. I'm ONLY getting edge data. Now according to Wikipedia TMo's HSPA/HSAP+ runs on the 1900MHz band (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_USA#Radio_frequency_spectrum_chart) which the phone is suppose to support. I assume I got the international version, though I got it from Newegg.com and it came with a US Charger and everything.
Can anyone help with this, is there a way to fix it, via any rooting means, etc? I'm ungoddly disappointed as I use my phone a LOT...i can't even use maps because I'm getting like 20K/s on Edge and that's just disgusting.
Unfortunately for you my friend the phone needs to support the 1700/2100 aws band. The international version that you have does not support it.
The best you can hope for is for tmobile to get there 1900 spectrum refarmed in your area to hspa+.
If I were you I would try sending the phone back and just get the Tmobile version when it's released tomorrow.
The only other option would be to sign up with at&T. You will get hspa speeds with them. Or buy the straight talk at&t SIM.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
busab said:
Unfortunately for you my friend the phone needs to support the 1700/2100 aws band. The international version that you have does not support it.
The best you can hope for is for tmobile to get there 1900 spectrum refarmed in your area to hspa+.
If I were you I would try sending the phone back and just get the Tmobile version when it's released tomorrow.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
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Well.......damn...I can't afford to buy the phone straight out, I bought this one from Newegg using my bill me later credit card. So I didn't have to pay anything down either....this actually blows.
Is the wiki completely wrong? It says the 1700/2100 band is for LTE starting 2013. But the 1900MHz band began service in 2011. So are some areas of the US on 1900 and others on 1700/2100 still? Is there some where you can find out what band your area is on if that's the case?
Thanks for the update, btw.
Kaanha said:
Well.......damn...I can't afford to buy the phone straight out, I bought this one from Newegg using my bill me later credit card. So I didn't have to pay anything down either....this actually blows.
Is the wiki completely wrong? It says the 1700/2100 band is for LTE starting 2013. But the 1900MHz band began service in 2011. So are some areas of the US on 1900 and others on 1700/2100 still? Is there some where you can find out what band your area is on if that's the case?
Thanks for the update, btw.
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Click to collapse
There are only like 3 cities where the 1900 band will get HSPA+ on T-mobile.
Right tmobile is currently updating the 1900 band to hspa+. It is live in some areas like Las Vegas and parts of new york, while it is still in testing in many other areas across the country.
If you are not getting hspa+ speeds in your area I think it's safe to say it's not available in your area just yet.
This website shows areas where hspa+ has been spotted. But not officially live so they may not be available 100% of the time.
http://www.airportal.de/
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Well this makes me kind of sick to my stomach. I'll have to decide what I want to do. They are planning on rolling out LTE in 2013...so...maybe HSPA+ will be moved to 1900MHz soon. Because I'm really loving this phone and don't really want to give it back and not be able to afford the official TMo version.
Choices Choices....
I'll have to see what Tmobile will let me do as well. Guess this is the price you pay for trying to keep up >.>
T-mobile claims the 1900 mhz refarming would be completed by the end of 2012. Check airportal.de (sorry noobs can't post outside links) to see if you are near any refarmed areas then test just to see if the hspa+ radio is working on your Note 2. I get 7-11mbps DL and 2-3 mbps UL on my Note 1 when there is hspa+ coverage.
I'm waiting to for the T-mo version to launch which is what I'll probably get. I believe it will have a faster hspa+ radio at 42mbps compared to the the international version's 21mbps. And possibly future proofed with LTE.
Baratheonist said:
T-mobile claims the 1900 mhz refarming would be completed by the end of 2012. Check airportal.de (sorry noobs can't post outside links) to see if you are near any refarmed areas then test just to see if the hspa+ radio is working on your Note 2. I get 7-11mbps DL and 2-3 mbps UL on my Note 1 when there is hspa+ coverage.
I'm waiting to for the T-mo version to launch which is what I'll probably get. I believe it will have a faster hspa+ radio at 42mbps compared to the the international version's 21mbps. And possibly future proofed with LTE.
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Baratheonist - Are you referring to the version that's launching tomorrow? I can't get H+ to work consistently on my Note 1 (int'l unlocked) so I am looking at the T-Mo version as well.
doubledragon said:
Baratheonist - Are you referring to the version that's launching tomorrow? I can't get H+ to work consistently on my Note 1 (int'l unlocked) so I am looking at the T-Mo version as well.
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For my international GNote 1 , I get Edge speeds in my place. Doesn't matter because I use the home wifi. The nearest H+ coverage is a mile away, which I drove to, just to test H+ and it worked and was consistent. It was in a mall with a T-mobile store in it. So I guess that factors in.
Even if the GN2 launches tomorrow, I will wait and see how it turns out with other users. No reason for Tmo not to support GN2 on its 42mbps H+..
