Develop Bugs

Testing Tmobile with unlocked S3

Hey All,
I've placed a Tmobile sim in my Att unlocked GS3. Ive seen many posts stating that the Att version wont get 4g on tmobile but 4g works fine for me; regularly I can get 5 to 10mb downloads. My issue though is that Im sometimes dropping from 4g to 2g/Edge then back to 4g. Should my phone be dropping to 3g instead ? Im quite shocked when it happens since I usually had strong 4g not far away at all.
Is the general consensus to to simply get a Tmobile device instead of bringing something from at&t? I really dont want to root the phone or flash roms at this point since Im just testing out the service.

goon3r said:
Hey All,
I've placed a Tmobile sim in my Att unlocked GS3. Ive seen many posts stating that the Att version wont get 4g on tmobile but 4g works fine for me; regularly I can get 5 to 10mb downloads. My issue though is that Im sometimes dropping from 4g to 2g/Edge then back to 4g. Should my phone be dropping to 3g instead ? Im quite shocked when it happens since I usually had strong 4g not far away at all.
Is the general consensus to to simply get a Tmobile device instead of bringing something from at&t? I really dont want to root the phone or flash roms at this point since Im just testing out the service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are in a refarmed market from the sound of it. The reason you go from 4g to EDGE is because the refarmed spectrum is most likely not through your entire coverage area.
T-Mobile uses the 1700 band, which at&t does not support, as their primary 4G deployment. This is why it is always recommended to get a T-Mobile S3.
That said, there is a firmware image for at&t's GS3 that unlocks T-Mobiles AWS band not just for 4G but for LTE as well. It is in the at&t forum - you will have to read the entire thread to get the relevant files and information on how to do it. Note that this CAN brick your phone permanently so only attempt it if you are willing to take that chance and you are familiar with download mode and ODIN.
The upside of using that hack is that the T-Mobile S3 doesn't support LTE at all.
Sent from my SGH-T999

Thanks for the clarification and info about the hack. Assuming I get a Tmobile device, should I expect to see a 3g icon instead or would it still say 4g?

goon3r said:
Thanks for the clarification and info about the hack. Assuming I get a Tmobile device, should I expect to see a 3g icon instead or would it still say 4g?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll say 4g.. A 4g icon really means 3g/h+ and a 4g lte icon means lte
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium

Thanks!

Here is the link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1771021&page=25 Start reading from post #246

Anyone using this phone on ATT

I understand that this phone has the same hardware and supports the ATT LTE bands. I am done with locked bootloaders, I need confirmation someone is using this phone on ATT Network w LTE successfully without any hacks..
Any other feedback will be great (call quality, radio performance on ATT network)
Seriously pondering getting the T-MO version. I am hoping I can get one off contract.
TIA

I am currently using the phone on at&t. LTE works. Just make sure you set your APN right. I just disabled WiFi calling because it is not supported.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

Yes I am. I had to add the apn and then choose lte in the network section. Works great though.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

Same here. Rooted, unlocked and running very smoothly, no lag at all.
Just need to get a case for it.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

what is the apn setting bc im looking to switch to t mobile with the s3 att

I am NOT able to get this to work at all on mine. I am unlocked, rooted and I am using a red pocket sim that uses AT&T towers.
Any suggestions?

Did you get an unlock code from tmo, a 3rd party, or some sort of debug method a la s3 and note 2?

muqali said:
Did you get an unlock code from tmo, a 3rd party, or some sort of debug method a la s3 and note 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm considering buying the TMO variant to use on AT&T as well and I have a few questions related to this topic:
Would service reception be restricted to just LTE or can the T-Mobile S4 still receive AT&T's E, 3G, etc as well when used on AT&T's network?
Also, and I'm sure this is dependent on the answer to my first question, would the T-Mobile S4 work with the AT&T 3G Microcell?

