Develop Bugs

Enabling the GSM radio

I did a SIM card check on Surfing Dino's SIM info app, and this phone does have a SIM card. We know that the other Galaxy S3s have GSM capabilities, and Verizon is releasing an OTA soon to allow global roaming. While Sprint's SIM is embedded, it wouldn't be too hard to access it with a knife and cut the plastic, or order a backpiece of ebay. Can someone work on, or is someone working on finding a way to hack this, or verify if the Sprint version could be hacked to support a GSM update? I heard someone hacked the Verizon Galaxy Nexus to do this.
I'd love to take my GS3 around the world and sell my Photon.

The Sprint version's SIM card is for LTE.

freeza said:
The Sprint version's SIM card is for LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that, and I know SIM cards are why Verizon has them in their 4G LTE phones. But as Verizon is releasing an update to the Rezound, Spectrum, Razr (reg. and Maxx), and their version of the Galaxy S3, I'd assume the SIM card function in both Sprint and Verizon Galaxy S3's is the same inside the US, as they're both CDMA carriers.
What I wanna know is if the SIM card could possibly be taken out, replaced with a foreign SIM and put back in if a hack could be developed to allow GSM use/roaming on the Sprint Galaxy S3.

DiamondJay20 said:
I know that, and I know SIM cards are why Verizon has them in their 4G LTE phones. But as Verizon is releasing an update to the Rezound, Spectrum, Razr (reg. and Maxx), and their version of the Galaxy S3, I'd assume the SIM card function in both Sprint and Verizon Galaxy S3's is the same inside the US, as they're both CDMA carriers.
What I wanna know is if the SIM card could possibly be taken out, replaced with a foreign SIM and put back in if a hack could be developed to allow GSM use/roaming on the Sprint Galaxy S3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its different from a SIM card even tho it looks exactly like one. It only has the network info required to use lte for that particular provider. The contents of those chips arent modifiable

I know, but I mean if a firmware hack which could enable GSM roaming when the Sprint SIM is out would b possible, also to see if the Sprint SIM is welded to the thing or not
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

DiamondJay20 said:
I know, but I mean if a firmware hack which could enable GSM roaming when the Sprint SIM is out would b possible, also to see if the Sprint SIM is welded to the thing or not
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not "welded" soldered.. lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

Dont count on it and this should have been in the general section.

There is no removable sim in the sprint galaxy s3. I repair phone for a living. There is a component on the board that controls the radio frequencies.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

This phone doesn't have a gsm radio, correct?

nabbed said:
This phone doesn't have a gsm radio, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know, no. And "enabling" it would be impossible because we only have an embedded LTE SIM; even if we could desolder it a regular GSM SIM wouldn't work (at least from what I understand).

jbadboy2007 said:
Dont count on it and this should have been in the general section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^

elfhater said:
As far as I know, no. And "enabling" it would be impossible because we only have an embedded LTE SIM; even if we could desolder it a regular GSM SIM wouldn't work (at least from what I understand).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you know its soldered? A Sprint rep told me on the phone, for what thats worth, that if something went wrong with the SIM I could take it to a Sprint store and have it fixed, and I doubt a Sprint store has soldering equipment.

The Sprint Galaxy S III does not have a GSM radio to enable anyway. The SIM is for LTE, even replacing it with a GSM SIM card wouldn't do anything but stop your LTE from working.

freeza said:
The Sprint Galaxy S III does not have a GSM radio to enable anyway. The SIM is for LTE, even replacing it with a GSM SIM card wouldn't do anything but stop your LTE from working.
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Click to collapse
I wanna know if one could hack it with a GSM ROM/radio like they did with Verizon's Galaxy Nexus. Thats what this thread is about.

DiamondJay20 said:
how do you know its soldered? A Sprint rep told me on the phone, for what thats worth, that if something went wrong with the SIM I could take it to a Sprint store and have it fixed, and I doubt a Sprint store has soldering equipment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
soldering equipment? you mean a soldering iron?
why do you want to go through all this trouble? if you want a gsm phone so bad go to att or tmo

nicholaaaas said:
soldering equipment? you mean a soldering iron?
why do you want to go through all this trouble? if you want a gsm phone so bad go to att or tmo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would be nice to have if you ever travel out of the US
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

All the chipsets are the same for all US S3s, so they all theoretically have the ability to support GSM. However, they need power amplifiers and antennas to hook into that capability of the chipset, and no one knows whether or not Sprint's version of the S3 has those things, and I'm not an engineer so I wouldn't know where to begin to try and figure it out. I don't particularly want to void the warranty on my phone, so I haven't taken off the back cover and don't know if the SIM is actually embedded (soldered onto the board) or is just non-user accessible.
We know the VZW model has this capability because they tested it when it was going through the FCC, in addition they said it would. In the larger picture the reason that it has this ability is related to restrictions placed on Verizon due to the spectrum they purchased which prevents them from locking down their phones. Sprint, as far as I know, has no such restrictions/requirements placed upon it and thus, other than just because I really would like it to be possible, it isn't likely that that capability is built into the phone and, even if it is, I doubt we'll ever get access to a radio that would allow us to take advantage of it. I'd love it if anyone had more information on this though, I'd kill to use my phone abroad.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

