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Looking for any insight to using the SGS2 on TMo and getting anything better than EDGE speeds.
As I understand it (via wikipedia) TMo has these bands:
[TMobile USA] owns licenses to operate a 1900 MHz GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) PCS (Personal Communications Service) digital cellular network and a 1700 MHz/2100 MHz UMTS AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) digital cellular network that cover areas of the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It provides coverage in areas in which it does not own radio frequency spectrum licenses via roaming agreements with other operators of compatible networks.
And then from Samsung's website:
Network
HSPA+ 21Mbps/ HSUPA 5.76Mbps
EDGE/ GPRS Class 12
Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100
So, what gives? Seems like the 2100 UMTS service should match up between the two. Is this an issue because TMo is somehow blocking the use of the unbranded phone on their system? If so, and on a much more advanced level, I'd think there'd be a way to make TMo think I'm using the PoS smartphone they gave me to use on their system... or am I smokin' that crackberry?
Needs both 1700 and 2100 if I remember correctly.
gmstrollo said:
Looking for any insight to using the SGS2 on TMo and getting anything better than EDGE speeds.
As I understand it (via wikipedia) TMo has these bands:
[TMobile USA] owns licenses to operate a 1900 MHz GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) PCS (Personal Communications Service) digital cellular network and a 1700 MHz/2100 MHz UMTS AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) digital cellular network that cover areas of the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It provides coverage in areas in which it does not own radio frequency spectrum licenses via roaming agreements with other operators of compatible networks.
And then from Samsung's website:
Network
HSPA+ 21Mbps/ HSUPA 5.76Mbps
EDGE/ GPRS Class 12
Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100
So, what gives? Seems like the 2100 UMTS service should match up between the two. Is this an issue because TMo is somehow blocking the use of the unbranded phone on their system? If so, and on a much more advanced level, I'd think there'd be a way to make TMo think I'm using the PoS smartphone they gave me to use on their system... or am I smokin' that crackberry?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One is up and the other is down so you need both 1700 and 2100 to use T-Mobile's data network. No version of the SGS2 any where in the world supports T-Mobile's AWS bands. T-Mobile's getting a dual-core version of the Infuse in September that supports their bands.
BarryH_GEG said:
One is up and the other is down so you need both 1700 and 2100 to use T-Mobile's data network. No version of the SGS2 any where in the world supports T-Mobile's AWS bands. T-Mobile's getting a dual-core version of the Infuse in September that supports their bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HERCULES..
pachi72 said:
HERCULES..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the chance of one of those "Hercules"...SGS2 by another name apparently...having an antenna board that will drop into another SGS2?
I see a lot of brilliant software hacks and tweaks around here. Don't see a lot in the hardware realm, tho (like a new antenna board, for instance.) Is this not the place for that or is that at a completely unrealistic level of development?
gmstrollo said:
What's the chance of one of those "Hercules"...SGS2 by another name apparently...having an antenna board that will drop into another SGS2?
I see a lot of brilliant software hacks and tweaks around here. Don't see a lot in the hardware realm, tho (like a new antenna board, for instance.) Is this not the place for that or is that at a completely unrealistic level of development?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need an antenna engineer with a test chamber to tune the antenna. A lot of factors play into more than just fitting into it. You might have to play with different patterns depending on how much different the overall phone mechanics and materials are from Hercules to the SGS2.
Title pretty much says it all. What's the real story on the the 3g frequencies? Nokia's site indicates it's quadband 3G, but yet many of the stores seem to indicate that it's tri-band for 3G. I would like to get one for use on ATT, but I definitely need 850MHz 3G since that is the predominant frequency in my area.
