I feel pretty stupid asking this question seeing as I put this ROM on myself and ought to know everything about it. It's Neutrino GT for the Atrix 4G. I have AT&T for my provider, and I have poor reception at my home. I recently had to switch to my backup Atrix with the ROM, and I noticed that it is using U.S. Cellular, which provides full EDGE reception. Obviously nothing amazing, but still better than what I was getting with AT&T. I also have the option of using T-Mobile.
My question is..Is this only possible because of the ROM, or is there another piece of android development that allows this to happen without actually roaming? I want to get another phone and be able to have this option, but I need to understand how it's possible to have the option to use other carriers at will.
Where did you get your backup Atrix? It has been SIM (network) unlocked if its an AT&T and you can use it on other networks. That's not the ROM.
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
CaelanT said:
Where did you get your backup Atrix? It has been SIM (network) unlocked if its an AT&T and you can use it on other networks. That's not the ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought the Atrix off eBay long while back, and I did unlock it. Although my SGSIII GT-I9300 only seemed to be able to connect to the AT&T carrier (unless roaming), and not have this option. Additionally, I have an AT&T SIM in it. Unfortunately I'm not allowed to post a picture yet on my post being new, but under Settings > Mobile Networks > Network operators > Available Networks, it will list AT&T, AT&T, U.S. Cellular (or USA Unicel), and T-Mobile. On my SGSIII, it only listed the two AT&T networks. This is all with just the AT&T SIM in it. If you dial a wrong number when it's under U.S. Cellular, it will even go through the whole "Hello, this is U.S. Cellular..The number you have reached..." bit.
Related
Just like on the Samsung Infuse 4G, ATT's radio on the SGSII restricts the band selection\alternate carrier selection when using different SIMs .... are there any radios yet that can be flashed to disable this limitation yet? Flying to Asia tomorrow so would be nice to have the ability.
As far as I knew it has nothing to do with the Carrier software (at least it doesn't with non-android phones I have. They have a manual selection menu hidden, it's just the SIM locks it down.
naturefreak85 said:
As far as I knew it has nothing to do with the Carrier software (at least it doesn't with non-android phones I have. They have a manual selection menu hidden, it's just the SIM locks it down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if a sim locks it down that's a carrier restriction
If all you want is Sim unlock, get your Sim unlock code. ROM or modem won't make that happen.
There are a few ways to unlock your phone. Do a search.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
foxbat121 said:
If all you want is Sim unlock, get your Sim unlock code. ROM or modem won't make that happen.
There are a few ways to unlock your phone. Do a search.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to be rude but there's more to it than that... I travel internationally weekly and you're correct when it comes to using country specific Sims in thosecountries bit not when it comes to using a "country x" sim in "country z" on an att phone. I went through this with infuse too and flashing Rogers radio solves the issue. Its an att imposed limitation.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
That is because if you are using AT&T Sim, there is a built in preferred carrier list from
AT&T to keep the cost down, to At&t, not necessary to you.
IIRC, if you Sim unlock and use a local Sim, you will have the option to manually select network.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
foxbat121 said:
That is because if you are using AT&T Sim, there is a built in preferred carrier list from
AT&T to keep the cost down, to At&t, not necessary to you.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right and that's why I said yo don't understand because I'm not referring to att Sims. Its a function of the radio and affects any sim hence why I had to flash the Rogers radio
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
foxbat121 said:
That is because if you are using AT&T Sim, there is a built in preferred carrier list from AT&T to keep the cost down, to At&t, not necessary to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Known as a PRL (preferred roaming list) but this does not effect the ability to use a different SIM. The PRL is on the SIM not on the phone. Typically, you have the option on the device to ignore the PRL and do a manual network selection but only if the subsidy lock allows it.
bella92108 said:
Right and that's why I said yo don't understand because I'm not referring to att Sims. Its a function of the radio and affects any sim hence why I had to flash the Rogers radio
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to remove the subsidy lock without having to change the modem firmware. As for the band selection, a modem from the international version of SGSII is probably your best bet. But do a search to see what happens when applying different modems for overseas use.
bella92108 said:
Well if a sim locks it down that's a carrier restriction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that's not a carrier software and will not be resolved by flashing a different Modem software.
ianwood said:
Known as a PRL (preferred roaming list) but this does not effect the ability to use a different SIM. The PRL is on the SIM not on the phone. Typically, you have the option on the device to ignore the PRL and do a manual network selection but only if the subsidy lock allows it.
