Database Users

Taking my Universal to Japan...

...or at least I hope that this is possible. I really don't want to take the old advice which says "buy a Japanese cellphone and stop worrying" as the MDA is hard to replace and after "teaching" it how to read and write Japanese there's nothing I'd really miss just keeping it. Against the myth you can get standard SIM cards in Japan, too and the only critical point would be the wireless standard used in Japan. The Phone tab say that it supports WCDMA, but I read before that this is not true for every Japanese provider. Softbank (Vodafone) is said to be compatible to the European UMTS standard. Can anybody here validate this? It would safe me a lot of money getting a decent Japanese cellphone as my "brick" still has a year or two of life in it

Yes the Universal works in Japan. At least in most places... it seems to lose the signal in the middle of a subway tunnel but gets it back quickly at the station ;P

I think our 'bricks' will be around a lot longer than that as they don't seem to be giving us a direct replacement :¬D

That's great news, but which provider do you use eksekki? Softbank? Or maybe it doesn't really matter after all? And we're not talking about the Japanese Universal here, right? And about the direct replacement: Is the 'Omni' really vaporware? I always had my hopes up for that one...

SB/Vodafone + Universal works. As for any other operator, if you can get a SIM card that fits into Universal I really don't see any reason why it wouldn't work(*). Hardware wise, I use (UK) Xda Exec brand but all the HTC Universal models are the same and there is no "Japanese universal" right (just ROM maybe)? No problems with different (English) ROM versions including WM6 - hence the "universal" =) There's just no replacement for this brick!
* edit: as long as they have a 2100 MHz WCDMA network :|

Any etra work needed?
I'm just calling back this thread from the ghosts to ask whether any extra steps are needed to use my Universal in Japan. I've seen a patch for the Hermes to use the Softbank AP, but I wonder: Shouldn't the Universal work straight out of the box if I pop in the Softbank card? Is it just because the AP password is hardcoded into the Japanese ROM? Speaking of which: What is the latest native Japanese (Softbank) WM5 ROM? The search didn't reveal anything. What kind of services will I miss if I just leave a Japanese enabled English WM5 ROM on the device? Would be great if someone could enlighten me a bit.

change teh sim card possible?

Gentlemen / ladies
first off i would like to thank this site for all its help so far , i have installed colonels rom and i am delighted with it , however i have a small question.
i purchased the sprint mogul while visiting the states last week as i needed a pda and it seemed to fit all my desires , however upon bringing it home i noticed that there was no simcard slot so i cant use it here in Ireland (we seem to be a bit behind the times ) spoke to a rep here and i was told the simcard is inbuilt and it would need to go back to htc to be changed , now that isnt really feasible at the moment so i was wondering if it was possible for me to change it out or if that is even possible , i dont mind taking it apart but i can find no info on where the sim goes or if there even is one , sooooooo just wondering is it possible ?
thanks again for all the help i have recived from other threads on upgrading and thanks to the colonel for releasing a class rom
regards

To the best of my knowledge, CDMA phones don't use sim cards at all. I could be wrong.

excaliburhc said:
Gentlemen / ladies
first off i would like to thank this site for all its help so far , i have installed colonels rom and i am delighted with it , however i have a small question.
i purchased the sprint mogul while visiting the states last week as i needed a pda and it seemed to fit all my desires , however upon bringing it home i noticed that there was no simcard slot so i cant use it here in Ireland (we seem to be a bit behind the times ) spoke to a rep here and i was told the simcard is inbuilt and it would need to go back to htc to be changed , now that isnt really feasible at the moment so i was wondering if it was possible for me to change it out or if that is even possible , i dont mind taking it apart but i can find no info on where the sim goes or if there even is one , sooooooo just wondering is it possible ?
thanks again for all the help i have recived from other threads on upgrading and thanks to the colonel for releasing a class rom
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, for in Ireland you have a paperweight. There is no CDMA outside North America. There is no sim in the Mogul, and nothing in it can be reprogrammed to make it work on GSM. The entire radio portion of the phone is made for CDMA and specifically Sprint.
Sorry, but you'd be better off ebaying it and getting a GSM device.