Anybody? What's the real answer on this?
bugsy said:
Anybody? What's the real answer on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From http://www.nokia.co.uk/gb-en/products/phone/lumia800/specifications/
GSM 850
GSM 900
GSM 1800
GSM 1900
WCDMA Band V (850)
WCDMA Band I (2100)
WCDMA Band II (1900)
WCDMA Band VIII (900)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From http://www.nokia.de/de-de/produkte/smartphones-und-handys/lumia800/technische-daten/
GSM 850-Netze
GSM 900-Netze
GSM 1800-Netze
GSM 1900-Netze
UMTS-Netze (WCDMA 900)
UMTS-Netze (WCDMA 1900)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From http://www.nokia.com/fi-fi/tuotteet/puhelimet/lumia800/tuoteseloste/
GSM 850
GSM 900
GSM 1800
GSM 1900
WCDMA Band V (850)
WCDMA Band I (2100)
WCDMA Band II (1900)
WCDMA Band VIII (900)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From http://www.nokia.se/hitta-produkter/produkter/nokia-lumia-800/specifications
GSM/EGSM 850/900/1800/1900;
WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 I/II/V
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WTF...
There must be an error on the German page
From Nokia Developer page:
http://www.developer.nokia.com/Devices/Device_specifications/Lumia_800/
Frequency Bands
GSM 1800
GSM 1900
GSM 850
GSM 900
WCDMA Band I (2100)
WCDMA Band II (1900)
WCDMA Band VIII (900)
This only adds to the confusion (No WCDMA 850)?
Thanks for the responses everyone. I think they just add to the confusion on what the real answer is, or Nokia is producing multiple models with different frequencies which I've seen referenced elsewhere.
I might just hold off for the 900 or wait until CES in January where they are supposed to make their big splash for the U.S. market. The render of the Lumia 900 that hit wmpoweruser today certainly looks nice if it's true. I wouldn't mind a slightly larger screen if it doesn't make the device too large. Some of the current phones border on mini-tablet size!
I know of two types of Lumia 800's and you can differentiate them via their FCC identification.
The European edition, FCC ID: LJPRM-801:
GSM/EGSM : 850/900/1800/1900
WCDMA : 900/1900/2100
The North American edition, FCC ID: ...RM-819:
GSM/EGSM : 850/900/1800/1900
WCDMA : 850/1900/2100
I really wish Nokia would fix the data on their web pages. I ran into this a few years ago with another phone I purchased from them where it was advertised as having U.S. bands when in fact it did not. Thanks for the info everyone.
Agree 100%. When i bought my phone, the lumia was advertised as:
WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100
Many sellers have since correctly identified which bands the phone supports, but some still falsely advertise both 850 and 900 bands being on the phone.
When my Lumia 800 arrived and I could only get Edge/G service, I did some research and I was slightly disappointed. Luckily I work and live in a Wi-Fi zone, so that is my primary data connnection.
weetigo said:
Agree 100%. When i bought my phone, the lumia was advertised as:
WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100
Many sellers have since correctly identified which bands the phone supports, but some still falsely advertise both 850 and 900 bands being on the phone.
When my Lumia 800 arrived and I could only get Edge/G service, I did some research and I was slightly disappointed. Luckily I work and live in a Wi-Fi zone, so that is my primary data connnection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You too, huh? I was curious about Rogers. I find that 2G isn't the end of the world.. Only shortcoming are media rich sites, otherwise they still load up quickly for me.
The only thing I really would have missed on 3G is mapping and navigation, but the non-data GPS and preloaded map feature has completely eliminated that concern.
Rogers here in the 'Peg. I'm in love with it even though the primary service around my home is Edge/G. However, since I wrote that piece above, I grabbed the "Nokia Network Setup" application from the marketplace and now I can get 3G around my workplace.
Here is my situation at the moment. I'm currently in the US using At&t's network through straight talk. I purchased the Nokia Lumia 800 the UK version which is LJPRM-801. It clearly states that it supports WCDMA 900/1900/2100. Which I suppose are really meant for the UK or Europe. When I purchased the phone from the seller he clearly stated it was lock and he got it from Orange UK. Which I assume is locked as well. Surprisingly when I received the phone I inserted the Sim and it registered perfectly fine. I get voice AND data. I figured it may possibly be using the 1900 band for data. My main thoughts about this UK version is it may possibly have the 850 band included but not listed on the box for regulation concerns. How would I go about and truly testing it out if it does support 850 band?
