OK I have searched and can't find an answer to a couple of questions.
I am coming from a rooted Epic 4G on Sprint. I am not familiar with unlocked gsm phones. I am switching to att because i am moving to an area with bad sprint coverage.
I was going to buy an Infuse, but it seems the Galaxy S II is better. I understand i can use the SII on att's network but i am unsure about a couple things.
1) will i be able to utilize their semi 4G data network? When they get 4G LTE, will i be able to use that?
2) what downside is there to going the S II route vs an Infuse other than $$? Looks to me like the SII is way better.
Anything else I need to consider?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
The international SGS2 phones you can buy today don't have LTE, so they won't work on the AT&T LTE network. They will, however, work on AT&T's HSPA+ network -- I regularly get about 4 Mbps, and have gotten as high as 7. You can use a regular 3G plan on the HSPA+ network; I have the old $30/month 3G smartphone unlimited data plan, and I haven't had any problems connecting to HSPA+ in places where it's available.
There is some speculation that the AT&T version of the SGS2 (called Attain) may have LTE support. Unfortunately, this phone isn't available yet, and as far as I know, no release date has been announced.
Thanks for the info. As a practical matter i shouldnt worry too much about LTE. I live in a rural area which just got 4G, but is very ulikely to upgrade to LTE anytime soon. I will probably want another phone by the time we see LTE here. Now i have to decide if i want to spend $450 more to get the SII over the Infuse. The SII has more RAM, dual core processor and higher res second camera (bfd). Im not sure what other improvements.
Any other advice or insight would be appreciated. Im sure gonna mis the hardware keyboard on my epic!
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
I just dont know which one. Its for my girl. These will be tmobile phones in this decision which will be on simple mobile.
Right now i have the lg g2x which is unlocked/rooted/running hellfire 2.2 Rom GB 2.3.3 and i love it, battery life sucks though.
What do you guys think about htc 1s vs galaxy s2? Or should we get galaxy s3?
TheKid1 said:
I just dont know which one. Its for my girl. These will be tmobile phones in this decision which will be on simple mobile.
Right now i have the lg g2x which is unlocked/rooted/running hellfire 2.2 Rom GB 2.3.3 and i love it, battery life sucks though.
What do you guys think about htc 1s vs galaxy s2? Or should we get galaxy s3?
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Click to collapse
Since you're asking for a comparison to the HTC One S, seems you're asking about phones for T-mobile USA?
This particular model of Galaxy S2 is not the model for T-mobile USA, and will only get Edge mobile data speeds on that network.
I'm guessing you want to know about the SGH-T989 .
ctomgee said:
Since you're asking for a comparison to the HTC One S, seems you're asking about phones for T-mobile USA?
This particular model of Galaxy S2 is not the model for T-mobile USA, and will only get Edge mobile data speeds on that network.
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Click to collapse
The galaxy s2 that i am referring to is in fact a tmobile phone. Im not sure why you are saying i will only get edge? Please explain, or can someone else confirm this?
TheKid1 said:
The galaxy s2 that i am referring to is in fact a tmobile phone. Im not sure why you are saying i will only get edge? Please explain, or can someone else confirm this?
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As I said, the T-mobile USA Galaxy S2 is a different model. I linked the forum for that model above.
See wikipedia.
The i9100 (which this is the forum for: look at the top of the page) doesn't have the required antenna hardware to receive 1700 mhz UTMS, which is a required band for AWS. (the other frequency bring 2100mhz) T-mobile USA uses AWS for high speed mobile data.
So, the i9100 will only get Edge on T-mobile USA's network.
But if you don't believe me, just type "i9100 t-mobile edge" into google.
ctomgee said:
As I said, the T-mobile USA Galaxy S2 is a different model. I linked the forum for that model above.
See wikipedia.
The i9100 (which this is the forum for: look at the top of the page) doesn't have the required antenna hardware to receive 1700 mhz UTMS, which is a required band for AWS. (the other frequency bring 2100mhz) T-mobile USA uses AWS for high speed mobile data.
So, the i9100 will only get Edge on T-mobile USA's network.
