Database Users

The best sbf for the US?

I cant seem to find a working sbf for the US. When I flash the UK I get a black screen, when I flash personal Argentina I get everything but I have no service. Can someone help me please? My network is the same as att. the Argentina says that the network is not supported.

Well, you may be out of luck as of now. If your baseband is not same as Personal Argentina (or similar LatAm ROMs) for which there is no root, you can't use baseband switcher and may just have to wait until those ROMs get a root option.

So there is no way back to my original sbf?

Shantarias said:
So there is no way back to my original sbf?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, at least not yet... You can't root nor apply other sbf, you're stuck with it until someone finds a way to change it.

Is it not possible to root through sbf files? I cant believe I spent all this money and now I have a paper weight.

Shantarias said:
Is it not possible to root through sbf files? I cant believe I spent all this money and now I have a paper weight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not possible... You can look at the discussion about Vivo BR and Personal AR In This Thread, although there's no solution yet.

OK, so will having another country's sbf make you now be able to use the phone? I get "Mobile Network not available".

Shantarias said:
OK, so will having another country's sbf make you now be able to use the phone? I get "Mobile Network not available".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's your carrier?
Brazil uses 850/900/1800 bands for GSM and 850/2100 bands for 3G.
Argentina uses the 850/1900, the same band AT&T uses.
I've been in the US and used my milestone 2 in AT&T network without any problem. It won't work in T Mobile, since it uses 1700/2100.
Try with an AT&T (or one MVNO which uses their network, like H2O Wireless) sim card to see if works.
Maybe you could try using Vivo BR sbf. Our phones in Brazil are all carrier unlocked nowadays.
HTH

I'm using Straight Talk which is on the ATT network. I have not been able to get the phone working no matter what I try. I have checked the settings over and over.

[Q] WIND Mobile Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900W8

First time forum user looking for some answers and a bit of help so thanks in advance for anything you can provide!
I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 from WIND Mobile in Canada. The model number was SM-N900W8. It seems although carriers know the device has the required bands, they limit listing them on their website if they do not support them and go one step further by having Samsung block the bands through some type of software cripple.
My concern is I use WIND Mobile when local and Telus Mobility when in fringe areas which WIND Mobile does not cover. Prior to buying this device from WIND outright, I confirmed with Samsung live chat support this specific model from WIND will support LTE on Telus. I was told I must first activate the device on WIND and they once I unlock the device, I can configure the Telus APN settings for use on the Telus network. When I do this, I get a max speed of 3G and in the network connections, it does not show: LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) but instead, the 3 original modes which you can select when on WIND Mobile: WCDMA/GSM (auto connect), WCDMA only and GSM only.
It seems as if the unlock and APN settings are the first 2 parts but in order for LTE to work, you must disable the cripple which Samsung has implemented for it's distribution to WIND Mobile since they do not support that frequency or radio band. My concern is it looks as if this must be done through a root or flash and I hear about phones getting bricked. I paid a lot of money for the device and cannot afford to damage it so do not know what options I have.
If I do enable LTE through a flash and then get an OTA Samsung update, will this remove the flash? How must I go about getting LTE enabled permanently without issue or is this not possible? Thank you for the help!

Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE

AllGamer said:
Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much. I will follow this guide word for word but is there any risk of bricking my phone like I have read so much about? The last thing I want to do is mess something up and have a paperweight.
If I root the device as suggested and receive an OTA notification from Samsung to update the software, will this lock everything again and make me go through the procedure all over again or will it be permanently enabled? Thanks!

AllGamer said:
Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I rooted the device and assume it was successful since I have the SU (Super User) App installed. I ran the TWRP file which I assume is the OS which enables all the crippling Samsung initially implemented when releasing this phone to WIND Mobile but the problem still stands. I have entered all the correct APN settings for Telus yet it still only provides a 3G connection. Have I done something wrong and can any of you gurus familiar with rooting and updating a custom OS provide some insight. Thanks!

I think I'm worse than a noob. At least they can figure this stuff out! I followed the quick root steps and the twrp steps but was I supposed to do something else to enable LTE? The phone is definitely rooted and has the SU App installed. TWRP just seems like a program which allows installation of a custom ROM directly from the device but I may be wrong. My concern is the TWRP file I downloaded looks as if it's a tar file which the phone loads allowing HSPA and LTE capability. If so, it did not work on my WIND device.

