[Q] Thunderbolt... Can it work on T-Mobile network? - Thunderbolt Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have been browsing these forums for a few days now and i'm wondering, I got a thunderbolt, rooted, tried a couple different radios, and i'm banging my head against the wall trying to figure out if it can be done.
I am a little bit of a noob when it comes to cellular phones but i have learned alot in the past week about CDMA, GSM, LTE and the sim cards. I have played with the android SDK a little bit have not published anything yet but It is a hobby currently that may go a little farther than that. also i read and understand that verizon phones do not natively use sim cards.
anyways, my phone recognizes that there is a sim card in it now when the T-Mobile card is in. and as a result I am led to the conclusion that it has something to do with the radio I am using.
Other maybe useful information (which could also be another thing in need of a solution) is the T-mobile phone I am using the sim card from was from a nokia phone that cost me $50.00 for the phone and service for a month.
Does the Sim card cause an issue switching it from a non-smartphone to a smartphone?
Other useful information is I am using the Thunderstick ROM
Revolutionary Rooted
HBoot(which I am unsure of the function of hboot) 6.04.1002
Radio 1.39.00.0430r
eMMC-boot
I like this phone so far and see it as a useful tool, got it from a relative after they upgraded their own.
If you need any more information let me know or if you know my problem would be helpful. again i have learned alot since i got this thing, and i've been just using the android emulator on a 6 year old computer so this is quite the present either way!
I've seen youtube videos of people going to websites and putting in codes like *#06# but i think i need a little guidance to the right direction. i'll be checking this thread daily at least. thank you in advance for reading my small wall of text

long time reader, first time poster!

No T-Mobile is GSM thunderbolt is cdma
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium

it was fun banging my head against the wall the past few days, learned regardless. thank you for the speedy response!

i despise verizon wireless for their prices of their contracts, i think that the only other solution to use this phone with is MetroPCS, correct me if i am wrong (just watched the guy on the XDA TV go off about how much power the major 4 cell providers in america have so much power)
seems like they have affordable plans also.

Yes, a guy on here posted that you could flash your thunderbolt to PagePlus, but keep it mind that you will have no LTE.
Whoops, it was PagePlus not MetroPCS. Fixed in post.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1294179

thank you so much for that last post, i guess i didn't brows through everything because i missed that one, but i was aiming for t-mobile, but i'm thinking the transition to metropcs will be smoother based on they use LTE and CDMA, either way this is more than i thought i'd bite off, but i'm still hungry.
very interesting tutorial, again thanks so much for knowing the forums better than myself.
if this was a HD2 it would be sooo easy it seems.

while tinkering is always fun, why not just pick up a t-mobile phone on craigslist? For about 200-250, you can get most of the high end t-mobile phones, and you will have hspa+ which works great for data when you can get a signal (left t-mobile due to signal issues at work).

Today on Ebay Daily Deals, Samsung Google Nexus S GSM unlocked for 299. No Contract. 200ish left.

Also I am having signal issues where I am I figure of may be a good time to test the waters and swim to a new service provider. Tinkering is fun and educational. Found the service provider that fits the phone and think it will be fun
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Gephoria42 said:
Also I am having signal issues where I am I figure of may be a good time to test the waters and swim to a new service provider. Tinkering is fun and educational. Found the service provider that fits the phone and think it will be fun
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Especially since you'll be seeing Tmobile become ATT.

Related

[Q] Straight Talk On Android ect...

