I'm a little unclear on this, so I'm going to ask you a question I'm sure you've heard various iterations of in the past, but my Google-foo seems to be failing me today.
I currently have an iPhone 4S on AT&T's network. I hate the thing, but that's all we were allowed to get through work at the time. The restriction has since been lifted, but my 2 years isn't up, so I'm looking at getting an Android phone and popping my SIM from the iPhone into it. My search has led me to Chinese phones. Particularly the THL T11 and the T100S.
I want to see if my assumptions are correct before I pull the trigger:
From what I understand, in order to use AT&T's 3G network with a Chinese phone, I need one that'll operate in the 850/1900 MHz bands? I'm in Iowa, and from what I can find, it looks like they only have 1900MHz available here. I've been finding conflicting information on the T100S. Some places say 850/2100 and others say 850/1900/2100.
I'm also under the impression that Chinese phones won't work with American 4G/LTE networks? They use different frequencies or protocols, or something like that? I'm fine with 3G. If I need faster, Wi-Fi is usually available to me.
Is there anything I'm missing or need to look closer at?
Are there any other phones you would suggest? My choice isn't set in stone. If there's something available that is 4G capable, I'd be willing to take a look at it. I'm looking in the $200.00 - $300.00 price range and something with a 5" or bigger screen.
I'm not new to Android by any stretch. This is the only IOS device I own, actually. My first smartphone was a G1, and all my tablets and kid's tablets have been Android. Wife's got a SurfaceRT, but that's her problem, not mine. :laugh:
Well ive got a T100S and I live in europe and the 3G works the same as in my galaxy S2. The 4G obviously doesnt work because the MT6592, the chipset that houses the phone, doesnt support 4G itself. There is another variant called the MT6595 which is another 8 core from mediatek which runs at 2ghz and gets about 33k on antutu, take a look at it. Chinese phones are good raw power. Nothing else. If you have any other questions just ask.
Related
There are a few topics on this question, but they are several months old now. I wanted to get an update on if anything has changed or if workarounds have been found or what not.
First, does anyone know if there are newer "versions" of the phone itself that might have fixed some issues afew topics have gone over? (light bleed, non working soft buttons, high heat ect..) and how to tell which one is the new version?
2nd How can you tell which Amaze will work and which one will not? I found this one.. Amaze on Amazon but the pic shows it with a T-mobile branding, which ive read doesn't work with 3/4g on AT&T.
So were (online) could you pick up one that would work with it, and how difficult is it to get it to work with it?
My current phone (the TP2) was just a matter of popping in the at&t card and going. Looks like the price has come down at least alittle bit, but im curious if it would be worth the effort to get the amaze and try to shimmy it on to AT&T, or wait for a newer phone.
[edit] On a side note, what is happening with the Amaze? Im noticing while the Sensation is still listed, HTC's site doesnt appear to show the Amaze at all, like it never existed.. are they trying to phase it out of existence?
The amaze, after being sim unlocked, does support at&t 3g/4G bands. It will have no problems running on at&t. I don't think that there have been any hardware revisions. So the flash bleed is just luck of the draw. My original didn't have it. My replacement does..
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using xda premium
The Amaze works just fine on AT&T's high-speed 3/4g UMTS/HSPDA+ data bands. It will not work on AT&T's newer LTE services -- which aren't necessarily any faster in real life than their non-LTE service, and AT&T's LTE network is still being built.
At some point AT&T may shut down the UMTS/HSPDA+ service but they've got an awful lot of phones in the field already using it.
Regarding word that the Amaze will be discontinued, the very fact that this phone launched during while the AT&T/T-mo merger was "coming" seems likely to have driven the decision to make it so it supported both AT&T & T-mo bands. Now that the merger is off, I wonder if T-Mo doesn't want a phone that might have the ability to roam onto AT&T's high-speed network. I don't know if it can roam this way, but I love the fact that this phone that can work really well, high-speed data and voice, with my choice of service by 2 U.S. carriers.
