Simple question going from us988 to lg988 - LG V30 Questions & Answers

So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
I know if I am going to say tmo it's recommend to kdz flash the us988.
As I understand it, you can go to us988 fine without issues (normally) but to go back to sprint you need to reflash to ls988 and to do that, root is needed, which also requires bl unlock.
I tried a moto g5s plus with an unlocked bl on both sprint and vz, but in both cases I got data to work but no voice at all. After some research and trial and errors, I found out it was because the bl was unlocked, because I was flashed to stock rom. Once I locked the bl, everything worked fine. Some how sprint network detects the bl bring unlocked or the bl being unlocked makes it so the system doesn't work right with the phone, not sure. I also found out you can be root and use an unlocked bl once you are on the network, but not before.
So, that brings me to my question.
In order to use ls988, again you need root and unlocked bl, so that being the case, how would I go about using the ls988 without the bl being unlocked? Because with the bl unlocked, as stated above, calls won't work.
Is it possible to use the us988 abd bl locked, then get registered on the network, then flash the ls988?
Sorry for any confusion, I sometimes have a hard time explaining in words what's in my head.

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easyrider77 said:
So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
I know if I am going to say tmo it's recommend to kdz flash the us988.
As I understand it, you can go to us988 fine without issues (normally) but to go back to sprint you need to reflash to ls988 and to do that, root is needed, which also requires bl unlock.
I tried a moto g5s plus with an unlocked bl on both sprint and vz, but in both cases I got data to work but no voice at all. After some research and trial and errors, I found out it was because the bl was unlocked, because I was flashed to stock rom. Once I locked the bl, everything worked fine. Some how sprint network detects the bl bring unlocked or the bl being unlocked makes it so the system doesn't work right with the phone, not sure. I also found out you can be root and use an unlocked bl once you are on the network, but not before.
So, that brings me to my question.
In order to use ls988, again you need root and unlocked bl, so that being the case, how would I go about using the ls988 without the bl being unlocked? Because with the bl unlocked, as stated above, calls won't work.
Is it possible to use the us988 abd bl locked, then get registered on the network, then flash the ls988?
Sorry for any confusion, I sometimes have a hard time explaining in words what's in my head.
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Yes, it's best to activate the phone on Sprint FIRST before you temporarily convert to US998, then flash back to Sprint. So that part of your question is valid.
But the rest is a little silly considering we've been rooting this phone for over 2 years now.
Of course calls/data work with a Unlocked Bootloader on all variants.
Everyone who unlocked a boot loader on the LS998 have calls and data working just fine on Sprint. And Verizon and AT&T and T-Mobile and every other carrier and the world.
Lots of Sprint people who have temporarily converted to US998, unlocked bootoader, then flash back to Sprint firmware -- keeping TWRP and root. One of our main DEVs is a Sprint customer. So your worries are totally baseless.
Why do you think we have TWRP flashable zips Sprint firmware to flash back to, if the phone couldn't be used?
By the way this is an LG not a Motorola. It's also not a Sony, which is another common question -- do to boot loader unlock issues with Sonys.
However, if you're thinking about moving to T-Mobile, then stay on US998 and go to T-Mobile. Why mess with Sprint?
Us998 on T-Mobile has VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, etc. Us998 has more compatible T-Mobile bands than LS998 firmware.

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I've rooted almost a dozen different phones from back to the s2 days, but the moto phone threw me. I've never once had an issue with bl unlocked and being able to switch to another carrier until the moto phone, so I wasn't sure if that was a network thing or a phone thing.
With the moto it was obviously a phone thing.
Why switch to sprint instead of just staying on tmo? I guess simply put, it gives choices. Like everything in life, it's good to have choices and even if you never choose to use said choice, the fact that it's there is good, because it doesn't limit things to just a small selection. This is why we have multiple phones, and cell services to choose from, it gives a variety of things to choose from, to suit each person's needs.
I've seen people who live in a specific area and can only get one carrier because nothing else works in that area so they have to change carriers.
As for being baseless I am confused how it is baseless from a question. I never said anything about lg not working with our without the bl locked or unlocked, I simply referred to the Motorola phone and was curious if the lg phone would have the same issue I had with the moto phone.
If for some reason there is an implied statement that I am lying about the moto phone not working with the bl unlocked before it was registered on the network and the only thing I did was lock the bl, I am willing to hear why exactly it would not receive or make calls on both vz and sprint, both the exact same issue, until I locked the bl.
Nowhere in my thread did I say the lg would not work with an unlocked bl, twrp or anything else..... I was simply asking a question based on the experience I had with the moto phone (not lg or any other phone) so I am confused how that is baseless, considering I was baseing it off of the phone that did give me issues which was the moto phone, and not the lg phone.

