Related
Is the hardware on the AT&T version different? I wanto to buy an S4 I9505, but I want to ask about the AT&T version. Can it flash the same roms, recoveries, etc. or is it version specific for some hardware reason?
I saw that it has different LTE bands, but is there more?
Hey people,
I'm planning on getting a galaxy note 3, but I'm kind of confused about the different model numbers (n9000, n9005, etc). I have read this post and it did help, but I'm still unsure of which model to get.
I will buy the phone in USA and bring it to Brazil to use it over here, so it seems the N9005 would be the best since it is the only one to support the 4G frequency used in Brazil.
However, it is written there that the N900W8 has a 'happy' bootloader (what exactly does that mean?), and I think I saw somewhere that the N900T was the best version for hacking. I'm more worried about having the best version to play with than 4G compatibility, but if the difference between models is not that big I will get the N9005.
So, what exactly are the differences between N9005, N900W8 and N900T and which version is the best one to hack around? Do all of them have an unlocked/unlockable bootloader?
I'm also worried about region lock, but if I'm not mistaken even if I do get a model that is region locked, it is quite easy to remove the lock and use it anywhere right?
dp_alvarez said:
Hey people,
I'm planning on getting a galaxy note 3, but I'm kind of confused about the different model numbers (n9000, n9005, etc). I have read this post and it did help, but I'm still unsure of which model to get.
I will buy the phone in USA and bring it to Brazil to use it over here, so it seems the N9005 would be the best since it is the only one to support the 4G frequency used in Brazil.
However, it is written there that the N900W8 has a 'happy' bootloader (what exactly does that mean?), and I think I saw somewhere that the N900T was the best version for hacking. I'm more worried about having the best version to play with than 4G compatibility, but if the difference between models is not that big I will get the N9005.
So, what exactly are the differences between N9005, N900W8 and N900T and which version is the best one to hack around? Do all of them have an unlocked/unlockable bootloader?
I'm also worried about region lock, but if I'm not mistaken even if I do get a model that is region locked, it is quite easy to remove the lock and use it anywhere right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not an expert so this is my best understanding, but not solid certainty:
N9000 = no 4G/LTE. I believe they've managed to reverse Knox on this one.
N9002 = dual sim card support. Haven't heard much else about this one.
N900W8 = I actually have no idea what distinguishes this model... I haven't really heard of it except for reading that yes it can be downgraded from 4.4 back to 4.3 apparently.
N900P/N900A/N900T/etc = Different versions of the N9005 as far as I understand. Be warned that they support different 4G frequencies, and the N900P (Sprint) only supports 1 band in 4G. Check this before you buy. Frustratingly, the N900P is also the only version of the Note 3 that has a real, old-school, FM tuner built in.
N9005 = Seems to be the best/default that everyone goes for, but I might be wrong.
dp_alvarez said:
...
So, what exactly are the differences between N9005, N900W8 and N900T and which version is the best one to hack around? Do all of them have an unlocked/unlockable bootloader?
I'm also worried about region lock, but if I'm not mistaken even if I do get a model that is region locked, it is quite easy to remove the lock and use it anywhere right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think N9005 is the only one that will get LTE in Brazil. N900W8 is friendlier to hacking (knox can be easily fooled and downgrade 4.4 -> 4.3 is possible). N900T is more usable inside US on T-Mobile and AT&T.
The region lock might be a problem under certain scenarios - I think that RegionLockAway (needs root) might only work with older baseband (but I have not tested personally).
As a holder of an N900W8, I can tell you about the "happy" bootloader.
It is the only phone with an untrippable KNOX counter when trying to root or custom ROM on the latest firmware. Now you have to be on the Canadian version (not the Mexican version) and not attempt to downgrade the firmware or else you will trip it, but anything else would allow for rooting or flashing without breaking your warranty.
Hence this is the best for hacking. It has identical specs with N900T but that has a trippable bootloader.
They all have an unlocked bootloader except N900A or other American variants. You should look for a variant closer to your country so you don't have to worry about unlocking the SIM.
Sent from my SM-N900W8 using Tapatalk
So it pretty much comes down to either the N9005 or the N900W8.
I don't really care about tripping KNOX since I will buy the phone with no warranty, is there any other downside to tripping KNOX than loosing the warranty?
Also, the N900W8 is better for hacking for now, but that is not because it is inherently better, it just happens to be better for now because someone found a exploit for that particular model, is that right? Or it is fundamentally different in a way that it will probably always be the most hackable model?
dp_alvarez said:
So it pretty much comes down to either the N9005 or the N900W8.