I got a used one on the forum. It's the T-mobile branded one works flawlessly with AT&T HSDPA after unlock. Speed test shows consistant 2.6-3.2 mbps download here in NYC area. Signal is strong and sound quality is great, best of all the phones I've had. (DHD sound quality being the 2nd best)
Unfortunately, the one I got had light bleed but it will only stand out if you are viewing something with dark background which is a rare case during my personal usage. Not sure if future kernel release can make the touch pad light dimmer or disable it completely.
Best phone I've used so far.
silvscorp said:
I got a used one on the forum. It's the T-mobile branded one works flawlessly with AT&T HSDPA after unlock. Speed test shows consistant 2.6-3.2 mbps download here in NYC area. Signal is strong and sound quality is great, best of all the phones I've had. (DHD sound quality being the 2nd best)
Unfortunately, the one I got had light bleed but it will only stand out if you are viewing something with dark background which is a rare case during my personal usage. Not sure if future kernel release can make the touch pad light dimmer or disable it completely.
Best phone I've used so far.
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Congrats on the Amaze, as for the light bleed, the only way to fix it is to disable the light source. This can be done on rooted phones, a little searching will point you in the right direction if that is a solution. Otherwise there is little that can be don to dim the lights, kind of an all or nothing situation.
zPacKRat said:
Congrats on the Amaze, as for the light bleed, the only way to fix it is to disable the light source. This can be done on rooted phones, a little searching will point you in the right direction if that is a solution. Otherwise there is little that can be don to dim the lights, kind of an all or nothing situation.
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Thanks for the tip. I do remember reading something about that that some where but never bothered me as much since I don't find myself staring at a black screen as much.
Another reason I got this phone besides its solid build is the worldwide 3g support. I get to travel to asia once a while and it can utilize the WCDMA used in many asia countries.
Thanks guys. Now im just curious if they still sell "un-branded" phones. As the one i linked appears to be T-mobile branded. Id work i guess, but you know
Lyian said:
Thanks guys. Now im just curious if they still sell "un-branded" phones. As the one i linked appears to be T-mobile branded. Id work i guess, but you know
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Someone correct me if wrong, I think Canada carrier (Telus, Wind) do have unbranded Amaze. Without getting too technical, the telus one have the same 3g band as At&t and wind one has the same 3g band as T-mobile. Only the T-mobile branded ones can work with both.
silvscorp said:
Someone correct me if wrong, I think Canada carrier (Telus, Wind) do have unbranded Amaze. Without getting too technical, the telus one have the same 3g band as At&t and wind one has the same 3g band as T-mobile. Only the T-mobile branded ones can work with both.
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Kinda wrong.
All of the Amazes are Quad-band phones, but are sim-locked (carrier locked). If you unlock it, it can be used on either network.
If you don't unlock it, then only on the original network.
Raydonn said:
Kinda wrong.
All of the Amazes are Quad-band phones, but are sim-locked (carrier locked). If you unlock it, it can be used on either network.
If you don't unlock it, then only on the original network.
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what I was referring to was only the 3g connectivity.
Well, i dont have a 4g sim atm, but i did see if unlocked that its suppose to work with 4g?
Anyway that just leaves finding a trusted source to purchase it from.
I am currently using it with AT&T here, 4g symbol showing. While I am not sure what's the standard used to measure the 4g speed but I feel it's much faster than my other sensation 4g phone.
Both phone are connected to the hsdpa network and speedtest consistently showing higher download speed than my sensation.
silvscorp said:
I am currently using it with AT&T here, 4g symbol showing. While I am not sure what's the standard used to measure the 4g speed but I feel it's much faster than my other sensation 4g phone.
Both phone are connected to the hsdpa network and speedtest consistently showing higher download speed than my sensation.
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You using the T-mobile Amaze unlocked with AT&T? Did you buy it unlocked or get it from the carrier and unlock it yourself?
