I purchased a Samsung Fascinate from a guy at at flea market a few months ago.
Sure enough, bad ESN. So, now, how to proceed, sell on eBay, flash to Straight talk, or Cricket?
My thoughts were to first flash to Cyanogen, then either Cricket or Straight Talk.
Is this possible?
If some have done this, please respond with some pointers, step by step, and the how the heck do you manage setting up the account
Lot's of very confusing information on these forums/
Jesgrew
Bad ESN
I don't think you are going to be able to do anything with a bad ESN... I mean, you can activate it on Cricket however, you will have a tough time with roaming. If the ESN has been blacklisted by Sprint, for example, the minute you try to roam onto a Sprint tower, the ESN will automatically get kicked due to the status of the ESN.
rambler335 said:
I don't think you are going to be able to do anything with a bad ESN... I mean, you can activate it on Cricket however, you will have a tough time with roaming. If the ESN has been blacklisted by Sprint, for example, the minute you try to roam onto a Sprint tower, the ESN will automatically get kicked due to the status of the ESN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not Sprint, Verizon.
I read about others flashing to Straight talk, Metro, Cricket, etc.
Many claim they have done as much, and happy with the results.
I aint a roamer, just want to get some use out of my bad purchase.
Not asking how to change the ESN, just how to, or If I can get it going.
Links to good information or tutorials welcome.
Remember Noobe here: Step by step please.
hmmm... PM me, and I will solve your problems.
Sent from my revolutionary Fassy on CM7
Ahem... "ESN or MEID changes are a strictly prohibited subject here at XDA." This thread is now closed.
There, mods, I helped you out.
Sent from my revolutionary Fassy on CM7
gawbage said:
Ahem... "ESN or MEID changes are a strictly prohibited subject here at XDA." This thread is now closed.
There, mods, I helped you out.
Sent from my revolutionary Fassy on CM7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
Has anyone seen John Connor?
if you found a solution i'd be interested
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
via pm
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
gawbage said:
Ahem... "ESN or MEID changes are a strictly prohibited subject here at XDA." This thread is now closed.
There, mods, I helped you out.
Sent from my revolutionary Fassy on CM7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flashing to cricket or other carriers of the sort are not illegal and doesnt require a esn/meid change/hack
as for the op i wouldn't put the phone on cm7 to sell as cm7 doesnt fully work flashed with cm7 on cricket. mms has never worked for cm7.
and as for the esn conflict thing thats incorrect the phone will still roam just fine on the original carriers network. how do i know? cause i can call out when roaming on verizon and get the ''welcome to verizon wireless bla bla bla'' i am still able to text just as my cricket plan includes, just no talk. if i was to jump my plan to 60 a month then ill talk but for now theres no reason.
Related
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
With my bill going up and companies like metro PCs going down, which carrier would be the best to switch to both in price and service? (days, possible 4g)
Bump? Anyone?
it can be done, but as of right now as far as I know, there is no way to get the msl/spc code unless the phone is active. or you can pay someone get the code for you. Once you get the code you can then put the device in diag mode and flash a new prl for the carrier you want to use. I have flashed many phones to cricket and the photon can be flashed.
jami1 said:
it can be done, but as of right now as far as I know, there is no way to get the msl/spc code unless the phone is active. or you can pay someone get the code for you. Once you get the code you can then put the device in diag mode and flash a new prl for the carrier you want to use. I have flashed many phones to cricket and the photon can be flashed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could this method work to flash my Photon over to cdma boost?
So far people are telling me I can't flash it, but the iFix store in the mall says I can flash to boost or metro. Please enlighten me. They said they charge 50. Is it possible and well I get 4g or anything? If so also, which company should I go for?
Nickdroid86 said:
So far people are telling me I can't flash it, but the iFix store in the mall says I can flash to boost or metro. Please enlighten me. They said they charge 50. Is it possible and well I get 4g or anything? If so also, which company should I go for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes you can flash it with other carries i have mine working in IUSACELL (México), and i have 3g working too you just got to rewrite some nv items so the data configuration can be saved. You need your msl code in order to program it with cdma workshop
I have no idea how to do that I would have a company in the mall called Ifix flash it for me, just not sure which company would be best in Florida on the gulf coast. Metro, boost, cricket, simple mobile. Or if they can unlock the gsm portion?
