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I live in the US and I have a trip planned to London, Paris and Rome in May. I own a T-mobile G1 and was wondering what my best option was for using my G1 in those cities. I know there are a lot of European users here on XDA so I was hoping somebody could give me some advise from experience. I do realize that the 3G won't work over there no matter what I do.
Thanks for any and all help!
NickPDX said:
I live in the US and I have a trip planned to London, Paris and Rome in May. I own a T-mobile G1 and was wondering what my best option was for using my G1 in those cities. I know there are a lot of European users here on XDA so I was hoping somebody could give me some advise from experience. I do realize that the 3G won't work over there no matter what I do.
Thanks for any and all help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3G should work fine. When you get there, buy a local prepaid simcard.
You need to unlock it first, call T-Mo and tell them what you just posted and they will give you the unlock code.
Your best bet for London (once you've got the phone unlocked) is a "pay as you go" sim from three. Just put £10 credit on it and you'll get a 150mb, 90day internet allowance. If you need to top it up again you get that allowance renewed every time.
Unless I am mistaking, the phone is rooted and is running a non stock rom, thus it is unlocked. I will look into the prepaid sim cards. Will I have to get a different one for each of the countries/cities?
@lbcoder: are you sure about the 3G? since this is a t-mobile phone I was under the impression that the bands it uses for 3G are only the N. American Bands and would only work over here.
Not unlocked for other networks, you need to get it unlocked to use other networks.
NickPDX said:
Unless I am mistaking, the phone is rooted and is running a non stock rom, thus it is unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sim unlock isn't the same thing as root.. You need a code from t-mobile for that. They'll give you one if you tell them what you've told us.
NickPDX said:
I will look into the prepaid sim cards. Will I have to get a different one for each of the countries/cities?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's going to be the cheapest way to do it.. You'll get brutally raped for roaming charges otherwise. In the UK the cards are usually free, you just have to buy the calling credit.
TMO will give you your SIM unlock code for free if your account has been paid up for 90 days or longer. They take up to 7 days. I had to get this from TMO via my American friend when I bought my G1 off him. There are places online where you can pay $25 or so and get an unlock code within hours. SIM unlock is not the same thing as root.
I'm also just about to go to Europe! Vodafone turned on global roaming for free (I just pay for calls) and they sells packs of roaming data, I got 25Mb for $50, which is way cheaper than their usual rate of $10 per 1Mb! For me this is easier than stuffing round with pre-paid SIM cards, changing number and whatever, I also don't know if a pre-paid SIM gives mobile data access? Give TMO a call and see what they offer.
I will turn off Sync and use DroidWall to make sure stuff doesn't update in the background and use all my allowance. It's really only to update Facebook to let people know I am still alive
Your G1 will most definitely work and use 3G in London. You can grab a T-Mo prepaid SIM from the multiple vending machines in the airport when you arrive in London, and swap it in and start using it immediately. I did exactly this at both Gatwick and Heathrow. Do like the other posters said and call T-Mobile in the US and get the unlock code before you fly. It's free that way. I did that too, and they are cool about it. It took about 24 hours after my request and it was emailed to me. The one thing that confused me at first was my G1 kept asking for a "SIM unlock code" or something like that after I had unlocked it using the T-Mobile code. Turns out it was a security setting that I could disable, to prevent someone from using the phone if they stole it. Two totally different "SIM unlocks". Now I know.
Just wondering what will be the easiest way to get a Note 4 that will work with straight talk. I'm sick of paying 100+ dollars a month with US cellular and was thinking of just buying a note 4 when it comes out for full price and setting it up with straight talk.
Do I just buy an unlocked GSM version of the Note 4 or do I need a ATT version? I know I need to change some settings ect to make it work. I obviously would want it to be LTE and have everything work (phone, MMS, etc).
Sorry if this is a newb question.
Thanks for the help!
Straight talk uses GSM and CDMA from various networks, so you have to check where you are located. I'm getting the att version or unlocked and putting a cricket sim in it. Can't beat the new 10gb unlimited talk text plan for 55 with auto pay no taxes or fees. I get good reception since they are att but the data is limited to 8mb downloads which is fine for me.
You need the T-mobile version. If history repeats itself, it will work with both the GSM Straight talk sims (Tmobile/ATT) as the S4, S5, and Note 3 has. The international version won't get all the bands you need and the ATT version removed some bands in the Note 3. ATT is shady like that plus it will be locked down tighter than a drum.
