[Q] Too many S4 models to choose from... - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

Wow its been a long time since I've been here! I see all of you are still busy!
... so basically, I'm going to buy an S4, but I'm not sure WHICH I should buy ... and I'm not sure where I should put this question since all the models are spread all over the place, but since I'm in Canada I thought this place would be a good start :laugh:
So basically, from what I've seen, the AT&T (i337) model is quite limited in out-the-box bands, and also has a locked bootloader. From what I've come up with, digging through information about all the models and Canadian carriers, is that the two best models for use in Canada seem to be the I337M and the T-Mobile M919 ... I really wanted a Samsung branded phone, but it seems if I get the I9505 I'll be missing out on a whole bunch of radio bands ... from what I've seen however, the unlocked I337M has no branding on it though ...
So basically what I've come up with is that both the T-Mobile M919 and the Canadian I337M both have unlocked bootloaders ... and they all run on the same GSM freq.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong here, but, it looks to me like both the M919 and the I337M also share the same LTE bands, which are LTE 700MHz (Band 17) / 850MHz (Band 5) / 1900MHz (Band 2) / 2100MHz (Band 1) / AWS (Band 4) / 2600MHz (Band 7)
(my sources are http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-M919ZKATMB-specs and http://www.pdaplaza.ca/products/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-SGH%2dI337M-16GB--Black-Mist,-Unlocked.html - I can't seem to find a reliable source for the LTE bands the I337M has ... on samsungs website it has a * Dependent on market and nobody seems to list straight up specs for the I337M ... actually it lists a completely different set of LTE bands which I'm pretty sure is wrong ... they list 1800 instead of 1700 and 800 instead of 700 which I know is incorrect for Rogers at least)
It looks to me, like the only real difference between the I337M and the M919 is that the M919 has a AWS (1700) 3G radio band, and the I337M has a 900mhz 3G radio band instead of the AWS band ... however, I ALSO have read that the AWS band on the I337M can be enabled (again, correct me if I'm wrong!)
If everything that I have read through is correct, it would seem to me like the I337M would be the 'ultimate' North American model, supporting more frequency bands than any other version (besides maybe the i9505 which lacks some bands I would probably need) ... unless its actually possible to somehow unlock all these bands on every version, and I just didn't get that deep into reading about hacking these phones yet ...
If I got something wrong here please let me know ... I would like to buy one soon and start flashing it
Thanks!

Lets put it an easy way, if I had the choice again, I would have not got the att galaxy s4 us version, I would have got the Canadian S4 i337m. My opinion only.

Or the Google Edition but its going to run you like 700-800$
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

If you're in Canada why not buy the i337m?

My i337M is completely unbranded once I installed a custom ROM and I managed to enable the AWS. Unlocking it has been a different story though :/

Well ... I just want the phone that has the most bands (its not really a cheap phone!), I'd like to get as much as I can for my money. I honestly have no idea if all the North American models have the same radio hardware or not, but at least on Samsungs website, they list the I337 (AT&T) with many less bands than the T-Mobile M919.
Funny enough, on Rogers website it lists the I337M only having 2100/2600 as the LTE bands, but on Bell/Telus it lits the I337M as having 700MHz/ 850MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz/AWS/2600MHz
It seems silly to me to actually manufacture different radio hardware for all the different North American models ... considering they almost all use the same bands except some exclude some, and there is one different one (3G AWS on M919 vs 900Mhz 3G on I337M)
I wouldn't get the AT&T US version ... as far as I know nobody has been able to unlock the bootloader. But apparently the M919 isn't locked.
I considered the Google Edition, but as someone said, it will run 700-800 (and you can't 'officially' get it in Canada)
Anyways, I found an unlocked I337M and I believe it is also unbranded ... so I bought it. If its not, I'll just flash it
I still am curious as to what they actually do with the radios though ... if they actually use different hardware or just lock the bands in the firmware (I'll take a guess the international I9505 actually has different hardware, though)
I think it would cost Samsung more to design different radio hardware for all the different North American providers (considering they almost all run the same/lots of overlapping bands) than just putting firmware locks?

