I'm sorry if this has been asked before, and if so i haven't been able to find it. This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm still pretty new to unlocking and rooting, ect. Now my question is, since the Sprint Galaxy S5 already has gsm network capabilities, why wouldn't it be possible to just download a different radio, and install that to unlock it for domestic gsm networks? I am asking because i have a Sprint S5 that i would like to use with T-mobile.
It might be that way if such an universal radio existed. But it doesn't. So moot point.
Interestingly, the S5 hardware is almost certainly capable of operating on all GSM and LTE bands. But artificial firmware limitations restrict your handset to only the frequencies that Sprint uses, plus a bare minimum of the most popular roaming bands.
Moreover, the Sprint version of the S5 is arguably the most restrictive variant. It simply isn't going to work on most TMB bands. You might find a NV hack to add a single AWS band. But in practical terms it won't work well on TMB.
Samsung and carriers structure it this way deliberately to discourge you from changing carriers. And to make it more likely that you need to buy a new phone if you do.
.
Ok, I was really mainly just curious, like I said I am new to this kind of thing, thanks for your response. I guess I will just wait to see if someone manages to domestically unlock it and post it, and then Ill give it a shot and see how well it works. I mainly use wifi at home for anything with the internet and downloads, I just need to get it to work for calls and texts.
kyleliamharris said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, and if so i haven't been able to find it. This may seem like a stupid question, but I'm still pretty new to unlocking and rooting, ect. Now my question is, since the Sprint Galaxy S5 already has gsm network capabilities, why wouldn't it be possible to just download a different radio, and install that to unlock it for domestic gsm networks? I am asking because i have a Sprint S5 that i would like to use with T-mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It used to be that easy. Things have become quite more difficult with secured bootloaders and verification checks. I think a lot of the international unlock voodoo lies in the NV items for Sprint devices. Unlocking it domestically can be done almost the exact same way as the L720 HOWEVER you will ONLY be domestically unlocked AFTER you internationally unlock it. If you domestic unlock first you'll have wasted your time.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app
Related
So I looked around the threads on both Verizon, and Sprints side of the fences for an answer to this question and couldn't find any thing.
I have a Verizon Galaxy S3, and my contract with Verizon recently came to a close. I want to switch to sprint due to pricing and other options, but I don't have the money to drop on a new phone at the time, so I have been looking into unlocking the phone to work with Sprint, however I haven't much of luck...
That's when I came to XDA. While I was looking around the forum, I got to thinking.
Is there any possible way that I could take the Sprint version of the Samsung Galaxy S3's ROM, and load it onto my Verizon Galaxy? And has anyone tried this yet?
It's essentially the same hardware, right? To the best of my understanding, the only difference in the phones would be software related according to the carrier.
I am really struggling with this one, and I have witnessed the vast knowledge and great work by this forum before, so I am hoping I'll be able to find the help I need.
-Mortem Obrie
Verizon and Sprint do use the same cdma networks but will not activate each others devices on their network so the answer is no I do not think this is going to be possible for you.
alekurkudi said:
Verizon and Sprint do use the same cdma networks but will not activate each others devices on their network so the answer is no I do not think this is going to be possible for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I did talk to Sprint, and Sprint said they would be willing to activate an unlocked Galaxy. It's just the unlocking process that I am unsure of.
Background: Work bought me an S4, but they use Verizon...I use T-Mobile. I must solve this issue. (Plus it's been so long that since I've even opened my QXDM/QPST that I almost...almost forgot how to use it, man, I miss it)...
This is more of a running log to potentially help others in their endeavors. This is an advanced topic...by today's standards. There is a LOT you need to know before just jumping in on this...unless you're like me and don't mind bricking a device for the sake of learning...then, carry on.
BTW, As you can clearly tell..I don't do super formatted frilly assed colorful posts...
ONWARD!!
