Database Users

Does the XDA2 work on the Orange (UK) network?

Guys - I'm trying to get hold of an XDA2 and put it on the Orange network in the UK. The main reason for this is that you can have 2 numbers connecting to the same phone on the orange network (a.k.a. business and personal). But I also like the idea of HSCSD - i.e. 28.8K data speed - faster than any of the others.
If anyone has done this and has any comments they would like to share that I will be a happy man.
regards,

i may be way off here but i dont see what the problem should be
a gsm phone should work with any gsm operator
i bougth my xda unlocked and without a phone company licence
i put in my sim and typed in the pin
i put in the grps settings myself
and it were all set
so as far as i see any unlocked xda should work

Hi,
I'm currently using an unlocked MDA2 on orange. No problems so far, phone works, gprs works. You mention HSCSD. This is not possible with the MDA2 - it is GPRS only. Or are you talking of carrying two devices, one for GPRS and one for HSCSD ? ;-)
Cheers,
Oliver

(Oliver - ) if you are using it GPRS with Orange then you would no doubt be able to have the 2 number service they offer.
As for HSCSD, this is a faster version of GPRS - see http://support.fujitsu-siemens.de/KnowHow/GB/Grundlagen/Funknetz/GPRS/GPRS-im_Vergleich.htm
The important figure is the realistic data rate in practical usage, and HSCSD appears to be 2-3 times faster. This means your bill will go up 2-3 times faster. But that's not the point is it?
Anyways, cheers d.

Changing the IMEI

Hi, I have been very happily using my XDA with a '3' SIM after unlocking it but as of this weekend, it stopped working. It will work with other network SIMs so I know the phone is fine. I called '3' but obviously they are not interested. Is it because of the IMEI? If so, I would like to find out how I can change it ... My radio was 4.21 so I downgraded to 3.23.00 and then tried XDA Manipulator but it does not show that option (flashes and dissappears) . I cannot seem to find Radio Stacks V4.06 or 4.10 anywhere ... any help much appreciated.
Details
<Wallaby 5.14, ROM = 3.17.03. Radio = 3.23.00>

How did you downgrade the radio stack, please give me the method used because I know many people will be interested, I have never managed it either.
Reference your usage of the sim from 3, I cannot see it being an imei problem, as you know the xda is not 3 compatable so it will be logging you on through a 3rd party network as far as I know. If the imei was blocked it would not work with any operator here in uk. Does the 3 sim work in another phone.?

I found GERMAN Radio Stack from this forum. (REF:http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=2185). The '3' network also uses O2 network. Have not tried '3' sim in another phone - will test tomorrow.[/b]

cruisin-thru said:
How did you downgrade the radio stack, please give me the method used because I know many people will be interested, I have never managed it either.
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i have downgraded a few times, but i dont know if this method will work 4 u.
if i currently have a TMO stack, ill go to a ATT stack, then i can bak to an earlier TMO, or visa versa
i only tried this with ATTs and TMOs, never had the need to try other stacks...(or should i :twisted: )

It is possible that the phone has been blocked, I have had this problem with 2 phones that I bought as faulty, I repaired them only to find that the sellers had claimed on insurance then sold the knackered phone which had been blocked by the provider.

JUICEe - I am not brave enuff to go down that route given the dire warnings from this forum in moving from UK/Europe stacks to US ones.
crusing-thru - Given that XDA works perfectly ok with 02 SIM, and '3' SIM works fine in 3' phone, I believe its something about the '3' SIM/Network and not the phone that is preventing me using it in my XDA at this time.
Tx for the interest, hope you were able to downgrade using the German stack. It works fine with O2 SIM.

It is strange though that the sim was working fine then doesnt work in xda but still works in another phone. Have you tried an orange or t mobile sim in the phone? If you are positive that 3 uses O2 as a patch network then ignore this. Have you been to bootloader and inadvertently changed gsm to 900 only, if 3 uses an 1800 network this would explain it, if you havent been to bootloader then I have no idea and if as you said the people at 3 are not interested I would consider dumping them as a service provider.

"Hutchison 3G has agreed to share network facilities owned by UK operator mmO2 to ensure rapid time to market even before its own network is complete, with customers roaming between Hutchison's limited 3G network and mmO2's existing second generation network. Hutchison's right to let customers roam with at least one existing competitor's 2G network is part of the 3G license and enforceable by law."

3 have locked the SIM, must be in one of their phones or will not work, even though it uses O2 as a voice network. Seen this problem many times, and there is nothing you can do about it. Anyone who has made it work is just lucky, and 3 will get to you in the end.
Don't ask me why they do it as to me they are restricting their own business, cos if you use your own handset, you are likely to use it more. Just ask my girlfriend who just hates her nec 606 and hardly uses it!!