ph03nix said:
Well ... I just want the phone that has the most bands (its not really a cheap phone!), I'd like to get as much as I can for my money. I honestly have no idea if all the North American models have the same radio hardware or not, but at least on Samsungs website, they list the I337 (AT&T) with many less bands than the T-Mobile M919.
Funny enough, on Rogers website it lists the I337M only having 2100/2600 as the LTE bands, but on Bell/Telus it lits the I337M as having 700MHz/ 850MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz/AWS/2600MHz
It seems silly to me to actually manufacture different radio hardware for all the different North American models ... considering they almost all use the same bands except some exclude some, and there is one different one (3G AWS on M919 vs 900Mhz 3G on I337M)
I wouldn't get the AT&T US version ... as far as I know nobody has been able to unlock the bootloader. But apparently the M919 isn't locked.
I considered the Google Edition, but as someone said, it will run 700-800 (and you can't 'officially' get it in Canada)
Anyways, I found an unlocked I337M and I believe it is also unbranded ... so I bought it. If its not, I'll just flash it
I still am curious as to what they actually do with the radios though ... if they actually use different hardware or just lock the bands in the firmware (I'll take a guess the international I9505 actually has different hardware, though)
I think it would cost Samsung more to design different radio hardware for all the different North American providers (considering they almost all run the same/lots of overlapping bands) than just putting firmware locks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I337m has all the radio bands, handles the lowest CPU voltages while still being stable... has an unlocked bootloader, and simply kicks butt.
Simple modem firmware flash fixes any location specific, and in my case, non-existant radio band issue.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 i337m

Related

i337 works with AWS (TMOBILE, WIND, MOBILICITY )?

