Related
So after having problems with the new Radio i called up t mobile to just give them BS and they were like maybe it is your 7 year old SIM card causing you the problems. I didn't think it mattered that much at all. So they told me to go get a new SIM card in the store. Free of charge. After getting the new SIM card, i have full 3G all the time no matter where i am at in the twin cities in MN. Not sure why the new SIM card fixed it but it did.
Thats cool. I had the same problem with my g1 the sim just died 2 nights ago. I went into the store they told me $20. But I had 2 old sim cards at home. I called them up actived it and it was free
Wow, that is one old sim card...I didn't even know tmobile has been in the usa that long. Mine is 3 years old and has not had any 3G issues.
well i have been with t-mobile since they were called voicestream. which if i remember right means i have been with them for over 7 years now.
Prod1702 said:
So after having problems with the new Radio i called up t mobile to just give them BS and they were like maybe it is your 7 year old SIM card causing you the problems. I didn't think it mattered that much at all. So they told me to go get a new SIM card in the store. Free of charge. After getting the new SIM card, i have full 3G all the time no matter where i am at in the twin cities in MN. Not sure why the new SIM card fixed it but it did.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In general, the SIM card does very little, but it does have some info on it, and so forth. ie, AT&T 3G only works if you have an AT&T 3G sim card... I do not know the technical reasons behind it, but old sim cards can cause issues, especially with 3G.
I too have been with them for 7 years now, and I get 3G. But now I am wondering if I'm not getting it in certain areas, or getting less than perfect connection because of my old sim card?
Prod1702 said:
well i have been with t-mobile since they were called voicestream. which if i remember right means i have been with them for over 7 years now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been, too. And it's really annoying that it says "Vstream" in the carrier field on the lock screen...
Does yours do that?
My last two phones (SE P900 and SE P1i) both were smart enough to pull the actual carrier information and displayed T-Mobile (or whoever I was roaming on)... how can this phone not see that?
I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what file in the ROM translates the carrier info to the text.. where the hell does it pull that from?
I'm assuming if I go over to Tmobile I can get a new SIM that will have the proper carrier info, but... hell... I'm lazy and I'm not having any 3G issues... and I dont' want them to charge me.
Any ideas? So far you're the only other person I've seen that's also been a Vstream member.
Oh and.. yes... I started with Voice Stream by importing the very first color phone (AFAIK).. the SE T68i. I bought it in spring 2002 right when it came out http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=116
So... I've had this sim card for just shy of 8 years.
mikebeatrice said:
I have been, too. And it's really annoying that it says "Vstream" in the carrier field on the lock screen...
Does yours do that?
My last two phones (SE P900 and SE P1i) both were smart enough to pull the actual carrier information and displayed T-Mobile (or whoever I was roaming on)... how can this phone not see that?
I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out what file in the ROM translates the carrier info to the text.. where the hell does it pull that from?
I'm assuming if I go over to Tmobile I can get a new SIM that will have the proper carrier info, but... hell... I'm lazy and I'm not having any 3G issues... and I dont' want them to charge me.
Any ideas? So far you're the only other person I've seen that's also been a Vstream member.
Oh and.. yes... I started with Voice Stream by importing the very first color phone (AFAIK).. the SE T68i. I bought it in spring 2002 right when it came out http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=116
So... I've had this sim card for just shy of 8 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy Crap I remember that phone!
pjcforpres said:
In general, the SIM card does very little, but it does have some info on it, and so forth. ie, AT&T 3G only works if you have an AT&T 3G sim card... I do not know the technical reasons behind it, but old sim cards can cause issues, especially with 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you that you don't need a "3G" USIM to use the AT&T UMTS network. They way you're supposed to build a 3g network is by requiring 64K or better encryption on SIM cards. 2G Sims are 32K. AT&T, being the lazy cheapskates they are hacked it into their deployment so that they didn't have to give everyone new cards. It's stupid because they tell all their front line staff to give people new cards anyway.
In my years working for them, I can count on one hand the number of people who have had 3G issues "caused" by a 2G card. In all of those cases it was probably a coincidence. I. Fact I never had any reception issue fixed by a new card. OTA updates? Yes, of course. You don't need to waste your time fetching a new card. Just a phone call and it's done.