I was wondering if anyone knows how to put straight talk on a cdma android phone. Preferably a Droid Eris. Please any knowledge? Let this be a general question.
Not possible. Go to Howardforums.com and check out the straight talk forums. You need to use a straight talk phone. You might want to check out page plus cellular, they offer bring your own device on verizons network.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
Oh ok well what about boost mobile
Sent from my CM6 Aria froyo
eris_evil said:
Oh ok well what about boost mobile
Sent from my CM6 Aria froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boost mobile isn't CDMA or GSM
It's IDEN (I think that's the acronym).
Wont work.
eris_evil said:
Oh ok well what about boost mobile
Sent from my CM6 Aria froyo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pkopalek said:
Boost mobile isn't CDMA or GSM
It's IDEN (I think that's the acronym).
Wont work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong. Your information is out of date pko. Boost was bought out by Sprint a while back and uses both IDEN and CDMA. The CDMA part is now the actual Sprint network so from what I have heard on various other forums you can get any Sprint phone and run it on Sprint prepaid (Boost). They have an unlimited everything plan for $60/mo. Or better yet you can get a Sprint 450 minute plan for less and get unlimited texting and data I believe.
Well now I've got boost with full evdo network. Not 1xevdo full evdo. Anyone that wants to know how I did it I will tell you if I see a request I am tired of uptight people hiding and keeping secret thing that people wanna know.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
eris_evil said:
Well now I've got boost with full evdo network. Not 1xevdo full evdo. Anyone that wants to know how I did it I will tell you if I see a request I am tired of uptight people hiding and keeping secret thing that people wanna know.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I kind of have an idea but please email me the rouht u took
[email protected]
just wondering.
if any one sucessfully "flashed" a vzw or spcs phone over to straight talk
ps3evader said:
just wondering.
if any one sucessfully "flashed" a vzw or spcs phone over to straight talk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm waiting for this to happen too.
Straight talk is just Verizon.
Just really cheap.
it won't happen. I have heard Straight-talk has an esn white-list of phones sold for Straight-talk. Phones not on the list can't access the network, even if the same model as a phone they sell. But if you are near wifi most of your day, page plus is a better deal anyway.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
SupraLance said:
it won't happen. I have heard Straight-talk has an esn white-list of phones sold for Straight-talk. Phones not on the list can't access the network, even if the same model as a phone they sell. But if you are near wifi most of your day, page plus is a better deal anyway.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
other than esn hacking then, this is impossible.
Darn.
Sent from my Eris using XDA App
eris_evil said:
Well now I've got boost with full evdo network. Not 1xevdo full evdo. Anyone that wants to know how I did it I will tell you if I see a request I am tired of uptight people hiding and keeping secret thing that people wanna know.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are contributing to this problem and should go on your way.
Anyway who wants to be pm'd to share their methods is either selling something, spamming people, or simply a selfish person who has no business on a community forum.
not hackin more like clonin/donor
if i got a straight talk phone already. cant i just have that one as a donor for my evo 3d or my eris htc. i dont think im hacking since i own both evo3d and eris htc both with clean esn... and the straight talk one i own it to and its clean... is it more like modifying...right???????
if people want an Eris like phone on straight talk, just get the Samsung. Its better than the Eris anyway. Plus no hacking...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
iMp0rt said:
if i got a straight talk phone already. cant i just have that one as a donor for my evo 3d or my eris htc. i dont think im hacking since i own both evo3d and eris htc both with clean esn... and the straight talk one i own it to and its clean... is it more like modifying...right???????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need a ST donor phone, yeah, but you should never turn it on or activate it, just need it for the MEID. if you already activated it you're SOL, need a new donor.
For Anyone who cares
Let me start off with saying, I have been screwed over by VZW far too many times to allow them to continue pliaging my pockets. I'm currently working on converting my Verizon (CDMA) Smart phones (HTC Incredible; 1st Gen Android; iPhone 4) over to straight talk.
Now for all you nay sayers, who, for the longest time have made claims that it can not be done; well I tell you it can. I know it's a cliche, but as people have said before, "where there's a will, there is a way!"
This will involve a very intimate understanding of all the mobile networks there are, and, the different networks Straight Talk uses. For anyone who is currently pondering the question "Can I flash/spoof, or otherwise get an AT&T phone on a CDMA network?" The answer is and always will be NO! This will never change. The only exception to the rule is the iPhone4s. This is due in part, to the fact the iPhone 4s was originally designed to be a world phone. This means that the iPhone 4s has the capabilities to switch to CDMA from GSM and vice versa.
If Straight Talk does have a white list of ESNs that have acess to the network, then that would be a tiny problem. I say tiny problem because it can be overcome. This comes down to legalities though. In order to get any CDMA phone (to include verizon phones) onto the straight talk network, you will first have to buy a Straight Talk (CDMA) smart phone. Next you'll have to unlock your current Verizon phone (or any other CDMA network phone, i.e. Sprint, Boost, etc.) from the current carrier. Then you'll need to spoof your IMEI and ESN to what ever your current Straight Talk phone's IMEI/ESN is. You should be able to find some software to assist with this, by doing a google search (specific site will follow in my next thread.
Spoofing both the IMEI and ESN are very important, as the ESN is unique to the IMEI. Essentially, you are fooling the network into thinking that the phone accessing the network is the one you bought from Straight Talk. Another reason for this is so that VZW never catches the on to what you're doing, considering they monitor the data usage of each phone on thier network. If they notice an IMEI from the phone previously on thier network, now with a new carrier who offers cheaper services, they will cut and block you from their network.
(The following thread is a concept in progress. If anyone else thinks they have another/easier way to do it, please feel free to comment)
All questions are welcome, however, if you lack a basic understanding of the cellular technology or the information flow through the mobile networks, I will probably ignore your question. (SO GOOGLE IT!)
Hint
Check this out. Search can be your friend.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1210240&highlight=straight+talk
GSM phones
I know this is old but just reading around thought id post, i just bought an atrix 2 online an at/t phone and got straight talk last week, and all you need is a GSM phone on bands 850 and 1900 mhz thru T-mobile at/t or unlocked and your good, they dont do cdma because it gets complicated if you use anyhing then the phones they sell. But i can report on my "4g'' phone which is HSPA+ i get 8mbp/s up and 2 mbp/s down in my area, so great service!
i'd suggest page plus - its also on the verizon network... nothing special needed, just a clean esn eris - call pageplus and they'll activate you for free, free $2 to get you started and then all you do is buy pins to refill service.
also, you can load cricket prl and some more to get cricket working...
JTStudios said:
I know this is old but just reading around thought id post, i just bought an atrix 2 online an at/t phone and got straight talk last week, and all you need is a GSM phone on bands 850 and 1900 mhz thru T-mobile at/t or unlocked and your good, they dont do cdma because it gets complicated if you use anyhing then the phones they sell. But i can report on my "4g'' phone which is HSPA+ i get 8mbp/s up and 2 mbp/s down in my area, so great service!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] I have looked and looked