I'm surprised it hasn't been brought up to attention yet, but is it possible for the i337 to work on AWS band?
The reason I'm asking this is because I've found services through kijiji to modify the i337m (Canadian version) to work with WIND and MOBILICITY.
mod edit: advertising paid services is not allowed
I highly doubt those people will tell you exactly how to mod it and I don't have a S4 yet but maybe it's the same method use to mod the gnote 2.
I'm really hoping someone could try it out and see what happens, maybe even with a tutorial if it's successful.
I have seen this ad as well. I have galaxy s4 from Bell (SGH i337m). I have tried the Note 2 method but that does not work on it. There must be a new trick which someone has figured out but they are using it commercially.
the only carrier that has both aws and regular 2600mhz lte is rogers (at least in canada) and they are rebranding it to lte max
http://www.mobilemag.com/2013/05/02/rogers-launches-lte-max/
and yes, the gs4 does switch between 1700-2100 and 2600 bands and its the only phone to do it
polish_pat said:
the only carrier that has both aws and regular 2600mhz lte is rogers (at least in canada) and they are rebranding it to lte max
http://www.mobilemag.com/2013/05/02/rogers-launches-lte-max/
and yes, the gs4 does switch between 1700-2100 and 2600 bands and its the only phone to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Someone in the T-Mobile S4 forum claims that the T-Mobile S4 will do it as well.
polish_pat said:
the only carrier that has both aws and regular 2600mhz lte is rogers (at least in canada) and they are rebranding it to lte max
http://www.mobilemag.com/2013/05/02/rogers-launches-lte-max/
and yes, the gs4 does switch between 1700-2100 and 2600 bands and its the only phone to do it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bell and Rogers will both carry the i337m model so I guess it won't make a difference either way if the phone is unlocked.
But what do you mean it can switch between 1700-2100? I didn't think aws is a original supported banned for the i337.
Originally they are able to switch between LTE Aws 1700/2100 and 2600 but the HSPA 1700/2100 is disabled in software of SGH i337 and 337m. We are talking about Kijiji ads where people are able to sim unlock and enable Hspa 1700/2100 on these phones.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
killer8297 said:
Bell and Rogers will both carry the i337m model so I guess it won't make a difference either way if the phone is unlocked.
But what do you mean it can switch between 1700-2100? I didn't think aws is a original supported banned for the i337.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1700 and 2100mhz are the regular LTE bands, maximum theoretical speeds of 75 and 100mb/s respectively. 2600mhz is AWS, aka Rogers' LTE Max which has 150mb/s. As of now, the only carrier in Canada to have AWS is Rogers and in the US, T-Mobile seems to have it and verizon are planning for it sometime this year, AT&T seem to have it too but at 2300mhz, i'm not sure why tho. The GS4 can switch between AWS and LTE, which also mean that it will be doing that when the 700mhz spectrum war will be over. And the 700mhz war is probbaly the most important technological advance for the mobile industry as that frequency can go through very thick walls other material that greatly diminishes current LTE bands.
MY I337 does not work on T-Mobile 3G/4G only get EDGE.
Has there been any way to enable aws bands like on the note 2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
wait for a canadien modem to be a flashable zip
I see
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
hyelton said:
MY I337 does not work on T-Mobile 3G/4G only get EDGE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's because AT&T's S4 doesn't support those other bands. It has been reported that T-mobiles S4 does plus it also works on AT&T's network (LTE included).