Valicore said:
All the chipsets are the same for all US S3s, so they all theoretically have the ability to support GSM. However, they need power amplifiers and antennas to hook into that capability of the chipset, and no one knows whether or not Sprint's version of the S3 has those things, and I'm not an engineer so I wouldn't know where to begin to try and figure it out. I don't particularly want to void the warranty on my phone, so I haven't taken off the back cover and don't know if the SIM is actually embedded (soldered onto the board) or is just non-user accessible.
We know the VZW model has this capability because they tested it when it was going through the FCC, in addition they said it would. In the larger picture the reason that it has this ability is related to restrictions placed on Verizon due to the spectrum they purchased which prevents them from locking down their phones. Sprint, as far as I know, has no such restrictions/requirements placed upon it and thus, other than just because I really would like it to be possible, it isn't likely that that capability is built into the phone and, even if it is, I doubt we'll ever get access to a radio that would allow us to take advantage of it. I'd love it if anyone had more information on this though, I'd kill to use my phone abroad.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If others would be willing to donate, I would be willing to donate too, to get a teardown of the phone to see about this. Why Sprint would ever let one of the biggest sellers of the year go without a HUGE selling point, I don't know. I do also wonder, would Samsung spend the money when manufacturing them to make hundreds of thousands, if not millions of phones substantially different and cut into their margins when the carrier can lock it down anyway?
why do you want to go through all this trouble? if you want a gsm phone so bad go to att or tmo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or I want the Sprint pricing, unlimited, LTE (which T-Mobile's not gonna have for some time), but flexibility and to be able to take the phone I paid over 600+ for abroad.

Okay. I for one do believe it would be possible but I'm not willing to disassemble my S3. I know from past experience that Verizon's slot used by their LTE slot is nothing more than a standard SIM slot. I know this because I've radio hacked the Bionic to use on AT&T and people have done the same for the Razr. The Qualcomm MSM radio chip when hacked with RadioComm which I happen to have a copy of allowed me to enable AT&T freq. I've done the same with the Droid 2 Global and Droid 3. The Droid 4 is also able to as well I believe. Qualcomm manufactures the radios, not the providers and not Samsung. Therefore the functions are there do use GSM freq. Whether or not the phone actually have the slot is a different story and until I see pictures of a Sprint S3 with the slot then I'm going to assume it doesn't.

remijenkins said:
Okay. I for one do believe it would be possible but I'm not willing to disassemble my S3. I know from past experience that Verizon's slot used by their LTE slot is nothing more than a standard SIM slot. I know this because I've radio hacked the Bionic to use on AT&T and people have done the same for the Razr. The Qualcomm MSM radio chip when hacked with RadioComm which I happen to have a copy of allowed me to enable AT&T freq. I've done the same with the Droid 2 Global and Droid 3. The Droid 4 is also able to as well I believe. Qualcomm manufactures the radios, not the providers and not Samsung. Therefore the functions are there do use GSM freq. Whether or not the phone actually have the slot is a different story and until I see pictures of a Sprint S3 with the slot then I'm going to assume it doesn't.
Click to expand...
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http://www.globaldirectparts.com/PhotoDetails.asp?ShowDESC=N&ProductCode=SMSNG6116840 there's a picture of the SIM slot
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Radio question: LTE or no LTE-capable, MSM8960??

So earlier there was confusion whether the T999 had the processor for LTE or was gimped. We've seen conflicting reports from T-Mobile, who claimed it is gimped and doesn't have LTE, but at Target Mobile, the T-Mobile GS3 is advertised as "4G LTE coming soon," and some think the LTE radio is simply disabled. I did the stat check app, and it did list the MSM8960. Has anyone found out the truth yet? CS from T-Mobile told me on the phone its getting LTE via OTA next year.

I believe this screenshot answers your question.
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Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

The T999 does NOT have an LTE radio, or at least it is disabled in microcode (hint: we ain't changing it). Qualcomm can and does have different versions of the S4 family of SOCs identified as an MSM8960. It is more accurate to refer to the SOC as an S4 Plus, which has many different variations, the main differences being modem configurations. The T999 actually has the MSM8260A (using the older terminology), which is basically the MSM8960 without the LTE modem. This can be verified by looking at some getprop parameters. Most software is just going to show you MSM8960, which is the board name/type, etc.
See here for more info: https://developer.qualcomm.com/sites/default/files/snapdragon-specs.pdf

babymatteo said:
I believe this screenshot answers your question.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
how did you get that? So this means our phone might be LTE capable?

how did you get that? So this means our phone might be LTE capable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Just because it is in a software menu does not mean it is supported in hardware. Try to use it on AT&T LTE, then come back and let us know how that worked out.