I have my photon fully flashed to cricket, I paid someone $35 for it, took them like 5 hours but its working perfectly.
hjcg2001 said:
yes you can flash it with other carries i have mine working in IUSACELL (México), and i have 3g working too you just got to rewrite some nv items so the data configuration can be saved. You need your msl code in order to program it with cdma workshop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hola. i have mine on metro pcs pero i dont have internet yet...can you help to get internet de metro pcs..
Working on it
I am working on getting mines flashed over to metropcs
I am waiting for the esn to be added to the database.
I should be able to get internet working on it, and maybe mms.
I will update when i have it up and running.
But so far i have gotten my msl/spc by using radiocom like here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1365058&highlight=msl&styleid=16
then after that you just have to add the esn here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270915486238
then after that you have to change the msl/spc to 000000 with cdmaworkshop or qpst. But i cant get qpst to work so ill let you guys know once i am ready to do that part.
I can flash it for you, I have flashed my bros to cricket. the phone does not need to be active there is a method to get he MSL.. IF you are in the philadelphia area I can flash for you. I only charge 35 $
missingxtension said:
i am working on getting mines flashed over to metropcs
i am waiting for the esn to be added to the database.
I should be able to get internet working on it, and maybe mms.
I will update when i have it up and running.
But so far i have gotten my msl/spc by using radiocom like here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1365058&highlight=msl&styleid=16
then after that you just have to add the esn here
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayisapi.dll?viewitem&item=270915486238
then after that you have to change the msl/spc to 000000 with cdmaworkshop or qpst. But i cant get qpst to work so ill let you guys know once i am ready to do that part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any updates! Please let me know
Photon to Boost or Virgin Mobile
I'm also interested in finding out if a Photon can be flashed to Boost or Virgin Mobile. My Photon has a bad esn because I didn't pay the bill. I just read on Cnet Sprint is giving WiMax to Boost and Virgin Mobile (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57...to-bring-wimax-to-boost-mobile-virgin-mobile/) which makes my Photon valuable to me again. Are there any updates on this subject? I have searched the net for cdma flashing software and it's a tad expensive and complicated (for me). Plus, I like to flash rom's and themes so I don't want to end up having to re-flash because of a ROM I used.
I had posted this elsewhere but here's what you guys need to know before proceeding.
To clear things up and put this to rest, here's some things you need to know about putting the Sprint Photon on other carriers.
Will not work on GSM in the United States
May work on Boost (requires you change/clone the ESN, illegal)
May work on Virgin (requires you change/clone the ESN, illegal)
Any method that requires you change or clone the ESN is illegal
May work on Cricket (Expect 4G to not work and expect it to take a while to get it to work right. grey area)
May work on other smaller CDMA carriers like Alaska Communications (see notes on moving to Cricket)
Both Boost and Virgin are subsidiaries of Sprint and flashing to them requires breaking some laws at a Federal level.
Your best and legal option is to leave CDMA altogether. If you are pleased with the Photon then getting a good condition used Motorola Atrix and having it unlocked for international service would be you best bet. You may still run into issues where certain features like data may not work with certain providers. I have been told by others that have done it that on the Atrix it's simply having the right APN settings.
Discussion of this nature tends to be frowned upon by the moderators due to the legality of the subject so don't be surprised if the thread gets closed.
help flash motorola photon to metro
Im not too good with touch screen phones yet. I just got one through sprint and got an account its a motorola photon. My first question can I switch and flash over my phone from sprint to metro? Second questions will i still get the internet? Third question does anything need to be done before hand such as example: account must be 0 balance. What would I need to flash? Is it hard to flash it? Can you explain in detail how to flash it. I just got an account and phone with sprint but when i seen the bill per month after i got home and baught the phone I was mad! Can I switch it over if I just got the account literally its 2 days old...please email me [email protected]
If you can us WiFi for most of your Data. ting (dot) com is the way to go. No flashing.