scott14719 said:
That's because AT&T's S4 doesn't support those other bands. It has been reported that T-mobiles S4 does plus it also works on AT&T's network (LTE included).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know it doesn't have it out of the box but does it have hardware for aws to be enabled
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
dkotoric said:
Yes I know it doesn't have it out of the box but does it have hardware for aws to be enabled
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im pretty sure it does, it would be less expensive for samsung to disable the AWS bands by software then to create a new motherboard with other hardware that doesnt support it. I'm ready to bid 100$ that it has the hardware for it, just not active
Just to clarify some of the incorrect info / misunderstandings here:
The S3 and Note 2 (ATT / Rogers / Bell / TELUS variants) had a Qualcomm tweak that enabled AWS HSPA so that the hardware would work on T-Mobile / WIND / Mobilicity.
The question is if a similar tweak will work on the I337/M (ATT / Rogers / Bell / TELUS variants). I am curious because when I travel to the US, I use T-Mobile.
From what I read, out of the box, the T-Mobile variant of the S4 will work on all the carriers, but the ATT variant will not (like the S3 / Note 2 before it, a tweak is required).
polish_pat said:
wait for a canadien modem to be a flashable zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope it's not going to be the quality as the original gnote note, i717.
WorldIRC said:
Just to clarify some of the incorrect info / misunderstandings here:
The S3 and Note 2 (ATT / Rogers / Bell / TELUS variants) had a Qualcomm tweak that enabled AWS HSPA so that the hardware would work on T-Mobile / WIND / Mobilicity.
The question is if a similar tweak will work on the I337/M (ATT / Rogers / Bell / TELUS variants). I am curious because when I travel to the US, I use T-Mobile.
From what I read, out of the box, the T-Mobile variant of the S4 will work on all the carriers, but the ATT variant will not (like the S3 / Note 2 before it, a tweak is required).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive come to realize with the s4 that att and perhaps other us carriers are plain simple assholes. Sure, you might have a 2 year contract when us canadiens have 3 years contracts, but at least we have unlocked bootloaders, we can use hotspotting without carriers shutting us down, we dont have throttling and we have the 50gb dropbox offer regardless if our carrier has its own cloud storage.
polish_pat said:
ive come to realize with the s4 that att and perhaps other us carriers are plain simple assholes. Sure, you might have a 2 year contract when us canadiens have 3 years contracts, but at least we have unlocked bootloaders, we can use hotspotting without carriers shutting us down, we dont have throttling and we have the 50gb dropbox offer regardless if our carrier has its own cloud storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our rates are cheaper now anyways. Our $65-$85 plans in Canada are $120 in the US. But back on topic...
Is our bootloader I337M for sure unlocked? Are you sure?
WorldIRC said:
Our rates are cheaper now anyways. Our $65-$85 plans in Canada are $120 in the US. But back on topic...
Is our bootloader I337M for sure unlocked? Are you sure?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100%, there are many many people in the forum that have the canadian variant and are running a custom recovery. I would do it, but i wont touch any rooting or recovery until an OTA come and fixes the lag issues
Sorry guys but I do not exactly understand if the S4 can work on Wind Mobile or not?
I have a Nexus 4 which I want to sell (tired of terrible battery life with an average camera) and I want to buy the Rogers S4. If I were to unlock the S4 can it run on Wind Mobile 3G?
Thanks in advance.