Thank you
kmdub said:
No. Just because it is in a software menu does not mean it is supported in hardware. Try to use it on AT&T LTE, then come back and let us know how that worked out.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for being such a good helper to people like myself who are roaming the forums trying to learn and understand everything the best that I can. You are very informative, just wanted to point it out to you.
Thanks again,
~Aqua :good:

No problem. I hope you got the information you needed.

kmdub said:
The T999 does NOT have an LTE radio, or at least it is disabled in microcode (hint: we ain't changing it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean "disabled in microcode?" If it is that, could an OTA fix it? I've heard about MSM8960 vs MSM8260a but not only have several T-Mobile reps told me over the phone that that phone will get LTE, but one of their live national sales reps told me it will to my face, and I work at a retailer which sells T-Mobile alongside AT&T and Verizon.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

DiamondJay20 said:
What do you mean "disabled in microcode?" If it is that, could an OTA fix it? I've heard about MSM8960 vs MSM8260a but not only have several T-Mobile reps told me over the phone that that phone will get LTE, but one of their live national sales reps told me it will to my face, and I work at a retailer which sells T-Mobile alongside AT&T and Verizon.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a Samsung rep at a T-Mobile store (the day I bought the phone) tell me it is LTE capable when T-Mobile flips the switch. So basically take that how you want to. I'm taking it with a grain of salt, but hope that it is true . Would be nice to be one of the first people to actually use T-Mobile's new LTE Advanced Network. Its going to fly!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

nory82688 said:
I had a Samsung rep at a T-Mobile store (the day I bought the phone) tell me it is LTE capable when T-Mobile flips the switch. So basically take that how you want to. I'm taking it with a grain of salt, but hope that it is true . Would be nice to be one of the first people to actually use T-Mobile's new LTE Advanced Network. Its going to fly!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not to mention the current version of LTE, 3GPP release 8, isn't technically 4G either, so this is awesome if its true. LTE Advanced is supposed to be the first "true" 4G." These conflicting reports are starting to bother me. But either way, even HSPA+ is far, far better than any regular 3G, especially CDMA 3G, which is snail slow.

the jelly been leak has LTE enabled in it so i think its coming with JB. shows it right in choose network mode.

Look up microcode on Google or read the Wikipedia article. That would be a good start. It is how processors are programmed, and no, an OTA will not change it. FYI, I don't know if that is specifically done with this SOC, I am just saying that features (seemingly hardware features to end users) can be changed with microcode. It may just not have the actual silicon. I don't know. Either way, from our perspective, it doesn't have an LTE radio.
The T-Mobile reps are wrong, at least for the phone that was just released. Simple as that. Now, there could be a hardware version update, or subsequent newer model released with the LTE radio. Certainly is possible, though it would likely have a slightly different model number, or be easily identifiable some other way.
I know you guys want the T999 to have an LTE radio. But, no matter how much you want it, that won't change the facts. The phone we have now doesn't have it. It's just one of those things that we will have to wait and see. Then we can come back and say, told you so. In fact, there is a JB update out now for the T999. Why doesn't someone flash that and try it out? Seriously, out of all the T999 phones sold, do you know ANYONE using LTE on it, whether on AT&T or elsewhere? If you do, please tell him/her to speak up. Think about it. Surely someone on these boards is an AT&T customer with a T999. It's not going to be "enabled" with an OTA...

avengethis1 said:
the jelly been leak has LTE enabled in it so i think its coming with JB. shows it right in choose network mode.
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Click to collapse
The other person had a screenshot of this too. Just because it's there doesn't mean the hardware supports it. Why would it come with Jellybean when T-Mobile's LTE network won't even be out for months, maybe even a full year at the rate their refarming is going? And why would it even be ENABLED?
Also, everyone needs to STOP LISTENING to reps. Reps don't know anything more than most people who can use Google.

Also, everyone needs to STOP LISTENING to reps. Reps don't know anything more than most people who can use Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has certainly been my experience, and is not limited to just T-Mobile. I had one rep tell me with a straight face that the OS on a Galaxy S Blaze 4G was not in fact Android, but rather a custom OS and skin designed by Samsung...lol Yeah...sort of... And there was the time that one swore up and down that GSM (2G old school GSM, not UMTS/HSPA) was superior to CDMA...for reasons he could not possibly explain except to say that...well it must be better since the rest of the world uses it.
Don't get me wrong, I know there are some bright and knowledgeable reps working for T-Mobile and others.

kmdub said:
Don't get me wrong, I know there are some bright and knowledgeable reps working for T-Mobile and others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course there are, but by and by, most reps don't know **** about anything.

could it be that T-Mobile's version of LTE Advanced will be compatible with whatever is inside the T999? This isn't just one rep who's told me its gonna have LTE, but several both live and on the phone.

DiamondJay20 said:
could it be that T-Mobile's version of LTE Advanced will be compatible with whatever is inside the T999? This isn't just one rep who's told me its gonna have LTE, but several both live and on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It just isn't going to happen, and their LTE Advanced network is a long time away.
If several people live and on the phone told you to jump off of a bridge, would you do it? Not to mention the fact that most of their phone reps are outsourced call centers that also know nothing.

