[Q] Baseband Switcher Purpose - Defy Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

This may sound like a stupid question, but I have the defy and am planning on buying a Galaxy Nexus. This is something I´ve always wondered, but now it´s more of a concern since I´m buying a GNex from the US (Unlocked, unblocked and unblured!!) and am planning to use it in Argentina. So the doubt came up:
1-)Why does the Motorola Defy need a baseband switcher (if supposedly it´s a Quad band phone)?
2-)Do other phones (like the Google GNex) need to switch basebands as well to work in other countries/areas?

IonAphis said:
This may sound like a stupid question, but I have the defy and am planning on buying a Galaxy Nexus. This is something I´ve always wondered, but now it´s more of a concern since I´m buying a GNex from the US (Unlocked, unblocked and unblured!!) and am planning to use it in Argentina. So the doubt came up:
1-)Why does the Motorola Defy need a baseband switcher (if supposedly it´s a Quad band phone)?
2-)Do other phones (like the Google GNex) need to switch basebands as well to work in other countries/areas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its needed when running a custom ROM. The custom ROM's need that as the communication channel of the service providers vary. Baseband switcher, in a sense calibrate your radio to a particular range of frequencies.
As for GNexus, If you run it on stock, and its unlocked,I don't think you'll need a baseband switcher.

Related

Purpose of Unlocking baseband of Nexus One?

I never fully unlocked any of my iPhones...but what purpose would unlocking the baseband of the Nexus One serve? Is it only meant to be used by people that didn't get the Nexus unlocked?
Basically what I'm wondering is if there's a possibility of altering the wave lengths of the baseband to make use of AT&T's 3G. It would theoretically be possible to reprogram the radio to send/receive on the different wave length...but I'm absolutely not programmer-savvy enough to do it.
I was also thinking something along this line: A company should create a case that integrates an AT&T-capable radio that would work with an app they design to basically enable 3G over AT&T. It would definitely be possible...
hotleadsingerguy said:
I never fully unlocked any of my iPhones...but what purpose would unlocking the baseband of the Nexus One serve? Is it only meant to be used by people that didn't get the Nexus unlocked?
Basically what I'm wondering is if there's a possibility of altering the wave lengths of the baseband to make use of AT&T's 3G. It would theoretically be possible to reprogram the radio to send/receive on the different wave length...but I'm absolutely not programmer-savvy enough to do it.
I was also thinking something along this line: A company should create a case that integrates an AT&T-capable radio that would work with an app they design to basically enable 3G over AT&T. It would definitely be possible...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its the BOOTLOADER you can unlock, not the baseband. The baseband doesnt need unlocking because the phone is already SIM unlocked.
Also no baseband unlock can make your antennae support new frequencies. this is a hardware limitation.
melterx12 said:
its the BOOTLOADER you can unlock, not the baseband. The baseband doesnt need unlocking because the phone is already SIM unlocked.
Also no baseband unlock can make your antennae support new frequencies. this is a hardware limitation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I knew nothing can make an antenna support new frequencies, but my question was whether the radio could support the frequencies but was only locked out of them.
I was just wondering if that were the case and if so, if it would be possible to remove that lock.
melterx12 said:
its the BOOTLOADER you can unlock, not the baseband. The baseband doesnt need unlocking because the phone is already SIM unlocked.
Also no baseband unlock can make your antennae support new frequencies. this is a hardware limitation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Agreed
2. The radio they use in the N1 supports the AT&T 3G frequencies, but it's locked out on the chip. That's why there's speculation that someone will hack a way to get 3G enabled on the device, but it will have to be modified somehow. (not physically, it's similar to how the wireless N is disabled on the HD2)
--
Someone will come along with an unlock for the freq. eventually if it's possible, I'd assume it would be, but you never know.
The only reason I made this topic was because there was another topic named "Unlocking baseband..." and I figured they used the correct terminology.
I knew unlocking the bootloader is the common thing, but I figured someone had actually figured out how to unlock the baseband to the point where they could unlock and use the AT&T 3G frequencies. That's why I came up with the questions.
JareduPS said:
1. Agreed
2. The radio they use in the N1 supports the AT&T 3G frequencies, but it's locked out on the chip. That's why there's speculation that someone will hack a way to get 3G enabled on the device, but it will have to be modified somehow. (not physically, it's similar to how the wireless N is disabled on the HD2)
--
Someone will come along with an unlock for the freq. eventually if it's possible, I'd assume it would be, but you never know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did u get the info that the At&t radio frequency is just locked on nexus one? I'm gonna call shinanigans on that one.