But if you don't believe me, just type "i9100 t-mobile edge" into google.
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Click to collapse
Ok i get what you are saying now. You scared me for a second there. I thought you meant "this model" as in the one i was referring to. Ok well while we are on the subject, isnt there something that can be done to the phones to switch the antennas like installing a new radio or something, or is it an actual physical piece of hardware that runs off different mhz to get 2g/3g/or 4g?
TheKid1 said:
Ok i get what you are saying now. You scared me for a second there. I thought you meant "this model" as in the one i was referring to. Ok well while we are on the subject, isnt there something that can be done to the phones to switch the antennas like installing a new radio or something, or is it an actual physical piece of hardware that runs off different mhz to get 2g/3g/or 4g?
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Click to collapse
It's hardware. There is nothing you or anyone can do to the i9100 to get high speed on the T-mobile USA network with that phone.
If you want a Galaxy S2 model that gets high speed on T-mobile USA's network, you want the SGH-T989. I linked the forum for it above.
And back to your original question......
Get one S
Or S3..
do make sure one S is the Qualcomm S4 not the S3 with 1.7 GHz model.
HTC making one S with older processor after S4 shortage.
I know that t-mobile will reveal their version of galaxy s3 on June 21 with S4 chip instead of quad core chip. Right now, I'm using t-mobile galaxy s2, and i can tell you that it sucks compare to the international version.
Do you guys know if the international version of Galaxy s3 will work on t-mobile hspa+ ?
International version of SGS3 will not work with T-mobile HSPA just yet.
T-mobile is changing their HSPA feq from 1700 to 1900 later this year but until then no.
So do you think with the upcoming upgrade it would be a good choice to purchase the international version vs. the Tmobile version?
mannyg78 said:
So do you think with the upcoming upgrade it would be a good choice to purchase the international version vs. the Tmobile version?
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kinda up to you really, if you can wait till tmo ups to 1900 (end of year) then ya get internat.
Im using the intl version with tmobile and i wouldnt advice it. Speed sucks plus if phone has problems tmovile will assist u.
international version with t mobile 2g or hspa?
Totòòò said:
Im using the intl version with tmobile and i wouldnt advice it. Speed sucks plus if phone has problems tmovile will assist u.
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Click to collapse
i mean do say the internatinoal version runs on t mobile ..but with 2g internet or hspa one? pls reply
My two cents are that atleast in htc devices like the one x the s4 us version is way better then the quadcore int. I have the at&t version and my brother have the int. Version and i could tell the s4 version is a lot faster and comsumes less batery that the international one my quadrant scores are from 4800 to 5000 and the internacional scores are from 4500 to 4800 i know that quadrants arent everything but in user intrrface and heavy games you can notice the diference...i cant tell that the s3will be the same story untill its realese but thats my experience
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Just a FYI, it won't be the same. The international version has a much more powerful GPU. Pretty sure the processor will be a beast as well.
Hey whats up erybody?
Im new to the forum as well as the android flashing/modding scene as i've always had an iPhone but recently gave in to this Galaxy sII as it looks and performs amazing. The only issue I have currently is I own an ATT Galaxy sII that is unlocked and I am using for T-Mobile but cannot get any 3G/4G network at all.
This phone is rooted and running cyanogen mod on ICS 4.0.4. I have read online about people flashing there ATT Note's radio to force your phone to accept 3G/4G for T-Mobile and I was just wondering if this is possible for the Galaxy SII? I tried using the same method but no luck, can anyone possibly point me to the right modem to install if one is available? This phone is great but I cant stand this slow ass EDGE signal.
Thanks :cyclops:
wexpac said:
Hey whats up erybody?
Im new to the forum as well as the android flashing/modding scene as i've always had an iPhone but recently gave in to this Galaxy sII as it looks and performs amazing. The only issue I have currently is I own an ATT Galaxy sII that is unlocked and I am using for T-Mobile but cannot get any 3G/4G network at all.