What is known so far:
1. The modem MDM9615m is capable of anything...(Maybe even making you tea).
2. Using either 2009031920090615 or 2010031619780721 as the 16 digit PW in QXDM allows you to use "Software Backup" to backup and restore QCN files...(Both work, only one puts the phone offline)
4. The AWS band method that is floating around here (337_aws.qcn) doesn't work...it actually breaks the phone. (more on that later)
5. Putting your backup on again leaves whichever fields the 337 file had intact...so say you put the 337_aws.qcn file onto the phone, it stops working...however, you restore your backup...and the phone starts working again but all the fields of the NV that were written by the 337 file remain. Though phone functionality is restored.
6. MDK or ME7...doesn't matter at this point...no effect on functionality.
7. Flashing an MD1 modem/NV Backup from a T-Mobile Note II (which also has the 9615 doesn't seem to work...yet)...It actually kills the phone...I'll update when/IF I revive it...
8. You can Odin your modem back...whew!
What needs to be explored:
1. Whether or not flashing (shoehorning) another carriers radio will help (or if it's even an option)...this would probably have to be a regional carrier or maybe an international (non US) carrier's radio. Usually the bigger carriers can tell the manufacturer what to leave out/put into their phone...
2. Which NV Items need to be modified in order to get AWS (maybe even LTE) working.
3. Can a backup of another phone....let's sayyyy a T-Mo S4...be made and dumped onto the i545.
4. What complications are there? Is this permanent, can the phone be put back to "normal"? etc. etc.
5. If, as a last resort, we can edit the current parameters that are in the NV of a stock i545 to simply "reroute" (work with me here)...what bands it uses for which function...(this is the most tedious...but most undoable method...that I can think of....so far).
Troubles I've already ran into:
As mentioned before...after you write the 337_aws.qcn file to the phone it's pretty much set in stone...for now. When this happens, the modem starts boot looping...I'm sure this is due to bad parameters since the 337_aws.qcn file was probably from a 9215, i545 uses a 9615...you will not be able to access it again in QPST/XDM...
You'll have to get into Settings, More Networks, Mobile Networks, Network Mode, and select GSM/UMTS...this will keep the modem alive for you to be able to play with it again.
So far that's it. I've only been able to start messing with this phone in the past day or so...so, I'm sure this thread will be my dumping ground for my progress/findings/ideas...etc. Again, I encourage anyone that wants to help....to do so. I'm always open for collaboration.
This is where I start filtering down and organizing what I'm doing.
I believe that the best course of action right now is to utilize the 9615m radio from a Note 2...and perhaps a ROM from a T-Mo S4...
The main reason is because when you flash the 9615 modem but still use a VZ Rom...it tries to force it into a "WCDMA Preferred" selection. Which as we know...isn't an option in the menu. However, it's still trying...but I think the ROM doesn't know what to do at that point (could be way off here). I'm thinking that there has got to be a specific combination that needs to be used....for example...a Note 2 modem with a Tmobile ROM and NV backup? or that...but with a VZ NV backup...
I'm not a programmer/rom guy, (I'm more RF engineering etc...), so I don't know if there are things in the ROM itself that dictate which options are available and how the modem is used...
More exploration to be done...
Build.prop indicates to the system what network options should be available
Tmo rom looks like the way to go
On these newer phones the modem dictates pretty much everything else network-wise
CNexus said:
Build.prop indicates to the system what network options should be available
Tmo rom looks like the way to go
On these newer phones the modem dictates pretty much everything else network-wise
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good information....I tried running Paranoid Android but it wouldn't boot and any other rom told me that the device ID was wrong. I'm going to look into bypassing that check and try some more...
It hasn't been fully proven/disproven but it seems that there may be a "hard" block for US CDMA devices to use US GSM.
It can certainly see it but won't connect based on the threads I read.
But I don't think anyone has documented it in thorough detail what has and has not been tested.
Now if that setting is in NV data and can be modified... you may have a shot.
But if it's something hard coded and/or physical (QFuse) it may not be possible.
