[Q] Manual network selection or disable 1900band - Vibrant General

I have the Vibrant and where I work, t-mobile has really crappy service, yet AT&T has awesome coverage. If I try to do a manual network selection and pick AT&T, it will just give an error "your sim does not allow connection to this network", is there a way to override this with a hack or a program? Or even just disable the 1900 band, since I think t-mobile uses 1900 and at&t uses 850, so in theory if it didn't detect any t-mobile, it should probably pick up AT&T.

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T-mobile (USA) 3G

Hello, I am having trouble getting 3G working on my x10i. I have read through these forums and tried every apn settings I could find but still it only uses edge. T-mobile customer service tells me i have great 3g coverage in my area but that since its a non-tmobile phone it will not use 3G. Is this true or can anyone help? Right now im using epc.tmobile.com as my apn, data roaming on, and MMS & data turned on. Need more info just let me know.Thx for any help
check your sony ericsson xperia x10 box on the side, see if it said UMTS is saying "AWS1/AWS4/AWS8" if you are missing AWS4, then you will not be able to use T-mo USA 3G because T-mobile UMTS (3G) bandwidth frequency is 900 (AWS1) / 1700 (AWS4) / 2100 (AWS8)
i had a similar problem when my T-Mobile 3G constantly switched to Edge even when i had good coverage, i found this solution somewhere and it helped me, since then i was never dropped from 3G unless i had no bars... i would give this a try for your problem too.
1) enter in dialer the following: *#*#4636#*#*
2) select phone Information
3) press the menu button (left bottom hard key)
4) Select Radio Band
5) Select USA Band
6) Reboot Phone
This will narrow down your phone to USA 3G only, (if leaving the country you should switch back to automatic to get international 3G coverage), i found this also helpful for 3G speed and battery performance.
check your sony ericsson xperia x10 box on the side, see if it said UMTS is saying "AWS1/AWS4/AWS8" if you are missing AWS4, then you will not be able to use T-mo USA 3G because T-mobile UMTS (3G) bandwidth frequency is 900 (AWS1) / 1700 (AWS4) / 2100 (AWS8)
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Thx for your replies , yes it says "UMTS/HSPA band 1/4/8" So should be possible.
1) enter in dialer the following: *#*#4636#*#*
2) select phone Information
3) press the menu button (left bottom hard key)
4) Select Radio Band
5) Select USA Band
6) Reboot Phone
This will narrow down your phone to USA 3G only, (if leaving the country you should switch back to automatic to get international 3G coverage), i found this also helpful for 3G speed and battery performance.
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Click to collapse
thx for your reply, I tried this and i still see the E for edge. Could it have something to do with the fact that where i live is actually using a different tower than tmobile?
thx for your reply, I tried this and i still see the E for edge. Could it have something to do with the fact that where i live is actually using a different tower than tmobile?
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I doubt cause tmobile told you that your coverage is okay, it might be that you have an old sim card with no support for 3G, or Would say your phone is defective…
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try go to setting --->wireless controls --->Mobile Networks ----> Network mode
and select WCDMA only
see if it go back to 3G signal. For my area sometimes i stay on edge due to signal blocked by building walls....
by the way, will you get 3G signal when you are outside of your house or in a wide open area?
When i choose WCDMA i lose my cell signal completely. I have tmobile service but In my area it is always using centennial wireless towers for my signal, centennial was bought out by AT&T which have not yet switched their new towers to 3G yet. Could this be the problem? Thx
devilleather said:
When i choose WCDMA i lose my cell signal completely. I have tmobile service but In my area it is always using centennial wireless towers for my signal, centennial was bought out by AT&T which have not yet switched their new towers to 3G yet. Could this be the problem? Thx
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Sounds like you found the issue. If WCDMA only shows no signal at all, it means you do not have T-Mobile 3G in your area (I suspect the 1700 spectrum).
It looks like there is a roaming agreement in which T-mobile can "borrow" the AT&T tower. So, all you get is the GSM signal. Don't bother to wait for AT&T to get the tower to 3G...because, you know, it won't be the same 3G signal as T-mobile. AT&T operates 3G on 850 and 1900.
If that is the issue, maybe you have to switch to a X10a.
When i choose US band it says its unsuccessful? any ideas why???