Course im also pondering if its worth it to wait for a quad core phone that is supposedly coming this year? Who knows.
got it on the forum, locked but the seller was kind enough to give me the unlock code. Everything is running fine. This is definitely the best phone used so far
silvscorp said:
got it on the forum, locked but the seller was kind enough to give me the unlock code. Everything is running fine. This is definitely the best phone used so far
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Ah. How would you compare it to your sensation? is there much of a difference between the two?
the title pretty much says it all, is there a possibility to (somehow) perhaps change the radio or something to enable LTE 4G on my model? i'll do pretty much anything, because i found a cheap contract for lte and its literally 10x faster then hspa+. now that germany is just getting LTE i dont want anybody to go all, "haha you bought your phone at just the wrong moment" so i'm doing pretty much everything to keep it on top, like oc, ics roms (although i prefer leedroid) and pretty much everything else short of building in new processors into my phone. I already bought it at the wrong price (700 euro 6 months ago- it is 200 now) and i want to have LTE. i'll do anything except for something where there is a very real possibility of brick.
Take a permanent marker and write 4G LTE on the back of the phone.
In all seriousness, there is no 4G LTE radio in the phone. Sorry.
ArthurIn3D said:
the title pretty much says it all, is there a possibility to (somehow) perhaps change the radio or something to enable LTE 4G on my model? i'll do pretty much anything, because i found a cheap contract for lte and its literally 10x faster then hspa+. now that germany is just getting LTE i dont want anybody to go all, "haha you bought your phone at just the wrong moment" so i'm doing pretty much everything to keep it on top, like oc, ics roms (although i prefer leedroid) and pretty much everything else short of building in new processors into my phone. I already bought it at the wrong price (700 euro 6 months ago- it is 200 now) and i want to have LTE. i'll do anything except for something where there is a very real possibility of brick.
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Simple answer: No
Why? You shouldn't even have to ask.
tgruendler said:
Simple answer: No
Why? You shouldn't even have to ask.
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why not? its not a hardware capability.
and anyway, how do you make an LTE phone? you must be able to somehow repeat the process, why would you not?
ArthurIn3D said:
why not? its not a hardware capability.
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Ummm...yes it is.
---------- Post added at 11:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------
ArthurIn3D said:
and anyway, how do you make an LTE phone? you must be able to somehow repeat the process, why would you not?
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Not sure...ask HTC, Motorola, and the other phone manufacturers. An LTE Radio is not what you are thinking a Radio is. You are probably thinking about when people say they flash radios. These radios that you flash is the software that run the hardware radios in your phone. LTE, WIMAX, 3G, are all hardware radios.
tgruendler said:
Ummm...yes it is.
---------- Post added at 11:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:57 AM ----------
Not sure...ask HTC, Motorola, and the other phone manufacturers. An LTE Radio is not what you are thinking a Radio is. You are probably thinking about when people say they flash radios. These radios that you flash is the software that run the hardware radios in your phone. LTE, WIMAX, 3G, are all hardware radios.
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ok, i see... well then. but you are sure it is a hardware capability? I mean, what part of the phone would be able to pick up ONLY one kind of signal?
Would it EVEN BE POSSIBLE to emulate the hardware required in software?
A while ago, when sprint announced 4G lte, I contacted htc directly asking about the capability of doing this, even if someone had to program it. They said there is no way to do it. It is missing the physical radio for lte. There you have it.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Cause I'm about to flash over to Metro PCS and 4G would be really sweet cause I didn't even get it from sprint their 4G signal dropped off directly across the street and 3 houses over from my house seriously.
There is nothing to explain why it won't work. Why doesn't GSM handsets not work on CMDA? Because it is a different technology, different hardware. Why can't you pick up AM stations with an FM only radio? Becuase it is different hardware. There is nothing that anybody can do that can turn our 3G/WIMAX chips into LTE enabled chips. End of story.