ScottC said:
There is no CDMA outside North America.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my knowledge, this statement isn't entirely true, as I believe that South Korea and maybe China has CDMA networks...but I could be wrong...
Everything else you stated is right on though!

Oh boy.
In a nutshell:
2 major types of wireless protocols:
GSM and CDMA.
GSM is a sim-card based allowing phone portability, and exists on a world-wide market. The sim card contains your identity, and switching it into another phone causes your identity to follow.
CDMA is phone-based, meaning every phone has a unique ID that broadcasts to the tower. That ID (sort of like the VIN number on a car) exists on only your phone, and represents your ID on the network. This actually existed long before GSM and SIM-cards, and is at a bit of a disadvantage because you can't switch phones whenver you want. Your provider has to switch it for you.
Here in the US, we have both CDMA and GSM networks now, however CDMA has been around longer, and so it is still arguably the more common technology. Lately, GSM has been catching up, but over in Europe GSM has always been around and CDMA is virtually non-existant.
Living in Ireland, I beleive that all networks are GSM, which means SIM-card based. So, you probably didn't know that there were other types of technology that weren't compatible! If anything, we here in the US are "behind the times" because we're still using an antiquated ID system as opposed to SIM cards!
HTC makes a GSM version of these devices as well, which you should consider. They are known as the Tytn and the Kaiser (our Mogul/Titan sort of comes in between, although most closely resembling the Kaiser in hardware). Next time you want to buy a phone in the US, make sure its GSM and unlocked first!
Hope this clears things up!

You should have 30 days to send back the mogul and get out of your contract. The phone will not work outside of North America. Take a look at the HTC Kaiser,its also sold as the AT&T Tilt. Its a GSM device that is very similar to the Mogul.

If you told Sprint that you were going to be going back to Ireland, I wonder why they didn't sell you the Samsung IP-830W, which works on the Sprint CDMA network in the states, but can be used on GSM/GPRS networks everyplace else.
If you can't get a full refund, maybe you can exchange the Mogul for that?
I think it's a little behind the times, but the IP830 is a pretty good phone and has a smaller slide out QWERTY keyboard.

thank you for the information , just need to find that damn receipt now and give radioshack a call , see about a swap for the tilt ,
regards

sigghhh
well it seems radioshack cant help . unless i brought it back to the store i purchased it in , and that cant really happen .
anywhoooo thanks all for the help ,
but i have just one other ,
is it possible to synq my titan with another type of phone i.e nokia 6610 and have the titan act as the handsfree ? via bluetooth?
basically like the satnavs where you have the dialer but it uses your phone to connect , seems like a strange request but this would at least allow me to use the phone features
thanks in advance

US version of the Shift with EVDO Sprint modem

Folks in the US might want to know that HTC has a US version of the Shift with a Sprint modem. The embargo on this model was supposed to end March 24, but it's been moved up to today. We've had one for a few weeks and I can tell you it's nearly identical to the GSM version already out. Here's more info and a link to our review which has a few photos:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=29820
And BTW, if you get one of these and semi-brick it, while on the SnapVUE side type in ##786#. That will hard reset the CDMA version (assuming SnapVUE can still communicate with the keyboard).

pdagal;
And BTW said:
WOW that nice info, guess it needs testing
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Click to collapse

I've had to test it myself and it works-- but only on the CDMA version. The GSM version does nothing when you type in the ## command. However, you'd think there must be some equivalent for the GSM version. HTC gave me the code when I temporarily put SnapVUE into a comma . I've been hesitant to ask HTC about the GSM version command, but I shall do so.

Too bad
With out GSM I will not buy the shift. I was trying to sell my
HTC Advantage at work so I would upgrade to the shift. I'm glad that I read this in time. I need to be on the [email protected] network. Back to the Advantage.

Why not buy the GSM version-- several sites sell it.

pdagal said:
Why not buy the GSM version-- several sites sell it.
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Click to collapse
????????????

