First time forum user looking for some answers and a bit of help so thanks in advance for anything you can provide!
I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 from WIND Mobile in Canada. The model number was SM-N900W8. It seems although carriers know the device has the required bands, they limit listing them on their website if they do not support them and go one step further by having Samsung block the bands through some type of software cripple.
My concern is I use WIND Mobile when local and Telus Mobility when in fringe areas which WIND Mobile does not cover. Prior to buying this device from WIND outright, I confirmed with Samsung live chat support this specific model from WIND will support LTE on Telus. I was told I must first activate the device on WIND and they once I unlock the device, I can configure the Telus APN settings for use on the Telus network. When I do this, I get a max speed of 3G and in the network connections, it does not show: LTE/WCDMA/GSM (auto connect) but instead, the 3 original modes which you can select when on WIND Mobile: WCDMA/GSM (auto connect), WCDMA only and GSM only.
It seems as if the unlock and APN settings are the first 2 parts but in order for LTE to work, you must disable the cripple which Samsung has implemented for it's distribution to WIND Mobile since they do not support that frequency or radio band. My concern is it looks as if this must be done through a root or flash and I hear about phones getting bricked. I paid a lot of money for the device and cannot afford to damage it so do not know what options I have.
If I do enable LTE through a flash and then get an OTA Samsung update, will this remove the flash? How must I go about getting LTE enabled permanently without issue or is this not possible? Thank you for the help!
Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE
AllGamer said:
Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE
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Thank you so much. I will follow this guide word for word but is there any risk of bricking my phone like I have read so much about? The last thing I want to do is mess something up and have a paperweight.
If I root the device as suggested and receive an OTA notification from Samsung to update the software, will this lock everything again and make me go through the procedure all over again or will it be permanently enabled? Thanks!
AllGamer said:
Hi fellow Windman
just follow this easy guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2471340
everything is self explanatory, including LTE
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Click to collapse
So, I rooted the device and assume it was successful since I have the SU (Super User) App installed. I ran the TWRP file which I assume is the OS which enables all the crippling Samsung initially implemented when releasing this phone to WIND Mobile but the problem still stands. I have entered all the correct APN settings for Telus yet it still only provides a 3G connection. Have I done something wrong and can any of you gurus familiar with rooting and updating a custom OS provide some insight. Thanks!
I think I'm worse than a noob. At least they can figure this stuff out! I followed the quick root steps and the twrp steps but was I supposed to do something else to enable LTE? The phone is definitely rooted and has the SU App installed. TWRP just seems like a program which allows installation of a custom ROM directly from the device but I may be wrong. My concern is the TWRP file I downloaded looks as if it's a tar file which the phone loads allowing HSPA and LTE capability. If so, it did not work on my WIND device.
You can't get the OTA if you have custom recovery installed. I.e. TWRP or CWM. You gotta wait for custom roms. I don't know about the lte thing
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
cellrama said:
I think I'm worse than a noob. At least they can figure this stuff out! I followed the quick root steps and the twrp steps but was I supposed to do something else to enable LTE? The phone is definitely rooted and has the SU App installed. TWRP just seems like a program which allows installation of a custom ROM directly from the device but I may be wrong. My concern is the TWRP file I downloaded looks as if it's a tar file which the phone loads allowing HSPA and LTE capability. If so, it did not work on my WIND device.
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yea you're totally wrong here man... not sure how to enable lte capability, but wind's network is hspa+ already so that's enabled.
i do know you have to unlock it, likely with a sim unlock code or getting someone to unlock it, but after that, the theory is, that it should work.....
WIND is 4G and I have unlocked the device already. I am using a Telus SIM card and have correctly entered the Telus APN settings for LTE but it does not show LTE as a network mode which I can select. Seems to me Samsung has crippled this band since WIND does not support it. Since I have rooted the device, which I probably didn't need to do, I was hoping to find a flash which will permanently enable the LTE so it will function on Telus.
To use Telus LTE you need to switch to the Telus SIM card
then it should read the Telus APN from it, if not you can enter the Telus LTE APN and it should use it
AllGamer said:
To use Telus LTE you need to switch to the Telus SIM card
then it should read the Telus APN from it, if not you can enter the Telus LTE APN and it should use it
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I have done this already. The steps followed to date are as follows:
Purchased my WIND Mobile Galaxy Note 3 (model: SM-N900W8)
Unlocked the device through cellunlocker.net for 32.99 USD
Placed my Telus SIM into the device and it read the details. I was able to call and text without issue but did not have data connectivity. Contacted Telus and received the Telus LTE APN details and entered this information. Unfortunately, the network mode only shows 3 options: WCDMA/GSM (auto-connect), WCDMA only and GSM only.