Some claim 20-27mbps DL speeds on units that support 42mbpsH+. With that speed - it's even faster than my home wifi, I don't need to look for LTE now although future proofing is very much welcome.
Baratheonist said:
For my international GNote 1 , I get Edge speeds in my place. Doesn't matter because I use the home wifi. The nearest H+ coverage is a mile away, which I drove to, just to test H+ and it worked and was consistent. It was in a mall with a T-mobile store in it. So I guess that factors in.
Even if the GN2 launches tomorrow, I will wait and see how it turns out with other users. No reason for Tmo not to support GN2 on its 42mbps H+..
Some claim 20-27mbps DL speeds on units that support 42mbpsH+. With that speed - it's even faster than my home wifi, I don't need to look for LTE now although future proofing is very much welcome.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. The Tmo store next to my office confirmed it's in stock for tomorrow. Based on those speeds I would have no hesitation switching over from VZ since I'm off contract. I'm going to attempt to stick to my plan of waiting for Nexus 4 announcement.
Dont feel bad, im stuck with GT7000 5month from now which only got 2g onTmo but good news are Tmo keep update their 1900 spectrum like the other said.All we do now is patient ..
I did contact TMo today to find out about the GNote 2 being released tomorrow. The lady told me, at my local store, the projected price point is $699, which means I'd have to put down 299 to finance it for the 24 months >.> Not exactly looking forward to that. Then I will have to call another location to request the RMA for this international unlocked one.
I've used the Note 2 today on wi-fi all day and I have to say, I truly love this phone...hence the reason I'm willing to drop the cash on it at my local store. Though this is my first Phablet, I didn't get the Note 1, simply because I wanted to see where they went with it....I see and I'm impressed, now.
Sell your N7100. You should get at least $650 and go buy the T-Mobile version.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Not gloating or nothing but i seen the note on even wirefly.com on the 23rd and still wouldnt buy it. After all the problems i have with tmobile customer service alone, i couldnt even imagine trying to get any help i wouldnt already know from their less than even sad customer service for a phone not bought directly from them. But lucky me knew that note 2 was going to be released online an hr after midnight pacific time in the u.s, and as of today i the happiest phone owner around,lol. the reason for my response, i stopped buying cell phones from anywhere but the company whom i will have service with due to the fact it's purposely not mentioned about compatibility so you have trouble returning it, cause they give you their old, " well it was in our 1000 page agreement you need a damn lawyer to go over. I also have a phone like yours but from verizon, a droid incredible 2 with many different bands, that i use once and a while for something different on my t-mo account, but once i step out the city, i cant even open something as simple as googles homepage cause i lose the 3g signal and drop to like -2g,lol. But the closer i get to the Illinois/Wisconsin border the 3g signal damn near runs on 4g speeds, and i even swear one time while driving the h symbol popped up but changed back to 3 really quick. But when im in Milwaukee, Wisconsin i get great 3g signal. Screw 2013 and waiting, just have whatever fun you can with it now via wifi seeing there will be no world after it ends on Dec 21st, 2012, lol. Edit: had to add it kind of sucked the phone was supposed to be 299.99 on tmobile which was supposed to be the highest selling price with the others projected to sell it for 199.00. But they sure as hell where happy to use us wanting this phone against us and charging 443.00 after tax just for the phone. And thats at the lowest price they possibly had on a 2yr contract.
Ive heard with root there's a mod or setting change to access Hspa+.
Anyone heard anything.
To OP...I still have my Sprint MiFi at $35/mo w/unlimited data,then
spend $30 on TMobiles prepaid plan. Doing that for now.
Consistant 5-6 Mps
Baratheonist said:
For my international GNote 1 , I get Edge speeds in my place. Doesn't matter because I use the home wifi. The nearest H+ coverage is a mile away, which I drove to, just to test H+ and it worked and was consistent. It was in a mall with a T-mobile store in it. So I guess that factors in.
Even if the GN2 launches tomorrow, I will wait and see how it turns out with other users. No reason for Tmo not to support GN2 on its 42mbps H+..
Some claim 20-27mbps DL speeds on units that support 42mbpsH+. With that speed - it's even faster than my home wifi, I don't need to look for LTE now although future proofing is very much welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are only getting those speeds as its fairly empty at the moment
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
I'm having the same issue
Anybody wanna buy a intl note :/
So is the T-Mobile Note II better than the AT&T one? I know it has a better 3G radio with quad band 3G that does 42mbps rather than the AT&T one that only does 21mbps and is only tri-band. How feasible do you guys think it would be to buy a launch day Note II on contract, immediately sell it on eBay and buy a T-Mobile Note II for the same price?
Plausible if you expect to get $650+tax for the AT&T note.