I can't find any information on flashing samsung vibrant to cricket. I don't care about a full flash, voice and text is fine for my purposes. I don't care about data or android market or any of that.
I have seriously been NON STOP looking for last 2 days with no luck. I checked the cricket forums and I searched the forums here without any luck. I am an amateur I am not going to lie.
But I have a very good general background in technology and, I have already rooted the phone. I was trying to follow a guide I found but honestly I am not 100% sure that even does what I want it to. QPST samsung vibrant but when I do it I cannot simultaneously connect both the phone and run the software. If software is running first my computer won't recognize the phone as a modem and if the phone is connected first the software freezes and I can't even close it with task manager, I have to reboot comp.
Any help at all would be appreciated. I don't even know if this is the right forum for this question and I am sorry if I put it in the wrong place but this is vexing me.
Does cricket even use sim cards? If they are not a GSM carrier, it would make it impossible to use the vibrant on their network/service
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Cricket is cdma (sprint, Verizon, us cellular type radio, meaning no sim card) and the vibrant is gsm (meaning it uses a sim card).
The vibrant cannot and will not work with cricket.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Well question solved. Definately not the answer I wanted but that can't be helped.
Are there any nationwide carriers that use GSM available similar in price to cricket? I will be looking into this right after posting this question but I figure I might as well see if anyone knows any decent ones they can recommend. Basically, looking for cheapest possible with nationwide coverage.
I just need talk and text. Preferably no activation fee and no cost for sim but I know I am being overly optimistic with that lol. I also know that this forum isn't the place for that so any help is appreciated but I understand if no one has an idea.
PhiTwi said:
Are there any nationwide carriers that use GSM available similar in price to cricket? I will be looking into this right after posting this question but I figure I might as well see if anyone knows any decent ones they can recommend. Basically, looking for cheapest possible with nationwide coverage.
I just need talk and text. Preferably no activation fee and no cost for sim but I know I am being overly optimistic with that lol. I also know that this forum isn't the place for that so any help is appreciated but I understand if no one has an idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is the one that wal-mart sells that you could look into

[Q] Need help with straight talk.

