[Q] Straight Talk vs TracFone - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I plan on switching from AT&T to Straight Talk. Right now, AT&T provides good reception here. TracFones have terrible reception here. Will Straight Talk also have bad reception here?

Straight Talk uses AT&T towers so you'll get whatever signal AT&T does (well 1/2 of them do - the other half uses TMobile so make sure to choose when signing up).
Oddly enough, Tracfone does use AT&T as well and is also part of the same company as Straight Talk, all owned by Carlos Slim - Richest man in the world, so even Tracfone should get the same signal as Straight talk. The good thing is that there is no contract so you can try out ALL of them and see what works best for you.
(actually more like 1/3 since they use Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile depending on your plan - so you might be comparing Tracfone on T-Mobile to a normal AT&T phone).

xda6969 said:
I plan on switching from AT&T to Straight Talk. Right now, AT&T provides good reception here. TracFones have terrible reception here. Will Straight Talk also have bad reception here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The other thing is TracFones are low quality devices and poor reception could have a lot to do with that. The settings in your APN (which are different between the two) will not affect signal strength but will affect data speed. You should get as strong a signal as anyone else on ATT. Data speed may be lower because of the N4 and 4g.

shotta35 said:
Straight Talk uses AT&T towers so you'll get whatever signal AT&T does (well 1/2 of them do - the other half uses TMobile so make sure to choose when signing up).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Straight Talk site is leaving me with some questions. I want to transfer my AT&T number. Once I get the phone, I'm sure I need to go to Activate/Reactivate-Transfer Number. The next screen requires that I give them the Phone IMEI and some other info. Will I get the option to select AT&T towers on a later screen?

Tracfone has cdma and gsm (att/tmo) services, so 3 things could be going on.
1) Tracfone is cdma so straight talk ATT is fine in your area.
2) Tracfone is tmo gsm so straight talk ATT is fine in your area.
3) Tracfone is att gsm so straight talk may not work for you and the reason att gets a solid signal is because it's roaming.

xda6969 said:
The Straight Talk site is leaving me with some questions. I want to transfer my AT&T number. Once I get the phone, I'm sure I need to go to Activate/Reactivate-Transfer Number. The next screen requires that I give them the Phone IMEI and some other info. Will I get the option to select AT&T towers on a later screen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are activating from the site then it probably checks your IMEI to see what phone it is then puts you on the correct track. By choosing SIM Plan you choose CDMA, 850Mhz (AT&T) or TMobile which then gives you the right SIM (or none).
If you use a nexus 4 i hear they don't know that IMEI so you'll just have to find that one they suggest or call them or whatever.

threeclaws said:
Tracfone has cdma and gsm (att/tmo) services, so 3 things could be going on.
1) Tracfone is cdma so straight talk ATT is fine in your area.
2) Tracfone is tmo gsm so straight talk ATT is fine in your area.
3) Tracfone is att gsm so straight talk may not work for you and the reason att gets a solid signal is because it's roaming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got off the phone with TracFone/Straight Talk (after a 45 min wait) and they verified the 2 TracFones here are using AT&T's network. I hope the problem with the TracFone signals here are the cheap phones and the Nexus 4 will prove to be better. I don't think I am roaming with my phone. I don't have the Nexus 4 yet. I am using the Nokia N85. I don't see a roaming icon on it although I am not sure it even has one. I can't order the SIM now because the N85 takes a standard SIM and I beleive the Nexus 4 takes a micro SIM. If I order the Straght Talk SIM and transfer my number to it, I don't think I can put it in the N85 to use while I wait for the Nexus 4 to return to stock.

The N85 has a spring loaded slot? In any case, the MicroSIMs come in a SIM card cut out which includes a MINISIM which you then break the MicroSIM out of. To use it on a normal phone you just slide it back into the MiniSIM cutout (adapter) and then slide it into your N85. Once the N4 comes you can then take out it's adapter and slide just the MicroSIM into the Nexus 4.