Is T-Mobile's coverage that bad in your area? If T-Mobile has good coverage in your area then why not just go for T-Mobile? It would make sense to go for Verizon LTE services for the large coverage and high speeds even with the Verizon premium price. But for me it makes no sense in going to AT&T if you have good coverage with T-Mobile. Both the price and speed differences between T-Mobile vs AT&T itself would turn me to T-Mobile and away from AT&T. The only thing that AT&T beats T-mobile is having a larger coverage area. But otherwise there is no reason to go for AT&T.
I just think you are trying to go the long way around. Which is not making sense.
KosanRio said:
So is the T-Mobile Note II better than the AT&T one? I know it has a better 3G radio with quad band 3G that does 42mbps rather than the AT&T one that only does 21mbps and is only tri-band. How feasible do you guys think it would be to buy a launch day Note II on contract, immediately sell it on eBay and buy a T-Mobile Note II for the same price?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Answer to question number 1: Yes
Answer to question number 2: Very feasible.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
JaguarXT said:
Is T-Mobile's coverage that bad in your area? If T-Mobile has good coverage in your area then why not just go for T-Mobile? It would make sense to go for Verizon LTE services for the large coverage and high speeds even with the Verizon premium price. But for me it makes no sense in going to AT&T if you have good coverage with T-Mobile. Both the price and speed differences between T-Mobile vs AT&T itself would turn me to T-Mobile and away from AT&T. The only thing that AT&T beats T-mobile is having a larger coverage area. But otherwise there is no reason to go for AT&T.
I just think you are trying to go the long way around. Which is not making sense.
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I'm on contract with AT&T for another year so I'd have pay cancellation fees and what not.
And the T-Mobile service isn't very good in my area at all.. atleast it wasn't a year and a half ago.
Not to hog the thread, but, would a T-mobile Note 2 (once unlocked obviously), work on atleast HSPA speeds on AT&T - im not really too bothered about LTE, though obviously don't want the tmobile phone restricted to EDGE on at&t like iphones 4s are on tmobile _ this situation is the reverse of that scenario.
?
I have an option to buy a T-Mobile one for relatively cheap off a colleague, but want to use it on AT&T as thats the contract I have and T-mob don't have great reception in my house!!.
I know the 4G LTE in the T-Mobile Note II is currently disabled but... once enabled would it work on AT&Ts 4G LTE?
RizSher said:
Not to hog the thread, but, would a T-mobile Note 2 (once unlocked obviously), work on atleast HSPA speeds on AT&T - im not really too bothered about LTE, though obviously don't want the tmobile phone restricted to EDGE on at&t like iphones 4s are on tmobile _ this situation is the reverse of that scenario.
?
I have an option to buy a T-Mobile one for relatively cheap off a colleague, but want to use it on AT&T as thats the contract I have and T-mob don't have great reception in my house!!.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I'm getting around 6-8 down on att's hspa. Waiting on unlocking LTE.
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RizSher said:
Not to hog the thread, but, would a T-mobile Note 2 (once unlocked obviously), work on atleast HSPA speeds on AT&T - im not really too bothered about LTE, though obviously don't want the tmobile phone restricted to EDGE on at&t like iphones 4s are on tmobile _ this situation is the reverse of that scenario.
?
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Click to collapse
If you don't care about LTE, then get the T-Mobile one as that has 42mbps HSPA as opposed to 21mbps of all other Note II versions and it's also pentaband too so it'll work pretty much anywhere around the world
KosanRio said:
I know the 4G LTE in the T-Mobile Note II is currently disabled but... once enabled would it work on AT&Ts 4G LTE?
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Yes, the T-Mobile phone has AT&T's LTE bands too, although when it will get enabled is still a question
tmobile note 2 will get LTE when its available
it has hardware built in
I'm curious does the T-Mobile Note II use a normal sized SIM card or a Micro SIM?
KosanRio said:
I'm curious does the T-Mobile Note II use a normal sized SIM card or a Micro SIM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Micro SIM card
From what I reading here, i am better off getting tmo version. I am going to give it a try
Sent from my MZ609 using Tapatalk 2
I'm considering the Note2 on all carriers even the international model if Multi-View doesn't come soon but last weekend tested the Note2 in a T-Mobile store & was impressed by the SpeedTest of 20 ( +/- 2) Mbps down & ~ 2 Mbps up (store is in a well covered area) & Friday night I was with someone where I'd more frequently use the Note2 & tested the network down on her original Galaxy S still pulling down ~10 Mbps down (+/- 5 with avg ~ 8 Mbps down-streaming quality video was great which I can't currently do with my Sprint EVO except off their network here on Wi-Fi) & still ~ 2 Mbps up.