Whos Lte is faster tmobiles or att.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

rp56 said:
Whos Lte is faster tmobiles or att.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
hard to answer; it really depends on the area, but for the most part im pretty confident in saying t-mobiles LTE is faster.
see attached photo

I've been using the T-Mobile version on AT&T for a few days. I unlocked using the debug menu instructions in this forum, setup the AT&T LTE APN and set the preferred network to LTE. It works fine on LTE, hspa, etc.
Speed test results were 53Mb down, 19Mb up, 66ms ping in Raleigh, NC.
I gave away my microcell with my POS iPhone because the Samsung phones performed OK without it. So, I can't answer whether the T-Mobile version will work correctly with a microcell.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

Help please...
Hi all,
I have a Galaxy S4 I9500, I keep my brightness at full all the time. When I finish playing games even "subway surfer" for 10 minutes, and exit to the desktop, I find that brightness is lowered alittle bit & increase gradually to the previous state which is full brightness (from 5 to 10 seconds). Could this be a result of that when playing games, the device uses the 1.6 quad core CPU and upon exit it takes alittle time (those 5 to 10 seconds) to shift to the 1.2 quad core CPU?
Really need your help.
Thanks alot.

So it seems this is the perfect phone to use on AT&T due to all that bootloader problems and crap on the AT&T version.

So folks still running fine without issues with this device on AT&T's network? I know LTE bands over lap so those are fine and the specs for the other frequencies all line up too but any problems with any data or voice stuff at this point after more time has passed? Including text and media messaging?

Screwbal said:
So folks still running fine without issues with this device on AT&T's network? I know LTE bands over lap so those are fine and the specs for the other frequencies all line up too but any problems with any data or voice stuff at this point after more time has passed? Including text and media messaging?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had left an area with LTE coverage before I was able to network unlock, so I can't comment as to how LTE is working... but I've had no problems using it on Edge or 3G, texting/mms, etc. It even works flawlessly on my Microcell with no modifications other than the network unlock.

mohan_kr said:
I understand that this phone has the same hardware and supports the ATT LTE bands. I am done with locked bootloaders, I need confirmation someone is using this phone on ATT Network w LTE successfully without any hacks..
Any other feedback will be great (call quality, radio performance on ATT network)
Seriously pondering getting the T-MO version. I am hoping I can get one off contract.
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mohan,
Which phone are you getting? The T-mobile version or the Google S4? I read online that the Google version of S4 is the same as the T-mobile version. I'm a T-mobile customer but I want to follow you using the Embryo rom on your new phone selection and hopefully get wifi-calling feature. I'm currently using the Embryo rom on my T989. Thanks.

adding an APN ... issues
lemme ask what will undoubtedly be a noob question. i've unlocked my T-Mo S4. confirmed. i popped in my AT&T iPhone 5's SIM card and boot up. i see that i have a signal, am able to make and receive phone calls. but no data. when i look at the APN, i'm seeing Cingular APN. what gives? i thought the phone would auto-detect and attach to the correct APN and i'd be good-to-go. thoughts? do i need to manually add the APN? I have all of the info necessary. when i try to add the APN, i am able to get to the proper menu, add all of the info. however, when i try to "save" the info, it never shows up as an APN for me to select. so whatever info i've just entered was never saved.
help!

Unlocked AT&T S3 I747 for MetroPCS/TMobile

Has anyone here bought an unlocked AT&T S3 to use on the MetroPCS/Tmobile network? If so has there been any issues? shorter battery life, bad connectivity?
I am debating getting the S3 unlocked or HTC One S. I would prefer the HTC One S but it doesn't have microSD slot

I have a SGH T999 Lte at&t branded unlocked and use on TMobile with the T999L lte rom with no ill effects.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

afwolfpacked said:
I have a SGH T999 Lte at&t branded unlocked and use on TMobile with the T999L lte rom with no ill effects.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Is that the same model as my phone? So it would be advisable, after I got the S3 to flash it with a MetroPCS ROM after activation by Metro?
I thought there would be no need of a flash if I got an unlocked phone.