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easyrider77 said:
So I've read some on the Frankenstein thread, and I decide to go that route I'll follow that thread.
I have not switched carriers as of yet so I am on sprint still.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
easyrider77 said:
Why switch to sprint instead of just staying on tmo? I guess simply put, it gives choices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you make up your mind what carrier you're on right now?
easyrider77 said:
I've rooted almost a dozen different phones from back to the s2 days, but the moto phone threw me. I've never once had an issue with bl unlocked and being able to switch to another carrier until the moto phone, so I wasn't sure if that was a network thing or a phone thing.
With the moto it was obviously a phone thing.
As for being baseless I am confused how it is baseless from a question. I never said anything about lg not working with our without the bl locked or unlocked, I simply referred to the Motorola phone and was curious if the lg phone would have the same issue I had with the moto phone.
Nowhere in my thread did I say the lg would not work with an unlocked bl, twrp or anything else..... I was simply asking a question based on the experience I had with the moto phone (not lg or any other phone) so I am confused how that is baseless, considering I was baseing it off of the phone that did give me issues which was the moto phone, and not the lg phone.
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We've been bootloader unlocking and rooting these V30 phones for two years and using across all carriers. That's why I said your assumptions were baseless. This forum would not be as active as it is if we have any of the problems you were asking about. Bootloader Unlock and Root only improves V30 phones. For instance you will never have the LG DTS Surround Sound stereo framework enabled unless you bootloader unlock and root the phone. Yes, in latter Oreo LG gave use DTS libs, but then didn't enable them. But you can root and enable DTS 3D Surround stereo.
Have you even read the WTF Bootloader Unlock instructions yet? ALL the way through? Read in web browser, not an app. App seems to truncate entire sections. Section 9 talks about flashing back to your own carrier firmware -- like Sprint.
Most everybody who buys an LS998 are NOT Sprint customers and convert them to something better -- like US998 V30+ to use on AT&T, T-Mobile, Cricket, etc. or create a VS996 V30+ to use on Verizon (make sure you have an already activated Verizon SIM card). And most also Bootloader Unlock and Root their LS998 and use on other carriers. I bought a few LS998 I either converted myself or were already converted to US998. Some of these converted LS998-to-US998 I bought are being used on AT&T. My sister and brother-in-law use their converted LS998-to-US998 on Verizon.
I wrote the Frankenstein instructions and the screenshots in those instructions are from my LS998 being converted to US998.
I also wrote the WTF INSTRUCTIONS on bootloader unlock, TWRP Installation and Root. Both threads have current, up to date procedures.
Any North American variant -- EXCEPT for T-mobile H932 -- has to be on US998 firmware (at least TEMPORARILY) to bootloader unlock and root, because of the North American variants only US998 has the requisite fastboot flash commands. After bootloader unlock, TWRP installation and root, users can choose to stay on US998 firmware or use DEV-created TWRP flashable zips to flash back to their carrier firmware. Sprint users choose to flash back Sprint firmware because there are 3 LTE bands Sprint uses (for now) which US998 modems do not have. I use AT&T, but I choose to remain on Open Market US998 firmware instead of flashing back to AT&T firmware.
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Please don't bother mentioning other brands of phones in this forum. They have nothing to do with LG phones. Now, if you said you had a certain problem with Bootloader Unlock of a previous LG phone, then that would be valid concern.
You're acting like this is something people haven't done a thousand times already with V30. Even people in other countries are buying North American V30 variants and using them on their own carriers -- AFTER Bootloader Unlock and Root.
Even your thread title is somewhat confusing. Says going from US998 to LS998, don't you mean the reverse? You have LS998. You would be going from LS998 to US998 (at least temporarily).
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But to reiterate -- for Sprint customers only -- yes you should activate the native LS998 on Sprint first BEFORE doing anything else to the phone. AFTER activation on Sprint, then TEMPORARILY convert to US998 for Bootloader Unlock, TWRP and root. Follow the Frankenstein and WTF Instructions.
Then flash back Sprint firmware via TWRP flashable zip to get back Sprint LTE bands.
JohnFawkes is one of our main DEVs. He created the Sprint TWRP flashable zip. He's a Sprint customer himself.
If you fail to follow that simple guideline, yes there is also a full firmware Sprint stock zip -- which wipes out TWRP custom recovery, replacing with stock recovery. You can flash that to go back to "original" Sprint firmware. It's use for warranty exchanges, but can also be use to your phone activated on Sprint if you failed to do it prior to unlocking bootloader. After flashing this special zip, your bootloader is STILL unlocked but the phone can be activated on Sprint. THEN even though your Bootloader is unlocked, after Sprint activation you have to TEMPORARILY CONVERT back to US998 yet again (for fastboot flash commands) to reinstall TWRP... So you're wasting a lot of time and effort doing all that, when you can just activate the LS998 FIRST on Sprint before bootloader unlock and root.
HOWEVER if you are on Sprint already with your LS998 -- as your OTHER thread seems to indicate -- then your LS998 phone is already activated on Sprint. So, I'm not sure why you're asking about all that.