Database Users

HTC Hero GSM Owners : Questions!

So I've got an open T-Mobile (USA) account and I'm looking for a GSM device to fall in love with. The form factor and design of the original Hero has caught my eye for several months and I'm almost definitely sold on buying the phone.
A few questions I couldnt find solid answers to in the forums:
1. Will an factory unlocked (Non carrier branded, direct from HTC) Hero operate properly (and in 3G) on the American networK? What features will I not be able to use?
2. Purchasing the device unlocked - do I still have access to the Android market and purchasing abilities with my Gmail account?
3. Multitouch in the browser and albums - does it work as smooth as iPhone or Palm Pre?
4. I've heard the device is to go fully Multitouch with the 2.0 update - where do I get this update from and does it apply to unlocked devices?
5. Do you own one in the US and use it currently on a US GSM carrier? (Tmobile, AT&T).. how well does it work?
Please be sure to answer all the questions - I left my HTC devices (Touch Pro, Mogul, Wizard, etc) behind for a Palm Pre and I've never been happier (EVER!! ) but I want an Android phone to play around with.

These are the questions I can answer.
eightyf0ur said:
1. Will an factory unlocked (Non carrier branded, direct from HTC) Hero operate properly (and in 3G) on the American networK? What features will I not be able to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would have to get a European HTC Hero, not the Canadian HTC Hero to have full 3G on T-Mobile, due to T-Mobile use 1700MHz & 2100MHz & that's what the European Hero supports.
eightyf0ur said:
2. Purchasing the device unlocked - do I still have access to the Android market and purchasing abilities with my Gmail account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if it doesn't, you can root the Hero & push all the necessary files to get all those functions.
eightyf0ur said:
3. Multitouch in the browser and albums - does it work as smooth as iPhone or Palm Pre?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multitouch in the Stock HTC Hero browser is pretty good but not as good as the iPhone, but still good. Haven't played with the Pre browser so I don't have a opinion on it.

gu1dry said:
These are the questions I can answer.
You would have to get a European HTC Hero, not the Canadian HTC Hero to have full 3G on T-Mobile, due to T-Mobile use 1700MHz & 2100MHz & that's what the European Hero supports.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I don't think that is correct. The European HTC Hero uses the 2100/1900 3G band where as T-Mobile in the Use 2100/1700. I can confirm that my HTC Hero (European, unlocked) never got 3G when I roamed onto T-Mobile U.S.A

4. From HTC in March or from these forums now.

clobber said:
No, I don't think that is correct. The European HTC Hero uses the 2100/1900 3G band where as T-Mobile in the Use 2100/1700. I can confirm that my HTC Hero (European, unlocked) never got 3G when I roamed onto T-Mobile U.S.A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stand corrected. Read some incorrect info & doublechecked on HTC's site & the European Hero doesn't support 1700MHz, so ya no 3G on T-Mobile.

clobber said:
No, I don't think that is correct. The European HTC Hero uses the 2100/1900 3G band where as T-Mobile in the Use 2100/1700. I can confirm that my HTC Hero (European, unlocked) never got 3G when I roamed onto T-Mobile U.S.A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats horrible - I'm going to check out YouTube videos to be sure. If it doesnt Im going to be sorely disappointed! I really love this phone and having the Sprint device has made me want the European version that much more (the form factor of the European HERO is goregous compared to the way they butchered it on Sprint).

Yes because no one lies on YouTube
It's in b&w on HTC's site that the European Hero only supports 2100MHz 3G & T-mobile requires 2100 MHZ AND 1700MHz for 3G. The Canadian Hero doesn't support neither 2100MHz or 1700MHz.

gu1dry said:
Yes because no one lies on YouTube
It's in b&w on HTC's site that the European Hero only supports 2100MHz 3G & T-mobile requires 2100 MHZ AND 1700MHz for 3G. The Canadian Hero doesn't support neither 2100MHz or 1700MHz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the nasty reply. I appreciate that.
One of those millions of YouTube reviews had mentioned something about the Hero supporting 3G when plopped onto a specific network. Guess I wasnt paying close enough attention. I suppose I'll be purchasing a G1 and figuring out how to install the stock rom of the HERO (or at least those fancy widgets) without turning it into a brick.