xda6969 said:
I just got off the phone with TracFone/Straight Talk (after a 45 min wait) and they verified the 2 TracFones here are using AT&T's network. I hope the problem with the TracFone signals here are the cheap phones and the Nexus 4 will prove to be better. I don't think I am roaming with my phone. I don't have the Nexus 4 yet. I am using the Nokia N85. I don't see a roaming icon on it although I am not sure it even has one. I can't order the SIM now because the N85 takes a standard SIM and I beleive the Nexus 4 takes a micro SIM. If I order the Straght Talk SIM and transfer my number to it, I don't think I can put it in the N85 to use while I wait for the Nexus 4 to return to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I have no idea how to check for roaming on an n85, I wish you luck though although in my experience cheap dumb phones have gotten better reception that my smartphones
shotta35 said:
The N85 has a spring loaded slot? In any case, the MicroSIMs come in a SIM card cut out which includes a MINISIM which you then break the MicroSIM out of. To use it on a normal phone you just slide it back into the MiniSIM cutout (adapter) and then slide it into your N85. Once the N4 comes you can then take out it's adapter and slide just the MicroSIM into the Nexus 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My ST MicroSIM didn't come with any kind of adapter.

threeclaws said:
Yeah I have no idea how to check for roaming on an n85, I wish you luck though although in my experience cheap dumb phones have gotten better reception that my smartphones
My ST MicroSIM didn't come with any kind of adapter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just going to ask this question next. Perhaps ST doesn't do the cut-out/adaptor with their SIMs. Darn. It would have been nice to get started and compare it vs AT&T on the N85. The N85 does have a spring-loaded slot. Here is an excellent article about SIM adaptors and possible damage from using them.
http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/features/item/14444_The_Curse_of_Micro_SIM_Adapter.php

As I thought, the ST AT&T sim doesn't give me strong signal strength on the Nexus 4 like the genuine AT&T sim does on the Nokia N85. I do not know how to check the actual db on the Nokia so I can't get the actual numbers. I suspect AT&T assigns the lowest priority to third parties leasing their lines...or someting to that effect. I can get stronger signal by selecting 2G speed only on the Nexus 4 but it sucks to have to do that.

I don't believe that for a second. signal bars between different phones are not standardized at all.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

I would like to find out the actual signal in db on the N85. Then I have actual number to compare. I do know that my first call yesterday with ST dropped within a minute. I don't have that issue with the genuine AT&T service phone.

Related

Which Simcard should I pick for straight talk with use on Nexus S?

I've been on Metro PCS for almost three years, but I couldn't stand them to be honest. I only stayed with them for their international calling plan (so my father could speak to our relatives). Now that Straight Talk is offering the same exact plan I pay $60 for except with better coverage, working sms, reliable texting, and real mobile broadband, I'm excited. I've already decided on getting a Nexus S, but I'm curious as to which Simcard I should get so I can get HSPA+ data service.
Any ideas?
Your SIM just tells the phone what its number is and what network it should connect to. It's the phone itself, specifically the frequency bands it supports, you need to pay attention to.
zorak950 said:
Your SIM just tells the phone what its number is and what network it should connect to. It's the phone itself, specifically the frequency bands it supports, you need to pay attention to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seriously, this is a non answer to the question from the O.P, almost a waste of typing. Wow.
O.P, you'll need to get the T-mobile sim from straight-talk as the Nexus S I assume you'll be getting will be the Tmobile compatible version.
If you're getting an AT&T Nexus S then obviously choose the AT&T straight-talk sim.
Sent from my SPH-D710 E4GT