BTW, don't even bother with a CDMA sim. It runs off of sprint most likely and we all know how horrible that is.
So basically I need an unlocked GSM version. My wifes GS2 is GSM because I think straight talk uses ATT towers in this area (Wisconsin).
So would I be better off getting a Tmobile, ATT or just an unlocked GSM version (non international so I can use LTE) if I plan on at least rooting?
And I'm assuming Amazaon will have unlocked GSM versions of the note 4 for sale when it comes out? Also, do need to worry about bands/frequencies or will any US unlocked GSM note 4 work?
Thanks for the input and help guys!
thegipper said:
So basically I need an unlocked GSM version. My wifes GS2 is GSM because I think straight talk uses ATT towers in this area (Wisconsin).
So would I be better off getting a Tmobile, ATT or just an unlocked GSM version (non international so I can use LTE) if I plan on at least rooting?
And I'm assuming Amazaon will have unlocked GSM versions of the note 4 for sale when it comes out? Also, do need to worry about bands/frequencies or will any US unlocked GSM note 4 work?
Thanks for the input and help guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, the international version is not an option here in the US. The carriers are moving to voice over lte and the international version won't have the correct LTE bands or at least they didn't on the previous samsung devices. The Tmobile version will work on ATT and Tmobile straight talk sims with full LTE compatibility if history repeats itself.
The international versions used to be great here in the US in the Note 1 era but with the introduction of LTE on frequencies not wildly used in Europe, you can't do that anymore. Samsung has never made a "US" unlocked version of the Note so it doesn't exist. Only the international versions.
So I should get a Tmobile note 4. How would I go about getting it unlocked so I can use it with straight talk?
Thanks
Also, how do I go about buying a Tmobile note 4 (when they come out) if I don't have a contract with them? Can I just go in there and buy one for full retail or how does that work?
tmobile doesn't have contracts, and they wont sell you a phone unlocked unless you have been a customer with them for a certain period of time
Does anyone know roughly how much the note 4 will cost? Thanks
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
thegipper said:
Also, how do I go about buying a Tmobile note 4 (when they come out) if I don't have a contract with them? Can I just go in there and buy one for full retail or how does that work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, just go in there and buy one and use cellunlocker.net. If they won't sell you one without knowing someone with tmobile or having an account yourself, keep in mind that there are no contracts, so as with the note 3, you can sign up and cancel it at any time and keep the phone.
Reference this thread if you have questions. A lot of it applies to the Note 4 as well.
---------- Post added at 01:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------
xda23 said:
Does anyone know roughly how much the note 4 will cost? Thanks
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's reported to be $749.76 or $31.24 a month with 0 interest.
mircury said:
Yup, just go in there and buy one and use cellunlocker.net. If they won't sell you one without knowing someone with tmobile or having an account yourself, keep in mind that there are no contracts, so as with the note 3, you can sign up and cancel it at any time and keep the phone.
Reference this thread if you have questions. A lot of it applies to the Note 4 as well.
---------- Post added at 01:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------
It's reported to be $749.76 or $31.24 a month with 0 interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 2 bad.I payed $712 for my Gs5.t-mobile more than will not carry the 64 Gb model right? Thanks.
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
mircury said:
Yup, just go in there and buy one and use cellunlocker.net. If they won't sell you one without knowing someone with tmobile or having an account yourself, keep in mind that there are no contracts, so as with the note 3, you can sign up and cancel it at any time and keep the phone.
Reference this thread if you have questions. A lot of it applies to the Note 4 as well.
---------- Post added at 01:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------
It's reported to be $749.76 or $31.24 a month with 0 interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 2 bad.I payed $712 for my Gs5.t-mobile more than will not carry the 64 Gb model right? Thanks.
Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
Ordering ATT version this weekend
I am ordering ATT unactivated, unlocked Galaxy Note 4 this weekend. With the One Plus, One, I just exchanged the sim card from Nexus 5 into One Plus, One on StraightTalk.
Ok this is what I'm thinking, please let me know if this will or will not work.
I think I'm going to preorder the note 4 through best buy, a verizon version. If I trade in any working phone I will get a $200 gift card.
My questions are: If I don't have service with Verizon, can I still preorder a note 4 from Bestbuy? If so, will it be locked? If so, will they unlock it for me to use with a different carrier?
I have confirmed that my US cellular note 2 is compatabile with straight talk, because the phone hasn't been released yet, is it wrong to assume that a verizon note 4 should also work with straight talk?