A) There is no way that google would lock extra frequencies....it would just help them to get at&t customers......there is no logic there what so ever.
B) I don't believe there is any chip that supports both TMobile and At&t 3g frequencies in production. Therefore this is not even possible
Svegetto said:
Where did u get the info that the At&t radio frequency is just locked on nexus one? I'm gonna call shinanigans on that one.
A) There is no way that google would lock extra frequencies....it would just help them to get at&t customers......there is no logic there what so ever.
B) I don't believe there is any chip that supports both TMobile and At&t 3g frequencies in production. Therefore this is not even possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually sometime after creating this topic I found another with a long list of spec sheets and such and they found out that the radio *does* support the frequencies but they believed that only the T-Mobile frequencies are amplified (meaning the AT&T frequencies would be fairly useless)

[Q] Telstra Galaxy Tab

Hey guys
I have one of the Telstra Galaxy Tabs, and basically want to work a few things out with it.
First off I gather, with mention of all the carrier-specific or gsm/CDMA Specific ROMs, this has something to do with a radio or some such being included?
The Telstra "Next G" Network, which the Tab is used on, is basically 3g on 850mhz. Which of the types would this come under?
I have "Some" experience with flashing/ROMs/etc, namely on my Desire, so I am no expert by any means (Defo wanting to learn, and have learnt a lot from here so far ) but I do have a small amount of experience.
Thanks guys.
So, the community round here will answer questions for people that have obviously not bothered to search and ask the same stupid crap over and over and over, yet someone who has done a LOT of research, and is legitimately confused over a terminology issue (because technically it ISNT GSM or CDMA if you learn how the networks actually work) and just wants a simple answer to a simple question, just gets totally ignored?
Great to see guys, Great to see.
850 would be like att
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App
GSM radio hardware is largely irrelevant, the hardware does the heavy lifting, the firmware doesn't care that it is, as long as it supports the right protocols.
Telstra uses a GSM/HSDPA/WCDMA network. In most cases, this is the case if your device has a SIM card.
The Tab sold here is essentially the standard UK version. If Telstra has an 850/2100Mhz HSDPA version then that could potentially be different. If you can root it using SuperOneClick, then run a complete firmware backup and try updating with another GSM firmware (e.g. RotoHammers JME) and see how you go. Before doing so, check that the device is unlocked, check if it can be rooted, determine the existing firmware/modem versions and the CSC version. It may be a custom firmware, it may not.
Your "LOT of research" was obviously fairly deficient if it hadn't ruled out Telstra using a CDMA network. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstra
corodius said:
Hey guys
I have one of the Telstra Galaxy Tabs, and basically want to work a few things out with it.
First off I gather, with mention of all the carrier-specific or gsm/CDMA Specific ROMs, this has something to do with a radio or some such being included?
The Telstra "Next G" Network, which the Tab is used on, is basically 3g on 850mhz. Which of the types would this come under?
I have "Some" experience with flashing/ROMs/etc, namely on my Desire, so I am no expert by any means (Defo wanting to learn, and have learnt a lot from here so far ) but I do have a small amount of experience.
Thanks guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey mate, i have a telstra tab, on original firmware (jj3 i think) i would only ever get 3g..
After flashing rotos jme + the phone.bin, i now get hspa most the time.
Rotos firmware works perfectly, but as always backup everything
Posted by knightnz:
GSM radio hardware is largely irrelevant, the hardware does the heavy lifting, the firmware doesn't care that it is, as long as it supports the right protocols.
Telstra uses a GSM/HSDPA/WCDMA network. In most cases, this is the case if your device has a SIM card.
The Tab sold here is essentially the standard UK version. If Telstra has an 850/2100Mhz HSDPA version then that could potentially be different. If you can root it using SuperOneClick, then run a complete firmware backup and try updating with another GSM firmware (e.g. RotoHammers JME) and see how you go. Before doing so, check that the device is unlocked, check if it can be rooted, determine the existing firmware/modem versions and the CSC version. It may be a custom firmware, it may not.
Your "LOT of research" was obviously fairly deficient if it hadn't ruled out Telstra using a CDMA network. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstra
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, The network you are referencing is actually the "Telstra 3g" Network used only in the capital cities around here. The network my Tab is used on/made for is the "Next G" Network. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_G is the specific network. As you can see, it is technically not GSM at all, it is UMTS, and actually replaced our old CDMA network. So, this is where my confusion was coming in. But, if I have this correct, it is used as a basic term, meaning GSM = Sim Card and CDMA = No Sim Card (like our old CDMA network, phone itself is coded to the number/network type thing, which to be honest I didn't realise still even existed) yeah?
