TMo recent announcement, "Personal Cellspot" - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 3

This looks pretty interesting, just noticed that a few news aggregators that I check had some info about the "Uncarrier 7" announcement. Apparently, starting on 9/17 for only a $25 DEPOSIT (easily reclaimed if I understand correctly) for what they're calling a "Personal CellSpot" wifi router. I'm super curious about the specifics of this device, this article http://www.geekwire.com/2014/t-mobi...nal-cellspot-wifi-router-boost-call-coverage/ reports that in the announcement Tmo said that it could even replace your current router... which is not something I'm at all interested in doing, but adding it to my network to get max LTE inside is something that I'm most definitely interested in doing. So just wanted to let you all know about this news, which I find quite interesting (particularly the literally unbeatable price). Anyone feel free to post any details that you can uncover about the device; I'll continue researching and do the same.

jazzmachine said:
This looks pretty interesting, just noticed that a few news aggregators that I check had some info about the "Uncarrier 7" announcement. Apparently, starting on 9/17 for only a $25 DEPOSIT (easily reclaimed if I understand correctly) for what they're calling a "Personal CellSpot" wifi router. I'm super curious about the specifics of this device, this article http://www.geekwire.com/2014/t-mobi...nal-cellspot-wifi-router-boost-call-coverage/ reports that in the announcement Tmo said that it could even replace your current router... which is not something I'm at all interested in doing, but adding it to my network to get max LTE inside is something that I'm most definitely interested in doing. So just wanted to let you all know about this news, which I find quite interesting (particularly the literally unbeatable price). Anyone feel free to post any details that you can uncover about the device; I'll continue researching and do the same.
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This actually looks pretty cool. Reminds me of the AT&T 3G thingy that they have, except full LTE

Just thought "Hmm, I wonder if there's any info about it on the TMo site... durrr." Here's a like to the overview of the device on their support site: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-15754
After looking through that info: the setup instructions basically tell you to replace your current router with it (plug into modem, web setup gui), but there has to be a way to set it up as a bridge. Interestingly, In the troubleshooting section they link to the Asus support page for the (newer version) of the router that I have for advanced configuration, which seems promising. The device itself definitely has solid specs though: AC wifi, dual band, USB input etc. If my current router didn't have the same features, I'd definitely consider upgrading to it (after learning about it's firmware, config capabilities) if I didn't currently have an Asus RT-AC66U running Merlin's custom AsusWRT firmware (adds many features to the router, and I actually thought the stock AsusWRT wasn't bad... builds of DD-WRT ect. seem kind of iffy for it though). Anyways, if putting it in bridged mode isn't possible, I would look into attaching it via an ethernet splitter at my modem... that would actually work well (if it would work, continually trying to expand my knowledge in the complex realm of networking) because I almost always connect to a VPN client on my desktop machine... if I could set up an additional router, then I could just connect all the devices I wanted on the VPN to the Asus router which I would configure with OpenVPN, and my phone on other devices that I prefer I straight connection on to the T-Mo router.
However it ends up working, getting a device with those specs that also gives you strong LTE for approximately zero dollars and zero cents flat out kicks ass (unless it has some kind of backdoor to intercept all packets or something, that's my fear about using it as a solo router). Keep on un-carrying TMo!

toastido said:
This actually looks pretty cool. Reminds me of the AT&T 3G thingy that they have, except full LTE
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Yeah, back during the lengthy time that I paid ATT excessively due to the flat out false impression that my "grandfathered unlimited" plan still resembled the plan that I initially signed up for in any way... AT&T actually sent me one of those ($300 I believe) devices completely gratis because inside my old apartment, my phone could barely touch a mobile network other than AT&T's and still, the signal was super weak. They never asked for it back after I ditched them after finding out in an emergency situation just how "unlimited" my data plan really was, when I hit 5 gigs for the first time in years, and was immediately throttled down to "can't load a webpage" unusable. Calling CS several times, I had NO option to regain usable data until the month rolled over short of changing to a new plan where I would be *allowed* to buy additional data (and of course, signing a fresh contract, when my prior two years had just ended). But wait! there's more! Despite no-longer being an ATT sucker.. er, customer, I still receive a monthly bill for $16 from them. It's because of the fact that at one point, I had to buy a new un-subsidized phone, and they had this deal where you could get an S4 or something and an LTE tablet for the price of just the phone (but the tablet needed a data plan). That sounded pretty good, so I grabbed a Note 8 (i467, not realizing how crippled it was vs. the wifi 5110 version). So that tablet got stolen soon after purchase, and I replaced it with the wifi only model (in retrospect, MUCH better device... quite dev friendly vs AT&T model w/ obligatory locked bootloader which took forever to even find a working root method but custom ROMs pretty much out of the question). So I obviously didn't need want the tablet data anymore... well, they did me a huge favor, and changed my tablet plan to this one that costs $16 / month, which they clearly plan on charging me for the duration of 2 years, unless I can figure out how to void it or something.
Man, a totally OT tirade in my own thread! Actually that thought was sparked by your mention of the AT&T device, which I seriously need to sell on eBay! That could quite possibly cover this BS data-less data plan that AT&T insists that I owe them...
Slightly back on topic, this device appears to beat the pants off of the AT&T thing on every level. Spec-wise, it really does look like a very solid router available for only a refundable deposit! Good job TMo, this is definitely one of the more interesting un-carrier announcements...

This could be T-Mobile's replacement for their cell phone signal booster. They were $500 but giving them away free if you were in a bad area. Idk how much these cost to make but at least they arent giving them away for free.

A little more relevant detail (bolded) from a BGR link w/ more info about the whole announcement:
"T-Mobile’s second big announcement is a clear effort to work past any real or perceived indoor coverage issues by offering subscribers a free WiFi cell tower of sorts that can be used in their homes or offices.
Dubbed the “T-Mobile Personal CellSpot,” the device is basically a WiFi router that can work alongside or in place of your existing router. The CellSpot will allow all devices to connect to it, but it will prioritize WiFi calling voice traffic in order to ensure that calls are always as clear as possible.
A free Personal CellSpot can be obtained from a T-Mobile store or by calling the carrier’s customer service department, and a refundable $25 hardware deposit will be required."
http://bgr.com/2014/09/10/t-mobile-wifi-unleashed-announcement/

This would be great if your home network is good. Pointless if it's not. It sucks that I get LTE in one part of our house and then 4g/2g in another. An lte signal Booster would be more useful. I have an older signal Booster but it only boost 4g.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Please don't get me started on ATT, it took 4 months, about 8 calls and 4 trips to different att stores to cancel expired contract account. Spoke to many different agents and managers, so it was company wide. On top of that they stole $150 (overpayments on cancelled account they promised refund, never did). I would take those gangsters to court, but just too busy and not worth my time. However I will never ever use their service, even if it was for free. Got great satisfaction when they paid billions to support my current cell company, T-mo. Sorry for my rant, couldn't resist.
Back to topic: Let us know how it works, I have LTE service at home, (about 10Mb down, 2Mb up) but this could speed things up a little.
jazzmachine said:
Yeah, back during the lengthy time that I paid ATT excessively due to the flat out false impression that my "grandfathered unlimited" plan still resembled the plan that I initially signed up for in any way... AT&T actually sent me one of those ($300 I believe) devices completely gratis because inside my old apartment, my phone could barely touch a mobile network other than AT&T's and still, the signal was super weak. They never asked for it back after I ditched them after finding out in an emergency situation just how "unlimited" my data plan really was, when I hit 5 gigs for the first time in years, and was immediately throttled down to "can't load a webpage" unusable. Calling CS several times, I had NO option to regain usable data until the month rolled over short of changing to a new plan where I would be *allowed* to buy additional data (and of course, signing a fresh contract, when my prior two years had just ended). But wait! there's more! Despite no-longer being an ATT sucker.. er, customer, I still receive a monthly bill for $16 from them. It's because of the fact that at one point, I had to buy a new un-subsidized phone, and they had this deal where you could get an S4 or something and an LTE tablet for the price of just the phone (but the tablet needed a data plan). That sounded pretty good, so I grabbed a Note 8 (i467, not realizing how crippled it was vs. the wifi 5110 version). So that tablet got stolen soon after purchase, and I replaced it with the wifi only model (in retrospect, MUCH better device... quite dev friendly vs AT&T model w/ obligatory locked bootloader which took forever to even find a working root method but custom ROMs pretty much out of the question). So I obviously didn't need want the tablet data anymore... well, they did me a huge favor, and changed my tablet plan to this one that costs $16 / month, which they clearly plan on charging me for the duration of 2 years, unless I can figure out how to void it or something.
Man, a totally OT tirade in my own thread! Actually that thought was sparked by your mention of the AT&T device, which I seriously need to sell on eBay! That could quite possibly cover this BS data-less data plan that AT&T insists that I owe them...
Slightly back on topic, this device appears to beat the pants off of the AT&T thing on every level. Spec-wise, it really does look like a very solid router available for only a refundable deposit! Good job TMo, this is definitely one of the more interesting un-carrier announcements...
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pete4k said:
Please don't get me started on ATT, it took 4 months, about 8 calls and 4 trips to different att stores to cancel expired contract account. Spoke to many different agents and managers, so it was company wide. On top of that they stole $150 (overpayments on cancelled account they promised refund, never did). I would take those gangsters to court, but just too busy and not worth my time. However I will never ever use their service, even if it was for free. Got great satisfaction when they paid billions to support my current cell company, T-mo. Sorry for my rant, couldn't resist.
Back to topic: Let us know how it works, I have LTE service at home, (about 10Mb down, 2Mb up) but this could speed things up a little.
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Yo, strictly on topic man! JUUUUST KIDDING! Actually, it's rather shocking how many topics "Yes, AT&T seriously pulled this BS" stories are at least tangentially related to! I imagine that I would have had a similar experience, had T-Mobile not only kindly handled the entire process for me, but then also gave me money! That has worked out VERY well.