Can I use an ATT phone on net10

Never heard of Net10 til today. It's new in my area. Can I use an att Lumia 900 on it unlocked? It'd be a savior on the bill. What are your thoughts on net10 service?
Sent from my Lumia 800 using Board Express
From what I understand, Net10 phones only work with a sim card specific to that device. Swapping the sim cards wouldn't work. Straight talk is always an option since it uses GSM. It runs on t-mobiles network.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
My st sum runs on att
Sent from my SGH-i937 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
KayxGee1 said:
From what I understand, Net10 phones only work with a sim card specific to that device. Swapping the sim cards wouldn't work. Straight talk is always an option since it uses GSM. It runs on t-mobiles network.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't it the phone that's locked? Meaning bringing in an att sim would work?
ST uses either AT&T or T-mobiles network i think it depends which you choose to use
z33dev33l said:
Isn't it the phone that's locked? Meaning bringing in an att sim would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. From what I was reading, unlocking it wouldn't matter. The sim card and the phone it was with other work together. You can't use an AT&T sim card in an Net10 phone or a Net10 sim card in an AT&T phone
That was what I got from a little researching. I could be wrong.
And ST is always an option as well. They have good plans and use GSM so swapping sim cards wouldn't be an issue.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I heard st starts warning you after 100 Mb in a day. Is that true?
KayxGee1 said:
I don't think so. From what I was reading, unlocking it wouldn't matter. The sim card and the phone it was with other work together. You can't use an AT&T sim card in an Net10 phone or a Net10 sim card in an AT&T phone
That was what I got from a little researching. I could be wrong.
And ST is always an option as well. They have good plans and use GSM so swapping sim cards wouldn't be an issue.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the Galaxy Note with a NET10 sim.
Things you should be aware of:
1. Web access doesnt work if you are roaming
2. YOu can use a AT&T locked phone (as mine is locked)
Unlimited plan is really limited to your area code. ONce you cross the line you don't get to use data.
So you will be screw on your travels or work outside your area.
I just signed up. But wish I hadn't.
Ouroboross said:
I'm using the Galaxy Note with a NET10 sim.
Things you should be aware of:
1. Web access doesnt work if you are roaming
2. YOu can use a AT&T locked phone (as mine is locked)
Unlimited plan is really limited to your area code. ONce you cross the line you don't get to use data.
So you will be screw on your travels or work outside your area.
I just signed up. But wish I hadn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the NET10 rep couldn't solve my web access problem on the Note BUT I've it working w/O their help.
IT works outside my area code and I get average 3G speed.
So you AT&T android phone doesn't have to be unlocked to be able to use NET10.
will you please tell us just how you managed to do this??
please post your settings....even your new APN settings if you had to make new..
thanks
.... don't leave us hanging..
thanks again
NET10 new plan
this my first post but i hope it help,
NET10 had just came up with there unlimited plan of $50 (talk,text and date (3G)) or $65 with all that + international calling to almost 50 countries, and they are saying on the SIM card kit, to bring your GSM unlocked or compatible phone , Iphone, Android, Smart phone.
and it should work, pop the sim in and follow the instructions.
I'm actually thinking seriously to switch to them after buying a AT&T HTC Vivid, thinking i'll be able to use with t-mobile 4G, to find the LTE Curse is on my Vivid.
i talked to a dealer of NET10 and he told me the NET10 uses both networks, and you are guaranteed to get 3G speed on any phone capable of having 3G speed.
this text is copied from NET10sim web page
"Use virtually any compatible or unlocked GSM phone with our NET10 SIM to get service on the best nationwide networks."
i got the sim, but it was 2 days after I paid for my t-mo for this month, I'll post my experience once I try it on my LTE cursed Vivid phone, and check the 3G service.
Hope this helped. :fingers-crossed:
If the phone doesnt get 1700/2100 for 3g then you will have to wait for the refarm.
Sent from my XT862 using xda app-developers app
Net10 vs. At&t
volcandroid said:
this my first post but i hope it help,
NET10 had just came up with there unlimited plan of $50 (talk,text and date (3G)) or $65 with all that + international calling to almost 50 countries, and they are saying on the SIM card kit, to bring your GSM unlocked or compatible phone , Iphone, Android, Smart phone.
and it should work, pop the sim in and follow the instructions.
I'm actually thinking seriously to switch to them after buying a AT&T HTC Vivid, thinking i'll be able to use with t-mobile 4G, to find the LTE Curse is on my Vivid.
i talked to a dealer of NET10 and he told me the NET10 uses both networks, and you are guaranteed to get 3G speed on any phone capable of having 3G speed.
this text is copied from NET10sim web page
"Use virtually any compatible or unlocked GSM phone with our NET10 SIM to get service on the best nationwide networks."
i got the sim, but it was 2 days after I paid for my t-mo for this month, I'll post my experience once I try it on my LTE cursed Vivid phone, and check the 3G service.
Hope this helped. :fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what happened???? I'm really considering switching to Net10 over At&t. It would save me about $30 a month, and give all my phone lines unlimited data not just mine.
I am using my NET10 micro-sim card (for AT&T) as part of their Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP) sim card package in my new AT&T-branded Sony Xperia Ion (LT28at) that has been unlocked to carrier. I'm in a small area in western South Dakota that has AT&T coverage, and I am getting 4g speeds on the cellular service from my home. The reception is great, and you do get edge (2g) and 3g data while traveling outside your area, just not the highest speeds. I travel to Seattle frequently for business and can verify this. With prepaid monthly it is about $47.50 (with taxes) per month. HUGELY worth it after being 'chained' to Verizon for years and years!
im on a s4 non prepaid at&t phone using net 10 on the at&t network. no problems and i live in wautoma wisc.

