I've seen threads where modems are used to get the phone on different networks given the right apn. Does this side step a carrier lock or is it assumed these phones are already unlocked?
You can flash a carrier locked phone with any modem you please. You can also change the APN settings on a locked phone. What you can't do is use another carrier's sim card.
So no, this doesn't side step that. You will need to unlock.
International Note N7000 is factory unlocked.
All carrier versions SGH-i717# are all factory locked.
It costs from $7.00 to $25.00 to carrier unlock.
Ok makes sense. What happens if you start using a tmobile modem and apn with att sim? Would att just charge you roaming or something?
Your sim would connect your phone to the t-mobile network using the frequenies of at&t. You would have EDGE data speed (2g), voice, mms.
Related
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
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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
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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 going to get the note but when i research on unlocking it i found the modem t unlock that makes it works with tmobile hspa+, but when i go on craigslist to to buy it they sell the note with "imei" unlock....whats the difference?...
IMEI Unlock = SIM/Network Unlock
If your phone is AT&T Network locked, you can use your phone with only AT&T sim cards.
So If phone is Network Unlocked, you can use it with any sim card.
Modem unlock will make your phone able to connect T-Mobile's Mobile Network (it unlocks the frequencies that hardware supports but not software)
Jckpsa said:
IMEI Unlock = SIM/Network Unlock
If your phone is AT&T Network locked, you can use your phone with only AT&T sim cards.
So If phone is Network Unlocked, you can use it with any sim card.
Modem unlock will make your phone able to connect T-Mobile's Mobile Network (it unlocks the frequencies that hardware supports but not software)
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Click to collapse
so which way is better ???
I too am interested in getting a Note over the Galaxy S2
RippSpeed said:
so which way is better ???
I too am interested in getting a Note over the Galaxy S2
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Click to collapse
There is no better or worse - if you want to use AT&T and have an AT&T SIM, then you don't need either.
If you want to use T-Mobile then you need to IMEI unlock the device so it accepts a T-Mobile SIM, then you need to install the T-Mobile Modem if you want speeds beyond 2G EDGE.
TL;DR: IMEI Unlock lets you use a non AT&T SIM in the device, Modem "Unlock" lets you use T-Mobile's 3G frequencies along with that T-Mobile SIM.
Can anyone point me to a good write up on how to install the Tmobile modem?
I am rooted and IMEI unlocked. Sorry just new to this stuff.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
all i had to do (after root and unlock) was flash the "Blaze 4G modem" through Clockwork mod, from AllGamer's thread. that opened up the AWS frequencies.
EDIT: found it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1547114
so basically you need both unlocks to use it on t-mobile....imei to use t-mobie sim card and modem unlock to use 3g/4g speeds on t-mobile network....and i heard u still get a weak signal .....dont know if affects your experience as in dropped calls and slow data ect ect...but um @ schuflea http://rootgalaxynote.com it will tell you how to install anything on your galaxy note...good luck ..
if any one is still thinking about getting a gnote.....you should wait...its officially coming out for t-mobile....well thats wuts going around the net....theres even pictures of it with t-mobile branding.....you should wait like a month...its 4/28/12 wait till 5/28/12 lol....see wut happens....
I know that the answer is probably staring me in the face, but I am just not seeming to find the info that I want... Can I use a US Cellular xt1526 on the Verizon network since I didn't notice before I bought my xt1528 that it is bootloader locked? I remember reading that I would lose band 13 LTE, but the LTE Discovery app seems to be hanging out in band 4 most of the time. I can buy the US Cellular version online, but I was looking locally and saw a Boost Mobile xt1526 and was wondering if that might be compatible with Verizon and bootloader unlockable. I already screwed up once, so I want to try to have things straight before buying another phone. Thank you.
For Verizon usage, you have three options:
Verizon XT1528: All Verizon bands (obviously). Locked bootloader. SIM Unlocked. Super easy to find.
US Cellular XT1526: All Verizon bands except LTE Band 13 (Verizon's primary). Unlockable bootloader. SIM Unlocked. Uncommon outside of USC markets, but you can get one new from Amazon for $50.
LRA / Open Mobile XT1529: All Verizon bands. Bootloader can be unlocked. SIM Unlock varies by source carrier (some LRA carriers might sell it unlocked, OM sells it locked). Very hard to get a hold of, although I do see some on Ebay now, but the listings don't indicate if they're unlocked (and one listing is for 3 phones in badly beaten-up condition...). I'm unsure if you can use 3rd party unlocking services to unlock a SIM-locked XT1529.
I can personally attest to the Verizon XT1528, USC XT1526, and a LRA XT1529 working on Verizon (my XT1529 is my daily driver). The XT1526 and XT1529 had some initial issues connecting to Verizon, think I had to manually set the APN, and I think the stock ROM for the XT1529 didn't have the "Verizon Wireless" carrier name present, but it still connected and functioned on Verizon fine. I've since flashed CM13 and everything displays and works fine.