International version FULLY compatible with TMO?

Due to the TMO variant being possibly bootloader locked i wanted to know if Anyone know if the International version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is FULLY compatible with TMOBILE? in other words does it have all the frequencies/bands needed to work on TMobile USA??
I came here to ask the same thing. Tmo uses 1900mhz for 3g and it supports that. I don't think it supports tmo's LTE bands though.
With the s4s there were a lot of shenanigans you could do to get the modem on other bands, since the hardware supported more. Maybe we can do that here.
edit: Looks like tmo lte might be 1900 and the SM-G900F is 1900.
edit 2: I think, ha, that 1700 is lte and 1900 is 3g.
mk262 said:
I came here to ask the same thing. Tmo uses 1900mhz for 3g and it supports that. I don't think it supports tmo's LTE bands though.
With the s4s there were a lot of shenanigans you could do to get the modem on other bands, since the hardware supported more. Maybe we can do that here.
edit: Looks like tmo lte might be 1900 and the SM-G900F is 1900.
edit 2: I think, ha, that 1700 is lte and 1900 is 3g.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha left me a little confused, illl probably just wait till the actual specs are confirmed on most of the S5 variants...including whats bootloader locked and whats not.
I never heard of ANY international phones being LTE compatible with the Big 4 (Verizon, ATT, Sprint, Tmobile).
XeoNoX said:
Due to the TMO variant being possibly bootloader locked i wanted to know if Anyone know if the International version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is FULLY compatible with TMOBILE? in other words does it have all the frequencies/bands needed to work on TMobile USA??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
and this: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=5837&c=samsung_sm-g900f_galaxy_s5_lte-a_16gb
dandroid13 said:
Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
and this: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=5837&c=samsung_sm-g900f_galaxy_s5_lte-a_16gb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still a little confused by this - so your help is appreciated - Bottom line, is there an international version that will work with ATT LTE? From what I have been able to see none of the S5s or any phone for that matter (at least that I can see) works with ATT LTE - at least not until YOu can get 3g and 4g I think (HSPDA+
Am I wrong about this or is there an S5 varient that uses any of the LTE Bands supported by ATT:
which are: AT&T B17 = 700MHz b; B4 = AWS 1700MHz-2100MHz
Suggestions? are there any options?
mocsab said:
I am still a little confused by this - so your help is appreciated - Bottom line, is there an international version that will work with ATT LTE? From what I have been able to see none of the S5s or any phone for that matter (at least that I can see) works with ATT LTE - at least not until YOu can get 3g and 4g I think (HSPDA+
Am I wrong about this or is there an S5 varient that uses any of the LTE Bands supported by ATT:
which are: AT&T B17 = 700MHz b; B4 = AWS 1700MHz-2100MHz
Suggestions? are there any options?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a comparison of all models: http://pdadb.net/index.php?m=pdacom...=5448&id12=5876&id13=5929&id14=5865&id15=6040
The international unlocked G900F doesn't support B4 and B17.
XeoNoX said:
Due to the TMO variant being possibly bootloader locked i wanted to know if Anyone know if the International version of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is FULLY compatible with TMOBILE? in other words does it have all the frequencies/bands needed to work on TMobile USA??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait til S5 Google Play edition will be released. I bet, it will work the same as S4 Google edition which is very much compatible with T-Mob and and around the world.
so will the SM-G900 be able to get LTE? friend of mine has it and at the moment he is not able to pick up LTE only 2g if we change the baseband will that make any difference?
thanks for any help
dandroid13 said:
The international unlocked G900F doesn't support B4 and B17.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to enable these bands? similar to what is done for S4 i337or i337M
Hope somebody might be working on it
I have G900H but does not have 1700 MHz hence cannot be used with Wind or Mobilicity.
FULLY compatible? No.
OTOH, the TMobile bootloader is not locked.
Bypass the band restrictions? e.g. as was done to enable AWS on the S3.. possibly, but that would be considerable work. And more to the point, I haven't noticed anyone pursuing that.
.
itself spidsel
fffft said:
FULLY compatible? No.
OTOH, the TMobile bootloader is not locked.
Bypass the band restrictions? e.g. as was done to enable AWS on the S3.. possibly, but that would be considerable work. And more to the point, I haven't noticed anyone pursuing that.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can the qcn file for s3 or s4 be used on s5 to enable AWS band?
bhush_18 said:
Can the qcn file for s3 or s4 be used on s5 to enable AWS band?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, they are different models and there is no way that they will have the same memory addresses.
FWIW, the TMobile version has AWS enabled, so a comparison between the 900T and say 900W8 NV would probably give you a really good idea of would need to be changed on other variants with respect to AWS.
.