edo101 said:
Has anyone here bought an unlocked AT&T S3 to use on the MetroPCS/Tmobile network? If so has there been any issues? shorter battery life, bad connectivity?
I am debating getting the S3 unlocked or HTC One S. I would prefer the HTC One S but it doesn't have microSD slot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have issues with 3G HSPA+ on 1700mhz, but 2G EDGE & 4G LTE will work just fine. If you live in a large metro area with a lot of LTE coverage it will be fine. I just went through this with my wife's phone, she had to have the Red one (AT&T specific).
edo101 said:
Is that the same model as my phone? So it would be advisable, after I got the S3 to flash it with a MetroPCS ROM after activation by Metro?
I thought there would be no need of a flash if I got an unlocked phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no need to flash anything, just unlock it and add/edit the APN for TMo.

DJ_SpaRky said:
You will have issues with 3G HSPA+ on 1700mhz, but 2G EDGE & 4G LTE will work just fine. If you live in a large metro area with a lot of LTE coverage it will be fine. I just went through this with my wife's phone, she had to have the Red one (AT&T specific).
There is no need to flash anything, just unlock it and add/edit the APN for TMo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet thanks! Both areas that I frequent have 4G and LTE coverage. My only concern is when I'm driving long distances which I often do, being in college and losing 2G signal in the middle of no where. So far with my Metro phones, I haven't seen anywhere I had 3G coverage. its always 2G and 4G/LTE

edo101 said:
Sweet thanks! Both areas that I frequent have 4G and LTE coverage. My only concern is when I'm driving long distances which I often do, being in college and losing 2G signal in the middle of no where. So far with my Metro phones, I haven't seen anywhere I had 3G coverage. its always 2G and 4G/LTE
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Click to collapse
Good, that is exactly what we are seeing as well. Mostly LTE coverage with EDGE to fallback on. Most all Metro areas and major highways/interstates will have good coverage. Funny enough we live in the middle of nowhere, but there is a major highway nearby so we get LTE coverage.
On a side note, US carriers marketed HSPA as 3G and HSPA+ as 4g, but both are technically 3G. True 4G is LTE. I am not sure if Metro ever had HSPA service, I think that they were just CDMA then later added LTE and have been migrated to TMo's GSM/HSPA network which now uses Metro's LTE as well. Only the newer GSM Based phones would connect to HSPA.

I have my s3 i747 unlocked an on metro I cannot get no data

banks2878 said:
I have my s3 i747 unlocked an on metro I cannot get no data
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Click to collapse
Check your APN settings.

i cant even get to the apn's when i goto more network then mobile networks it says insert Sim card to access network services but calling an text work fine

banks2878 said:
i cant even get to the apn's when i goto more network then mobile networks it says insert Sim card to access network services but calling an text work fine
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Click to collapse
What firmware are you running?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

4.3 rooted.. I got data now that I flashed a modem but its very slow datai don't know how to find the right 1..heres what the one I downloaded is called modem_CWM_I747UCUEMJB

Define Slow data please. Post Speed test results.

normally around 0.15mbs but sometimes it works great and I get around 15.00mbs

Given this is not an LTE device, that sounds about right. Weather, tower congestion do affect results.

Perseus71 said:
Given this is not an LTE device, that sounds about right. Weather, tower congestion do affect results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The I747 is an LTE device, my wife's (running on TMo) works just fine on LTE, just not HSPA+ 1700MHz. I'll run speed test if people would like.

Unlocked att siii will not access metro/t-mobile data
Can someone verify for me what the correct apn settings are? Should there be a network operator? And since I think the apn is finally right, do you have any more suggestions? Also, do you know if this is CDMA or GSM?

can I ask why people want to buy an ATT phone to use on a Tmobile carrier? On the S4 and Note versions, people buy Tmobile phones and use them on ATT, myself included. This is because of the bootloader, and the Tmobile phones cover ATT LTE channels while not the opposite.

Wasn't planned
I didn't intentionally set out to buy an AT&T phone, I was just looking to upgrade and this was the best deal. Or at least it looked to be on the surface. Do I just need to forget it and try to sell it?