The Sprint/Boost/Virgin/various Sprint MVNO models of the XT1526 are SIM locked and won't work on any domestic non-Sprint US carriers. The only XT1526 that is not SIM locked is the US Cellular model.
Thank you for that information! That seems to cover what I was in need of at the moment. I was looking around locally and found Boost Mobile xt1526's available to me and the coverage map for Boost shows that I should have service in my area--my next question: can I unlock the bootloader on the Boost xt1526 and flash custom ROM/Recovery and still use it on Boost? I just want to make sure that the bootloader can be unlocked and I can fiddle with the internals of the phone a bit. Thank you again.
Yes, the Boost XT1526 can be bootloader unlocked, and you can still use it on Boost after flashing a custom ROM. I think CM13 works out of the box, but some other ROMs might need the LTE fix posted in the CDMA subforum.
i bought those 3 pack xt1529 phones from ebay, haha. not sure if it was the same listing. all three work with at&t sim. having issues still with the vzw sim. how did you install CM13? i tried the official nightly rom/recovery but it failed noting that this rom is not for CDMA version of the device. so i found a custom version of cm13 by another developer that worked but still having trouble with the specific apn values and cellular network settings...
any ideas?
xtermmin said:
For Verizon usage, you have three options:
Verizon XT1528: All Verizon bands (obviously). Locked bootloader. SIM Unlocked. Super easy to find.
US Cellular XT1526: All Verizon bands except LTE Band 13 (Verizon's primary). Unlockable bootloader. SIM Unlocked. Uncommon outside of USC markets, but you can get one new from Amazon for $50.
LRA / Open Mobile XT1529: All Verizon bands. Bootloader can be unlocked. SIM Unlock varies by source carrier (some LRA carriers might sell it unlocked, OM sells it locked). Very hard to get a hold of, although I do see some on Ebay now, but the listings don't indicate if they're unlocked (and one listing is for 3 phones in badly beaten-up condition...). I'm unsure if you can use 3rd party unlocking services to unlock a SIM-locked XT1529.
I can personally attest to the Verizon XT1528, USC XT1526, and a LRA XT1529 working on Verizon (my XT1529 is my daily driver). The XT1526 and XT1529 had some initial issues connecting to Verizon, think I had to manually set the APN, and I think the stock ROM for the XT1529 didn't have the "Verizon Wireless" carrier name present, but it still connected and functioned on Verizon fine. I've since flashed CM13 and everything displays and works fine.
The Sprint/Boost/Virgin/various Sprint MVNO models of the XT1526 are SIM locked and won't work on any domestic non-Sprint US carriers. The only XT1526 that is not SIM locked is the US Cellular model.
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natesc0tt said:
i bought those 3 pack xt1529 phones from ebay, haha. not sure if it was the same listing. all three work with at&t sim. having issues still with the vzw sim. how did you install CM13? i tried the official nightly rom/recovery but it failed noting that this rom is not for CDMA version of the device. so i found a custom version of cm13 by another developer that worked but still having trouble with the specific apn values and cellular network settings...
any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the official CM13 nightly, but didn't use CM recovery, using TWRP instead. iirc, when I flashed it the first time, it was able to connect but was having issues with data (had to turn on roaming to get a data connection), but I fixed it by booting to fastboot, connecting to PC, and issuing the command: fastboot oem config fsg-id vzw
I never got an error saying "this rom is not for CDMA version of the device". Might be a CM Recovery thing.
My APN values:
Name: Verizon
APN: VZWINTERNET
MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms (if you're on a MVNO, this might be different)
MMS Port: 80
MCC: 311
MNC: 480
APN Type: default,dun,supl,mms
APN Protocol: IPv4/IPv6
APN Roaming Protocol: IPv4/IPv6
Bearer: Unspecified
Everything else is either None or Not Set.
Based on what I read so far, only unlocked version of AT&T will work only with GSM provider. Would like confirmation of this. Thanks!
jklny said:
Based on what I read so far, only unlocked version of AT&T will work only with GSM provider. Would like confirmation of this. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, unfortunately.
Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk
Uh... If it's an unlocked phone there is no reason it wont.
http://www.droid-life.com/2017/03/08/unlocked-galaxy-s8-plus-s8-fcc-smg950-smg955/
Optimumind... can you provide any explanation for your answer?
Unless something has changed, Sprint is CDMA, not GSM.
eatmeimadanish said:
Uh... If it's an unlocked phone there is no reason it wont.
http://www.droid-life.com/2017/03/08/unlocked-galaxy-s8-plus-s8-fcc-smg950-smg955/
Optimumind... can you provide any explanation for your answer?