You can't really, short of going to an area you know uses soley 850Mhz 3G, and not 1900 as well.
I dont see the reasoning behind manufacturing two different phones, My thoughts are they could have just disabled the band with a simple firmware. Has Anyone truly tested this? Any though on getting a different firmware version of the Lumia 800 on this UK version seeing if it would enable the 850 band.
Me too I purchased one from Clove.co.uk. On the box it stated 900/1900/2100 for 3G but I have 3G. Maybe I have a 1900Mhz station near my work. I will do more tests tonight.
Does an app exist to know the current band of 3G connection?
I've called Nokia while in Germany and they said that they only produced quad band Nokia lumia 800's
falconeight said:
I've called Nokia while in Germany and they said that they only produced quad band Nokia Lumia 800's
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say quad band are you referring to 2g or 3g? because we know it's quadband 2g, but whether it's quadband 3g is the question.
So I have used it on 3 different locations here in Montreal on Rogers and I always got 3G. I don't know the band used by Rogers. I found several references but not definitive answer. I have the Lumia 800 Model 801.
totalfixation said:
When you say quad band are you referring to 2g or 3g? because we know it's quadband 2g, but whether it's quadband 3g is the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both 2g and 3G
So you have the lumia 800 which has quad band 3g? If possible could you please post a picture of the lumia 800 box listing the quad 3G bands?
Sent from my Lumia 800 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
kirdroid said:
So you have the lumia 800 which has quad band 3g? If possible could you please post a picture of the lumia 800 box listing the quad 3G bands?
Sent from my Lumia 800 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in Germany right now and don't have the box. I don't remember if it had the cell bands on the box. I know I got hspa on AT&T and I was happy.
Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
The international i9100 does not support 4G. Only option would be to get a 4G enabled one.
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Tkdinh101 said:
Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you started another thread on this, where I also answered your question. This phone will never get HSPA+ speeds on T-Mobile USA - or what they call "4G". It lacks one of the necessary frequencies for it. It will only get Edge speeds. From what I remember on how T-Mobile USA's network functions, 3G and "4G" need both 1700 and 2100 mhz to function, as it uses one frequency for download and the other for upload.
EDIT: Here's the wikipedia article on AWS, which is the band T-Mobile uses for 3G/4G. In brief, AWS uses 1700 Mhz for uplink, and 2100 Mhz for downlink. So since it only gets half of the band, it won't do "4G".
akusokuzan said:
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, the bolded/underlined part is simply not true. T-Mobile USA needs your phone to be able to get both 1700 mhz and 2100 mhz UMTS frequencies to do 3G/4G. If your phone doesn't have one of the frequencies, it won't do 3G/4G at all, and fall to Edge (2.5G).
What if I overall another ROM? Will it help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Tkdinh101 said:
What if I overall another ROM? Will it help?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The phone simply doesn't have the hardware to receive the frequency. Nothing you can do to fix this.
akusokuzan said:
its because the international galaxy s2 doesn't have the same 3g bands as T-Mobile (assuming you are T-Mobile USA). They run off of 1700/2100 while the phone itself supports 850/900/1900/2100. While only the 2100 band matches, if you don't get 2100 coverage in your area, you will default to 2g.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Tkdinh101 said:
Hi, I have the white s2 i9100unlock version and when I put in my
Tmobile Sim card it says that I am running on E network instead of 4g. Is there anything I can do to change this? I contact Tmobile and they say it's the phone not their line. Please help me out because running on the E network is very slow
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need Galaxy2 HD LTE to access 4G. That particular model is not available outside Korea at the moment. If you want 4G, try Samsung Galaxy Note or LG Optimus LTE - also known as Nitro HD, or HTC phones.
Visentinel said:
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That indeed is weird and inconvenient, but I guess telco's can setup their system however they like... It may have lot to do with number of people using mobile services. In OZ we have 22 million potential mobile users using 4 major telco companies, whereas in USA, they would get most of OZ population just in New York city, let alone rest of the country.
