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Going to Cancun on Thursday. So I called Spring about my GS4 & GS3. They enabled the codes so that they connect to the towers in Mexico. But you still get charged $2.99 per call and for each text message. But I thought i read you could put a Sim-Card in these phones for them to work international. Anyone ever tried this?
shaun0207 said:
Going to Cancun on Thursday. So I called Spring about my GS4 & GS3. They enabled the codes so that they connect to the towers in Mexico. But you still get charged $2.99 per call and for each text message. But I thought i read you could put a Sim-Card in these phones for them to work international. Anyone ever tried this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, you need to do a little more research on the phones themselves. The GS3 does not have a removable SIM, it is embedded, so there's no chance of you inserting a local SIM etc.
The GS4 does have an accessible SIM slot but it is locked to Sprint. Even if you insert a non-Sprint SIM it won't work. Sprint want's you to pay their rates for international GSM roaming.
Even if you meet their requirements and get Sprint to unlock your GS4 SIM slot, it will work for calls and SMS with a non-Sprint SIM but no data (apparently some have found out, look in the forums)..
LordLugard said:
Ok, you need to do a little more research on the phones themselves. The GS3 does not have a removable SIM, it is embedded, so there's no chance of you inserting a local SIM etc.
The GS4 does have an accessible SIM slot but it is locked to Sprint. Even if you insert a non-Sprint SIM it won't work. Sprint want's you to pay their rates for international GSM roaming.
Even if you meet their requirements and get Sprint to unlock your GS4 SIM slot, it will work for calls and SMS with a non-Sprint SIM but no data (apparently some have found out, look in the forums)..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't been out of the country yet to verify it, but I believe if you're rooted you will be able to get data by making a build.prop edit so you can add the appropriate APNs. Some people have reported though that they didn't need to do this, and data just worked automatically when they put in the SIM. I believe it was a UK carrier's SIM that just worked. I'll have a chance next week to try it out in Costa Rica and see if I can get data working.
Ingenium13 said:
I haven't been out of the country yet to verify it, but I believe if you're rooted you will be able to get data by making a build.prop edit so you can add the appropriate APNs. Some people have reported though that they didn't need to do this, and data just worked automatically when they put in the SIM. I believe it was a UK carrier's SIM that just worked. I'll have a chance next week to try it out in Costa Rica and see if I can get data working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. Lots of conflicting info on this. Someone did the build.prop thing and mentioned that the apn options were grayed out, so he basically couldn't edit anything. Even posted screenshots. Please try out your scenario and keep us informed. Thanks.
Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?
when sprint unlocked my phone? I don't follow?
s4nut said:
when sprint unlocked my phone? I don't follow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You call them (or chat) and ask to unlock the phone to be used with 3rd party GSM carriers. That's what I meant.
obender said:
Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if my phone has been successfully unlocked - but I can swap in a US T-mo Sim and it doesn't show an Invalid SIM message on my phone.
I only got an Email from InternationalDeviceUnlock <[email protected]> with the following message
Hello xxxxx xxxxxx
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully unlocked your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device. Please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock. You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Phone number: xxxxxxxxxx
If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212
jj14 said:
You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So did the phone actually do the above?
it wont work on tmobile
tmobile is on different bandwidths when they say unlock they mean international not any us carriers and even if it did work you would only get edge no 3g or lte
johnfred1987 said:
tmobile is on different bandwidths when they say unlock they mean international not any us carriers and even if it did work you would only get edge no 3g or lte
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.
jj14 said:
I don't know if my phone has been successfully unlocked - but I can swap in a US T-mo Sim and it doesn't show an Invalid SIM message on my phone.
I only got an Email from InternationalDeviceUnlock <[email protected]> with the following message
Hello xxxxx xxxxxx
This email is intended to confirm that Sprint has successfully unlocked your Samsung Galaxy s4 Device. Please follow the steps below to unlock the device after you have the third party SIM:
Turn off device > Insert 3rd party SIM > go to Settings > More (tab) > System Update > UICC unlock. You will receive the update and it should change to GSM Mode.