You can't get the OTA if you have custom recovery installed. I.e. TWRP or CWM. You gotta wait for custom roms. I don't know about the lte thing
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

cellrama said:
I think I'm worse than a noob. At least they can figure this stuff out! I followed the quick root steps and the twrp steps but was I supposed to do something else to enable LTE? The phone is definitely rooted and has the SU App installed. TWRP just seems like a program which allows installation of a custom ROM directly from the device but I may be wrong. My concern is the TWRP file I downloaded looks as if it's a tar file which the phone loads allowing HSPA and LTE capability. If so, it did not work on my WIND device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea you're totally wrong here man... not sure how to enable lte capability, but wind's network is hspa+ already so that's enabled.
i do know you have to unlock it, likely with a sim unlock code or getting someone to unlock it, but after that, the theory is, that it should work.....

WIND is 4G and I have unlocked the device already. I am using a Telus SIM card and have correctly entered the Telus APN settings for LTE but it does not show LTE as a network mode which I can select. Seems to me Samsung has crippled this band since WIND does not support it. Since I have rooted the device, which I probably didn't need to do, I was hoping to find a flash which will permanently enable the LTE so it will function on Telus.

To use Telus LTE you need to switch to the Telus SIM card
then it should read the Telus APN from it, if not you can enter the Telus LTE APN and it should use it

AllGamer said:
To use Telus LTE you need to switch to the Telus SIM card
then it should read the Telus APN from it, if not you can enter the Telus LTE APN and it should use it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done this already. The steps followed to date are as follows:
Purchased my WIND Mobile Galaxy Note 3 (model: SM-N900W8)
Unlocked the device through cellunlocker.net for 32.99 USD
Placed my Telus SIM into the device and it read the details. I was able to call and text without issue but did not have data connectivity. Contacted Telus and received the Telus LTE APN details and entered this information. Unfortunately, the network mode only shows 3 options: WCDMA/GSM (auto-connect), WCDMA only and GSM only.
There should be a fourth option for LTE capability but this is not displaying. I rooted my device and followed the TWRP step thinking this TWRP file was the rom to enable the LTE capability which seems to be locked but this is not the case. I am way off here but know it's probably something simple which I am missing!

yes, the 4th option for the LTE needs to flash another modem
i got it working here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46259468&postcount=39
find any of the Note 3 threads with flash-able modems, and flash the one from Puerto Rico that enables the LTE

AllGamer said:
yes, the 4th option for the LTE needs to flash another modem
i got it working here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46259468&postcount=39
find any of the Note 3 threads with flash-able modems, and flash the one from Puerto Rico that enables the LTE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To confirm your above statement, am I going to the following page and downloading the firmware for Puerto Rico?
http://www.samsungis.com/Firmwares/SM-N900W8.html
or must I locate a thread to download just modem firmware and then follow the same ODIN instructions as I did with the other files?
Thanks!

cellrama said:
To confirm your above statement, am I going to the following page and downloading the firmware for Puerto Rico?
http://www.samsungis.com/Firmwares/SM-N900W8.html
or must I locate a thread to download just modem firmware and then follow the same ODIN instructions as I did with the other files?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you only need the modem, you don't need to flash an entire ROM.
there was a reference topic with a list of downloads for all different modems for the Note 3 in the General section of this Note 3 portion of the forum. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714
they are still uploading all the different models, you you might want to wait a bit, or you can extract it on your own, if you know how to do that from an odin .tar file.

AllGamer said:
you only need the modem, you don't need to flash an entire ROM.
there was a reference topic with a list of downloads for all different modems for the Note 3 in the General section of this Note 3 portion of the forum. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714
they are still uploading all the different models, you you might want to wait a bit, or you can extract it on your own, if you know how to do that from an odin .tar file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Following the link you provided, it indicates the modem for model SM-N900W8 is "coming soon..." so it does not look like a modem is available for my model at this time. I tried looking for the Puerto Rico modem flash which you used but I do not see reference to it.
I was going to install the SM-N900W8 ROM for telus which would have the modem but as research indicates, if you install the wrong carrier ROM, you brick your device. I may have misinterpreted this but the last thing I wish to do is brick my device and have an expensive paper-weight in the end. Thanks again!