You should be able to remove the subsidy lock without having to change the modem firmware. As for the band selection, a modem from the international version of SGSII is probably your best bet. But do a search to see what happens when applying different modems for overseas use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's the issue is I need to be able to select a carrier. The phone is sim unlocked, but it's preferring a different carrier than I need to be using. Any way to free myself from being able to get the international version? Won't the International version not have the appropriate "4G" AT&T frequency\technology?
Thanks!
As a side note, I'm in Bangkok at the moment. I just grabbed a dtac one day sim (cause using local sims work, it's just when using foreign roaming sims i have the att issue selecting a carrier manually), and whatever category of HSPA+ they're using is rockin no a mofo... I'm getting 11mbps down and 2.44mbps upload. Now THAT seems more like "4G" than anything we have back home in the US, hehe.
naturefreak85 said:
But that's not a carrier software and will not be resolved by flashing a different Modem software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true, on the Infuse and this phone, it's ATT's radio that prevents manual selection of networks. If you take an infuse, and unlock, then try to manually select a network operator, the menu is grayed out. If you then flash the rogers radio, wa=lahh... the network selection is available.
Yea, this restriction has nothing to do with the SIM. It's the AT&T-customized radio that's in our phones. The AT&T Android also removes the 3g/2g toggle, but that has nothing to do with the radio, and is a simple Android tweak.
I think we're gonna have to wait and see if an I9100 modem will work with our GS2s and if it will support both 850 Mhz and 1900 Mhz WCDMA...
Shammyh said:
Yea, this restriction has nothing to do with the SIM. It's the AT&T-customized radio that's in our phones. The AT&T Android also removes the 3g/2g toggle, but that has nothing to do with the radio, and is a simple Android tweak.
I think we're gonna have to wait and see if an I9100 modem will work with our GS2s and if it will support both 850 Mhz and 1900 Mhz WCDMA...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. I'm finding that it's not a huge deal anyhow w\ Google Voice. More and more while travelling I want to use my phone for internet, and thats never cost effective for using a global roaming sim like Tru anyhow. Here DTAC, the biggest carrier just turned on "4G" (funny enough they call it 4G+ haha), and I'm getting 10mbps+ down and 2.5mbps+ upload. It's crazy-fast compared to my ATT at home. And for 30 Thai Baht per 24 hours it's unlimited data and unlimited local calls. Can't beat that. Here until Friday, so for $5 I have a week of amazingly fast internet.
Question for you. Does the International unlocked version have the ability to use the same HSPA+ frequencies and work fine on ATT? I like that idea if it does, seems a lot more people developing for it. But I'm not sure I can give up having 4 capacitive touch keys having had them for 2 phones now, hehe. A physical button just looks so old-fashioned, hehe.
Thanks!
bella92108 said:
Question for you. Does the International unlocked version have the ability to use the same HSPA+ frequencies and work fine on ATT? I like that idea if it does, seems a lot more people developing for it. But I'm not sure I can give up having 4 capacitive touch keys having had them for 2 phones now, hehe. A physical button just looks so old-fashioned, hehe.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
International version of GS2 has quad-band HSPA+ radio (supports all AT&T bands w/o problems) while AT&T GS2 has only tri-band HSPA+. If you travel a lot internationally and want local 3G/4G data speed, international vesion is a better choice.
foxbat121 said:
International version of GS2 has quad-band HSPA+ radio (supports all AT&T bands w/o problems) while AT&T GS2 has only tri-band HSPA+. If you travel a lot internationally and want local 3G/4G data speed, international vesion is a better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That seems like it'd solve my issues. Just wish it had the 4 capacitive buttons not the silly big button.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
foxbat121 said:
International version of GS2 has quad-band HSPA+ radio (supports all AT&T bands w/o problems) while AT&T GS2 has only tri-band HSPA+. If you travel a lot internationally and want local 3G/4G data speed, international vesion is a better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any idea what the best going price on these is? I'll look at the market here in BKK
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
foxbat121 said:
International version of GS2 has quad-band HSPA+ radio (supports all AT&T bands w/o problems) while AT&T GS2 has only tri-band HSPA+. If you travel a lot internationally and want local 3G/4G data speed, international vesion is a better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may not be the case.