So if you're concerned, have a customer service agent update your SIM profile. A new card is a waste of time, the only time you might see a benefit is when changing a card triggers the OTA sim update.
ATnTdude said:
I can tell you that you don't need a "3G" USIM to use the AT&T UMTS network. They way you're supposed to build a 3g network is by requiring 64K or better encryption on SIM cards. 2G Sims are 32K. AT&T, being the lazy cheapskates they are hacked it into their deployment so that they didn't have to give everyone new cards. It's stupid because they tell all their front line staff to give people new cards anyway.
In my years working for them, I can count on one hand the number of people who have had 3G issues "caused" by a 2G card. In all of those cases it was probably a coincidence. I. Fact I never had any reception issue fixed by a new card. OTA updates? Yes, of course. You don't need to waste your time fetching a new card. Just a phone call and it's done.
So if you're concerned, have a customer service agent update your SIM profile. A new card is a waste of time, the only time you might see a benefit is when changing a card triggers the OTA sim update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting... I know that SIMs very rarely are the true source, and the only time I had heard of it being so was when people had a 2G SIM when using a 3G device; ie the 32K versus 64K encryption. I thought there was no way around it, for technical reasons beyond my knowledge base. My limited understanding was that the 32K SIMs were missing certain technical protocol for a 3G network to recognize them as part of the 3G network, essentially.
I work for a carrier, btw, and am one of the few sales agents in my area that even knows how to refresh services and what not... actually, I used to have to call up CS and explain to them what needed to be done until my manager gave me the power to do it myself.
pjcforpres said:
Interesting... I know that SIMs very rarely are the true source, and the only time I had heard of it being so was when people had a 2G SIM when using a 3G device; ie the 32K versus 64K encryption. I thought there was no way around it, for technical reasons beyond my knowledge base. My limited understanding was that the 32K SIMs were missing certain technical protocol for a 3G network to recognize them as part of the 3G network, essentially.
I work for a carrier, btw, and am one of the few sales agents in my area that even knows how to refresh services and what not... actually, I used to have to call up CS and explain to them what needed to be done until my manager gave me the power to do it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I stopped in Tmobile today and they replaced my SIM for free since it was nearly 8 years old (and was saying Vstream, which was annoying). Pretty sure it was a 32k sim. I didn't think I was having 3G/2G connectivity issues, but I'm pretty sure after I got the new SIM in there it started locking onto 3G signals faster and stays there steadily. I noticed it mainly on my train ride home where I would regularly drop to 2G... seemed like it didn't happen nearly as much.
mikebeatrice said:
... Oh and.. yes... I started with Voice Stream by importing the very first color phone (AFAIK).. the SE T68i. I bought it in spring 2002 right when it came out http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=116
So... I've had this sim card for just shy of 8 years.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Off-topic but LOL. SE T68i... I still have mine as a "backup" phone (SIM unlocked). It's small and it still works... Was actually a great phone.
Cheers,
Kermee
Kermee said:
Off-topic but LOL. SE T68i... I still have mine as a "backup" phone (SIM unlocked). It's small and it still works... Was actually a great phone.
Cheers,
Kermee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gave mine to my friend when I picked up the P900. He's gone through another phone since then (treo 650... he managed to put it in the clothes washer within 6 months of getting it) and is now back on the T68i.
Those SE phones are REALLY solid. I've always had a great experience with them, I just got sick of importing them to the US (and in the case of the P1i, not working on Tmob's 3G network.. bastard)... of course they announce the X10 coming to the US on Tmob like a week after I get the Nexus... ah well.
But.. yea.. T68i... one tough little bastard of a phone. The original battery is finally starting to not hold as good of a charge. Not too shabby for an 8 year old phone that's been used almost every day.
So I've been disappointed with the network speed of my G2, and I confirmed with T-Mobile's coverage map that HSPA+ is live in my town. Went online and chatted with TMO's customer service (which is always great IMO), and he said I need to replace my old sim card with a free new one that is 3G/4G compatible. He put a note on my account and said I just need to stop by one of their stores to switch it out! Going on my lunch break today. Geez, I've had the phone for over a month and this was the problem all along. Will update later, hope this helps anyone in the same boat.