Phone number: xxxxxxxxxx
If you have any additional questions comments or concerns please contact Sprint World Wide care 24/7 at 888-226-7212
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had my phone unlocked, and I did the above as per the email I received. However it just said that the profile had been successfully updated, which was the same thing it said before it was supposedly unlocked when I pressed UICC unlock. It also didn't change to GSM mode automatically. So I wasn't really sure it had worked, but I was able to put in the AT&T SIM from my Nexus 7 and I didn't get an invalid SIM error.
When I went to Costa Rica, I was successfully able to use my phone with a prepaid SIM (GSM and HSPA/WCDMA). That said, I had to go into the Testing menu and force it to use only WCDMA, otherwise it would only use GSM/EDGE (even selecting WCDMA preferred didn't work... it would switch back to GSM pretty quickly). I also had to make a build.prop edit to be able to add an APN to use data. So you basically need root if you want to use data.
obender said:
So did the phone actually do the above?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know - because I was still in the US and using a SIM from US based T-Mo
autoprime said:
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be sure to let us know if at some point you do unlock it for T-Mobile/ATT - following you on twitter nowhoping to see a tweet at s ome point saying that you got it! Good luck!
autoprime said:
no, tmobile and att bands are supported by the hardware.. but are blocked by samsung/sprint regardless of unlocked sim status. if we can unblock it 3G would also be supported. WCDMA band support on the Sprint GS4 includes 850mhz and 1900mhz... so that means 3G works just about everywhere for ATT... and Tmobile would have no AWS band support but would have 3G in areas where Tmobile has refarmed 1900mhz.
Again.. the hardware itself supports these bands... its just an extra block thats stopping us. I am working on the unblock for ATT/Tmobile.
And to the OP @obender, @jj14's post show exactly what Sprint sends when the device is unlocked. Other than that... go thru the steps and that's that. As jj14 also states.. he can pop in a tmo sim and gets no error... proving he is truly unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You seem to be digging in the unlock for the S4, but are you just working on domestic, or also international unlock. Have anyone tried pulling all the nv items before and after the unlock?
obender said:
Did you received any sort of OTA when Sprint unlocked your phone?
Currently Sprint claims that they just mark the phone as unlocked in their DB and then you need to restart it.
It clearly doesn't work for many, the phone still shows "Invalid SIM" message and the consensus is that this is not normal and the phone is not unlocked.
So the question for those who have their phones _successfully_ unlocked, was there anything in addition to Sprint saying that they unlocked your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently got my S4 from sprint I had them unlock it for international use all the available networks now show up, but in regards to invalid sim msg I will not know till the end of September when i am out of country. and on a side note if you call Sprint before you own the phone for less than 90 days you have to go through a lot of loops but they will unlock it for international use. out side of that I am unsure as too how far the unlock actually goes.
will keep you updated as to my findings I will be trying a different sim card while over there
Ingenium13 said:
I had my phone unlocked, and I did the above as per the email I received. However it just said that the profile had been successfully updated, which was the same thing it said before it was supposedly unlocked when I pressed UICC unlock. It also didn't change to GSM mode automatically. So I wasn't really sure it had worked, but I was able to put in the AT&T SIM from my Nexus 7 and I didn't get an invalid SIM error.
When I went to Costa Rica, I was successfully able to use my phone with a prepaid SIM (GSM and HSPA/WCDMA). That said, I had to go into the Testing menu and force it to use only WCDMA, otherwise it would only use GSM/EDGE (even selecting WCDMA preferred didn't work... it would switch back to GSM pretty quickly). I also had to make a build.prop edit to be able to add an APN to use data. So you basically need root if you want to use data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, im going out of country soon and was wondering how you do the "build.Prop" Edit to edit the APN.
Thanks
Sprint SIM unlock for international GSM - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2415587
sprintomatic said:
Thanks for the info, im going out of country soon and was wondering how you do the "build.Prop" Edit to edit the APN.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See info here. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44200619&postcount=58
So just wanted to let you guys know at least this worked on my end. If you have the SM-G950U preordered S8 and using Sprint, you can edit MSL settings.
1. Go to diaper and type in ##3282#
2. Either view DATA or Edit
3. Type in '000000' as your MSL Code.
Don't know if you can really change too much but I'm going to play around a little.
Let me know if this is helpful to anyone or if anybody has any further suggestions or comments.
