I'm getting horribly bad LTE coverage on sprint and have been for months now. I just keep my phone on cdma only at this point because lte is almost useless.
Is there a way for me to unlock the phone myself? I want to be able to pop a t-mobile sim card in the phone and test it out for a bit to see if I get better coverage.
I actually have a friend who has a note 4 on t-mobile, although it doesn't have an active account attached to it. But I was hoping i could at least pop his sim card into my phone just to see what sort of signal i get.
Related
ok so i can get a sim from straight talk , cut the end off and put it in the micro slot - confermed by androidarea51
my question is, since I am getting the runaround on a carrier unlock code, is as follows:
If I root, rom, and flash anntennas and modems to my phone, will I become carrer unlocked?
is there any way to become carrier unlocked without getting the code from tmobile/samsung/or cellunlockers that charge a fee
I am perfectly open to the option of doing this myself with little concern on complexity of the flashing metheds if that is what is required.
so Expert opinion?
You don't have to. Check EBay for unlock, it's very cheap there.
Which Straight Talk Sim?
If you get a Straight Talk T-mobile Sim then you wouldn't need to unlock the phone at all. It is not required if you use the tmobile sim in a tmobile phone just chose that sim and it uses the tmobile coverage map and speeds (the other choice is a At&t sim which you would pick if you had a At&t note ii or if you have known issues with the coverage of tmobile in your area) No need to pay for unlock code or hassle with tmobile to give you one with this option. You would probably get faster speeds using the tmobile sim option from Straight Talk over the At&t option sim. For me at my location in Florida I get double speeds on a tmobile one vs At&t depends on your location. Sim cards are $14 I think or less on Straight Talk you could get one of each and try one month of each and compare. Just thought I would mention this as an option in case you didn't know.
impimms said:
If you get a Straight Talk T-mobile Sim then you wouldn't need to unlock the phone at all. It is not required if you use the tmobile sim in a tmobile phone just chose that sim and it uses the tmobile coverage map and speeds (the other choice is a At&t sim which you would pick if you had a At&t note ii or if you have known issues with the coverage of tmobile in your area) No need to pay for unlock code or hassle with tmobile to give you one with this option. You would probably get faster speeds using the tmobile sim option from Straight Talk over the At&t option sim. For me at my location in Florida I get double speeds on a tmobile one vs At&t depends on your location. Sim cards are $14 I think or less on Straight Talk you could get one of each and try one month of each and compare. Just thought I would mention this as an option in case you didn't know.
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I received my unlock code for my T-mobile Note 2 in less than 48 hours, and right from T-mobile themselves and it was FREE... If you have been with T-mobile for 60 days or longer on a Monthly4G plan then you can request a free unlock for any phone you buy outright (off-contract) and you will then be free to stick ANY sim in that slot as long as it has the bands you require... Pretty sure that they will unlock it with out too much hassle but I guess it's all in who you get... (And the choices aren't GREAT by any means)!
I would prefer 3g everywhere n 3g at home with an att covered straight talk sim card as opposed to tmobile with 4 g in a few places an absolutly no signal at home regardless of what their falsified coverage map says (should be edge here according to that). I also want the cheeper plan.
I just looked a the wika n it says they partner with att n tmobile for gsm so I asked straightalk who they partner with in my area.
I have been told that straight talk opperates in the fasion of having an independent imei on the sim card as well as the sim code and dosent realy pay attention to the phones imei
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Why Buy The Tmobile version of Galaxy Note II only to use it on ATT straight talk
I was just wondering what would the benefit of using the Tmobile version of the Galaxy Note II on AT&T-Straight talk and not using it on Tmobile-Straight talk. Wouldnt it make better sense just to use the AT&T version of the Galaxy Note II on the AT&T Straight talk network? ...and the Tmobile Galaxy Note II on the Tmobile Straight Talk Network?....Granted you have to wait a little longer until the AT&T version comes out but wouldnt that give you better service having the same provider???