Network Type/Band Freq

Can somebody please explain GSM vs WCDMA vs UMTS for the bands?
My impression is GSM is 2G and UMTS is 3G and both can supply regular phone service? What's WCDMA then?
T-mobile USA is GSM 850/1900 and what else?
I was thinking if I specify what network and band to use it'll use less batter (ie. no 3g unless I really need it).
this is a really easy google search... or just go to wikipedia....really any search you would try will answer your question.
(you're half right, but mostly wrong)...here's some links for you
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=wcdma+wiki&l=1
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gsm+wiki
Well I did google already, but still is over my head when I look at the band settings in the TMO HD2.
If WCDMA = UMTS why is there a separate GSM/WCDMA network selection, both allowing bands in GSM and UMTS.
Sounds like GSM is older tech, meaning 2g, whereas 3g is the newer GSM, which is UMTS, which = WCDMA. Therefore, how can you choose UMTS band frequencies on a old GSM network?
Perhaps I'm not phrasing my question correctly. I'm asking these because of the phone settings. I'm trying to figure out if it's more efficient to just tell the phone to look for specific network/band for TMOUSA thereby saving time and battery.
is this just too simple of a question or not many people understand. anyone?
ok, instead of giving you a bunch of info, let me give you just what I think you need.
I'm guessing you're going to Settings>Wireless Controls> Phone>Band and that's where the confusion is coming from. This screen is wrong and the Bands listed there are wrong (they're from previous devices, and htc didn't bother to update that screen).
So, you have 3 main choices there that should be of interest to you as long as you're in the US on Tmobile's network: Auto, WCDMA, GSM (under Network Type).
Auto: switches automatically between GPRS/EDGE/3G (HSDPA, HSPDA+)
WCDMA: 3G (HSDPA, HSPDA+)
GSM: EDGE/GPRS
The only way that playing with the band frequencies could help you would be if you're just interested in Edge/GPRS since tmobile uses two different frequencies there (native 1900 and 850 roaming). For 3g however, Tmobile uses only (and concurrently....as in you need to use both to get 3g and not just one or the other) 1700/2100 frequency.
Long story short, if you're trying to keep the phone from switching between 3g and Edge and you're in an area that has constant 3g, set it to WCDMA. (but note that if you loose 3g but are in an area with Edge, it will not switch to Edge, it will just be 0 bars/reception).
thanks alot, that really clears it up. I don't have data connection besides mms so I figure I may set it to no 3g and save some battery.

[Q] frequency on my GSM carier

hi guys
im from Israel..
i just got a new HTC aria device
i unlocked it with a code for any GSM carier for supported Israeli's network
now the phone is no longer under AT&T, it for Cellcom (an Israeli company)
the device support this:
HSPA/UMTS/(1900/850MHZ) GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Quad band 850/900/1800/1900MHZ)
Cellcom SIM CARD support this:
HSPA/UMTS/(2100MHZ) GSM/GPRS/EDGE (Quad band 850/900/1800/1900MHZ)
when i entered a regular sim which is for GSM only the device worked just fine..
but when i entered the USIM (the HSPDA's supported sim card - that suppose to support the GSM frequency as well) the device couldnt recognize any carier..
what should i need to do?
is there a way for changing the sim card frequency settings from the Android's settings?
do i have any possibilty for using HSPDA supported sim card without supported frequency in Israel?? because the device soesnt know the 2100MHZ HSPDA freq.
cause i thougt that device will handle this issue (works for calls) and will block me only when ill want to web through the Cellcom mobile in HSPDA
but still will let me to web through GSM witch is more slowly..
HeLPPPPP
i think you're out of luck unless you get the proper sim card for the proper frequencies.
Since Cellcom uses UMTS 2100, you would have been better off to buy an Asian or European phone. AT&T doesn't use the 2100 band and decided not to include it in this phone. You won't get 3G on that carrier.
According to Wikipedia, another provider - Pelephone - has some of its 3G service on the 850 band which would be supported by the Aria. But in any area that is served only by the 2100 band, your Aria will not get 3G.
No idea why one particular SIM isn't letting you onto their GSM network.