not sure if it matters but a friend of mine used his upgrade to get the s3 on att. now I'm not sure what they claim or if there phone is different than out tmob version but i can say that i did hold his phone and ran a speed test while the icon in the status bar showed LTE, it maxed at about 36meg d/l. later that night at one of our other friends house the icon showed 4G so i ran speedtest again and it stayed between 11meg to about 18meg. reading one of the above comments about the att version just got me thinking about that so i figured id tell what ive seen hoping it would help in any way
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

could it be that T-Mobile's version of LTE Advanced will be compatible with whatever is inside the T999? This isn't just one rep who's told me its gonna have LTE, but several both live and on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Whatever it is inside the T999 is not LTE. So, no version of LTE will be compatible with it. I understand optimism, but wow... No joke, the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 does not have LTE. I wouldn't be so disappointed though since HSPA is no slouch and still has a bit of room to grow. I actually think the approach T-Mobile took with their network advancements makes a lot of sense. Not saying it is the best marketing strategy.
Seriously, there are people on this forum that have the T999 on AT&T. No LTE. Just find them, ask them, confirm. And no, it is not coming in an OTA. It will only come in a different version of the phone (quite possible). The phone you have in your hand now will not magically be updated to LTE. While UMTS/HSPA and LTE are actually not as different as most may think (same standards family, both decedents of GSM), they are still different and require specific hardware. There are technical differences.
FYI, the AT&T version of the phone IS different than the T999, that's why he gets LTE.

To the guy that took a screenshot. Look! It says CDMA! I can use this on Sprint and Verizon then right?!?!?!? :thumbdown:
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

No 4G on CM9 or CM10

So i have played around with flashing different ROMs to my Nitro and quite like where CM10 is going. The only real issue that i have found is that while on CM10, my phone doesn't seem to be using 4G(which I understand is HSPA+). On the ICS Stock ROM, I can go to Settings > About Phone > Status(or something like that) and it says "HSPA+" and never changes. Wondering if it is just CM10, I flashed CM9 and had the same issue.
Today, I found that if i am connected to WiFi, I can disable it and my phone will show "HSPA+" for about 4 seconds, then go to "UMTS" for a second, and then to "HSPA". It never returns to "HSPA+".
This seems like a pretty big issue but every time I post a question about it in the various threads about CM, it gets skipped over and nobody talks about it. So, I thought it was time to make a thread for it.

Mine seems to work well on cm9 and cm10 not sure why your having an issue
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I've been running cm10 nightlies and am getting 36mb/s 4g speed....wondering what's knocked yours out. Had you disabled lte with the power widgets in a previous rom maybe?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app

Try to reflash your baseband and firmware. That should do the trick.
Good Luck:laugh:

iyaoyasb said:
Try to reflash your baseband and firmware. That should do the trick.
Good Luck:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried several and all have the same effects.

What version did try to flash again?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 11:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 PM ----------
Nevermind, just saw on a different post that you're trying to flash 20c correct? Even though it may be compatible, I would try to stick with what is stable with CM10. One of the band versions is of course the 10j baseband dated 26 Feb 2012. With all the security measures from lg, at&t, and Google combined, it is possible that they may have some sort of block installed that slows you, unless you run their genuine 4.1 stock jb software. It would not suprise me at all.
"If you can't fix it, use a bigger Hammer."
IYAOYAS to my fellow AO's.
--- Send from P-930 (CM10) Turbonized ---

I just flashed the 20c manually (I.e. firmware+baseband) via if= + of= command and got this result of it:
"If you can't fix it, use a bigger Hammer."
IYAOYAS to my fellow AO's.
--- Send from P-930 (CM10) Turbonized ---

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1851746

I don't know if it works, but to flash the official KDZ file may be a way...

Sooo....all of a sudden my lte doesn't work in cm10....didn't flash or change anything, it's just gone...wtf?!?!
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app

All of u could check your apn settings, and maybe they may have changed
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium

china no 4g.....i see somewhere h+...
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium

I found out that it is actually a feature inherent in the radio that it only uses 4G when it needs it in order to save on battery.

I'm having a similar problem: every time the phone reboots (and it unfortunately does this frequently since going to CM9), the phone won't see LTE. I have to go into the Field Test mode (*#*#4636#*#*), where it is always reverted to WCDMA preferred and switch to LTE/GSM auto.
Any ideas?

shoehopper said:
I'm having a similar problem: every time the phone reboots (and it unfortunately does this frequently since going to CM9), the phone won't see LTE. I have to go into the Field Test mode (*#*#4636#*#*), where it is always reverted to WCDMA preferred and switch to LTE/GSM auto.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this. I fooled around getting Field Test to show LTE/GSM auto, then going into the usual menu, putting it to LTE/GSM auto, going back to Field Test and checking it was Ok, then going back to the menu, switching to GSM auto, then going back to Field Test, etc., then going back to menu, switching to LTE/GSM, then checking Field Test, then rebooting (or something like that
BTW, there's an app in the market called "Hidden Menu" that will save you typing the key sequence each time. (There are actually multiple apps with the same name - the one I use has green #'s in the icon.)
Good luck!