Hi,
Basically what happened was that O2 complained to '3'. People were getting the cheap tarriffs from '3' and using them in 2g handsets.
O2's opinion was those people 'should' be using O2 as their provider if they are just using the 2g voice part.
'3' realised that if this becomes wide spread, although they will still make a % off the voice call in profit (after paying O2 for using their 2g network), they wont be acustoming people to using any of the 3g functions.
Really they would be hindering the progression of users from 2g to 3g, which may end up costing them alot more ultimately.
In my opinion it was most likely O2 threatening to take action too.
Really their marketing stratedgy is to give out cheap voice calls, to get the 3 phone in your hand... then they bombard u with offers to try video calls etc etc eventually 'in theory' u get used to these services.. same old story.
I havnt monitored the message, but from what i can tell they are using one of two things to stop the phones working:
1) capability messages from the phone restricting the phone from completing authentification because it isnt '3g' capable. That could be done as part of the auth process, raising the required capability to 3g.
2) Using the SAT (sim application toolkit) capability to talk to the USIM and dissable it.
Although SAT and USIM are not actually compatible, you can talk to a USIM through a SAT phone with limited functions.
If they're using (1) your **** outta luck really. But if that were the case you would expect everyone to be knocked out within the space of a month max (when they update the hlr records). Did you just get your 3 card?
If its 2.. you may be able to try an OLD handset that isnt SAT capable, just to prove the point.
I'm leaning towards (2) because i do know that on many nokia's if u type a number as soon as you boot up the phone it will work.
Also if u leave a digit on the screen.. say 0 as soon as u end that call it will still work when u dial the next number.
Clear the digit and not type one quick enough and you gotta reboot before it'll work again.
Sounds like the nokia firmware blocks access to the sim for other processes, in anticipation of reading the KC and doing an auth when u make the call.
Toxic.

Can Dopod U1000 make calls in Japan?

I know Dopod 900 and other 3G phones can be used in Japan as long as you have a 3G enabled SIM card from your home telco. How about the new U1000? If I buy one in Singapore can I use it during my trips to Japan? This is a major purchase decision point so please help if you can. Thanks!

I can confirm it works. And you need to use a handfree to make call. I used 3HK and CSL SIM card in Japan and works just fine.

jameshuang said:
I can confirm it works. And you need to use a handfree to make call. I used 3HK and CSL SIM card in Japan and works just fine.
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Could you make a GPRS / internet connection with the Dopod U1000 in Japan?

Yes. It works just fine. No problems.

k_kirk said:
Yes. It works just fine. No problems.
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That's good news. Could you please tell me how you set up the GPRS connection?
Edit: oops , I see, you are not using a Japanese service, like Softbank, or NTT. I am still trying to find out whether it's possible to use an unlocked Athena with a Softbank SIM card. I know the it would work as phone, but how to set up the GPRS connection would be the problem.

chainbolt said:
That's good news. Could you please tell me how you set up the GPRS connection?
Edit: oops , I see, you are not using a Japanese service, like Softbank, or NTT. I am still trying to find out whether it's possible to use an unlocked Athena with a Softbank SIM card. I know the it would work as phone, but how to set up the GPRS connection would be the problem.
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Yes. I use Singtel and use roaming when I'm in Japan. My SIM has the 3G service activated. I hope you can find a telco offering service in Japan. Good luck.

Using Dopod 900 3G PPC in Japan
Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get the Dopod 900 I bought in Malaysia to work here in Japan? Sales clerks are telling me it's not possible. Dopod's site doesn't offer any help. Thanks a lot. I plan to be here for a month or more so it will really help to find out what's true and possible.

Yes I can confirm it works too.

Professorredbag said:
Hi! Can anyone tell me how to get the Dopod 900 I bought in Malaysia to work here in Japan? Sales clerks are telling me it's not possible. Dopod's site doesn't offer any help. Thanks a lot. I plan to be here for a month or more so it will really help to find out what's true and possible.
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Yes it does. As far as I understand if it supports 3G then it should technically work in japan. Too bad I no longer have my Dopod 900 with me to test it out.

Dopod 900 Woes in Japan
Thanks for your replies. The problem is I want a Japanese sim card and number not the roaming services from Malaysia as I have temporarily moved. This what sales clerks are telling me is not possible. They say I must have a Japanese made handphone. !!?? I know they are protectionist here but surely there is a way around the obstacles.. Any specific suggestions? really appreciate your help!

