I have an Evo and I really want the tunderbolt. If I can somehow "put" it on sprint can I still use 3g? Do they use the same bands is what I'm asking.
Yes, they do. I used to have a fully functioning Sprint touch pro operating on Verizons network. But good luck getting either carrier to activate the others phones. I know Verizon closed that loophole years ago.
kdj67f said:
Yes, they do. I used to have a fully functioning Sprint touch pro operating on Verizons network. But good luck getting either carrier to activate the others phones. I know Verizon closed that loophole years ago.
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ESN transplant
Halabeaster54 said:
I have an Evo and I really want the tunderbolt. If I can somehow "put" it on sprint can I still use 3g? Do they use the same bands is what I'm asking.
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As it was said, the MEID / ESN could theoretically (and illegally lol) be modified to emulate a separate device. The phones themselves have very similar hardware in the fact that they can operate on either network. The 3G chipset includes two bands -
the 800MHz 'Cellular Band' which is preferred by Verizon, and
the 1900MHz 'PCS Band' which is preferred by Sprint.
It operates as a standard switching band unit, as it will operate in hybrids between bands and protocols (2G/3G) as it scans for networks.
To fully adapt a device to a different network environment, extensive and thorough programming is required, along with good relationships with people on the 'inside,' or people who can get a foreign device activated on the new network. Another option would simply be to pay for a Verizon plan, but operate the phone itself on the Sprint network by flashing a divested PRL, which tells the phone to primarily use Sprint's backhaul, or network, to carry a Verizon customer's traffic - or even vice versa.
Unfortunately, though, the 4G experience will not longer be. The 4G bands on the devices differ at the hardware level, so there is no possibility of transferring the device for use with foreign 4G networks.
Related
Is this possible? I went into a Sprint store and they told me that it was against store policy to do that.
I really like this phone but I hate Cingular service it has to be the worst possible out there.
I appreciate any and all answers.
thanks in advance!
I beleive they are two different types.. Cingular is GSM .. I forget what sprint is.. but it's not GSM
nope wont work att is gsm sprint is cdma
so I guess I need to go back to cingular to still use this phone? Any others carriers I can use it on that may be worth my time?
Sprint uses CDMA, which is an old, OLD OOOOLLLLDDDD technology.
Sprint invested a lot in building the CDMA network in North America so they seem reluctant to abandon it, even if it is an inferior network infrastructure in nearly every measurable way.
With almost all other carriers, it is possible to unlock phones, swap SIM cards, etc., to change providers. With Sprint, it's not possible.
You could move to T-Mobile service easily. I'm not sure about Verizon.
Doom Tints said:
Sprint uses CDMA, which is an old, OLD OOOOLLLLDDDD technology.
Sprint invested a lot in building the CDMA network in North America so they seem reluctant to abandon it, even if it is an inferior network infrastructure in nearly every measurable way.
With almost all other carriers, it is possible to unlock phones, swap SIM cards, etc., to change providers. With Sprint, it's not possible.
You could move to T-Mobile service easily. I'm not sure about Verizon.
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Very true. T-Mobile and AT&T are the only major GSM carriers in the USA. Verizon, like Sprint is CDMA.
American Networks
Cingular/AT&T = GSM
T-Mobile = GSM
Sprint+nextel = CDMA/TDMA
Verizon = CDMA
US Cellular = CDMA
Thats all I know, i will keep digging
Here's a list of current and future GSM carriers in the USA, most of which I've never heard of:
http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_us.shtml
So another big-ish player who uses GSM would be Alltel.
Here's a list of CDMA carriers, if interested:
http://www.rentcell.com/cdma-info.htm
um... alltel is most deff CDMA and dobson cellular systems (which at&t just bought) also uses GSM..
revol wireless is cdma
northcoast pcs is cdma also
No, this website is correct about Alltel. If you look at its GSM coverage map, their GSM coverage is a bit limited. It's just not GSM where you are.