Of course they would tell you that they would want you to buy their new dedicated handsets if you call somebody at Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo and ask them if you can play one of their competitors games on their system their gonna tell you the exact same thing. Now I also understand some things are impossible your never gonna be able to emulate a blue ray drive with a cd drive if the hardware simply can't cut it obviously but this is just a frequency filling the air, right? couldn't you just flash a radio to look at that specific frequency (unless the phone just flat out can't pick up that frequency) then have the 1.2ghz dual core do the rest even if it took all the phones resoures?
bombader said:
Of course they would tell you that they would want you to buy their new dedicated handsets if you call somebody at Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo and ask them if you can play one of their competitors games on their system their gonna tell you the exact same thing. Now I also understand some things are impossible your never gonna be able to emulate a blue ray drive with a cd drive if the hardware simply can't cut it obviously but this is just a frequency filling the air, right? couldn't you just flash a radio to look at that specific frequency then have the 1.2ghz dual core do the rest even if it took all the phones resoures?
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Wow....just wow. Mods really need to close this thread.
Eventually, I'm going to get a Galaxy Nexus or the next latest and greatest - a few months down the line. Right now I've got Cricket and a Huawei Ascend II. The problem? The thing is so slow when it comes to games. Hanging with Friends, of all things, slows down and I have to close it. It's got a 600 mhz processor in it.
So I was thinking about switching to T-Mobile prepaid but didn't want to throw a ton of money at a phone right now. 4G (or rather, HSPA+ I guess) is a must because I want some decent speeds when I can. More than anything, I don't want games to be so damn slow.
I'm not gonna game a lot. Just Hanging with Friends and things like that, and I need a faster connection than Cricket's terrible 3G. Is the 1 ghz processor in the Samsung Exhibit II suitable for my needs? If not, is there anything else that I could use T-Mobile prepaid that won't be much more than $200? I need HSPA+ at the very least.
EDIT: And if not, are there any dual-core phones that are "4G (hspa+)" that will work on T-Mobiles prepaid without getting much higher than $200-$250?
Hello all!
I've been reading through this forum and wanted to ask you all a few questions.
First, let me start by saying I have been to a local ATT store and played with the Note. I found it to be a perfect fit in my hand. The screen size and resolution is flat out amazing. I also looked at the specs and found them to be on par with most devices these days. However, I have read that the processor in the ATT version is a Snapdragon with an okay GPU chip...any thoughts? The internal storage is 16GB and up to 32GB external (although in this forum, I have seen it as high as 64GB)...good to go as well. No default notification indicator...boo, but not a deal breaker and an app can fix that. I also have read that the camera is okay, but can be tweaked to make it better.
Next, I am not new to tweaking my devices...actually, I love too! I read, read, read everything and usually don't have any problems. I am definitely a power/advanced user and do much more then text and check email. I use devices to fullest extent as possible.
I am not asking you all to tell me to buy this device or switch networks, but instead I'm asking you all for real world answers. So here are my questions.
1. Looking through the forums, I saw about 3 solid custom ROMs and several stock rooted ROMs. My question is, do you all have a solid base for development? I also saw that there is no AOSP CM7 ROM for this device either...is that correct? With ICS expected on this device soon, will there be development (the international version has ICS already I believe)? I'm rocking the OG HTC EVO 4G and development is rock solid...even with the device about to turn 2yrs old (6/4/12)...so development is a huge deal for me.
2. Okay, Sprint doesn't have the best network and 4G/WiMax is a total joke. When I was at the local ATT store, I ran several speed tests on the display Note (using ATT's LTE) and was floored by the down/up speeds! My question is how is battery life with it connected to LTE all the time AND using the crap out of it. I ask this, because with my EVO, I very rarely use 4G/WiMax. We can turn it on/off at will thru settings or a widget. Also, I always connect to my WiFi at home. It looks like on the Note via a custom ROM, turning LTE on/off is controlled through the build.prop...is this correct? I keep chargers around, but just curious.
3. I don't use this feature that often, but it's always good to have...tethering. With my EVO, most if not all custom ROMs have the ability to tether (USB or wireless) baked in. So what are the options with the Note? I have never paid for this feature and don't intend to either.