[Q] Verizon Trophy AWS or just PCS?

Does anyone know if the Verizon Trophy will do CDMA on AWS with the correct PRL on any of the available radio software?
Also is there a app or a way to show cdma call info such as channel, PN, rssi?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/buy/7/details.aspx?id=1685
It says "HSPA:AWS 2100" and that is the GSM Trophy. I think its safe to assume that the Verizon model supports it as well + CDMA.. but.. well.. AWS is new one on me. I won't pretend to fully understand what your talking about. XD *haha* I better go do some reading.
TheXev said:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsphone/en-us/buy/7/details.aspx?id=1685
It says "HSPA:AWS 2100" and that is the GSM Trophy. I think its safe to assume that the Verizon model supports it as well + CDMA.. but.. well.. AWS is new one on me. I won't pretend to fully understand what your talking about. XD *haha* I better go do some reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AWS is advanced wireless services. It's the FCC name for the band of spectrum the 1700 and 2100mhz range.
What I'm not really sure about is if the same radio is used for both CDMA and HSPA. The phone can do AWS if using HSPA, but it uses the cellular and PCS bands for CDMA. (800 and 1900mhz)
The issue is that the radio need to be programmed for those bands and there is hardware needed to make it happen. So a phone programmed for 800mhz can't just switch to 2100mhz unless there is hardware present.
The Verizon version of the phone might just have an extra radio thrown into the case that operates seperatly from the GSM one. If that is the case then it wouldn't be possible to use CDMA on that frequency. If it's all tied into the same radio then it seems like it could be done in software. In either case I'm not sure if will ever happen because you'd probably need to write your own firmware to do so. (It really wouldn't make sense for HTC to waste time seeing if the phone would do CDMA on 2100 if it wasn't designed to)
For reference there is a great article covering the bands here:
http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=99
There is also the full version of the spectrum chart online here: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/2003-allochrt.pdf
There is a dev screen you can get to on the phone to show signal strength and a few other options. If you dial ##634# you can select field trial. You can see Channel #, band class, Active Set Pilot PN, Rx Signal Strengh, Rx Power (dbm) under the EVDO screen. There is also a section for 1x and GPS. I'm not sure if another option shows up for HSPA if the phone is on GSM...
EDIT: The best I can tell is that AWS uses UMTS/WCDMA so the phone should support that. HSPDA is just a faster version of WCDMA so since the phone can do HSPDA on 2100mhz it would be able to slow down to WCDMA speeds. The only time I could see it possibly being an issue is if CDMA was being used on 2100mhz and not UMTS.
Only thing I am seeing inside of the newest Verizon Trophy software (mango v3 8107) is that they added support for CMAS.
Code:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ShortMsg\Settings]
"CmasOperatorEnabled"=dword:1
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\ShortMsg\Settings]
"CMASAlertOption"=dword:1
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SMS\Broadcast]
"TestPort"=dword:4370
As for radio, there is only one radio software.. but from what I can tell, the CPU/radio has all the same support as the Trophy GSM, but with the added CDMA. AWS should work, but only via GSM bands.

[Q] 3g or bust? (GSM)