Hey Keith,
Dude the SIM card won't do a thing....They told me the same thing, and it actually made my speed slower the first few days...
As for the HSPA+ speeds, it seems there is a bug witht eh G2. Thesre are other posts in this forum that talk about waiting for another OTA to fix that maybe by the end of the month, maybe Dec. Once the my4g came out it was evident that the G2 was not hitting the speeds available.
I usually get about 2.5 Mbps, but have hit ocasionally the 4's, and once 6 point something...
Hope it helps.
Crey, that sucks but I'm going to try the new simcard anyway
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Sim card has nothing to do with your hspa speeds. All your sim card does is let the phone know your info. It doesn't control / affect your 3g / hspa speeds. Go for it though. If that makes you feel comfortable its worth the shot then. Just letting you know so you won't be disappointed in the end. Gl bro.
[G2/HTC Vision]
Yeah, I went into the store a few days after getting the phone to get my sim replaced. For some reason whenever I buy a new phone they always take the new sim out of the box and put it behind their counter and take my old sim and put it in the new phone. Hopefully the new sim they gave me is the latest and greatest. Anyone know what the new sims look like?
KeithRVA said:
So I've been disappointed with the network speed of my G2, and I confirmed with T-Mobile's coverage map that HSPA+ is live in my town. Went online and chatted with TMO's customer service (which is always great IMO), and he said I need to replace my old sim card with a free new one that is 3G/4G compatible. He put a note on my account and said I just need to stop by one of their stores to switch it out! Going on my lunch break today. Geez, I've had the phone for over a month and this was the problem all along. Will update later, hope this helps anyone in the same boat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
luis86dr said:
Sim card has nothing to do with your hspa speeds. All your sim card does is let the phone know your info. It doesn't control / affect your 3g / hspa speeds. Go for it though. If that makes you feel comfortable its worth the shot then. Just letting you know so you won't be disappointed in the end. Gl bro.
[G2/HTC Vision]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The TMo rep is full of it then. He said I was getting a "new 3G/4G compatible simcard". Well, it's worth a shot but I'll know not to take the card back if it doesn't work.
Can't remember his name, but there was a user who commented on a previous post similar to this. His sim card was about 8 years old and he was hitting about 7 mb/s with hspa. I think its just your area. I inserted the sim that came with the phone and I get crappy hspa speeds. My area isn't fully supported. I top out at 3.5 mb/s. So its all depending on your area bro. Give it time. Hspa will expand more. Its brand new.
[G2/HTC Vision]
While it won't do much for speeds, getting a new UICC SIM is good as the older sim cars are running into what is known as ' sim exhaustion' from reaching their registration limit (90,000 times) while this may seem like a lot, it doesn't take much with the newer 3G/HSPA towers.
Each time you enter the radius of a new tower, your device registers to it (basic description) - your phone does this a lot each day, especially if you travel a good deal.
The new UICC sim cards do not have a registration limit, and do not reach exhaustion. They are marked on one side of the sim by the numbers TM 9073. If you don't see that, your sim isn't UICC.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Got my new simcard, it does have the TM9073 marking, and the gold contact area on the back looks different, its smaller. Ran a speedtest inside the T-Mobile store and got 4mbp down and 3mbp up. Not great but better than I ever got with my old simcard. Back inside my office I ran speedtest again and it was the same as before, a crappy 1.30mbp down and a little better 1.5mbp up. But still a little boost from the old card. Guess it's worth it to get a new free simcard if you have an old one.
If you can get a new SIM card, it'll be worth it. Though I doubt it will have any influence on network speed, I know I had to get a new one. Mine was running on seven years old!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
After reading this thread, I called T-Mo as well and the 2nd tech i talked to saw that I had the old G1 card in my phone and arranged a free one to be picked up at a local store (this after the first time i called was told that it was the cookies in my browser causing the internet speed to be slow and wanted to remotely delete them (they can do that?) I was like WHOA!!! I LIKE MY COOKIES!! she then told me it was because i needed to pull the battery once a week and because i had not been doing that, that also was causing the slow data..lol hung up on her and called back) even though i didn't see any increase in my office, i did see an increase on the street..nyc.