I have an HTC Verizon droid incredible 4g LTE. I ordered a t-mobile sim card from Straight Talk. Cut it to size. Everything seems to work fine except for the MMS. I have incredibly slow bandwidth problems. Above the signal bar is a capital "E." I have thoroughly searched the forums for an answer. To no avail. Before going on to more frustrations I would like to ask this incredible community for help. Some times I will get a "G." I am totally at a loss. Modding it would be fine but I do not want to brick it. I have read on other sites that after modding it, I could play around with the band its on. Not sure. Any questions or for more info please let me know. I will close by saying that all the lone wolfs, dev teams, and all around geeks make this site the best. I want to say thank you to you all.:fingers-crossed:
StunCrossover said:
I have an HTC Verizon droid incredible 4g LTE. I ordered a t-mobile sim card from Straight Talk. Cut it to size. Everything seems to work fine except for the MMS. I have incredibly slow bandwidth problems. Above the signal bar is a capital "E." I have thoroughly searched the forums for an answer. To no avail. Before going on to more frustrations I would like to ask this incredible community for help. Some times I will get a "G." I am totally at a loss. Modding it would be fine but I do not want to brick it. I have read on other sites that after modding it, I could play around with the band its on. Not sure. Any questions or for more info please let me know. I will close by saying that all the lone wolfs, dev teams, and all around geeks make this site the best. I want to say thank you to you all.:fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well first welcome to the community, and about your pproblem, are you running stock? unrooted, and also if you want better band support try cm10 since that rom has tri band hsdpa, and about mms, google your service provider mms configuration
Okay so going the t-mobile route wasnt the smartest as far as wanting 3g. Also thank you so much for the quick reply. My phone is stock. My main goal with all this is to get picture messaging working and above all improve my network speeds. I drop calls like its 2000.

Present for daughter - unlock, S-OFF, GSM still doable?

