[Q] Signal boosting without a radio flash? - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

Hello XDA, just a quick question. I get incredible service everywhere except where I actually live. I've been told to flash a modem that'll work better in my region, however if drive just 5 minutes away I get full bars; so I'm not worried about a regional modem.
Any tips/tricks on signal boosting or finding the best tower to connect to? The apps on the Google store do no justice.
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Br4nd3n said:
Hello XDA, just a quick question. I get incredible service everywhere except where I actually live. I've been told to flash a modem that'll work better in my region, however if drive just 5 minutes away I get full bars; so I'm not worried about a regional modem.
Any tips/tricks on signal boosting or finding the best tower to connect to? The apps on the Google store do no justice.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is really a problem with your network, not the phone. You can flash the latest MF3 modem and see if that helps, but as far as regional modems..I have no clue what they are talking about.
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23134718111253761
This is the latest modem available for the AT&T i337, not the i337m so anybody else reading this please don't flash unless you have the i337 and NOT ON THE MF3 FIRMWARE.
You can flash with your recovery, should only take a couple seconds. Reboot and enjoy!
EDIT: @jball
I forgot to include that about the MF3 firmware. Thank you very much for adding that!

Are you MDL or MF3 base
If MDL rooted and custom recovery than yes flash a different modem.
If MF3 u can't flash a different modem to my knowledge.
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Just pony up the hundred bucks for a microcell.
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jball said:
Are you MDL or MF3 base
If MDL rooted and custom recovery than yes flash a different modem.
If MF3 u can't flash a different modem to my knowledge.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
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what if you are running MDB? I just returned my phone to stock and rooted with motochopper and I am having this same issue.

When I received my phone it was stock MDL so not sure about MDB.i do know for sure that if you have root and a custom recovery like CWM,TWRP that is not Safestrap than u can flash any of the modems/radios to see witch one you like.GOOGLE is is a friend I use alot to get what info I need most of the time.
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Steven is correct, get a signal booster for house. If you complain smartly, carrier may provide. I have same issue, great everywhere but my house. It is just a bad spot or as some call them, a deadzone. Not sure exactly why yours is bad. My house is in a small valley surrounded by tall trees.
I can even go to second story and get some LTE. But, downstairs -111db and virtually no signal at all. Fortunately I have Wifi at home.
Good Luck

Related

4G not working, urgent

I flashed an international firmware on a Sprint S4, not knowing that it breaks root and custom recovery. I also lost my 4G. I can fix everything except the 4G. No idea how to begin, any idea?
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Denomenance said:
I flashed an international firmware on a Sprint S4, not knowing that it breaks root and custom recovery. I also lost my 4G. I can fix everything except the 4G. No idea how to begin, any idea?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
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Well you can begin by going to Sammobile and download the carrier's stock firmware. Flash it via odin. Stay on stock until you figure out how to fix 4G on custom roms.
Good luck, Im sure you'd be able fix it by flashing stock rom
Have you tried fishing the Sprint modem?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
chickentuna said:
Well you can begin by going to Sammobile and download the carrier's stock firmware. Flash it via odin. Stay on stock until you figure out how to fix 4G on custom roms.
Good luck, Im sure you'd be able fix it by flashing stock rom
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Click to collapse
Alright, i'm about to attempt that, thanks!
sxi200 said:
Have you tried fishing the Sprint modem?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
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Sprint Modem? Can you go a bit more in detail please?
Indie offers an "EnableLTE.zip in the i9505 Omega Thread
This maybe fix the problem, OR AT WORST BRICK YOUR DEVICE
Honestly i have no idea if this works, so be careful.
Indie or another skilled person should know of this fix the LTE bug on your Sprint S4.
Denomenance said:
Sprint Modem? Can you go a bit more in detail please?
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The modem is part of any full firmware and is usually different for each provider, region etc.
I believe the US lte frequencies are different to most of the other countries so if you don't have the correct modem your phone may be looking for the wrong frequency.
Try this link: http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Modems
Flash the .tar file in odin in the phone section.
Edit: just remembered when the first ipad to have lte was released in Australia, Apple and resellers got into big trouble for marketing it as lte/4g. This was because although it was lte it didn't actually work with Australian lte frequencies. So as I mentioned above you will need a US modem. That's my best bet to get it going again.
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sxi200 said:
The modem is part of any full firmware and is usually different for each provider, region etc.
I believe the US lte frequencies are different to most of the other countries so if you don't have the correct modem your phone may be looking for the wrong frequency.
Try this link: http://www.rwilco12.com/downloads.php?dir=Files/Devices/Samsung Galaxy S4 (SPH-L720)/Modems
Flash the .tar file in odin in the phone section.
Edit: just remembered when the first ipad to have lte was released in Australia, Apple and resellers got into big trouble for marketing it as lte/4g. This was because although it was lte it didn't actually work with Australian lte frequencies. So as I mentioned above you will need a US modem. That's my best bet to get it going again.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
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Flashed it successfully, yet no 4g. Could it be that I need to flash a different firmware?
Denomenance said:
Flashed it successfully, yet no 4g. Could it be that I need to flash a different firmware?
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Click to collapse
Maybe check that lte is selected in network settings and you have your apn set correctly.
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sxi200 said:
Maybe check that lte is selected in network settings and you have your apn set correctly.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium
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I did, yet no dice. Would flashing a stock firmware replace the modem?
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Denomenance said:
I did, yet no dice. Would flashing a stock firmware replace the modem?
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
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Please reflash your official stock firmware.
Sent from my GT-I9500