I tried to look for this problem, but couldn't find anything relevant...
finally got my unlocked nexus 4 in the mail today!
was super excited, cut my existing t-mobile sim card (I'm on a contract with them) and was able to connect to their network (can make calls and receive texts). When I try to connect to 4G, it takes ages to load a page. it takes the same page about 10 times as fast to load on 2G when i force 2G. Sometimes the page would time out and not load at all..
has anyone else experienced this problem?
Get a real microsim card, those cut sims don't work very well. They're free. I got one from tmobile and I have no problems with my 4g connection, blazing fast.
the sim worked fine on my t-mobile G2, but i guess i'll try to order a real micro anyways.
Did you set up the proper APNs? Check into that before anything else.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Ajfink said:
Did you set up the proper APNs? Check into that before anything else.
Sent from my Nexus 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was the first thing i checked. got info from here
MusicMan374 said:
Get a real microsim card, those cut sims don't work very well. They're free. I got one from tmobile and I have no problems with my 4g connection, blazing fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes no difference. I cut my own sim. What makes a difference is OP had a G2 and the sim cards have since been updated and he needs a newer sim card.
[email protected] said:
the sim worked fine on my t-mobile G2, but i guess i'll try to order a real micro anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above, OP
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
I tried to find a way to order a microsim online, and failed. So, I went to the t-mob online chat support, waited about 15 min, and the guy told me that i had to call in or go to a store and that a replacement would not be free of charge.
So, I called in, waited about 15 seconds, and the guy sent a microsim my way for free..
I believe magic is at work here..
will let you know if the new sim solves the problem
Yes! please let us know, im having the same issue!
silvioalcan said:
Yes! please let us know, im having the same issue!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when i bought my nexus 4 from a tmobile store, the sim card that came with the phone which was also activated at purchase only let me have speeds of ~39kbps download and ~9kbps upload. this lasted me for about 2 hours and i returned to the store and complained. they swapped it out with a new sim card and i've been getting about 8mbps download and 1.2mbps upload here in Salt Lake City.
not real sure what my point is, but, sim replacement is fairly easy and would be my suggestion after my experience.
well.. I got my new sim card last night and realized that the speeds have nothing to do with my sim card, but probably with the local tower. before i got the new sim card, I sometimes got decent speeds (~4mbps) and sometimes it wouldnt connect. When I got the new sim card, the speedtest gave me 4 kbps.. about 10 miles away from here I got 5 mbps.
So the old sim card behaved exactly as the new one =/
I never had this problem with the G2, though. And I would get speeds up to 20 mbps on the same network..
So this is still very upsetting and confusing
[email protected] said:
well.. I got my new sim card last night and realized that the speeds have nothing to do with my sim card, but probably with the local tower. before i got the new sim card, I sometimes got decent speeds (~4mbps) and sometimes it wouldnt connect. When I got the new sim card, the speedtest gave me 4 kbps.. about 10 miles away from here I got 5 mbps.
So the old sim card behaved exactly as the new one =/
I never had this problem with the G2, though. And I would get speeds up to 20 mbps on the same network..
So this is still very upsetting and confusing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might be a localized problem with the tower, call t-mobile, and they'll have technicians come out and look at it. Or, try another android phone and see if you have the same problem, that'll tell you whether or not it's the phone, if it's the phone, get a warranty replacement, might be a problem with the radio hardware.
[email protected] said:
well.. I got my new sim card last night and realized that the speeds have nothing to do with my sim card, but probably with the local tower. before i got the new sim card, I sometimes got decent speeds (~4mbps) and sometimes it wouldnt connect. When I got the new sim card, the speedtest gave me 4 kbps.. about 10 miles away from here I got 5 mbps.
So the old sim card behaved exactly as the new one =/
I never had this problem with the G2, though. And I would get speeds up to 20 mbps on the same network..
So this is still very upsetting and confusing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It isn't even possible for the G2 to reach speeds that high..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
[email protected] said:
well.. I got my new sim card last night and realized that the speeds have nothing to do with my sim card, but probably with the local tower. before i got the new sim card, I sometimes got decent speeds (~4mbps) and sometimes it wouldnt connect. When I got the new sim card, the speedtest gave me 4 kbps.. about 10 miles away from here I got 5 mbps.
So the old sim card behaved exactly as the new one =/
I never had this problem with the G2, though. And I would get speeds up to 20 mbps on the same network..