This phone is rooted and running cyanogen mod on ICS 4.0.4. I have read online about people flashing there ATT Note's radio to force your phone to accept 3G/4G for T-Mobile and I was just wondering if this is possible for the Galaxy SII? I tried using the same method but no luck, can anyone possibly point me to the right modem to install if one is available? This phone is great but I cant stand this slow ass EDGE signal.
Thanks :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, you're in the wrong forum for your device.
This is the forum for the i9100, the international Galaxy S2.
You say you have the AT&T Galaxy S2... Which is the SGH-I777.
Second, since ATT and T-mobile use different frequencies for high speed mobile data, most devices for ATT will only get Edge on T-mobile. Vice versa, most devices for T-mobile, if unlocked for ATT, will only get Edge on ATT's network. SOME devices you can flash a different modem, because they have the requisite antenna hardware to get the necessary frequencies.
Unfortunately for you, the SGH-I777 isn't one of them.
Unless, you actually have the Skyrocket, which is the SGH-I727. (check the label under the battery to get the exact model number) That phone, you CAN flash a T-mobile modem to it and get high speed on T-mobile's network.
Ahhh I see. When I power on the phone it displays the international model however in the menu settings it does say SGH-I777 which is why I was a little confused since there are so many differen't models aparently.
Looks like im screwd until later this year when/if T-Mobile does go good on there word that they will be acquiring new towers to promote the other frequencies for ATT devices. Thanks for the reply.
wexpac said:
Ahhh I see. When I power on the phone it displays the international model however in the menu settings it does say SGH-I777 which is why I was a little confused since there are so many differen't models aparently.
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Click to collapse
The boot screen and indeed, the about phone screen can change depending on what is flashed to the phone. So if you flash an i9100 firmware to an i777, it will then display the wrong model when booting. Which is why I said to check the label under the battery to be sure.
wexpac said:
Looks like im screwd until later this year when/if T-Mobile does go good on there word that they will be acquiring new towers to promote the other frequencies for ATT devices. Thanks for the reply.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't hold my breath for this to help you.
ctomgee said:
First off, you're in the wrong forum for your device.
This is the forum for the i9100, the international Galaxy S2.
You say you have the AT&T Galaxy S2... Which is the SGH-I777.
Second, since ATT and T-mobile use different frequencies for high speed mobile data, most devices for ATT will only get Edge on T-mobile. Vice versa, most devices for T-mobile, if unlocked for ATT, will only get Edge on ATT's network. SOME devices you can flash a different modem, because they have the requisite antenna hardware to get the necessary frequencies.
Unfortunately for you, the SGH-I777 isn't one of them.
Unless, you actually have the Skyrocket, which is the SGH-I727. (check the label under the battery to get the exact model number) That phone, you CAN flash a T-mobile modem to it and get high speed on T-mobile's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CTOMGEE,
I have the i9100 International Galaxy S2 and am wondering if I can access 3G speeds on T-Mobile? I know the phone is not 4G compatible, so unfortunately I won't be able to access those speeds, but I am wondering if I will be forced to use the EDGE network.
ellewms said:
CTOMGEE,
I have the i9100 International Galaxy S2 and am wondering if I can access 3G speeds on T-Mobile? I know the phone is not 4G compatible, so unfortunately I won't be able to access those speeds, but I am wondering if I will be forced to use the EDGE network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check your thread
Swyped from my Samsung Galaxy SII
Supercharged ParanoidAndroid 2.12
Dorimanx kernel 5.76B
GT I9100
Next phone: Galaxy NOTE II
ellewms said:
CTOMGEE,
I have the i9100 International Galaxy S2 and am wondering if I can access 3G speeds on T-Mobile? I know the phone is not 4G compatible, so unfortunately I won't be able to access those speeds, but I am wondering if I will be forced to use the EDGE network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not as of now. T-Mobile in the US uses AWS currently for 3g and "4g". This band requires both 1700 & 2100 mhz for data to get these speeds. The phone doesn't get 1700, do it won't get higher than Edge.
There are rumors T-Mobile will be re-purposing 1900 mhz (which the phone DOES get) for data, so if and when that happens, the phone will probably get high speed mobile data. But until then, you're out of luck for T-Mobile with this phone, and will have to use ATT to get high speed data.