What nasty reply? Why would believe so random person, when the the manufacture of the hardware states it does support the specific radio needed for your needs. It does support 3G on specific networks, which T-Mobile is not one of them.

eightyf0ur said:
1. Will an factory unlocked (Non carrier branded, direct from HTC) Hero operate properly (and in 3G) on the American networK? What features will I not be able to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. No 3G..
eightyf0ur said:
2. Purchasing the device unlocked - do I still have access to the Android market and purchasing abilities with my Gmail account?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course!
eightyf0ur said:
3. Multitouch in the browser and albums - does it work as smooth as iPhone or Palm Pre?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you buy a European version, yes.
eightyf0ur said:
4. I've heard the device is to go fully Multitouch with the 2.0 update - where do I get this update from and does it apply to unlocked devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.htc.com/www/supportdownloadlist.aspx?p_id=283&act=sd&cat=all
You apply it like any other HTC update, with double clicking a exe file..
eightyf0ur said:
5. Do you own one in the US and use it currently on a US GSM carrier? (Tmobile, AT&T).. how well does it work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know.

This is EXACTLY what I wanted! Thanks!
TheDeadCpu... if I buy a G1 what do you suggest is the best way to get the Hero rom running on it? I'm VERY new to Android development and hacking...
TheDeadCpu said:
Nope. No 3G..
Of course!
If you buy a European version, yes.
http://www.htc.com/www/supportdownloadlist.aspx?p_id=283&act=sd&cat=all
You apply it like any other HTC update, with double clicking a exe file..
Don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Don't know much about the available ROMs for the G1, but head over to the G1 Android Development forum and look for a ROM with SenseUI
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=448
And find a ROM and READ the full thread

TheDeadCpu said:
Don't know much about the available ROMs for the G1, but head over to the G1 Android Development forum and look for a ROM with SenseUI
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=448
And find a ROM and READ the full thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here we go with another 3 months of reading to find a simple answer. *jumps in*

Hero? - piece of rubbish.
Don't bother buying a Hero:
1) Battery life is rubbish
2) Lag on touchscreen is unacceptable
3) Regularly drops calls
4) Official rom updates delivered according to the Tectonic Plate movement calendar, i.e once every thousand years
5) On screen keyboard is rubbish (go on- just try typing a whole email on it aaaaargh!)
6) Lots of good apps but the rest of the phone is just not up to it yet.
7) Often does not send dtmf tones
8) Apps regularly crash
In short, mine is going on ebay for some other sucker to have to endure it.

[CLOSED/DZ] Discussion about a 3G 850/1900 MHz version

Despite lacking the latest 1GHz or 1.3GHz chips & bigger 4.3" screen seen on other soon-to-be-released devices, the Desire Z turned into my attention because I've been eagerly waiting for the next HTC phone with keyboard *and* decent screen/chip
But as expected, the Desire Z, is being launched with 900/2100 MHz 3G bands only, as near every new HTC phone does
Q:
Any news or rumours of an american bands (850/1900) users friendly version soon ??
May Telstra or AT&T could be carrying it too ??
Colateral Q:
Why is HTC always "avoiding" those bands when launching a new phone ??
.

gtrab said:
Despite lacking the latest 1GHz or 1.3GHz chips & bigger 4.3" screen seen on other soon-to-be-released devices, the Desire Z turned into my attention because I've been eagerly waiting for the next HTC phone with keyboard *and* decent screen/chip
But as expected, the Desire Z, is being launched with 900/2100 MHz 3G bands only, as near every new HTC phone does
Q:
Any news or rumours of an american bands (850/1900) users friendly version soon ??
May Telstra or AT&T could be carrying it too ??
Colateral Q:
Why is HTC always "avoiding" those bands when launching a new phone ??
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A1: No, the Desire Z is a Europe and Asia only phone. The G2 is the American version and is for T-Mobile. And I highly doubt that they will be making a Desire Z version for the states like they did with Cellular South which came about 6 months after the initial European launch.
A2: Haha, HTC are not 'always avoiding' those bands when launching, it comes down to your carriers over in the states always demanding exclusivity for devices so that's why they are not coming out with those bands.
My tip, move to Europe where the carrier doesn't dictate what phones you can get