Obviously I need to use a straight talk SIM card and adjust some settings so data and everything work.
Thoughts? Will it work?
You have nothing to fear or be weary of!
thegipper said:
Just wondering what will be the easiest way to get a Note 4 that will work with straight talk. I'm sick of paying 100+ dollars a month with US cellular and was thinking of just buying a note 4 when it comes out for full price and setting it up with straight talk.
Do I just buy an unlocked GSM version of the Note 4 or do I need a ATT version? I know I need to change some settings ect to make it work. I obviously would want it to be LTE and have everything work (phone, MMS, etc).
Sorry if this is a newb question.
Thanks for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, I'm going to make this very simple for you. I have been with straight talk since the days when having a flip phone were still cool. Besides the rare bad customer service (boo hoo) straight talk is amazing! Ever since I joined the Android phone race (I began with the LG thrill), I have used a straight talk sim. I have only ever used at&t because they're bigger and more reliable in most cases than T-Mobile. All you do is you buy an at&t phone, I did this with my Thrill, then my Galaxy s2 skyrocket and now my recently purchased Galaxy Note 4, which I'm using to type this! I paid it full price from Amazon, got 2 year insurance (accidental included) from Assurant Solutionsavailable at amAmazonccheckout for a total of $923. Then all you do is you go to a walmart and purchasean at&t compatible sstraighttalk sim or you can korder one from straighttalksim.com for like $7. The new straight talk at&t compatible Sims do support 4g LTE, I'm using it now, on speedtest it shows me about 222-25mbps download and 10+ mbps upload. In short, straight talk is great oI'm the unlimited everything plan, I spend $50.16 after taxes, which is automatically debited from your debit card if you choose to enroll in auto refill. Also, the play store has straight talk apps, the My Account app, and the Data Settings app. The data settings app will walk you through the settings you need to change to make it easy on you. Then, all you do is reboot your phone, and viola! You've got unlimited at&t 4g LTE! It's amazing, and you'll feel relieved at the price and saving over $1,200 over 2 years by paying full price and going the straight talk route. Way better than a 2 year contract, ill never do one of those! So yeah, straight talk is perfect for my at&t Galaxy note 4,worked right out of the box, no hassle, no need to unlock the phone, everything works as it should, even MMS! I hope I helped you, and I'm sorry for the long reply but if I was in your shoes, I'd want piece of mind too!
Frenchy91 said:
Okay, I'm going to make this very simple for you. I have been with straight talk since the days when having a flip phone were still cool. Besides the rare bad customer service (boo hoo) straight talk is amazing! Ever since I joined the Android phone race (I began with the LG thrill), I have used a straight talk sim. I have only ever used at&t because they're bigger and more reliable in most cases than T-Mobile. All you do is you buy an at&t phone, I did this with my Thrill, then my Galaxy s2 skyrocket and now my recently purchased Galaxy Note 4, which I'm using to type this! I paid it full price from Amazon, got 2 year insurance (accidental included) from Assurant Solutionsavailable at amAmazonccheckout for a total of $923. Then all you do is you go to a walmart and purchasean at&t compatible sstraighttalk sim or you can korder one from straighttalksim.com for like $7. The new straight talk at&t compatible Sims do support 4g LTE, I'm using it now, on speedtest it shows me about 222-25mbps download and 10+ mbps upload. In short, straight talk is great oI'm the unlimited everything plan, I spend $50.16 after taxes, which is automatically debited from your debit card if you choose to enroll in auto refill. Also, the play store has straight talk apps, the My Account app, and the Data Settings app. The data settings app will walk you through the settings you need to change to make it easy on you. Then, all you do is reboot your phone, and viola! You've got unlimited at&t 4g LTE! It's amazing, and you'll feel relieved at the price and saving over $1,200 over 2 years by paying full price and going the straight talk route. Way better than a 2 year contract, ill never do one of those! So yeah, straight talk is perfect for my at&t Galaxy note 4,worked right out of the box, no hassle, no need to unlock the phone, everything works as it should, even MMS! I hope I helped you, and I'm sorry for the long reply but if I was in your shoes, I'd want piece of mind too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the straight talk unlimited everything plan how many Gigs of data due you actually get monthly? Thanks In advance!!!
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
xda23 said:
On the straight talk unlimited everything plan how many Gigs of data due you actually get monthly? Thanks In advance!!!