Ah systemcrasher I think they might be load balancing the hspa+ mimo across the two freqs. Telstra nextg doesn't need to coz there's allot less people here.
If that's the case still should be allowed to fall back to a non mimo mode.
Let this be a lesson to the OP, always research all carrier pre requisites before buying, also consider other carriers encased you'd like to stay open to other options.
sent from I9100 using Omega
Visentinel said:
Wow that's weird, here in aus you only need to match one freq to get 3g. Do you know what t-mobile has done to require two bands to match? (its just my curiosity asking)
sent from I9100 using Omega
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Visentinel said:
Ah systemcrasher I think they might be load balancing the hspa+ mimo across the two freqs. Telstra nextg doesn't need to coz there's allot less people here.
If that's the case still should be allowed to fall back to a non mimo mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
systemcrasher said:
That indeed is weird and inconvenient, but I guess telco's can setup their system however they like... It may have lot to do with number of people using mobile services. In OZ we have 22 million potential mobile users using 4 major telco companies, whereas in USA, they would get most of OZ population just in New York city, let alone rest of the country.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ctomgee said:
EDIT: Here's the wikipedia article on AWS, which is the band T-Mobile uses for 3G/4G. In brief, AWS uses 1700 Mhz for uplink, and 2100 Mhz for downlink. So since it only gets half of the band, it won't do "4G".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the answer is the link to the wikipedia article in my quote above. It's not T-Mobile USA's doing per se - they just purchased the AWS-1 (also known as UMTS band IV) band of the spectrum. That's just the way this band is set up. Wind and Rogers in Canada also use this band.
Since Nokia does clearly say everywhere else except the US that 920 does support 1700Mhz (for obvious reasons), I wonder if the hardware in the AT&T version will be the same as in the int'l version and it'll just be a matter of unlocking the phone to use it on TMo.
Opinions?
I noticed that too!!
Its now PentaBand WCDMA/HSPA+ at 42Mbps. They added WCDMA 1700Mhz band on the specs.
Originally when the phone was announced last month was listed as QuadBand WCDMA missing the AWS band at 1700Mhz.
If this is true it means one of the following:
1.The band was always there and for some reason software locked and they decided unlock it and release it as a PendaBand.
2.They listen to the complaints (pretty much the same way they did and released the Cyan Color) as the missing AWS band was one the biggest complaints especially from T-Mobile USA subscribers and they decided to include it as well.
3.It is just a typo and Lumia 920 is still QuadBand HSPA.
4.It was a typo from the very beginning and Lumia 920 was always PentaBand.
Now assuming the the phone is PendaBand HSPA+ it will perfectly work with T-Mobile USA current 3G at AWS and with the reformed Network at 1900 they are preparing. It will work with both at 42Mbps speed.
The original unlocked Lumia 920 listed the following 5 LTE bands 800 / 1800 / 2600 / 900 / 2100.
If the unlocked phone comes with those LTE bands will be incompatible with T-Mobile USA upcoming 4G LTE network.
However the American model which AT&T will carry exclusively has the following LTE bands 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
If Nokia also release an unlock/unbranded version of the American model with the above LTE bands and PentaBand HSPA+ this model along with the 42Mbps HSPA will also support T-Mobile's upcoming 4G LTE that coming mid of next year with theoretical speeds of 100Mbps.
Releasing this device will be the perfect option for T-Mobile subscribers as it will be future-proof for their upcoming LTE network.
I am curious to see whats really going on here. Meanwhile I am crossing my fingers. :good:
So Nokia needs to release a international us version?
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
lovenokia said:
So Nokia needs to release a international us version?
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlocked/Unbranded version of the American model is the correct way of putting it.
Nokia used to have to versions of the unlock devices in the past. The regular version which was usually the European/International model and the NAM versions for North America.
Many devices came like that in the past including the N95 & N95 NAM, 5800 & 5800 NAM, N97 & N97 NAM etc.
All had QuadBand GSM and different bands for 3G, the NAM versions had the American bands for AT&T USA and Rogers for Canada.