Nothing Above EDGE
Hello,
I'm a new member, but I have been an XDADev reader and android/iPhone/PC/Mac/Things that go buzz, whirr, click, zoom and or boom/ for my whole life.
I have a Nitro HD, (AT&T P930).
I followed Mattman's (Thanks! WELL done.) improved guide on unbricking/rooting etc. I have been rooted and updating every week or so to the latest CM10 nightly (VERY buggy at first! But half the "fun" for a nerd like me).
The dam shame of it is that I cannot get ANYTHING above EDGE (2G) to work. I have been stuck at 100kbps or so for weeks now. My only saving grace is that I have wifi at work and at home. But anytime other than that I am basically without any significant data.
When I initially saw this thread, I thought YES! Finally somebody has reported this and we are going to get to the bottom of it. But now after reading through it, (Especially Mattman saying its inherent to the radio) then perhaps MY problem is an isolated one and I did something wrong? I was wondering if anyone would like to help me address it? Because my problem is that while on CM10 it truly does NOT connect to 3G or 4G, ever. (went back to stock ICS and got minimum 3G all day, with spurts of 4G wherever my phone found it).
I am pretty good at this crap, so I wont need much hand holding. Just point and shoot me in the right direction
What I'm thinking right now is that perhaps my baseband is not correct, or maybe I should re-flash it?
Current basic info:
Network: T-Mobile
Mobile network type EDGE:2 (Poop)
Service state: In service
Mobile network state: Disconnected (wtf? I can get texts/calls/slow as shyt data)
Android Version: 4.1.1
Baseband Version: P930-MDM9200B-V10f-OCT-31-2011-XX (should it be this?)
Kernel version:
3.0.8-cynaogenmod+
[email protected] #1
Fri Oct 5 01:48:44 PDT 2012
CyangoenMod Version: 10-20121005-Nightly-p930
Thanks alot to anyone who can assist. (I'm close to giving up and going back to stock ICS "permanently", 3G and 4G work with that BTW).
-Patton

It's because you're on T-Mobile. AT&T phones won't work with T-Mobile's 3G/4G data.
I should clarify that you can roam onto AT&T's 3G network (because of the deal between AT&T and T-Mobile when their attempted merger failed), but that will only allow you to use a small amount of data (i.e., a small fraction of your full data plan allotment). Details here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-3299
I'm not sure if you need to do something special to get data roaming to work for you, but it's only going to give you 200MB of data use per month at the most, so it's probably not the solution you're looking for.

drumist said:
It's because you're on T-Mobile. AT&T phones won't work with T-Mobile's 3G/4G data.
I should clarify that you can roam onto AT&T's 3G network (because of the deal between AT&T and T-Mobile when their attempted merger failed), but that will only allow you to use a small amount of data (i.e., a small fraction of your full data plan allotment). Details here:
I'm not sure if you need to do something special to get data roaming to work for you, but it's only going to give you 200MB of data use per month at the most, so it's probably not the solution you're looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for the info Drumist, Tmobile says the opposite, but I will call them and try to talk to someone in their higher level tech support (surprisingly good, some of them are!) and see if they have a different story to tell.
Further Clarification: The phone is unlocked and I am a T-Mobile subscriber with a 2gig per month 4G plan and a Tmobile sim card is in the phone.
The phone runs fine all the way up to the 2gig limit at 4G speeds on the stock ICS rom. (And I have had other unlocked ATT 4G phones run at 4G on tmobile's network. This is the experience that leads me to believe the problem is with the current rom).
I'm really getting the feeling I should just go back to it (rooted v20c ICS). The amount of variables here are a bit more than my time resources permit to ferret out.

NBPatton said:
Thanks very much for the info Drumist, Tmobile says the opposite, but I will call them and try to talk to someone in their higher level tech support (surprisingly good, some of them are!) and see if they have a different story to tell.
Further Clarification: The phone is unlocked and I am a T-Mobile subscriber with a 2gig per month 4G plan and a Tmobile sim card is in the phone.
The phone runs fine all the way up to the 2gig limit at 4G speeds on the stock ICS rom. (And I have had other unlocked ATT 4G phones run at 4G on tmobile's network. This is the experience that leads me to believe the problem is with the current rom).
I'm really getting the feeling I should just go back to it (rooted v20c ICS). The amount of variables here are a bit more than my time resources permit to ferret out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it's possible that it works. The Nitro HD supposedly supports the 2100MHz 3G band (which I didn't realize until just now looking), although AT&T doesn't use that particular frequency. T-Mobile uses both 1700MHz (AWS) and 2100MHz for their 3G/"4G" services. As I understand it, most of their network uses 1700MHz, with a smaller portion using 2100MHz. You may be lucky and happen to reside in an area with 2100MHz service, or I'm just wrong about that and 2100MHz is common. In any case, if you say you get service on stock ROM, then you get service.
So, based on that, I'd say the most likely cause of your problem is that you don't have the proper APN settings for T-Mobile on your device. You can find those settings here: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-1979

drumist said:
Well, it's possible that it works. The Nitro HD supposedly supports the 2100MHz 3G band (which I didn't realize until just now looking), although AT&T doesn't use that particular frequency. T-Mobile uses both 1700MHz (AWS) and 2100MHz for their 3G/"4G" services. As I understand it, most of their network uses 1700MHz, with a smaller portion using 2100MHz. You may be lucky and happen to reside in an area with 2100MHz service, or I'm just wrong about that and 2100MHz is common. In any case, if you say you get service on stock ROM, then you get service.
So, based on that, I'd say the most likely cause of your problem is that you don't have the proper APN settings for T-Mobile on your device. You can find those settings here:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Following rani9990's advice earlier in this post, I did go through the APN settings based exactly off of that specific page. And even tried the mytouch4G APN settings, both worked, but both still only resulted in an EDGE connection. And I tried it again, in exasperation, to no avail.
Thanks again drumist, your time and advice is truly appreciated and valued.