Ananda
Hi ctomgee and others, I'm using a Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 that was bought unlocked. I'm also getting only 2G speeds on T-mobile. Could you tell me what is flashing the T-mobile modem and how it is done? Can I try to do this so that I can get 3G speeds? If this is not possible, would I get 3G speeds if I buy a S2 from T-mobile?
On the sidelines: What do they do to the phone that the phones bought from T-mobile would work but the others won't? Is it something done to the hardware or the software? If the change is in the software, can't we try to do it ourselves - are there any online tutorials on this?
ctomgee said:
Not as of now. T-Mobile in the US uses AWS currently for 3g and "4g". This band requires both 1700 & 2100 mhz for data to get these speeds. The phone doesn't get 1700, do it won't get higher than Edge.
There are rumors T-Mobile will be re-purposing 1900 mhz (which the phone DOES get) for data, so if and when that happens, the phone will probably get high speed mobile data. But until then, you're out of luck for T-Mobile with this phone, and will have to use ATT to get high speed data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ananda.b said:
Hi ctomgee and others, I'm using a Galaxy S2 GT-I9100 that was bought unlocked. I'm also getting only 2G speeds on T-mobile. Could you tell me what is flashing the T-mobile modem and how it is done? Can I try to do this so that I can get 3G speeds? If this is not possible, would I get 3G speeds if I buy a S2 from T-mobile?
On the sidelines: What do they do to the phone that the phones bought from T-mobile would work but the others won't? Is it something done to the hardware or the software? If the change is in the software, can't we try to do it ourselves - are there any online tutorials on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a modem is essentially changing the software drivers for your antenna. This does not, however, change what frequencies your phone is capable of receiving. This is a hardware limitation.
The T-mobile USA Galaxy S2 is model number SGH-T989 - a totally different model than the GT-I9100. The hardware is completely different. The size itself, the CPU/GPU/SoC, the antenna hardware - all different. This isn't something you can fix with flashing a modem.
If you are patient, as I stated above, T-mobile USA is in the process of re-purposing a frequency the I9100 DOES get so it will get 3/4g on T-mobile. When that happens in the market you are in is up to T-mobile.
ctomgee said:
First off, you're in the wrong forum for your device.
This is the forum for the i9100, the international Galaxy S2.
You say you have the AT&T Galaxy S2... Which is the SGH-I777.
Second, since ATT and T-mobile use different frequencies for high speed mobile data, most devices for ATT will only get Edge on T-mobile. Vice versa, most devices for T-mobile, if unlocked for ATT, will only get Edge on ATT's network. SOME devices you can flash a different modem, because they have the requisite antenna hardware to get the necessary frequencies.
Unfortunately for you, the SGH-I777 isn't one of them.
Unless, you actually have the Skyrocket, which is the SGH-I727. (check the label under the battery to get the exact model number) That phone, you CAN flash a T-mobile modem to it and get high speed on T-mobile's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spent hours online chatting with support trying to get this information and they couldn't provide it. 10 minutes of internet searching and you said EXACTLY what I needed to know. Thank you sir!! Helped me a ton.
Also, just a heads up. At the end of this year (2012) T-Mobile is going to launch their 1900 mhz band towers (see: newsroom.t-mobile(d0t)com/articles/4GNetworkEvolutionVendorsSelected) so AT&T phones that use that 4G band will work with T-Mobile once unlocked and moved over.
Thanks again!
Roelith said:
I spent hours online chatting with support trying to get this information and they couldn't provide it. 10 minutes of internet searching and you said EXACTLY what I needed to know. Thank you sir!! Helped me a ton.
Also, just a heads up. At the end of this year (2012) T-Mobile is going to launch their 1900 mhz band towers (see: newsroom.t-mobile(d0t)com/articles/4GNetworkEvolutionVendorsSelected) so AT&T phones that use that 4G band will work with T-Mobile once unlocked and moved over.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like i occasionally get the 4G speeds on tmobile on my i9100, but it switches between Edge and 4G quite frequently. Anyone know how to force a 4G?
mok86 said:
Looks like i occasionally get the 4G speeds on tmobile on my i9100, but it switches between Edge and 4G quite frequently. Anyone know how to force a 4G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set the network mode to WCDMA only... but I think there's a problem with that. If you wander into an area where T-mobile doesn't have "4G" coverage on 1900mhz, then I don't think you'll have any signal at all. When it is set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode), it switches automatically to Edge if you don't get the "4G" signal.