If you are in an area recently upgraded by T-Mobile, the I747 will work just fine. However, if you are in an are not upgraded with LTE, etc, it's waay more trouble than its worth. The above post about not getting HSPA+21/42 is worth considering too though.
T-Mobile and AT&T are both GSM networks btw.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

I am actually on Metro P.S, but they are on the T-mobile network now in Atlanta, Ga where I live. We do run 4glte,but so far the fastest mine will connect to shows "E" on my phone, edge maybe? One of the many I've spoken with at metro said E is 3g. One of their repair techs said I needed a different SIM card because I had a CDMA phone but when I got to the store that had one he said it was a GSM phone. It's already about been more trouble than it is worth, but as much effort as I've put into it already, I'd like to resolve it.

ATT note 2 as go phone

I have a att note 2 with a go phone sim card in it. I get hsdpa+ but can not get lte. When the sim card was bought it was used in a vzw note 2 would that effect it cause the vzw note 2 imei number was used to activate the sim. All the ready I have done someone said somewhere that the sim is probably not provisioned for lte. Well the point im getting at is I need help in trying to get lte and I know where im at there is lte cause my Co workers are currently on lte.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

H+ is LTE. Check the phone status >> mobile network type and you will see you are connected to fastest available network.

mjohnson4580 said:
I have a att note 2 with a go phone sim card in it. I get hsdpa+ but can not get lte. When the sim card was bought it was used in a vzw note 2 would that effect it cause the vzw note 2 imei number was used to activate the sim. All the ready I have done someone said somewhere that the sim is probably not provisioned for lte. Well the point im getting at is I need help in trying to get lte and I know where im at there is lte cause my Co workers are currently on lte.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on a go-phone plan I would be very careful using mobile data. My wife doesn't use her phone much so she has a go-phone plan. I experimented with it some and a couple of apps got updated via mobile and it ate her $$ up in a hurry -- something to the tune of $17 in just a couple of minutes.
Then again there are a couple of different go-phone plans so this might not be the case for yours.

rangercaptain said:
H+ is LTE. Check the phone status >> mobile network type and you will see you are connected to fastest available network.
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Click to collapse
Sorry but h+ is not lte. And according to documents on att.com and other varies websites you can connect to lte with this phone on go phone plans

It is LTE if the rom doesn't have an LTE icon.
And how do you know you are in an LTE area? I'm in a large California city, and I almost never see the LTE icon.

HSPA+ is considered "4G" by ATT, but it is not 4G LTE.

AT&T 4g icon... yaya
At&t stock roms will show 4g icon in the status bar for both HSPA+ and LTE. This is where the confusion starts yay AT&T.
To check to see if you are on LTE I would go to settings / about phone / Status and check the mobile network type. I think this will give you a better indication of the network you are on.
An information app similar to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gdip.android.network may also help.
If you are still not getting LTE with your at&t go phone I would start by checking your apn settings.
I have used a few of at&t mvno's I have had straight talk, at&t-go, and currently prefer(and use) AIO wireless (now re-branded to Cricket). All of at&t mvno's don't even require you to unlock your carrier you can use any at&t phone on their networks.
I hope this clears things up a bit.

I've checked apn settings they are what it should be and in the settings menu it reads hspa+. And where I live and work both have lte. Gettysburg pa is where I live and I work in baltimore,md and people I know all have lte. I called customer service and they could see I was in a lte area and only receiving hspa+. They have a trouble ticket in. I know the icon in the notification bar always shows 4g thats why Ilike to always go off setting/about. Thank you for your help
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

you need a new sim, you can get LTE with at&t prepaid but if you have an older sim,it wont work. i had a note 1 on postpaid and was only getting h+ until i went to the at&t store and got a newer sim.
some people will try to say there is no lte on at&t prepaid,there is.