cellrama said:
I was going to install the SM-N900W8 ROM for telus which would have the modem but as research indicates, if you install the wrong carrier ROM, you brick your device. I may have misinterpreted this but the last thing I wish to do is brick my device and have an expensive paper-weight in the end. Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the Puerto Rico ROM is safe to flash
actually anything that is for the SM-N900W8 are safe to flash

AllGamer said:
the Puerto Rico ROM is safe to flash
actually anything that is for the SM-N900W8 are safe to flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I just got my phone unlocked with cellunlocker.net code, threw in a bell SIM and rebooted etc, it worked and was pretty quick but nothing too incredible. Was getting top download speeds of about 750kb/s (or 6mbps) whereas on wind I'd get about half that tops in my current location. My question here is, the phone said 3g....to me that seems way too fast for 3g but not nearly right for lte and I also couldn't see lte as an option for the bands. I assume that's cuz I still had the wind modem on the phone? Even when I went into the *#2263# screen to enable lte it still didn't work....
Any ideas? Should I flash the Puerto Rico Rom? Does it still work on wind bit just also let you use the lte radios when the correct SIM is in?

cellrama said:
Unlocked the device through cellunlocker.net for 32.99 USD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
asaqwert said:
So I just got my phone unlocked with cellunlocker.net code ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long did it take to get your unlock code with cellunlocker.net? Which device did you pick in the dropdown?
I got a quote for 14.99 but guessing you have to pay more for a secondary search later?
UPDATE:
Never mind just got the code and it worked Cost me 14.99.

Hi did you manage to enable the LTE bands on your phone. I am on the same boat, have a WIND note 3 and I would like to do the same.
Thank you

fidos said:
Hi did you manage to enable the LTE bands on your phone. I am on the same boat, have a WIND note 3 and I would like to do the same.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really new to this but hopefully this will clarify some info regarding WIND and please correct me should I be wrong. There are two things when working with a phone. Customization to the OS and proper data connection. If you wish to tweak your device, push it to the limits and customize your OS settings, you can root your device.
If you wish to just enable LTE so you can use it on an LTE capable network like Telus, Bell or Rogers in Canada, you must flash the proper modem file to enable LTE. As I understand, the Puerto Rico Modem Flash will allow you to enable LTE data on the WIND Mobile variant of the Note 3. You can get the Puerto Rico Modem Flash from Post #27 by AllGamer at the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714&page=3
I think this is safe but I'm waiting for clarification from AllGamer regarding what is meant by their statement "NOT for flashing!". Once confirmed, I'll update this post but if this works, I feel they should be thanked by clicking on the thank you button and a donation should be made for what you feel this information is worth and obviously, what you can afford. Without individuals like this, we would be at a stand still for modifications!
THANK YOU ALLGAMER FOR YOUR UNSELFISH DEMEANOR ON THE FORUM!

cellrama said:
I'm really new to this but hopefully this will clarify some info regarding WIND and please correct me should I be wrong. There are two things when working with a phone. Customization to the OS and proper data connection. If you wish to tweak your device, push it to the limits and customize your OS settings, you can root your device.
If you wish to just enable LTE so you can use it on an LTE capable network like Telus, Bell or Rogers in Canada, you must flash the proper modem file to enable LTE. As I understand, the Puerto Rico Modem Flash will allow you to enable LTE data on the WIND Mobile variant of the Note 3. You can get the Puerto Rico Modem Flash from Post #27 by AllGamer at the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714&page=3
I think this is safe but I'm waiting for clarification from AllGamer regarding what is meant by their statement "NOT for flashing!". Once confirmed, I'll update this post but if this works, I feel they should be thanked by clicking on the thank you button and a donation should be made for what you feel this information is worth and obviously, what you can afford. Without individuals like this, we would be at a stand still for modifications!
THANK YOU ALLGAMER FOR YOUR UNSELFISH DEMEANOR ON THE FORUM!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I am not sure why everything sounds so complicated.
I was able to flash a small file to my S4 (rogers) to enable the WIND bands. The phone did not need to be rooted, ODIN worked like a charm and my S4 became pentaband
This ordeal with the note 3 is not as straight forward. I have been following all your post but I see that you have not received any straight forward answers to your questions. I am not an expert when it comes to rooting or flashing so I would love a simple way of doing this.
Thank you again, lets hope that we will find an easy way to do this