Terrible after flashing Tar

Hello ever since i flashed the crawjs MF9 tar my lte speed is terrible and my friend same phone stock gets 20mbps where i get 1mbps if that ive flashed different roms hoping to fix it i updated profile and prl still no luck someone help me thanks in advance
Go back to stock unrooted and perform a factory wipe.
Or also on a touchwiz ROM do a ##72786# in the dialer. It reactivates your phone.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4
jamal717 said:
Hello ever since i flashed the crawjs MF9 tar my lte speed is terrible and my friend same phone stock gets 20mbps where i get 1mbps if that ive flashed different roms hoping to fix it i updated profile and prl still no luck someone help me thanks in advance
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Click to collapse
First confirm that your baseband and software version say mf9 in about device. If not you need to install the modem again. I have experienced, on occasion, where installing the stock tar from Odin doesn't always update everything on the first or sometimes even the second try. Also what Rom version is your friend using? If your modem is mf9 and his is something else maybe the modem is a problem in your area. I am using it with no speed issues.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4
crawrj said:
First confirm that your baseband and software version say mf9 in about device. If not you need to install the modem again. I have experienced, on occasion, where installing the stock tar from Odin doesn't always update everything on the first or sometimes even the second try. Also what Rom version is your friend using? If your modem is mf9 and his is something else maybe the modem is a problem in your area. I am using it with no speed issues.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4
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See well now i flashed that blue kuban rom so it says
Software version- MDL
Baseband MDL
Kernel is ktoones
Idk where the modem is...
what do you think i should do?? if its the modem where do i find an appropriate one? I kind of want to go back to 100% stock but even when i flash Crawjs mf9 it still says MDL in my settings about.... Could this be the issue? If so what do i do
daniel4653 said:
Go back to stock unrooted and perform a factory wipe.
Or also on a touchwiz ROM do a ##72786# in the dialer. It reactivates your phone.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4
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I will try this also
Edit: that did not do the trick :\ thank you for the response tho
jamal717 said:
See well now i flashed that blue kuban rom so it says
Software version- MDL
Baseband MDL
Kernel is ktoones
Idk where the modem is...
what do you think i should do?? if its the modem where do i find an appropriate one? I kind of want to go back to 100% stock but even when i flash Crawjs mf9 it still says MDL in my settings about.... Could this be the issue? If so what do i do
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I know this will sound odd but Odin the tar a couple of times back to back or until about device shows mf9 for everything.
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The crawj tar? Alright I will when I get off work idk why it didnt say mf9
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jamal717 said:
The crawj tar? Alright I will when I get off work idk why it didnt say mf9
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Yeah or completely stock mf9. Either one will work. It happens to me also. Not sure why it doesn't always take on the first try.
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Okay ill try both have yiu ever had the data issues tho
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jamal717 said:
Okay ill try both have yiu ever had the data issues tho
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No I haven't had that problem. But I also just got 4G in my area about a month ago so I don't have very much time on it.
crawrj said:
No I haven't had that problem. But I also just got 4G in my area about a month ago so I don't have very much time on it.
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Okay I am having terrible luck i downloaded your tar again stock rooted odexed mf9... flashed it through odin it passed rebooted stuck on yellow sprint sign :\ im now in the process of reflashing through odin.... I want my note back lol
Flashed everything says mf9 still bad lte speeds I kay return this to the store
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Switched to tmobile