Phone has no service on Band 2 (PCS/WCDMA 1900)

I haven't tried to root this handset yet. This is my #2 handset. The 1st the screen broke so I used my insurance to get another. I work with phones all day long including iPhones, other T-Mobile phones, AT&T and non-GSM phones such as Verizon for example. I deal with carriers such as T-Mobile, Simple Mobile, H20 and non-GSM carriers such as Boost Mobile. So i'm saying that I basically deal with it all. Now the problem i'm having is my own phone. I set to WCDMA only and i'm on the stock ROM of course. The phone will set itself from Band 4 to Band 2 from time to time however, when it sets to Band 2 there is no service until it swaps back to Band 4. I have troubleshooted and called T-Mobile and Samsung to talk to them to find out whats going on. Both of the handsets have done this #1 and #2. The service menu *#0011# shows that it is on Band 2 and it is receiving 2 to 3 bars of service but the availability is LIMITED. The About Phone -> Status menu shows that it is Out Of Service. And the carrier is unknown. The notifications area shows searching... or no service. The type of network is showing Unknown:0. This only happens on Band 2 WCDMA on my phone. On any other phone it works with no issue. I am wondering why my specific phone is not connecting to this band properly. T-Mobile has told me to contact Samsung. Samsung said they can't help me apparently. So what do you think the reason is why I can't connect? If you need screenshots I can take them.

I have a similar problem with my first note 2. My note 2 gets signals sometime and I cannot get 4g speed. I called up tmobile they where unable to fix the problem. So most likely somthing screw up on your phone and use your insurance to exchange a working one.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

culua said:
I have a similar problem with my first note 2. My note 2 gets signals sometime and I cannot get 4g speed. I called up tmobile they where unable to fix the problem. So most likely somthing screw up on your phone and use your insurance to exchange a working one.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its never worked properly on neither of the Note IIs i've had. So 2 devices with the same issue. I believe the issue is wide spread and there are many others with the refarmed band connecting issue. The phone should have come with the options of 1700 and 1900 WCDMA switching or both. Unknown:0 just means theres no option for it so it doesn't know what to show. However, I can't explain why its happening on the Note IIs only.

Another person, as well as myself, posted about this problem about a month ago. We both had the same exact issue... 4G works, 3G doesn't at all. Edge works, GPS works... 3G DOES NOT send/recieve any data. It has to be a T-Mobile issue and from the looks of it they are trying to ignore it. Honestly it becomes a huge issue when you're traveling and can't always access WIFI or 4G. It's something I would leave T-Mobile for... so they should consider tackling the problem and fix it.

acideater said:
Another person, as well as myself, posted about this problem about a month ago. We both had the same exact issue... 4G works, 3G doesn't at all. Edge works, GPS works... 3G DOES NOT send/recieve any data. It has to be a T-Mobile issue and from the looks of it they are trying to ignore it. Honestly it becomes a huge issue when you're traveling and can't always access WIFI or 4G. It's something I would leave T-Mobile for... so they should consider tackling the problem and fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This could be the same issue i'm having due to being in a limited 4G area its mostly 3G.
However, I can access 3G and 4G on phones that are not T-Mobile like AT&T Androids and iPhones and it works with no problem. I am wondering if this applies to the Galaxy S III and Note I also as I haven't tested that out yet. That's why I pointed it out at Samsung.
I wonder if it will be fixed when LTE Radio gets unlocked.
Developers should take notice that deal with the combo WCDMA 1700/1900 handsets to create a switch to go from WCDMA 1700 or 1900 and to use a combo of 1700 + 1900. So we could have the option to switch to a specific band rather than it jumping from 2 to 4 then back to 2 and 4 again.
Are you rooted?
Are you running a Custom ROM?
Have you flashed a Radio from anything other than a T-Mobile Radio?
Is it even safe to flash a radio other than T-Mobile?

Similar problem. Network data stopped sometime this afternoon. Tried sim in my sgs2 and worked fine.thinking of going to tmo store.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

Not sure but the issue with band 2 might be LTE related and the nonworking scenarios are possibly just occuring as tmo expands their towers... not sure if im way off or not but I read that tmo is pushing some to 1900 to make room for LTE on their 1700... there for, again just a hunch, band 2 might be somewhat sporadic due to it being reconfiged to accommodate their LTE rollouts
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

I understand what your saying but its a weird occurrence to only not be working on the SGN-II. When I can hold another persons phone in the same spot with 1900 only and it ends up working. Only thing I can come up with is maybe blocking specific devices but I have no clue. Putting people on bands that don't work properly is something T-Mobile shouldn't be doing. If you for example are on that band and an emergency call comes through well you missed it till your back to the other 2 bands that work. I always root my devices however, i'm a lil scared to due to the fact that I might lose my EFS. Even tho I know I can backup my EFS. But then again I could lose it right after root. I don't understand why Samsung put vital info into a folder that could be removed.
Anyways sorry for the rant. I'm glad to know i'm not the only one with the problem.