Cheers for clearing that up
As for the freqs, if I do a *#2263# the 3 WCDMA bands that are starred are 850mhz 1900mhz and 2100mhz. The GSM Fallback shows GSM 850 GSM 900 DCS 1800 PCS 1900 all starred. (Yes I did realise this before, I explained why I was confused with the terms hehe) The main band I have to worry about really is 850mhz though, on the WCDMA side, as you would have seen from the link.
Well, the device can be rooted with Z4Root at least, that is what I have used to root the device. This is exactly what I intend to try, once I am sure I understand everything. Does not hurt to read and re-read until one is definately comfortable with the steps, and I like to understand what every part is that I am doing.
Posted by natious:
Hey mate, i have a telstra tab, on original firmware (jj3 i think) i would only ever get 3g..
After flashing rotos jme + the phone.bin, i now get hspa most the time.
Rotos firmware works perfectly, but as always backup everything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be 100% sure, that is the one here? And you are on the Next G Network? (I assume so with the 850mhz band etc, I thought this would work, but doesn't hurt to be sure I am looking at the right one you are talking about hehe.)
I can confirm the original firmware is JJ3, with phone calling capabilities etc.
Of course, backups always come first, always.
Thank you heaps for the info.
Also, if there is any part of this device's firmware etc that would be helpful in any way to the devs, I would be happy to extract anything needed from a rotobackup or whatever. I won't be flashing it straight away, and definately not before a full backup anyway.
(edit:spelling)
HI mate, how did you go with the flash?
I'm thinking of doing this as well, but just want to see if anybody has noticed any difference (for the better that is).
I have n Australian telstra tab on the next g network, and flashing a rom was the best thing I ever did
swyped from a galaxy far far away...
Hey, not trying to hijack this thread, although I too just got a SGT for the wife from Optus this morning and playing around with it and keen to hack.
Mine came with the following
PDA : P1000XWJJ4
PHONE : P1000XXJID
CSC : P1000OPSJJ3
Build Time : 2010.10.16 20:35:06 KST
Changelist : 639474
Firmware 2.2
Kernel Version : 2.6.32.9
Keen to know what is the best rom for us here down under, i'm, off to root me SGT.
Cheers
Kosti
For the optus tab any euro rom will work i started with the modaco rom and kernal then moved to the overcome rom and kernal. Both ran prefectly just make a backup to be safe.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
snoopXR6 said:
For the optus tab any euro rom will work i started with the modaco rom and kernal then moved to the overcome rom and kernal. Both ran prefectly just make a backup to be safe.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks heaps!
I did try to root it, and used OneClick, when 1st time round it sort of worked, then I tried it again with the rageagainstcage option and busybox installed this time round.
Next is off to grab overcome rom, will try and do a backup but only have a 1G card atm
Again thanks and sorry to the OP for the hijack
PEACE
Kosti

[Q] Baseband switcher for Defy+

Looking to upgrade and get the Defy + as I am nearly out on my contract on my original defy and have had it for 2 years now.
Was looking on buying a defy + and taking it to Canada and get a sim over there to use. Just wanted to know if I can use the baseband switcher and use my defy I am going to purchase in England abroad in Canada.
Don't want to pay lots of money and find out it will be ineffective in Canada.
All help appreciated.
Baseband switcher only helps in changing your baseband to make it compatible with any country sim. It doesnt unlocks your cell for enabling your cell to use any other sim.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA
To save yourself from trouble you should buy the unlocked defy+. But if you get the locked one, you could try to unlock it on swiftunlock.net for a few bucks.
Even the cheapest phone that you can't use, costs a lots of money
No its not locked to a certain provider. I was just wondering does a English phone work in Canada. It's unlocked, so your saying it will work? If I just change the baseband to I think it will be international baseband. There isn't a Canada baseband I don't think.
So in theory buy a phone here (unlocked) And change the baseband so it works in Canada and use a Canadian providers sim. Thanks for all the help.
Defy + has a quad-band witch means you can use it (pretty much) all over the world. Worse case scenario, what I certainly doubt, you'll have to use a baseband switcher.
What about the Defy. Can that be used in Canada too? Is it a quad band phone? Might save my self a few pounds and keep my original defy.