You just pay for what you get.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
confused
rbeavers said:
If you can us WiFi for most of your Data. ting (dot) com is the way to go. No flashing.
You just pay for what you get.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I understand you correctly, I cant flash the phone? what did you mean the first part of your reply?
[email protected] said:
So if I understand you correctly, I cant flash the phone? what did you mean the first part of your reply?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your phones bootloader is locked. All most impossible to change.
If your off contract you can switch your Photon to ting real easy.
Ting is cheap if you don't use cell data , use WiFi were you can find it.
Sent from my XT897 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Just activated my old photon on ting. Very straightforward and my bill is super cheap
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
Expo Mobile will activate sprint devices without flashing. I am on their $35 unlimited talk, unlimited international text, and 500mb LTE data. Everything seems to be going good.
Google voice call forwarding does not work but the app does. People can call your Google voice number and it will still ring your phone. You can still make out going calls and it will display your Google voice number. What doesn't work is if someone calls your original cellphone number and it rings 6 times it will not forward to Google voice.
Sprint Voicemail app works.
4G LTE works great and i get 10-15mbps just about everywhere I go. Expo also has 24/7 customer care, most prepaids are closed after 10pm.
If you have a bad ESN this will not work the only other option you would have is either cricket or page plus and you will only get 3G data. Small price to pay with having a bad ESN.
Ting is very good too if you need google voice to work. I herd that they support it.
A coworker of mine recently won an Electrify in a raffle. She currently has the Nexus S with Sprint service. She wants me to unlock the Electrify for her so she can use it with Sprint. I know this phone is pretty much the same as the Photon - minus 4G. Can I simply flash a Photon rom on her Electrify? I'm sure it can't be that easy, but I had to ask. I know someone at Sprint who might be able to activate it for her on their network, so that's not a concern. Any suggestions? Thanks!
think the electrify uses gsm, sprint is cdma or vice versa lol
I thought they were both cdma? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. But I know I did flash a sprint rom once on accident? And it prompted me to call sprint to activate the phone. I think its worth a shot but someone else here will know for sure.
Sent from my TWRP-a-fied OC'd CM7 Electrify.
Yeah they are both cdma. The problem is that the esn is not in sprint's system and therefore cannot be activated. Would cloning be the only other alternative? I know that's a touchy subject but I'm just saying. I don't need a lecture on the legal issues of cloning.
When i screwed up my photon and ended up flashing the electrify sbf pudding. I was able to flash it with the full electrify sbf and then i put on the 1024.zip or the skinny4g rom and it connected to sprint just fine.
If it was mine i would unlock it and install one of those roms and give it a shot, you can always reflash it back with the sbf anyway.
TrojanZulu said:
When i screwed up my photon and ended up flashing the electrify sbf pudding. I was able to flash it with the full electrify sbf and then i put on the 1024.zip or the skinny4g rom and it connected to sprint just fine.
If it was mine i would unlock it and install one of those roms and give it a shot, you can always reflash it back with the sbf anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See but your photon is a sprint phone and was already activated on their network. This phone is a us cellular phone and therefore has never been activated on sprints network. Even if I flashed a sprint rom the phone wouldn't be activated on a sprint account, so the network wouldn't recognize it, if it could even communicate with the network.
There are ways just none that will be talked about openly on the forum
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Forgive a newbie on changing networks with phones (this is my first global phone), but cloning?
Sent from my TWRP-a-fied OC'd CM7 Electrify.
Not necessarily cloning. Just taking a clean ESN from, say, an old Sprint phone and swapping it with the Electrify's ESN. That way, Sprint sees the ESN on the network and thinks it's the old Sprint phone instead of the Electrify. Cloning an ESN allows you to assign the same ESN to multiple devices. It is illegal if your intent is to defraud. However in this case, I would be taking an ESN from a Sprint phone which is owned and out of contract and assigning it to the Electrify, also owned and out of contract. This is the CDMA equivalent of unlocking an iPhone from AT&T and using it with T-Mobile. Carriers frown upon it, but it is no longer illegal. So I'm not sure why everyone seems to think ESN swapping is illegal. It's not cloning unless you're using multiple devices with the same ESN, right?