So this is still very upsetting and confusing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same happened to me, its because they've been refarming their 3g network towers. just call T-Mobile customer service and tell them your 3g/4g data isn't working anymore and tell them the address where its not working and they'll fix it. it took a couple days
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
hmm, data service is fine here. getting around 12-14 down and 1 up...
if its not the sim and your APN seems fine, try contacting Tmo and see if its on thier end. If not maybe its simply a defected device =/
I cut my SGSII simcard and it works perfectly, it is because of the G2 using an older version simcard.
Cut my SIM card they gave me earlier this year when I switched from AT&T with my Galaxy Nexus. Also works fine. Also, you shouldn't have to mess with the APN settings. At all. Should do it automatically.
Backstory -
I have piss-poor coverage (despite being in the "good" coverage on TMO's maps) - and always have. At any given moment, I might have "E", 4G, 4G-LTE, or NO Service while in or around my home. When I first signed up with TMO (3+ years ago), they provided me with a CellFi (femtocell) to improve coverage in my home. It was lipstick on a pig - improving the number of bars on the phone, but not the call quality or reliablity.
With Google Voice and an OBi Box, all of my calls (while at home home) circumvent my cell, so the coverage issue was resolved. Wifi calling also helped, but going outside of the AP's range would drop calls.
When VoLTE was promoted, I sent the CellFi back, exchanging it for their new Asus Cell-Spot wifi router. Marketed as being able to hand off calls between cell and wifi, I quickly learned that only works if the phone supports VoLTE. TMO tech support told me I need to upgrade my Note 2 to the Note 4 and then it would work. What they didn't tell me was that the handoff would work ONLY if the cell signal is 4G-LTE. About 25% of the time when I'm in my driveway, I have 4G-LTE - but usually just 4G or E. I just called tech support again, and they confirmed that the Note 4 won't provide the handoff because of the marginal 4G-LTE coverage.
REASONS FOR RETURN:
1) VoLTE does not work in my primary use area (home or work). The transition from wifi to cellular only works if you have a solid 4G LTE signal - which, if I had that, I wouldn't use wifi calling. It's a big circle-jerk.
2) Since I unboxed the phone, I've been trying to do the OTA update. I keep getting the "server has reached it's daily limit" error. I realize I can use Kies, but I didn't expect to have an $800 phone require to be hooked up to a PC to get updates. I know, Samsung is getting overwhelmed by all the simultaneous update requests from the new phones. Still, you'd think maybe they're not using a dial-up ISP provider with a bandwidth cap. This issue is minor, but is frustrating nonetheless (especially if trying to decide on keeping the phone within the 14-day buyer's remorse period).
3) External SD card write permissions in KitKat on an unrooted phone are horrendous. I understand that this is "security" driven, but c'mon. Apps can write to any folder/file on the internal memory, but not external? What other motive could there be other than to push people to stop using external SD, and move to internal/cloud-based storage. Again, root + modding the permissions.xml file can take care of this, and I would consider this a non-issue after rooting - but for me to have to root an $800 phone (and potentially void the warranty) just so I can use apps on the external card as I have for all the previous versions is again, very frustrating.
So, as I see it, other than a very pretty screen, superb camera, and fast charging (plus the various software improvements to the s-pen), I have no other benefits to upgrading from my Note 2.
Thus, for me, there simply isn't enough benefit to justify the cost, frustration, and limitation imposed by Samsung/KitKat/TMO (poor coverage).
If I had those issues I would return mine too. Good luck.
I totally agree with piss poor coverage. That's why I swapped out sprint after 6+ yrs. Rooting doesn't kill warranty.
Sorry to see you go, but I do understand. I am having the very same problems with T-Mo and their coverage, mostly affecting the Missus and her iPhone. We started her on a 5s when we jumped to T-Mo earlier this year (just before the 6 came out). We left VZW because they pissed me off with their threats (since recanted, but too late for me) to "optimize" the speeds of Grandfathered unlimited customers such as myself.
I can't say I have had many call performance issues with my Note 3, and now 4. Same for my sons with an S5 and a N3. But, her iPhone continues to be a big issue. I have done it all, tried it all, and even bumped her up to an iPhone 6 because of the WiFi/battery drain bug when connecting to certain WiFi networks. She still has call drops at home, and that is even with WiFi calling supposedly enabled (phone shows it) AND the brand new T-MO LTE booster (not the WiFi router, and not the older 3G CellFi booster either).