Now that PentaBand is standard for 3G/WCDMA, they need to release (and I hope this is the case) the European Model with the European LTE bands and a "NAM" model with the American LTE frequencies.
I guess time will tell what exactly the case is going to be.
But again this is for LTE. Assuming that the information on the spec-sheet is correct and the Lumia 920 comes with WCDMA/AWS 1700 then it will work perfectly with T-Mobile USA and AT&T's HSPA+ at 42Mpbs.
nMIK-3 said:
I noticed that too!!
Its now PentaBand WCDMA/HSPA+ at 42Mbps. They added WCDMA 1700Mhz band on the specs.
Originally when the phone was announced last month was listed as QuadBand WCDMA missing the AWS band at 1700Mhz.
If this is true it means one of the following:
1.The band was always there and for some reason software locked and they decided unlock it and release it as a PendaBand.
2.They listen to the complaints (pretty much the same way they did and released the Cyan Color) as the missing AWS band was one the biggest complaints especially from T-Mobile USA subscribers and they decided to include it as well.
3.It is just a typo and Lumia 920 is still QuadBand HSPA.
4.It was a typo from the very beginning and Lumia 920 was always PentaBand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunatly number 3 is the correct answer.
According to WPCentral.com the AWS 1700Mhz WCDMA support for T-Mobile 3G that listed in specs are just a typo on the website.
If this is the case, you can still use the Lumia 920 under T-Mobile 3G at 1900Mhz.
T-Mobile is reforming their Network and releasing 3G to 1900Mhz now, the problem is that we do not know what markets/areas has this already or how fast the project is moving on and when it will get complete..
nMIK-3 said:
Unfortunatly number 3 is the correct answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's wrong, because this phone will be using the Snapdragon S4 Plus (MSM8960) which uses Software Defined Radio (SDR) for determining their bands. Obviously you cannot use all at the same time, but any one at any time. The HW supports this (according to the Qualcomm reference design), and if it hasn't been supported before in this chipset, it's probably due poor modem programming and/or unstable behavior, and/or band/bandwidth throttling by service providers networks. It's also an efficient way to make sure your Verizon mobile cannot use AT&T networks and vice verse...
E:V:A said:
That's wrong, because this phone will be using the Snapdragon S4 Plus (MSM8960) which uses Software Defined Radio (SDR) for determining their bands. Obviously you cannot use all at the same time, but any one at any time. The HW supports this (according to the Qualcomm reference design), and if it hasn't been supported before in this chipset, it's probably due poor modem programming and/or unstable behavior, and/or band/bandwidth throttling by service providers networks. It's also an efficient way to make sure your Verizon mobile cannot use AT&T networks and vice verse...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is why I said its Number 3, according to WPCentral. I am aware of the SDR in the latest generation of Snapdragons, however as its name mention its programmable, meaning they may have turn off the AWS...
For me it doesn't make any sense to list the phone originally with QuadBand WCDMA and then add AWS and list it as a PentaBand.
I mean if it is wrong and its missing the AWS that is making the original listing with QuadBand the correct one, so why they bother changing it?
In the other hand if the SDR scenario applies and the AWS is already there, they may just heard the complains and simply turned ON the AWS band, that is why they added in to the specs meanwhile the Nokia representative that WPCentral reached may not be aware of the new specs yet...
All these are different scenarios, unless we have an official clarification from Nokia, we cannot know for sure until Lumia 920 its been released.
PS. Can you post the link with the detailed specifications of the Snapdragon S4 detailing the SDR? The specs I found does not include any information regarding this. If I am not mistaken and remember correctly SDR is affecting LTE only and its able to catch from 700Mhz - 2600Mhz (for LTE), its programmable to deliver everything between these bands but limited to deliver 5 Bands at a time. I do not remember mentioning WCDMA to be compatible with the SDR, but I may be wrong on that. Please feel free to correct me if that's the case.