So far I like T-Mobile speeds & plans (reasonably priced unlimited option should I need it though I usually but not always have access to fast Wi-Fi) yet I'm concerned they don't have the same coverage as AT&T (I'll also speedtest AT&T locally this week) so was considering getting the Note2 on AT&T & if not satisfied ($300 + $325 ETF) go get service on T-Mobile with option to go back to AT&T should I move. What limitations besides the 21 Mbps HSPA+ would I have if I get the AT&T model which would also offer me LTE ~ 20 miles away?
Appreciate your thoughts,
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones...ll-phone=Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-Titanium-Gray
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung/galaxy-note-ii-titanium-gray.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-4854.php
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1960249
SMARTPHONEPC said:
I'm considering the Note2 on all carriers even the international model if Multi-View doesn't come soon but last weekend tested the Note2 in a T-Mobile store & was impressed by the SpeedTest of 20 ( +/- 2) Mbps down & ~ 2 Mbps up (store is in a well covered area) & Friday night I was with someone where I'd more frequently use the Note2 & tested the network down on her original Galaxy S still pulling down ~10 Mbps down (+/- 5 with avg ~ 8 Mbps down-streaming quality video was great which I can't currently do with my Sprint EVO except off their network here on Wi-Fi) & still ~ 2 Mbps up.
So far I like T-Mobile speeds & plans (reasonably priced unlimited option should I need it though I usually but not always have access to fast Wi-Fi) yet I'm concerned they don't have the same coverage as AT&T (I'll also speedtest AT&T locally this week) so was considering getting the Note2 on AT&T & if not satisfied ($300 + $325 ETF) go get service on T-Mobile with option to go back to AT&T should I move. What limitations besides the 21 Mbps HSPA+ would I have if I get the AT&T model which would also offer me LTE ~ 20 miles away?
Appreciate your thoughts,
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/Phones...ll-phone=Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-Titanium-Gray
http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/devices/samsung/galaxy-note-ii-titanium-gray.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-4854.php
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1960249
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Click to collapse
Here's my experience with T-Mo on a car trip from the NW to Midwest. The data was non-existent except on cities & towns, I'd say over 10,000. Where a data signal was available it was typically very good. I didn't speed test my note 2, but likely =/- 10Mbps. In the NW (Seattle area) I find some rural areas with poor data signal. My daughters house is on the edge of a town with pop of about 5,000. I have to go outside to get a descent data signal while she gets good signal inside with AT&T.
Personally I'm very happy with my T-MO service. I've been with then for 10 years, but only about 2 that I've been concerned with data, whereas previously I used primarily wifi and now using predominately data.
Hope with gives you at least one useful perspective.
audscott said:
Here's my experience with T-Mo on a car trip from the NW to Midwest. The data was non-existent except on cities & towns, I'd say over 10,000. Where a data signal was available it was typically very good. I didn't speed test my note 2, but likely =/- 10Mbps. In the NW (Seattle area) I find some rural areas with poor data signal. My daughters house is on the edge of a town with pop of about 5,000. I have to go outside to get a descent data signal while she gets good signal inside with AT&T.
Personally I'm very happy with my T-MO service. I've been with then for 10 years, but only about 2 that I've been concerned with data, whereas previously I used primarily wifi and now using predominately data.
Hope with gives you at least one useful perspective.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks:good:..confirms my interest in getting the AT&T model but use on T-Mobile if possible for its more flexible plans but less flexible coverage where I could switch to AT&T service should I expect to be outside solild T-Mobile coverage?
If you are asking about service go T-Mobile hands down. I have had both and ATT was horrible. Service was shakey, customer service was ridiculous. T-Mobile is all around better in my book
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ptmr3 said:
If you are asking about service go T-Mobile hands down. I have had both and ATT was horrible. Service was shakey, customer service was ridiculous. T-Mobile is all around better in my book
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will test to confirm but I think T-Mobile service will be faster on HSPA+ (LTE is 20 miles away & don't expect to get it here soon except for Verizon) & less expensive but I'm starting to suspect the potential for range anxiety (that people with electric cars often feel) when traveling out of metro areas hence consideration of AT&T model (which offers superior coverage as well as LTE in some markets now) to use on T-Mobile if possible?