So I haven't ran across much talk on the cellular south desire. I'm thinking about a upgrade next month from my hero. Just wondering is it worth it?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

I read recently (probably on the Whirlpool forums) that the Desire HD has been picked up by Vodafone and Three, and that we might be able to infer that the Desire Z will go to Telstra and Optus.
During a support call with Telstra (regarding their stubborn refusal to start offering OTA updates, or even acknowledge that it's both technically feasible and being used overseas), I asked them about the Desire Z and all they would say is that they don't have a department that responds to questions about future devices. /shrug
Guess we'll find out when everyone else does.

I too have been waiting impatiently for HTC's next NAM 3G qwerty, I'm still holding on with my HTC Dream lol
This is the only lead we have so far on a HTC Desire Z with NAM 3G:
Not much to go by but it's a bit of hope.
http://mobilesyrup.com/2010/09/18/htc-desire-z-leather-case-pops-up-in-best-buy-canada-inventory/
HTC said it will be arriving in "North America" later this year, whatever that means, we can only speculate, but it would make sense if they made a 850/1900 3G version would it with one of Canada's big 3 (Bell, Telus, Rogers - all operating on 3G 850/1900)?

gtrab said:
But as expected, the Desire Z, is being launched with 900/2100 MHz 3G bands only, as near every new HTC phone does
Q:
Any news or rumours of an american bands (850/1900) users friendly version soon ??
May Telstra or AT&T could be carrying it too ??
Colateral Q:
Why is HTC always "avoiding" those bands when launching a new phone ??
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nearly every phone? I'm sorry, under which rock in America have you just emerged from? The MT Slide isn't even released outside of America. The Hero is 3 different flavours depending on your carrier. You have the HTC Evo which is the version before the Desire HD with extremely similar specs, the Droid incredible that can only be had through Verizon and now the Desire plus the G2 which is the T-Mobile version of the Desire Z not to mention America had exclusive rights to the Nexus One for months.
It wouldn't make much financial sense for HTC to make a NextG specific version just for Telstra because the market isn't big enough here. An American carrier (AT&T) would have to pick it up as well but then they are going to insist on exclusive rights and blah blah blah and at the end of it it would just end up with Bing or Yahoo on it anyway.
Avoiding bands..... um look at my first response, oh and the Legend is making its way to America as well.

Let me disagree
Your statement is valid for USA only, not for America
Those phones you mention are T-Mobile or Verizon only
Those are USA operators running over very particular bands (1700 MHz and CDMA)
The UMTS (WCDMA) 850/1900 MHz bands are what I am talking about
These bands are widely used from canada to central/south america and the caribbean, plus australia
You will rarely see a 3G-quadband (or at least 3G 850/1900MHz) new phone coming out from HTC, no, they all come with 3G 900/2100
Then, some months after, they *may* release an american/australian version of *that* new phone
.

I didn't realise this, but we have a new iPhone4 in the office for testing, and the version sold here in Australia has support for all the 3G bands used here. That means this single device can have a Telstra NextG SIM, and then be swapped for an Optus SIM and still get full 3G speeds.
Makes me wish Android manufacturers would go the extra mile and make more devices like this. It definitely makes life easy for the consumer, although does strip carriers of some of their lock-in powers (so I can see why they wouldn't like it).

gtrab said:
Any news or rumours of an american bands (850/1900) users friendly version soon ??
May Telstra or AT&T could be carrying it too ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably know already, but...:
http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=2597&view=1&c=htc_desire_z_us_htc_vision

Thanks, yeah, pdadb is my primary source
Lets hope to see some news from att, rogers, telus, telstra or HTC themselves soon
Sent from my X10a using XDA Apppppppppp

[Q] HSPA+ in Ireland working on any network?