4. I haven't peeked into the theme section yet, but I'm sure there are themes for this device...right?
Edit- Late addition question...kernels. I use OC/UV/SBC kernels on my EVO...so what is the current state of kernels with this device?
Before I end this dissertation, I want to say this forum seems to be more mature...always a good thing. Also, I have several device choices to consider, but I am strongly considering getting away from CDMA carriers and join the rest of the world on GSM...not TMo, been there done that. I'm on the fence with getting this device or waiting for the HTC One X version or the GNex coming to ATT and Sprint (if I decide to stay). I'm just doing some research to make a very good decision.
Oh and thanks for posting the price from Fryers...$199 is much better than $299 !
Thanks in advance to all that answer and Android rocks!!
I owned the Evo 4G before moving to the Evo 3D and after that the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon.
If the size of the screen is not that attractive enough for you to sway you from the One X or the Galaxy Nexus then I would advise you wait for the Galaxy S3. The S3 (rumors of course) is shaping out to be superior to any of those devices.
As for your actual first question, yes the ATT and the International version of the Note have two different processors. At the time, Samsung's Exynos cpu in the Int Note did not have a LTE chip compatible with our LTE spectrum here in the states. So they switched to the Snapdragon chip for ATT. Yes the snapdragon performs less than the Int counterpart but chances are you will see no difference in real world use.
1. Development for this phone is still in its early stages. Coming from the EVO I can tell you development like that is the exception, not the rule. There are tons of the phones and only the most popular phones get the same attention. The phone came out a little over a month ago.
Also this phone will never be at the same level of popularity as some of the other ATT phones (S2 for example). CM9 is being worked on now for the Note. Maybe we might have a taste of it a month or so.
2. ATT has a better network compared to Sprint. HSPA+ is more than enough to beat Sprint's 3G and WiMax to the floor. One of the advantages is the fact you can talk on the phone while surfing the web or look up directions ect. Battery life is actually superior in respect to CDMA LTE devices. Since all radios are on the same chip you save battery life. You can turn off LTE when not in a LTE area but there are no noticeable impacts on battery life.
3. If you would like to use tethering all you have to do is freeze and apk (tethering manager I believe) and that's it. You can tether as you please.
4. There are a couple of themes for the different roms that exist. Also themes are proportional to the number of roms. Keep in mind themes are different for Samsung phones. There are no themes in apk form. All themes must be flashed.
Huge thanks for taking the time to respond. I played with the Note again today and I was able to one hand text and navigate around with ease. I'm sure I will end up switching to ATT for a GSM device. I was at Best Buy and they would not honor Fry's price...I plan to check with a local ATT store next.
I plan on buying a new device after 5/3 (my contract with Sprint ends), so I plan on watching for the S3 as well. If anyone else wants to chime in, please feel free. Again, thanks for your well written response!
How do you turn off LTE?
Hi,
I am new to GSM networks and sim cards as I am coming from Sprint. Crappy 3G and our LTE in Las Vegas won't go live anytime soon so I am trying TMobile. I scored a good deal on an LG Optimus G, and I have it unlocked for TMobile.
I want to unlock, root, and flash roms. Should I be in the ATT section or the International Optimus G section for downloads/instructions?
Thank you,
Kevin
Las Vegas was actually the first city in the US where T-Mobile "flipped the switch" and turned on their 4G LTE service last November, a few weeks after the iPhone 5 came out (that was part of the reason, actually). I live in the downtown area and get somewhat "ok" coverage; T-Mobile's 4G HSPA+ is fine with me as I pull typical speeds well in excess of 10Mbps so it's a non-issue with me.
My LGOG can do the T-Mobile LTE without breaking a sweat, just requires me to add the fast.t-mobile.com APN (epc.t-mobile.com is fine for HSPA+ stuff, that might change in the future but I doubt it). I use their $30/month plan like so many others without any issues worth even mentioning.