SMARTPHONEPC said:
I will test to confirm but I think T-Mobile service will be faster on HSPA+ (LTE is 20 miles away & don't expect to get it here soon except for Verizon) & less expensive but I'm starting to suspect the potential for range anxiety (that people with electric cars often feel) when traveling out of metro areas hence consideration of AT&T model (which offers superior coverage as well as LTE in some markets now) to use on T-Mobile if possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My parents live in farm country about 40 miles out of the city and can't get service on Their ATT service, but my Tmobile is strong as if I were in Denver
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ptmr3 said:
My parents live in farm country about 40 miles out of the city and can't get service on Their ATT service, but my Tmobile is strong as if I were in Denver
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to look into this further (the T-Mobile pamphlet they gave me last weekend still listed "America's Largest 4G Network) but I'm going to try to check it out again in a T-Mobile store now:
http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/t-mobile-drops-americas-largest-4g-network-claim/2012-07-18
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405596,00.asp
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405643,00.asp
"T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42 is the 4G dark horse. It's really fast, covers a lot of the country, and is inexpensive. We found it to be faster than Verizon LTE for downloads in 11 cities (T-Mobile didn't win, though, because Verizon had much faster upload speeds.) Outside cities, where T-Mobile has coverage, it blew away other 3G networks. But that's the key: T-Mobile's truly rural coverage is slimmer than AT&T's or Verizon's."
If so, why? My friend who lives on my block has a GS3 on Verizon and has FULL BARS of 4G LTE. Me on the other hand on Sprint, I need an Airave at my house (got it from Sprint for free; that's how bad the service is lol) or I'll just be roaming on Verizon's network. I wanna switch to Verizon, but their family plan is like DOUBLED the cost of Sprint's family plan. Anyone have any recommendations?
P.S.- Sorry if I posted this in the incorrect place.
Joe0113 said:
If so, why? My friend who lives on my block has a GS3 on Verizon and has FULL BARS of 4G LTE. Me on the other hand on Sprint, I need an Airave at my house (got it from Sprint for free; that's how bad the service is lol) or I'll just be roaming on Verizon's network. I wanna switch to Verizon, but their family plan is like DOUBLED the cost of Sprint's family plan. Anyone have any recommendations?
P.S.- Sorry if I posted this in the incorrect place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly it's the struggle between cost and service quality. For my area, Sprint is doing pretty well in terms of upgrading their signal and providing LTE. Yes, it's still a bit slower than Verizon, but in my case the lower price point is well worth the hit in service. We're currently trying to get my mother-in-law on the family plan with us. She's currently with Verizon.
topherk said:
Mainly it's the struggle between cost and service quality. For my area, Sprint is doing pretty well in terms of upgrading their signal and providing LTE. Yes, it's still a bit slower than Verizon, but in my case the lower price point is well worth the hit in service. We're currently trying to get my mother-in-law on the family plan with us. She's currently with Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely +1
And same. 3G is okay-ish in places I frequent, but you can't beat the unlimited data. I have friends who are on AT&T and Verizon and they get LTE way farther out than I do. But their data for the month gets used up in a matter of hours, while I can use however much I want.
Not to mention that the LTE rollout is also going well here. But I think Sprint is trolling me because LTE dies right as I'm passing the sign that indicates the entrance to my neighborhood LOL.
how did you get double the cost in verizon?
we have 3 smart phone and when I compare it to verizon it's only about 10~20 difference at the max (with 6gb data)
(currently with Sprint everything data 1500)
I guess you are using LOTS of data?
btw, I'm going to switch to Verizon sometime later this year and pay ETF. I too have airave at home and LTE is not coming for a while.
I have the S3 with Verizon but am thinking to maybe make the switch to the S4 on T-Mobile, and pay the Verizon etf (8 months into my contract)
While Verizon service has been excellent, the data costs have been getting a little to expensive for me, as sometimes I need to increase my data to 4 or 6gb from my normal of 2gb.
I was looking at the plans and I like getting unlimited everything for $50+$20=$70+$20 per month for 24 months for the S4, if I don't buy it outright.
Right now I'm paying approx. $125/mo. with 2GB data.
I'm also paying $35/mo. to Virgin for there bb2go Unlimited Data 4G Wimax service so I can tether my pc and S3.
Total cost comes to approx $160 now.
Compared to approx. $70 for Tmo service Unlimited.
Not sure of Tmo service in NYC and Florida.
I see that LTE will not fully be implemented until between the summer and the end of the year.
I don't want to get stuck with LTE promises like I did with Sprint LTE promises prior to switching to Verizon.
I'm in the middle of researching and wanted to get some real world feedback on Tmo service in the areas mentioned.
Also, before possibly porting to Tmo from Vz, I'd want to try out the service for the trial period, which means I'd need a new number, but if I liked Tmo, I would eventually want to port my present #. I gotta do some research on that one.
Bump.
Any feedback re NYC voice/data reception is appreciated.
There is Tmobile LTE in NYC, parts of it have yet to be turned on. And I keep reading more and more parts of Florida are seeing better data performance.
I'm in the same boat as you, thinking of leaving version for tmobile and Tmobile keeps looking promising from what I've been reading and seeing.
Sent from my DROID RAZR
I appreciate your feedback.
Thanks
The issue I have is that I don't want to fall into the same carrier promising bs of LTE like I did with sprint.