The GNII is one of only like 3 phones that come with the LTE "on/off switch" so thats why Im speculating still, again I really have no clue but having read a few topics (like you wanted to know everthing about tmo efs/modem/imei/etc before modding anything) I feel like the LTE rollout and the band 2 issue going hand in hand
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

PhxDroid86 said:
The GNII is one of only like 3 phones that come with the LTE "on/off switch" so thats why Im speculating still, again I really have no clue but having read a few topics (like you wanted to know everthing about tmo efs/modem/imei/etc before modding anything) I feel like the LTE rollout and the band 2 issue going hand in hand
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think know whats going on. In your *#0011# Service Menu. When it switches to Band 2 the MCC-MNC change. It shows something like 310 260 when its on T-Mobile but 310 410 when its on AT&T. When on Band 2 for some reason it will swap from 260 on Band 4 to 410 on Band 2 therefore identifying it as an AT&T network. Why is it trying to connect to AT&T? I have no idea.

Viper Matrix Wireless said:
I think know whats going on. In your *#0011# Service Menu. When it switches to Band 2 the MCC-MNC change. It shows something like 310 260 when its on T-Mobile but 310 410 when its on AT&T. When on Band 2 for some reason it will swap from 260 on Band 4 to 410 on Band 2 therefore identifying it as an AT&T network. Why is it trying to connect to AT&T? I have no idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally havent experienced any issues with my data/sms (then again if youre not receiving text/mms then how would one know they are experiencing problems in the first place?)
Because I havent had any issues I havent really tried to test my connection enough to know when im band 2 or band 4 or what exact mcc-mnc changes are occuring... for those worried about messing up their phones they need to just make sure they are always flashing a rom built foe their carriers' phone model and also make sure that each flash performed doesnt affect the modem.. (I know the modem part is hard due to roms being based off newer releases but as long as you are following my first suggestion (verify you are flashing the right carriers' phone model download) then there should never be an issue
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

PhxDroid86 said:
I personally havent experienced any issues with my data/sms (then again if youre not receiving text/mms then how would one know they are experiencing problems in the first place?)
Because I havent had any issues I havent really tried to test my connection enough to know when im band 2 or band 4 or what exact mcc-mnc changes are occuring... for those worried about messing up their phones they need to just make sure they are always flashing a rom built foe their carriers' phone model and also make sure that each flash performed doesnt affect the modem.. (I know the modem part is hard due to roms being based off newer releases but as long as you are following my first suggestion (verify you are flashing the right carriers' phone model download) then there should never be an issue
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile's response is: The phone is designed to connect to the best network. Once Band 4 on T-Mobile has no signal while on 3G/4G WCDMA it will flop over automatically to Band 2 on AT&T. Due to the 7 year agreement we have with AT&T you should be able to access the network. However, we have lost a bunch of ROAMING AGREEMENTS recently. "Apparently AT&T DID NOT keep their promise of a nationwide agreement". Therefore your city might be on this list. This may be why you can't access AT&T. There is nothing we can do right now. Its a waiting game on when T-Mobile rolls out improved coverage onto 3G/4G 1700 WCDMA and 3G/4G 1900 WCDMA on its own. So in the future it is less likely that you will be put on AT&T. However, it is still possible. Sorry but we DO NOT have any CeI-Fi devices as I would offer you one as we are SOLD OUT. We don't expect any Cei-Fi devices to be in till this Summer.
So this device is supposed to go onto AT&T apparently and its not supposed to show as Roaming which is why Data Roaming Checked/Unchecked doesn't work.

Thank you! Finally a complete answer lol.
Is it possible to make it so band 2 only sticks with T-Mobile?

acideater said:
Thank you! Finally a complete answer lol.
Is it possible to make it so band 2 only sticks with T-Mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No and I found how to take screenshots. Wish I had pulled out my S-Pen out sooner.
Service Mode:
When on T-Mobile WCDMA, about to lose signal as MNC 260, lost signal after -113 dBm:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
When T-Mobile WCDMA signal is lost, flopping onto AT&T as MNC 410:
Status Menu:
When on T-Mobile WCDMA, about to lose signal as In Service, UMTS: Mode 3, Carrier as T-Mobile:
When on AT&T WCDMA, lost signal and flopped as Out Of Service, Unknown Network Mode 0, Carrier as Unknown:
Well they sold out of the Cel-Fi once they actually dropped the 2 YR requirement extension and then they got plagued with calls and SOLD OUT. I told her thats not good that means that the network is crap. She laughed and agreed. But look at the good AT&T signal makes me want to sometimes switch but everytime I think of leaving I couldn't.
According to the info I have gotten in my area GSM is approx. 485 meters away and WCDMA is 1,110 meters away in the opposite direction.

Figured out my problem. Phone got blacklisted.thanks eBay:thumbdown:
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Now I can ROAM onto AT&T and have everything running except 4G is actually EDGE speed. I can even select AT&T as the main network.