[Q] N9005 or N900T and other confusions !

Good Day all !
I am resident of India and looking forward to buying a SD variant of Note 3 aka n900t or n9005.
My confusion stems from number of reason
1) I would be soon moving to Canada ( Vancouver Island ) and hence require LTE or atleast 3g to work there.
2) I am an active firmware flasher and would prefer a device with a bootloader unlocked.
These are the following 2 options where i can buy from ( Remove dot and add " . " )
n9005 variant (UK model)
ebay(dot)in/itm/121340307949
or
n900t variant
ebay(dot)in/itm/NEW-Samsung-Galaxy-Note3-N900T-32GB-T-Mobile-4G-LTE-1-Yr-Seller-Wty-Black-COLOUR-/231223375840?pt=IN_Mobile_Phones&hash=item35d5fcb7e0&_uhb=1
Now from what i understand N9005 bootloader is locked ? and doesnt have the required frequencies to get data on Canadian networks?
The n900t listing apparently only has a software unlock and doesnt have a factory unlock hence it needs to be unlocked again incase the update disables it so I am slightly less inclined towards it. However looking at all aspects I am ready to pick it up if its better value preposition as compared to n9005 based on my preferences,
Please advice.
N900T will give you LTE coverage in the US and Canada as they both use band 4 and 7 for LTE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks)
Here is the full list of n900t bands:
GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 UMTS: Band 1 (2100), Band 2 (1900), Band 4 (1700), Band 5 (850)
LTE: Band 4 (1700), Band 17 (700), Band 1 (2100), Band 2 (1900), Band 5 (850), Band 7 (2600)
As for your n9005 questions, you can read through this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2458539
Seems like N900T is the better answer here as it will give you hspa+ in india, and 3g/hspa+/LTE in canada and the US, while having an unlocked bootloader. As long as its SIM / Region unlocked, which is fairly easy to do.
dirrtyswan said:
N900T will give you LTE coverage in the US and Canada as they both use band 4 and 7 for LTE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks)
Here is the full list of n900t bands:
GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 UMTS: Band 1 (2100), Band 2 (1900), Band 4 (1700), Band 5 (850)
LTE: Band 4 (1700), Band 17 (700), Band 1 (2100), Band 2 (1900), Band 5 (850), Band 7 (2600)
As for your n9005 questions, you can read through this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2458539
Seems like N900T is the better answer here as it will give you hspa+ in india, and 3g/hspa+/LTE in canada and the US, while having an unlocked bootloader. As long as its SIM / Region unlocked, which is fairly easy to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah that's a perfect reply. I did compare lte bands but well it looked n9005 had more bands and lol so thought it may have better comaptibility. Any way t-mobile note 3 it is.
Thanks again.
strangeprotocol said:
Good Day all !
I am resident of India and looking forward to buying a SD variant of Note 3 aka n900t or n9005.
My confusion stems from number of reason
1) I would be soon moving to Canada ( Vancouver Island ) and hence require LTE or atleast 3g to work there.
2) I am an active firmware flasher and would prefer a device with a bootloader unlocked.
These are the following 2 options where i can buy from ( Remove dot and add " . " )
n9005 variant (UK model)
ebay(dot)in/itm/121340307949
or
n900t variant
ebay(dot)in/itm/NEW-Samsung-Galaxy-Note3-N900T-32GB-T-Mobile-4G-LTE-1-Yr-Seller-Wty-Black-COLOUR-/231223375840?pt=IN_Mobile_Phones&hash=item35d5fcb7e0&_uhb=1
Now from what i understand N9005 bootloader is locked ? and doesnt have the required frequencies to get data on Canadian networks?
The n900t listing apparently only has a software unlock and doesnt have a factory unlock hence it needs to be unlocked again incase the update disables it so I am slightly less inclined towards it. However looking at all aspects I am ready to pick it up if its better value preposition as compared to n9005 based on my preferences,
Please advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also the option of N900W8, which has certain advantages (I think it has the 1900 band which N900T does not but instead has 1700, also W8 has a "friendlier" bootloader).
You should also check the 3G/4G coverage in the area under discussion - as far as I know in cities coverage is OK but in other places the coverage is poor.
xclub_101 said:
There is also the option of N900W8, which has certain advantages (I think it has the 1900 band which N900T does not but instead has 1700, also W8 has a "friendlier" bootloader).
You should also check the 3G/4G coverage in the area under discussion - as far as I know in cities coverage is OK but in other places the coverage is poor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well unfortunately n900w8 is not avaible in India and getting it through negrielectronics or overseas would be cumbersome. The safest is to go get via ebay in India. So do you thing because of missing 1900 band n900t will have issues with getting 3g everywhere. I am least concerned bout LTE and pretty satisfied with 3g speeds .
Good point, I was about to edit my post to say something like that. OP should be considering N900T vs N900w8 model, which is made for Canada. I did a little initial ready and it looks like N900T is compatible with canadian carriers, but you absolutely have to root it and flash different modems on it to make it work flawlessly. It also depends on which carrier you go with in Canada - bell / telus / wind etc.
There is some discussion on it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2529972
So yeah, be prepared to do some tinkering with modems.
dirrtyswan said:
Good point, I was about to edit my post to say something like that. OP should be considering N900T vs N900w8 model, which is made for Canada. I did a little initial ready and it looks like N900T is compatible with canadian carriers, but you absolutely have to root it and flash different modems on it to make it work flawlessly. It also depends on which carrier you go with in Canada - bell / telus / wind etc.
There is some discussion on it here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2529972
So yeah, be prepared to do some tinkering with modems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not even 100% convinced you can cross-flash modems, more research would be needed on that direction if the decision is based on that.
However regarding the precise bands - I know that most carriers have the coverage maps available on their websites, so the original poster could look on that and select a carrier, then check the precise bands.
xclub_101 said:
I am not even 100% convinced you can cross-flash modems, more research would be needed on that direction if the decision is based on that.
However regarding the precise bands - I know that most carriers have the coverage maps available on their websites, so the original poster could look on that and select a carrier, then check the precise bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well what only concerns me is whether if n900t will get 3g speeds atleast across all the carriers or will n9005 have that scenario. I am not really bothered bout LTE. By the does n9005 uk devices bootloader unlocked?
I am not really thinking of cross flashing various modems if its possible all i just want a device which gets data better than 2g speeds. I have been through various threadsper given links and other research prior and well everywhere there are conflicting reports.

[Q] Using my Galaxy S5 G900F in Canada?