Q: Would it not be easier to find someone to swap with you? Or sell the device and get a Tmo?
garwynn said:
Q: Would it not be easier to find someone to swap with you? Or sell the device and get a Tmo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, leaps and bounds! easier, but what's the fun in that? How will we learn what can and can't be done if we take the easy way? Plus...maybe someone runs into a stellar deal and can't afford a full priced S4...they might nab a VZ one for cheap...this could potentially help a lot of people...
This is more to learn than anything...
Any progress?
Any progress with this? I'm in the same boat.
Thats a shame. Would be nice to have found out if a CDMA S4 could be fully used with GSM network.
blackhand901 said:
Any progress with this? I'm in the same boat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------------------------------------------
ThunderBob
Galaxy S4 SGH-M919 - GoldenEye 8.0 - XXUDMI1
HTC One - Stock
blackhand901 said:
Any progress with this? I'm in the same boat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been stalking the internet for weeks to try and see if i can pick up all of T-Mobile's hspa frquencies in my area cause I'm tired of edge and I know the hardware is there i just don't want a brick. would rather 2g over a brick.
I have been on tmobiles 4g network with my i545 for 2 weeks now... I have had zero issues.
You an only get
justda said:
I have been on tmobiles 4g network with my i545 for 2 weeks now... I have had zero issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HSPA on this divi e. Not LTE.
It makes me confused that band 4 LTE is locked on the phone
I always thought verizon had the open access regulation from FCC and that's the reason all verizon LTE phones are gsm unlocked
in fact some posts indicates it's CDMA unlocked also. Some CDMA carriers use R-uim card such as China telecom,and people were able to insert the ruim and have cdma working.
From this post, it seems verizon only had the regulation on LTE 700 band 17, not AWS band 4?
or is it just because verizon hasn't really deployed AWS LTE yet, so the relative software hasn't been released yet?
michael3770 said:
It makes me confused that band 4 LTE is locked on the phone
I always thought verizon had the open access regulation from FCC and that's the reason all verizon LTE phones are gsm unlocked
in fact some posts indicates it's CDMA unlocked also. Some CDMA carriers use R-uim card such as China telecom,and people were able to insert the ruim and have cdma working.
From this post, it seems verizon only had the regulation on LTE 700 band 17, not AWS band 4?
or is it just because verizon hasn't really deployed AWS LTE yet, so the relative software hasn't been released yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just for clarification, Verizon uses LTE 700 B13 not B17. According to Samsung and some other website Verizon S4 support LTE B4 and B13. and according to the guy in this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44206677&postcount=20 he is using or have used VZW S4 on T-mobile LTE.
This is one of the oddest things I've ever run into.
I can put a T-Mobile Sim in the phone and it works almost like it was a Verizon Sim with the exception of needing to switch it to global mode when prompted.
If I stick a GSM Metro PCS Sim that I am currently using on the M919 it wont connect to anything except Wifi.
I hate locked bootloaders.
What about with custom roms?
dennis5pia said:
just for clarification, Verizon uses LTE 700 B13 not B17. According to Samsung and some other website Verizon S4 support LTE B4 and B13. and according to the guy in this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44206677&postcount=20 he is using or have used VZW S4 on T-mobile LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry that was a typo, yep att use b17 and vzw use b13
Verizon is going to deploy a second LTE network using AWS spectrum in congested areas
Why you guys don't install "android data tool" to be able to enter the *#*#4636#*#* menu so you could set LTE only to see if Verizon S4 pick up T-Mobile LTE?
If you are rooted and have access to write system data you could edit the "sale_code.dat" file under system/csc and change from VZW to SPR, AWS or any other code, so you can have more network mode options under mobile network settings.