Nexus 4 and Straight Talk

I am planning on Straight Talk $45 unlimited 1mo plan.
https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans
From some internet research it looks like the best bet is to get the t-mobile compatible sim (since service prbs are with at&t compatible sim).
The problem is, t-mobile compatible sim is only full-sized - not for nexus 4 micro sim. Contracted their customer service, they confirmed no t-mobile compatible microsim.
Now I have two options:
1. get the at&t compatible microsim
2. get t-mobile full sized sim and then use sim cutter.
Which way to go?
siftekhar said:
I am planning on Straight Talk $45 unlimited 1mo plan.
https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans
From some internet research it looks like the best bet is to get the t-mobile compatible sim (since service prbs are with at&t compatible sim).
The problem is, t-mobile compatible sim is only full-sized - not for nexus 4 micro sim. Contracted their customer service, they confirmed no t-mobile compatible microsim.
Now I have two options:
1. get the at&t compatible microsim
2. get t-mobile full sized sim and then use sim cutter.
Which way to go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want T-Mobile I'm sure a T-Mobile store would cut the sim for you.
spencer88 said:
If you want T-Mobile I'm sure a T-Mobile store would cut the sim for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not going to stay with t-mobile, I am talking about straighttalk t-mobile compatible sim.
http://www.straighttalk.com/ShopSims
Depends
It all depends on what you rather have. I personally will be going to Straight Talk too, but with the ATT sim.
ATT will offer better coverage (Also better wall penetration) in most parts of the USA, while T-mobile lacks in the coverage department they have great speeds in areas where they provide HSPA+. But as soon as you leave those areas if you travel a lot then you will be on EDGE a lot more.
I have seen people on the ATT Straight Talk getting 3mbs/1mbs to 7mbs/3mbs and those on T-mobile getting 7mbs/3mbs to above 10mbs/4mbs.
But like I said it really depends on what you want, I am leaving sprint so regardless of who I chose it would be a lot better.
If you go with T-mobile just cut the SIM.
I have straight talk and had tmobile b4. Where i live they both have strong signal get bout same speeds. I think tmobile will only help in bigger markets where they have the 42mbps towers not everywhere i tried to check the coverage where the 42 spots our cant really figure it out i live in a medium size market i dont get the 42 speeds here anyway so just something to think about.
siftekhar said:
Now I have two options:
1. get the at&t compatible microsim
2. get t-mobile full sized sim and then use sim cutter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You basically spelled it out right there. Which network do you want to use ATT or TMo. If ATT, pick option 1. If TMo, pick 2.
ATT has wider coverage, so you can go to rural areas and still get decent signal. TMo usually craps out when you leave the city.
TMo has better speeds in the city, since most cities' ATT networks are congested compared to TMo (more users). Add to that, since Straight Talk is an MVNO, it gets lower priority at cell towers compared to ATT postpaid and ATT prepaid customers. So you can stand beside someone with an ATT SIM and he has a signal, while your ST SIM gets nothing.
If you have the money to spare to buy 2 SIMs, try the ATT microSIMs first. If you're not satisfied, then get the TMo SI and cut it down. If you have the extra $60 to spare, get them both at the same time, buy a month's service for both, and so a side-by-side comparison.
siftekhar said:
I am planning on Straight Talk $45 unlimited 1mo plan.
https://www.straighttalk.com/secure/ServicePlans
From some internet research it looks like the best bet is to get the t-mobile compatible sim (since service prbs are with at&t compatible sim).
The problem is, t-mobile compatible sim is only full-sized - not for nexus 4 micro sim. Contracted their customer service, they confirmed no t-mobile compatible microsim.
Now I have two options:
1. get the at&t compatible microsim
2. get t-mobile full sized sim and then use sim cutter.
Which way to go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
also, do you use google voice for voicemail? I believe T-Mobile MVNO's don't allow call forwarding (which is what Google Voice does for voicemail). I could be wrong though, so make sure you do your search on that. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1890301
As soon as my contract (and my wife's) is up on AT&T in March, we are going to get the Straight Talk sim for AT&T...mainly because of the reasons other people have mentioned in this thread... plus, when I had the G Nexus, I got a T-Mobile prepaid sim to test it out and T-Mobile HSPA+ was slower here than AT&T.... but go with the coverage that works for you.
For some reason, I'm experiencing very slow data speeds with straight talk ( att Sim) with my nexus 4. Called them to reset my data settings but still no good.
I cut my straight talk/tmobile sim to work in my nexus 4. i refused to use att side of straight talk. so far everything is good no complaints :good:
barondebxl said:
For some reason, I'm experiencing very slow data speeds with straight talk ( att Sim) with my nexus 4. Called them to reset my data settings but still no good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are your APN settings? Delete the first proxy, test again. I had a to reset data, then set the phone in airplane mode and back and retested.
I have T-Mobile, have always loved it. The reception in my office had always been on the line, but most of the time, with all my other phones, I've been able to get 3/4g most of the time.
With the n4, I NEVER get 3/4g in my office. Quite frustrating. Thinking about getting st att based on most replies here. Sucks I need to change based on the phone
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
You can always use a micro SIM cutter
AT&T SIM
Anyone getting better than 6 mbps on StraighTalk? If so, could you please post settings?
mjpado said:
Anyone getting better than 6 mbps on StraighTalk? If so, could you please post settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get that and also want to know. I realize we can't use lte apn but i expect faster for h+
Sent from my Nexus 4
mjpado said:
Anyone getting better than 6 mbps on StraighTalk? If so, could you please post settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you looking for att settings or tmobile settings for straight talk?
93sleeper said:
are you looking for att settings or tmobile settings for straight talk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552324&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552325&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552326&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552327&stc=1&d=1355159626
I've been seriously considering the N4 with st8 talk but I've been a little hesitant because I want it to work everywhere I go i.e. work, home, parents house. if anyone has had the Verizon GNex could you respond with whether it works better or not? What would be the pro/con list? Everyone has opinions, I know, but please only from ppl who have the N4.
Folks, 6Mbps on AT&T's HSPA+ might be as good as you're going to get.
93sleeper said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552324&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552325&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552326&stc=1&d=1355159626
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1552327&stc=1&d=1355159626
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are these tmo setting or att&t?
Sparta507 said:
are these tmo setting or att&t?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like t-mobile to me.