Hi all, I'm wondering if I may trouble you with a quick question.
I recently bought a Galaxy S5 (Galaxy S5 G900F) in the hopes to have it future proof as I move to Canada next year and would like to have a solid phone for about two - three years. I'm based in Ireland at the moment and wondering can the phone be used in Canada without issue?
I was looking at a phone company (Koodo) who offer great rates and once I inputted my IMEI it stated my phone wouldn't work on their network.
Surely the S5 would work on any network throughout the globe? Last year my Note 3 worked perfectly in America and it was an international edition also.
Is this a hardware issue (radios) or software (were a simple flash of a different rom could fix)?
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Regards
gbyrne2011 said:
Surely the S5 would work on any network throughout the globe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, let me ask you this question. If the S5 should work around the world.. why does Samsung have a dozen S5 variants?
Figured it out yet? Ironically the hardware is capable of supporting all GSM and LTE bands world wide. But Samsung endeavors to sell their phones for higher prices in more affluent countries. And carriers don't want to make it easy for you to jump ship and sign your phone up to another network. So they have artificial restrictions in the firmware and other measures e.g. region locking, SIM locks, to limit what you can do. They have to allow enough compatibility that you could usually roam when traveling. But not complete compatibility or you might buy a cheaper S5 from another country. Or change carriers willy nilly.
Yup, great system.
And so it is for your phone. It will work most of the time in Canada. But it isn't 100% compatible and you may find that it can't operate on the necessary bands in fringe areas or for niche carriers.
Most of the bands are the same between the S5 900F (yours) and the S5 900W8 (Canada)
The differences, I believe are:
2G: same for both
3G: Most bands are the same. But you have B8(900) in place of Canadian band B4(1700 aka AWS)
4G: Most bands are the same. But you have B5(850), B20(800) instead of Canadian bands B4(1700 aka AWS), B17(700)
In the case of Fido, their site says:
Fido said:
Things to Know
Your device must be compatible with the Fido network, which uses GSM, UMTS, HSPA and HSPA+ at 850 MHz and 1900 MHz and LTE at 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz. If you are unsure of how to check the frequencies your device supports, try the manufacturer's official website and search for the specifications for your particular phone/smartphone model;
If your device is currently locked, it needs to be unlocked by the carrier you bought it from;
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears to me that your phone supports all of the Fido bands. And most, but not all of the bands on other Canadian carriers. I don't believe that your phone will work at all on niche carriers Wind or Mobilicity.
.
fffft said:
Okay, let me ask you this question. If the S5 should work around the world.. why does Samsung have a dozen S5 variants?
Figured it out yet? Ironically the hardware is capable of supporting all GSM and LTE bands world wide. But Samsung endeavors to sell their phones for higher prices in more affluent countries. And carriers don't want to make it easy for you to jump ship and sign your phone up to another network. So they have artificial restrictions in the firmware and other measures e.g. region locking, SIM locks, to limit what you can do. They have to allow enough compatibility that you could usually roam when traveling. But not complete compatibility or you might buy a cheaper S5 from another country. Or change carriers willy nilly.
Yup, great system.
And so it is for your phone. It will work most of the time in Canada. But it isn't 100% compatible and you may find that it can't operate on the necessary bands in fringe areas or for niche carriers.
Most of the bands are the same between the S5 900F (yours) and the S5 900W8 (Canada)
The differences, I believe are:
2G: same for both
3G: Most bands are the same. But you have B8(900) in place of Canadian band B4(1700 aka AWS)
4G: Most bands are the same. But you have B5(850), B20(800) instead of Canadian bands B4(1700 aka AWS), B17(700)
In the case of Fido, their site says:
It appears to me that your phone supports all of the Fido bands. And most, but not all of the bands on other Canadian carriers. I don't believe that your phone will work at all on niche carriers Wind or Mobilicity.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your reply. I figured it would be something to do with the radio.. Will check the bands for the network Koodoo, if it falls in ok and I can find a firmware to flash which hopefully should do the trick. Hell I might even just sell before I go, make it easier.
Cheers
gbyrne2011 said:
Will check the bands for the network Koodoo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Koodo is a secondary brand of Telus.
They use 3G 850 CLR/1900 PCS
And 4G /LTE 1700/2100 (and possibly 700 in the future)
You are missing their 1700 LTE band, sometimes referred to as AWS. So you will have to find out how extensively they use that band and whether it is a sole frequency in any areas.
.
fffft said:
Koodo is a secondary brand of Telus.
They use 3G 850 CLR/1900 PCS
And 4G /LTE 1700/2100 (and possibly 700 in the future)
You are missing their 1700 LTE band, sometimes referred to as AWS. So you will have to find out how extensively they use that band and whether it is a sole frequency in any areas.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for all your help fffft, it's much appreciated.