Any way of turning off 4g and enabling 3g while on GSM unlocked?
dragonhart6505 said:
Any way of turning off 4g and enabling 3g while on GSM unlocked?
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Changing to GSM/UMTS should turn off 4G LTE and read 3g/2g services from the SIM and APNs. For me, to enable 4g as well as GSM, I have to use *#*#INFO#*#* and select LTE/UMTS/GSM from the menu, otherwise setting UMTS/GSM from the standard mobile network menu puts it in GSM Auto (PRL) mode, which is just HSPA+, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS frequencies. (3.5G, 3G, 2.5G, and 2G respectively). I have my Razr M setup with a Straight Talk AT&T sim for GSM and PagePlus on CDMA, service toggle works flawlessly after setting it up.
But yeah, if you go into the mobile network settings and change it to GSM/UMTS mode and set the proper APNs, you should get 3G without issue and the LTE radio should be off (since it only supports Verizon's LTE band anyway)
Skreelink said:
Changing to GSM/UMTS should turn off 4G LTE and read 3g/2g services from the SIM and APNs. For me, to enable 4g as well as GSM, I have to use *#*#INFO#*#* and select LTE/UMTS/GSM from the menu, otherwise setting UMTS/GSM from the standard mobile network menu puts it in GSM Auto (PRL) mode, which is just HSPA+, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS frequencies. (3.5G, 3G, 2.5G, and 2G respectively). I have my Razr M setup with a Straight Talk AT&T sim for GSM and PagePlus on CDMA, service toggle works flawlessly after setting it up.
But yeah, if you go into the mobile network settings and change it to GSM/UMTS mode and set the proper APNs, you should get 3G without issue and the LTE radio should be off (since it only supports Verizon's LTE band anyway)
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Dandy, but those options aren't available on my current ROM eclipse v5b3.
dragonhart6505 said:
Dandy, but those options aren't available on my current ROM eclipse v5b3.
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Click to collapse
I've not used that rom, but you should still have access to the secret menu, Open the dialer and type *#*#INFO#*#* (*#*#4636#*#*) > Phone information > Scroll down and select GSM auto (PRL) it's the same thing, GSM/UMTS only based on the SIM.
Skreelink said:
I've not used that rom, but you should still have access to the secret menu, Open the dialer and type *#*#INFO#*#* (*#*#4636#*#*) > Phone information > Scroll down and select GSM auto (PRL) it's the same thing, GSM/UMTS only based on the SIM.
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Click to collapse
WCDMA Preferred would actually be a better choice and is the default choice on normal GSM phones, GSM auto (PRL) uses either 2g or 3g and just chooses whichever has stronger signal, WCDMA Preferred will make it use 3g as long as there is 3g signal and only drop to 2g if it has to.
msnuser111 said:
WCDMA Preferred would actually be a better choice and is the default choice on normal GSM phones, GSM auto (PRL) uses either 2g or 3g and just chooses whichever has stronger signal, WCDMA Preferred will make it use 3g as long as there is 3g signal and only drop to 2g if it has to.
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Yeah, but in my experience with using verizon global phones on gsm, trying to set this always changes itself back to gsm auto making WCDMA Preferred a moot option.
Skreelink said:
Yeah, but in my experience with using verizon global phones on gsm, trying to set this always changes itself back to gsm auto making WCDMA Preferred a moot option.
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Click to collapse
WCDMA Preferred actually activates the 4g HSPA+ and GSM Auto only connects me to Edge: 2 making both of these options moot :-/
dragonhart6505 said:
WCDMA Preferred actually activates the 4g HSPA+ and GSM Auto only connects me to Edge: 2 making both of these options moot :-/
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Uhm... HSPA+ is actually 3.5G.. It's based on the UMTS 3G standard and is technically the same thing/catagory. "4G" is a marketing gimmick by AT&T and T-Mobile, they even had apple push an update on the iPhone when they started marketing it as 4g to change 3g to 4g on the phone. Although they did NOTHING to the capabilities of the phone. The phone does not differentiate between 3G UMTS and 3.5G HSPA+ as far as WCDMA/3G connections go, 4G should be referred to only on LTE, but carriers like their money. Remember AT&T used to tout the 'fastest 3g network' now they claim 'the largest 4g network' It's the SAME NETWORK, they just upped the number. T-Mobile actually offers a 42Mbps dual band HSPA+ network, whereas AT&T only has a 21Mbps HSPA+ network, both of them advertise as '4g' but they also have 4gLTE networks.
So in ALL technicality; their "4g" HSPA+ networks are ACTUALLY 3G networks... There is no way to force the phone to use only UMTS as it's the basis for HSPA being the 'same' network type. The only real 4G is LTE, which without a verizon SIM card, is disabled when not using an "LTE/CDMA" option.