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You get 3gb unlimited @ lte speeds. If you go over 3gb over 30 days (which I have NEVER done, except for back when they only offered 2gb) the they slow you down to 2g speeds like edge if you use at&t. Don't fearthis llimitation. It offers more data than the bug carriers 2gb and like I said, with everyday use here and there, I barely reach 2gb used, much less 3gb!
Frenchy91 said:
Okay, I'm going to make this very simple for you. I have been with straight talk since the days when having a flip phone were still cool. Besides the rare bad customer service (boo hoo) straight talk is amazing! Ever since I joined the Android phone race (I began with the LG thrill), I have used a straight talk sim. I have only ever used at&t because they're bigger and more reliable in most cases than T-Mobile. All you do is you buy an at&t phone, I did this with my Thrill, then my Galaxy s2 skyrocket and now my recently purchased Galaxy Note 4, which I'm using to type this! I paid it full price from Amazon, got 2 year insurance (accidental included) from Assurant Solutionsavailable at amAmazonccheckout for a total of $923. Then all you do is you go to a walmart and purchasean at&t compatible sstraighttalk sim or you can korder one from straighttalksim.com for like $7. The new straight talk at&t compatible Sims do support 4g LTE, I'm using it now, on speedtest it shows me about 222-25mbps download and 10+ mbps upload. In short, straight talk is great oI'm the unlimited everything plan, I spend $50.16 after taxes, which is automatically debited from your debit card if you choose to enroll in auto refill. Also, the play store has straight talk apps, the My Account app, and the Data Settings app. The data settings app will walk you through the settings you need to change to make it easy on you. Then, all you do is reboot your phone, and viola! You've got unlimited at&t 4g LTE! It's amazing, and you'll feel relieved at the price and saving over $1,200 over 2 years by paying full price and going the straight talk route. Way better than a 2 year contract, ill never do one of those! So yeah, straight talk is perfect for my at&t Galaxy note 4,worked right out of the box, no hassle, no need to unlock the phone, everything works as it should, even MMS! I hope I helped you, and I'm sorry for the long reply but if I was in your shoes, I'd want piece of mind too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you link the exact page from Amazon where you purchased your Galaxy Note 4? I want to make absolute certain that I get the right phone to use with straight talk. I assume it needs to be AT&T factory unlocked? Does it need to be the international model? If you could link the actual phone you got working on straight talk then it would make me feel more comfortable with making sure I get exactly what I am looking for.
Thanks!
/gp/aw/d/B00N532FRU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417808017&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Type amazon.com and then add the rest of the link that Ippasted. This forum doesn't allow me to post links yet.
It is $825.99 and you get free shipping and no tax, and the option to add insurance.
Frenchy91 said:
/gp/aw/d/B00N532FRU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1417808017&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
Type amazon.com and then add the rest of the link that Ippasted. This forum doesn't allow me to post links yet.
It is $825.99 and you get free shipping and no tax, and the option to add insurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much, I figured it needed to be factory unlocked to work with Straight talk.
So I need a phone for a while on a pre-paid cash only plan. I was going to pick up a straight talk card from Walmart. I have 2 old Samsung S4 phones from Verizon and T-Mobile. Will the sim card activation chip I get work on either one of them, or does it have to be specific to the previous carrier. Is there an advantage to going with one or the other. I would prefer to put my own rom on there if possible since it is such an old phone. Is one going to be better suited than the other. As far as I know, both phones are out of contract. I know for sure the Verizon phone is already unlocked via verification from Verizon.
Thank you.
If you're buying an activation package from WalMart ($45 airtime card plus SIM), it should come with multiple SIM cards for Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Thus you can use the service on any phone. If it doesn't, you'll likely have a GSM SIM, meaning you would need to use the T-Mobile S4 to get service.
The advantage to using Verizon is access to Verizon's network, which is the largest in the country. The disadvantage is that your LTE speeds are throttled to 5MBps. With T-Mobile, your network is much smaller, but your LTE I don't believe is throttled. I personally would take the time to carrier unlock your T-Mobile device (see the thread we have on unlocking phones in the General section), and then use the AT&T SIM. With AT&T, you get a network nearly as large as Verizon, plus LTE is not throttled.
As to ROMs, you're simply going to have to try them. Regardless of the ROM you use, so long as you know how to set up an APN in settings, you're good. Straight Talk changes their APNs from time to time, and the ROMs don't always use the latest APN.
Very good information and exactly what I was looking for. One more question on that if you don't mind. If I start out on Straight talk with the AT&T, can I switch over to Verizon a week or two later effortlessly, or would I need to do something to switch sims?