brimart said:
Not necessarily cloning. Just taking a clean ESN from, say, an old Sprint phone and swapping it with the Electrify's ESN. That way, Sprint sees the ESN on the network and thinks it's the old Sprint phone instead of the Electrify. Cloning an ESN allows you to assign the same ESN to multiple devices. It is illegal if your intent is to defraud. However in this case, I would be taking an ESN from a Sprint phone which is owned and out of contract and assigning it to the Electrify, also owned and out of contract. This is the CDMA equivalent of unlocking an iPhone from AT&T and using it with T-Mobile. Carriers frown upon it, but it is no longer illegal. So I'm not sure why everyone seems to think ESN swapping is illegal. It's not cloning unless you're using multiple devices with the same ESN, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was hinting at since sprint only allows sprint esns on their network.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Could swap her nexus s esn with the electrify
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
criptix said:
Could swap her nexus s esn with the electrify
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately CDMA WS is battling the Electrify. It refuses to connect to it. It's late enough and I've got to work in the morning, I'll go round 2 tomorrow.
Just buy her a Photon. Unlock the Nexus AND Electrify and put each on Flee-Bay for $275 each!
If anyone has experience with CDMA workshop, would they PM me? I'm about to give up on this thing and tell her to sell it!
here's what I would do, first call sprint and say "I have a Motorola electrify and sprint service, can you connect my phone to sprint?" They will probably say no, than you go to an actual sprint store, and say "can you activate this phone on your network?" They might say yes, mainly because sprint has this phone as the photon, you are a customer, and there recently have been rumors that the company is open to activating galaxy nexus phones. But when asking them be confident and talk to them like you mean it. Its a small thing, but the more confident they are the more likely they are to help you! If all else fails, than you may try your hand at cdma cloning, so good luck and happy holidays!!!
Sent from my Full Android on Wingray using xda premium
Ok, this thread was closed http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1660357 before anything "illegal" could be discussed.
However, it does raise questions for me and possibly for others and while the power of Google is there, I'd like to ask here for clarification and educational purposes.
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT get my thread closed by explaining how to change ESN. It has been made VERY clear that is illegal and against XDA.
However, this is the question: What is ESN and why exactly is it illegal to change it?
It was brought up in the aforementioned thread that if an Evo 3D is to be put on VM, the ESN would have to be changed.
That also brings up another question: Does the ESN have to be changed to be flashed to other carriers (Metro PCS, Cricket, Boost, etc)? If so, why are there guides on how to flash over.
Again, I'm curious about this, which is something I don't know anything about. And, again, please DO NOT get this thread closed by posting instructions on how to change ESN.
Thanks in advance for non-flaming assistance.
saboxerman said:
Ok, this thread was closed http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1660357 before anything "illegal" could be discussed.
However, it does raise questions for me and possibly for others and while the power of Google is there, I'd like to ask here for clarification and educational purposes.
DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT get my thread closed by explaining how to change ESN. It has been made VERY clear that is illegal and against XDA.
However, this is the question: What is ESN and why exactly is it illegal to change it?
It was brought up in the aforementioned thread that if an Evo 3D is to be put on VM, the ESN would have to be changed.
That also brings up another question: Does the ESN have to be changed to be flashed to other carriers (Metro PCS, Cricket, Boost, etc)? If so, why are there guides on how to flash over.
Again, I'm curious about this, which is something I don't know anything about. And, again, please DO NOT get this thread closed by posting instructions on how to change ESN.
Thanks in advance for non-flaming assistance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although it is easy to search and find out roughly how to flash a phone to a different carrier, here's the basics.
You have to have a donor phone from the carrier you want. You clone that ESN of the donor to the new phone. As far as the new carrier is concerned, your phone will appear as the donor phone. Although I believe it is illegal to clone ESNs, it seems to be a bit of a grey area. This is because more than likely, you go buy or get a cheap boost/cricket/or other carrier phone to use as the donor and therefore you actually own that phone. It's like copying an old CD to a new burned one when it is too scratched up to play in a player to me. You own the original CD and just want to transfer it to a new CD to keep using it for your own purposes.