Thanks for the help guys.
williambrown188 said:
What about the Defy. Can that be used in Canada too? Is it a quad band phone? Might save my self a few pounds and keep my original defy.
Thanks for the help guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But of course it can. Defy+ is (to put it simple) slightly modified defy with larger battery capacity. You could, for just in case, install baseband switcher before you sail away . Keep in mind that your defy has to be rooted for that.
Have a good trip
When I try to change frequencies with cyanogen baseband settings, the phone loses signal. I tried with basebandswitcher also, but didn't work, they didn't change frequencies and the phone lost signal. Do you know why?
I have a Defy+ with cm9:
CM9-NIGHTLY-120516-Defy+.zip (Epsylon3 version)
With cm7 occurs the same.
The cellphone settings box says: WCDMA 900/2100 but i am trying to change it to 850/1900 (Colombia setting). Motorola Defy+ is QuadBand in HSDPA? Should these programs work with Defy+? Thanks
Maybe you should try fix for Argentina users from this thread.

New S4 Recommendations

I'm looking to buy a new phone but don't want/need the latest and greatest. I'm happy with the performance of my HTC One Mini, my work HTC One X/XL and my wife's S4 Active, all AT&T phones used in the U.S. My One Mini just suffered a horrible mountain bike crash which busted the screen up pretty bad, then too, my old eyes are tired of that tiny screen. I've also had bad luck with the built in battery and lack of SD card slot. So I was thinking S4 would be ok by me. Asking on the device forum I've gotten 50-11 answers some of which are conflicting answers. I was thinking the i9505 would be the right phone until someone piped up stating it wouldn't work on LTE here. From all I've seen it looks to me like that senior member don't know what they're talking about. Here's my criteria:
1. 4.5" to 5" screen
2. Unlocked/unlockable and can easily accept custom ROMs
3. Prefer to stick with a Kit Kat Rom as it gets along with my Do Not Disturb app better than Lollipop due to the built-in app on Lollipop
4. Removable battery
5. SD Slot
6. LTE service on AT&T/T-Mobile and Caribbean and South American Countries
7. Custom ROM must allow hotspot w/o AT&T controlling my use (I have unlimited internet on my plan and want to make use of it)
Background: I'm almost green having only installed a custom ROM on my work phone an HTC One X/XL from AT&T. Apparently it's one of the harder phones to unlock the bootloader and permanent Root is impossible I think. I 1st installed CM12.1 on the HTC ONE X and ran into conflicts and buggy operations. After a few weeks of testing I backed it up, wiped it and installed CM11 which I truly like. No experience or much understanding of KNOX, ODIN or ODEX. I only read bits and pieces on those while trying to figure out which S4 variant will fit my need. Lastly, were can I get a new phone off contract? Anybody purchased from www.Cell2Get.com? I was about to buy this phone prior to the member claiming it wouldn't work on AT&T.
http://www.cell2get.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9505-16gb-unlocked-gsm-android-cell-phone-p-5122.html
IRBent said:
I'm looking to buy a new phone but don't want/need the latest and greatest. I'm happy with the performance of my HTC One Mini, my work HTC One X/XL and my wife's S4 Active, all AT&T phones used in the U.S. My One Mini just suffered a horrible mountain bike crash which busted the screen up pretty bad, then too, my old eyes are tired of that tiny screen. I've also had bad luck with the built in battery and lack of SD card slot. So I was thinking S4 would be ok by me. Asking on the device forum I've gotten 50-11 answers some of which are conflicting answers. I was thinking the i9505 would be the right phone until someone piped up stating it wouldn't work on LTE here. From all I've seen it looks to me like that senior member don't know what they're talking about. Here's my criteria:
1. 4.5" to 5" screen
2. Unlocked/unlockable and can easily accept custom ROMs
3. Prefer to stick with a Kit Kat Rom as it gets along with my Do Not Disturb app better than Lollipop due to the built-in app on Lollipop
4. Removable battery
5. SD Slot
6. LTE service on AT&T/T-Mobile and Caribbean and South American Countries
7. Custom ROM must allow hotspot w/o AT&T controlling my use (I have unlimited internet on my plan and want to make use of it)
Background: I'm almost green having only installed a custom ROM on my work phone an HTC One X/XL from AT&T. Apparently it's one of the harder phones to unlock the bootloader and permanent Root is impossible I think. I 1st installed CM12.1 on the HTC ONE X and ran into conflicts and buggy operations. After a few weeks of testing I backed it up, wiped it and installed CM11 which I truly like. No experience or much understanding of KNOX, ODIN or ODEX. I only read bits and pieces on those while trying to figure out which S4 variant will fit my need. Lastly, were can I get a new phone off contract? Anybody purchased from www.Cell2Get.com? I was about to buy this phone prior to the member claiming it wouldn't work on AT&T.
http://www.cell2get.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9505-16gb-unlocked-gsm-android-cell-phone-p-5122.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- AT&T has it's own variant of the S4. It's called the "SGH-I337".