Joshua79 said:
At&t stock roms will show 4g icon in the status bar for both HSPA+ and LTE. This is where the confusion starts yay AT&T.
To check to see if you are on LTE I would go to settings / about phone / Status and check the mobile network type. I think this will give you a better indication of the network you are on.
An information app similar to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gdip.android.network may also help.
If you are still not getting LTE with your at&t go phone I would start by checking your apn settings.
I have used a few of at&t mvno's I have had straight talk, at&t-go, and currently prefer(and use) AIO wireless (now re-branded to Cricket). All of at&t mvno's don't even require you to unlock your carrier you can use any at&t phone on their networks.
I hope this clears things up a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My ATT Note 2 has a 4G icon and a 4G LTE icon...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk

I agree with getting a new sim. Go to a corporate/retail store not a dealer/franchise store, as the corporate will give you a new reprovisioned sim and the dealer will say it won't matter, or charge you.
I just saw the LTE icon for the first time, but I am far away from my home now.

Switched to Straight Talk, using TMO SIM, only get EDGE, can I get better data?

Hey guys, I asked awhile back about switching to ST and I've done it. I finally got data working by using a TMO SIM, but I can only get EDGE, no more, no less. Even in relatively large cities in my area that have TMO towers, I only get EDGE. My question is, is there anything I can do to get better data?

I have Verizon LG G4 on Straight Talk Verizon Towers and everything works great! Not sure what your issue is. Only issue I see is when I make a phone call, it drops to 1x always

photos.by.fako said:
I have Verizon LG G4 on Straight Talk Verizon Towers and everything works great! Not sure what your issue is. Only issue I see is when I make a phone call, it drops to 1x always
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Click to collapse
That's because you're not using Advanced Calling (VoLTE). On Verizon's network, calls always drop to 1X unless you're using Advanced Calling. In the past, most Verizon phones didn't indicate this. They would continue to show whatever data connection the phone had (3G, 4G) even though the call was being done over 1X. Several recent Verizon devices have been more honest about which networks are actually in use, including the G4.
So, what you're experiencing isn't an issue. It's what should be happening.

photos.by.fako said:
I have Verizon LG G4 on Straight Talk Verizon Towers and everything works great! Not sure what your issue is. Only issue I see is when I make a phone call, it drops to 1x always
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Click to collapse
That's because you're using a Verizon ST SIM, the OP is using a T-Mobile ST SIM. Also, you need to enable Advanced Calling on your account and your phone to use voice and data at the same time over LTE.
To the OP, I have the same problem. When I put my T-Mobile SIM in my VS986 I only get 2G at home, while LTE only works in the older LTE sites that are using band 4 primarily. Most 2G > LTE sites are using band 2, which according to the Verizon spec page this phone supports, but it must not be active as it doesn't work. I've been looking at ways to enable band 2 without any success yet.

To the OP, you added the APN configs for Straight Talk T-Mobile, correct?
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

official.xian said:
Hey guys, I asked awhile back about switching to ST and I've done it. I finally got data working by using a TMO SIM, but I can only get EDGE, no more, no less. Even in relatively large cities in my area that have TMO towers, I only get EDGE. My question is, is there anything I can do to get better data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just opened a thread asking about VS986 wcdma bands availability. I was reading LG specs and they say this phone has no 3g, just 2g and LTE. Reading in many other web pages they say this phone has all 4 wcdma bands available. Maybe they are software locked?
I think, I made a mistake buying this phone to be used in a GSM network. Have you checked with Verizon/Tmo rep?

photos.by.fako said:
I have Verizon LG G4 on Straight Talk Verizon Towers and everything works great! Not sure what your issue is. Only issue I see is when I make a phone call, it drops to 1x always
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are your LTE speeds like? I thought about making the switch but then I read that Verizon limits LTE speeds on ST to 5MBPS...Is that true? As it is my 3g+ speeds end up being faster than that most of the time.

rick09 said:
What are your LTE speeds like? I thought about making the switch but then I read that Verizon limits LTE speeds on ST to 5MBPS...Is that true? As it is my 3g+ speeds end up being faster than that most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting better than 5Mbps, but definitely shaped/limited bandwidth. If you actually use 10Mbps+ regularly, keep shopping.