+1 to all these questions, especially why flashing for VM would be any different than Metro, etc. I was discussing my conjecture that using the 3d on VM would be a simple matter of finding a compatible Rom with proper radios (like the VM ics leak) and doing a few minor tweaks. Then the ESN thing was brought up and thread closed.
Sent from my PG86100
ESN is electronic serial number and is used to identify each device. Its something like IMEI for CDMA phones. Then, if some people has lost the phone you can report the ESN and no one can use it. But if you change it to another number you can use as long as you want. That's the main reason it is illegal.And not, you don't need to change ESN if you want to change the carrier. At least I didn't see the need. I usually buy phones from sprint and then I flash in Mexico to iusacell and the ESN is never changed.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
raptoro07 said:
Although it is easy to search and find out roughly how to flash a phone to a different carrier, here's the basics.
You have to have a donor phone from the carrier you want. You clone that ESN of the donor to the new phone. As far as the new carrier is concerned, your phone will appear as the donor phone. Although I believe it is illegal to clone ESNs, it seems to be a bit of a grey area. This is because more than likely, you go buy or get a cheap boost/cricket/or other carrier phone to use as the donor and therefore you actually own that phone. It's like copying an old CD to a new burned one when it is too scratched up to play in a player to me. You own the original CD and just want to transfer it to a new CD to keep using it for your own purposes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good explanation. Yes, I know searching it is a possibility, however, I didn't see anything that jumped out at me on this Q & A forum and figured others are curious and should now about this stuff. There are some lines that are ridiculous, but, there are some that should not be crossed and this sounds like one.
Perfect analogy with the CD burning.
coal686 said:
+1 to all these questions, especially why flashing for VM would be any different than Metro, etc. I was discussing my conjecture that using the 3d on VM would be a simple matter of finding a compatible Rom with proper radios (like the VM ics leak) and doing a few minor tweaks. Then the ESN thing was brought up and thread closed.
Sent from my PG86100
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Click to collapse
Ditto, ditto, ditto.
HTC Reseller said:
ESN is electronic serial number and is used to identify each device. Its something like IMEI for CDMA phones. Then, if some people has lost the phone you can report the ESN and no one can use it. But if you change it to another number you can use as long as you want. That's the main reason it is illegal.And not, you don't need to change ESN if you want to change the carrier. At least I didn't see the need. I usually buy phones from sprint and then I flash in Mexico to iusacell and the ESN is never changed.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
So, CDMA phones have IMEI and GSM phones have ESN?
Also, it was mentioned the ESN would have to be changed to go to VM. Why would that be if the ESN doesn't have to be changed to be flashed to other CDMA networks?
saboxerman said:
Very good explanation. Yes, I know searching it is a possibility, however, I didn't see anything that jumped out at me on this Q & A forum and figured others are curious and should now about this stuff. There are some lines that are ridiculous, but, there are some that should not be crossed and this sounds like one.
Perfect analogy with the CD burning.
Ditto, ditto, ditto.
So, CDMA phones have IMEI and GSM phones have ESN?
Also, it was mentioned the ESN would have to be changed to go to VM. Why would that be if the ESN doesn't have to be changed to be flashed to other CDMA networks?
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Click to collapse
Yes, CDMA phones have an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) and GSM phones have a International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). My understanding is that if you want to use an EVO 3D on Cricket say, you have to do the donor phone swarp because they don't use the EVO 3D on thier network.
raptoro07 said:
Yes, CDMA phones have an Electronic Serial Number (ESN) and GSM phones have a International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). My understanding is that if you want to use an EVO 3D on Cricket say, you have to do the donor phone swarp because they don't use the EVO 3D on thier network.
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Click to collapse
Is that specific to Cricket?
Sorry for so many questions, but, I'd like to have a clear understanding for myself and those reading.
Metro PCS doesn't use the Evo 3D on their network, however, there are instructions on flashing the phone to their network. Is that illegal? If so, how is that thread still up in the Development forum?
saboxerman said:
Is that specific to Cricket?
Sorry for so many questions, but, I'd like to have a clear understanding for myself and those reading.