[Q] Carrier Problems

Hello,
After waiting for over 30 minutes on phone with Straight Talk, the representative told me they don't have micro-sim for T-mobile in my area. Solavei doesn't support Nexus 4 yet. There is no end to carrier woes. I was thinking of getting T-Mobile connection as a lot of people are reporting higher speeds on T-mobile. Any of you in the same problem.
Thanks.
If you want Straight Talk T-Mobile, you'll need to get a regular SIM, cut it to Micro-SIM size, and hope it works. Or, perhaps try T-Mobile prepaid. You c an get $30/month unlimited text/data with 100 minutes of talk if you activate online.
There aren't really many carriers issues, I think, just certain choices and the occasional AT&T issue with data speeds/plans/getting them to work properly due to the way they do things.
Ajfink said:
If you want Straight Talk T-Mobile, you'll need to get a regular SIM, cut it to Micro-SIM size, and hope it works. Or, perhaps try T-Mobile prepaid. You c an get $30/month unlimited text/data with 100 minutes of talk if you activate online.
There aren't really many carriers issues, I think, just certain choices and the occasional AT&T issue with data speeds/plans/getting them to work properly due to the way they do things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I want to get into trouble of cutting sim cards. I might just get Solavei using Samsung S3 sim card which is a micro card and hope it works.
donniezazen said:
I don't think I want to get into trouble of cutting sim cards. I might just get Solavei using Samsung S3 sim card which is a micro card and hope it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no trouble for cutting sim cards. And why don't you try AT&T on straight talk?
I'm on ST t mobile and cut my card data is faster but no signal inside buildings
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
facetubespam said:
There is no trouble for cutting sim cards. And why don't you try AT&T on straight talk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might. I wanted to give T-Mobile a try. I have been reading that T-Mobile runs 42Mbps and ATT runs 21Mbps.
I have ordered Solavei using S3 IMEI. Hope it works.
godefoy said:
I'm on ST t mobile and cut my card data is faster but no signal inside buildings
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are all same.
Sent from Nexusverse
donniezazen said:
Hello,
After waiting for over 30 minutes on phone with Straight Talk, the representative told me they don't have micro-sim for T-mobile in my area. Solavei doesn't support Nexus 4 yet. There is no end to carrier woes. I was thinking of getting T-Mobile connection as a lot of people are reporting higher speeds on T-mobile. Any of you in the same problem.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have decent T-Mo coverage in your area, I'd recommend trying it. I fell into the AT&T "You don't have an AT&T aprroved 4G device and therefore we can't give you a 4G plan" hole and no amount of explanation with 2 different CSRs resolved it. I could have given them an IMEI from one of the phones in their store, but decided that I'm trying too hard to get them to keep my money. I already had a T-Mo account (wanted to try out both for a few days before deciding). The port happened in 4 hours on a Saturday morning. I'm happy with my coverage and speeds so far.
harsubs said:
If you have decent T-Mo coverage in your area, I'd recommend trying it. I fell into the AT&T "You don't have an AT&T aprroved 4G device and therefore we can't give you a 4G plan" hole and no amount of explanation with 2 different CSRs resolved it. I could have given them an IMEI from one of the phones in their store, but decided that I'm trying too hard to get them to keep my money. I already had a T-Mo account (wanted to try out both for a few days before deciding). The port happened in 4 hours on a Saturday morning. I'm happy with my coverage and speeds so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solavei doesn't yet support Nexus 4 but I used Samsung S3's IMEI to get a micro Sim. Hope it works.
Also I am porting my number to Google voice so I will be able to give both att and t- moo try without any hassle.
Sent from Nexusverse