Hey all,
So I've done some searching here, but I cannot find a concise, definitive answer to my questions. I'm buying a first phone for my daughter for Christmas, mainly for use as an MP3 and video player, but also for emergencies. She's still young, so when I say emergency we were leaning towards ONLY FOR A 911 TYPE EMERGENCY, as I believe those are placed even if the phone isn't activated. Anyway, her mom and I are on a GSM carrier so if we did activate it, we'd likely do it there, or a very cheap CDMA provider like Page Plus. So if I buy a phone off eBay or Craigslist today, regardless of whatever HBOOT/BOOTLOADER or ROM it has on it, can I still root it, use HTC Dev to unlock the bootloader, the toolkit to S-OFF, and then flash a 4.X ROM and use GSM if I desire?
Thanks for any help! If this will work then I'll go this route and she'll be very excited!!
vettejock99 said:
Hey all,
So I've done some searching here, but I cannot find a concise, definitive answer to my questions. I'm buying a first phone for my daughter for Christmas, mainly for use as an MP3 and video player, but also for emergencies. She's still young, so when I say emergency we were leaning towards ONLY FOR A 911 TYPE EMERGENCY, as I believe those are placed even if the phone isn't activated. Anyway, her mom and I are on a GSM carrier so if we did activate it, we'd likely do it there, or a very cheap CDMA provider like Page Plus. So if I buy a phone off eBay or Craigslist today, regardless of whatever HBOOT/BOOTLOADER or ROM it has on it, can I still root it, use HTC Dev to unlock the bootloader, the toolkit to S-OFF, and then flash a 4.X ROM and use GSM if I desire?
Thanks for any help! If this will work then I'll go this route and she'll be very excited!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The answer is yes, you can do that... the phone will work for E911 calls without being activated. You can also unlock, S-OFF, root, ROM and everything else like you said, although the Rezound is a little more complicated than to S-OFF than just using a toolkit it is doable with some homework and a little Linux knowledge, but to be honest, GSM works fine (Edge data only, 3G/4G higher possible with significant tweaking on some GSM carriers) on the stock 4.5.605.14 ROM.
If you know you will likely be activating this on a GSM carrier, why not get a phone designed for that right off the bat? Several unlocked GSM phones can be purchased for around the same price as the Rez, like the Galaxy Nexus, Sony Xperia S, HTC Sensation, Samsung GS2 GT-I9100 or similar phones. Don't get me wrong, I love the Rezound, but for ease of use on a GSM carrier with full 3G data you migh be better off looking at a phone suited to that purpose.
Yes, it's doable, just know what you are in for...
Thanks you.SO much! I've done wire tricks on some phones before and I think I'm learning that is the challenge here, but I should be good. I appreciate the other thoughts as well. To your question, well, we have poor GSM coverage in a number of spots around here, even we my wife and I using it, and CDMA seems like a good emergency precaution.
Thanks again so much!!
vettejock99 said:
Thanks you.SO much! I've done wire tricks on some phones before and I think I'm learning that is the challenge here, but I should be good. I appreciate the other thoughts as well. To your question, well, we have poor GSM coverage in a number of spots around here, even we my wife and I using it, and CDMA seems like a good emergency precaution.
Thanks again so much!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool... Note that activating the Rezound on PagePlus requires significant "tweaking" and a donor PagePlus phone to clone the ESN/MEID, PagePlus will not activate the Rezound as it is, neither will any other CDMA carrier but Verizon, and even then they won't do it on a prepaid plan. People have mentioned before that Cricket will do it, but the results have been mixed.
As long as you are aware of the issues and what you might need to do, go for it. Although for use as a video player, I would recommend an extended battery, the screen time on a standard battery is >2 hours. :/
acejavelin said:
Cool... Note that activating the Rezound on PagePlus requires significant "tweaking" and a donor PagePlus phone to clone the ESN/MEID, PagePlus will not activate the Rezound as it is, neither will any other CDMA carrier but Verizon, and even then they won't do it on a prepaid plan. People have mentioned before that Cricket will do it, but the results have been mixed.
As long as you are aware of the issues and what you might need to do, go for it. Although for use as a video player, I would recommend an extended battery, the screen time on a standard battery is >2 hours. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent points. Yeah, I had a S3 on PP for a while and it was a pain - actually CDMA overall is a pain to me so I probably won't do it. Per your advice - looking for an extended battery right now!