The unlocked GSM 3G version is sold by several importers. Technically, it's the Euro version and has a UK keyboard layout (a few items like the # key and " key are in different locations from the US). Otherwise it's identical-- I have both the GSM (mine personally) and the CDMA US model (review unit). The only drawback is that if it needed warranty repair, I'd imagine you'd have to send it to Europe rather than a US facility.

pdagal said:
The unlocked GSM 3G version is sold by several importers. Technically, it's the Euro version and has a UK keyboard layout (a few items like the # key and " key are in different locations from the US). Otherwise it's identical-- I have both the GSM (mine personally) and the CDMA US model (review unit). The only drawback is that if it needed warranty repair, I'd imagine you'd have to send it to Europe rather than a US facility.
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Click to collapse
he is talking about "real" gsm and not just SMS ability .. if I have well understood .. so while the voice ability has not been added, he won't buy a shift

pdagal said:
And BTW, if you get one of these and semi-brick it, while on the SnapVUE side type in ##786#. That will hard reset the CDMA version (assuming SnapVUE can still communicate with the keyboard).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and if snapvue can't communicate at all
i still have a solution... see the enter bootloader and hard reset thread i made
but, this was tested only on GSM shifts, if you could send me the shift control center files (shagctrl.exe, shagdll.dll in the GSM version) i would be able to confirm to some extent that it works the same on the CDMA one (unless you want to go ahead and try my program)
why could it matter you'd ask... well the program partially depends on radio bootloader ability.

koala996 said:
he is talking about "real" gsm and not just SMS ability .. if I have well understood .. so while the voice ability has not been added, he won't buy a shift
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it might be added later

Phone(Radio) not working - Tried various ROM/Radio

Hello,
Basically at first, my HD2 had a problem with voice reception on other end, sent it to Hong Kong for Warranty, came back with reception good but device constantly restarting, turns out it needed a new Board, send it back to HK for a New Board, came back with a New board.
And now the Phone does not work.
I have tried the following official ROMS :
_HTC
HD2_RUU_Leo_HKCSL_WWE_1.72.831.1_Radio_CRC_Signed_15.32.50.07U_2.07
.51.22_2_Ship - "X" on the phone icon, cant detect sim at all, will
not let me turn Phone on with wireless controls
_HTC
HD2_RUU_Leo_S_HKCSL_WWE_3.14.831.3_Radio_15.42.50.11U_2.15.50.14_LE
O_S_Ship
"Operation failed" while trying to make a call.
I have tried custom Roms, the current one I am using is the Maelus ROM, 3.2.2
And details on my boot up are :
2.08.50 05
15 34 50 07u
3.14 04666 8G
I even tried Task29 before flashing to the Maelus ROM.
It just doesn't let me turn my Phone on, whenever I go into the settings, and the phone is off, and I tap it, the little progress swirly thing appears in the middle of the screen, then stops and the phone does not go to the "ON" position.
With all those 3 roms I've tried (2 of the official HK ones from HTC Website), and also the Maelus custom rom, I cannot get the Phone to work.
It only worked once when i got the phone back on a good reception area, but now here I can't even actually turn the phone on.
Could anybody Reccomend me a Custom ROM + Radio Version to switch to, i don't know if the official ones didn't work I don't know what to do.
at the moment I got Maelus ROM on with the radio 2.08.50 05, I'm going to upgrade the radio to a slightly newer one to see if that helps. my HTC is on charge at the moment.
Has anybody experienced this issue before, and know any fix? I'm willing to try anything.
Thanks.
EDIT - Actually the Phone does turn on, e.g I can slide the slider on the options to "ON", but it does not pick up the carrier/provider or get any signal, any suggestions welcome.

time to return it again. Just make sure to put on a stock rom/radio/spl before you do so

Trying a newer radio is all you can do as far as software goes as the radio is the software side of what controls reception on your phone. Go to the HTC HD2 Master Radio Thread and download the newer versions of radios. There is eight radio versions newer than the one you have so I would just start at the Leo_RADIO_2.10.50.19_2 and work my way up to the Leo_RADIO_2.15.50.14**. If none of the eight radios solve your issue than download the official stock ROM for your HD2 from HTC. com using your serial number from your HD2 to confirm it is the ROM for your HD2 and the go to the Flash your ROM/Radio via microSD thread to learn how to flash it via SD card so you will be reverted back to complete stock ROM, SPL, radio, and Splash screen. Then send it back for further repairs as it is no more you can do software wise. Good luck hope you get your HD2 working properly again.