Worked for me also. Thanks for the information.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
No problem. I'm not really sure what would be beneficial to change but it is good that we ha e the access.
ait1071 said:
So just wanted to let you guys know at least this worked on my end. If you have the SM-G950U preordered S8 and using Sprint, you can edit MSL settings.
1. Go to diaper and type in ##3282#
2. Either view DATA or Edit
3. Type in '000000' as your MSL Code.
Don't know if you can really change too much but I'm going to play around a little.
Let me know if this is helpful to anyone or if anybody has any further suggestions or comments.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it still can't edit the APNS
Yeah not sure why we can't. However, interestingly if we try to access APN list via settings - connections- mobile networks - access point names, I can see a list of 7 APNs. I assume most are only used for OTA updates and if you set your connection. From cdma/LTE mode to global mode. If I then go into DATA Menu and edit mode and click on the APNs then I can only see 2 options (EHRPD or LTE) but I am able to select the one I want and change it. However, I do see that I don't have the option to add a APN. This might be a limitation when using Sprint as the carrier.
ait1071 said:
Yeah not sure why we can't. However, interestingly if we try to access APN list via settings - connections- mobile networks - access point names, I can see a list of 7 APNs. I assume most are only used for OTA updates and if you set your connection. From cdma/LTE mode to global mode. If I then go into DATA Menu and edit mode and click on the APNs then I can only see 2 options (EHRPD or LTE) but I am able to select the one I want and change it. However, I do see that I don't have the option to add a APN. This might be a limitation when using Sprint as the carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the thing is that I have a sprint Galaxy S8 with i bought "unlocked" to my surprise it wasn't I have ATT. So im looking to whatever i can t get this cellphone unlocked!!!! Since I don't have a Sprint SIM. I can't edit APNS on settings!!
Hmm well I figured you probably already tried this but earlier if I went to Settings- connections - mobile networks- network mode and changed to gsm/umts I was able to then click manual and search for network and connect to either AT&T or T-Mobile. Not sure if this Must be done first.
ait1071 said:
Hmm well I figured you probably already tried this but earlier if I went to Settings- connections - mobile networks- network mode and changed to gsm/umts I was able to then click manual and search for network and connect to either AT&T or T-Mobile. Not sure if this Must be done first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went to Settings-conection- I don't have mobile networks here.
I don't know if you need to have a sprint sim for this. But right now I don't have any sim because Im using ATT and using a older phone to be able to have a phone!!!
Okay so I just tried this option. Go into the connection and network mode and change to automatic. Then had to restart. Once restarted I went back to network mode and changed to gsm. Then I went to network operators and searched for network. Got the error that it must kill data connection before searching. I selected ok and searched. Att and T-Mobile came up. I selected Att and it said it registered on AT&T. I don't have an AT&T SIM so I can't test. However, in the morning of I see my roommate I might be able to try his SIM.
Also you might have to select gsm mode and then do the ##3282# and edit mode first and then go into settings to change network operators. Not sure but it seems ##3282# edit mode must be done to unlock additional settings in the phone.
ait1071 said:
Okay so I just tried this option. Go into the connection and network mode and change to automatic. Then had to restart. Once restarted I went back to network mode and changed to gsm. Then I went to network operators and searched for network. Got the error that it must kill data connection before searching. I selected ok and searched. Att and T-Mobile came up. I selected Att and it said it registered on AT&T. I don't have an AT&T SIM so I can't test. However, in the morning of I see my roommate I might be able to try his SIM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't have conection mode either. I'm thinking you have this enabled because you have a sprint sim in it!!
Did you buy the phone already activated on Sprint network? And also it is a G950U correct? The only reason I ask is because I think the G950U is unlocked but if it was already activated on Sprint, then you might have to factory reset the phone and have the AT&T SIM inserted to have AT&T be your carrier.
ait1071 said:
Did you buy the phone already activated on Sprint network? And also it is a G950U correct? The only reason I ask is because I think the G950U is unlocked but if it was already activated on Sprint, then you might have to factory reset the phone and have the AT&T SIM inserted to have AT&T be your carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know I bought it from somebody locally who said it was unlocked and yes it says G90U but when I insert the sim card it says invalid sim card.
Let me try the reset with the AT&T sim in it to see
When I first turned the phone on it never had the Sprint splash screen until it finished setting up and power cycled. That was the first thing I noticed. Also the phone should be unlocked by default bc this variant is exactly the same for the 4 major carriers. When I checked the firmware both CSC and AP it was the exact same as T-Mobile firmware.