No need for this of you have a asus rt-n66u or higher router with qos(quality of service). If your have a cheap comcast or att router this is for you.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

How would a router increase your LTE signal? I don't think it's a cell phone reception booster so it wouldn't increase our signal strength. I think T-Mobile would rather give out cheap routers so we will leave our wifi on for wifi calling/texting/surfing instead of using their cell towers.

It's both. LTE and Wi-Fi. At least that's what I got out of it.
Sent from my leanKernel 3.8 powered stock 4.4.2 (NF9) SM-N900T

Here's a hands-on account: http://www.phonearena.com/news/T-Mobiles-Personal-CellSpot-hands-on_id60587 In addition to a little more hardware info (USB 2 & 3 port... not too shabby), there's some decent discussion, particularly re: QoS being configured heavily for optimal VoIP, and who knows if that can be re-configured. It also answers a question that I couldn't help but wonder about...
So you throw down $25 bucks for this thing, then strip it for parts that you need for your legit A.I. quantum computer... are there any consequences other than being down $25 (and obviously the inevitable outcome which follows the Terminator movies plot lines precisely, including dialogue)? This article states that you can just straight up buy the device for $99, so I imagine that you'd be on the hook for an additional $75 if you can't return it... when the time comes (? whatever than ends up meaning). That is unless you use that new QC to travel back to before you ever picked it up... as long as you're willing to risk almost certainly causing several tears in the space / time continuum in order to save $99 (which could VERY possibly actually be worth $99.01 due to reverse inflation). Either way, you win!

If I'm not mistaken that tmo-ac1900 is a asus rt-ac68u(that I own) selling for real cheap.... The only router better on the market is the rt-ac87u
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Folks, this is a QOS modified Asus router. IT does NOT increase or rebroadcast ANY cell frequencies. LTE, 3g, 4g, nada.
It's purely QOS enhanced to give you WIFI calling QOS settings which most NORMAL users have no clue how to set up.
That being said, if you do not have a quality sim dual band router or only B/A/G/N and want a high quality router with AC standards, this is an extremely nice device.
For those of us who are professional engineers in the field and already have a quality router, you can always get this and add it as a signal repeater for wifi elsewhere in your home/office.
I shall probably get it just to have it on hand in case Netgear dumps a bad firmware and wipes my current router.

Admiral2145 said:
If I'm not mistaken that tmo-ac1900 is a asus rt-ac68u(that I own) selling for real cheap.... The only router better on the market is the rt-ac87u
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
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OK, hmm... thanks for that interesting info! I have the previous model of that router (rt-ac66u). Have you ever come across Merlin's AsusWRT firmware? I found it it because the stock gui tool to update the download and flash firmware upgrades is just broken (at least for my model). Apparently AsusWRT is open-sourced, which is pretty excellent, particularly for router firmware, and I later came across other customized builds but it looks like Merlin's is the most popular (at least that was what Google told me when I was inquiring about that built-in firmware update tool constantly failing), and it adds some nice additional settings. The hardware itself is also solid; only power-cycled it a handful of times over several months of ownership (it was pretty new when I got it), and that likely wasn't even the issue some of those times. Well, actually, I suppose it did kind of start resetting itself at one point... the power adapter is crap for some reason, and I eventually noticed that a little bit of the wire had gotten stripped, so i put electrical tape around that part, but if I touched the wire after that point the messed up part would lose alignment until I messed with it and saw the router reboot. The adapter I replaced that with feels much better; plug connection (in router) is perfectly tight vs. stock which is slightly loose, and it's both significantly longer and thicker. Actually, that Just reminded me that that I had broken one of the stock antennae, so I bought a replacement set (made for the router) that are a bit longer/thicker and did improve the signal strength. So, two thumbs up for the router itself, but just one sideways thumb for the quality of the included additional components.
This deal would be particularly killer if you're able to flash alternative firmware, which I would imagine they at least attempt to prevent, particularly if you just drop the temporary $25 to use it vs. the $99 to own it. However, even if it requires a JTAG and some skills, one can now get a high end router for only $99. If you want to experiment, ya think you could just throw down $25 to grab one, brick it quickly, return to store, "The one I got is defective, I tried to set it up and it won't turn on! Now I can't even access the cloud tube!! Blah, blah, obviously I'm not technical enough to have messed it up, can I get a different one?" So I guess we'll find out how locked down this thing is... using a router that needs to be "rooted" is a major red flag IMO...

jazzmachine said:
OK, hmm... thanks for that interesting info! I have the previous model of that router (rt-ac66u). Have you ever come across Merlin's AsusWRT firmware? I found it it because the stock gui tool to update the download and flash firmware upgrades is just broken (at least for my model). Apparently AsusWRT is open-sourced, which is pretty excellent, particularly for router firmware, and I later came across other customized builds but it looks like Merlin's is the most popular (at least that was what Google told me when I was inquiring about that built-in firmware update tool constantly failing), and it adds some nice additional settings. The hardware itself is also solid; only power-cycled it a handful of times over several months of ownership (it was pretty new when I got it), and that likely wasn't even the issue some of those times. Well, actually, I suppose it did kind of start resetting itself at one point... the power adapter is crap for some reason, and I eventually noticed that a little bit of the wire had gotten stripped, so i put electrical tape around that part, but if I touched the wire after that point the messed up part would lose alignment until I messed with it and saw the router reboot. The adapter I replaced that with feels much better; plug connection (in router) is perfectly tight vs. stock which is slightly loose, and it's both significantly longer and thicker. Actually, that Just reminded me that that I had broken one of the stock antennae, so I bought a replacement set (made for the router) that are a bit longer/thicker and did improve the signal strength. So, two thumbs up for the router itself, but just one sideways thumb for the quality of the included additional components.
This deal would be particularly killer if you're able to flash alternative firmware, which I would imagine they at least attempt to prevent, particularly if you just drop the temporary $25 to use it vs. the $99 to own it. However, even if it requires a JTAG and some skills, one can now get a high end router for only $99. If you want to experiment, ya think you could just throw down $25 to grab one, brick it quickly, return to store, "The one I got is defective, I tried to set it up and it won't turn on! Now I can't even access the cloud tube!! Blah, blah, obviously I'm not technical enough to have messed it up, can I get a different one?" So I guess we'll find out how locked down this thing is... using a router that needs to be "rooted" is a major red flag IMO...
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Already asked merlin he said no lol... Even still I would get it and try flashing merlins on it. I use the fork version for my ac68u (it allows all channels and unlimited power). http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=18914
[Fork] Update for 374.43 available
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

This was listed under the "Personal Cellspot" section as well:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-14947

toastido said:
This was listed under the "Personal Cellspot" section as well:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-14947
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ya who knows but we all here will know soon I know i will get one as soon as i can :silly:

Tried to con the rep into pre-ordering the Cellspot today but no luck. Said they will be up for ordering on the 17th.

Related

Comprehensive list of differences between T-Mobile and Sprint Galaxy S2

Pro's for T-Mobile Galaxy S2:
Generally better data speeds
Generally cheaper plan
GSM, so can use internationally
True Android-native infrastructure tethering after root
No Loss of Service (LOS), a problem afflicting Sprint GS2
No Sound Pool bug, a problem that crashes games afflicting all Exynos GS2
NFC
Wifi calling
USB Host (USB on the go)
Noise cancellation microphone
Con's for T-Mobile Galaxy S2:
Generally less coverage around the country (especially on non-roaming prepaid plans)
Screen suffers from blotches on low-brightness
Slightly slower CPU/GPU
Worse front-facing camera
Runs hotter
Less dev support
No notification LED
Capped data that throttles after plan limits
Edit: This thread was originally about me considering switching from a Sprint GS2 to a T-Mobile GS2. I've now done so, but figured since I drew up such a comprehensive list of differences, might as well keep it around for anyone else that might be curious
read thought this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1320942
talltexan said:
read thought this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1320942
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Yup, I saw that, weird and disappointing. That's why I have "slightly worse screen" in my list of cons.
manekineko said:
I
GSM, so can use internationally, but only at EDGE speeds
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that's not correct
it can get 3G/4G at any GSM internationally
that's the beauty of this version of SGS2 Hercules
manekineko said:
No LOS, a problem afflicting Sprint GS2
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What is LOS? Line of Sight? Left over soup?
I just switched over from Sprint as well. Their 3G has been totally pathetic and borderline unusable for the last 6 months. My T-Mobile speeds are 10+ times faster. I don't know what the SERO plan is, but T-Mobile doesn't have free mobile to mobile calling like Sprint. They only give you free calling from T-Mobile to T-Mobile and their nights and weekends are more restrictive than Sprint.
AllGamer said:
that's not correct
it can get 3G/4G at any GSM internationally
that's the beauty of this version of SGS2 Hercules
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Wow, that is big for me. Thanks for the tip, I hadn't heard the Hercules also has the AT&T bands.
Splaktar said:
What is LOS? Line of Sight? Left over soup?
I just switched over from Sprint as well. Their 3G has been totally pathetic and borderline unusable for the last 6 months. My T-Mobile speeds are 10+ times faster. I don't know what the SERO plan is, but T-Mobile doesn't have free mobile to mobile calling like Sprint. They only give you free calling from T-Mobile to T-Mobile and their nights and weekends are more restrictive than Sprint.
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Loss of Service. It's a problem that comes from the fact that Samsung kind of sucks at making CDMA modems. Sometimes the Sprint GS2 will just lose cell service, and it won't come back until you reboot. I haven't gotten bit by it yet, but it's widespread enough that I feel it's just a matter of time.
The Sprint speeds drive me nuts. In the middle of Manhattan, I see download speeds on 3G of as low as 100kbps on Speedtest.
I'd be going to the T-Mobile $30 prepaid 5GB 100 minute plan, so I wouldn't get any nights and weekends or mobile to mobile I think. The plan's a big downgrade from the numbers I had on Sprint, but the speed improvements and lower monthly fee would balance it out for me. Plus, talking is probably the feature I use least on my phone.
manekineko said:
Loss of Service. It's a problem that comes from the fact that Samsung kind of sucks at making CDMA modems. Sometimes the Sprint GS2 will just lose cell service, and it won't come back until you reboot. I haven't gotten bit by it yet, but it's widespread enough that I feel it's just a matter of time.
The Sprint speeds drive me nuts. In the middle of Manhattan, I see download speeds on 3G of as low as 100kbps on Speedtest.
I'd be going to the T-Mobile $30 prepaid 5GB 100 minute plan, so I wouldn't get any nights and weekends or mobile to mobile I think. The plan's a big downgrade from the numbers I had on Sprint, but the speed improvements and lower monthly fee would balance it out for me. Plus, talking is probably the feature I use least on my phone.
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If your paying $79.99 for sprint tmobile has the same plan for $79.99 with contract 2 gig cab though. if you want 5 gig cap its $89.99. 10 gig cap is $99.99
All those plans have unlimted minutes and texting.
Killbynature said:
If your paying $79.99 for sprint tmobile has the same plan for $79.99 with contract 2 gig cab though. if you want 5 gig cap its $89.99. 10 gig cap is $99.99
All those plans have unlimted minutes and texting.
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I pay 49 for unlimited talk/text and 2 gigs data. Not sure about 79.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
my wife works for tmobile and ill tell you that if you live in a good area then tmobile is definitely worth it and is the best bargain out there , if you travel alot then i dont recommend them,all depends on your lifestyle, most major cities get pretty good tmobile service
mikeyinid said:
I pay 49 for unlimited talk/text and 2 gigs data. Not sure about 79.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
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Classic or Value if you don't get subsidize it is much cheaper.
For me:
1. Sprint Galaxy S II phones do suffer from loss of signal. I have noticed this on both Sprint Galaxy S II phone I have. Very very annoying.
2. T-Mobile's version suffers from poor display.
3. T-Mobile's version suffers from poor front facing camera.
Maybe all of these problems can be fixed with a software update. And Samsung will take the time to make this happen. There are no assurances however.
For its part, Sprint has acknowledged the loss of signal problem and has promised a fix. T-Mobile has not yet acknowledged problems with their unit.
Walmart piggybacks off Tmobil.towers
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I dunno what everyone is talking about with the front camera, it's the same resolution as sprint's.
kabuk1 said:
I dunno what everyone is talking about with the front camera, it's the same resolution as sprint's.
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You might have missed this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1326314
Yes, I definitely missed that post. Damn :/
Hopefully it's just a software issue.
Killbynature said:
Classic or Value if you don't get subsidize it is much cheaper.
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I'm on a value plan. 99 a month for 2 lines. And I'm in an excellent coverage area. But, 2 gigs is definitely not enough. I blew through half of that on Friday listening to Google music beta
First time I missed sprint since I switched a few months back.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk
Has anyone tried USB on the go to plug in a USB stick on the T-Mobile GS2?
They disabled it on the Sprint version for some reason, and am wondering if this is another pro I could add to the list.
Another question that I thought of.
Has anyone experienced lots of random crashing to home screen while playing games? Both the Sprint and international Galaxy S2 suffer from a bug in their sound system that causes certain games to crash all the time. If the T-Mobile one doesn't do that, it'd be a huge advantage.
Former sprint to tmo customer.
as a former sprint customer recently switched over to T Mobile in the NorCal area...
SWITCH TO TMOBILE.
holy ****. i ing hate sprint. i got the evo 3d from them, and right out of the box the first unit was bunk. started power cycling directly AFTER i set everything up and linked my contacts. The 3vo being my first android phone, i didn't know that a randomly restarting phone meant LEMONLEMONLEMON so i hung onto it for a couple days, hoping the issue would fix itself or something.
Called IN ADVANCE when the phone first began having issues to talk to the guy who sold me the phone. Brought it in a week after, after trying everything someone rational would, i.e. battery pull, factory reset, etc. and when i brought the device in i was told by the associate, (yes this is a quote) that he couldn't exchange it but that he could do a "hard hard reset" for me, (after i explained to him it had already been reset every way possible) and send me on my way.
Bear in mind sprint store is 35 minutes away in the next town over, and so this is now taken 2 hours of driving, and still no fully functional phone.
i get home, set everything up again, and boom. Literally as i drag the last icon into place it starts power cycling again.
i call corporate at this point to see if i can ensure an actual replacement on my next trip. i get a vague "probably-ish." sorta answer from them.
when i arrive the next day, there's an associate who was obviously told to expect me as he becomes instantly friendly when i tell him my name and he reads some memo on his screen. I give him my phone, and he hands me the power cord and charger, winking at me and goes "this is for your wasted time. keep it, as a thirty dollar value"
now, like all of you, i'm aware a usb cord and adapter is not worth 30 dollars. However, i was appreciative of the gesture, and i know that sprint really will try to charge you 30 bucks for one of those cords.
After a little wait i'm told the technician got my phone in front of him, and it power cycled in his face. so they replaced it. (finally)
as i'm checking out, back with the original associate who i got the dude phone from 2 weeks before, he's being SUPER surly. Won't look me in the eyes or answer any of the questions i have with more than a grunt or mumble. As he's switching out the new phone with the old, he takes the new charger cable and tosses it in the old box and slides it away from me.
i interrupt him and say "hey, the guy i checked in with said i could keep that."
not even bothering to look up, he shrugs, PULLS IT OUT OF MY HAND, tosses it into the box and closes it and says "nope."
i'm a bit taken aback at this point. incredulously i say, "i was told i would be given that for my wasted time. i was already told that i could have that."
to which he says, still not looking up "htc policy we return em."
at this pont, i'm just ing done dealing with this dude. So i just ask him where the other associate is, so i can work it out with him instead, to which he replies "he went to lunch."
"well...when will he be back"
"dunno."
at that point i walked out. I called about the issue and was given a run around.
anyways. thats ONE of my stories with sprint, in the ing 3 months i was with them. i have MANY MANY more. and their corporate branch is just as bad as the stores, i've been told so many contradicting things by sprint associates on the phone that i have literally found myself saying to them in barely hidden anger "HOW CAN ONE OF YOU TELL ME ONE THING AND THEN THE NEXT GUY AFTER THE TRANSFER SAYS THE OPPOSITE?! are you people even working for the same company?!"
anyways, i've had t-mobile since the release of the galaxy s2, and called in several times to change my features and they have been nothing but friendly informative and helpful. I've heard a bunch of **** talked about how the Tmo version of the GS2 is inferior to the others, but i have faith in the good people on these forums to correct most of those inferiorities which i believe are mostly software issues arising from the Tmo version having a different processor than the other versions.
so yeah sorry for the ungodly long post, but i am another sprint customer recently gone to tmobile and just wanted to share a little bit of my experience. here's a short list of ADDITIONAL pros, and the cons.
PROS.
1. WAY faster data, at least in my area. Went from CRAWLING 3g, and no 4g to being able to torrent via my tether when my cable went out. Achieving 9mbps according to speedtest app, never tested on sprint, but it was browsing speeds, AT BEST. took youtube videos AGES to load. Tmo 4g is about half the speed of my home wifi connection, which is impressive.
2. PRO/CON: better service in populated areas, but service does cut out earlier whenever you drive out into middle of nowhere parts. Also, much more continuity between service and data connection. With sprint, lots of service. Mobile data cuts out LOTS. Tmo data pretty much works until you have no service whatsoever, or at least close to that point.
CONS.
1. QUALCOMM processor instead of the one samsung meant for this device. LOTS of info about what this means as far as detrimental effects on device performance ALL OVER this particular forum.
2. Screen Issues...also, look in this forum.
3. No truly unlimited data plan (best you can get is 5 gb then down to EDGE speeds...which suck.)

Need Samsung Galaxy S3 Sprint help

Hello,
We are long time Verizon customers but have had enough of their capricious attitude, the insane recent price hikes and limited data plans. (although we currently have unlimited data). However, my husband's phone was stolen about a month ago and while we're using an old phone for the moment, we need to upgrade it for him. I like Sprint's current business model of unlimited everything (& we plan to sign up for everything data plus from the employees referral to save a bit and get more minutes). We also like the fact that Sprint is a green company and supports more things that we believe in. Yeah, I know that we're giving up the network for a bit until Sprint's Network Vision is completed but I think we can live with that.
Here's my dilemma. There are no Sprint owned stores in our area, just third party stores and only a couple of those so I can't buy through them &get everything data plus... Which is fine because they don't know much at all. I went there to try to see both the Evo 4G LTE side by side with the Samsung Galaxy S3...both working. Unfortunately, they didn't have a working model of the S3 but they opened up a package so I could at least hold them next to each other.
My concern most of all is with the radio quality and reception. I have some serious medical issues so being able to call for help is a frequent need. I took my current phone (HTC Rezound), my husband's Motorola DROID X, and the Evo LTE, and did side by side comparisons of the radios. My Rezound came in top at -80 give or take a few both directions, the DX, at -86 also give/take & the Evo LTE at -97 to -103. I then tried to load a webpage on my Rezound and the Evo. I picked yahoo because it has mixed media &was a first thing that popped into my head. My Rezound loaded the desktop version in less than 20 seconds... The Evo was still attempting to load the mobile version after several minutes.
So, do I believe the story that the mall kiosk has terrible Sprint reception? Was the demo Evo LTE one of the bad first batch? I know that there will be a step back in service speed but this was unbearable. I'm hoping that this isn't the normal for Sprint service... I mean it can't be, right? Right no one would use them.
What I'm unable to find out is what the Samsung Galaxy S3 radio is like compared to the Evo LTE in similar circumstances. I can't afford to get one of the phones, not have it work, pay the restocking fee and a second activation fee. With two lines that's over $200 just to switch away from a defective phone. Is there any leeway given for phones that won't hold a signal... Like allowing us to switch to another phone if the first is defective? I know that the base chipset is the same between the two phones but from what I've read the radios themselves can be different based on the manufacturer. So, I don't know what either the HTC Evo LTE or galaxy S3 would be like on any specific phone and it sounds like there are differences in the batches. What do I do or what would you do? I know we're taking a risk switching to carriers but we want to live authentically and put money into companies that are supporting the things we believe in and shaping their company based upon similar values. We will be having to do a transfer of our Vzw account (assumption of liability) once we're settled into Sprint but not until we're positive it works for us. Then we'll give up our Vzw contract so we don't owe an ETF. It also gives my DH the phone upgrade he needs since his was stolen during one of my medical emergencies. Vzw refused to help us at all through the whole process.
But I digress.
What do you think phone wise? Bad reception? Bad Evo LTE? Would you take a chance on the S3 with Samsung's past radio issues... Do you think that they've improved them? Would you take a chance on getting a bad Evo LTE since HTC /Sprint have admitted to a problem there? Since I can't compare them side by side working or compare radio strengths I really need advice!
Thanks so much in advance!
All the best,
Rae
varaonaid said:
Hello,
We are long time Verizon customers but have had enough of their capricious attitude, the insane recent price hikes and limited data plans. (although we currently have unlimited data). However, my husband's phone was stolen about a month ago and while we're using an old phone for the moment, we need to upgrade it for him. I like Sprint's current business model of unlimited everything (& we plan to sign up for everything data plus from the employees referral to save a bit and get more minutes). We also like the fact that Sprint is a green company and supports more things that we believe in. Yeah, I know that we're giving up the network for a bit until Sprint's Network Vision is completed but I think we can live with that.
Here's my dilemma. There are no Sprint owned stores in our area, just third party stores and only a couple of those so I can't buy through them &get everything data plus... Which is fine because they don't know much at all. I went there to try to see both the Evo 4G LTE side by side with the Samsung Galaxy S3...both working. Unfortunately, they didn't have a working model of the S3 but they opened up a package so I could at least hold them next to each other.
My concern most of all is with the radio quality and reception. I have some serious medical issues so being able to call for help is a frequent need. I took my current phone (HTC Rezound), my husband's Motorola DROID X, and the Evo LTE, and did side by side comparisons of the radios. My Rezound came in top at -80 give or take a few both directions, the DX, at -86 also give/take & the Evo LTE at -97 to -103. I then tried to load a webpage on my Rezound and the Evo. I picked yahoo because it has mixed media &was a first thing that popped into my head. My Rezound loaded the desktop version in less than 20 seconds... The Evo was still attempting to load the mobile version after several minutes.
So, do I believe the story that the mall kiosk has terrible Sprint reception? Was the demo Evo LTE one of the bad first batch? I know that there will be a step back in service speed but this was unbearable. I'm hoping that this isn't the normal for Sprint service... I mean it can't be, right? Right no one would use them.
What I'm unable to find out is what the Samsung Galaxy S3 radio is like compared to the Evo LTE in similar circumstances. I can't afford to get one of the phones, not have it work, pay the restocking fee and a second activation fee. With two lines that's over $200 just to switch away from a defective phone. Is there any leeway given for phones that won't hold a signal... Like allowing us to switch to another phone if the first is defective? I know that the base chipset is the same between the two phones but from what I've read the radios themselves can be different based on the manufacturer. So, I don't know what either the HTC Evo LTE or galaxy S3 would be like on any specific phone and it sounds like there are differences in the batches. What do I do or what would you do? I know we're taking a risk switching to carriers but we want to live authentically and put money into companies that are supporting the things we believe in and shaping their company based upon similar values. We will be having to do a transfer of our Vzw account (assumption of liability) once we're settled into Sprint but not until we're positive it works for us. Then we'll give up our Vzw contract so we don't owe an ETF. It also gives my DH the phone upgrade he needs since his was stolen during one of my medical emergencies. Vzw refused to help us at all through the whole process.
But I digress.
What do you think phone wise? Bad reception? Bad Evo LTE? Would you take a chance on the S3 with Samsung's past radio issues... Do you think that they've improved them? Would you take a chance on getting a bad Evo LTE since HTC /Sprint have admitted to a problem there? Since I can't compare them side by side working or compare radio strengths I really need advice!
Thanks so much in advance!
All the best,
Rae
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all varies on your area, you need to find people who live around you and ask there opinion. Some ppl say the HTC radio sucks, others say Sammys sucks. Rumor was without pure fact that Samsung was using a radio like the Motorola phones use. Lots of ppl are reporting positive feedback with the GS3. So it's something you can try, and if the store can't help you avoid a restocking fee, I would call customer service to see if theyd waive it.
However I know Sprint hasnt charged me a restock fee yet or ever, and if you have reception issues at home they will send you a free airwave...
I've heard that Sprint 3g is awful in some areas. I get decent enough speeds here and LTE is coming to my area soon so I won't be changing carrier. However, if LTE wasn't coming soon I'd definitely consider jumping ship.
juanpow3r said:
I've heard that Sprint 3g is awful in some areas. I get decent enough speeds here and LTE is coming to my area soon so I won't be changing carrier. However, if LTE wasn't coming soon I'd definitely consider jumping ship.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is and to be honest, once LTE hits, everyone will be *****ing about battery life. There is not a reason you cant jump on WIFI if avalible. Or use 3g... I have been stuck and still am stuck on 3g, and things load instantly for me... granted I'm not downloading big videos or anything...
But I know her main point was coverage... so she'd really need to stop at a store and talk to people who use the phone outside of the business
I'll let you know. Mostly I want to know that Sprint will stand behind either phone if the radios aren't up to par without the restocking fees and a second activation fee... I can't afford $210 of activation, restocking and another reactivation fee for phones that are defective. I'm not talking about just changing my mind and wanting a different phone but needing to trust that one way or another I'll get two phones with no radio issues.
It's not as simple as just staying with VZW, my husband's phone was stolen during one of my medical emergencies... He's currently using an old phone but it's not working very well. So, we either pony up for a new phone (even if it's via Craigslist) or we get a new provider (who hopefully gives a care bc Vzw certainly didn't!), both get new phones and sell our current ones to cover most of the upfront cost of the new phones. We could wait until Network Vision is completed or moreso but will they still be able to offer unlimited data plan at that point. Since we feel that we want to switch, now feels like a good time to do so. Does that make sense?
No we're not out of contract with Verizon but have people lined up to do an AOL (assumption of liability or contract takeover) so we'd be out of it with no fees. However, we won't complete the AOL until we're sure that Sprint will work for us now.
Does anyone know if the everything data plus (we'd be looking at the 1600min family plan) has free activation? I'd have to order online and it would be via employee referral? Also, do you get any numbers you can pick that are unlimited to those numbers? Verizon had friends and family where you got to pick a handful of numbers that you call the most that don't count against our minutes. My only concern is my in laws as they have a VERY limited cell plan and use their land line almost exclusively. If we could add that one number that would help a ton. I'd read somewhere online that Sprint had something similar but now, of course, can't find it again.
I appreciate all of your help and advice so very much. I hope this explains more why we're considering the switch and why we need good phone reception... At least as good as is currently possible on their network.
BTW, when we informed Vzw about the phone theft we were tracking the phone on Google latitude and the refused to help or advise us as to what to do in any way. Super disappointed with their lack of help. If the customer service had been better, we might have gotten our phone back. I've heard good things about Sprint's customer service.
Any other thoughts or suggestions or advice... Please share! And many thanks to all of you who have shared!
Order directly from Sprint
As a former employee of a 3rd party vendor, if you are worried about the vendors complying with Sprint's 30-day no strings window, order your phones directly from Sprint. If your or your husband's employer have an agreement with sprint that nets their employee's a discount, they might also have an exclusive sales team and pricing. Most corporate discounts waive the activation fee on new lines and Sprint(corporate, not 3rd party) is very good about exchanges. Keep in mind 3rd party vendors can, and do, pretty much whatever they want, if they treat you poorly, email [email protected] and it will garner the attention of Dan Hesse's resolution team. But again if you want to avoid the 3rd party headache, just order online or over the phone. Good luck, and I will check back as I just ordered both, an evo lte and sIII, for my wife and I. I will let you know how signal goes.
Sprint is very giving... ill PM you a number to use when you call them.
Sent from my DynaTAC 8000S ;-) via 5G
Thanks so much for the new info. I really appreciate it. Please do send along the best number to call Sprint at. That's totally awesome. I just need to make sure that we have good enough reception in our area and that we get good working phones. I'm really glad to hear that they are a "giving" company or maybe best to describe as doing what it takes to satisfy the customer. Vzw seems to be purposely going the opposite way and I'm not impressed. Again, I'd love that phone number to use and would also love to hear your thoughts and impressions of the two phones when you get them! I Please keep the info coming!
varaonaid said:
Thanks so much for the new info. I really appreciate it. Please do send along the best number to call Sprint at. That's totally awesome. I just need to make sure that we have good enough reception in our area and that we get good working phones. I'm really glad to hear that they are a "giving" company or maybe best to describe as doing what it takes to satisfy the customer. Vzw seems to be purposely going the opposite way and I'm not impressed. Again, I'd love that phone number to use and would also love to hear your thoughts and impressions of the two phones when you get them! I Please keep the info coming!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of right now i get great signal and battery on my sprint s iii. I support ur cjoicr to switch. As far as customer sipport u eont regret it. If u have bad sifnal call them at any customer service number and request an airrave theyll send one for free. Those give u full signal at home. I believe emergency calls work without signal too so 911 shouldn't be a problem anyway, and airave should fix signal worries. So far this phone has great radio so far as I can tell.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

An afternoon using the Kindle HD 4G on the T-Mobile Network

I thought it might be helpful to share my experience getting my (now rooted, stock, with Google stuff added) Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G working on the T-Mobile network.
Getting the SIM card to eject using a paperclip was a royal pain in the ass.
You need a paperclip that's thin enough to fit LOOSELY in the hole. If you try to squeeze one in that's fat, it will jam the SIM edges to the case. Once you find one that'll work, it'll bend...and bend some more. I finally managed to get enough of an edge to stick out that I pried it the rest of the way with a screwdriver, with some minor scarring in the process. It's not really noticeable, but *I* know it's there. (To be clear, you poke the paperclip into the hole, push, and it'll eject. Theoretically anyway )
Once it's out though, things get easy. Just pop in the SIM, insert, change APN info as appropriate, done. APN settings can be found easily with Google. Removing it later was easy as pie. Paperclip, poke, eject. I have no idea why, maybe it's initially glued in or something. Nothing came out stuck to the SIM tray though and it's since popped in and out with no problems.
Now, here's the REAL kicker... I had planned to put the SIM from my T-Mobile hotspot in it. It just didn't occur to me to check to see if the Kindle used the same size, it doesn't. It uses a Micro SIM. Well, I didn't want to cut my hotspot SIM (I'm not yet sure if I'm keeping the Kindle or not), but I do have a Nexus 4...with a Micro SIM. So I figured, what the heck...
Damn if the thing didn't work. As far as I understood things, you aren't supposed to be able to use a phone SIM with a tablet in T-Mobile land. Maybe it's because I'm using a T-Mobile reseller, Solavei, but it worked fine with the Solavei phone SIM and APN settings. No issues at all. (Solavei is great, exact same service as I got from T-Mobile as a contract customer, but no-contract, cheaper, with more data.)
I happened to have to drive to Webster today, so I kept running SpeedTest.net every so often as I was driving across Houston mostly down I45. Here are the results:
Code:
Down Up Ping
1704 2157 110
1053 2102 102
1391 988 111
2872 943 914
4641 2145 100
5794 2370 115
11191 2267 139
2228 1335 113
1219 1401 90
144 96 802
18755 995 25
The 11k and 18k are not typos. I don't think they are glitches in the SpeedTest.net app either.
To give it some context, I was driving through rush hour which might explain a couple of the download speeds being lower than the upload speeds (busy towers) I also WAS moving, anywhere from 10-70 depending on how bad the traffic was.
Houston is in the process of being "refarmed" for the iPhone. So I think the 2 particularly high numbers may have been towers that were completed. Although, I suppose that it's possible that I roamed onto AT&T. (I can roam with Solavei) because the 18k number with the really low ping time looks like what I'd expect from LTE. T-Mobile IS doing LTE in Houston, but I haven't checked to see if the Kindles bands are compatible.
Anyway, while the numbers are not spectacular, if you have some reason to want to use the Kindle HD on T-Mobile's network, the speeds are certainly usable for email, web browsing, GPS, etc. My hotspot is paid for by work, so "Free" is a good enough reason for me , and saving the hassle of having yet another device to make sure is charged, doesn't get lost, etc. while roaming all over the city is MAYBE worth the reduced speed. (I usually get numbers in the mid to upper teens with my hot spot.) The less stuff I have to plug and unplug from cigarette lighters each time I stop at a client the better.
Oh, a note on GPS. I initially had problems with it. It took a while to lock, and then wasn't accurate. After I let it update from 8.14 to 8.3 things worked fine. (I had rooted, installed Google stuff, etc, but not blocked updating figuring to just re-root at 8.3.) Google Maps / Navigation worked fine my whole drive. I'll try Co-Pilot tomorrow. (MUCH better live traffic data, or at least use of that data, than Google. Worth the $10 a year just for reasonably accurate ETA's.)
A couple further thoughts....
1) If the ability to use a phone SIM was NOT specific to my situation, that could give the Kindle some great options for mobile data service. T-Mobile has a $30 a month prepaid plan with 5GB of data, unlimited low speed data, and at the other extreme, a $70 plan with unlimited high speed data. Neither are offered for tablets.
2) It took a phone SIM. Gotta wonder... with the right ROM could you make calls? A data SIM blocks calls at the carrier level, but a phone SIM, well, as long as the hardware is there and the software supports it....
And before anyone goes off on the idea, OBVIOUSLY holding a 10" tablet up to your face doesn't work. But I don't hold my 4.8" phone up to my face either, it's called Bluetooth. The "tablet as phone" works as a second line. For example, as a work line. I have a couple of clients that do the "on call" thing, with a cellphone that get's passed from person to person at the start of each shift. That could actually work better with a phone-tablet, since they'd then have email, remote security camera access, etc. along with the ability to make calls. (Again, Bluetooth or just speakerphone works fine.) If you're going with the phone SIM for some other reason (cheap or unlimited data), why NOT take advantage of the ability to make calls?
Zanthexter said:
I thought it might be helpful to share my experience getting my (now rooted, stock, with Google stuff added) Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G working on the T-Mobile network.
Getting the SIM card to eject using a paperclip was a royal pain in the ass.
You need a paperclip that's thin enough to fit LOOSELY in the hole. If you try to squeeze one in that's fat, it will jam the SIM edges to the case. Once you find one that'll work, it'll bend...and bend some more. I finally managed to get enough of an edge to stick out that I pried it the rest of the way with a screwdriver, with some minor scarring in the process. It's not really noticeable, but *I* know it's there. (To be clear, you poke the paperclip into the hole, push, and it'll eject. Theoretically anyway )
Once it's out though, things get easy. Just pop in the SIM, insert, change APN info as appropriate, done. APN settings can be found easily with Google. Removing it later was easy as pie. Paperclip, poke, eject. I have no idea why, maybe it's initially glued in or something. Nothing came out stuck to the SIM tray though and it's since popped in and out with no problems.
Now, here's the REAL kicker... I had planned to put the SIM from my T-Mobile hotspot in it. It just didn't occur to me to check to see if the Kindle used the same size, it doesn't. It uses a Micro SIM. Well, I didn't want to cut my hotspot SIM (I'm not yet sure if I'm keeping the Kindle or not), but I do have a Nexus 4...with a Micro SIM. So I figured, what the heck...
Damn if the thing didn't work. As far as I understood things, you aren't supposed to be able to use a phone SIM with a tablet in T-Mobile land. Maybe it's because I'm using a T-Mobile reseller, Solavei, but it worked fine with the Solavei phone SIM and APN settings. No issues at all. (Solavei is great, exact same service as I got from T-Mobile as a contract customer, but no-contract, cheaper, with more data.)
I happened to have to drive to Webster today, so I kept running SpeedTest.net every so often as I was driving across Houston mostly down I45. Here are the results:
Code:
Down Up Ping
1704 2157 110
1053 2102 102
1391 988 111
2872 943 914
4641 2145 100
5794 2370 115
11191 2267 139
2228 1335 113
1219 1401 90
144 96 802
18755 995 25
The 11k and 18k are not typos. I don't think they are glitches in the SpeedTest.net app either.
To give it some context, I was driving through rush hour which might explain a couple of the download speeds being lower than the upload speeds (busy towers) I also WAS moving, anywhere from 10-70 depending on how bad the traffic was.
Houston is in the process of being "refarmed" for the iPhone. So I think the 2 particularly high numbers may have been towers that were completed. Although, I suppose that it's possible that I roamed onto AT&T. (I can roam with Solavei) because the 18k number with the really low ping time looks like what I'd expect from LTE. T-Mobile IS doing LTE in Houston, but I haven't checked to see if the Kindles bands are compatible.
Anyway, while the numbers are not spectacular, if you have some reason to want to use the Kindle HD on T-Mobile's network, the speeds are certainly usable for email, web browsing, GPS, etc. My hotspot is paid for by work, so "Free" is a good enough reason for me , and saving the hassle of having yet another device to make sure is charged, doesn't get lost, etc. while roaming all over the city is MAYBE worth the reduced speed. (I usually get numbers in the mid to upper teens with my hot spot.) The less stuff I have to plug and unplug from cigarette lighters each time I stop at a client the better.
Oh, a note on GPS. I initially had problems with it. It took a while to lock, and then wasn't accurate. After I let it update from 8.14 to 8.3 things worked fine. (I had rooted, installed Google stuff, etc, but not blocked updating figuring to just re-root at 8.3.) Google Maps / Navigation worked fine my whole drive. I'll try Co-Pilot tomorrow. (MUCH better live traffic data, or at least use of that data, than Google. Worth the $10 a year just for reasonably accurate ETA's.)
A couple further thoughts....
1) If the ability to use a phone SIM was NOT specific to my situation, that could give the Kindle some great options for mobile data service. T-Mobile has a $30 a month prepaid plan with 5GB of data, unlimited low speed data, and at the other extreme, a $70 plan with unlimited high speed data. Neither are offered for tablets.
2) It took a phone SIM. Gotta wonder... with the right ROM could you make calls? A data SIM blocks calls at the carrier level, but a phone SIM, well, as long as the hardware is there and the software supports it....
And before anyone goes off on the idea, OBVIOUSLY holding a 10" tablet up to your face doesn't work. But I don't hold my 4.8" phone up to my face either, it's called Bluetooth. The "tablet as phone" works as a second line. For example, as a work line. I have a couple of clients that do the "on call" thing, with a cellphone that get's passed from person to person at the start of each shift. That could actually work better with a phone-tablet, since they'd then have email, remote security camera access, etc. along with the ability to make calls. (Again, Bluetooth or just speakerphone works fine.) If you're going with the phone SIM for some other reason (cheap or unlimited data), why NOT take advantage of the ability to make calls?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I discovered my t-mobile sim from my nexus 4 works in my kindle too. Not sure about the phone ability but it should work.
ant178 said:
I discovered my t-mobile sim from my nexus 4 works in my kindle too. Not sure about the phone ability but it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not too shabby a deal. Assuming you're on a T-Mobile family plan, you could add another line and get 2.5GB of medium-speed data for $20 or so a month. (less discounts, plus taxes and fees of course)
As they roll out the iPhone upgrade, the speeds ought to improve too.
Shame the phone ability isn't there. Nice to have it as a backup line, office line (Bluetooth/Speakerphone), or a "kids" line.
I ended up returning mine, and am just waiting on the refund to process before snagging a Nexus 10. I decided I could live without the Amazon Prime videos/books and just use the Sonic 4G hotspot (with better speeds). I also figure the sharper and larger screen will do better for Zinio, which is a big part of what I want to use it for at home. Why they insist on translating paper magazines to e-format as basically PDF files I do NOT understand....
Zanthexter said:
That's not too shabby a deal. Assuming you're on a T-Mobile family plan, you could add another line and get 2.5GB of medium-speed data for $20 or so a month. (less discounts, plus taxes and fees of course)
As they roll out the iPhone upgrade, the speeds ought to improve too.
Shame the phone ability isn't there. Nice to have it as a backup line, office line (Bluetooth/Speakerphone), or a "kids" line.
I ended up returning mine, and am just waiting on the refund to process before snagging a Nexus 10. I decided I could live without the Amazon Prime videos/books and just use the Sonic 4G hotspot (with better speeds). I also figure the sharper and larger screen will do better for Zinio, which is a big part of what I want to use it for at home. Why they insist on translating paper magazines to e-format as basically PDF files I do NOT understand....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish I could return mine LOL.
I think the $50 for 12 months 250mb is okay, I just don't do anything but browse the web aside from when I am home. The development for this Kindle is also lacking as it's not very popular. If development was at a great place, I wouldn't be tempted to consider another device. Nexus 10 specs are definitely better but I like the screen size of this tablet more than 10 inch tablets but I still would prefer the nexus 10. I don't think the nexus 10 has much more over this tablet besides OS and screen resolution.

Official T-Mobile Cellspot Thread

Not sure if this would really require it's own area, but this is the official thread for the T-Mobile Cellspot.
It has been released today 9/17/2014 and most, including myself, are reporting a delivery date of 9/26/2014.
I think most of us here are wondering how much work will need to be done to customize it the way we normally customize our routers, as well as anything that can be done to work better with the work many of our favorite developers have been gracious enough to bestow upon us!
Anyone else order one today?
I must say, I do love it. Much faster than my last E2000 router for obvious reasons and much better when it comes to the settings. I am very pleased.
I got mine from the store when they activated my phone on Monday. It replaced my Cisco E3200, but I only have 15Mb down and 1Mb up service with Time Warner, so I don't notice any speed difference. In fact I've had a lot of trouble getting it to work consistently. My Windows 7 64 bit PC sometimes takes over a minute to connect after I log in. With Speedtest, a lot of my pings are over half a second, and a lot of tests have been under 1Mb/sec down and up. I'm tempted to reset it and start over, but it's been working fine today.
Here's the thing I'm wondering...just how necessary is the cellspot?
I briefly had a TMobile phone last year, and that phone supported an apparently early version of what they're pushing now; the only difference being I don't think it would hand a voice call back over to the cell network. However, that feature ran perfectly on my standard wifi gear without any additional help from me. It even worked pretty well on just about any wifi connection I was able to jump on.
It seems the only advantage to the cellspot is it's a rebadged Asus 802.11ac router for cheap. What's TMobile's angle on offering it so cheap?
dewdude420 said:
Here's the thing I'm wondering...just how necessary is the cellspot?
I briefly had a TMobile phone last year, and that phone supported an apparently early version of what they're pushing now; the only difference being I don't think it would hand a voice call back over to the cell network. However, that feature ran perfectly on my standard wifi gear without any additional help from me. It even worked pretty well on just about any wifi connection I was able to jump on.
It seems the only advantage to the cellspot is it's a rebadged Asus 802.11ac router for cheap. What's TMobile's angle on offering it so cheap?
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Click to collapse
I used Wifi calling on Sprint with my old router and haven't noticed any difference in call quality with T-Mobile and their cellspot router yet. With Sprint, the call wouldn't automatically transfer when I got in or out of range. T-Mobile says theirs does switch mid-call, but I haven't tried it yet. They also say that calls have priority, so a big download in the background won't affect call quality.
As for the cheap price, I paid the $25 deposit, but will have to return it if/when I leave T-Mobile or pay full price for it. I suppose it's great advertising for both T-Mobile and Asus.