Canadian model pentaband?

I am trying to work out what I need to do get a pentaband model Note 4 when it comes out. I have tried to research this through the history of the Note 3 but I'm still confused. Ideally (coming from a Nexus 5) I want the phone unlocked (bootloader and SIM) and I need all five UMTS bands including 1700. I believe I could get what I need from T-Mobile but getting it would be a bit of a pain. Could I get what I need from Wind? It seems all Canadian models are the same (W8) but they just have different ROMs that only enable some of the frequencies? Is it the case that there are just simply two models of hardware - Exynos and Snapdragon and with the latter you can put any carrier-specific ROM on it? Coming from the Nexus world this plethora of models is all very confusing.
2xbass said:
I am trying to work out what I need to do get a pentaband model Note 4 when it comes out. I have tried to research this through the history of the Note 3 but I'm still confused. Ideally (coming from a Nexus 5) I want the phone unlocked (bootloader and SIM) and I need all five UMTS bands including 1700. I believe I could get what I need from T-Mobile but getting it would be a bit of a pain. Could I get what I need from Wind? It seems all Canadian models are the same (W8) but they just have different ROMs that only enable some of the frequencies? Is it the case that there are just simply two models of hardware - Exynos and Snapdragon and with the latter you can put any carrier-specific ROM on it? Coming from the Nexus world this plethora of models is all very confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in a similar boat to you on Wind Mobile.
The Snapdragon version will probably be the one you want to get, as the Exynos versions have historically received very little development, owing largely to Samsung's lack of documentation. Note 3 Exynos I think did not even get CM, because of Samsung's lack of documentation.
Gobi 9x35 model should be accompanying the Snapdragon 805.
It should support the following:
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 700 / 850 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600
It's likely that there will be a Wind variant that comes out later this year. Historically, Wind has taken a couple of months after launch b efore getting it.
I was reading elsewhere that T-Mobile won't sell me an unlocked phone unless I've been a customer of theirs for a while. So what I'm seeing is this:
a) The only versions I can buy online such as from deltamobiles or canadagsm or expansys are the Exynos version which has no 1700 band support.
b) Wind might not release the Note 4 for months after other carriers.
c) I can't buy one from T-Mobile even if I drive over the border to get one in person.
Seems like a pretty screwed-up system to me. Looks like I might as well just stay in the Nexus family and get the Nexus 6. Samsung sales are already down and with the iPhone 6 there are already reports of many people making the move to iOS now that they have bigger screens. Samsung needs to make the buying experience easier if they have any hope of staying in the game.
sauron0101 said:
I'm in a similar boat to you on Wind Mobile.
The Snapdragon version will probably be the one you want to get, as the Exynos versions have historically received very little development, owing largely to Samsung's lack of documentation. Note 3 Exynos I think did not even get CM, because of Samsung's lack of documentation.
Gobi 9x35 model should be accompanying the Snapdragon 805.
It should support the following:
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network LTE 700 / 850 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600
It's likely that there will be a Wind variant that comes out later this year. Historically, Wind has taken a couple of months after launch b efore getting it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
t-mobile/videotron/Wind.....same phone same band...
if my memory dont drive me wrong...t-mobile and videotron are on the 4g (hspda) 1700 band not sure about Wind however...
That makes sense to me but was that actually the case with the Note 3?I thought all Canadian carriers had the same W8 model?

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