Switched to Straight Talk. I have 2 issues (slow speed and error message)

So as the Thread Title says, I have switched my Verizon Galaxy S5 over to Straight Talk, however i have 2 issues.
Issue #1 My HSPA+ data speeds are verrrrrry slow at times, currently averaging between 2.5MB/s and 4.1 MB/s Download speeds with between 0.8 and 0.95 upload speeds.
It has gotten as low as 0.12MB/s Down and .02 MB/s Up on HSPA+ I was wondering if this could possibly be an APN issue? Also it tends to switch between HSPA and HSPA+ alot but only seems to switch to HSPA when im not using data.
Issue #2 My phone shows an error This SIM card is from an unknown source. Is there any way to get rid of this without root (which we obviously don't have)??
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.
Verizon phones are CDMA not GSM. Probably why you are limited to ultra slow speed for data, and also probably why you are getting an 'unknown sim' error being that the phone is verizon, and you put in a Straight Talk Sim.
kprice8 said:
Verizon phones are CDMA not GSM. Probably why you are limited to ultra slow speed for data, and also probably why you are getting an 'unknown sim' error being that the phone is verizon, and you put in a Straight Talk Sim.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously you're unaware that the Galaxy S5 supports CDMA at LTE speeds AND GSM at HSPA+ speeds. The Verizon Galaxy S5 is a "world" phone and does not require any sort of SIM unlocking in order to be used on other carriers. (as i can show you with a simple screenshot). However i think my decrease in speeds is caused by a bad tower on the opposite side of town from where I actually live. While at home (with only 2 or 3 bars of service) i am able to get fairly decent speeds without issue. As far as the point of this thread goes i was wondering if anybody had any tips or tricks for better stability of the HSPA/HSPA+ network on the Verizon Galaxy S5 and to see if anybody was able to remove the SIM error without rooting. With rooting i know it can be achieved as i have already researched how to do so. I know why the SIM error is there, I'm not that oblivious. But thank you very much for your comment.
Your issue is very simple. You obviously didnt do your research before switching to straight talk. With straight talk you can have any carrier, you just have to have the right sim for that carrier. You probably got the t-mobile sim because thats the one they give if you dont ask. I have the at&t sim and it works perfect on my at&t phone. The only 2 sim cards you can get are at&t and t-mobile. You can use verizon and sprint with straight talk also. All you have to do is go to their website and it will tell you what to do. You have to look for the cdma section for activating a new phone if you want verizon. If you ported your number you can still keep it once you switch carrier options as long as you choose that at checkout. I just did all of this a couple of months ago and have done it several times in the past so I know what im talking about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
miller1821 said:
Your issue is very simple. You obviously didnt do your research before switching to straight talk. With straight talk you can have any carrier, you just have to have the right sim for that carrier. You probably got the t-mobile sim because thats the one they give if you dont ask. I have the at&t sim and it works perfect on my at&t phone. The only 2 sim cards you can get are at&t and t-mobile. You can use verizon and sprint with straight talk also. All you have to do is go to their website and it will tell you what to do. You have to look for the cdma section for activating a new phone if you want verizon. If you ported your number you can still keep it once you switch carrier options as long as you choose that at checkout. I just did all of this a couple of months ago and have done it several times in the past so I know what im talking about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Not sure if you're aware that Straight Talk only supports T-Mobile. They used to support AT&T as well, but they switched to T-Mo. However existing customers that signed up when Straight Talk AT&T was around still get to use AT&T towers for now. There are some loopholes but 99.9% of people get T-Mobile when they sign up for Straight Talk as of today.
Straight Talk never used Verizon or Sprint.
---------- Post added at 10:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:23 AM ----------
Travisholt92 said:
So as the Thread Title says, I have switched my Verizon Galaxy S5 over to Straight Talk, however i have 2 issues.
Issue #1 My HSPA+ data speeds are verrrrrry slow at times, currently averaging between 2.5MB/s and 4.1 MB/s Download speeds with between 0.8 and 0.95 upload speeds.
It has gotten as low as 0.12MB/s Down and .02 MB/s Up on HSPA+ I was wondering if this could possibly be an APN issue? Also it tends to switch between HSPA and HSPA+ alot but only seems to switch to HSPA when im not using data.