What I know
I am really interested in this too, as I plan on getting an Athena soon. However, I know that you don't need a "Japanese made handphone". They don't like people using different phones on their network, but they can't really stop you.
Well, they probably can technically stop you, but it is highly unlikely that they will. The reason the sales clerk is telling you it is impossible is probably because there are almost NO unlocked phones in Japan. 99.99% of all phones sold here are branded and locked to a specific carrier.
I am a Hermes user and bought my Hermes through Softbank, a carrier here in Japan. I have since reflashed it hundreds of times and have never had a problem with connecting to the network. I also know others on this board who are Kaiser users who have imported their Kaisers from other countries and are using them on Softbank's system with no problems. There was also a big interest in the mobile device geek community of Japan in the Treo 700w when it first appeared, and I have seen blogs of Japanese guys who have got that running on Softbank's system. So it IS definately possible to run non-Softbank phones on Softbank's network provided you have a valid Softbank SIM.
Some caveats:
I have never seen any carrier here just selling SIMs. You will more than likely have to purchase a phone to get a SIM card.
Voice and SMS (text) should work automatically just by popping in the SIM. Data and MMS are more difficult.
Data
There are two ways of connecting to Softbank's data servers, and each is charged differently. One method uses a public access server, but the charges for using this are quite high. This is the server used for people connecting laptops using cellular modems. The other method allow access under Softbank's tiered and capped system, which is the much cheaper and safer option. The connection settings to access this system are very closely guarded and no one to my knowledge has been able to hack them.
However, there is a workaround. See here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=298031
The problem with this workaround is that it requires a program called WIFIwake.exe. And it just so happens that WIFIwake.exe is coded specifically for different machines. On the link above, there is a version for the Universal and a version for the Hermes (the U and H in the .zip file names). Valued member Chaimd hex-edited a file to make it work for Kaiser: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=328362&highlight=softbank&page=3. And he seemed to think it was a pretty easy job. If asked nicely, he might be able to hex-edit one for Athena too - or not. I don't know.
MMS
MMS is also more difficult to set up. Basically, it requires a program called MMSLite which can be quirky. The only way to know for sure whether it will work with Athena is to try and see I think. And it does NOT work on WM6.1 systems, so you will have to decide between MMS + WM6 or NoMMS + WM6.1. This is the big reason I am thinking of buying the 7501 rather than the 7510.

After some research...
... on some Japanese sites, it seems that a CID unlocked Athena can use the WIFIwake.exe file meant for the Universal.
Also, MMSLite seems to be working as well. So it seems that on the Softbank network at least the Athena can do it all.

Dopod Woes in Japan
Dear Larsuck,
I appreciate your investing so much time and thought to help me. I'm not even remotely savy enough to understand the complexities of your advice but I do gather that buying a Japanese phone is inevitable. Any suggestions for the cheapest? as I'll just use it for local calls and carry my laptop with me when I need other connectivity.

Professorredbag said:
Any suggestions for the cheapest? as I'll just use it for local calls and carry my laptop with me when I need other connectivity.
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Huh? So you have decided not to the the Athena? There are tons of really cool phones over here that can do many, many different things - but none of them compare to WM in that they aren't as customizable. Go to the Softbank website (English: http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/ ) and check them out.
However, if you want to get the Athena, here are two choices:
1) Get the Athena, come to Japan, get a cheap phone (cheap in the relative sense) here, take the SIM card out of it and put it in the Athena. Do some research on this site and get the Athena up and running. Keep the cheap phone just in case the Athena dies.
2) Get the Athena, come to Japan, get an expensive but slightly subsidized phone, unlock it and sell it on ebay. Use the sim card in your Athena and hope it doesn't die.

gprs and edge - software or hardware?

hi folks, not certain if this should be in networking or development, (so have posted in both)
my question is simple and could do with some advice. is the edge/gprs frequency on the radio a software or hardware setting?
my htc panda does just about everything i need but according to my network (o2 uk) the phone is gprs only. my understanding is that edge runs on the same freqency so i wanted to see if i could change the device to run on edge
is this possible?
any help/advice would be appreciated
cheers
Chris

Its hardware: Look at the phones manual to see if you have it, if you do, you can recieve it where ever theres signal. If you dont, get a TyTN II!

even if you have edge, you probably wont browse on it in the uk. Networks claim thy have edge, but i dont know anyone on ay network [this is personally] who has connected to edge ever. So, dont fret, if you have edge, and arent connecting to it, theres not much you can do.
And dont get a tytn ii, theyre riddled with problems [as its forum shows]
Rory