Thanks for the reply.
I really don't know what to do other than try different radios, it seems that the people in Hong Kong that work for HTC don't know how to repair phones, it's been returned to me from warranty twice with defects that weren't present in the first place. They fix one defect and it comes back with another.
It seems to not get any signal in some areas where previously it would e.g in lower signal suburbs it gets NO SIGNAL at all, i'm wondering if there is some aerial unit that they forgot to plug in on the board or something, or is it all integrated.
It's so annoying as they want me to pay them to send it back, so I use about $60 to and from every time, and it's about a 3-4 month wait every time. I don't know if I should request they just give me a whole new phone because nothing seems to be right.
I think the SPL program by Cotulla now has the option to put a factory SPL back on.

kidcash said:
Thanks for the reply.
I really don't know what to do other than try different radios, it seems that the people in Hong Kong that work for HTC don't know how to repair phones, it's been returned to me from warranty twice with defects that weren't present in the first place. They fix one defect and it comes back with another.
It seems to not get any signal in some areas where previously it would e.g in lower signal suburbs it gets NO SIGNAL at all, i'm wondering if there is some aerial unit that they forgot to plug in on the board or something, or is it all integrated.
It's so annoying as they want me to pay them to send it back, so I use about $60 to and from every time, and it's about a 3-4 month wait every time. I don't know if I should request they just give me a whole new phone because nothing seems to be right.
I think the SPL program by Cotulla now has the option to put a factory SPL back on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that is crap man! It cost you 60 bucks to ship it to them and then 3 to 4 months before you get it back, that is totally unacceptable to me. I would most definitely request a replacement if I was you and tell them that you want the phone shipped to you with return shipping already paid so all you have to do is ship them your current HD2 back to them after you have received the replacement HD2. If you have had to wait that long and pay 60 bucks twice then I feel like you are entitled to a replacement HD2 as they twice have not returned a working HD2 to you.
Yes the HSPL utility by Cotulla does allow you to revert back to a factory SPL, but I suggest you use the SD card flashing method as it insures that you install the correct SPL for the ROM you flash, unless you know the correct SPL you had befor flashing any ROM to your HD2, this is the easiest eway of reverting your HD2 to total stock. One process vs two processes if you flash the ROM via USB.

The radio isn't the problem, if your issue was reception, or battery drain, then yea, it could be the radio, but the symptoms you describe can't be radio version related.
I'd be screaming @ the repair shop that sent you back a defective unit.

I do have an question from a friend of mine wondering about this: If he got an HTC HD2 T-Mobile version (unlocked), and he want to use the 3G AT&T bands (he is currently under their contract), is there a radio file he can use to unlock the bands so he can use the 3G network rather be stuck on EDGE? Also this is proven not to brick the device (a radio version that users on this site are using themselves to make this possible)?
If so, can someone point me in the right direction on acquiring the file? The device already has the HardSPL installed and it is running a cutomized Windows Mobile 6.5.3 ROM image (I did this for him so he can have the better ROM than the stock T-Mobile version). The SIM is unlocked as he is using it on AT&T but he is only on EDGE for now. Thank You very much

TKETZ196 said:
I do have an question from a friend of mine wondering about this: If he got an HTC HD2 T-Mobile version (unlocked), and he want to use the 3G AT&T bands (he is currently under their contract), is there a radio file he can use to unlock the bands so he can use the 3G network rather be stuck on EDGE? Also this is proven not to brick the device (a radio version that users on this site are using themselves to make this possible)?
If so, can someone point me in the right direction on acquiring the file? The device already has the HardSPL installed and it is running a cutomized Windows Mobile 6.5.3 ROM image (I did this for him so he can have the better ROM than the stock T-Mobile version). The SIM is unlocked as he is using it on AT&T but he is only on EDGE for now. Thank You very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can can not use ATT 3G bands on a tmobile HD2, it doesn't have the hardware to support it.