I'm not saying Tmo is like sprint re this.
I just don't know if the Tmo network is set up in a way that is vastly different than sprint, in that they'll be able to deliver the LTE network as promised.
With that being said, I'd settle for HSPA+ for now.
How is voice reception?
Update:
From my research thus far, it reappears that Tmo is not consistent.
With that being said, it is a shame that only the most expensive, monopolized carriers offer consistent services (Two Carriers to be specific, which is really pathetic)
I'll continue to research, because as long as I get consistent service both data and voice in the areas I'm mostly in, than I don't care about whether there is consistent service in the areas I'm not in.
I am pretty sure Tmobile's LTE rollout will be nothing like Sprint's. And even thought LTE isn't everywhere yet, Tmobile's hspa+ network still offers some pretty good data speeds
Sent from my DROID RAZR
I just switched from Verizon to Tmo for the same reasons (among others). I live in Atlanta and service has been great. I'm actually driving down to south Florida tomorrow, so we'll see how well service is down there. With that said, it's going to greatly vary on your location. I would check out their coverage map as it seems to give a pretty good indication on what to expect from what I've seen. Its not like Verizon's where they just say if you have 3g/4g or not. T-mobile's actually tells you the quality of the signal.
As far as the LTE, I wouldn't worry about it. Their HSPA+ "4G" network are pretty decent in my tests, with download speeds averaging around 5mb/s. A lot of times it's higher than that, but I've never seen anything lower than 1.5mb/s, and that's with 1 bar of service. Again, this will vary based on your exact location. I can't wait for LTE to launch, but until then, I'm content.
As far as wanting to port over your number after the fact, they can do it when you're ready. When I ordered mine online, I didn't do the port then as it could be ported in transit. After I got the phone, I called them up and they had to first activate the phone along with a new number. Once that was fully activated, they processed the port request and that was done within seconds.
@steveo11284
Thanks for that info.
Much appreciated
Regarding HSPA+, I'd be happy with those speeds until LTE comes online, as the S4 would be able to handle those bandwidths.
I didn't want to be in the same boat as when I had Sprint and the S3. The S3 was not backwards compatible with 4G Wimax, so if you were not in an LTE area, you were stuck with 3G. In addition, calls were dropping all day long. This was about 8 months ago, so maybe Sprint has their LTE available in more areas, although I was in a NYC sprint store 2 weeks ago, which had no LTE, and the S4 was connected to Wifi. The tech had no idea when lte would be available.
I mention Sprint because I don't want to be in the same boat if I port to T mobile. But it looks like Sprint and T mobile are comparing Apples & Pears, and I'll have a much better experience with T mobile re data, even though LTE is not available yet, HSPA+ is available in a majority of markets.
For clarification regarding delayed porting:
- I can try Tmo without porting, and just get issued a new number to try their service re coverage, data, dropped calls, etc.
- if Tmo doesn't work out, I can return the device within 14 days and pay a $50 return fee.
- if Tmo works out, I can ask Tmo to port over my Verizon number. If this is accurate, does Tmo just port over my existing Tmo number that I was given when I purchased Tmo service?
Obviously I would not port my Vz number to Tmo initially because I want to make sure I have acceptable service with Tmo before terminating the my Vz service and paying the etf, which would be $350 less $80
(8 mos. service) = $270
Yeah I wouldn't really compare Tmo to Sprint. I actually tried Sprint first and ended up returning everything a few days later. I've had 0 issues with Tmo though.
Your first 2 things regarding delayed porting are correct. I'm not sure I understand your last one though:
"If this is accurate, does Tmo just port over my existing Tmo number that I was given when I purchased Tmo service?"
Once you port over your number from Verizon, the number that Tmo gave you will get deactivated and will just go back into their pool of numbers to get used again by another customer in the future. Your account at Verizon will automatically be terminated and you'll receive a bill with your ETF on it.
For clarification, I meant that after using the number Tmo assigned me and I decided to keep Tmo service, Tmo would port my Vz number over, and my originally assigned Tmo number world drop off my account.
As you said, the answer is yes.
Thanks
I may just try out Tmo and see how it goes. If it doesn't work out, I'll lose $50, but if it does work out, I'll save mucho dinero on data costs.
When I worked at sprint in launch day in Dallas we thought it was going to have a good launch. Then to find out they put towers around Dallas not in the major parts. It was a horrible launch. I got tmobile before LTE was announced in Dallas. I just got LTE at my home near rockwall and im hitting 40Megs down and 15 up everytime. This is great because the only way to get Internet at my house is through a sloe satellite.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium
Sprint LTE roll out is the worst. T-Mobile was the last to roll out LTE and I get LTE now every where I go in California bay area (San Jose, Santa Clara, Cupertino, mountain view, Campbell, willow Glenn, Sunnyvale, even fremont and Hayward). I had sprint for 9 years and left them last year. They still haven't rolled out lte here. They were supposed to start March and should've had it up and running by now. My gf has s3 and she's still yet to see sprint lte anywhere.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
It does look like Tmo is on the ball, and getting to where they wanna be.