The Captivate had a published "tri-band UMTS radio w/ 850/1900/2100" support, but in reality the radio supported 850/900/1900/2100. Suspect it's the same case with the SGH-i777. Further, the potentially missing UMTS/WCDMA band (900 MHz) is used in very few places, and almost no where exclusively.
But back on topic:
When I have some more time and feel like mucking around, I might run through a bunch of different i9100 modems and see what happens.
Shammyh said:
That may not be the case.
The Captivate had a published "tri-band UMTS radio w/ 850/1900/2100" support, but in reality the radio supported 850/900/1900/2100. Suspect it's the same case with the SGH-i777. Further, the potentially missing UMTS/WCDMA band (900 MHz) is used in very few places, and almost no where exclusively.
But back on topic:
When I have some more time and feel like mucking around, I might run through a bunch of different i9100 modems and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. If the phones were physically identical I'd have done the i9100 in a heartbeat. For me the radio issue is annoying .
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
bella92108 said:
Any idea what the best going price on these is? I'll look at the market here in BKK
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In US, i9100 is around $550 to $600 but none of them come with any US warranty, only international warranty which ironically excludes US.
Shammyh said:
That may not be the case.
The Captivate had a published "tri-band UMTS radio w/ 850/1900/2100" support, but in reality the radio supported 850/900/1900/2100. Suspect it's the same case with the SGH-i777. Further, the potentially missing UMTS/WCDMA band (900 MHz) is used in very few places, and almost no where exclusively.
But back on topic:
When I have some more time and feel like mucking around, I might run through a bunch of different i9100 modems and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This same thing is true with the i777. And turning on the 900MHz band is done with the same method. Not sure if it will stick though.
So I have me an Orange- UK sim card coming. My AT&T Galaxy S2 Is unlocked. I was wanting to test this in the states before everything. Its Prepaid but Orange Prepaid WORKS on T-Mobile in the USA. Since Network Selection is locked down Is there anyway to Select T-Mobile? Cause I know network secltion is locked. And yes the Phone is SIM UNLOCKED so I know it will take the sim card. its just will it connect to the T-Mobile Network?
It will work for calls. But Internet will only be edge. 3g and 4g(h+) for tmobile are run on a band this phone doesn't have.
Sent from my páhhōniē
But would my phone be able to get on the T-Mobile network at all since I can't select networks? And also idk about the att version but the T-Mobile galaxy s2 has the ATT 3g bands. But data does not matter. I just needed an UK number here in the states so calls and texts are just fine. But would it easily connect to the T-Mobile network without selecting it? Since it won't let me
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Just do a search for tmobile apn's. Putting in the right apn will 'select' your carrier. Calling and internet will work fine. Just limited to edge. Tmobile phones are 100% compatible with at&t networks.
Sent from my páhhōniē
Sense it is similar unlocked it is network unlocked. Once you put your similar in and reboot it will go through the network set up again saying it detected a new similar card. After that it will connect fine. As for the data he is right the ATT version only supports ATT 3G or better bands, but as you said the data doesn't matter. If it doesn't automatically go through you can go into settings and select wireless networks and there is an option to scan for networks. Just select T-Mobile if that is what your carrier will run on. Not sure how it will react sense it will be roaming on that network though
On the att galaxy s2 it won't allow u to do network scan it search unless running miui rom
zelendel said:
Sense it is similar unlocked it is network unlocked. Once you put your similar in and reboot it will go through the network set up again saying it detected a new similar card. After that it will connect fine. As for the data he is right the ATT version only supports ATT 3G or better bands, but as you said the data doesn't matter. If it doesn't automatically go through you can go into settings and select wireless networks and there is an option to scan for networks. Just select T-Mobile if that is what your carrier will run on. Not sure how it will react sense it will be roaming on that network though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
hyelton said:
But would my phone be able to get on the T-Mobile network at all since I can't select networks? And also idk about the att version but the T-Mobile galaxy s2 has the ATT 3g bands. But data does not matter. I just needed an UK number here in the states so calls and texts are just fine. But would it easily connect to the T-Mobile network without selecting it? Since it won't let me
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would if your sim card prefers T-Mobile network. Although you can't manually select networks, SIM card contains instructions as to which network it prefers to use. There is really no need to manually select networks unless you don't like what the SIM carrier prefers.
I am thinking of switching to Straightalk $45 unlimited everything plan for my Vibrant (unlocked and rooted). I am wondering if anyone here is using Straightalk on Vibrant. I hear people talking about
‘Straight talk Tmobile sim’ and
‘Straighttalk AT&T sim’.