I don't know about the others you mentioned, or care.
so do alltel phones run dual then? cdma/gsm? cuz ive NEVER seen a gsm alltel phone at the store.. unless that area you mentioned has special phones
dbroncos38 said:
Is this possible? I went into a Sprint store and they told me that it was against store policy to do that.
I really like this phone but I hate Cingular service it has to be the worst possible out there.
I appreciate any and all answers.
thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BEST POST EVER!
hahahahahahahahaha
Altell mainly uses CDMA in the US and only uses GSM for roaming partner revenue. CDMA is not old oudated technology either ATT/Cingular is using WCDMA now which is slightly different.
Sprint does have an equivalent to the 8525. It was the MDA and now it's the prophet I think - you may want to double check that. You should be able to ebay your 8525 for about as much as an ebay prophet will cost you.
hi
The prophet is also a GSM phone
as much as everyone hates at&t, i've had them for 10 years. Lately, the customer service has been much better, and I have never had a problem with service in my area. I would look over at my girlfriend's phone, which is T-Mobile, and then look over at my 8525, and when I had full service with at&t, she either had none or barely one bar. at&t is apparently spending $18 MIL a day putting up 70 new towers a week to expand not only the regular network, but the 3g network. also, if you go with t-mobile (correct me if i am wrong) but you won't get umts/hspda. good luck with your choice.
-Nstefanelli-
gthing said:
Sprint does have an equivalent to the 8525. It was the MDA and now it's the prophet I think - you may want to double check that. You should be able to ebay your 8525 for about as much as an ebay prophet will cost you.
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Sprint has the PPC6800 and, VZW is rumored to soon have the XV6800. Both are the same phones that are labeled for each carrier. It is the HTC Mogul (TyTN with WM6 and slightly smaller).
As for which network strategy is better, that has become quite a religious war because there is not much different anymore. CDMA always had the technical advantage, but now with WCDMA, there is much more parity.
As for which one is older, GSM was there before CDMA. To me, the key benefit to GSM based networks is that they can be used almost anywhere (given the right radio frequencies in the phone). CDMA is limited.
Doom Tints said:
No, this website is correct about Alltel. If you look at its GSM coverage map, their GSM coverage is a bit limited. It's just not GSM where you are.
I don't know about the others you mentioned, or care.
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Yes it is true that Alltel "owns" GSM, but that is because in 2005 they purchased a company called Western Wireless. They still run as two seperate companies. Alltel runs their network based completely on CDMA and has roaming agreements with Sprint and Verizon.
Here is a map for you: http://www.mountainwireless.com/Alltel_ww.jpg
Deadem said:
Altell mainly uses CDMA in the US and only uses GSM for roaming partner revenue. CDMA is not old oudated technology either ATT/Cingular is using WCDMA now which is slightly different.
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ATT only have CDMA back then..then they upgraded their network to GSM and phase out the CDMA network to better compete with Cingular and T-mobile. Now with the merger between ATT and Cingular, they only have GSM networks. The new WCDMA is planned to boost its 3G speed.
It boils down to this: GSM is the worldwide standard for cellular phone communication, except in the U.S. If you never plan on travelling outside the U.S. then the CDMA technology is fine for you (Sprint, Verizon). If you ever think you may want to travel ANYWHERE outside the U.S. and take your phone with you for quick and easy communication, and maybe even data link, then consider GSM. In the U.S. that would be ATT/Cingular, T-Mobile (there may be a few new smaller outfits as well). ATT/Cingular leads the pack in 3G/HSDPA (cellular broadband) coverage.
Service seems to depend on who, at the present time, is #1 in subscribers and who is trying to BECOME #1. I originally had Verizon until my travels took me overseas frequently. Verizon's customer svc had started to fall off as far as I was concerned. My experience with ATT/Cingular's cust svc gets them a rating of 'Fair'--nothing spectacular, but I don't use cust svc very often and their signals are the best around.
Who knows that?
eshghman189 said:
Who knows that?
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The 4g portion will only be compatible with sprint's network.