Just for some clarification... This is done on Stock Touchwiz rom or is the device rooted and / or rommed and loki-d
Thanks,
Eric
So I can put a verizon sim card in my tmobile Gs4?I thought Verizon didnt use sim cards like tmobile and at&t.my tmobile Gs4 is unlocked so basically I just need a Verizon sim card and a Verizon plan. Thanks!!!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
I don't think that works that way. Verizon is a CDMA carrier and T-Mobile a GSM carrier. Verizon sim card is for LTE only (LTE is GSM based technology). Voice works over CDMA radio which T-Mobile S4 lack of it. T-Mobile sim works on Verizon S4 because Verizon S4 is CDMA/GSM/LTE capable.
xda23 said:
So I can put a verizon sim card in my tmobile Gs4?I thought Verizon didnt use sim cards like tmobile and at&t.my tmobile Gs4 is unlocked so basically I just need a Verizon sim card and a Verizon plan. Thanks!!!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My buddy whos on our family plan needs to downgrade from a Galaxy S III to a basic phone. I came across an Unlocked AT&T Samsung SGH-A157. When I called Verizon they used a blanket statement of "AT&T uses completely different technology than verizon, so their phones won't work on Verizon". I tried to explain that it's Unlocked and is CDMA based, so it should allow the sim card if I understand things correctly. He said "It doesn't matter if it's unlocked, AT&Ts technology is different then our." When I asked what technology exactly is different, he replied "Everything". He lost ALL credibility with that me for that statement. I constantly run into crap like this with Verizon... everything else is inferior, and only Verizon exists in the universe. Also, one MUST have what that absolutely don't need and we WILL lie to you and trick you into buying it or signing up for it even if you disagree!
Anyway. Is there any truth to this guys statement? I thought the whole point of "Unlocking" a device /phone was to make it work on another network.
Do I legitimately have to restrict my search for a Verizon flip/basic phone?
This brings up another concern because the plan was to get him a phone, deactivate his current Galaxy S3, activate the Unlocked phone, Unlock the Galaxy S3, and then sell it to some friends who have Metro PCS.
Also, Ive been told by some Verizon associates that I should be looking for GSM phones because we have Sim cards. But then other representatives say our phones are CMDA and thus should be looking for CMDA phones. Is there any consistent formula to this?
This forum is for i9300 international variant... I think you should ask a moderator to move your thread to your phone's forum in the appropriate section...
Sent from my GT-I9300
varxtis said:
....
Anyway. Is there any truth to this guys statement? I thought the whole point of "Unlocking" a device /phone was to make it work on another network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not in the US so I'm not 100% on this but the SGH-A157 is GSM and Verizon uses CDMA tech. Afaik, they are not interchangeable.
Unlocking a phone does not change the radio tech used in the device.
You can probably shift between AT&T and T-mobile, but not CDMA carriers like Sprint or Verizon.
~ RazorMC
I have a dreaded Verizon. For the time being, I really only need to alter the radios to tune for Tmobile frequencies. No one seems to advertise or understand this but since the S4 is fully capable of nearly every frequency world wide, and I get next to no signal when on T mobile, I believe Verizon purposely only turned on frequencies that they use.
So, unless someone else has a slick work around for the time being, I will have to figure out a root procedure for this configuration. I looked at this late last year and seemed to be a big hurdle.
King root seems to be inconsistent. What are my options for this?
cobra112 said:
I have a dreaded Verizon. For the time being, I really only need to alter the radios to tune for Tmobile frequencies. No one seems to advertise or understand this but since the S4 is fully capable of nearly every frequency world wide, and I get next to no signal when on T mobile, I believe Verizon purposely only turned on frequencies that they use.
So, unless someone else has a slick work around for the time being, I will have to figure out a root procedure for this configuration. I looked at this late last year and seemed to be a big hurdle.