LTE Band 2 1900MHz capability
I would like to know if an unlocked Tmobile note 2 has the capability to work on AT&T LTE Band 2 1900 MHz?
I know it works on AT&T GSM-1900 MHz frequency. it will even work on LTE band 17 700MHz frequency.
Preeese hrrp

[Q] Modding the GT-n7105 to get LTE on Tmobile

I was recently gifted a Note 2, which is awesome and I love it, but I feel it's a shame for such a nice phone to be stuck on edge, even with Tmobile's refarming (laaaaaame). Everything I can find on Google says that it's a hardware limitation, not firmware. So I wonder, what if I swapped out the radios?
I'm aware that such a feat would require replacing the entire motherboard. If I buy a T889 motherboard and put it in my phone, what kind of issues would I run into, if any? I would have to flash firmwares and radios and such- would going to the Tmobile Note 2 board and flashing everything stock that I find over there be sufficient? Any IMEI issues that I would run into? Would my phone now be considered a SGH-T889?
No, returning/reselling and buying the T889 isn't an option. It's too much effort for uncertain risks for something I don't care all that much about. I'd be open to a trade, but it would have to be an exact counterpart to my own (unlocked, titanium gray, screen protector from new, great condition). I'm sure trading is much easier, but modding sounds much more fun.
Even if I do the mod, it won't be right away, as motherboards are rather scarce and the prices are higher than I'm willing to pay.
Not sure if it matters, but my note 2 is stock rooted and my efs partition is backed up.

Selofain said:
I was recently gifted a Note 2, which is awesome and I love it, but I feel it's a shame for such a nice phone to be stuck on edge, even with Tmobile's refarming (laaaaaame). Everything I can find on Google says that it's a hardware limitation, not firmware. So I wonder, what if I swapped out the radios?
I'm aware that such a feat would require replacing the entire motherboard. If I buy a T889 motherboard and put it in my phone, what kind of issues would I run into, if any? I would have to flash firmwares and radios and such- would going to the Tmobile Note 2 board and flashing everything stock that I find over there be sufficient? Any IMEI issues that I would run into? Would my phone now be considered a SGH-T889?
No, returning/reselling and buying the T889 isn't an option. It's too much effort for uncertain risks for something I don't care all that much about. I'd be open to a trade, but it would have to be an exact counterpart to my own (unlocked, titanium gray, screen protector from new, great condition). I'm sure trading is much easier, but modding sounds much more fun.
Even if I do the mod, it won't be right away, as motherboards are rather scarce and the prices are higher than I'm willing to pay.
Not sure if it matters, but my note 2 is stock rooted and my efs partition is backed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. research/check on the LTE frequency bands t mobile uses then go check for example at gsmarena.com if the N7105 supports those bands by checking it's technical specifications
2. in the mean time you can try this.. go to SETTINGS then MORE SETTINGS then MOBILE WIRELESS change your NETWORK MODE to LTE/GSM/WCDMA AUTO
if this doesn't work and t mobile runs in an LTE frequency band supported by your handset it could also mean you need to upgrade/replace your SIM card .....same number but the new chip has LTE features inside it..it's possible
Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4

dead soul said:
1. research/check on the LTE frequency bands t mobile uses then go check for example at gsmarena.com if the N7105 supports those bands by checking it's technical specifications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've done my research on this. Tmobile uses AWS, which the n7105 doesn't support. Tmobile is refarming some of their 1900Mhz to free up frequencies for LTE, which the n7105 does support, but I'm not getting 3G speeds in those areas at all. I've seen around these boards that I'm not the only one to do so.
dead soul said:
2. in the mean time you can try this.. go to SETTINGS then MORE SETTINGS then MOBILE WIRELESS change your NETWORK MODE to LTE/GSM/WCDMA AUTO
if this doesn't work and t mobile runs in an LTE frequency band supported by your handset it could also mean you need to upgrade/replace your SIM card .....same number but the new chip has LTE features inside it..it's possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said before, my research indicates that it's a radio hardware issue, not firmware. There are posts on how to get AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/Tmobile versions to work on each other's networks, but not much on getting international versions to fully support LTE in the US. Besides, I get 4G just fine in my old G2.
Which brings me to my original question- what issues would I run into should I do a motherboard swap?

Bump.

Selofain said:
I've done my research on this. Tmobile uses AWS, which the n7105 doesn't support. Tmobile is refarming some of their 1900Mhz to free up frequencies for LTE, which the n7105 does support, but I'm not getting 3G speeds in those areas at all. I've seen around these boards that I'm not the only one to do so.
As I said before, my research indicates that it's a radio hardware issue, not firmware. There are posts on how to get AT&T/Verizon/Sprint/Tmobile versions to work on each other's networks, but not much on getting international versions to fully support LTE in the US. Besides, I get 4G just fine in my old G2.
Which brings me to my original question- what issues would I run into should I do a motherboard swap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have seen my note II bring opened up and I have seen a video of a N7100 being open up...they are virtually identical to me atleast.... I saw all the complex/circuitry /smart chips were all on one board like RAM, CPU including the radio...Obb the motherboard..most things if not all which connect to the motherboard are dumb circuits like there was a small board which holds the charging port and Mic and that board has a cable to connect to the main mother board...which I'm pretty sure it's dumb.no advanced circuitry...the 3.5 mm Jack port same thing, the antennas are just cables nothing smart on that, the LCD had a one cable I believed just connecting to the mother board...I personally, only my opinion there could even be a good chance somebody could even switch a note II motherboard and force into a note I so if you want to change mother boards between note II variants I think you could be successful...but again..I could be wrong...see some note II tear downs on YouTube between note II variants..and do the judging by yourself
Sent from my Samsung Note II N7105 LTE using Tapatalk 4