If I misunderstood what you said and you were meaning that Sprint doesn't have 4G LTE here in Vegas, you'd be wrong on that count too (up to a point) but it depends on your area - they are currently testing it and I have a neighbor who noticed it last week on his Sprint device (think it's an S4, can't remember at the moment). We have a Sprint "switch" here in downtown about a half block from where we live and there's a cell site just off it so Sprint has the downtown area pretty saturated but it's not on 24/7, pretty sporadic as they're in the last testing stages before turning it on full time.
Anyway, as for the right sub-forum, it depends on which LGOG you have: the International version is the E975; the Sprint model is the LS975, and of course the AT&T model is the E970 which this specific sub-forum is about.
Choose where you want to participate by the model number/designation, or just participate in all of them I suppose. I'm going to guess you have the AT&T version since a) it's a GSM device (Sprint's is CDMA but uses the SIM card for LTE iirc), and b) the International version is factory unlocked from the gitgo anyway so...
You're in the right place, I'd say.
The process is fairly simple:
- use the ZV9-ZVB-Universal-Root (search for it) and it'll root the phone in a few seconds then reboot it ready to go (make sure to upgrade the SuperSU if you stick with the stock ROM or intend to keep it around in a backup)
- use FreeGee (get it on Google Play Market) to unlock the bootloader and install the recovery (two versions of TWRP or a touch-based CWM 6.0.2.7 are the choices), make sure you back up the EFS info before and even after you do the unlocking, it can't hurt
- copy ROMs to the externalSD card (or internal, I suppose) and have at it
Very nice device overall, my personal recommendation would be to avoid that Nexus 4 conversion since a) you lose the microSD slot totally, and b) your storage gets cut in half from 16GB to 8GB (not sure if that's ever been resolved at this point). Realistically while it's a neat idea in practice, doing it gets you basically nothing of any real use. The ROMs available nowadays as compared to long ago when that conversion thing was first discovered make the necessity of "pure AOSP as a Nexus 4" pretty much useless at this point in time. The LGOG is one damned fine device, seriously, and doing some tweaking with a custom ROM and some kernel stuff will net you an even better device.
Last edit, I swear:
Pick a radio as well. The stock JB AT&T modem works just fine for me, there is a hybrid one (33_84 meaning it's the core of the older .33 radio (like the LTE support) merged with stuff from the newer .84 radio (which doesn't support LTE) - the hybrid of both gets you LTE support and the other newer goodies too. Note: the JB AT&T radio does support LTE just fine, obviously, and it works with T-Mobile's LTE support here in Vegas and elsewhere too so there's no logical reason to go swapping out with radios unless you just feel like testing things for yourself. The danger with the radio swapping is a potential brick if the flashing process corrupts something; you may not recover from it in terms of phone usage but then you'd have a nice clone of an iPod touch with quad cores and everything!
I tested the .33, .33-.84 hybrid, .48, and finally I just said the hell with it and put the stock AT&T JB radio back on it and haven't had any reason to change it again, it works just fine on 4G HSPA+ and LTE combined.
Thanks a ton for the help. I literally just got this phone. I'm at work and like the posts above I'm having trouble getting lte....have to go
Well the info I posted above is tempered with the fact that it was my experience of using the GOG in that manner; you, like I have, posted in that other thread iirc where discussion is going on about the LGOG working with T-Mobile LTE then suddenly just not working and nobody seems to know why. In the short period of time where I did have it working it was great, had good speeds, very low ping times (one of those things about LTE that makes it faster), and somewhat solid connection/throughput for data transfers.
But, once that LTE disappeared from the status bar, it hasn't come back except the one time I swapped in another T-Mobile SIM and then it only worked till I rebooted (like 45 minutes tops) and when it came back up, no LTE yet again.
Kinda weird how/why this is happening, it could just be one of those things we'll never get a proper answer to or even a fix.
Regardless, the HSPA+ speeds are more than adequate to still be a very useful device. Personally I've never cared about LTE overall, and I know T-Mobile is getting there but they spent years building that HSPA+ backhaul network so that's good enough for me.