- The I9505 will not work with LTE on the AT&T network. It support different bands. So the member was correct. You can see it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4#Model_variants
- The "SGH-I337" has a locked bootloader and cannot be unlocked. Only some old devices will have an unlocked bootloader because they never upgraded their software. Thus you cannot use custom roms like CM.
Lennyz1988 said:
- AT&T has it's own variant of the S4. It's called the "SGH-I337".
- The I9505 will not work with LTE on the AT&T network. It support different bands. So the member was correct. You can see it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4#Model_variants
- The "SGH-I337" has a locked bootloader and cannot be unlocked. Only some old devices will have an unlocked bootloader because they never upgraded their software. Thus you cannot use custom roms like CM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is the GT-I9505G the preferred phone to have and to mod and if so, can I buy new one without getting a fake?
"Google Play Edition
At the Google I/O 2013 keynote, Samsung and Google revealed that an edition of the U.S. S4 would be released on June 26, 2013 through Google Play, initially featuring stock Android 4.2.2, later updated to 4.4.4, with Samsung provided updates; it has an unlockable bootloader (similar to Nexus devices) and supports LTE on AT&T and T-Mobile's networks. The model number is GT-I9505G."
I'm likely "that member", because I have an I9505 (not I9505G) running on Straight Talk, which is a US MVNO that rents bandwidth from all the major US carriers. The I9505 will not work on LTE here in the US because the LTE frequencies used worldwide (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20) are not the frequencies used by the carriers here in the US. The I9505G is a different story. It has the LTE frequencies needed to work here in the US, and does not have Touchwiz as it uses stock Android.
You can't purchase one new because they've been discontinued for some time now. You may want to check out Swappa (link at the top of the page) and see if they have a used one you can purchase.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I'm likely "that member", because I have an I9505 (not I9505G) running on Straight Talk, which is a US MVNO that rents bandwidth from all the major US carriers. The I9505 will not work on LTE here in the US because the LTE frequencies used worldwide (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20) are not the frequencies used by the carriers here in the US. The I9505G is a different story. It has the LTE frequencies needed to work here in the US, and does not have Touchwiz as it uses stock Android.
You can't purchase one new because they've been discontinued for some time now. You may want to check out Swappa (link at the top of the page) and see if they have a used one you can purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really good and interesting reply. Being new to this stuff and having not kept up with cellphone technology, some of the things you guys just know, I'm having to try to understand. At first I assumed all 9505's were the same, but apparently I was wrong there. Then I also thought that since most cellphone review sites showed a plethora of Freq. and bands, with at least on or two being those that AT&T and most other North American GSM carriers use, I assume that meant I could get that model of phone. little did I know that those two lines of freqs and bands were for different versions of that same model, one for here and being a carrier locked phone and the other line being and international phone without the proper band for use here. So now after learning that difference it appears to me that there may be now way possible to purchase a new S4 and turn it into a custom ROM phone. So if I understand you and the carrier stuff correctly, you're using a plain 9505 and piggybacking off AT&T by way of StraightTalk like so many of us do. However since your phone is an international version you don't have LTE, is that right? One last thing I've yet to read or learn about but saw when I was putting CM11 and 12.1 on my HTC One X/XL (AT&T), I kept seeing stuff about "the radio". The way it read made me think they were NOT talking about an FM radio for music, but the freqs the phone itself uses. I think I recall them flashing "radios" which I assume they meant they were able to change the original freqs/bands that the model came with to one more useful here. Is that something that truly exists and can be done even on an S4 variant? My assumption is that it CANNOT be done or else you'd have done so already on your i9505.