The phone can technically work with other cdma carriers if you know what your doing, and will require some skill to get it to work, or a guide from someone that figures it out. 3G and 1x would possibly work if stuff is configured correctly, the radio is technically compatable with other carriers for everything other than 4g
This doesn't mean you can walk into bell south or verizon and say "hook it up" because that will definitely not work. You gotta make it work, I'm sure more info on how to do it will arise as people get their hands on it, as some have gotten the hero to work off sprints network.
I doubt 4G will work on Verizon's network those are to my knowledge the only major CDMA netwrks (in the US at least).
Verizon's take on 4g will be LTE while Sprint is going WiMax so I seriously doubt the phone's 4G radio will work across the board however the 3G and the call CDMA radio should work.
Sebrina said:
I doubt 4G will work on Verizon's network those are to my knowledge the only major CDMA netwrks (in the US at least).
Verizon's take on 4g will be LTE while Sprint is going WiMax so I seriously doubt the phone's 4G radio will work across the board however the 3G and the call CDMA radio should work.
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From what I gather the radios will operate on different frequencies
wimax on 2.5 GHz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX#Spectrum_allocation
lte is on 700 MHz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3GPP_Long_Term_Evolution#Frequency_bands_and_channel_bandwidths
so I'm going to go ahead and say not a chance of it working.... although I may be wrong
Tanx
Plz tell me more
more about what? the different frequencies?
Um well, for example you can't tune your tv to the radio channel even though they use similar technologies. (well you could back in the day depending on your tv but that isn't helping my point ) But it just uses different frequencies, look at this for a better understanding of frequency allocation,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...locations_Chart_2003_-_The_Radio_Spectrum.jpg
The chart is rather busy, but see how each is boxed off? That is what a radio designed to operate on will be limited to. the wimax and lte are very far apart from each other in this spectrum, it will be extremely unlikely it will be able to operate on both frequencies.
This talks about the radio used in the EVO.
http://www.thesearethedroids.com/2010/03/25/sprint-evo4-chipset-qsd8650-supports-gsm-and-hspa/
Not an insane amount of LTE info is out there other than what's been cleared by the FCC, more info on the radios that will be used as soon as one is released. I know one thing, the freqs are different so the same roaming you enjoy now with sprint 3g will not be shared with 4g with verizon when they kick off LTE. 3g roaming will stay unaffected per sprint and verizon's roaming agreement because of same technologies and freqs used. Only the 4g portion will be different.
One chipset to be on the lookout for is this http://www.beceem.com/ends_4G_debate_LTE.html it will support both technologies, but it unfortunately will not be in the sprint EVO. Be on the lookout though as something with this chipset might counter the aforementioned roaming problem.
johnsongrantr said:
more about what? the different frequencies?
Um well, for example you can't tune your tv to the radio channel even though they use similar technologies. (well you could back in the day depending on your tv but that isn't helping my point ) But it just uses different frequencies, look at this for a better understanding of frequency allocation,
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...locations_Chart_2003_-_The_Radio_Spectrum.jpg
The chart is rather busy, but see how each is boxed off? That is what a radio designed to operate on will be limited to. the wimax and lte are very far apart from each other in this spectrum, it will be extremely unlikely it will be able to operate on both frequencies.
This talks about the radio used in the EVO.
http://www.thesearethedroids.com/2010/03/25/sprint-evo4-chipset-qsd8650-supports-gsm-and-hspa/
Not an insane amount of LTE info is out there other than what's been cleared by the FCC, more info on the radios that will be used as soon as one is released. I know one thing, the freqs are different so the same roaming you enjoy now with sprint 3g will not be shared with 4g with verizon when they kick off LTE. 3g roaming will stay unaffected per sprint and verizon's roaming agreement because of same technologies and freqs used. Only the 4g portion will be different.
One chipset to be on the lookout for is this http://www.beceem.com/ends_4G_debate_LTE.html it will support both technologies, but it unfortunately will not be in the sprint EVO. Be on the lookout though as something with this chipset might counter the aforementioned roaming problem.