According to FCC documents, looks like AWS is there. Question... Will it be disabled in the AT&T version? Unlock possible?
herzzreh said:
According to FCC documents, looks like AWS is there. Question... Will it be disabled in the AT&T version? Unlock possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read that the FCC Documents for the AT&T model are mentioning AWS (1700) for LTE. This is normal as AT&T's LTE is operating also in AWS.
I didn't read anything regarding AWS for 3G/WCDMA.
If you read back, it specifically mentions wcdma 1700. Document differentiates between lte freqs and wcdma ones.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Hi guys,
I am on T-Mobile prepaid plan. I bought a Lumia 920 from Singapore few months ago in anticipation of the 1900 refarm from T-Mobile. But while the default APN profile has been updated to "T-Mobile LTE" from the carrier from months ago, the max speed I see now is 3G in Chicago. I've done some research and tried a couple of the following:
1 Added new APN under epc.tmobile.com
2 Enable ENS
3 Limit the connection speed to 3G instead of 4G
But none seems to bring me to the LTE speed. I thought maybe because LTE has not arrived in Chicago yet, but few days ago I went to one of the T-Mobile store and found that their demo Lumia 925 showed LTE. The stuff from the store said because I am using an unlocked 920, LTE is not supported. I don't think this is the right answer.
Does anyone has the same issue with your international 920 under T-Mobile in the US?
t_huankiat said:
Hi guys,
I am on T-Mobile prepaid plan. I bought a Lumia 920 from Singapore few months ago in anticipation of the 1900 refarm from T-Mobile. But while the default APN profile has been updated to "T-Mobile LTE" from the carrier from months ago, the max speed I see now is 3G in Chicago. I've done some research and tried a couple of the following:
1 Added new APN under epc.tmobile.com
2 Enable ENS
3 Limit the connection speed to 3G instead of 4G
But none seems to bring me to the LTE speed. I thought maybe because LTE has not arrived in Chicago yet, but few days ago I went to one of the T-Mobile store and found that their demo Lumia 925 showed LTE. The stuff from the store said because I am using an unlocked 920, LTE is not supported. I don't think this is the right answer.
Does anyone has the same issue with your international 920 under T-Mobile in the US?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version you bough RM-820, 821 or 822 from Singapore. I think you have not supported LTE bands, so probably you got 821 / 822
boril said:
What version you bough RM-820, 821 or 822 from Singapore. I think you have not supported LTE bands, so probably you got 821 / 822
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
RM820 is the North American variant. Has pentaband UMTS (850/900/1700/1900/2100) and North American LTE bands.
RM821 is rest-of-world (except China). Has quadband UMTS (850/900/1900/2100) and European LTE bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
t_huankiat said:
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just because it supports the 1900 band, does not mean that the ROM and hardware are setup to support LTE. The market the 821 was released for does not have LTE so the protocols where never implemented in that model. The 3G you see the phone operating at is the highest speed the market it came from supports. So that is the highest protocol that was installed into that model. You may want to sell it and get one of the other models.
Incompatible Bands
t_huankiat said:
Wow I just checked, it's indeed a RM 821! I did a search and found the following info from WP Central forum:
My understanding is as long as it supports 1900 band it can access the LTE speed on T-Mobile. That's not the case then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi t_huankiat,
To the extent of my knowledge, T-Mobile has only deployed LTE on the 1700/2100MHz frequency band (different from 2100MHz, that is IMT) commonly known as AWS spectrum or Band 4. The only variants of the 920 that contains these are RM-820 models. The good news is, an unlocked AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 can be used on T-Mobile's LTE network because they both use AWS spectrum to deliver LTE service. The downside is that in areas without LTE or refarmed HSPA+, your service will drop to 2G. In order to prevent these shortfalls, the only RM-820 variants that run on AWS HSPA+ are the Canadian and Developer Edition, given out at Microsoft BUILD 2012.