There should be a fourth option for LTE capability but this is not displaying. I rooted my device and followed the TWRP step thinking this TWRP file was the rom to enable the LTE capability which seems to be locked but this is not the case. I am way off here but know it's probably something simple which I am missing!
yes, the 4th option for the LTE needs to flash another modem
i got it working here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46259468&postcount=39
find any of the Note 3 threads with flash-able modems, and flash the one from Puerto Rico that enables the LTE
AllGamer said:
yes, the 4th option for the LTE needs to flash another modem
i got it working here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=46259468&postcount=39
find any of the Note 3 threads with flash-able modems, and flash the one from Puerto Rico that enables the LTE
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To confirm your above statement, am I going to the following page and downloading the firmware for Puerto Rico?
http://www.samsungis.com/Firmwares/SM-N900W8.html
or must I locate a thread to download just modem firmware and then follow the same ODIN instructions as I did with the other files?
Thanks!
cellrama said:
To confirm your above statement, am I going to the following page and downloading the firmware for Puerto Rico?
http://www.samsungis.com/Firmwares/SM-N900W8.html
or must I locate a thread to download just modem firmware and then follow the same ODIN instructions as I did with the other files?
Thanks!
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you only need the modem, you don't need to flash an entire ROM.
there was a reference topic with a list of downloads for all different modems for the Note 3 in the General section of this Note 3 portion of the forum. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714
they are still uploading all the different models, you you might want to wait a bit, or you can extract it on your own, if you know how to do that from an odin .tar file.
AllGamer said:
you only need the modem, you don't need to flash an entire ROM.
there was a reference topic with a list of downloads for all different modems for the Note 3 in the General section of this Note 3 portion of the forum. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714
they are still uploading all the different models, you you might want to wait a bit, or you can extract it on your own, if you know how to do that from an odin .tar file.
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Following the link you provided, it indicates the modem for model SM-N900W8 is "coming soon..." so it does not look like a modem is available for my model at this time. I tried looking for the Puerto Rico modem flash which you used but I do not see reference to it.
I was going to install the SM-N900W8 ROM for telus which would have the modem but as research indicates, if you install the wrong carrier ROM, you brick your device. I may have misinterpreted this but the last thing I wish to do is brick my device and have an expensive paper-weight in the end. Thanks again!
cellrama said:
I was going to install the SM-N900W8 ROM for telus which would have the modem but as research indicates, if you install the wrong carrier ROM, you brick your device. I may have misinterpreted this but the last thing I wish to do is brick my device and have an expensive paper-weight in the end. Thanks again!
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the Puerto Rico ROM is safe to flash
actually anything that is for the SM-N900W8 are safe to flash
AllGamer said:
the Puerto Rico ROM is safe to flash
actually anything that is for the SM-N900W8 are safe to flash
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So I just got my phone unlocked with cellunlocker.net code, threw in a bell SIM and rebooted etc, it worked and was pretty quick but nothing too incredible. Was getting top download speeds of about 750kb/s (or 6mbps) whereas on wind I'd get about half that tops in my current location. My question here is, the phone said 3g....to me that seems way too fast for 3g but not nearly right for lte and I also couldn't see lte as an option for the bands. I assume that's cuz I still had the wind modem on the phone? Even when I went into the *#2263# screen to enable lte it still didn't work....
Any ideas? Should I flash the Puerto Rico Rom? Does it still work on wind bit just also let you use the lte radios when the correct SIM is in?
cellrama said:
Unlocked the device through cellunlocker.net for 32.99 USD
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asaqwert said:
So I just got my phone unlocked with cellunlocker.net code ...
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How long did it take to get your unlock code with cellunlocker.net? Which device did you pick in the dropdown?
I got a quote for 14.99 but guessing you have to pay more for a secondary search later?
UPDATE:
Never mind just got the code and it worked Cost me 14.99.
Hi did you manage to enable the LTE bands on your phone. I am on the same boat, have a WIND note 3 and I would like to do the same.
Thank you
fidos said:
Hi did you manage to enable the LTE bands on your phone. I am on the same boat, have a WIND note 3 and I would like to do the same.
Thank you
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I'm really new to this but hopefully this will clarify some info regarding WIND and please correct me should I be wrong. There are two things when working with a phone. Customization to the OS and proper data connection. If you wish to tweak your device, push it to the limits and customize your OS settings, you can root your device.
If you wish to just enable LTE so you can use it on an LTE capable network like Telus, Bell or Rogers in Canada, you must flash the proper modem file to enable LTE. As I understand, the Puerto Rico Modem Flash will allow you to enable LTE data on the WIND Mobile variant of the Note 3. You can get the Puerto Rico Modem Flash from Post #27 by AllGamer at the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714&page=3
I think this is safe but I'm waiting for clarification from AllGamer regarding what is meant by their statement "NOT for flashing!". Once confirmed, I'll update this post but if this works, I feel they should be thanked by clicking on the thank you button and a donation should be made for what you feel this information is worth and obviously, what you can afford. Without individuals like this, we would be at a stand still for modifications!