I do not know how to change APN's, but I am sure I can find the answer to that using search.
Thank you.
If you wanted to switch over to Verizon from AT&T, you would need to transfer your service from the AT&T SIM to the Verizon SIM. To do this, you have to go online to Straight Talk's website. Now, while they do offer an automated procedure to do this, the best thing to do is open up a chat window to one of their support reps, and have the support rep process the service swap.
Keep in mind two things.
Once you switch SIM cards, the old SIM is no longer usable. Should you change your mind and want to go back to AT&T, you would need to purchase an AT&T SIM off Straight Talk's website. They normally charge $15 plus shipping for the privilege, but if you hit it right you can often get the SIM cards for a dollar plus shipping, which is somewhat more palatable. I will say that when you get your next phone, you'll likely have to get a Nano SIM. However, you can then go onto Amazon and purchase a SIM adapter, just in case.
I am a person who believes in getting everything that you pay for, and with Verizon, a throttled LTE service doesn't qualify as getting everything that you pay for. Thus, I do not recommend switching to Verizon, ever. Stay with AT&T.
Ok. Good advice. Thank you.
The only reason I wanted to try both was because I am in a high rise where service can be sketchy. Not sure which one will work best up here. I currently have Sprint which does not work at all.
Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
Did you try putting in a non sprint sim?
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
KARVEGA79 said:
Hi guys.. So I bought a Samsung Galaxy S8 from Best Buy Mobile last month. I had to use sprint because at&t (my fav. carrier) would not finance me on the phone. I was told if I paid off the phone I could switch carriers. So that's what I did. Sprint even unlocked it. Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Is it true that I am stuck with sprint?! I have horrible coverage in my area and I can't even use the internet and such unless I'm on a wireless connection. What can I do? Please help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the Sprint unlocked your phone, then it won't hurt inserting another sim in it. Theoretically speaking it should work and if it won't, then flashing is another way of making it work.
KARVEGA79 said:
Now people are telling me I can't use this certain phone on at&t, or even verizon because it is a cdma phone. No one told me this when buying the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
lancemoreland said:
If it is SIM unlocked, just flash the unlocked (G950U1) firmware on it.
Guide for Flashing Standard Firmware, Carrier Switching, and Flashing Unlocked Firmware
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint, at&t and even verizon said my phone wasn't compatible even after I told them sprint unlocked it. I had no idea about all this cdma, gsm crap when buying the phone. I have never had a decent phone like an S8. All my phones have been cheap prepaid phones since now due to the fact no one would ever finance me for one. I was SOO freakin surprised and happy when someone actually agreed to finance me, I figured I could pay off the phone and then switch. After paying off the phone is when these companies said it was incompatible. Weird thing is I went to IMEI.info and it says it IS compatible and IS unlocked for sure. I then went to at&t online and after typing in my imei number it also said it was compatible. I'm so confused. I am going to take it up to at&t tomorrow and see what happens when I buy and insert a sim card. If it turns out to be sim locked is there a way to bypass this? I truly have paid the phone off and after doing so I asked sprint (on the phone) to sim unlock it, they said they did.
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would flash the unlocked firmware on the phone. Will get rid of bloatware. No reason to backup sprint firmware, Its everywhere.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
ChazzMatt said:
Who are these ignorant people telling you this and why are you listening to them?
1) Verizon also uses CDMA, so having CDMA is the reason it WOULD work with Verizon.
2) All the carriers in the U.S. get the same phone. All the bands needed for a specific carrier are activated when the SIM card is installed. The only reason it wouldn't work is if Sprint had not unlocked the phone after you paid it off. It would be locked to Sprint to prevent you from not honoring the purchase agreement. And even then it would be blacklisted on Sprint network, if you didn't honor the purchase agreement.
3) if inserting the SIM card for another carrier doesn't automatically change the firmware, then do what this guy said:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
rkennison said:
You said you purchased that phone from Sprint directly. It's a snapdragon. Exynos is in the international version, which Sprint does not sell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
KARVEGA79 said:
It says this guide is only for snapdragon S8's I have an exynos S8. Is there another guide for that one? Nevermind, IMEI.info said I has an exynos, I guess it was wrong info. CPU-Z says it's a snapdragon 835. I'm assuming the CPU-Z info is the correct info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you bought it from Sprint (or even just used it on Sprint), then you have a Snapdragon 835 S8. Only the Snapdragon variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants are sold by carriers in North America -- so they can be cross compatible with Sprint/Verizon/AT&T/T-mobile/Canadian carriers. That's why whoever told you this nonsense is so ignorant.