IRBent said:
So if I understand you and the carrier stuff correctly, you're using a plain 9505 and piggybacking off AT&T by way of StraightTalk like so many of us do. However since your phone is an international version you don't have LTE, is that right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
IRBent said:
My assumption is that it CANNOT be done or else you'd have done so already on your i9505.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again correct. With Samsung, their firmware loading software, Odin, actually checks and makes sure the parts of the firmware match the model of the S4 connected to the PC. If they don't match, Odin will instantly fail. The only way to try and enable LTE on the I9505 is to delve into the low-level firmware for the LTE chip and attempt to rewrite it so it can see the added frequencies. However, I don't recommend it. Not only is it a very intricate process compared to something like rooting, it's also quite possible that you could render the LTE chip non-functional. I tried it, and nearly lost the ability to use my phone at all due to having my phone's SIM lock restored.
If you do decide to get an S4, an I9505G is likely your best bet. Not only does it have the AT&T frequencies, it's also got an unlocked bootloader (unlike the AT&T model) and is also carrier unlocked right out of the box. That last means you can use it on T-Mobile and carriers which use GSM SIM cards. Other choices would be the T-Mobile S4 (SGH-M919) or the North American S4 (SGH-I337M). All these phones include the AT&T frequencies and also have an unlocked bootloader so customization is easier.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
If you do decide to get an S4, an I9505G is likely your best bet. Not only does it have the AT&T frequencies, it's also got an unlocked bootloader (unlike the AT&T model) and is also carrier unlocked right out of the box. That last means you can use it on T-Mobile and carriers which use GSM SIM cards. Other choices would be the T-Mobile S4 (SGH-M919) or the North American S4 (SGH-I337M). All these phones include the AT&T frequencies and also have an unlocked bootloader so customization is easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thank you so much sir. This answer is direct and explains exactly what I wanted to know. I only wish it were possible to purchase one of those models new so I could ensure years of use void of glitches due to possible abuse by the previous owner. If I can't find one of the above models I will probably be looking for some other make/model, preferably a new phone not used. Do you know if it's possible to get a new phone that meets the criteria below?
1. Unlocked bootloader or one that can be unlocked
2. Removable battery
3. 4.7" - 5" screen
4. SD card
5. Capable of being used as a hotspot ( I have unlimited internet but need to thwart AT&T from controlling my use)
6. Rootable and custom ROM capable
7. Can be used in U.S, South America and Caribbean (I think most of those places all use the same freqs/bands as U.S.)
That is why on Swappa you search for the ones labeled Mint or New. My device was Mint off Swappa, and the main reasons were that it was always in a case, and had a tempered glass screen protector installed.
For a current flagship-level device, looking at your laundry list, I believe you need to adjust your expectations. Not because of the software, but because of the hardware. LG is perhaps the only manufacturer still offering both removable batteries and MicroSD card slots, but their flagship device has a larger screen than you want. Motorola doesn't have removable batteries. Google provides neither, just like Samsung. Sony is an unknown, but their devices are not common here in the US.
Your best option is to go with a larger screen size and get an LG G4. If you absolutely MUST have the smaller screen, then you want a used Galaxy S4 or S5, so long as they aren't AT&T devices.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
For a current flagship-level device, looking at your laundry list, I believe you need to adjust your expectations. Not because of the software, but because of the hardware. LG is perhaps the only manufacturer still offering both removable batteries and MicroSD card slots, but their flagship device has a larger screen than you want. Motorola doesn't have removable batteries. Google provides neither, just like Samsung. Sony is an unknown, but their devices are not common here in the US.
Your best option is to go with a larger screen size and get an LG G4. If you absolutely MUST have the smaller screen, then you want a used Galaxy S4 or S5, so long as they aren't AT&T devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I should have made it clear too that flagships, latest and greatest wasn't necessary. I'm happy with the speeds my older HTC ONE X and HTC ONE Mini supply. But closing in on 50 years old, my eyes and the Mini's screen don't get along so well anymore.
If you have bad eyesight, a bigger screen can be a godsend.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
If you have bad eyesight, a bigger screen can be a godsend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I need a bigger screen but a smaller phone because my hands can't reach around my HTC ONE Mini. Sometimes it sucks being 5'4". LOL
IRBent said:
Exactly. I need a bigger screen but a smaller phone because my hands can't reach around my HTC ONE Mini. Sometimes it sucks being 5'4". LOL
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Click to collapse
I would not recommend someone buying the S4 anymore. It was and still is a great phone, but newer models are just way better. The battery life is to short with the standard battery.
Based on your preferences I would recommend one of the following:
- LG Nexus 5
- Oneplus one
- Motorola X Play
But then again, maybe they are to big for you. The LG is the smallest but doesn't have a sd slot.