Please let me know if that works. It is just a suggestion and there is so much confusion on this at least from my part. Not to mention not much info on the forum yet. If this works then it might shed some light on the G950U variant.
ait1071 said:
Please let me know if that works. It is just a suggestion and there is so much confusion on this at least from my part. Not to mention not much info on the forum yet. If this works then it might shed some light on the G950U variant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did it still the sprint splash screen comes on!!! Waiting until boots full
Hmm hopefully it isn't a firmware issue. I'm not sure if there is an AT&T firmware up on samfirm.com yet
ait1071 said:
Please let me know if that works. It is just a suggestion and there is so much confusion on this at least from my part. Not to mention not much info on the forum yet. If this works then it might shed some light on the G950U variant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does not work. Is says please provide the UICC that came with the phone. So apparently when you activate it with a provider it locks!!
Sounds like it might SIM carrier lock. I think the law last year stated that we have to be able to swap phone on any carrier in the US. There is a UICC unlock under settings and software updates but it wouldn't work for me. If I remember properly I had to wait about a month or two before they would let me UICC unlock it. On samfirmware there isn't an AT&T firmware uploaded yet. There should be soon. You could try to wipe and use the T-Mobile firmware as this is GSM and will at least be the network of roam for AT&T. Might at least allow you to use the SIM or at least activate on AT&T
ait1071 said:
Hmm hopefully it isn't a firmware issue. I'm not sure if there is an AT&T firmware up on samfirm.com yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well checked on sammobile.net still nothing for the AT&T varian, but if you look at the S8+ they already have the firmware for AT&T
---------- Post added at 04:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:20 AM ----------
ait1071 said:
Sounds like it might SIM carrier lock. I think the law last year stated that we have to be able to swap phone on any carrier in the US. There is a UICC unlock under settings and software updates but it wouldn't work for me. If I remember properly I had to wait about a month or two before they would let me UICC unlock it. On samfirmware there isn't an AT&T firmware uploaded yet. There should be soon. You could try to wipe and use the T-Mobile firmware as this is GSM and will at least be the network of roam for AT&T. Might at least allow you to use the SIM or at least activate on AT&T
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could do it. I wiped the Verizon one but still the sprint splash screen come on so I don't know
http://www5.0zz0.com/2018/10/10/03/698559611.png
hello there ,
I have an essential phone unlocked variant , I get no service when I insert my sim card in and i can't choose networks .
do you have a solution for this issue .?
Rwin01 said:
http://www5.0zz0.com/2018/10/10/03/698559611.png
hello there ,
I have an essential phone unlocked variant , I get no service when I insert my sim card in and i can't choose networks .
do you have a solution for this issue .?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it say Sim not present? If not, go online and search for APN settings for whatever network your on and enter them in as listed. On the screen you posted, click "access point names" and transpose the data from whatever your carrier's APN settings.
https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
Twowong4words said:
Does it say Sim not present? If not, go online and search for APN settings for whatever network your on and enter them in as listed. On the screen you posted, click "access point names" and transpose the data from whatever your carrier's APN settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo
Rwin01 said:
https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you raise this in guide section ->uicc unlock post. you can ask for modem partition from someone who has openus variant and can flash those ones. Did you also check your sim in another phone
arjunv said:
Can you raise this in guide section ->uicc unlock post. you can ask for modem partition from someone who has openus variant and can flash those ones. Did you also check your sim in another phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes my sim works in another phone . and i installed BTS rom and still having the same issue
Rwin01 said:
https://imgur.com/SD35C8d
APN settings are set automatically with my local carrier sim card .
check attached photo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe i dont understand but it looks as if you have 2 APN settings profiles yet you don't have either selected.
Twowong4words said:
Maybe i dont understand but it looks as if you have 2 APN settings profiles yet you don't have either selected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is somehow locked for Sprint after the September update even if I have an unlocked variant (OPENUS)
Rwin01 said:
My phone is somehow locked for Sprint after the September update even if I have an unlocked variant (OPENUS)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/how-to/discussion-brainstorm-sim-unlock-t3724135
https://forum.xda-developers.com/essential-phone/how-to/discussion-invalid-sim-card-options-t3838749
I glanced at these but didn't read the whole threads. Pretty sure they address sprint sim card locking post update. It may be worth reading about to see if yours is a similar situation. Good luck man.