If you had IMPORTED an Exynos variant from like England, then you would be limited to AT&T or T-mobile. But you have the "universal" Snapdragon model. Now the Exynos variant has an easily unlocked bootloader, which is a reason people import them, but that's another topic altogether.
As long as your Snapdragon 835 S8 is SIM unlocked (you have paid for it in full, and Sprint says they have unlocked it), you can take it to any other carrier or even an MVNO (like Straight Talk) and use it.
---------- Post added at 08:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:00 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
I purchased it from Best Buy Mobile, had to sign with sprint because no other carrier would finance me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you used it on Sprint, you have Snapdragon 835. Only the Snapdragon S8/S8+ variants have CDMA bands for Sprint and Verizon, in addition to LTE bands.
---------- Post added at 08:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 AM ----------
KARVEGA79 said:
Should I flash the att firmware before inserting the sim or only if the sim does not work? Also is there a way and should I back up my sprint firmware or should I be ok? Thanks.
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Thor2j said:
Please do not listen to the idiots at the mobile companies. There is ZERO difference in the S8, ZERO!!!!! If It's not sim locked it will work on ALL carriers, both cdma and gsm.
If It's still sim locked, some people have had success paying a third party to provide a code. But I would try sprint first since They said it should be unlocked.
My guess is that it will work fine with another sim card.
I would either flash the att firmware or the unlocked firmware on it.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
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Since you phone is paid off, when you go to AT&T, try AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone). It's really for people who already own their phones.
Same high speed data off the same low-lag data servers used by "contract"/postpaid AT&T customers (with one exception, which I'll warn you about),
same in-store AT&T customer service as contract/postpaid AT&T customers,
same AT&T SIM card as contract/pospaid service. (The store may have SIM cards labelled "AT&T Prepaid", but underneath it's the same AT&T SIM card. If they try to charge you for one, tell them you want the FREE AT&T SIM card. It's the exact same thing.)
Make sure you go to an AT&T corporate store, not a "franchise" store. At the AT&T corporate store they will even give you free AT&T SIM card to use for AT&T Prepaid. (Franchise stores will try to sell you SIM cards.)
The advantage is AT&T Prepaid is much less expensive service than "postpaid" AT&T (contract service). Since you already own your phone in full, all you need to pay for is monthly service. You don't need to pay extra each month so you can get a "free" upgrade to a new phone in 2 or 3 years. (Not free, you are really paying for it with extra fees each month.)
You would want the $45/6GB plan on AT&T Prepaid. Do not fall for the $60 "unlimited" plan. The $45/6GB plan gives you plenty of UNCAPPED high speed data/unlimited calls/unlimited texts. Whereas the $60 plan caps your data speeds at 3mbps to compensate for it being "unlimited". AT&T Prepaid uses same data servers as their AT&T postpaid customers and I get ping speeds often less than 30ms, most often 26-29ms, which is fantastic low lag speed. (Lower pings are better, lower ping speed = less lag). If you go to even a service like Cricket (owned by AT&T, but you won't see any AT&T logos anywhere), they use proxy server farms and you often get triple digit ping speeds (high lag). This is also why Cricket has to use a DIFFERENT SIM card from regular AT&T. Higher ping speeds make it seems like your download speeds are much slower than they are.. due to LAG. Plus Cricket caps ALL download speeds at 8mbps. Until AT&T Prepaid (formerly called GoPhone) introduced their $60 "unlimited" plan, ALL their plans were uncapped high speed data. They didn't cap download speed at all. But now they have started capping speeds with the $60 "unlimited" plan. So STAY AWAY FROM THAT.
With the $45/6GB plan, if you autopay each month, you can save $5 and only pay $40 per month. So, $40 per month for 6GB data, with UNCAPPED low lag data straight from AT&T. Don't let them charge you for a SIM card! AT&T Prepaid uses the exact same SIM card as "regular' AT&T.
If you decide you don't like it, for whatever reason, you can switch to "regular" postpaid AT&T. But since I always pay for our phones in full, I like to save on monthly service. Although there are tons of MNVOs with prepaid service, they all use proxy servers with high lag (high ping speeds). Even AT&T's own Cricket is configured as an MVNO, to compete with MNVOs like Straight Talk. But AT&T Prepaid is not. It's "pure" AT&T, but at budget prices -- which AT&T uses to compete with actual carriers like T-mobile and Sprint.