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tanx,very useful
interesting
Not that my phone ever roams (I don't travel much), but when it does my Sprint will only go to Verizon? Did I understand that correctly?
Manicmobileaddict said:
Not that my phone ever roams (I don't travel much), but when it does my Sprint will only go to Verizon? Did I understand that correctly?
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Yes, your Sprint phone will only roam on Verizon's network cause their both cdma networks.
Luckily for Sprint users Verizon covers more area than any other carrier in the US.
Luckily for Sprint users Verizon covers more area than any other carrier in the US.
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that's not true Sprint has the biggest coverage area of all the us carriers. don't beleave everything you hear from a commercial.
Sent from my HERO200 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
chippillie said:
that's not true Sprint has the biggest coverage area of all the us carriers. don't beleave everything you hear from a commercial.
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Where is this info from?
whole world
I think this phone is for the whole world not sprint,
sprint is only for 4g
eshghman189 said:
I think this phone is for the whole world not sprint,
sprint is only for 4g
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Do WHAT?!
This phone is built for Sprint. Sprint is 3G/4G.
eshghman189 said:
I think this phone is for the whole world not sprint,
sprint is only for 4g
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http://www.thesearethedroids.com/2010/03/25/sprint-evo4-chipset-qsd8650-supports-gsm-and-hspa/
However, it’s almost guaranteed that you won’t be able to use over half of those networks because the phone will lack the right amplifiers and/or antennas
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big band
It is support width band,I think u can change rillphone to work with other country and netwoek
eshghman189 said:
It is support width band,I think u can change rillphone to work with other country and netwoek
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I highlighted the part you need to re-read in my last post (it was a pretty lengthy quote)
but unless you plan to electrically (as in soldering iron and tiny electronic parts) modify your phone, don't plan on it being able to actually use those other frequencies.
They are not advertising it as a world phone (sprint has made worldphones before and advertised it because it's a selling point) so they are not going to put needless hardware that they won't enable, doesn't make sense, and it costs them additional money to make it that way.
If you did get that modification in, you will then have to edit the programming of your phone's cellular radio to talk on those frequencies and towers because they will not be built into whatever radio firmware ships with it because it wasn't needed because the amplifiers were left out. That will be an almost as equally difficult task.
I don't know man... good luck if you don't believe me.
Hey guys, had a quick question. Since the Atrix is a SIM oriented phone and Verizon is pumping out these LTE sim cards on new phones, shouldn't it be theoretically possible to use Phones like the Atrix on Verizon? Any development with this?
Maybe I am being stupid here and these two technologies are completely different.
idk, i doubt it, but the bionic that's coming out for Verizon is pretty much the atrix with less ram and no laptop dock
Nope. First off, what AT&T is calling 4G currently and what Verizon is selling are completely different technologies. HSPA+ is just normal old AT&T 3G system with an Ethernet backhaul to increase speed a bit. AT&T will also be building an LTE (true 4G) network, but that's not the "4G" these devices are built for.
But to go further. LTE and 3G/HSPA+ sims are completely different things. Top that off with the fact that Verizon will be using dual tech CDMA and LTE phones, while AT&T will be using LTE and HSPA technology. So, even if you did get a Verizon LTE sim for an AT&T device, you would only be able to use the phone in an LTE environment. You're still going to be on the 3G/3.5G network 90% of the time till the infrastructure gets built out. That is, unless the handset is carrier agnostic, like the iPhone 6 is supposed to be. It'll supposedly work on any network.
can the evo shift be used for boost mobile?
Yes it is possible; however you may need to do extensive work and also buy software like the CDMA Workshop in order to program the correct NAM settings. You will need to get the MLS and carrier info too. Let's just say it will be near impossible unless you already own an Android based boost mobile phone. It is not as easy as GSM where you can just carrier unlock the phone and pop in a new SIM card. I have done it successfully for a friend but the work involved was not fun at all. However boost is a lot cheaper on a monthly basis so it's all a question of time, money and skill.