I'm kind of in the same boat, essential phone openus variant with no service. I've tried different things and have been able to get it to work but just for some time before it gets no service again or some odd behavior. I don't get invalid sim or no sim notification, it is a no service notification, apparently it recognizes SIM and accepts it but is not able to find a network, as if it were out of coverage or mobile radio off. SIM card has been tested in another essential phone at same location and works flawlessly.
So far I've found that if I downgrade software to nougat and then update to oreo or pie, and then insert SIM, phone is able to get LTE connection, receive or make calls, it works fine. But then after a couple of hours or even half a day, it gets no service again. Network or factory resetting doesn't do anything, changing network settings neither,then after If phone is restarted with sim in or if sim is inserted while on, it immediately shows voicemail notification but there is no way to retrieve it of course.
Most of the times at network settings it gets and shows the correct apn but it doesn't let to choose network manually, it turns back to automatically and says no networks available. Some times I get a rare relation with wifi connection, if wifi is on and connected it shows carrier name as if ti was connected to network but no calls in or out, as soon as wifi is turned off or disconnects, carrier goes back to No Service.
Maybe someone knowing this has some idea of why phone has this strange behavior which makes it useless as a phone.
rodmat said:
I'm kind of in the same boat, essential phone openus variant with no service. I've tried different things and have been able to get it to work but just for some time before it gets no service again or some odd behavior. I don't get invalid sim or no sim notification, it is a no service notification, apparently it recognizes SIM and accepts it but is not able to find a network, as if it were out of coverage or mobile radio off. SIM card has been tested in another essential phone at same location and works flawlessly.
So far I've found that if I downgrade software to nougat and then update to oreo or pie, and then insert SIM, phone is able to get LTE connection, receive or make calls, it works fine. But then after a couple of hours or even half a day, it gets no service again. Network or factory resetting doesn't do anything, changing network settings neither,then after If phone is restarted with sim in or if sim is inserted while on, it immediately shows voicemail notification but there is no way to retrieve it of course.
Most of the times at network settings it gets and shows the correct apn but it doesn't let to choose network manually, it turns back to automatically and says no networks available. Some times I get a rare relation with wifi connection, if wifi is on and connected it shows carrier name as if ti was connected to network but no calls in or out, as soon as wifi is turned off or disconnects, carrier goes back to No Service.
Maybe someone knowing this has some idea of why phone has this strange behavior which makes it useless as a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think your phone locked for Sprint like mine , call them to unlock it .
mine is unlocked From Sprint now , but i sill need a Sprint Sim to complete the unlock process which i didn't get yet , I don't know where i can get one (I LIVE IN MOROCCO)
I guess it's possible but I really don't think that phone could be locked to sprint. I understand although sprint variant is supposed to be locked, most users are able to use other carrier sim, and only the pie update has shown invalid sim, which is not this case by the way.
rodmat said:
I guess it's possible but I really don't think that phone could be locked to sprint. I understand although sprint variant is supposed to be locked, most users are able to use other carrier sim, and only the pie update has shown invalid sim, which is not this case by the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mine is not a Sprint variant , and somehow is locked to Sprint , it was previously purchased From Best Buy . but after installing Pie on it , it shows no service , i called Sprint and they said it's locked to them
than i made an unlock request and they unlocked it
ok, so maybe flashing modemst images for openus variant could solve the problem, I don't mind trying if they come available but haven't found them yet.
rodmat said:
ok, so maybe flashing modemst images for openus variant could solve the problem, I don't mind trying if they come available but haven't found them yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you found them , let me know , i wanna try them as well
Hi everyone.
I bought a V20 T-Mobile version H918 on eBay. Seller claims it's carrier unlocked. As a precaution, I bought a $10 Red Pocket prepaid SIM card to test it with (because my current phone is CDMA). First, I tested it with Red Pocket's "GSMA" sim card, which uses AT&T's network. When using this SIM, the phone mostly didn't work. Out of 30 tries, I was only able to make a phone call once. All other times, I got no dial tone. And I wasn't able to receive data at all. APN settings were correct, verified with Red Pocket customer service; also tried many other APNs I found on google, but they made no difference.