Understanding flashing

Hi guys,
Just bought a galaxy s5 from my uncle who worked in Canada, the phone was locked to Telus Canada I unlocked it through unlockBase which was superfast and easy.. I have now really started using this phone and have now realised that the date format is different to what I usually use, I have done some research and found that an update stopped the ability to change it to prevent blackmarket sales or whatever.. I was thinking can I just flash a uk rom on the phone or not? But will it relock the phone? Also will rooting the phone enable me to change it? Although I don't wanna root because my online banking app won't work or WhatsApp?
Thanks in advance guys

Elliottreade said:
Hi guys,
Just bought a galaxy s5 from my uncle who worked in Canada, the phone was locked to Telus Canada I unlocked it through unlockBase which was superfast and easy.. I have now really started using this phone and have now realised that the date format is different to what I usually use, I have done some research and found that an update stopped the ability to change it to prevent blackmarket sales or whatever.. I was thinking can I just flash a uk rom on the phone or not? But will it relock the phone? Also will rooting the phone enable me to change it? Although I don't wanna root because my online banking app won't work or WhatsApp?
Thanks in advance guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is definitely one of the strangest reasons for rooting...
But since it's a Telus phone its definitely a G900W8. You can cross flash all and only G900w8 firmwares so i.e. you can flash Rogers on bell, wind on telus, sasktel on koodo, etc

justinxfan said:
This is definitely one of the strangest reasons for rooting...
But since it's a Telus phone its definitely a G900W8. You can cross flash all and only G900w8 firmwares so i.e. you can flash Rogers on bell, wind on telus, sasktel on koodo, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, yes rooting was the last option as some apps won't work.. so if i was to flash it i would only be able to use telus firmware which is US could I flash a UK firmware on it? And if I was to flash it would it still stay unlocked or will it need reunlocking?
EDIT: done some more research.. will changing the csc code on my phone to one of a uk firmware, then installing a uk firmware work?

Elliottreade said:
Thanks for the reply, yes rooting was the last option as some apps won't work.. so if i was to flash it i would only be able to use telus firmware which is US could I flash a UK firmware on it? And if I was to flash it would it still stay unlocked or will it need reunlocking?
EDIT: done some more research.. will changing the csc code on my phone to one of a uk firmware, then installing a uk firmware work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope because anything outside of Canada uses a completely different phone model and flashing between different models will likely lead to a bricked phone (phone is damaged unrecoverable)

Flashing international Firmware

Hello everyone,
yesterday, a family member gifted me an s7 from the USA (SM-G930P). He bought the phone off SPRINT as a SPRINT unlocked version, and, of course, because I live in Europe and want to use the phone with a European SIM card I have the "hands free activation" mark that is sitting on the top left edge of the display. I also noticed some changes, for example the "mobile data" toggle is nowhere to be found and also I don't have the options to choose the network mode (2G/3G/4G). I love the phone and I also would like to keep using it, I only need some answers from you guys.
My first question is, if the phone will actually let me use 4G network with my European SIM card, or will I be limited to 3G?
My second question is, If I can flash an international firmware for another carrier and another country on the phone, and if so, will I have the advantages of that firmware, like the Mobile Data Toggle??
Thank you very much for your answers.

If you install the 'Network' app you might be able to change the network type.
In general you should be able to use an unlocked P variant with a foreign SIM but you may have to activate with a Sprint SIM first.
You can't flash the international version since it's Exynos and the P version is Qualcomm CPU.
I am not sure if this model has Samsung region lock which is another thing to consider.
If I was you I would try to flash the U firmware (US unlocked) as it has the most support for international 4G bands among the Qualcomm US models. It also doesn't have all of the Sprint bloatware on it.

myphone12345 said:
If you install the 'Network' app you might be able to change the network type.
In general you should be able to use an unlocked P variant with a foreign SIM but you may have to activate with a Sprint SIM first.
You can't flash the international version since it's Exynos and the P version is Qualcomm CPU.
I am not sure if this model has Samsung region lock which is another thing to consider.
If I was you I would try to flash the U firmware (US unlocked) as it has the most support for international 4G bands among the Qualcomm US models. It also doesn't have all of the Sprint bloatware on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I am currently using the European Sim from my carrier and I have no problems with it. I managed to get rid of the Bloatware by using Package Disabler Pro, but it still sits there somewhere on my phone. So far, the phone is working very well and other than the bloat sitting on my memory and the lack of LTE, I have no complaints.
Can you tell me if someone has tried to flash the U firmware on a P model with success?