Issue #2 My phone shows an error This SIM card is from an unknown source. Is there any way to get rid of this without root (which we obviously don't have)??
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.
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Click to collapse
Sounds like your issue is 100% APN.
Here are the APN settings for both Straight Talk and T-Mobile. Try the ST one first and then T-Mobile if that doesn't work. Don't know what to tell you after that, maybe try a new sim card.
http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home/support/apn
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-2090#android
I hate when people give out the wrong information. This is not the case and hasn't been the case for awhile. Do your research 1st. Go to straighttalk website and click on byop under shop. Now go to the very bottom where it says see all coverage and it shows the coverage maps of all 4 major providers. Now if you go with that same byop shop page and click on shop at the top, it will bring up a page where you can either buy a t-mobile or at&t sim, and on the right hand side you can also buy a cdma access code. This is not rocket science. Also, apns for every sim card for gsm and cdma access are different. I am not gonna list the apns because reply would be too long but its not hard to find. There are also numerous youtube videos covering this as well as multiple google results. I literally just bought an at&t sim when I upgraded to the gs5 because i had an t-mobile gs3 with the same straight talk service and didn't care for t-mobile. It is true that if you buy a straight talk phone from wal-mart then yes it will probably be a t-mobile phone but to say you can't bring your own phone and use whatever carrier is not an intelligent thing to say when you clearly can.
---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------
Syn Ack said:
Not sure if you're aware that Straight Talk only supports T-Mobile. They used to support AT&T as well, but they switched to T-Mo. However existing customers that signed up when Straight Talk AT&T was around still get to use AT&T towers for now. There are some loopholes but 99.9% of people get T-Mobile when they sign up for Straight Talk as of today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
miller1821 said:
I hate when people give out the wrong information. This is not the case and hasn't been the case for awhile. Do your research 1st. Go to straighttalk website and click on byop under shop. Now go to the very bottom where it says see all coverage and it shows the coverage maps of all 4 major providers. Now if you go with that same byop shop page and click on shop at the top, it will bring up a page where you can either buy a t-mobile or at&t sim, and on the right hand side you can also buy a cdma access code. This is not rocket science. Also, apns for every sim card for gsm and cdma access are different. I am not gonna list the apns because reply would be too long but its not hard to find. There are also numerous youtube videos covering this as well as multiple google results. I literally just bought an at&t sim when I upgraded to the gs5 because i had an t-mobile gs3 with the same straight talk service and didn't care for t-mobile. It is true that if you buy a straight talk phone from wal-mart then yes it will probably be a t-mobile phone but to say you can't bring your own phone and use whatever carrier is not an intelligent thing to say when you clearly can.
---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to get in a bunch. I wasn't aware that they started using AT&T and others again. Last year when I was network searching, STalk just stopped signing up new customers with the AT&T plans and their data limit was 2.5gb and not 3 like now. Sorry.
miller1821 said:
Your issue is very simple. You obviously didnt do your research before switching to straight talk. With straight talk you can have any carrier, you just have to have the right sim for that carrier. You probably got the t-mobile sim because thats the one they give if you dont ask. I have the at&t sim and it works perfect on my at&t phone. The only 2 sim cards you can get are at&t and t-mobile. You can use verizon and sprint with straight talk also. All you have to do is go to their website and it will tell you what to do. You have to look for the cdma section for activating a new phone if you want verizon. If you ported your number you can still keep it once you switch carrier options as long as you choose that at checkout. I just did all of this a couple of months ago and have done it several times in the past so I know what im talking about.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah I'm using the at&t sim. T mobile has garbage coverage out here. I bought the byop package from Wal-Mart that contains both SIM cards.
As for the people saying I should have done my research first, your input is irrelevant to me considering I'm not like every other person in this section of the forums. I know what I'm doing when it comes to this kind of things and of course I did my research ahead of time. So if you're going to come into my thread just to insult my intelligence, you can stop talking because chances are I probably know more about this subject than you do without having to have my face in a web browser.