King root seems to be inconsistent. What are my options for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not possible
sorry
the only way it could work is that if you had a i545 running a MDK which lets you run custom kernels
as of now there is no way to flash non-verizon modems to the device
Mobile Networks> Network Mode>
select UTS/GSM is about all you can do
verizon even remove the service menu that shows the available bands
Wow, Verizon must have done their homework on locking down phones. That boot loader is hosery. I consider this much like the government forcing them to give the keys, but did not say they had to put air in the tires. Without the ability to run or select alternate frequencies, service is a no-go
I am mostly in desktop computers but curious why these phones are not being wipes and reloaded with a new OS from scratch? Why all the work arounds and hacks? What am I missing? Does Android have all this on lock down?
cobra112 said:
Wow, Verizon must have done their homework on locking down phones. That boot loader is hosery. I consider this much like the government forcing them to give the keys, but did not say they had to put air in the tires. Without the ability to run or select alternate frequencies, service is a no-go
I am mostly in desktop computers but curious why these phones are not being wipes and reloaded with a new OS from scratch? Why all the work arounds and hacks? What am I missing? Does Android have all this on lock down?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its entirely samsung and verizon's doing
S4 Is a terrible device you would be better off with something like a huawei honor or moto g or moto X
I am curious about your phone selections. My basic needs are only a high end device with good signal, mic, speaker, display, battery life, and memory capacity. However, I really felt I MUST have a phone with SD card ability but I really don't remove it, I don't take many pictures, and probably don't need that feature.
What I DON'T want is a device that is HUGE. I like the size of the S4. T mobile felt sorry for my phone issues and gave me an LG Leon. I simply hate it.
I should mention that I later intend to consider writing some custom apps for basic wifi and blue tooth functions so I want a playground that affords me some latitude.
cobra112 said:
I am curious about your phone selections. My basic needs are only a high end device with good signal, mic, speaker, display, battery life, and memory capacity. However, I really felt I MUST have a phone with SD card ability but I really don't remove it, I don't take many pictures, and probably don't need that feature.
What I DON'T want is a device that is HUGE. I like the size of the S4. T mobile felt sorry for my phone issues and gave me an LG Leon. I simply hate it.
I should mention that I later intend to consider writing some custom apps for basic wifi and bluetooth functions so I want a playground that affords me some latitude.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
then the honor x5 is what you want its slightly wider then the s4 5.64 5.53 has sd dual sim dual radio and a factory unlockable bootloader
http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_5x-7590.php
remember huawei is the OEM for google meaning they designed and manufactured the nexus 5x and 6p
Thank you! I find phone shopping to be rather daunting. I see a lot of developers using the Nexus product but also see a lot of people using Samsung due to all their included gadgets on board.
One thing that may be handy is the IR emitter. Is there a site that compares different products well? I do notice the honor does not get high marks for their display performance.
As well, due to using T mobile, I am unsure on compatibility. I need to know if the boot loader is responsible for toggling certain bands on/off? If I buy an honor for ATT, I assume it will be toggled for ATT frequencies? Since the BL is unlocked, can I toggle other bands to ensure I get the best service possible?
cobra112 said:
Thank you! I find phone shopping to be rather daunting. I see a lot of developers using the Nexus product but also see a lot of people using Samsung due to all their included gadgets on board.
One thing that may be handy is the IR emitter. Is there a site that compares different products well? I do notice the honor does not get high marks for their display performance.
As well, due to using T mobile, I am unsure on compatibility. I need to know if the boot loader is responsible for toggling certain bands on/off? If I buy an honor for ATT, I assume it will be toggled for ATT frequencies? Since the BL is unlocked, can I toggle other bands to ensure I get the best service possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
click the compare button on gsm arena
idk why you said the honor doesn't get high marks 1080p ips is pretty dam good
tho I guess some `review sites`
having a 2 or 4k display on your phone does no good if the gpu can't drive it
it will look real pretty but real world performance will suffer
different phones vs different carriers e.g CDMA phone like the i545 verizon s4 can not be used on GSM carriers such as ATT and Tmobile
read here for more info on that http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407896,00.asp
a unlocked bootloader grants you the ability to run custom roms and flash certain portions of the phone that are normally inaccessible
the bootloader has nothing todo with radio bands
the honor or any other factory unlocked phone should work on your carrier without issue
Thank you! I guess my only real requirement in the display is having one I can actually see outdoors! Amazing how poor the screen is on this old LG leon.