Hi,
Well an update, I took the phone to a local repair shop, and surprise surprise, the antenna wasn't even connected, it was broken in half the antenna clip, so I had to pay $200 to get that fixed....... the signal is good, but at times it will drop out, whether the initial breakage of the antenna caused it to be not so good even when repaired I don't know, they put a whole new antenna in though, maybe the refurbished board that HTC HK Put in (The repair guy said they use Refurb boards), is causing the problem.
So HTC is a slack company, that can't employ people to properly repair their phones, just putting it out there. They say they can't replace the phone.
I am thinking of selling this one and getting a T-Mobile one (I am in Australia), is there any advantage of getting a T-Mobile other than the added 1024mb Memory? Does it have better signal or run faster? I want another HD2 so wondering which flavor I should get if it comes to that.
Thanks.

Hi. I am not sure that the 1024 is limted on other devices if you hack the Bootloader and put in a different ROM version. I believe the official ROM for the devices native to your country locks out the remaining ROM space, as it may do with the amount of RAM as well. I would have to look that up. I assume that most HTC HD2 handsets would be built generally the same (with the exception of the GSM chip as I have been informed).
The T-Mobile version, i believe will not allow you to use the 3G bands in your country if you are using Telstra Wireless (unless it uses the 1700 mhz spectrum as well as the 850 for its 3G). In the USA the equivolent would be AT&T and i have also been informed that the T-Mobile version HD2 will not pick up the band, no matter what you may try to do (like flashing the radio firmware).

kidcash said:
Hi,
Well an update, I took the phone to a local repair shop, and surprise surprise, the antenna wasn't even connected, it was broken in half the antenna clip, so I had to pay $200 to get that fixed....... the signal is good, but at times it will drop out, whether the initial breakage of the antenna caused it to be not so good even when repaired I don't know, they put a whole new antenna in though, maybe the refurbished board that HTC HK Put in (The repair guy said they use Refurb boards), is causing the problem.
So HTC is a slack company, that can't employ people to properly repair their phones, just putting it out there. They say they can't replace the phone.
I am thinking of selling this one and getting a T-Mobile one (I am in Australia), is there any advantage of getting a T-Mobile other than the added 1024mb Memory? Does it have better signal or run faster? I want another HD2 so wondering which flavor I should get if it comes to that.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you live in Australia I suggest you get a Telstra HD2 if 3G is important to you. If not go for the T-Mobile HD2 it is great, but then again I have never used any other HD2.

Unlocked HTC Aria SIM problems

Howdy folks,
New to the Aria family - bought an unlocked Aria on eBay to use in Manitoba on MTS' new "4G" network. Brought it in today to get a new SIM card, but when we put the SIM card in... it got no service. They claimed it must not have been unlocked, so I brought it home with me and tried it with my wife's Rogers' SIM card from her iPhone... and a minute after plugging in the card - voila - it had signal and I could make calls. Head back to MTS, and try again - no love.
Any idea what might be causing this? Rogers and MTS both use 850/1900 frequencies, so it isn't that... the phone is running 2.1 stock as far as I can tell.

I don't see any reason why the Aria would not work for you. Is it an AT&T branded device? (i.e., has an AT&T logo on the front of the phone)

drumist said:
I don't see any reason why the Aria would not work for you. Is it an AT&T branded device? (i.e., has an AT&T logo on the front of the phone)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is - and there are AT&T apps and a "splash" screen on start-up... but one non-AT&T carrier SIM works (Rogers)...
Would it have anything to do with using a mini-SIM (like, not punched out from the normal size card)?

It shouldn't matter. I'd probably go back and try again with a different SIM. Maybe it was just bad or something.
Even if the phone is locked, it should tell you "Network locked" and ask for a PIN instead of saying there is no signal. Also make sure you are reattaching the back of the phone when trying it because otherwise your reception will be bad.
Edit: Here's a random video showing what it looks like if your phone is SIM locked. (This is not the Aria but it looks the same.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UV2ALQxUnI#t=44s

Yeah - then I would say my phone is NOT locked... as I had suspected.
I'd like to try a fresh SIM rather than using an already active one, perhaps.

Would the fact that Rogers uses 850/1900, and MTS only uses 850 be an issue here? I'm pretty sure the phone supports both...?

drumist said:
Also make sure you are reattaching the back of the phone when trying it because otherwise your reception will be bad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! That was the answer for me. Duh, didn't realize the antenna was part of the back.