When the Wife Acceptance Factor is not high, your life is miserable.... <grrrrr>
To me it sounds like your issues are not with the phone but with 1) T-Mobile, 2) Samsung launch day server load, and 3) Google's latest retarded design decision in Android OS.
It does not make your complaints less valid, but it would help to ralize you would have had them with any new Android phone. #2 and 3 are easily fixable btw.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
twe90kid said:
I totally agree with piss poor coverage. That's why I swapped out sprint after 6+ yrs. Rooting doesn't kill warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it tripped knox which void warranty is it not
Colnart said:
it tripped knox which void warranty is it not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically, yes. If you send your phone directly to Samsung for repair, then it would likely not be covered by warranty. However most people will do exchanges/repairs through their carrier. TMO has been notoriously generous at taking back knox-tripped and even rooted phones without complaint. In fact, my sales guy told me to try rooting this Note 4 first to see if it doesn't resolve my issues (the SD writing issue) - offering to take it back for a refund even after tripping it. So, ultimately, YMMV.
I feel badly for you - If I had those problems I would make a change too - but to me it sounds more like an issue with the Carrier than it does with the phone.
When ATT started locking bootloaders - I tried to moving to TMOBILE for about five minutes and found that the coverage was horrendous for me - I could only make calls from home using WIFI Calling - and anywhere around my house, coverage was 1 bar or less - 4G Speeds were very slow and eventually, I left TMOBILE and went back to ATT - but this time, i took my TOMBILE PHONE with me. (I paid off the phone in full and started using ATT and found that the speeds were incredible - great coverage and because I had TOMBILE phone I could root - flash ROMS etc.
I know some people have awesome TOMBILE Coverage and speeds and I am happy for them - but I never did - and it sounds like you don't either.
Since Getting my NOTE 4 - my coverage has improved - the modem must be better than the one I had on my S5 because signal strength, LTE Speeds - and everything else about the NOTE in my opinion is incredible. So I don't know everything about your situation - but on first blush, it sounds like you might want to consider keeping the NOTE and moving to ATT. Just a thought...
Best of luck whatever you do - hope it works out...
re: sdcard read/write issues
erkme73 said:
Technically, yes. If you send your phone directly to Samsung for repair, then it would likely not be covered by warranty. However most people will do exchanges/repairs through their carrier. TMO has been notoriously generous at taking back knox-tripped and even rooted phones without complaint. In fact, my sales guy told me to try rooting this Note 4 first to see if it doesn't resolve my issues (the SD writing issue) - offering to take it back for a refund even after tripping it. So, ultimately, YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder why most people who have a Note 4 (like myself)
are not having any sd card writing or reading issues?
My phone is rooted right now and I am using the new updated firmware.
Even with the original firmware I have never had writing/reading issues
with the internal or external sdcard before or after rooting.
I just don't understand it at all.
mocsab said:
I feel badly for you - If I had those problems I would make a change too - but to me it sounds more like an issue with the Carrier than it does with the phone.
When ATT started locking bootloaders - I tried to moving to TMOBILE for about five minutes and found that the coverage was horrendous for me - I could only make calls from home using WIFI Calling - and anywhere around my house, coverage was 1 bar or less - 4G Speeds were very slow and eventually, I left TMOBILE and went back to ATT - but this time, i took my TOMBILE PHONE with me. (I paid off the phone in full and started using ATT and found that the speeds were incredible - great coverage and because I had TOMBILE phone I could root - flash ROMS etc.
I know some people have awesome TOMBILE Coverage and speeds and I am happy for them - but I never did - and it sounds like you don't either.
Since Getting my NOTE 4 - my coverage has improved - the modem must be better than the one I had on my S5 because signal strength, LTE Speeds - and everything else about the NOTE in my opinion is incredible. So I don't know everything about your situation - but on first blush, it sounds like you might want to consider keeping the NOTE and moving to ATT. Just a thought...