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Click to collapse
An unlocked AT&T GS8 will work on other GSM networks but not on Sprint b/c Sprint won't add the AT&T GS8 IMEI to their system.
Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk
The hardware on all the s8's are the same so technically it will work but the imei isn't white listed so you won't be able to activate it on sprint but the sprint version can be activated on att or any other gsm provider.
Sprint galaxy s8 works with tmobile and verizon
The hardware on all the s8's are the same so technically it will work but the imei isn't white listed so you won't be able to activate it on sprint but the sprint version can be activated on att or any other gsm provider.
Hey there. I have an S7 Edge unlock from t-mobile running the unlock firmware from G935U. Sprint SIM cards are lock, I have a friend who works for sprint. I have 3 Sprint S8 and S8+, 2 unlock and running on T-Mobile network. I took 1 of the SIM card and put in my Unlock S7 Edge, the phone just keep trying to connect to network and repeating the same process. Didn't work at all, but the Sprint S8's works excellent on T-Mobile network after flashing the UNLOCK firmware.
---------- Post added at 03:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:53 AM ----------
I got 111.71 mbps download, 20 mbps upload speed from my Unlock Sprint S8+ running G955U1 unlock firmware on T-Mobile network. Couldn't ask for anything more than that.
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
mellojosh said:
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
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Click to collapse
Yup, Sprint sucks very well in this regard.
Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk
This phones are listed among eligible phones for Sprint's BYOD 1 year free plan. Does it say something?
Samsung Galaxy S8 (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile)
Yes it will work, i put a freedom pop sim in, and it restarted with at&t logo
mellojosh said:
I will provide my non Sprint S8 variant experience.....for any US S8, they all have the same hardware. I have noticed that ATT and TMO models have CDMA hardware, but are turned off in the carriers version of the firmware . Flashing the stock unlocked S8 firmware or the Sprint/VZW FW will enable the phones for use with CDMA and all LTE bands. I had an ATT version sim unlocked and attempted this on Verizon FW with a VZW sim and it worked perfect....but there is a major roadblock with Sprint. Sprint is the only carrier that I have tried that requires an update of the IMEI to the account (ie you cant just pop a sim in and the device works). VZW for example shows Unknown device on the account instead of an S8, but all the services still work. Sprint shows 3G for about 5 minutes, then you get a message that the sim is locked and to reboot or call support (not the same as the phones sim slot being locked, but more that the system cant register the sim/device combo). Sprint stores have the capability of adding IMEI's to the Sprint database, as long as the IMEI does not come back as ineligible. Well, I took the S8 to several stores and none of them could add it to the system. Several employees advised me that the IMEI's from other carrier's are blacklisted so that it can not be added and the only ones that the system would allow to add are IMEI's that were sold as unlocked or Sprint branded. If the IMEI can be white listed, then I am certain it would work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
tempests said:
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
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Click to collapse
Maybe I should try this approach with my Galaxy S9+ (AT&T, unlocked).
Sprint is a PITA.
tempests said:
I had a similar experience with an Unlocked Galaxy S7 and Sprint. I actually had to get Samsung Tech support on a conference call with a Sprint Manager, because Sprint told my customer the the phone is incompatible with the Sprint network. After embarrassing the Sprint rep, he white listed the IMEI number on Sprint's network and the phone worked.
Also, MetroPCS has the same policy. You cannot just pop in a Metro Sim card. You have to call them and register the IMEI number. After about an hour tops, the phone will complete provisioning and be able to work on Metro's T-Mobile network.
T-Mobile is instant. You cab pop a T-Mobile Sim card into any sim unlocked variant and it will work. However you will need to go into settings and follow the T-Mobile instructions on how to set up the radio frequencies. The better way is to just flash the carrier's ROM version onto the phone. This way you will get the features and updates from the carrier. Carriers seem to get the Android updates faster than Samsung. A trade off for bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may have been referring to me regarding the unlocked Galaxy S7 & Sprint. Many thanks for that one. I'm going through the same crap now with Universal unlocked IPhone 7. Sprint is a PITA!
I can confirm the SM-G955U from AT&T does work. I confirmed this via Sprint site. Just Google Sprint byod eligibility and you'll find the link.
My biggest roadblock was AT&T had a network lock on my phone so the sim Sprint sent couldn't be used. I then used the services provided by gsmzambia to network unlock the device. It's currently working on Sprint network.
Phone Brand/Model shouldn't be relevant..
But for example, i have a Verizon Galaxy S7. (Firmware GM-930V).
Which I flashed to Unlocked Firmware. (GM-930U)
Now lets say i wanna use a Boost Mobile Sim Card (which is on the Sprint Network).
The Firmware might be Unlocked, but does the IMEI still register as Verizon and lock out the Sprint Network?
The phones UMTS and GSM Bands are capable for the Sprint Network.