There are people on craigslist in my area that say they can do it so I'm sure its possible.
Sent From My Speedy Mc Speederson
It would involve cloning an ESN from an existing Boost Mobile phone. Not something often discussed on XDA and frowned upon.
Can't you just buy a cheapy phone and use the esn? That may be illegal though I'm guessing.
Do the boost phones use the same Sprint towers?
Sent From My Speedy Mc Speederson
Boost Mobile Networks
The CDMA Boost Mobile wireless handsets only work on Sprint's PCS spectrum while the iDEN ones only work on Sprint's 850 MHz iDEN network. The two types of Boost Mobile handsets are not interoperatible with the other's spectrum. Sprint does not have any roaming partnerships will other wireless carriers which use either CDMA or iDEN. Once Sprint's Network One initiative to eventually convert the 850 MHz iDEN to CDMA is completed (around 2013), the CDMA Boost Mobile subscribers will have a larger footprint of coverage.
So when my shift starts roaming, whose network does it roam on in philly? ANy idea. I think Verizon is the only one here that uses CDMA network.
coosawatchie said:
So when my shift starts roaming, whose network does it roam on in philly? ANy idea. I think Verizon is the only one here that uses CDMA network.
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Pretty sure thats what you would be roaming on (Verizon)... Though I'm guessing that wouldnt be the case on Boost as roaming is supposedly not allowed.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038116
For customers who use the HTC EVO Shift 4G on a postpaid service with Sprint, off network CDMA roaming may be on Cricket Wireless, MetroPCS as well as Verizon Wireless since all 3 wireless carriers have a CDMA footprint in Philadelphia. Because of confidential and proprietary roaming partnership agreements, wireless carriers can't legally disclose who are the particular roaming carriers they partner with in a given market.
I have a phone that I bought from Verizon and I have kept the unlimited data. I know all about my phone but next to nothing about my service.
My question is specifically about phablets (for example, this) which is basically a big ass phone, or a tablet with cell service, however you want to word it. I'd use it exclusively with bluetooth instead of holding the thing up to my head, don't worry.
I travel internationally and see them A LOT in other countries (they cannot help me though since I need one to use in the US). I am under the impression that VZ will not activate anything I did not buy from them. I don't know how solid this is but every VZ employee I have asked has confirmed this so far. I know in the past that it used to be as simple as switching out the SIM card but doubt this is still the case.
I'm sure there are some hardware specs (frequencies?) that I need to look at that would determine the LTE/4G/3G whatever compatibility, but I don't know the terminology. Also I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking at when it comes to CDMA vs GSM, only that blokes in England use GSM. Can you help me out?
Also, I am hesitant to leave VZ because of the unlimited data and the service coverage. I live in mildly populated CT, USA and would welcome a prepaid plan if data/service is comparable but don't even know where to begin looking.
Thank you in advance - I really don't have anyone else to ask about this stuff.
I'll try to make it simple for you. There are really two types of cell networks (not counting LTE, since all carriers are using that now here in the US): GSM and CDMA.
CDMA is what Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular, MetroPCS, Cricket, and maybe other smaller carriers use. It is based on a serial number called a ESN on older phones or MEID on newer phones (since the late 2000s). That serial number is burned into the programming of the phone on the ROM and cannot be changed very easily and is illegal to do so supposedly. There are two types of CDMA technology in use today, 1xRTT and EVDO (older analog was phased out a few years ago). 1xRTT or 1x as it's abbreviated, is a "2G" technology that allows for packet switched voice and SMS traffic, as well as very very slow data speeds (think 56k dialup). EVDO is strictly for data (the voice part was never added because they didn't want to pony up the cost of it) and is used in Rev 0 and Rev A EVDO. Most Verizon/Sprint 3G is Rev. A EVDO. It hits a max of 3.1Mbps down and if you get a call or text message, it drops to 1x and the 3g is suspended, unless you have a radio that can do both at once (HTC Thunderbolt). You activate by serial number and a bad ESN means they didn't pay their bill or it was an insurance claim on a lost phone and they are blacklisted.