Best of luck whatever you do - hope it works out...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a given that I'm dumping TMO as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I have 5 lines, 3 of which are in-laws that are tagging along for $10/mo. They all invested in TMO phones (the just finished paying off their note 2's last month) - so I'd feel pretty bad for leaving them high/dry. Especially since their coverage isn't all that great either.
Very interesting suggestion though. You certainly have my wheels spinning. Aside from the TMO branding on the phone, and the TMO part number, what - if any - are the downsides?
I live in FL, but have property in TN - about where they filmed Deliverance. The only service in that are is VZ - so I was leaning heavily in that direction. Obviously the CDMA would preclude me from using the TMO phone on VZ, but ATT... hmmm. interesting.
Misterjunky said:
I wonder why most people who have a Note 4 (like myself)
are not having any sd card writing or reading issues?
My phone is rooted right now and I am using the new updated firmware.
Even with the original firmware I have never had writing/reading issues
with the internal or external sdcard before or after rooting.
I just don't understand it at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it depends on how you use it. In my case, I simply moved my 64GB card from my Note 2 to the 4, and tried using it. Apps that just need read-access work as they should. But, when I tried using a photo viewer (Quickpic) to delete some blurry photos, I got the "Kitkat prevents writing/deleting files" error. Since THAT version of Quickpic (installed on the Note 4) wasn't the app that created those pictures or directories (they'd been created with Quickpic on my Note 2), the file permissions didn't allow any changes to be made.
If all of your folders on your SD card are created by the apps on your Note 4, it's transparent. But try moving a file from one directory to another, that wasn't originally put on the card by that app.
erkme73 said:
It's a given that I'm dumping TMO as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I have 5 lines, 3 of which are in-laws that are tagging along for $10/mo. They all invested in TMO phones (the just finished paying off their note 2's last month) - so I'd feel pretty bad for leaving them high/dry. Especially since their coverage isn't all that great either.
Very interesting suggestion though. You certainly have my wheels spinning. Aside from the TMO branding on the phone, and the TMO part number, what - if any - are the downsides?
I live in FL, but have property in TN - about where they filmed Deliverance. The only service in that are is VZ - so I was leaning heavily in that direction. Obviously the CDMA would preclude me from using the TMO phone on VZ, but ATT... hmmm. interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish yoiu well with whatever you decide. I have three family members sharing my plan with ATT - $160 a month - 10GB - I am the only one that really uses data for anything ..so all is good - I could go to 30 GB for just $30 more per month if I wanted to - but no need at this point
If they all have TMOBILE PHONES and they are paid off - you can get TMOBILE To give you unlock codes so you can use them on ATT - if they don't give you an unlock code, you can alwasy buy one if you absolutely have to.
Anyway - good luck - I hope it all works out for you....
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------
erkme73 said:
I think it depends on how you use it. In my case, I simply moved my 64GB card from my Note 2 to the 4, and tried using it. Apps that just need read-access work as they should. But, when I tried using a photo viewer (Quickpic) to delete some blurry photos, I got the "Kitkat prevents writing/deleting files" error. Since THAT version of Quickpic (installed on the Note 4) wasn't the app that created those pictures or directories (they'd been created with Quickpic on my Note 2), the file permissions didn't allow any changes to be made.
If all of your folders on your SD card are created by the apps on your Note 4, it's transparent. But try moving a file from one directory to another, that wasn't originally put on the card by that app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are fixes for that issue - an AP on Play Store - and something you can do your self, adding a line of text to one of the files - I forget the specific name if the ap or the fix but do a GOOGLE search and you will find it pretty quickly.
erkme73 said:
Technically, yes. If you send your phone directly to Samsung for repair, then it would likely not be covered by warranty. However most people will do exchanges/repairs through their carrier. TMO has been notoriously generous at taking back knox-tripped and even rooted phones without complaint. In fact, my sales guy told me to try rooting this Note 4 first to see if it doesn't resolve my issues (the SD writing issue) - offering to take it back for a refund even after tripping it. So, ultimately, YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yah when I went in to pick something else up , when I asked the rep at the counter about root he had stated that they have a diagnostic machine that they hook the phone up to and root would trip it and they wouldn't accept it. Would simply returning it w/o root not trip the machine or does it check the knox flag?