Take some time and read up on some of the threads here. The tmobile version has the best long term growth potential. Then again, you could just wait. I love not having LTE, its such a horrible battery hog. I am getting 11mb download speeds on solavei (tmobile towers). But I work and play in a great coverage area.
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mdt73 said:
Take some time and read up on some of the threads here. The tmobile version has the best long term growth potential. Then again, you could just wait. I love not having LTE, its such a horrible battery hog. I am getting 11mb download speeds on solavei (tmobile towers). But I work and play in a great coverage area.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
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How is soavei? I still gotta go att but im interested in an opinion of a member.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
I know there's loads of questions and threads about T-Mobile on a S3 but I've been dealing with this issue ever since my girlfriend gave me her old AT&T S3. I signed up on here just now because I couldn't stand trying to figure it out myself anymore.
I've also looked at all those threads and for some reason they all seem to have an opposite issue of what I have. To my understanding, areas that aren't re-farmed will give you 4g LTE and 2g (edge) but no 3g correct?
I get the opposite of that, I get only HSPA+, HSPA, rarely 2g and never LTE. The part I don't understand is why I don't get LTE. My Brother is able to get LTE with his T-Mobile LG G2 so LTE coverage should be fine in my area.
I ended up finding out that T-Mobile requires a newer sim card to work with LTE and I was using an extremely old one that I got when smartphones basically just came out. (I cut it into micro shape) Today I just received my new sim in the mail, popped it in and it showed LTE with 4 bars but I couldn't do anything because I haven't activated it yet. Once I got it activated it went back to HSPA+.
The weird part about this is that if I restart my phone sometimes it'll show LTE for a couple seconds but it'll say "no service" then proceed to go back to H+.
I'd like to at least know someone else gets the same thing because it's been driving me crazy and it seems like I'm the only one having this issue. I've literally been trying to get LTE on this phone for about a year now.
If someone can try helping that'd be cool, thanks
Here is the full cause of the issue after much research (probably an amalgamation of all the information above + some more)
When you pop in your 4G AT&T SIM and give AT&T the new IMEI (SIM1) to update in the database, they cannot 'see' this device as an LTE capable device and cannot activate/provision LTE for this phone, even though the phone supports all the required AT&T LTE Bands.
Arguing with them using logic is futile as even the most technologically adept 'Tech Support' representatives will repetitively claim, ''We can only guarantee LTE service on an AT&T device'' This is why you can only see H+ (HSPA+) on your device.
There are now two ways to proceed: (first make sure your APN settings or correct)
1) Use an older AT&T device (LTE capable), pop your SIM back into this device. Call customer care and ask them to update the IMEI to this older handset. Restart your phone, verify the LTE/4G signal on your notification bar/ confirm with LTE discovery/ (your favourite tool)
Now, take the sim card and re-insert it in your Zenfone 2. You should now see the '4G' icon on your Zenfone.
Note: AT&T will conduct occasional system-wide sweeps to verify if their SIM cards are actually inserted in the device whose IMEI they have registered and if not, they will update the IMEI on their database and you may lose 4G and rollback to HSPA+.
2) WAIT. I've spoken to Asus regarding the issue and this is a known issue to them. I've been told to expect a modem firmware update (no ETA - don't ask me) after which, somehow, this issue should not be a concern and AT&T will be able to provision the Zenfone 2 IMEI as an LTE capable device.
3) Some amazing workaround by a technically adept AT&T representative who can 'force' LTE registration to the device
4) You tell me.
Very informative regarding LTE provisioning on AT&T. In my experience, once they contenders and remove the LTE. a new SIM will need to be used to get back LTE. Even though the account is provisioned for LTE.
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using XDA Free mobile app
AT&T stated they will be offering the ZenFone 2 soon with a contract.