You can "bring your own phone" , which in this case is your fully paid for Galaxy S8.
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
Sheon849 said:
I have a sprint model and I unlocked it.
It works with T-Mobile and gets LTE
It works with att and gets LTE
It works with Verizon my current carrier now and also gets LTE
Highly recommend flashing the unlocked software if you go this route the sprint software with non sprint SIM cards is very annoying.
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It worked! Thank GOD! In my room now I get -90/-100 with att and had -100/-125 with sprint. It is using HSPA and I can't find LTE on here to switch over. It stays on 3g, it never goes to 4g or LTE, how can I fix that?
So please tell me what I need to do to delete the sprint crap on here and put att on it. Thanks guys.
Not being rude, but you've been told many times on here What to do , reread the posts.
Follow the directions, we can't spoon feed every little thing.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3625817
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
Ok, so I want to do the prerequisites - check.
Then just do the carrier switching part and I'm done right?
Do I do all this with the sim card installed or not installed?
Sorry, this is my first time doing this.
Ok, I did what the guide said. During the flashing standard firmware part after clicking start is said FAIL! SHA256 is invalid. I ended up going back into ADB, rebooting and trying a different att firmware download and now the phone works. Weird thing is, I don't see alot of the apps that I had on an old phone with go phone and 4g LTE is not working, it's not even an option. What should I do if I want to wipe clean the phone to stock samsung android, not stock sprint as I bought it. Then I could insert the new go phone sim and it will install those apps and turn on 4g LTE? I'm learning guys, slowly but surely. I love this kinda stuff, so please bear with me here.
KARVEGA79 said:
How do I know which ones are the corporate stores and which are the franchise stores? I'm looking at the St. Louis map now. Some say at&t authorized retailer and then some just say at&t.
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https://www.att.com/maps/store-locator.html
Authorized retailers are code for "franchise stores". They are not owned by AT&T nor run by AT&T. They do not have actual AT&T employees and they will nickel and dime you for every little item, like SIM cards. Whereas "corporate" AT&T stores will give you free AT&T SIM cards.
When AT&T Prepaid was called GoPhone, event the AT&T stores sold a GoPhone SIM card "kit" that had various sizes SIM cards with plastic shims for $15 -- which was totally unnecessary. I just told them, "NO, I want a FREE AT&T SIM card which fits my phone." And at the corporate stores they have to give it to you. AT&T and AT&T Prepaid (formerly branded as GoPhone) uses the EXACT same SIM cards. It's just they had some "labelled" as GoPhone but underneath it was the exact same thing.
3or 4 years ago, I had a friend buy a brand new Samsung Galaxy phone "on contract" INSIDE an AT&T corporate store, then immediately paid it off with his credit card, and switched to GoPhone -- all in the same visit -- and they did NOT even touch his AT&T SIM card inside his phone. It's just an internal AT&T accounting change. Now GoPhone has been re-branded as AT&T Prepaid to make it less confusing.
Anyone in the US using the 4G feature?
What carrier and plan do you have on it?
I got it last weekend and will install it this weekend. I was looking around for a plan, and found it's limited support:
4G SIM Standard & Frequency Supported
GSM: GSM850 EGSM900 DCS1800 PCS1900
WCDMA: BAND1 BAND2 BAND5 BAND8
TD-SCDMA: BAND34 BAND39
TDD-LTE: BAND34 BAND38 BAND39 BAND40 BAND41
FDD-LTE: BAND1 BAND2 BAND3 BAND5 BAND7 BAND8 BAND20 BAND29A
Not Supported
AT&T: BAND12 BAND14 BAND17 BAND29 BAND30 BAND66
Verizon Wireless: BAND13 BAND66
T-Mobile: BAND12 BAND66 BAND71
Sprint:BAND25 BAND26 BAND41
This didn't help me at all, I was hoping to use AT&T prepaid being I have phone service with them.
So if anyone has their Joying running on 4G, please pipe up about carrier and plan.
Or if you can provide some input based of the above supported/unsupported list.
I've been referencing these for determining carrier:
https://www.whistleout.com/CellPhones/Guides/cell-phone-networks-and-frequencies-explained
https://www.signalbooster.com/pages...quencies-of-cell-phone-carriers-in-usa-canada
I find it interesting in the first link, unless it supports a specific band, the carrier won't support it. The "main band".