Sorry about that. Thats terrible. I would return my phone too if i had those problems. But i guess I'm lucky. I always have full bars in my house. No problems at all for me.
Misterjunky said:
I wonder why most people who have a Note 4 (like myself)
are not having any sd card writing or reading issues?
My phone is rooted right now and I am using the new updated firmware.
Even with the original firmware I have never had writing/reading issues
with the internal or external sdcard before or after rooting.
I just don't understand it at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get root explorer and go to:
Etc/permissions/platform.xml
Edit the file with the extra line in the pic and you're good to go.
I actually wasn't going to root yet but the restrictions are ridiculous. Good luck!
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
Safe to presume you are also leaving tmobile? Among your problems, the only on that belong to the Note 4 is the samsung servers over load. Your bad reception is not due to samsung nor is the lack of sd issue. That have been an issue since the day kit kat got release by google because they dont believe in SD card due to vulnerability and security issue (hence why nexus will NEVER have sd card)
Download sd card nextapp sd fix or sd fix from playstore modify and reboot I have no problems with my sd card
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
So you are having problems with T-Mobile not the phone? A simple root and quick fix should solve the problem.
xatlx said:
So you are having problems with T-Mobile not the phone? A simple root and quick fix should solve the problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard someone was having this issue of bad data coverage but unlocking it and taking it to at&t fixed it. Could be t mobile?
I appreciate all the supportive comments.
Yes, the primary reason for the return is the poor service from TMO. If I had usable cell service at home (and wife at work), I would keep the Note 4.
As to the SD write fix, I understand that there are apps and manual permission.xml edits that will resolve the KitKat security - but all of them require root. Don't get me wrong, I would have rooted this, had I been able to get better service (than my existing Note 2) at home.
My beef is that with the promised lateral hand-off between wifi and 4G-LTE (or vice versa), I could live with poor coverage at home. After being lead to believe the new hardware would work with VoLTE, and solve my coverage problems, I'm sorely disappointed to find out that it doesn't work as promoted. Again, that's not the Note 4's fault - that' entirely on TMO.
In the end, I need to justify the nearly $800 price tag. And, as much as I want the latest, greatest, geek-out gadget, I can't. If there was even marginal improvement in usability, perhaps. But in this case, so long as I stay with TMO, I may as well stick with my Note 2.
I am strongly considering buying the phone outright and moving it to ATT as Mocsab suggested. I have to do a little more homework/research on their signal coverage - both here, work, and at our property where the banjos play.
Hi all, I am having a heck of a problem with my S5. When I first got my S5, it worked great, and sometime around September, my phone got an update, and since than, my phone is not working on 4G. I have went through all the steps of factory resets, full data resets, checked CDMA/LTE settings, new SIM cards, etc. Everything I can think of, even contacting Verizon. No matter where I am, even in the middle of town next to a tower, the phone will not go to 4G. Just sticks on 3G. Even after airplane mode, still no go. I can have full signal, and the phone will drop the 3G like it is trying to hand off to 4G, but something in the phone won't allow it to cross over to 4G. Verizon and Samsung claim this is not a common issue, but if you Google it, you will find otherwise. I hate to get a new phone because this phone was brand new, out of the box, and not even 6 months old. If anyone has any ideas, PLEASE HELP ME GET MY PHONE BACK!
Also, battery life is horrible as well.
jdailey1981 said:
Hi all, I am having a heck of a problem with my S5. When I first got my S5, it worked great, and sometime around September, my phone got an update, and since than, my phone is not working on 4G. I have went through all the steps of factory resets, full data resets, checked CDMA/LTE settings, new SIM cards, etc. Everything I can think of, even contacting Verizon. No matter where I am, even in the middle of town next to a tower, the phone will not go to 4G. Just sticks on 3G. Even after airplane mode, still no go. I can have full signal, and the phone will drop the 3G like it is trying to hand off to 4G, but something in the phone won't allow it to cross over to 4G. Verizon and Samsung claim this is not a common issue, but if you Google it, you will find otherwise. I hate to get a new phone because this phone was brand new, out of the box, and not even 6 months old. If anyone has any ideas, PLEASE HELP ME GET MY PHONE BACK!
Also, battery life is horrible as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take it back!
Yep. If a new SIM card didn't resolve the issue, it's a defective unit.