That's crazy! There should be no need for these shenanigans on a GSM carrier. I'm sure the service is leaps better, but I did not have this problem on T-Mobile. I do have a prepaid SIM, so that could make all the difference.
Has to be an issue with certain ZP2's i used an att straightalk sim, and had no issue connecting to LTE at all, i just pop the sim in, searched for networks, registered on att added the straightalk att apns and boom done got full LTE signal on 06610.
Had the same issue with my Nexus 5 originally, a real hassle dealing with support to correct (especially on a corporate account). Currently waiting on ZF2 to arrive, but hoping this is corrected in the latest firmware:
"32. Using HW encode for 4G SKU."
http://www.asus.com/zentalk/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=12194&extra=page=1
I am tracking this thread and a related thread and wondering if I need to call AT&T and tell them to delete my ZF2's IMEI. I definitely am only showing H+ symbols and when I did a speed tests, uhm, tests definitely reveal I am not getting LTE speeds. AT&T tried to tell me I am seeing H+ symbol because the ZFT is not an AT&T branded product but I didn't really think this was true. H+ is not the worst of the worst and I really would notice it if I had two phones side by side, but I can live with it more or less if I have to, although yes-I want my LTE back if I can get it - the point is that the ZF2 is capable of LTE and I am very much still on an AT&T contract and honoring my contract on a line that has had LTE for at least 2 years or more now. I just merely bought my own phone this time and needed a new SIM card for it as I had nano on the last one. So-would telling AT&T to lose my IMEI and give me a new SIM put LTE on my ZF2? The APN information matches what is already listed so that is of no use-it seems universal to either H+ or LTE.
babsk said:
I am tracking this thread and a related thread and wondering if I need to call AT&T and tell them to delete my ZF2's IMEI. I definitely am only showing H+ symbols and when I did a speed tests, uhm, tests definitely reveal I am not getting LTE speeds. AT&T tried to tell me I am seeing H+ symbol because the ZFT is not an AT&T branded product but I didn't really think this was true. H+ is not the worst of the worst and I really would notice it if I had two phones side by side, but I can live with it more or less if I have to, although yes-I want my LTE back if I can get it - the point is that the ZF2 is capable of LTE and I am very much still on an AT&T contract and honoring my contract on a line that has had LTE for at least 2 years or more now. I just merely bought my own phone this time and needed a new SIM card for it as I had nano on the last one. So-would telling AT&T to lose my IMEI and give me a new SIM put LTE on my ZF2? The APN information matches what is already listed so that is of no use-it seems universal to either H+ or LTE.
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They need to have an LTE capable AT&T phone first. Then you can switch sim into the ZF2. Had to use my Lumia 635 imei. Unfortunately, once I swith to a non LTE phone, for example, my nexus 4, their system detects it and removes the LTE profile. So, I have to call them again if I want to get LTE on the ZF2.
Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk
mrcamp said:
They need to have an LTE capable AT&T phone first. Then you can switch sim into the ZF2. Had to use my Lumia 635 imei. Unfortunately, once I swith to a non LTE phone, for example, my nexus 4, their system detects it and removes the LTE profile. So, I have to call them again if I want to get LTE on the ZF2.
Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk
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I have heard that before-hmmm. I would have needed a nano adapter to put the sim from my previous very LTE capable got LTE all the time Lumia phone first and didn't know that ahead of time. But
I did call them and my guess is I am being lied to that they gave me LTE? I now at least can prove it with speed tests and demand that they fix it but how do they do this is at this point
Sent from my K010 using XDA Free mobile app?
So I bought this phone the other day from a kid, and I saw it was pulling LTE with a Nano Sim from ATT - so I figured great, I threw in an Mirco SD card with unlimited data from ATT - it's only showing HSPA+ 6/4 up down which I can live with. I redid all the apn settings to make sure I'd be able to use it for text/calling etc. Reason I decided to get this phone was because I wanted to root it and then hotspot on it. I don't know why att has to be a douche bag about hot spotting. I'm okay if they gave some basic cap (even with the unlimited plan), but alias I am unable to get LTE speeds no matter how I goof around with the phones apn settings. I don't know how he got LTE speeds on the phone. However the LTE symbol popped up it wasn't rooted at the time.