Next, after doing a factory reset, I tried Red Pocket's "GSMT" SIM card, which uses T-Mobile's network. When using this SIM, all services including calling, texting, mms, and data work perfectly. Although, despite it working, the phone is using the wrong APN (fast.t-mobile.com). This seems to be a hard default setting, and the phone doesn't allow me to select a different APN while this SIM card is inserted.
Red Pocket tells me that an unlocked phone should work fine with either the "GSMA" or the "GSMT" card. So, their advice, together with the fact that the phone isn't letting me change the APN when on T-Mobile's network, leads me to believe it might not be unlocked. How can I know for sure?
Note: IMEI registers as clean in the database. Also, the IMEI in settings, the one shown by dialing *#06#, and the one on the sticker all match.
Thanks!
cyberspectre said:
Hi everyone.
I bought a V20 T-Mobile version H918 on eBay. Seller claims it's carrier unlocked. As a precaution, I bought a $10 Red Pocket prepaid SIM card to test it with (because my current phone is CDMA). First, I tested it with Red Pocket's "GSMA" sim card, which uses AT&T's network. When using this SIM, the phone mostly didn't work. Out of 30 tries, I was only able to make a phone call once. All other times, I got no dial tone. And I wasn't able to receive data at all. APN settings were correct, verified with Red Pocket customer service; also tried many other APNs I found on google, but they made no difference.
Next, after doing a factory reset, I tried Red Pocket's "GSMT" SIM card, which uses T-Mobile's network. When using this SIM, all services including calling, texting, mms, and data work perfectly. Although, despite it working, the phone is using the wrong APN (fast.t-mobile.com). This seems to be a hard default setting, and the phone doesn't allow me to select a different APN while this SIM card is inserted.
Red Pocket tells me that an unlocked phone should work fine with either the "GSMA" or the "GSMT" card. So, their advice, together with the fact that the phone isn't letting me change the APN when on T-Mobile's network, leads me to believe it might not be unlocked. How can I know for sure?
Note: IMEI registers as clean in the database. Also, the IMEI in settings, the one shown by dialing *#06#, and the one on the sticker all match.
Thanks!
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If it was locked, I don't think it would have accepted the ATT sim at all. You can try playing around with the Device unlock app, but on the first screen it seems to pretty much always claim its locked for me
On my (pretty sure its unlocked, havn't stuck another sim in it almost since I got it months ago)
H918 that's running on a T-Mobile (proper, not mvno) sim I can freely add and switch between APNs
Keep in mind that the H918 isn't going to be good on ATT's network.
Phoenix591 said:
If it was locked, I don't think it would have accepted the ATT sim at all. You can try playing around with the Device unlock app, but on the first screen it seems to pretty much always claim its locked for me
On my (pretty sure its unlocked, havn't stuck another sim in it almost since I got it months ago)
H918 that's running on a T-Mobile (proper, not mvno) sim I can freely add and switch between APNs
Keep in mind that the H918 isn't going to be good on ATT's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. You're saying if it were still locked, it would give an error message with the AT&T SIM?
cyberspectre said:
Thanks for the reply. You're saying if it were still locked, it would give an error message with the AT&T SIM?
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right, if it were locked, you wouldn't even get 1/30 phone calls to work, you'd get like invalid sim or something. Locked means it wouldn't even try to use the other sim.
Happend to find a video of someone with a simlocked h918 unlocking it, it shows networked locked where the carrier name goes.
Phoenix591 said:
If it was locked, I don't think it would have accepted the ATT sim at all. You can try playing around with the Device unlock app, but on the first screen it seems to pretty much always claim its locked for me
On my (pretty sure its unlocked, havn't stuck another sim in it almost since I got it months ago)
H918 that's running on a T-Mobile (proper, not mvno) sim I can freely add and switch between APNs
Keep in mind that the H918 isn't going to be good on ATT's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phoenix591 said:
right, if it were locked, you wouldn't even get 1/30 phone calls to work, you'd get like invalid sim or something. Locked means it wouldn't even try to use the other sim.
Happend to find a video of someone with a simlocked h918 unlocking it, it shows networked locked where the carrier name goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll take your word for it. Time to take off the wrapper! Thanks