Sprint sent me a no-no letter

So after over 2yrs of using my unlimited data plan anyway I chose to do so, I got a letter last week basically saying I need to stop tethering. I've been using WiFi Tether - TrevE Mod for as long as I've had my phone to connect anything from my laptop at home or occasionally at work I'll connect my work laptop or let a coworker (good ol' AT&T throttling him) during lunch. I read this on Sprint forums, which makes complete sense to me:
The contract you signed also is for a specific plan, that states you have UNLIMITED DATA. Dan Hesse himself even stated that UNLIMITED means "no limits, no throttling and no data caps" - meaning you legally couldnt limit data, based on the actual plan a subscriber signs on a contract.
Sprint also states that as part of the Android platform being Open, one is able to download and use any apps the customer sees fit. That would include tethering apps. Part of Net Neutrality that Sprint also agrees with the FCC on is that customers can not be limited what they access or how they access the internet, this would include using the phone as a modem as a device how they access internet.
Also if you want to discuss morals and ethics on contracts, Sprint also states that any materially adverse charge/change in the contract will result in waivers of early termination fees, so not only is limiting someones data a materially adverse change/charge, but so is raising the Administrative Fee like just happened, to which Sprint breaches their own contract. With that being said, if Sprint can breach the contract so can a customer, because in order for a contract to be legal, BOTH PARTIES MUST AGREE TO ALL CLAUSES, and since one changes it on a whim, the contract isnt agreed to by both parties, thus, the contract isnt legal and is null and void.
Im sure the customer who decides to bring this to small claims or arbitration would win the case.
It not as if using my laptop will somehow make my phone pull faster internet speeds, so WTF is their issue?! I stream music for a better part of my 10-12hr day, 7 days a week...I'm a heavy data user no matter what! I get great 4G signal at work, I get **** 3G service at my home, so it's a slap in the face that they're not holding up their end of the contract, yet spent the postage to send me a thread letter before Christmas.
Not to be a jerk, but come on now. It's a **** move by Sprint to send that letter, but they are not completely in the wrong. You are and have been aware that tethering is treated as a separate paid service outside of the unlimited data included with your phone, and for 2 years you have failed to live up to the terms of your agreement.
They could handle the situation with a little more grace, but you are not a martyr.
Actually like most, I didn't read the actual contract...I just said yes and keep paying. I know they wanted $30 to use their tethering app, but just like stocks apps on an unroored phone, I've rooted it to remove and add apps as I see fit. BMW doesn't tell me they're going to take my M5 back because I took out driving down a dirt road vs only keeping it on pavement, so Sprint shouldn't worry about how I use my crappy signal. Splitting my water hose with the neighbor doesn't mean I get twice the pressure, it means I'm splitting that same pressure twice, but ultimately it's still the sanme pressure. My signal is no different. I can't get 4G at home, isn't that breach of contract? They tried getting me to sign contracts for free tablets, but when I told her I get **** service at home, why would I pay $20 per month for something I can hardly use...silence on her end until I said no thanks.
So just like using an IP annoymizer when I used to download movies, is there a way to prevent them from seeing what I'm streaming from and/or two?
m5james said:
Actually like most, I didn't read the actual contract...I just said yes and keep paying. I know they wanted $30 to use their tethering app, but just like stocks apps on an unroored phone, I've rooted it to remove and add apps as I see fit. BMW doesn't tell me they're going to take my M5 back because I took out driving down a dirt road vs only keeping it on pavement, so Sprint shouldn't worry about how I use my crappy signal. Splitting my water hose with the neighbor doesn't mean I get twice the pressure, it means I'm splitting that same pressure twice, but ultimately it's still the sanme pressure. My signal is no different. I can't get 4G at home, isn't that breach of contract? They tried getting me to sign contracts for free tablets, but when I told her I get **** service at home, why would I pay $20 per month for something I can hardly use...silence on her end until I said no thanks.
So just like using an IP annoymizer when I used to download movies, is there a way to prevent them from seeing what I'm streaming from and/or two?
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I'd like to apologize for coming off harsh and unfeeling earlier, it was a ****ty thing to say on a day where the whole world could benefit from a little bit of understanding and goodwill. Charging for tethering is a crappy business model and I empathize with your position. Unfortunately Sprint (and frankly just about all cell carriers) doesn't feel the same and they have the legal contract to back it up.
I'm not sure what you can do to mask your usage as I'm not sure what behaviour it was that brought you to their attention in their first place. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable of Sprint's network monitoring capabilities can chime in with some advice.
No need to apologize, I'm just annoyed by the hypocrisy of it. I've lived in my current home for a year w/ such bad signal at home that I installed an app/widget called "Signal Boost 3G 4G" that basically cycles airplane mode quickly in an effort to acquire a better signal. Inside of the year, in one the past month or so have I gotten 4G, but it's not getting signal...like it says 4G on my screen, but NOTHING connects, so now I'm forced to make my phone stay in CDMA mode at home (which requires a reset) and then switching back to LTE/CDMA when I leave my home (once again requiring a reset)...but they can detect that I'm streaming and have the audacity to send me a letter telling me that I can't use their ****ty signal anywhich way I chose and threatening me w/ termination, yet if I wanted to leave early I either have to threaten to contact the FCC and/or pay an ETF. They can go **** themselves.
m5james said:
Actually like most, I didn't read the actual contract...I just said yes and keep paying. I know they wanted $30 to use their tethering app, but just like stocks apps on an unroored phone, I've rooted it to remove and add apps as I see fit. BMW doesn't tell me they're going to take my M5 back because I took out driving down a dirt road vs only keeping it on pavement, so Sprint shouldn't worry about how I use my crappy signal. Splitting my water hose with the neighbor doesn't mean I get twice the pressure, it means I'm splitting that same pressure twice, but ultimately it's still the sanme pressure. My signal is no different. I can't get 4G at home, isn't that breach of contract? They tried getting me to sign contracts for free tablets, but when I told her I get **** service at home, why would I pay $20 per month for something I can hardly use...silence on her end until I said no thanks.
So just like using an IP annoymizer when I used to download movies, is there a way to prevent them from seeing what I'm streaming from and/or two?
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Just cause you did not read the contract it does not mean you get to do what you want. You have failed to uphold your end of the and they can terminate you.
It is like shooting someone and telling the judge you didn't know it was illegal. Ignorance does not give you free rein to do what you wish. So now you have a couple options.
1. Ignore it and get your contract terminated (hey no ETF)
2. Stop tethering
3. Pay for the tethering service
This site (xda) is not here to help you perform illegal acts. Keep going this route and moderators will lock the thread.
Sent from my XT1045 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
My thread is one of MANY I've seen here, other forums, even on SprintUsers itself...if I get banned for asking what others have years ago, I'm just asking more specifically for my phone, then so be it. In the meantime I'm sure there are bigger fish to fry. I don't need you getting on your moral soapbox, a guy can vent...you're treating my "Illegal activities" as I'm trying to hide from being able to watch child porn or something - calm down. Just like others have voiced, it's BS that Sprint wants me to pay for something I'm already getting...unlimited data. My city charges water at 1000 gallon increments. If I wanna water my lawn, my neighbors lawn or install a splitter and water both, the city doesn't care because at the end of the day my water flow is still something I'm paying for in said increments. Apparently unlimited isn't so unlimited, because at the end of the day whether I'm watching porn on my phone or tethered to my laptop, it's still the same stream. Keep backing corporations...I'm sure they need the money. In the meantime, they have my number.
1) My money is just as green somewhere else
2) I pay for unlimited, I'm going to use unlimited
3) See 2
Calm down, internet warrior. You and I both know the illegal activities that happen in varying forms and levels even on these boards ranging from hacked software, removing stock apps, removing factory installed spyware, apps I used to in order to get free tethering, hell even rooting is against the rules, etc...why are you even here on these boards, hypocrite.
Back to my topic. I've read something about PDANet having an option to block/spam the activities that Sprint used to see that I'm tethering (jlmancuso, I'll let them know you're coming to get onto your soapbox if I ever have to write tech support) but it seems the app is mostly for hardwire or bluetooth tethering, neither of which I've ever done before. At the moment I simply click the TrevE mod widget and I'm putting signal out to whatever devices I've given permission to. I'm not the first nor the last Sprint user who's tethering for free, I'm just trying to find out how to continue doing what I pay for already.