Best speeds I'm getting on O2 is 3.64Mbits.
Sent from Desire Z

Back a few months ago I think I read a silicon republic article that 3 and meteor HSDA+ in place in an article why LTE will not arrive for a number of years. Then I could have been drunk at the time

I've bought 3 broadband-only SIM for 5 euro, will do SpedTest.net to find out.
As far as I know HSPA+ in Desire Z should allow max of 25 Mbits as long as network supports it. So that might be enough until they upgrade to LTE.
HTC LTE phone is to be announced in January I think.
Sent from Desire Z

schriss said:
I've bought 3 broadband-only SIM for 5 euro, will do SpedTest.net to find out.
As far as I know HSPA+ in Desire Z should allow max of 25 Mbits as long as network supports it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to the HTC spec at http://www.htc.com/uk/product/desirez/specification.html the DZ supports up to 14.4 Mbit.

Yes, possible, I couldn't remember exact number.
It should be around 10Mbits according to some tests done on G2 in US, but will depend on network.
Sent from Desire Z

[Q] MyTouch 4g Band I?

Just wondering if the MyTouch 4G is Band I 2100 UMTS compatible with Japanese phone company Softbank.
I know the G2 is so I think the MyTouch is just wondering ^_^

Yes its compatible just unlock your phone

Thanks, just wanted to make sure ^_^
Getting one for my brother and he is stationed in Japan.

No problem ,since the company that you mention carries official iPhone meaning they run gsm so it should work

jeff7790 said:
No problem ,since the company that you mention carries official iPhone meaning they run gsm so it should work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, but I know the Nexus One from T-Mobile was only compatible with Softbank. But the G2 and Mytouch 4G both have a similar antenna so I just assumed it was ok.

Will Bell Desire Z work with Wind Mobile?

I was just wondering if an unlocked Bell HTC Desire Z will work on the Wind Mobile network??
Thanks a lot.

Z!GZA!G said:
I was just wondering if an unlocked Bell HTC Desire Z will work on the Wind Mobile network??
Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Desire Z will work if you only plan to use EDGE speeds.
You should get the T-mobile G2 because the radio uses the 3G/3.5G (HSPA) on 1700/2100 bands, same as Wind Mobile if they use 1700/2100.
The Bell Desire Z uses the 3G/3.5G (HSPA) on 850/1900 bands, same bands as AT&T.

As far as I know, Wind currently does not operate an EDGE network. So, as the above poster said, you're better off getting the T-Mobile G2.

Wind Mobile Desize Z
I have the T-Mobile G2 and it works great on the WIND network.

Wind uses ONLY AWS (1700/2100). There is no fallback edge/PCS network, except for ROAMING on ROBBERS ($0.25/minute, $4/MB).
What you should try to do is find a US ATT user who has a Vision for TMOBILE and propose a swap (since tmobile version of the hardware won't work 3G on ATT).
Alternatively, just buy a new phone and switch to Wind. The $$ savings will QUICKLY pay for the new phone -- especially since the HMP $40 unlimited everything plan is still available (I think only until this sunday unless they extend it again...). HTC DOUBLESHOT (marketed as tmobile mytouch4gslide) is the successor to htc vision, and is 100% compatible with Wind. They're $500.

I've tried going to a Wind Mobile store and testing their sim card, but it didn't work as Wind Mobile dosen't support the bands that the Desire Z has. But the G2 works on wind.

speedstix said:
I have the T-Mobile G2 and it works great on the WIND network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just bought HTC G2 from t-mobile, and unlocked it, but oddly my data wont work even though i have unlimited everything you you help me with the network settings?

Did you update the APN settings? If that doesn't ring a bell, you can find a better guide than I could write by checking your favourite websearch site. If you updated the APNs and still don't have data... that seems to be an intermittent bug. Try changing the name of the data APN a few times, sometimes that'll force a connection.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA