So my Rogers Dream has bit the big one. Well not entirely, but close enough, BT won't work, it won't read sd cards, basic features work but I can't live without SD or BT. I know the daughterboard contains the microsd slot instead of the mainboard.
I have an ADP1 that I currently don't use much, I would like to switch out the daughterboard between them to get my SD working again. I know it wouldn't fix BT, but then I also need 3G more than BT so this is my best bet solution (put the ADP board in the Rogers phone). My question though is whether anything else in on the daughterboard, buttons I know, but no biggie, same with USB plug. What about radios?
However I do have one other possible solution that would be an easier switch, but I'm not sure if it would work or not. The UMTS board & connector is just under the main back plate, with only one screw & one cable. Very easy to switch (if your careful). Could I just switch the UMTS board into my ADP & get 3G on the AT&T freqs? Yes I know software won't do it, I'm not a moron, I'm talking a hardware swap. If you don't know what it means don't say anything on this one
Don't flame me, I know what I'm doing (somewhat). I have poured over the factory service manual & know how to do everything I'm asking, I just need to know the practicality of it.
Related
Haven't posted here in awhile but I've been watching the HP Touchpad forums lately. Anyhow
I managed to get one of the AT&T Developer Xperia Play R800a units awhile back and posted pictures etc. Lately I've been borrowing a r800x model from a friend and he's borrowing my R800a to use in the Philippines. I was curious and pulled off the battery cover and saw the nice plastic SIM cover..
I just bought a water damaged r800x (took a risk on e-bay should be here soon). Hopefully the board is still salvageable... the seller just mentioned the screen was shot.....
I've noticed the bootloader has been cracked for the r800x models and was wondering if anyone ever tried flashing a GSM generic firmware to a R800x?
I imagine it would brick the device if all else..but was curious.
From what i've been reading on various sources is that the R800x has both the CDMA/GSM Radios however the GSM Side is more likely disabled in the firmware. I know it probably takes more than just flashing a GSM variants firmware to enable GSM use but was wondering if anyone was attacking or attempting on a solution to enable GSM.
In the Verizon forums, verizon workers are claiming the phone does not have a sim slot but a member basically shut them up by pulling the glued tab however there was no other posts. Seems like a pretty useless phone if you are traveling abroad... there has to be a way to enable this!
I own a Verizon Blackberry Storm 1 and it has a simcard slot that works when it's unlocked. I also got it flashed for Metro PCS and it was funny using a ESN off a old Motorola Razor and paying a dumb phone monthly price.
Thoughts suggestions? When I get the water damaged phone in the mail, i'll be happy to donate for DEV use. I repair cell phones and will have the phone in a workable state if the water damage is not beyond repair.
Warudakumi said:
Haven't posted here in awhile but I've been watching the HP Touchpad forums lately. Anyhow
I managed to get one of the AT&T Developer Xperia Play R800a units awhile back and posted pictures etc. Lately I've been borrowing a r800x model from a friend and he's borrowing my R800a to use in the Philippines. I was curious and pulled off the battery cover and saw the nice plastic SIM cover..
I just bought a water damaged r800x (took a risk on e-bay should be here soon). Hopefully the board is still salvageable... the seller just mentioned the screen was shot.....
I've noticed the bootloader has been cracked for the r800x models and was wondering if anyone ever tried flashing a GSM generic firmware to a R800x?
I imagine it would brick the device if all else..but was curious.
From what i've been reading on various sources is that the R800x has both the CDMA/GSM Radios however the GSM Side is more likely disabled in the firmware. I know it probably takes more than just flashing a GSM variants firmware to enable GSM use but was wondering if anyone was attacking or attempting on a solution to enable GSM.
In the Verizon forums, verizon workers are claiming the phone does not have a sim slot but a member basically shut them up by pulling the glued tab however there was no other posts. Seems like a pretty useless phone if you are traveling abroad... there has to be a way to enable this!
I own a Verizon Blackberry Storm 1 and it has a simcard slot that works when it's unlocked. I also got it flashed for Metro PCS and it was funny using a ESN off a old Motorola Razor and paying a dumb phone monthly price.
Thoughts suggestions? When I get the water damaged phone in the mail, i'll be happy to donate for DEV use. I repair cell phones and will have the phone in a workable state if the water damage is not beyond repair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has been tried, and did indeed brick the phone...It has a sim slot, but it is apparently not connected...
Nhialor said:
It has been tried, and did indeed brick the phone...It has a sim slot, but it is apparently not connected...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for posting! When you say not connected... do you mean hardware wise? I have yet to see the inside of the phone other than FCC pictures and don't want to tear open my friends R800x. Now you got me scared like it's missing something hardware wise internally
I was the one that took the brick...
The thought is that it's firmware locked, although it could just very well be unsoldered just the same.
And for the record, the generic firmware will work just fine on the phone. There is just intermittent data and calling issues since all the CDMA stuff has been removed.
The brick occurred when the TA partition in the nand memory was flashed with a gsm build. That's a lot deeper than replacing just the /system files like the generic build does.
Sent from my R800x using XDA App
Mills00013 said:
I was the one that took the brick...
The thought is that it's firmware locked, although it could just very well be unsoldered just the same.
And for the record, the generic firmware will work just fine on the phone. There is just intermittent data and calling issues since all the CDMA stuff has been removed.
The brick occurred when the TA partition in the nand memory was flashed with a gsm build. That's a lot deeper than replacing just the /system files like the generic build does.
Sent from my R800x using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good info. Hmm...well that sucks! Now I really can't wait till I get the phone to tear it apart. Unsoldered? Hmm yeah that could be a possibility as well since i hear people sticking SIMS into the phone but it won't detect it. If I remember correctly I think my Verizon Blackberry would still detect a SIM inserted even when it wasn't unlocked. It just wouldn't logon to a GSM network.
I'll check to see how the R800a and R800x boards differ with their sim slots. If it's indeed unsoldered it will be obvious by looking.
Does anyone know if there is a hidden system menu on the Xperia Play like how some Galaxy Devices have to enable different radio frequencies, gsm/cdma etc? My thinking..if there is such a menu Verizon and Sony won't say anything about it.
Warudakumi said:
Good info. Hmm...well that sucks! Now I really can't wait till I get the phone to tear it apart. Unsoldered? Hmm yeah that could be a possibility as well since i hear people sticking SIMS into the phone but it won't detect it. If I remember correctly I think my Verizon Blackberry would still detect a SIM inserted even when it wasn't unlocked. It just wouldn't logon to a GSM network.
I'll check to see how the R800a and R800x boards differ with their sim slots. If it's indeed unsoldered it will be obvious by looking.
Does anyone know if there is a hidden system menu on the Xperia Play like how some Galaxy Devices have to enable different radio frequencies, gsm/cdma etc? My thinking..if there is such a menu Verizon and Sony won't say anything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no support in the kernel and I doubt even in the hardware. IF (and this is the best case) the baseband supports GSM, it is disabled via firmware (not the kernel driver, but the hardware firmware). A good way to test if the SIM card is hooked up is to use a multimeter and measure the voltage through the pins in the sim slot. This of course required opening up the phone partially.
Hidden Systems Menus
Warudakumi said:
Does anyone know if there is a hidden system menu on the Xperia Play like how some Galaxy Devices have to enable different radio frequencies, gsm/cdma etc? My thinking..if there is such a menu Verizon and Sony won't say anything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only two hidden systems menus i've found are as follows:
Open your dialer, enter:
*#*#4636#*#*
This one has Phone info, Battery info, Usage States and Wifi info.
*#*#7378423#*#*
Has Service Info, Service settings (empty on my phone), and Service Tests.
Is this what you were looking for?
AFAIK, R800x has CDMA radio so GSM can't be enabled.
multimeter
nothing yet?
will it really be possible?
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/02/cdma-xperia-play-visits-fcc-promptly-gets-dissected/
I think using a multimeter in the sim slot would be the best way to answer it!
Could anyone try it?
I thought the CPU in the R800x could only do CDMA so GSM is impossible
Warudakumi said:
Good info. Hmm...well that sucks! Now I really can't wait till I get the phone to tear it apart. Unsoldered? Hmm yeah that could be a possibility as well since i hear people sticking SIMS into the phone but it won't detect it. If I remember correctly I think my Verizon Blackberry would still detect a SIM inserted even when it wasn't unlocked. It just wouldn't logon to a GSM network.
I'll check to see how the R800a and R800x boards differ with their sim slots. If it's indeed unsoldered it will be obvious by looking.
Does anyone know if there is a hidden system menu on the Xperia Play like how some Galaxy Devices have to enable different radio frequencies, gsm/cdma etc? My thinking..if there is such a menu Verizon and Sony won't say anything about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get the phone to take apart and check?
Bump......
Any update on this? Its been almost 2 months so I doubt it. But still like to know. Would love to activate the sim card slot on my R800x.
It can't be done it's already been talked about over in q&a or general section one of the two that's why this thread is dead in the water
Sent from my R800a using XDA App
Hey,
So I have some problems with service range, after I checked my SIM with other cellphones and checked my cellphone with other Sim-Cards I found that I have some problem with my antenna, the question is what should I replace?
the Antenna or the antenna connector cable?
What leads you to that conclusion? Merely checking your sim card in other phones and other sim cards in your phone has no/little connection with your antenna or antenna cable! There are easily a dozen or more hardware problems that could cause service range problems, not to speak of software problems! One of the first things I would check is what modem you have. Different modems act differently depending on your location. As a last resort, instead of mucking with your hardware, contact T-mobile customer service. You may be able to send it in for repair/replacement.
Hey, I bought the cellphone in the states but I'm using it in Europe so I cannot send it to T-mobile...
Anyway - I tried to switch modem version, back to stock, change roms but all are the same "****y" range..
I'm pretty sure that this is an hardware problem (while I'm holding the phone in the bottom the range is gettin really low...) the question is what I should replace
any suggests?
I have T-Mobile and I want to buy the International Samsung Galaxy S II. I understand that the International version does not support T-Mobile's 3g frequency band, and I would be limited to 2g speeds. However, I was wondering if it would be possible to buy an external antenna to be able to use 3g speeds. Or even better, is it possible to replace the internal antenna?
No and No.
DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU WANT TO KILL YOUR GS2.
Sorry for the bold, but despite there being no rhyme or reason for it, I came across a thread which illustrated this fact from multiple people who tried external antennas, and here's what happened. The antenna worked, they thought all was good, then they disconnected the antenna, no signal. EVER again. I guess what happens is when you plug in an external antenna it pushes some contacts apart which breaks contact with the internal antenna permanently (supposedly a few that were very handy with a VERY tiny needle were able to fix it). Don't ask me why Samsung would design it this way while leaving the plugs exposed but that's what I read. Just wanted to make sure you didn't find out the hard way
In other words, the jack is there, and you can find adapters for those jack(s), but you really don't want to, unless you want to ONLY use external antennas for the rest of time (not most people).
EDIT: Whoops, forgot to add the most important part. Antenna has NOTHING to do with the fact that the radio doesn't support t-mo's frequencies. It's like having an antenna designed for HDTVs, and hoping to get hdtv on your standard def tv. Antennas don't "translate", they're all just fancy coathangers.
mwknowles92 said:
I have T-Mobile and I want to buy the International Samsung Galaxy S II. I understand that the International version does not support T-Mobile's 3g frequency band, and I would be limited to 2g speeds. However, I was wondering if it would be possible to buy an external antenna to be able to use 3g speeds. Or even better, is it possible to replace the internal antenna?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"antenna has nothing to do with GSM OR CDMA bands." its the radio chip that does the work.
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
Understood, thanks for your help guys. Is there a way to mark this as [Solved] or something?
mwknowles92 said:
Understood, thanks for your help guys. Is there a way to mark this as [Solved] or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Edit your first post to an eye-popping "SOLVED"
Weird issue, I get no phone or data service unless I am in an AT&T hotspot. Anybody know what the issue could be?
Samsung Galaxy S2 i777
I've had the phone about 2 years and have had no problems until last week when I changed out the micro usb port.
Any thoughts are welcome, particularly related to how access within a hotspot is different than outside of one.
Thanks!
Steve
I've come to understand that the micro-usb port for these phones is tied to the network radio antenna, and there are different versionsrevisions of the part available. Considering that the wifi system is not related, it makes sense that you are able to connect to "hot-spots". I've read mention of people finding success after switching to a different "version/revision" (printed on the port/radio) of the unit.
I have also read that users are cutting the board to separate the new USB charge port from the useable data radio antenna.
If I find a link to one of those posts, I'll link it here, but that's my guess.
-Cyril
Edit: Here is the same issue, so definitely related to charge-port replacement...
- This post says that genuine equipment matters
- Here is a post citing success by separating (cutting) the useable antenna from the damaged USB port.
- This page finds success via cutting the board, or using one particular ebay seller. good luck.
lukest said:
Weird issue, I get no phone or data service unless I am in an AT&T hotspot. Anybody know what the issue could be?
Samsung Galaxy S2 i777
I've had the phone about 2 years and have had no problems until last week when I changed out the micro usb port.
Any thoughts are welcome, particularly related to how access within a hotspot is different than outside of one.
Thanks!
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you cyril!
A lot of useful info here cyril, thank you for the thorough reply!
-Steve
cyril279 said:
I've come to understand that the micro-usb port for these phones is tied to the network radio antenna, and there are different versionsrevisions of the part available. Considering that the wifi system is not related, it makes sense that you are able to connect to "hot-spots". I've read mention of people finding success after switching to a different "version/revision" (printed on the port/radio) of the unit.
I have also read that users are cutting the board to separate the new USB charge port from the useable data radio antenna.
If I find a link to one of those posts, I'll link it here, but that's my guess.
-Cyril
Edit: Here is the same issue, so definitely related to charge-port replacement...
- This post says that genuine equipment matters
- Here is a post citing success by separating (cutting) the useable antenna from the damaged USB port.
- This page finds success via cutting the board, or using one particular ebay seller. good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Replaced old usb and new antenna -- still no service
Update: I put the old usb port in and still no service (recall that i used to have service with old usb, just couldn't charge).
Also, put in new antenna, and still no service.
Now the question is why would I no longer have service with my old usb?
Are you sure that you plugged that antenna cord back onto the board? The original should certainly give you signal if it did before.
No firmware changes? no apn changes? Was there anything else that you changed recently?
Does anyone think there's a chance this tablet has a modem in to that can be enabled by porting over parts of a dump from one of the cellular versions? Long shot but not use to wifi tablets even having the pins for sim card.
i don't think so, if it has been designed to be working without a sim, there's a reason for it. the only way would be to replace the entire motherboard with the t975/t976 version, so you might as well buy the sim version.
kitamurt said:
i don't think so, if it has been designed to be working without a sim, there's a reason for it. the only way would be to replace the entire motherboard with the t975/t976 version, so you might as well buy the sim version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I get it, this is just the first wifi only tablet I've had, that HAS the pins for a sim card, I'm not taking it apart, but since it has a 865+ it would be insanely easy if there's a teardown to tell if it has the hardware, since the modem is now a separate chip with this snapdragon, granted you would need to decan the motherboard to do so,
Samsung used the same SIM/SD Card combo tray for all S7/S7 + models.
You'll notice the filler piece on the opposite side of the SD Card side is shaped like a Nano SIM..
The filler is removable and is marked under the black sticker as a SIM slot.
That said, I doubt Samsung is going to include the radio package in a disabled state on a Wi-Fi only model.
The one teardown video I could find of a Wi-Fi only model S7 did not show any cellular radio antennas. I can only see Wi-Fi leads. Definitely do not see any 5G antennas.