Maybe you can help me better understand how the bands are configured and/or locked on a phone? The reason I ask is the Verizon Galaxy S4 is technically capable of all bands that Tmobile uses yet I see poor functionality with it, indicating tome it is not picking up certain frequencies. I made the assumption the boot loader would be isolating the bands? Is this software controlled? Or not at all? Which would leave me wondering.
For reference, the Verizon S4 DOES work on Tmobile though. It holds 4GLTE signal but texts will not go out because I believe Tmobile is using 2G or 3G for that.
The way I assumed this worked is the phone is capable of a WIDE range of bands and frequencies, but the service provider would invoke only certain frequencies that they use?
cobra112 said:
Thank you! I guess my only real requirement in the display is having one I can actually see outdoors! Amazing how poor the screen is on this old LG leon.
Maybe you can help me better understand how the bands are configured and/or locked on a phone? The reason I ask is the Verizon Galaxy S4 is technically capable of all bands that Tmobile uses yet I see poor functionality with it, indicating tome it is not picking up certain frequencies. I made the assumption the boot loader would be isolating the bands? Is this software controlled? Or not at all? Which would leave me wondering.
For reference, the Verizon S4 DOES work on Tmobile though. It holds 4GLTE signal but texts will not go out because I believe Tmobile is using 2G or 3G for that.
The way I assumed this worked is the phone is capable of a WIDE range of bands and frequencies, but the service provider would invoke only certain frequencies that they use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if its holding lte then all you need todo is change the APN to point to t-mobiles servers (store should have offered todo this for you)
t mobile uses slightly differing frequencies depending on your area you are lucky enough to be in one of the area's that use the higher bands
instructions are here https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-2090
this will not change the fact that you may or may not get data signal depending on where you are connecting too
I would install textra from the playstore and set it as your mms app it has some over-rides for the apn settings if it won't let you change it via the system UI
alt instructions use the`fast` for lte
http://www.4gtricks.com/2013/04/t-mobile-4g-apn-t-mobile-4g-apn-settings.html
Right now the S4 indicated locked to 4GLTE but signal is -90dbm, 50asu. I tested data and I am able to use it though it is slow. I, however, still cannot send an sms. I am able to edit settings for the APN but have verified all settings are per tmobile specs. Any ideas where to go from here?
In the network modes, I am able to chose, 1) global, 2)LTE/CDMA 3) LTE/GSM/UMTS
I have it on LTE/GSM/UMTS right now. IIRC, the GSM is the 2G/3G for sms and voice?
Is it possible that the I545 is trying to operate on the Verizon 750mhz instead of the 700mhz of Tmobile?
cobra112 said:
Right now the S4 indicated locked to 4GLTE but signal is -90dbm, 50asu. I tested data and I am able to use it though it is slow. I, however, still cannot send an sms. I am able to edit settings for the APN but have verified all settings are per tmobile specs. Any ideas where to go from here?
In the network modes, I am able to chose, 1) global, 2)LTE/CDMA 3) LTE/GSM/UMTS
I have it on LTE/GSM/UMTS right now. IIRC, the GSM is the 2G/3G for sms and voice?
Is it possible that the I545 is trying to operate on the Verizon 750mhz instead of the 700mhz of Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.simplyadvanced.ltediscovery&hl=en\
should tell you what band its connecting on
install textra and go into its options and enable the 't mobile fix'
OK, I loaded Textra and LTE recovery. I honestly am not certain of what I am looking at on the LTE app but looks like I am connecting to band 4 LTE. At that time, I could not and still cannot send a text. However, at some point, it switched over to a UMTS connection and I was able to fire off texts normally so I know my APN settings are right and there is something odd going on. Textra did nothing different and there is no setting for tmobile other than a wifi setting.
I have read many other people having this exact problem which hovers around those using a verizon S4 on tmobile and upgrading to 5.0 OS.