Metro PCS doesn't use the Evo 3D on their network, however, there are instructions on flashing the phone to their network. Is that illegal? If so, how is that thread still up in the Development forum?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So after some searching and watching some videos on youtube, you may not have to change the ESN to flash to a different carrier.
raptoro07 said:
So after some searching and watching some videos on youtube, you may not have to change the ESN to flash to a different carrier.
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Click to collapse
Yeah...I can't hit YouTube at work. They have it blocked.
So, the question now is whether or not it is true the ESN has to be changed for VM. If so, why would it have to be changed?
saboxerman said:
Yeah...I can't hit YouTube at work. They have it blocked.
So, the question now is whether or not it is true the ESN has to be changed for VM. If so, why would it have to be changed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, more info after more seraching.
You do not need to change the ESN (the process using a Donor phone) if the carrier you are attempting to use will accept your ESN. However, from what I have read, Virgin Mobile will only accept the ESN from a phone they have sold. Some carriers will allow ESNs on their network. In order to get a phone onto VM, you will have to get a donor and change the ESN (mentioned before as ILLEGAL). You could try flashing it, there are some guides out there to VM, but may not be able to activate without changing the ESN (Again ILLEGAL).
Ok, so lets sum it up. Most CDMA carriers only allow phones on their network that they themselves sold. Meaning it HAS to be branded by them. I.E. Sprint, VM, Boost (depends on who you talk to), Verizon, and a few others. On the other hand some carriers allow any ESN to be put on their network.
And that is where it lies. Because VM will not add ANY ESN to their database that they didn't sell. But for say like Cricket, they will allow any CDMA phone to their network. Thats why for Cricket all you have to do is get your data profile setup correctly and get the ESN registered with them.
But for VM, you have to change ESN's which in fact in black and white is illegal. There is no grey area. If you modify an ESN in any way shape or form you are breaking the law.
Cool, can we close this thread now?
I think that sums up everything and now I have a very clear picture of what the deal is.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the answer and I hope this helps others out there with the same question.
Cool to close the thread?
Okay I have searched entire site and no information what so ever. So here goes.
I have a Motorola Photon - Rooted thanks to forums.
There is a wireless service here in Ohio with CDMA phones called Revol Wireless with a month-to-month unlimited talk/text/web plan. But their phones are trash and are allowing other CDMA phones to be flashed to their service.
Corner stores all over columbus, with cell phone vendors inside, are flashing Sprint phones with bad ESN's to Revol Wireless.
I took my phone in ti multiple stores. Revol supports the Motorola Photon but wants to charge me $40-$60 JUST for the flashing service on top of the inital $50 monthly service fee.
Now, if I wanted to spend $100+ on a new phone I would just hit craigslist for a GSM unlocked.
Does ANYONE here know HOW I can do this without having to pay some over priced carry-out?
I can provide little information to get you started on the how-to...
Here is what you will need:
Rooted Android
USB data cable
Android drivers
HW Virtual Serial Port
CDMA Workshop 2.7 or 3.x higher
I have seen there is a simple "One click process" through software called Houdinisoft but they also charge a ridiculous amount of money for even a 1 time key.
But all over the internet I see people (those who know what they're doing) doing this process manually with no fee's.
Please help me save some money. -_-
FriendlyStalker said:
Okay I have searched entire site and no information what so ever. So here goes.
I have a Motorola Photon - Rooted thanks to forums.
There is a wireless service here in Ohio with CDMA phones called Revol Wireless with a month-to-month unlimited talk/text/web plan. But their phones are trash and are allowing other CDMA phones to be flashed to their service.
Corner stores all over columbus, with cell phone vendors inside, are flashing Sprint phones with bad ESN's to Revol Wireless.
I took my phone in ti multiple stores. Revol supports the Motorola Photon but wants to charge me $40-$60 JUST for the flashing service on top of the inital $50 monthly service fee.
Now, if I wanted to spend $100+ on a new phone I would just hit craigslist for a GSM unlocked.
Does ANYONE here know HOW I can do this without having to pay some over priced carry-out?
I can provide little information to get you started on the how-to...