I don't really care about tripping KNOX since I will buy the phone with no warranty, is there any other downside to tripping KNOX than loosing the warranty?
Also, the N900W8 is better for hacking for now, but that is not because it is inherently better, it just happens to be better for now because someone found a exploit for that particular model, is that right? Or it is fundamentally different in a way that it will probably always be the most hackable model?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then the knox-friendliness of the W8 is not so relevant to you.
The N9005 has LTE in Brazil, W8 does not.
IMHO to make the best decision you must investigate the region-locking and unlocking on both. I believe there is actually an N9005 that is supposed to be for the region of Brazil (so it needs no region-unlocking) but it might be only sold by specific carriers with LTE there.
I looked around and the N9005 is the version used in Brazil, and USA is in the same region as Brazil. So if it works in USA it should work here in Brazil too.
N9005 america region is it then, thanks a lot everyone.
Here I discovered a new firmware for N5120:
https://samsung-firmware.org/download/GT-N5120/wo45/NEE/N5120XXSDQC1/N5120OXXDNE1/
Phone Samsung GT-N5120
Model GT-N5120
PDA Version N5120XXSDQC1
CSC Version N5120OXXDNE1
PHONE Version N5120XXDNE4
Region NEE
Country Nordic countries
Build Date 30.03.2017
Changelist 1600517
OS KitKat
OS Version 4.4.2
Updated OTA:
new kernel and new security patch:
I am tired of dealing with SGH-I467's (AT&T only) locked bootloader. It makes installing custom ROM impossible. Now I'm thinking of buying and swapping in a mainboard from SGH-I467M (the Canadian version is bootloader UNLOCKED) or GT-N5120 (international version).
1. will this give me an unlocked bootloader without any other hardware change? I know I probably have to swap in a new modem code, but with an unlocked bootloader, any software change is possible
2. will the mainboard from GT-N5120 work in a SGH-I467? I know SGH-I467M's mainboard will for sure work in SGH-I467 because the only difference is the latter has a locked bootloader. Unfortunately, SGH-I467M's mainboard is hard to come by, but GT-N5120's is still available. Although the LTE bands in N5120 are overseas and SGH-I467 has AT&T bands, are they really different hardware, or same hardware with different software?
[Updated Feb 9th, 2018] Now I don't think it is doable at all to download SGH-I467 or SGH-I467M's modem code to a GT-N5120 hardware even if the bootloader is unlocked. I have a Canadian Galaxy S4, SGH-I337M (bootloader unlocked, unlike the AT&T version). Since my carrier is U.S. T-Mobile, I tried to download T-Mobile's modem to my S4 thinking it may give me better data rate. Odin prompted Fail! (Auth) and S4 showed Secure Check Fail! After some googling, I realize regardless of unlocked bootloader, these phones/tablets are engineered to check if authorized modem codes are being flashed. I know for sure my S4's bootloader is unlocked because I have installed TWRP for recovery.
Since GT-N5120 has international frequency bands, turning it into a North American tablet is DOA if another carrier's modem code cannot be installed. If anyone questions why a custom ROM can be flashed to a phone/tablet with unlocked bootloader, it is because a custom ROM seldom comes with the modem code!
luckysoul777 said:
I am tired of dealing with SGH-I467's (AT&T only) locked bootloader. It makes installing custom ROM impossible. Now I'm thinking of buying and swapping in a mainboard from SGH-I467M (the Canadian version is bootloader UNLOCKED) or GT-N5120 (international version).
1. will this give me an unlocked bootloader without any other hardware change? I know I probably have to swap in a new modem code, but with an unlocked bootloader, any software change is possible
2. will the mainboard from GT-N5120 work in a SGH-I467? I know SGH-I467M's mainboard will for sure work in SGH-I467 because the only difference is the latter has a locked bootloader. Unfortunately, SGH-I467M's mainboard is hard to come by, but GT-N5120's is still available. Although the LTE bands in N5120 are overseas and SGH-I467 has AT&T bands, are they really different hardware, or same hardware with different software?
Any comment is highly appreciated. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That firmware is almost year old now..
I have no issues with my at&t i467, it runs and does everything my modded Note 8.0 does. Except a lack of custom recovery, and kernel. All you need is to learn a bit on simple file managment and permissions, while plugging away with dropping in system files and libs. I guess I will be the only one here with a modded out yank i467 that works on EU wifi channels.