Skreelink said:
Uhm... HSPA+ is actually 3.5G.. It's based on the UMTS 3G standard and is technically the same thing/catagory. "4G" is a marketing gimmick by AT&T and T-Mobile, they even had apple push an update on the iPhone when they started marketing it as 4g to change 3g to 4g on the phone. Although they did NOTHING to the capabilities of the phone. The phone does not differentiate between 3G UMTS and 3.5G HSPA+ as far as WCDMA/3G connections go, 4G should be referred to only on LTE, but carriers like their money. Remember AT&T used to tout the 'fastest 3g network' now they claim 'the largest 4g network' It's the SAME NETWORK, they just upped the number. T-Mobile actually offers a 42Mbps dual band HSPA+ network, whereas AT&T only has a 21Mbps HSPA+ network, both of them advertise as '4g' but they also have 4gLTE networks.
So in ALL technicality; their "4g" HSPA+ networks are ACTUALLY 3G networks... There is no way to force the phone to use only UMTS as it's the basis for HSPA being the 'same' network type. The only real 4G is LTE, which without a verizon SIM card, is disabled when not using an "LTE/CDMA" option.
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We need more clarification like yours on the interwebs ^_^ thank you. Either way, my issue appears to be throttle and neither option allows me to get above 8 kbs download speeds.
Still a shame they need to be so crude about their marketing. And I tried so hard not to be a sucker!
Skreelink said:
Uhm... HSPA+ is actually 3.5G.. It's based on the UMTS 3G standard and is technically the same thing/catagory. "4G" is a marketing gimmick by AT&T and T-Mobile, they even had apple push an update on the iPhone when they started marketing it as 4g to change 3g to 4g on the phone. Although they did NOTHING to the capabilities of the phone. The phone does not differentiate between 3G UMTS and 3.5G HSPA+ as far as WCDMA/3G connections go, 4G should be referred to only on LTE, but carriers like their money. Remember AT&T used to tout the 'fastest 3g network' now they claim 'the largest 4g network' It's the SAME NETWORK, they just upped the number. T-Mobile actually offers a 42Mbps dual band HSPA+ network, whereas AT&T only has a 21Mbps HSPA+ network, both of them advertise as '4g' but they also have 4gLTE networks.
So in ALL technicality; their "4g" HSPA+ networks are ACTUALLY 3G networks... There is no way to force the phone to use only UMTS as it's the basis for HSPA being the 'same' network type. The only real 4G is LTE, which without a verizon SIM card, is disabled when not using an "LTE/CDMA" option.
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Click to collapse
Minor correction: AOSP and maybe stock (not sure...) do indicate HSPA+ in the status bar by changing it from 3g to H+
Also, technically LTE isn't 4g either, but it's the closest to 4g you can get.
IIRC it's ~50mbps ideal and ITU 4g standard is like 100. H+ is like 30 or 40. Of course, my numbers may be way off... It's something like that though
Also, there's no GSM/LTE option? Could've sworn there was one...
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4
sloosecannon said:
Minor correction: AOSP and maybe stock (not sure...) do indicate HSPA+ in the status bar by changing it from 3g to H+
Also, technically LTE isn't 4g either, but it's the closest to 4g you can get.
IIRC it's ~50mbps ideal and ITU 4g standard is like 100. H+ is like 30 or 40. Of course, my numbers may be way off... It's something like that though
Also, there's no GSM/LTE option? Could've sworn there was one...
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4
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The stock rom shows H+ and next gen lte is 300mbps capable, current is ~100mbps. I have seen someone hit 45mbps on a droid 4. Course you won't see anywhere near ideal max. Hspa+ is 21Mbps dual band hspa is 42Mbps. As I recall they are working on a 1Gbit lte, but that will be a long way out. There is an lte/gsm option, but since the M doesn't support lte bands besides verizon, kinda useless. Lte sim will be lte/cdma verizon.
While on cdma my phone shows 3g for evdo and H+ for hspap. (I have pageplus and att sim straight talk on my M).
Skreelink said:
The stock rom shows H+ and next gen lte is 300mbps capable, current is ~100mbps. I have seen someone hit 45mbps on a droid 4. Course you won't see anywhere near ideal max. Hspa+ is 21Mbps dual band hspa is 42Mbps. As I recall they are working on a 1Gbit lte, but that will be a long way out. There is an lte/gsm option, but since the M doesn't support lte bands besides verizon, kinda useless. Lte sim will be lte/cdma verizon.
While on cdma my phone shows 3g for evdo and H+ for hspap. (I have pageplus and att sim straight talk on my M).
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Gotcha.
1gbit? So you can burn up a 10 GB data plan in 40 seconds! YAY! I WANT ONE!
Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk 4

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