I can confirm that T-mobile works in the US. Just got service through them for my Intel based Joying unit a few days ago. Was skeptical so I went with a carrier using the bands that Joying states are compatible and that was cheapest to startup in case it didn't work. Opted for their prepaid data only plan 2gb for $10 per month. Add $10 + tax for sim kit activation = $21 and some change. In and out in 15min, slapped it in the holder on a wire and BAM! Works pretty good so far, I'm happy.
I'm assume that Verizon and AT&T would work also.
I know this thread is old but I have something. T-Mobile prepaid plan didn’t work, but a T-Mobile SIM from a phone in their store did, but would be too expensive.
Today I got a Mint Mobile SIM card for their $15/month, 4GB phone plan. It works perfectly. I’m psyched. All done online. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
You guys are luckier than me. Just purchased a SIM card from T-Mobile. The head unit isn’t recognizing it. Thought maybe I put it in backwards (can’t though because it can only fit one way) then thought it wasn’t activated but T-Mobile reps confirmed it is. I have the 4G antennas attached too. So frustrating.
I tired that TMobile plan and it don’t work. The head unit recognized the SIM but no data. It worked perfectly with a TMobilr SIM taken directly out of a display phone in he store, but that would have been $40/month!
I bought a Mint Mobile SIM from their website with the 4GB plan for $15/month and it works perfectly. Mint Mobile is the way to go.
Sorry for the double post. It didn’t seem that the first one worked.
verbalj said:
You guys are luckier than me. Just purchased a SIM card from T-Mobile. The head unit isn’t recognizing it. Thought maybe I put it in backwards (can’t though because it can only fit one way) then thought it wasn’t activated but T-Mobile reps confirmed it is. I have the 4G antennas attached too. So frustrating.
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Get a Mint Mobile SIM. Worst case you spend $45 and it doesn’t work. I took that risk and it works perfectly. $15/month.
tweetdriver63 said:
I tired that TMobile plan and it don’t work. The head unit recognized the SIM but no data. It worked perfectly with a TMobilr SIM taken directly out of a display phone in he store, but that would have been $40/month!
I bought a Mint Mobile SIM from their website with the 4GB plan for $15/month and it works perfectly. Mint Mobile is the way to go.
Sorry for the double post. It didn’t seem that the first one worked.
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Do you know why the sim taken out of a display phone worked but not the BYOD one they provide (the one that was sent to me)?
I'll look into the Mint Mobile one, thanks. It'd be easier if the T-Mobile thing worked out. I already have lines/data plans with them. Plus, $10/month is nice They also waived the activation fee and the cost of the sim card. Maybe that's why it's not working, lol.
verbalj said:
Do you know why the sim taken out of a display phone worked but not the BYOD one they provide (the one that was sent to me)?
I'll look into the Mint Mobile one, thanks. It'd be easier if the T-Mobile thing worked out. I already have lines/data plans with them. Plus, $10/month is nice They also waived the activation fee and the cost of the sim card. Maybe that's why it's not working, lol.
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When that $10/month pre-paid card didn’t work one of the sales guys just took a card out of a display phone and it worked perfectly. He said apparently a pre-paid card doesn’t work, but a normal post-paid one does. He didn’t know why, and those were all his words. I can’t explain it really.
Since it wasn’t a problem with the TMobile network, I looked at others that use their network. Mint Mobile was just the best deal and the easiest to try. I’m glad I did. It’s an instant connection and so far flawless.
I couldn’t get a card from Verizon like I wanted to to share my unlimited plan. I tried the Sim out of my iPad too, but that did the same as the TMobile pre-paid card.
Whatever SIM you’re trying. It is critical that after you insert it you reboot the head unit. On mine that’s done by holding the power button (volume knob) in until it reboots.
Wow. Is it really the reboot? Yes, the SIM card is now recognized. I know the manufacturer told me to reboot after inserting the sim, but he didn’t specify it needs to be the volume press/hold. I thought turning the vehicle off and on would suffice. It would be nice if all the options were listed in an actual instruction manual.
verbalj said:
Wow. Is it really the reboot? Yes, the SIM card is now recognized. I know the manufacturer told me to reboot after inserting the sim, but he didn’t specify it needs to be the volume press/hold. I thought turning the vehicle off and on would suffice. It would be nice if all the options were listed in an actual instruction manual.
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Is it working for you now?
It is! Thanks so much for the tip. The 4G speeds are pretty quick (I'm in the metro NY area).
Glad I could help.