This might be a dumb questions but What is the difference between the two? Do I have to request a ‘Straight talk Tmobile sim’ in order for it to work with my Vibrant. Will I get 3G speeds and not edge? I also hear that MMS don’t work but I m not too concerned with those since I don’t use many.
I would love to hear from any straighttalk users on Vibrant!!
Thanks
Straight talk is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). They use different carriers. You need to specify which carrier sim you need per your device in order to get 3g data speeds.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
samsgun357 said:
Straight talk is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). They use different carriers. You need to specify which carrier sim you need per your device in order to get 3g data speeds.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I need to tell them I need Tmobile compatible sim for me to get 3g on my vibrant?
You can get either t-mobile or at&t sim. They both will get 3g on vibrant. Vibrant has att 3g combatiable bands. Go with the compant that provides better coverage in your area.
media_11 said:
You can get either t-mobile or at&t sim. They both will get 3g on vibrant. Vibrant has att 3g combatiable bands. Go with the compant that provides better coverage in your area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Its good to know that Vibrant gets 3g on either ST ATT & ST Tmobile sim.
I would double check that AT&T is using bands for 3g service that are compatible with vibrant. I know that the AT&T captivate doesnt work on T-Mobile 3g service.
What you don't know could fill a book.
Long story short, I rooted using the Exynos Abuse and flashed the SuperNexus I777 ROM and am only getting EDGE.
My friend gave me his ATT Galaxy S2 SGH-1777. I have a local carrier that also uses GSM. So I have a non-ATT SIM card.
When I plugged in the SIM card to this ATT SGS2, only the texting and dialing worked. I didn't get any data. I talked to ATT for an unlock code (which they gave me). It wasn't until after I got the unlock code that I found out the phone was already GSM unlocked.
So I proceeded to root and flash the ROM I listed above. I am only getting EDGE data. Wifi works and as far as I know (with the minimal poking around) everything else does so far.
Am I missing something in terms of toggle switches inside the settings menu to turn on EDGE? Is this carrier specific? I don't see why EDGE would work but 3G wouldn't if I am in the coverage area.
I am doing this for a friend. I am a HTC Thunderbolt user so the SGS2 is new to me. What are these modems people are flashing? Should I flash one of these in hopes of picking up a 3G signal through the Non-ATT carrier?
zilla. said:
Long story short, I rooted using the Exynos Abuse and flashed the SuperNexus I777 ROM and am only getting EDGE.
My friend gave me his ATT Galaxy S2 SGH-1777. I have a local carrier that also uses GSM. So I have a non-ATT SIM card.
When I plugged in the SIM card to this ATT SGS2, only the texting and dialing worked. I didn't get any data. I talked to ATT for an unlock code (which they gave me). It wasn't until after I got the unlock code that I found out the phone was already GSM unlocked.
So I proceeded to root and flash the ROM I listed above. I am only getting EDGE data. Wifi works and as far as I know (with the minimal poking around) everything else does so far.
Am I missing something in terms of toggle switches inside the settings menu to turn on EDGE? Is this carrier specific? I don't see why EDGE would work but 3G wouldn't if I am in the coverage area.
I am doing this for a friend. I am a HTC Thunderbolt user so the SGS2 is new to me. What are these modems people are flashing? Should I flash one of these in hopes of picking up a 3G signal through the Non-ATT carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What carrier are u on? If u are accessing other towers besides at&t then u will pretty much get edge
Sent from my Pink Unicorn stable
brandonarev said:
What carrier are u on? If u are accessing other towers besides at&t then u will pretty much get edge
Sent from my Pink Unicorn stable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The carrier is Cincinnati Bell. Is it possible to get the phone to pick up towers specific for Bell or do I need the carrier to do this?
zilla. said:
The carrier is Cincinnati Bell. Is it possible to get the phone to pick up towers specific for Bell or do I need the carrier to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure Cincinnati Bell uses T-Mobile towers so all the limitations that T-Mobile had with At&t phones on its network applies here
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Pirateghost said:
I'm pretty sure Cincinnati Bell uses T-Mobile towers so all the limitations that T-Mobile had with At&t phones on its network applies here
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^This! Confirm what network your carrier is accessing. If it's T-Mobile you're out of luck
Sent from my Pink Unicorn stable
brandonarev said:
^^This! Confirm what network your carrier is accessing. If it's T-Mobile you're out of luck
Sent from my Pink Unicorn stable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the phone is GSM unlocked, should it be able to access the respective tower of the carrier that is tied to the SIM card?