KingFoltest said:
Thank you for your reply. I am currently using the European Sim from my carrier and I have no problems with it. I managed to get rid of the Bloatware by using Package Disabler Pro, but it still sits there somewhere on my phone. So far, the phone is working very well and other than the bloat sitting on my memory and the lack of LTE, I have no complaints.
Can you tell me if someone has tried to flash the U firmware on a P model with success?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone was 930p now it's using 930U it runs significantly better on the 930U variant

vegoja said:
My phone was 930p now it's using 930U it runs significantly better on the 930U variant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell me how you did it, or link me a guide??

I had bought an unlocked Sprint galaxy S7 (930P) off ebay which died on me. Got it repaired from the service center and they sent me a locked device instead. The phone is currently on Software Version - G930PVPS4BQC1 and the hardware revision is Rev 0.6. I'll be using the phone in India and have a few questions.
1. I need to get this SIM unlocked from a service online. Does anyone know of a reliable place to do so?
2. If I flash the U Rom on it after unlocking it, will I lose the unlock? (I don't mind downgrading from Nougat to Marshmallow)
3. Should I unlock first then flash the ROM or flash the ROM first and then try to get it unlocked?
4. Will flashing the ROM directly unlock the phone itself?
Please advise.

...
you could try gsm zambia to unlock your phone it works i tried it myself a few days ago, also after my phone got unlocked i flash the U firmware/rom and the unlocked remained. so you should unlock your device first then flash the U firmware :good:
PS. if you one nougat better to downgrade if you can do marshmallow so when you wont have any issues flashing to U firmware. :cool
2kool2btrue said:
I had bought an unlocked Sprint galaxy S7 (930P) off ebay which died on me. Got it repaired from the service center and they sent me a locked device instead. The phone is currently on Software Version - G930PVPS4BQC1 and the hardware revision is Rev 0.6. I'll be using the phone in India and have a few questions.
1. I need to get this SIM unlocked from a service online. Does anyone know of a reliable place to do so?
2. If I flash the U Rom on it after unlocking it, will I lose the unlock? (I don't mind downgrading from Nougat to Marshmallow)
3. Should I unlock first then flash the ROM or flash the ROM first and then try to get it unlocked?
4. Will flashing the ROM directly unlock the phone itself?
Please advise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Flashing stock firmware on carrier locked phone

Hey everyone! I'm somewhat new to XDA (as in this is my first time creating/posting a thread) but I've decided this is the best place to get some help.
So, I have a carrier locked G935W8 Fido phone, and I was wondering if it was possible to install the stock G935W8 firmware from sammobile. I have read around that flashing the stock firmware works after the phone is unlocked, but what if it is still carrier locked? Can I still flash the stock G935W8? Or will I brick my device? My phone is not rooted btw.
Thanks to anyone that can help me out!

Welcome to XDA
yes, you can flash stock firmware as long as it is for the locked carrier.
Other firmware will work but the imei maybe effected.

Cosmic Blue said:
Welcome to XDA
yes, you can flash stock firmware as long as it is for the locked carrier.
Other firmware will work but the imei maybe effected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that's the thing. I want to flash the unlocked Canadian firmware, as in the one with no carrier bloatware. Will that be possible and have the phone working 100%?

I'm afraid I don't have an answer to your question, but I just did the carrier unlock on my new G935W8 a few days ago using basically the first website to come up in a google search. $25 USD; waited about 18 hours to get the code. You don't have to rely on your carrier (with their insane fees and/or waiting periods) to unlock your phone; might as well just do it. Having an unlocked phone is very handy if you travel at all.

shadowdude123 said:
Well, that's the thing. I want to flash the unlocked Canadian firmware, as in the one with no carrier bloatware. Will that be possible and have the phone working 100%?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, it will work for most things 100 %. volte may not work as it requires a carrier branded firmware.
you will probably have to enter the number for your voice mail manually and settings for internet as that is in the carrier branding.

Cosmic Blue said:
yes, it will work for most things 100 %. volte may not work as it requires a carrier branded firmware.
you will probably have to enter the number for your voice mail manually and settings for internet as that is in the carrier branding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you everyone for your help! Just a question, what do you mean by settings for internet? As in data/LTE?