Lennyz1988 said:
Based on your preferences I would recommend one of the following:
- LG Nexus 5
- Oneplus one
- Motorola X Play
But then again, maybe they are to big for you. The LG is the smallest but doesn't have a sd slot.
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Click to collapse
Amazing discovery by me just now. Yes, I've seen folks here talk about the brand OnePlus but I didn't know who or what OnePlus was until just now. I used to keep up with all things electronics related, reading review sites and forums like this. 10 years ago or so a DVD manufacturer named OPPO was the talk. Excellent brand but unheard of. I just learned that OnePlus is a company started by an OPPO founder. I'm so out of the loop.

Want to move from Sprint to T-Mobile... too much info, need short answer

I'm kind of newb at this S7 stuff, I'm more of an HTC guy. Yesterday, I bought an unlocked G930P (sprint) and am not sure, but think I learned that normally, people don't change out the ROMs to use a different carrier, they simply unlock the phone and live with the old carrier's bloatware. I started reading up, and first learned that TWRP apparently isn't available on a Snapdragon processor, so the G930A, G930P, etc, aren't candidates for TWRP. At first, I was kind of dismayed. Then, I found the G930U ROM and on a whim, I tried punting the G930U ROM to the G930P. I bought the phone off craigslist, and he said he didn't know where HE got it from, but it was unlocked. Anyhow, the phone took the rom without a hitch and now it looks like a U model...
My goal: Go with T-Mobile. Use Wi-Fi calling. Eventually have Nougat. Remove bloatware, but possibly keep some nice T-Mobile add-ons, if any, because I don't have their service yet (I hated ATT's crapload of stuff). Note this isn't specifically a "TMobile" question, substitute your carrier of choice for the questions...
Get to the damned question, you say? Ok, here goes:
1. I'm not going to ask any "do these bands work" when moving from a P model to T mobile. You guys seem to fight about that stuff until you can't type any longer. I'm going to assume what whatever bands work, that's what I get. Unless I get a T-Mobile specific phone.
2. But I will ask this: do the over the air bands it uses depend on the baseband ROM that is on the device? This is something I can't figure out.
3. I heard T-Mobile uses an updated boot kernel (3.0?) and ATT & others use an older boot kernel, and that if I move to T-Mobile boot kernel, I can't go back to any of the older ones. This process I seriously don't understand. Can I run a T-Mobile OS (or any OS) while using an older boot kernel ROM? I would think NO, right?
4. I don't like all of Carrier X's bloatware. I'd rather use a stripped down, cleaner ROM. I guess there are apps for that, but is it cleaner to do it with a stripped down generic ROM that I see floating around?
6. Speaking of ROM's - I saw a lot of Xetheros or whatever ROM's floating around, but it seems like there aren't any for the snapdragon-based ones. Is this true? The posts on this site don't really talk much about the snapdragon-based phones and why there aren't any ROMs for them, and why it won't work, and what, if anything, is being done to get around this. I guess the G930U is Samsung's answer to that, and allows fooling around with roms, but will the other phones ever be actually rom-able, or should I ditch this G930P and actually buy a G930U? Now that my phone THINKS it's a G930U, did that get me around some weird barrier and NOW I can update other funky roms intended for a G930U?
I'm considering selling the G7 I just got and going from a G930F (now that I'm a bit wiser). Any common sense why not to do that? I already HAVE an ATT G7 (not the sprint one I just bought), but it has a "bad signal". It gets only about 1 bar indoors, on a good day. I took it to a repair facility and they said, "nothing wrong with the antenna, it's your mainboard, don't bother just buy a new phone". Anybody have any advice on that?
thanks
BroncoBilli said:
I'm kind of newb at this S7 stuff, I'm more of an HTC guy. Yesterday, I bought an unlocked G930P (sprint) and am not sure, but think I learned that normally, people don't change out the ROMs to use a different carrier, they simply unlock the phone and live with the old carrier's bloatware. I started reading up, and first learned that TWRP apparently isn't available on a Snapdragon processor, so the G930A, G930P, etc, aren't candidates for TWRP. At first, I was kind of dismayed. Then, I found the G930U ROM and on a whim, I tried punting the G930U ROM to the G930P. I bought the phone off craigslist, and he said he didn't know where HE got it from, but it was unlocked. Anyhow, the phone took the rom without a hitch and now it looks like a U model...
My goal: Go with T-Mobile. Use Wi-Fi calling. Eventually have Nougat. Remove bloatware, but possibly keep some nice T-Mobile add-ons, if any, because I don't have their service yet (I hated ATT's crapload of stuff). Note this isn't specifically a "TMobile" question, substitute your carrier of choice for the questions...