If not can the radios (?) specifically select towers?
zilla. said:
If the phone is GSM unlocked, should it be able to access the respective tower of the carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if the phone doesn't have the hardware to support those specific bands.
Sent from my Zanpakuto using Getsuga Tensho!
zilla. said:
If the phone is GSM unlocked, should it be able to access the respective tower of the carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Your phone is GSM unlocked; therefore it can access the Cincinnati Bell towers. However, since those are actually T-Mobile towers, you can only use T-Mobile bands. Since T-Mobile and AT&T used different bands for 3G, and the phone's radio is designed to use AT&T's bands, you can only access the 2G bands.
EDIT: Ninja'd
mattdm said:
Yes. Your phone is GSM unlocked; therefore it can access the Cincinnati Bell towers. However, since those are actually T-Mobile towers, you can only use T-Mobile bands. Since T-Mobile and AT&T used different bands for 3G, and the phone's radio is designed to use AT&T's bands, you can only access the 2G bands.
EDIT: Ninja'd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the insight. I will call to confirm.
some of the newer tablets have both bands built in....so then you could use both gsm bands on tmo and att.....like the new note 8....it will have more gsm and lte bands than those in the past
mokokawi said:
some of the newer tablets have both bands built in....so then you could use both gsm bands on tmo and att.....like the new note 8....it will have more gsm and lte bands than those in the past
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this insightful post that has ZERO to do with the i777.....
mattdm said:
Yes. Your phone is GSM unlocked; therefore it can access the Cincinnati Bell towers. However, since those are actually T-Mobile towers, you can only use T-Mobile bands. Since T-Mobile and AT&T used different bands for 3G, and the phone's radio is designed to use AT&T's bands, you can only access the 2G bands.
EDIT: Ninja'd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for bringing this up again, I was looking at the specs of the SGH-I777 (ATT's SGS2) vs SGH-T989 (T-Mobile's SGS2). It looks like both of the phones use the same bands except T-Mobile is capable of one more: WCDMA 2100. Is this the band that T-Mobile transmits it's 3G over? Otherwise they look almost identical.
Attached screenshot of comparison: http://imgur.com/8OQXftD
T-Mobile utilizes AWS (1700 MHz) band. Look better and you'll see that what you marked isn't a difference, 1700 is.
Google "List of UMTS networks".
Jack_R1 said:
T-Mobile utilizes AWS (1700 MHz) band. Look better and you'll see that what you marked isn't a difference, 1700 is.
Google "List of UMTS networks".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh of course. I glanced over that way too fast. Thanks.
My question remains, when carrier unlocking an s9 or s9+, is there any way to make it available on different network types like say if the phone started out using a carrier that uses CDMA, is their any way to flash it to utilize t-mobile's frequency bands?
I unlocked two galaxy s9+'s that were on xfinity, which uses verizon towers. The two phones did unlock, but only for carriers utilizing CDMA. I was hoping they would be able to be used on t-mobile after unlocking, but they can't. Only messaging and data works using a t-mobile SIM card. Verizon works fine. SO my question still remains, is there a way to make it work?
I used itekimei .com to have the phones unlocked, as I found they were suggested here on XDA. And they weren't really able to answer my question either. They said it should work with t-mobile, but the conversation ended with "t-mobile is having problems with unlocked phones." This is super frustrating trying to get an answer.
Edit: I found this forum https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9-plus/help/sim-unlocking-sprint-samsung-galaxy-s9-t3783571 which debates whether it will work or not. Also this one specifically about Xfinity https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s9-plus/help/xfinity-mobile-unlock-service-t3796349. But mine didn't work. I don't think U.S. S9's are cross compatible from CDMA to GSM. I have been searching and searching and can't find a way.
Yes, the US unit hardware is cross compatible. Heck, Verizon itself isn't all CDMA. They are phasing out CDMA soon and most of their network is LTE.
I have a US unlocked S9+ and can use any carrier in the US. You could too, all you need to do is flash the US Unlocked firmware to the device using Odin.
Your problem may be the Xfinity firmware restricting certain bands is all. Or possibly the device isn't really unlocked.
Regards,