Wrong forum, this is for the international i9100 not Skyrocket.
TheATHEiST said:
Wrong forum, this is for the international i9100 not Skyrocket.
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Click to collapse
The OP is from July. The guy above me today was asking a general question, and ATT sells TWO variants of the GS2 - the SGH-I777, which is their branded regular Galaxy SII, and the SGH-I727, which is the "Skyrocket" - which is the variant that has LTE.
I'm confused
Sent from my Zanpakuto using Getsuga Tensho!
Nick281051 said:
I'm confused
Sent from my Zanpakuto using Getsuga Tensho!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guy posted in i9100 forums because he tripped the flash counter causing his phone to say i9100 so he was confused and posted there. Asked about TMO only getting 2g and was already answered,
ctomgee said:
You can set the network mode to WCDMA only... but I think there's a problem with that. If you wander into an area where T-mobile doesn't have "4G" coverage on 1900mhz, then I don't think you'll have any signal at all. When it is set to GSM/WCDMA (Auto mode), it switches automatically to Edge if you don't get the "4G" signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem , get mostly Edge and Very less 4G with my International 9100 in T Mobile. Was wondering if a modem change will fix the problem . I am currently on Slimbean Rom. Any suggestions guys ?
nikunj_cal said:
Same problem , get mostly Edge and Very less 4G with my International 9100 in T Mobile. Was wondering if a modem change will fix the problem . I am currently on Slimbean Rom. Any suggestions guys ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Its a hardware thing. Not that complicated to understand really.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Pirateghost said:
No. Its a hardware thing. Not that complicated to understand really.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
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Click to collapse
Agreed since we are missing 1700mhz here but I was wondering whether its possible to capitalize on the 1900 mhz freq.
nikunj_cal said:
Agreed since we are missing 1700mhz here but I was wondering whether its possible to capitalize on the 1900 mhz freq.
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Click to collapse
hello every one I was wondering I have the i9100 and I have metropcs on it and I also flashed omni rom on it but I was thinking that I need to flash the us radios on it because I got it from Japan and as I can make calles they drop alot and the network is so slow so is this something where I would need to flash that ? and if so can someone post a link for the file's?
Hi.
I have been wanting to get the Galaxy for some time, and now even more after reading up on the iPhone 5 and slowly losing faith in it's domination of the market. I am currently undecided as far as what version of Samsung Galaxy S3 to buy. I have been reading that the international version is pretty pathetic due to frequency and network speed capability among a few other complaints. I am currently a Tmobile customer. Should I buy the phone from TMobile AND unlock it or should I buy the international version of this device.
Thank you all for your help.
omfgwhat said:
Hi.
I have been wanting to get the Galaxy for some time, and now even more after reading up on the iPhone 5 and slowly losing faith in it's domination of the market. I am currently undecided as far as what version of Samsung Galaxy S3 to buy. I have been reading that the international version is pretty pathetic due to frequency and network speed capability among a few other complaints. I am currently a Tmobile customer. Should I buy the phone from TMobile AND unlock it or should I buy the international version of this device.
Thank you all for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you in the US? If you are in the US then the international will only get 2G speeds on TMO unless you are in one of the newly converted areas(which is unlikely because only 5 or so markets have been converted so far). And the international is HSPA+ which is what TMO is, It's not LTE so it wont be too much faster. I do think the US TMO version is 42mbps HSPA where the International is 21.
I'm on ATT and I had the choice to get either the US version with LTE and 2GB of Ram or get the international version. I chose to get the international. LTE really isnt important to me as I'm on wifi 90% of the time and HSPA+ serves me well for the 10% of the time I'm not on wifi
I will be using 4G most of the time rather than the WiFi, are you suggesting I should go with the TMobile version of this device?
Thanks.