A while ago it wasn't like that and that's why I was hesitant.
But if it works for me, I can save approx. $50-60 per month, and have HSPA+ and eventually LTE, but I may get LTE now. I gotta give the S4 a test run.
As I said before, I'm paying on average $130-135 with Vz for 4GB average (varies between 2-4gb, and sometimes 6gb) with TEP + $35 for Virgin bb2go for unlimited Wimax data.
I see that Asurion insurance with Tmo is $11+ compared to Vz Asurion plan for $6.99.
But I just got an Asurion replacement that was borked outta the box, so I stuck with my cracked screen S3. Maybe I'll try Squaretrade.
Just got the T-Mobile M919 S4. I didn't port from Verizon yet as I'm taking the S4 for a trial run, and so far I'm very impressed although it's only been a couple of hours.
Obviously the S4 is a premium device and I'm very happy with the brightness and crispness of the display. But I digress, as this thread is about Tmo.
I have gotten 4G LTE in the locations where I have been so far, and have done side by side speedtests with the S3 on Verizon, and so far the S4 has achieved equal and/or higher speeds in the 3 speedtests.
The dl/ul speeds have been:
Tmo - 16/10, 9/7, 14/8
Vz- 9/13, 5/8, 7/12
I know I'm comparing an S4 to an S3, and don't know if that makes a big difference regarding the speedtests. I was comparing the LTE networks
The speeds are not earth shattering, but what I am happy most about is that I'm getting nice 4G LTE speeds with Tmo, and it's Unlimited for $20/mo.
If things go nicely for the next few days, I'll port over from Verizon and save some nice money monthly, and have Unlimited LTE with speeds that will suffice for my needs. I'll be a very happy camper. I'll also save money by not having to pay Virgin for their Wimax Broadband2go service.
The ironic thing is that across the street from Tmo is Sprint, and their in store S4 is working off their in house wifi network, as LTE is not available yet.
For now, I'm paying the $7.49/mo for the insurance with $175 deductible.
I may switch to Square Trade if I keep the S4, but I'll decide later on.
I'm gonna Root and see how things go.
Update:
Ooops
LTE went bye-bye......
I just have the 4G icon in the tray which must be the HSPA+.
The speeds (cough, cough,) are dl/u:
.79Mbps/.04
2.53/.56
And LTE just came back up
While it appears LTE is inconsistent so far, it is up and running, and this in it of itself won't be a negative in whether I port or not.
Afterall, I think the NYC LTE switch was just turned on recently.
Nyc Tmobile. One bar of LTE. Pic below.
Just hit 17.88Mbps/10.30.....dl/ul
I'll know more this week regarding voice/data/reception/coverage capabilities.
criticalchild said:
Nyc Tmobile. One bar of LTE. Pic below.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that is only 1 bar of LTE, I can't wait to see those data speeds with more bars
Sent from my DROID RAZR
I was sitting at an intersection this morning near the airport in Palm Beach FL and noticed my phone said 4G LTE.... I did a speed test and WOW. 33mbs down and 17 up! I never got that with Verizon, even before it got congested. Things are looking good!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium
Good to hear that about the PBI vicinity
As you can see, things are also looking good in NYC so far.
Considering the 'switches' are just being turned on, and the build out is continuing, I'm impressed with what I've experienced in the past day. Hopefully things will continue to look good and I'll port from Vz in a few days.
Biker1 said:
Good to hear that about the PBI vicinity
As you can see, things are also looking good in NYC so far.
Considering the 'switches' are just being turned on, and the build out is continuing, I'm impressed with what I've experienced in the past day. Hopefully things will continue to look good and I'll port from Vz in a few days.
Click to expand...
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I saw the same when they were rolling out lte in my area and it didn't take long before it was completely on. I would say less than a month.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
I'm on Verizon's unlimited grandfather plan.
Nationwide Talk Unlimited $69.99 I actually use 1200 min / month
Email & Web Unlimited $29.99 I actually use 40 GB/ Month most of the time.
Total Equipment Coverage - Asurion $8.00
After taxes I pay $121.51 and I don't use Text messaging. I have no complaint about Verizon's service. Except my Note 4 is locked down.
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T-Mobile's Note 4 is unlocked
What could I expect from T-Mobile in Houston Texas
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EDIT: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=56447826&postcount=10
In tmobile 4 lines for $100 that includes 2.5gb each and $30 extra each line for unlimited 4g data.