As for the guy posting about apn, thank you very much for your input. I'll take a look to see if what you had linked is any didn't from what I currently have in my phone. However right now it won't make a difference because I'm being throttled down to .05 mb/s download and .08 mb/s upload.
Travisholt92 said:
Nah I'm using the at&t sim. T mobile has garbage coverage out here. I bought the byop package from Wal-Mart that contains both SIM cards.
As for the people saying I should have done my research first, your input is irrelevant to me considering I'm not like every other person in this section of the forums. I know what I'm doing when it comes to this kind of things and of course I did my research ahead of time. So if you're going to come into my thread just to insult my intelligence, you can stop talking because chances are I probably know more about this subject than you do without having to have my face in a web browser.
As for the guy posting about apn, thank you very much for your input. I'll take a look to see if what you had linked is any didn't from what I currently have in my phone. However right now it won't make a difference because I'm being throttled down to .05 mb/s download and .08 mb/s upload.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not knocking on your intelligence here or anything, but you could have left that middle section out so you looked less like a turd for being rude to people just because they were rude to you. Two wrongs do not make a right.
Helpful tips on switching VW SG5 to Straight Talk
I have been trying all night to switch my boyfriends Verizon SG5 to Straight Talk but I can't get it to accept the SIM card or get it activated. For those that have done this successfully can you please provide me with the steps you took?
Travisholt92 said:
Obviously you're unaware that the Galaxy S5 supports CDMA at LTE speeds AND GSM at HSPA+ speeds. The Verizon Galaxy S5 is a "world" phone and does not require any sort of SIM unlocking in order to be used on other carriers. (as i can show you with a simple screenshot). However i think my decrease in speeds is caused by a bad tower on the opposite side of town from where I actually live. While at home (with only 2 or 3 bars of service) i am able to get fairly decent speeds without issue. As far as the point of this thread goes i was wondering if anybody had any tips or tricks for better stability of the HSPA/HSPA+ network on the Verizon Galaxy S5 and to see if anybody was able to remove the SIM error without rooting. With rooting i know it can be achieved as i have already researched how to do so. I know why the SIM error is there, I'm not that oblivious. But thank you very much for your comment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same with an s4 and s5, but were slow and had horrible battery life. I couldn't get either phone to activate on the cdma network, so i used a tmobile sim. t mobile has a horrible network her, so I am pretty sure my issue was signal strength.
Catumaros said:
I did the same with an s4 and s5, but were slow and had horrible battery life. I couldn't get either phone to activate on the cdma network, so i used a tmobile sim. t mobile has a horrible network her, so I am pretty sure my issue was signal strength.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tmobile is pretty terrible unless you're in a major city. AT&T is the way to go through straight talk. However i would recommend Cricket, much better pricing and less network issues.
miller1821 said:
I hate when people give out the wrong information. This is not the case and hasn't been the case for awhile. Do your research 1st. Go to straighttalk website and click on byop under shop. Now go to the very bottom where it says see all coverage and it shows the coverage maps of all 4 major providers. Now if you go with that same byop shop page and click on shop at the top, it will bring up a page where you can either buy a t-mobile or at&t sim, and on the right hand side you can also buy a cdma access code. This is not rocket science. Also, apns for every sim card for gsm and cdma access are different. I am not gonna list the apns because reply would be too long but its not hard to find. There are also numerous youtube videos covering this as well as multiple google results. I literally just bought an at&t sim when I upgraded to the gs5 because i had an t-mobile gs3 with the same straight talk service and didn't care for t-mobile. It is true that if you buy a straight talk phone from wal-mart then yes it will probably be a t-mobile phone but to say you can't bring your own phone and use whatever carrier is not an intelligent thing to say when you clearly can.
---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------
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Click to collapse
straight talk still supports att that is who I use and with an att phone

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