GSM is a technology essentially where it uses a little plastic and electronic card called a SIM card. T-Mobile and AT&T are the two major carriers with this technology. There are several revisions of this technology in use today, GRPS, Edge, and various UTMS and HSPA versions. GRPS is analogous to 1xRTT in terms of speed, and Edge is in between and gives up to 250kb/s down, technically a 3g technology, although not feeling like it. UTMS, HSPA, and WCDMA all refer to a similar type of technology which is what is used by the 3G level of service of AT&T and T-Mobile (fake 4G on T-Mobile). It goes from just faster than Edge to DC-HSPA 42Mbps down speeds and allows for simultaneous voice/data (Edge and GRPS are either data or voice, not both). Your phone number is tied to the SIM card and this technology offers an advantage of if your main phone craps out, you can store your contacts on the SIM and just put it in another phone and still have service.
Roaming and tower authentication are completely different in GSM vs. CDMA. CDMA uses what's called a PRL (Preferred Roaming List) to determine which towers to authenticate to essentially, and sets priority. Some people will "hack" the PRL by changing it so for example if they have Sprint and their tower has the crappy 3g speeds, they roam on Verizon since they have unlimited roaming and get Verizon's better 3g speeds. GSM roaming is set per tower or location on the SIM card, and is a pretty static value dependent on the carrier. Roaming is only if they allow it depending on your plan and location (like T-Mobile prepaid will not roam on AT&T, but postpaid "Uncarrier" plans will).
So what you have is probably a tablet based on the data that gets EVDO service and probably 1xRTT and maybe LTE. If you have it on a phone plan and not a tablet plan, it's probably a Note 2 or something which is just really a phone from what it sounds like if you use Bluetooth. CDMA carriers will only use their devices and lock down ESNs to what they sell, so you can't buy a device from Sprint and put it on Verizon. The exception to that is sometimes prepaid carriers will let you "flash" the phone to their service but don't guarantee the results and don't support it. Examples include Cricket, MetroPCS, Page Plus, and I think Virgin Mobile or Boost *might*, but don't quote me.
LTE is a newer technology which isn't technically 4G yet since we haven't seen speeds here in the US on current LTE revisions of over 100Mbps, but they do have the ability with the right equipment. It uses SIM cards so you will see newer Verizon/Sprint devices actually use SIM cards for service (which is superior as noted above), and have an ESN so it can fall back to 1x or EV. The plan is to eventually roll out LTE to all towers and if you have a LTE device, you use LTE for voice and data (VoLTE), but all carriers don't have LTE on all towers so they fall back to HSPA/Edge or 1x for voice for now. They probably have dual radios like the HTC Thunderbolt and use both at the same time but LTE is still a maturing technology and has a lot of potential.
I hope this helps.
Edit: I forgot to add, for the smaller prepaid plans, you have to look at who they are based off of. Most of them just use a parent network from one of the 4 big carriers (Cricket being the exception, they have their own towers and roam on Sprint if you leave native coverage). I know Page Plus uses prepaid Verizon towers, but for the most part you won't get unlimited uncapped data on Verizon unless you keep your old $30 grandfathered plan. If you switch to a limited data plan, say bye bye. Honestly if you don't want to pay Verizon prices (I don't blame you), and you have the availability for it for coverage, T-Mobile or Sprint have good options. T-Mobile's network where they have 3g/4g is way way good. They just deployed equipment on their towers that's above everyone else with new NSN antennas and the LTE revision is LTE-A I think (check what Milan posted on Howard Forums for sure), but it's high dollar equipment that isn't cheap. Also they are upgrading the backhaul on their towers and most people are pulling between 10-20Mbps on DC-HSPA and 15-30Mbps on LTE. Milan got about 25 Mbps in NYC on T-Mobile LTE so they are a really good way to go and you can get an unlimited plan for $70 a month prepaid. Also, you can get a 5GB/100 min/unlimited SMS plan for $30 from Wal-Mart/tmobile.com.