m5james said:
My thread is one of MANY I've seen here, other forums, even on SprintUsers itself...if I get banned for asking what others have years ago, I'm just asking more specifically for my phone, then so be it. In the meantime I'm sure there are bigger fish to fry. I don't need you getting on your moral soapbox, a guy can vent...you're treating my "Illegal activities" as I'm trying to hide from being able to watch child porn or something - calm down. Just like others have voiced, it's BS that Sprint wants me to pay for something I'm already getting...unlimited data. My city charges water at 1000 gallon increments. If I wanna water my lawn, my neighbors lawn or install a splitter and water both, the city doesn't care because at the end of the day my water flow is still something I'm paying for in said increments. Apparently unlimited isn't so unlimited, because at the end of the day whether I'm watching porn on my phone or tethered to my laptop, it's still the same stream. Keep backing corporations...I'm sure they need the money. In the meantime, they have my number.
1) My money is just as green somewhere else
2) I pay for unlimited, I'm going to use unlimited
3) See 2
Calm down, internet warrior. You and I both know the illegal activities that happen in varying forms and levels even on these boards ranging from hacked software, removing stock apps, removing factory installed spyware, apps I used to in order to get free tethering, hell even rooting is against the rules, etc...why are you even here on these boards, hypocrite.
Back to my topic. I've read something about PDANet having an option to block/spam the activities that Sprint used to see that I'm tethering (jlmancuso, I'll let them know you're coming to get onto your soapbox if I ever have to write tech support) but it seems the app is mostly for hardwire or bluetooth tethering, neither of which I've ever done before. At the moment I simply click the TrevE mod widget and I'm putting signal out to whatever devices I've given permission to. I'm not the first nor the last Sprint user who's tethering for free, I'm just trying to find out how to continue doing what I pay for already.
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Wow a man who is truly confused. Just cause you paid for unlimited internet doesn't mean you paid for tethering. Which you did not. You chose to enter the agreement with sprint so if you dont like it leave. As you say your money is just as good somewhere else. You know there are companies that dont charge for tethering. Go with one of them and stop whining like a little kid. Heck you could even step up and be a man by actually paying for the service you want.
You say rooting and removing stock software is illegal. Well guess what it is not. You must be a little confused by terminology. Modification of a device that belongs to your provider is against your contact conditions. Unlike most suckers I own my device (bought and paid for) and also while I have a sprint phone I am not on sprint. So since I ACTUALLY own my device I am not breaking my contract. Heck I dont even have a contract to break. I am not enough of a fool to pay those outrageous rates for my service.
So go on talk about me being a morally correct person. I just happened to be raised be decent parents who taught me to be a decent person. Just like I teach my children to be decent people.
Sent from my XT1045 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Really guy?
jlmancuso said:
Wow a man who is truly confused. Just cause you paid for unlimited internet doesn't mean you paid for tethering. Which you did not. You chose to enter the agreement with sprint so if you dont like it leave. As you say your money is just as good somewhere else. You know there are companies that dont charge for tethering. Go with one of them and stop whining like a little kid. Heck you could even step up and be a man by actually paying for the service you want.
You say rooting and removing stock software is illegal. Well guess what it is not. You must be a little confused by terminology. Modification of a device that belongs to your provider is against your contact conditions. Unlike most suckers I own my device (bought and paid for) and also while I have a sprint phone I am not on sprint. So since I ACTUALLY own my device I am not breaking my contract. Heck I dont even have a contract to break. I am not enough of a fool to pay those outrageous rates for my service.
So go on talk about me being a morally correct person. I just happened to be raised be decent parents who taught me to be a decent person. Just like I teach my children to be decent people.
Sent from my XT1045 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Dude, get off that imaginary high horse.. There are so many annoying things in that last sentence it makes me want to barf. All your "decent" parents taught you to be was a judgmental self righteous prick. Just like I'm sure you're teaching your kids.
Thanks, operator080...I thought much of the same thing but I wasn't going to feed the troll. I'm sure much to his chagrin though, they did end my service about two weeks ago. One morning it stopped working but my GF and mother's phones still worked. I called to talk to Sprint, which is when I found out they group roaming and tethering under the same reason to cancel if you go over 500 min a month, which I had. The woman on the phone said a couple times that I'm no longer allowed to keep that phone number on Sprint and then turned it on for a week to have it ported over.
I hit the Sprint store on the way to work one day and they suggested to either change it myself, then wait and see what happened or come back if it gets cut off....he said that at that point aother slot will be opened in my plan, so I waited it out for a week. I read inbetween the lines of what the woman said repeatedly, waited until the last day, went to Sprint's website and manually changed my number myself...which lasted another week. Ultimately they shut off that line as well, so I ran by the store again and they simply added a line to the account that's in my name but only had my GF and mom on it, kept my phome and nothing has changed.
Screw them, I still circumvented a bull**** $30 fee for 2+yrs to use something I'm already paying for. In the meantime I'll stream via Bluetooth until I can figure out how they can see other devices (Chrome has some very interesting tools for this) and I'll be back to using what I already pay for...a slow 3G internet at my home (just enough to check email) and 4G to my car stereo/tablet in my truck.
m5james said:
Thanks, operator080...I thought much of the same thing but I wasn't going to feed the troll. I'm sure much to his chagrin though, they did end my service about two weeks ago. One morning it stopped working but my GF and mother's phones still worked. I called to talk to Sprint, which is when I found out they group roaming and tethering under the same reason to cancel if you go over 500 min a month, which I had. The woman on the phone said a couple times that I'm no longer allowed to keep that phone number on Sprint and then turned it on for a week to have it ported over.
I hit the Sprint store on the way to work one day and they suggested to either change it myself, then wait and see what happened or come back if it gets cut off....he said that at that point aother slot will be opened in my plan, so I waited it out for a week. I read inbetween the lines of what the woman said repeatedly, waited until the last day, went to Sprint's website and manually changed my number myself...which lasted another week. Ultimately they shut off that line as well, so I ran by the store again and they simply added a line to the account that's in my name but only had my GF and mom on it, kept my phome and nothing has changed.
Screw them, I still circumvented a bull**** $30 fee for 2+yrs to use something I'm already paying for. In the meantime I'll stream via Bluetooth until I can figure out how they can see other devices (Chrome has some very interesting tools for this) and I'll be back to using what I already pay for...a slow 3G internet at my home (just enough to check email) and 4G to my car stereo/tablet in my truck.
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Wow a thief wins for the moment. Enjoy your victory while it lasts. In the end you will still lose.
operator080 said:
Dude, get off that imaginary high horse.. There are so many annoying things in that last sentence it makes me want to barf. All your "decent" parents taught you to be was a judgmental self righteous prick. Just like I'm sure you're teaching your kids.
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Yes sir go the low route talk your trash. I am sure know that people with real morals does make you sick. Maybe if you took a little time to better understand yourself you could see how sick you are. Hopefully you have not been allowed to breed. We really don't need more like you running around.
Sent from my XT1045 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
m5james said:
Screw them, I still circumvented a bull**** $30 fee for 2+yrs to use something I'm already paying for. In the meantime I'll stream via Bluetooth until I can figure out how they can see other devices (Chrome has some very interesting tools for this) and I'll be back to using what I already pay for...a slow 3G internet at my home (just enough to check email) and 4G to my car stereo/tablet in my truck.
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You, sir, are being very childish. Sprint's prices are low because they provide ****ty service compared to the rest. So if you want to tether, you can either man the **** up and pay for the service, or continue what you're doing and enjoy your early termination. Sprint is not losing any money by giving you the boot. They're already making a killing off their MVNO companies.

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