THANK YOU ALLGAMER FOR YOUR UNSELFISH DEMEANOR ON THE FORUM!
cellrama said:
I'm really new to this but hopefully this will clarify some info regarding WIND and please correct me should I be wrong. There are two things when working with a phone. Customization to the OS and proper data connection. If you wish to tweak your device, push it to the limits and customize your OS settings, you can root your device.
If you wish to just enable LTE so you can use it on an LTE capable network like Telus, Bell or Rogers in Canada, you must flash the proper modem file to enable LTE. As I understand, the Puerto Rico Modem Flash will allow you to enable LTE data on the WIND Mobile variant of the Note 3. You can get the Puerto Rico Modem Flash from Post #27 by AllGamer at the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475714&page=3
I think this is safe but I'm waiting for clarification from AllGamer regarding what is meant by their statement "NOT for flashing!". Once confirmed, I'll update this post but if this works, I feel they should be thanked by clicking on the thank you button and a donation should be made for what you feel this information is worth and obviously, what you can afford. Without individuals like this, we would be at a stand still for modifications!
THANK YOU ALLGAMER FOR YOUR UNSELFISH DEMEANOR ON THE FORUM!
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I am not sure why everything sounds so complicated.
I was able to flash a small file to my S4 (rogers) to enable the WIND bands. The phone did not need to be rooted, ODIN worked like a charm and my S4 became pentaband
This ordeal with the note 3 is not as straight forward. I have been following all your post but I see that you have not received any straight forward answers to your questions. I am not an expert when it comes to rooting or flashing so I would love a simple way of doing this.
Thank you again, lets hope that we will find an easy way to do this
Hi guys,
I read a couple of threads and tried a couple of things and didn't work... Im trying to sim unlock my Galaxy S4 GT I9500 on stock android 4.3 not rooted and is not working.
I read about a code using *#0011# code and didn't work.. Post was not specific about using no sim, original carrier sim or desire carrier sim.. anyway I tried all and was a failure.
I read another thread about flashing a modem and downgrading the firmware but wasnt specific enough about how to do it and the requirements (android version, rooted?, how to do it, etc)
I try one of those "code pages" and even they couldnt help me. My carrier is Movistar in Nicaragua.
Is there is any easy way to SIM unlock my phone? maybe by just installing a pre-rooted, pre-unlocked rom? or is there is a page/guide/video with specific instruction on how to do it?
thanks in advance.
I think the step by step instructions on SIM unlocking in the main thread on the topic are pretty specific. They don't mention downgrading the device modem through Odin however because they were written before Samsung patched the exploits that allowed the SIM unlock to work.
Downgrading the modem to an Android 4.2.2 version in the AP/PDA slot in Odin is necessary to run either unlock metbod. However, you can really mess things up trying to unlock if you aren't careful, especially with the service menu exploit.
I got an i337m Fido-locked phone, and I have purchased an unlock code for it. However, the unlock code doesn't work and I don't know what to do. I've been trying to get it unlocked and working with AWS Bands for the last 3-4 months with no progress. I'm currently rooted and running danvdh's gpe of 4.4.4. I've read through all the tutorials I could find on here but none of it has worked for me so far. Thanks for any help I can get, this phone has been a huge headache for me and I just want it unlocked and working with AWS Bands.
Have you tried this, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2291589&page=134 ?
Hi XDA,
I've been reading up and following guides to root using DirtySanta. I just finished downgrading from 16B to 13A, and just about to start the root process.
However, I'm confused about afterwards how to get the right kernels/roms that I'm looking for. I read from this thread that I need a US995 ROM installed with a konvergence kernel (is this correct?) to enable me to get Tmobile LTE signal.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/how-to/verizon-lg-v20-vs995-poor-network-t-t3539491/page3
But since this thread is a bit dated...
- I want to know what are some recommendations for current US995 ROMs? Looking for either STOCK (restock?) or something that is recommended to many.
- Can someone point me to a kernel that is appropriate for what I'm looking for?
- A guide to installing kernels?
Thanks!
You can flash any rom you will get lte regardless, though you cant do Voice over lte. Make sure you have the proper Apn setting. Your verizon rom should only need to be switched to global mode and add the right apn for it to work, i used my ls 997 with a verizon rom, for my gsm carrier and it worked perfectly fine, just need like i said , the right apn settings.
how did u flash a verizon rom on your LS997?
siulmagic said:
You can flash any rom you will get lte regardless, though you cant do Voice over lte. Make sure you have the proper Apn setting. Your verizon rom should only need to be switched to global mode and add the right apn for it to work, i used my ls 997 with a verizon rom, for my gsm carrier and it worked perfectly fine, just need like i said , the right apn settings.
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