So i switched over to Tmobile this month and i'm struggling getting the 4GLTE data speeds. I did the APN settings trick and i really cant do much more that i know of. IM on the stock 4.3 ATT firmware and rooted using the Kingo method. I tried to install Safestrat 3.65 but i can get it working.. I could just install a Tmobile ROM if i could use a custom recovery but i havent found a way to do it without a softbrick. I've got less than 5Mbps down so thats crap..
Tmo, is not known for really good LTE speeds or coverage.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Incorrect T-Mobile when using a tmobile branded device has very strong lte speeds.
Yes the coverage can be spotty at times ... rarely!
The problem when using AT&T phone with T Mobile SIM cards is that the lte bands are always compatible.
The AT&T s4 does Carry four LTE bands I use it and get great LTE signal with tmobile service. ...only with the AT&T s4 for instance if you use an AT&T note 2 or s3 with T Mobile service it is really bad.
The reason behind The weak or dropped lte isnt really so much for about the bands it is actually how the device is tuned to work with that carriers service.
To get safestrap recovery working download the AT&T s4 safestrap recovery and install it. Just like in apk file just click install .
Everytime you power off or reboot the phone it will first come to safestrap screen then you choose to boot into recovery or continue to boot into the normal operating system by choosing the very bottom left menu button for recovery or the far right button to boot into the phone normal system .
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OP can't use SS on 4.3
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yeah I already tried to use Safestrap knowing it may not be compatible. I even used wanam to set my phone into SeLinux permissive mode. The only thing i can think to try is to download the tmobile 4.3 firmware from sammobile but they keep saying their in a transition to a different download server and the firmware hasn't been moved yet.. anyone have the 4.3 tmobile firmware tar and modem for ODin? It should work because they are both same phone just modified through firmware. That would also give me wifi calling and some other good stuff
graydiggy said:
OP can't use SS on 4.3
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Do not use T-Mobile stock firmware. The modem and kernel will not work and you will not be able to flash the correct stuff. The firmwares are not the same.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------
Plus, the bootloaders are different so it won't flash anyways
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Yeah i tried anyway but my phone worked fine after, no data loss or anything. It didnt go to the tmobile firmware though unfortunately. I need to get to a tmobile ROM though and this restriction is killing me. HAs anyone found a working recovery for 4.3? Or is safe strap developing for it?
graydiggy said:
Do not use T-Mobile stock firmware. The modem and kernel will not work and you will not be able to flash the correct stuff. The firmwares are not the same.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------
Plus, the bootloaders are different so it won't flash anyways
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Wow is all I have to say
ROOTED ATT MK2 using Tapatalk
i'm not a noob and i knew the risks but i want the full tmobile experience hahaha I found better APN settings though that give me full LTE speeds for future reference:
http://www.4gtricks.com/2013/04/t-mobile-4g-apn-t-mobile-4g-apn-settings.html
jball said:
Wow is all I have to say
ROOTED ATT MK2 using Tapatalk
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Why not trade for a tmobile phone? Then you'd have roms and an unlocked Bootloader.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

I'm Looking For A Custom Kitkat 4.4.2 Rom For My S4

I am looking for a custom KitKat rom 4.4.2. All the ones I'm finding will not flash successfully. The one I did find was messing up my phone modem (radio) and it was causing dropped calls and EDGE connection problems so I flashed it back to stock. I want a new custom rom without this issue that is rooted with Wifi/tethering.
I have the Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 model with AT&T.
I appreciate any help it I can get with this!
matth84 said:
I am looking for a custom KitKat rom 4.4.2. All the ones I'm finding will not flash successfully. The one I did find was messing up my phone modem (radio) and it was causing dropped calls and EDGE connection problems so I flashed it back to stock. I want a new custom rom without this issue that is rooted with Wifi/tethering.
I have the Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 model with AT&T.
I appreciate any help it I can get with this!
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Click to collapse
If you take the time to read like most of us have. You will find out that you can't flash custom rooms if you are on kit kat until devs find exploit, which is going to be very hard.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
What's your build number--then we can be more specific in our help.
And what roms did you try--
rugmankc said:
What's your build number--then we can be more specific in our help.
And what roms did you try--
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From what he says you could tell he is either on mk2, nb1 or NC1 which the bootloader is lock down and as most of us know we can only flash Tw roms.
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netomel said:
From what he says you could tell he is either on mk2, nb1 or NC1 which the bootloader is lock down and as most of us know we can only flash Tw roms.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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I don't get that from his post. He wants to flash a kk custom rom and he seems to be able to flash roms which tells me he has a custom recovery.
Op, can you tell us what firmware version you're on?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
I don't get that from his post. He wants to flash a kk custom rom and he seems to be able to flash roms which tells me he has a custom recovery.
Op, can you tell us what firmware version you're on?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
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I didn't either, want to be sure our recommendations are correct--:good:

AT&T Kitkat update

I hope somebody can help me with this. My question concerns 2 S4s. One is rooted while the other is completely virgin stock. The rooted s4 won't even allow me to check for an update no matter how many times I try. The stock s4 will check but always says it's up to date. What can I do to fix this? I'm more concerned about the stock s4 since the update will break my root on the other. But I would be curious if there's an explanation as to why the rooted s4 is doing what it's doing.
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LWH.31752 said:
I hope somebody can help me with this. My question concerns 2 S4s. One is rooted while the other is completely virgin stock. The rooted s4 won't even allow me to check for an update no matter how many times I try. The stock s4 will check but always says it's up to date. What can I do to fix this? I'm more concerned about the stock s4 since the update will break my root on the other. But I would be curious if there's an explanation as to why the rooted s4 is doing what it's doing.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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The root won't let you check probably because of the modified system. For the other one, it's known that AT&T's OTA is kinda buggy and you pretty much need a full strength WiFi and cell network connection.
Sent from my SGH-I337 running Light ROM
Great info. I'll try it out . Thanks.
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