You may be thinking, what is with this confusion. Previously, T-Mobile USA rolled out their 3G HSPA network on AWS spectrum, because they hadn't won any PCS spectrum (1900MHz). In the Americas, AWS spectrum was not deployed as prevalent as PCS. The result, T-Mobile required special handsets to access 3G. When they transitioned over to HSPA+ and DC-HSPA+, they continued to use AWS widening the compatibility gap. After the AT&T/T-Mobile buyout fell through, T-Mobile gained PCS licenses as part of the deal. T-Mobile, shortly after, announced the jump to LTE and the refarm of HSPA+ (current 3G/4G service) to the PCS spectrum. As of now, the refarm isn't fully complete so some areas still broadcast 3G/4G on on the AWS spectrum. To add insult to injury, these areas do not have have LTE deployed either. Summing up what has been said, the best options for a seamless wireless experience is to use a Nokia Lumia 925 or find a non-AT&T RM-820. If you look on eBay, you will find a few for sale right now. I really hope this helps!
-Arekusandaa
Solarenemy68 said:
Just because it supports the 1900 band, does not mean that the ROM and hardware are setup to support LTE. The market the 821 was released for does not have LTE so the protocols where never implemented in that model. The 3G you see the phone operating at is the highest speed the market it came from supports. So that is the highest protocol that was installed into that model. You may want to sell it and get one of the other models.
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I should have done more research before I bought the phone! I did not realize 920 has so many variation even in Singapore! While I will miss the LTE, I can live with 3G speed since I don't use the phone for streaming or anything bandwidth intensive.
Arekusandaa said:
Hi t_huankiat,
To the extent of my knowledge, T-Mobile has only deployed LTE on the 1700/2100MHz frequency band (different from 2100MHz, that is IMT) commonly known as AWS spectrum or Band 4. The only variants of the 920 that contains these are RM-820 models. The good news is, an unlocked AT&T Nokia Lumia 920 can be used on T-Mobile's LTE network because they both use AWS spectrum to deliver LTE service. The downside is that in areas without LTE or refarmed HSPA+, your service will drop to 2G. In order to prevent these shortfalls, the only RM-820 variants that run on AWS HSPA+ are the Canadian and Developer Edition, given out at Microsoft BUILD 2012.
You may be thinking, what is with this confusion. Previously, T-Mobile USA rolled out their 3G HSPA network on AWS spectrum, because they hadn't won any PCS spectrum (1900MHz). In the Americas, AWS spectrum was not deployed as prevalent as PCS. The result, T-Mobile required special handsets to access 3G. When they transitioned over to HSPA+ and DC-HSPA+, they continued to use AWS widening the compatibility gap. After the AT&T/T-Mobile buyout fell through, T-Mobile gained PCS licenses as part of the deal. T-Mobile, shortly after, announced the jump to LTE and the refarm of HSPA+ (current 3G/4G service) to the PCS spectrum. As of now, the refarm isn't fully complete so some areas still broadcast 3G/4G on on the AWS spectrum. To add insult to injury, these areas do not have have LTE deployed either. Summing up what has been said, the best options for a seamless wireless experience is to use a Nokia Lumia 925 or find a non-AT&T RM-820. If you look on eBay, you will find a few for sale right now. I really hope this helps!
-Arekusandaa
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Click to collapse
The main reason I got the phone from Singapore was because it supports 1900MHz and it's in Chicago now. But I overlooked the fact that the ROM matters too. So now I am pretty much stuck with 3G speed. It's a lesson learned, I will have to be extra careful next time when I get an unlocked phone. Thanks for your insight!
It's Not The End of the World
t_huankiat said:
The main reason I got the phone from Singapore was because it supports 1900MHz and it's in Chicago now. But I overlooked the fact that the ROM matters too. So now I am pretty much stuck with 3G speed. It's a lesson learned, I will have to be extra careful next time when I get an unlocked phone. Thanks for your insight!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, you will still be able to use their DC-HSPA+ network, where available. This technology is capable of up to 42.1Mbps theoretically. Even before T-Mobile began deploying LTE, their DC-HSPA+ network was usually testing faster than Verizon's LTE network. While you may not see LTE until you upgrade to an AWS capable handset, their "fallback" 4G should suffice.
-arekusandaa