Get to the damned question, you say? Ok, here goes:
1. I'm not going to ask any "do these bands work" when moving from a P model to T mobile. You guys seem to fight about that stuff until you can't type any longer. I'm going to assume what whatever bands work, that's what I get. Unless I get a T-Mobile specific phone.
2. But I will ask this: do the over the air bands it uses depend on the baseband ROM that is on the device? This is something I can't figure out.
3. I heard T-Mobile uses an updated boot kernel (3.0?) and ATT & others use an older boot kernel, and that if I move to T-Mobile boot kernel, I can't go back to any of the older ones. This process I seriously don't understand. Can I run a T-Mobile OS (or any OS) while using an older boot kernel ROM? I would think NO, right?
4. I don't like all of Carrier X's bloatware. I'd rather use a stripped down, cleaner ROM. I guess there are apps for that, but is it cleaner to do it with a stripped down generic ROM that I see floating around?
6. Speaking of ROM's - I saw a lot of Xetheros or whatever ROM's floating around, but it seems like there aren't any for the snapdragon-based ones. Is this true? The posts on this site don't really talk much about the snapdragon-based phones and why there aren't any ROMs for them, and why it won't work, and what, if anything, is being done to get around this. I guess the G930U is Samsung's answer to that, and allows fooling around with roms, but will the other phones ever be actually rom-able, or should I ditch this G930P and actually buy a G930U? Now that my phone THINKS it's a G930U, did that get me around some weird barrier and NOW I can update other funky roms intended for a G930U?
I'm considering selling the G7 I just got and going from a G930F (now that I'm a bit wiser). Any common sense why not to do that? I already HAVE an ATT G7 (not the sprint one I just bought), but it has a "bad signal". It gets only about 1 bar indoors, on a good day. I took it to a repair facility and they said, "nothing wrong with the antenna, it's your mainboard, don't bother just buy a new phone". Anybody have any advice on that?
thanks
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Click to collapse
All U.S. models are built the exact same and will all accept each others firmware if done right , so any unlocked s7 you put the U firmware will essentially be a g930u other than the number stamped on the back , I dont believe the U firmware supports wifi calling or VOLTE , There is a t-mobile nougat firmware floating around if you want to try that , your att g7 if it has a hardware issue should be under warranty but if your using it with a different carrier I would flash the appropriate firmware to it and see if that fixes you signal issue and if not put it back to stock and call Samsung , as far as switching from the international model , Well i bought a international edge as soon as they release and it took a crap on me within 4 months and I was unable to warranty it , that was my only issue with using a international model but also i dont think you can get wifi calling on those either . hope that helps
edit* and yes the bands are dictated by the rom , U firmware opens all of them otherwise carrier roms unlock specific , and T-mobile nougat dowgrade back to MM will be dictated by the baseband , I know the Sprint nougat can be downgraded but not T-mobile for sure
goonygugle said:
All U.S. models are built the exact same and will all accept each others firmware if done right , so any unlocked s7 you put the U firmware will essentially be a g930u other than the number stamped on the back , I dont believe the U firmware supports wifi calling or VOLTE , There is a t-mobile nougat firmware floating around if you want to try that , your att g7 if it has a hardware issue should be under warranty but if your using it with a different carrier I would flash the appropriate firmware to it and see if that fixes you signal issue and if not put it back to stock and call Samsung , as far as switching from the international model , Well i bought a international edge as soon as they release and it took a crap on me within 4 months and I was unable to warranty it , that was my only issue with using a international model but also i dont think you can get wifi calling on those either . hope that helps
edit* and yes the bands are dictated by the rom , U firmware opens all of them otherwise carrier roms unlock specific , and T-mobile nougat dowgrade back to MM will be dictated by the baseband , I know the Sprint nougat can be downgraded but not T-mobile for sure
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Click to collapse
The U firmware does support WiFi calling and VoLTE on T-Mobile.
myphone12345 said:
The U firmware does support WiFi calling and VoLTE on T-Mobile.
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Click to collapse
I guess us AT&T users just done get them features =/ , is it enabled or do you have to do something to enable those features ?
goonygugle said:
I guess us AT&T users just done get them features =/ , is it enabled or do you have to do something to enable those features ?
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Click to collapse
I don't believe those features are supported on AT&T (probably at AT&T's own request). Perhaps that might change in the Nougat version but I wouldn't bet on it.

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