I had a few threads on libs and apps, along with settings config files to customise on your own. But everybody acts like it's complex trig. Heck i hardly knew much about android when I bought my tablets, and in a years time peeps think i am a god. WTFF!
gooberdude said:
All you need is to learn a bit on simple file managment and permissions, while plugging away with dropping in system files and libs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! Thank you. Says who one has to do all mods during the Odin time and get rejected by this locked bootloader? I will definitely look up your threads on how to swap out these files post boot.
gooberdude said:
I had a few threads on libs and apps, along with settings config files to customise on your own.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to look up these posts, but you have a lot of them! If you don't mind, can you suggest the key words needed to filter them out? Thank you
I am using ZE520KL Taiwan version. However, my it cannot support my Canadian carrier (Koodo) LTE network. Knowing the two model pretty much have the same spec (excepting screen size and ram), I am guessing if I can manage to flash the kernel from USA/Brazil/Canada ZE520KL, then the LTE maybe work somehow?
Suggestion? Help?
That'll just brick the phone, I'd think. That's what happened when I tried flashing the Canadian modem on my Canadian ZE552KL after flashing the WW ROM from ASUS' website.
callmebrain said:
I am using ZE520KL Taiwan version. However, my it cannot support my Canadian carrier (Koodo) LTE network. Knowing the two model pretty much have the same spec (excepting screen size and ram), I am guessing if I can manage to flash the kernel from USA/Brazil/Canada ZE520KL, then the LTE maybe work somehow?
Suggestion? Help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't work even it was possible to make it boot with this kernel.
https://www.phonemore.com/compare/p...5u-vs-samsung-galaxy-s7-edge-sm-g935a/5532054
This compares a G935U vs. a G935A
What firmware would I flash to get the features of the G935U (left picture)
I just flashed my phone with the G935U (AT&T) and although it works fine with no AT&T bloatware, it is missing
some of the GSM bands of the G935U (Left picture) and all of the CDMA bands.
Thank you,
Ken
Unless your phone is a true "U" unlocked model, it will not have the same bands as each of the specific carrier variants such as the AT&T variant. I've never confirmed if flashing a different firmware and modem (CP file) will open up other bands on a carrier branded phone. Maybe someone else has tested this and can offer their input. I tend to doubt it's possible because i think the bands are hard coded onto the chipset thus making it virtually impossible to "activate" unsupported bands on any given model. good luck.
Nope, the modem bands are not changed by the firmware flashing. I have flashed "U" firmware over my "V" phone and it still had only the "V" bands. This is similar to all Snapdragon radio modems - it happened the same way on my older moto and Asus phones too.
The bands can be software forced "on" by flashing the Qualcomm NV memory (with Qualcomm tools) but, in my experience, they will still be not be working. More, at every official upgrade, the "old" value of the NV is reset to original hardware bands.
I have flashed my 935V with 935U (AT&T) firmware and besides the no more bloatware I do
get bands LTE 12 and 30 for sure that I did not get with the 935V when in the GSM mode.
Ken
SoNic67 said:
Nope, the modem bands are not changed by the firmware flashing. I have flashed "U" firmware over my "V" phone and it still had only the "V" bands. This is similar to all Snapdragon radio modems - it happened the same way on my older moto and Asus phones too.
The bands can be software forced "on" by flashing the Qualcomm NV memory (with Qualcomm tools) but, in my experience, they will still be not be working. More, at every official upgrade, the "old" value of the NV is reset to original hardware bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know for sure that flashing the U over V did not change the bands on my phone (not the A firmware), the NV value remained (reverted) to the original bands. Did that even after the OTA Oreo upgrade of the Nougat U version.
Cell #06828 has the value 4190 on the V version of S7.
If you use the LTE Band Calculator you will see that's 2,3,4,5,7,13.
Can you post a service screen with that working (dial *#0011#)?
LE: I stand corrected. The U firmware re-flashes the modem's CSC file with every change of the SIM. In that process it activates ONLY the bands needed for that CSC - this includes the 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE. This is unlike any other Android phone, where the bands are always the same.
There are other things affected by this file, for example the APN, or the accessibility of the Service menu (*#0011*) or the menu to view/change the LTE bands (*#2263#).
With a Tracfone/Verizon SIM, I get only the Verizon bands (except 66 that is not supported) and a couple of international ones. The flashed CSC file is TFN.
With a AT&T SIM, I get a lot more bands, including all AT&T (except 14 and 66 that's not supported) and international ones. Flashed CSC file is ATT.
With an international SIM (Vodafone), flashed CSC file is XAA.
The U firmware has available the following CSC codes: ACG, AIO, ATT, BST, GCF, LRA, SPR, TFN, TMB, TMK, USC, VMU, VZW, XAA, XAS.
More here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/ve...ge-verizon-firmware-modded-lte-bands-t3827369