And verizon note 4 is actually unlocked and tmobile is locked.
U can use verizon note 4 on tmobile only problem is doesn't work on lte only on hspa with speeds 6mb down and 2.5mb down (that's what i get) or u can root ur phone and unlock the band 4 and use lte but it will trip knox and void warr8.
The verizon works on tmobile and I get lte here in Massachusetts . Not sure what band t-mobile uses in my area , but I have had no issues using it on verizon note 4.
Where I live you would definitely keep Verizon. I'm in Roanoke, Va. and its very rural once you leave the city. T-mobile blows away Verizon's LTE in the city but once you just barely leave the city you go to no service or edge data. I guess it just depends on where you live or how much you travel but I would keep Verizon.
pro/con:
cheaper (at least it would be for myself)
no bull**** over hotspot; tmobile includes it with all plans
throttle data after using allotment (no overcharge )
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con:
some people say reception is worse (don't know never used it)
some people say reception inside is worse due to higher frequency (both data and celluar) don't know never used it
some people say gsm can be a lot worse for voice (don't know I've always used cdma but people who call me on iphone at&t always sound very poor (broken up speech; though with the note 4 it is not nearly as bad as it was with the note 2 - not sure why)
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I've never used t-mobile but been very tempted to switch to not deal with the hotspot bull**** (verizon actually SPENDS money to block samsung/google built in hotspot). Then again my plan on verizon is pretty cheap and it works and their customer support people have been very nice so 'cept for hotspot i have no reason to switch (I do not have an unlimited plan).
If you're using 40 gb a month on a grandfathered unlimited you're pretty much stuck. If you want that much 4g on T-Mobile it's going to cost a lot. If you don't care about speed, T-Mobile gives you unlimited 2g data after you use up your plan's 4g allocation
Cons. No good reception. Period. My brother has T-Mobile, Note 4 too. His 4G is a joke. I leave by the beach in south Florida, so as soon as he gets near my house, he loses data...
Its not just the fact that you will have no service, its that T-Mobile has admitted multiple times that they have no plans for rural coverage expansion for the future.
Source- I have reached out to the Office of the President John legere 3 seperate times and all 3 times I was told,
"we have no future plans to expand service in your area"
So unless you live in a bubble somewhere in the city your beat.
asjassar said:
In tmobile 4 lines for $100 that includes 2.5gb each and $30 extra each line for unlimited 4g data.
And verizon note 4 is actually unlocked and tmobile is locked.
U can use verizon note 4 on tmobile only problem is doesn't work on lte only on hspa with speeds 6mb down and 2.5mb down (that's what i get) or u can root ur phone and unlock the band 4 and use lte but it will trip knox and void warr8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you said your phone, is it the Note 3 or 4? Because my vzw Note 4 works out of the box with tmo LTE and I get over 60Mbps download right now. I use both networks. Tmo works fine if you live in the major cities where they have good LTE coverages. In the small towns, you better stick with vzw.
Being a tmo customer for the last 10 years, their network has improved a lot. Most of my friends have switched to tmobile because their home and work now have better coverages and you can't beat $100/4 line with no overages.
My grandfather plan has unlimited minutes for 3 lines with unlimited LTE, sms, jump and insurance for 1 line and I'm paying around $95.
Things have changed now with the Verizon.....
doctor-cool said:
I'm on Verizon's unlimited grandfather plan.
Nationwide Talk Unlimited $69.99 I actually use 1200 min / month
Email & Web Unlimited $29.99 I actually use 40 GB/ Month most of the time.
Total Equipment Coverage - Asurion $8.00
After taxes I pay $121.51 and I don't use Text messaging. I have no complaint about Verizon's service. Except my Note 4 is locked down.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
T-Mobile's Note 4 is unlocked
What could I expect from T-Mobile in Houston Texas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...izon-galaxy-note-4-developer-edition-t2914717 We now have Team Win Recovery and Root on the Verizon Network with the Note 4 Developer Edition
Just switched from T-Mobile here in San Antonio:
Better call quality everywhere.
Slower LTE speeds in town.
NO signal out of town. I travel a bit and I noticed that TMobile is great as long as you are not going anywhere. If you travel outside of any major city, you will be lucky to send a text message. My phone was completely inoperable outside of the city limits here.
robbyr said:
Just switched from T-Mobile here in San Antonio:
Better call quality everywhere.
Slower LTE speeds in town.
NO signal out of town. I travel a bit and I noticed that TMobile is great as long as you are not going anywhere. If you travel outside of any major city, you will be lucky to send a text message. My phone was completely inoperable outside of the city limits here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you use a Verizon Note 4 ? I can't seem to get AWS (UMTS band IV) to work on my phone. Is there any where I can unlock the band IV? NOT THE LTE ONE but the 3G/4G.