Here is what you will need:
Rooted Android
USB data cable
Android drivers
HW Virtual Serial Port
CDMA Workshop 2.7 or 3.x higher
I have seen there is a simple "One click process" through software called Houdinisoft but they also charge a ridiculous amount of money for even a 1 time key.
But all over the internet I see people (those who know what they're doing) doing this process manually with no fee's.
Please help me save some money. -_-
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Click to collapse
To make the phone work on there network all you really need to do is flash their prl to your phone and have them add your esn to their network. That's all that is really necessary. You can find plenty of info on prl flashing. It may be tough to find their prl. I think if you just get your phone to roam on their network with the esn added you can *228 to update it?
Sent from my MB853 using XDA
No help
na7q said:
To make the phone work on there network all you really need to do is flash their prl to your phone and have them add your esn to their network. That's all that is really necessary. You can find plenty of info on prl flashing. It may be tough to find their prl. I think if you just get your phone to roam on their network with the esn added you can *228 to update it?
Sent from my MB853 using XDA
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Click to collapse
Thank you the time replying but no that doesnt help at all
It's a little more involved than that, but getting the prl on the phone will make talk and text work.. But that's about it. If you've never flashed a phone to another carrier and cant follow a tutorial online you might as well pony up the cash and have someone else do it. I've done lots of sprint and verizon phones flashed to cricket and it can be time consuming depending on the phone. A tutorial online to flash to cricket would be very similiar to what carrier you're trying to flash to, but you are gunna need all the carrier specific information for you Revol. I've never heard of them.
FriendlyStalker said:
Thank you the time replying but no that doesnt help at all
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Click to collapse
well what exactly are you looking for then? am i not understanding something?
you'd also need to edit APN's for mms.
boredmug said:
It's a little more involved than that, but getting the prl on the phone will make talk and text work.. But that's about it. If you've never flashed a phone to another carrier and cant follow a tutorial online you might as well pony up the cash and have someone else do it. I've done lots of sprint and verizon phones flashed to cricket and it can be time consuming depending on the phone. A tutorial online to flash to cricket would be very similiar to what carrier you're trying to flash to, but you are gunna need all the carrier specific information for you Revol. I've never heard of them.
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Click to collapse
it's pretty much that. prl and esn. plus apn's of course. i don't see what else could possible need to be touched to make it work.
na7q said:
well what exactly are you looking for then? am i not understanding something?
you'd also need to edit APN's for mms.
it's pretty much that. prl and esn. plus apn's of course. i don't see what else could possible need to be touched to make it work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never been able to get a phone on cricket to OTA with *228 after entering the PRL and have the data work. Always had to tinker around with cdma workshop and QPST. I have done less than 10 phones though so maybe I'm not that seasoned at it.
boredmug said:
Never been able to get a phone on cricket to OTA with *228 after entering the PRL and have the data work. Always had to tinker around with cdma workshop and QPST. I have done less than 10 phones though so maybe I'm not that seasoned at it.
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Click to collapse
I forgot to mention the most obvious ones I assume everyone knows the min and mdn numbers. It's been a while for me... for data you need to edit the nv item I believe. Those are all super easy. It can be done in just minutes!
Sent from my MB853 using XDA
na7q said:
I forgot to mention the most obvious ones I assume everyone knows the min and mdn numbers. It's been a while for me... for data you need to edit the nv item I believe. Those are all super easy. It can be done in just minutes!
Sent from my MB853 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, the nv items.. it's mostly pretty easy as long as you have all the info to enter.. i had problems with a galaxy s2 on cricket where i had to try tons of different prl's to get data and calls to work correctly.. don't know why.
Sorry for no reply
Thank you guys, for the time you took to reply to me. Sorry I have not been responding. I have been trying to do as much research on this as I possibly can before i get into it. But I still have no idea what you're talking about.
I can admit im in over my head. I root every android phone I have ever had. I have jail broken every ipod I ever had with 0 casualties because I find an online tutorial and follow STEP BY STEP. lol
But there is no tutorial anywhere for this.
Im VERY good at following directions but you guys arent giving directions you are giving steps of what needs done. Not how to do them. Im sorry I AM a noob that just reads tutorials. I dont wanna take a crash course on this phone lol.