I regularly use EDGE both on O2 and Orange in the Uk! Also havent had any problems with the TyTN II's functionality!
Each to their own I suppose!

cheers folks,
basically i am on o2 and stuck on gprs. i love my panda and can bypas most of the speed issues using opera mini (and wifi at home)
was just hoping is all

Touch HD struggle to get a signal on O2

Actually, the title is misleading. It only struggles to get a good signal in my house (and about 20metres around it - very annoying!)
I have an unlocked Touch HD which was on Orange. After cancelling the contract, I now have an O2 Simplicity pay per month sim which gets perfect signal in my old backup phone (Nokia 5140). When I put it in my Touch HD, it gets a very weak signal and the little G/3G/H/E symbol to the left gets greyed out. I though this would mean I couldn't use the internet but still make calls but the phone won't connect or receive calls with the O2 sim.
I've called O2 to get the exact settings for the device but they say they don't support it. The device seems to set the sim up ok on insetion with the wizard program. I know the sim works cause it works in the nokia. Is the Touch HD known to struggle for signal when other phones seem to work ok? Anyone have this problem?
O2 are sending me out another sim just in case but say that I have to speak to HTC to get the right settings. I know the sim works in the phone because it works when I'm at work, travelling around Northants in a car but just doesn't work in my house. O2 did ask if I have lead in the roof which may cause problems - the house is 120yrs old so it might.
Help! anyone?

My Touch HD works fine in and around Northampton, I am sitting near Rectory Farm with a 3 bar HSDPA signal. So a few things to check.
At the bottom of Comm Manager, touch the 3G bar, are both 'Network Type' and 'Band Frequency' set to auto?
What radio version are you using?
When you get a signal is both MMS and SMS working OK?

matt_not_andrew, just like you, I have just cancelled my Orange for an 02 Simplicity pay per month! Hopefully I'll get the PAC code on Wednesday, so I'll be interested in seeing how reception is.
Any clue what it's like in Wellingborough? Haha locals on the forum tonight!

No idea on Wellingborough but works well on Orange and O2 in pretty much all of the south part of the county.
I'll check those settings later when I'm finished DIY around the house.

I've done the exactly same thing, cancelled orange contract & now on o2 simplicity and my reception is loads better than before.
I use to have dead spots in my house and they've all gone.
Running dutty's wm6.1 v4.0 rom & used the standard connection set up.
Jake

The same trouble with HD in Russia
Hi, I live far from our capital city. IN the area with weak radio signal, htc hd has 1-2 sticks.. aven worse - lost connection, at the same time Nokia and SOnyErricsson works fine 4-5 sticks. Previously my HTC ELF works aroun 3-4 sticks in the same area. I tried to check Diamond2 - the same situation as with HTC HD.....

The same in Russia.
The details: Phone from UK, Radio 1.4, ROM - BlackStone Rus 2.0, WM 6.5. Settings - Full automate regarding GPRS detection and choosing.

I switched from orange to O2 pay as you go and I found that some of the Roms (Dutty's and NRGZ's in particular) don't configure the Mobile internet settings correctly for PAYG. The O2 settings vary from the contract ones and therefore you can never get connected unless they are set up correctly.
I recommend checking the following details in settings/ connections/ manage existing connections:
Access point name: payandgo.o2.co.uk
User name: payandgo
Password: password
Its never failed on me yet - although the mobile internet service from O2 has been a little intermittent over the last couple of weeks because of network problems they have been having.
Can't fault the O2 reception on the phone, I get much, much better signal than I ever did on Orange.

I did exactly the same thing last week! ie cancelled my Orange contract and moved to O2 sim only!
When I put the O2 sim in my Touch HD, after a few minutes I got a message saying that the data settings were wrong for the network and if I wanted to download the correct settings (or something to that effect). I then had to fill in a couple options to do with the country and network. A few mins later it asked to reboot and afterwards everything just worked as if by magic! I can get on the internet and mms works etc..!
=)
In terms of reception, I've found that generally my O2 2G signal is much better than 3G.

I've given in and cancelled the O2 plan and going back to Orange - at least I know that the Touch Hd will work on their network in my house.
I phoned O2 again and again and they said they couldn't give me any settings for the Hd as they didn't know how to support it?
Anyhow, got a brand new N86 on Racoon 35 18months for £25 (reduced from £35) so even with the data bundle thats £30pm which means I save further on my broadband - result!
The Hd will be the work SATNAV phone and the N86 will be for going out (photo's) and games.
Thanks for the help.