What I need to figure out, and maybe an area that would require another thread but I need to learn if I may need to reflash the modem to function properly on tmobile and if that can even be considered on an unrooted, boot loader phone? If not, what are the best options? Just dump the phone and get something else? I read of a few roots on the OC1 platform but not sure on that.
If I knew my efforts would work and I knew what I needed to do to fix this issue, I would. I almost just upgraded to the latest revision hoping for a patch in there but not sure I should do that if I want to root? Is OC1 and above all the same for rooting issues?
you don't even have to root to work around this. you can downgrade modem to MDK build. Then use QPST/QXDM to change item 6828 to value 4096
Sins07, I am very interested in the modem mods you suggest as I also came to the conclusion the modem is the issue.
Would I out of line to ask if you can dumb this down a little for a newbie? You mention downgrading the modem only and was not aware you could do that. Can you explain how this modem issue is occuring and how the modem mods will fix it?
This situation was dealing with the SM-G965U U.S. S9+
I recently had itekimei unlock two S9+'s. They were from xfinity mobile, which is CDMA.
The phone's work, but only on CDMA band carriers i.e. verizon, sprint. With GSM, only messaging and data work. Data barely.
Is it commonplace to be stuck with either GSM or CDMA frequency carriers after having professionally unlocked the network? Like if you had a locked T-mobile phone and had it unlocked, you'd be stuck on GSM correct?
Maybe this is a given and I am ignorant.
I didn't exactly check whether xfinity ran on cdma or gsm before I purchased them, so that was my fault, not itekimei. He's a great guy. Highly recommend him, as long as you have your radio systems correct.
Edit: I think I found the answer, and that is the U.S. S9+ is not cross compatible with GSM and CDMA. Please correct me if I am wrong and tell me how to make it happen if you know. Thank you.
-Bob
The phone does work with GSM providers for calling, messaging and data. Check your preferred network type and select a different one. I replied to another thread you posted in with the setting I used that works.
Before unlocking my phone I had done an extensive amount of reading and research. If I was gonna pay for the unlock I wanted to make sure it would work for GSM networks. From what I can tell the G96U phone you have would be virtually identical to the one I have, with the exception of the carrier installed firmware. This is what would define the phone as Sprint or Xfinity. So if my phone works for calling, data and messaging on AT&T which is a GSM network then yours will too.
If needs be flash the U1 firmware to the phone as this would be the one that is on the unlocked S9 you can buy from Samsung. As a firmware for unlocked phones i believe it would be the most generically compatible with the providers for this scenario... well it's one of the reasons why I flashed it on my phone. The other is since I no longer use Sprint I dont need the Sprint bloatware.
There are tutorials on how to flash the G965U1 firmware to a g965U phone on this forum.
Also try keeping your inquiry to one thread instead of making multiple ones. Keeps all insights, discussions and etc in one spot and not multiple places.
scottusa2008 said:
The phone does work with GSM providers for calling, messaging and data. Check your preferred network type and select a different one. I replied to another thread you posted in with the setting I used that works.
Before unlocking my phone I had done an extensive amount of reading and research. If I was gonna pay for the unlock I wanted to make sure it would work for GSM networks. From what I can tell the G96U phone you have would be virtually identical to the one I have, with the exception of the carrier installed firmware. This is what would define the phone as Sprint or Xfinity. So if my phone works for calling, data and messaging on AT&T which is a GSM network then yours will too.
If needs be flash the U1 firmware to the phone as this would be the one that is on the unlocked S9 you can buy from Samsung. As a firmware for unlocked phones i would think it would be the most generically compatible with the providers.
There are tutorials on how to flash the G965U1 firmware to a g965U phone on this forum.
Also try keeping your inquiry to one thread instead of making multiple ones. Keeps all insights, discussions and etc in one spot and not multiple places.
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Sorry, I had actually came back here to delete this thread after I thought about it before I read what you wrote. I was just at work my apologies. And thank you for correcting me. I will check out how to flash the U1.