Now next question: I have twrp installed and I've flashed/wiped/reset the crap out of this phone goofing around with some of the settings. Deleting all the Verizon stuff, but Now I'm kinda wondering if I am at a stand still. I understand after reading a bit that Verizon and ATT using different bands, so I understand I may be capped because of that. But I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that when he popped in that little sim card it showed LTE and It was in fact an ATT sim.
So now on to why I made this post - I'm wanting to flash an att 910a firmware to the phone. I understand it's risky - but if I have TWRP in stalled won't I be able to get myself out of a boot loop? OR will it render the phone unable to log into twrp? I've read people using the 910t firmware on a 910v phone. I know there is kernels bits and bytes that may render the phone useless? I'm hoping by flashing the ATT firmware on there it'll allow me to get LTE speeds.
Also, when flashing the 910a is there a kernel that's preferred?
Markymark559 said:
So I bought this phone the other day from a kid, and I saw it was pulling LTE with a Nano Sim from ATT - so I figured great, I threw in an Mirco SD card with unlimited data from ATT - it's only showing HSPA+ 6/4 up down which I can live with. I redid all the apn settings to make sure I'd be able to use it for text/calling etc. Reason I decided to get this phone was because I wanted to root it and then hotspot on it. I don't know why att has to be a douche bag about hot spotting. I'm okay if they gave some basic cap (even with the unlimited plan), but alias I am unable to get LTE speeds no matter how I goof around with the phones apn settings. I don't know how he got LTE speeds on the phone. However the LTE symbol popped up it wasn't rooted at the time.
Now next question: I have twrp installed and I've flashed/wiped/reset the crap out of this phone goofing around with some of the settings. Deleting all the Verizon stuff, but Now I'm kinda wondering if I am at a stand still. I understand after reading a bit that Verizon and ATT using different bands, so I understand I may be capped because of that. But I just can't wrap my mind around the fact that when he popped in that little sim card it showed LTE and It was in fact an ATT sim.
So now on to why I made this post - I'm wanting to flash an att 910a firmware to the phone. I understand it's risky - but if I have TWRP in stalled won't I be able to get myself out of a boot loop? OR will it render the phone unable to log into twrp? I've read people using the 910t firmware on a 910v phone. I know there is kernels bits and bytes that may render the phone useless? I'm hoping by flashing the ATT firmware on there it'll allow me to get LTE speeds.
Also, when flashing the 910a is there a kernel that's preferred?
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So... Google FTW - I now Have realized after reading that ATT has very ignorant customer server reps. After posting this I was thinking I wonder if that KID got LTE because he had a nano sim or because he has an IMEI that is LTE compatiable that is registered to ATT... So I decided to pull my sim out of my note 5 make it touch all the contacts in the sim card slot and booted the phone. Registered as 4g (not hspa+) and ran a speed test and I got 55/15 not to mention it instantly connected to the att network. So I need to call att and give them either the imei to this phone or give them a dummy one. Cause it is obviously compatiable enough to get LTE type speeds... But not with the new sim card they gave me (bit of info: I had a samsung tab a tablet with unlimited data and didn't know the sim isn't swappable to phones, so I had to have a new sim programmed in it's place so I could use phone/text etc with the note 4 910v).
You know sometimes when you're talking to a rep that doesn't understand technology.
So i purchased straight talk form walmart and it came with an att tmobile and verzion sim card. I always wanted to try tmobile and have noticed their strives to make there network better over the years so i decided to activate on the tmobile sims card. The problem is the signal drops and when it does come on its either G or edge. how can i fix this. Anybody notice this happing. Its a shame it really is.