[Q] UNBELIEVABLE issue

Had a Rezound from Asurion running 4.03.605 and Hboot 2.27. All was well. Left Los Angeles on 12/21. Arrived the next day in the Bay Area on 12/22. And since then? Not able to make or recive a call. All else works: 4G, internet, texting. Just calls. On the phone with Verizon for 1 hour, resettting all data info to my account and phone, no luck. Two hours in store getting new SIM and resetting system...no luck. Another Asurion replacement sent....new SIM card and THE SAME THING! Issue was escalated to Verizon networking team and I spent two hours on the phone yesterday trying to determine issue. Now if the SIM card and all matching items (IMEI) matched up, it should all work, right? The same SIM card was put into two different rezounds...one rooted, one not (fresh out of box) and neither could make a call. The tech finally stated that the software on the phones was the global leak of 4.03 and not a release authorized by Verizon...my reaction - "What?" The tech went so far as to suggest installing the last global leak - 4.05 and new radios and see what happens. Did just that...AND STILL NOTHING. Phone is perfect. Just no phone. Call goes out, connects, then lost. Same for incoming. No one seems to have a solution except blaming the phone software, tower differences between here and L.A....on and on. I find it all BS....because if the plder 4G SIMS are not compatibile, wouldn't many people across the USA have issues? So I come to ask for some of your thoughts. I am plagued right now. Have lost income due to my lack of access and reachability. And being two months shy of my anniversary for an upgrade, the great Corporation will not budge and get me a new working phone. This is a nightmare. I only imagine that as soon as I get back to Los Angeles, the phone will "miraculously" work again.
FYI: I had my original Rezound running 4.05 and Hboot 2.28 back in July 2013...came to the same trip LA->Bay Area. Never had a problem.
Thanks for your time all!
New Sim and different phone with same issues really points to the issue being with the carrier... Not much you can do unfortunately.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
acejavelin said:
New Sim and different phone with same issues really points to the issue being with the carrier... Not much you can do unfortunately.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, ace. Try geting Verizon to understand that...now that's the a whole other issue. Wish me luck!
gjrscribe said:
Thanks, ace. Try geting Verizon to understand that...now that's the a whole other issue. Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ust outta curiosity...do you have data roaming and everything enabled under mobile network settings...that would be my only guess....if not then yes it is verizon...the fact that on 2 seperate phones there is an issue is what gives it away...there is a leaked hboot and radios of hboot 2.28 and the 2.23 radios but idk if this will help your issue
REV3NT3CH said:
ust outta curiosity...do you have data roaming and everything enabled under mobile network settings...that would be my only guess....if not then yes it is verizon...the fact that on 2 seperate phones there is an issue is what gives it away...there is a leaked hboot and radios of hboot 2.28 and the 2.23 radios but idk if this will help your issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of the two phones I have in my possesion, one is total stock 4.03.605.....wiped it clean. No calls. The other phone I hacked with Hboot 2.28 and the current radios + 4.05 software....still nothing. A lot of what the senior tech told me is that no phones use those big old SIM cards anymore. Heck, he couldn't even find ONE store that a similar phone I could swap my SIM into in order to see if a call could be made. 1 week now with no phone and no restitution from Verizon. All they want to do is seed me to the Edge program. No dice. I'm fighting this to the end It's clear as day this problem is WAY beyond my control or the phones....all on VZW.
gjrscribe said:
Of the two phones I have in my possesion, one is total stock 4.03.605.....wiped it clean. No calls. The other phone I hacked with Hboot 2.28 and the current radios + 4.05 software....still nothing. A lot of what the senior tech told me is that no phones use those big old SIM cards anymore. Heck, he couldn't even find ONE store that a similar phone I could swap my SIM into in order to see if a call could be made. 1 week now with no phone and no restitution from Verizon. All they want to do is seed me to the Edge program. No dice. I'm fighting this to the end It's clear as day this problem is WAY beyond my control or the phones....all on VZW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OR....you can get a micro sim from them and buy a microsim to normal sim adaptor like this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Small-Min...-Adapter-For-iPhone-4-4S-4GS-4th-Gen/28911641 ....im actually doing this currently with a straight talk microsim in the rezound....but again did you ensure all roaming settings are enabled under settings>mobile networks
REV3NT3CH said:
OR....you can get a micro sim from them and buy a microsim to normal sim adaptor like this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Small-Min...-Adapter-For-iPhone-4-4S-4GS-4th-Gen/28911641 ....im actually doing this currently with a straight talk microsim in the rezound....but again did you ensure all roaming settings are enabled under settings>mobile networks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done it all with the roaming settings, thanks. But as we all surmise, it's Verizon's problem...old phone can't connect with current networks. They need to admit this and get me a new phone.
8 days with no phone capability and counting.
Just tell then it's your work phone, and that you need it for your job or else. Even most prepaid companies like SraightTalk would replace it of it was your work phone. ST even upgrades you, because it is their fault and not yours.
Sent from my Rezound using Tapatalk
if u use another sim its not working ?
its sounds like hw problem
Proz00 said:
if u use another sim its not working ?
its sounds like hw problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two phones and two different SIMs... Very unlikely to have identical hardware issues in two different refurbished phones that is region specific.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

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