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I hope someone can answer me this question, please. I want to hopefully understand something before I purchase a Blackstone. My phone carrier is AT&T, and I live in an area that has 3G coverage. Supposedly this area also has HSDPA. I understand already that the HD will not work on AT&T's 3G, but will it work on the HSDPA? I *think* that HSDPA would be fast enough, yes? I tried to look this up, but I am not 100 percent sure of what I am reading... please all, forgive that I didn't understand enough to figure this out myself. Is there someone out there who also has this carrier and can verify that I will be able to surf faster than EDGE? I want to eventually use the secondary camera of the device to make video calls - I have Deaf family members who can be contacted by videophones and I want to do that some day with the HD!! Any and all help is apprecated.
u prolly have your answer by now, but i can fill in here...
HSDPA will work... i have an experia that won't say3G, but does say H and i'm getting speeds of 1100kbps which is 3G speeds... so you are good to go on that part...
As for video calling... you won't get it... i'm not gettin it at all even tho i have modified my phone for it to work... its an AT&T thing... apparently they maybe supporting it in the next few months (so i've read)... knock on wood cuz that would be ground breaking for the USA
HSDPA will not work. HSDPA is a form of 3g (HSDPA/HSPA/UMTS). The HD does not support At&T or any other US carrier 3g frequencies. You will have EDGE
Svegetto said:
HSDPA will not work. HSDPA is a form of 3g (HSDPA/HSPA/UMTS). The HD does not support At&T or any other US carrier 3g frequencies. You will have EDGE
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technically, neither does the x1i i have... but in the discription it does say 850/900/1800/1900 for both phones...
and my phone does not say E... it says H... the hardware are almost identical between the 2 phones...
there were alot of naysayers about the x1i and 3g speeds... but when i got it, popped in the sim card... my internet was BLAZING....
Connectivity: Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
WCDMA / HSPA: 900/2100MHz. HSDPA 7.2 Mbps
as you can see, the HD supports 3g on 900/2100 (which US networks do not operate 3g on). Although 850 is a 3g frequency for at&t, the HD does not search for HSDPA on that frequency and only for EDGE and, therefore, you'll only get EDGE
Svegetto is correct. I have the HD and I am on AT&T. All I get is the big E. It is faster than it used to be, but it is still Edge.
I get decent reception everywhere, EXCEPT where i work (a university in Vancouver). At my desk, sometimes I will get calls, but most times it goes straight to voicemail. In the library, I can't get any reception, and internet works very slow (over 1 min to open a webpage). I am with Bell Mobility. I used to have an htc touch, and although reception would also come in and out at work...its not even close to being as bad as my SGS.
My co-workers who are with other carriers get full bars in the same areas i get no reception. Is there anything I can do to keep the SGS and still get reception?
Are your coworkers on Rogers? I do find their network seems to penetrate buildings a bit better than Bell's.
reception is always good on 850 band
but there are places like Subway, or really thick concrete walls where signal will simply not go through
Nirvana388 said:
Are your coworkers on Rogers? I do find their network seems to penetrate buildings a bit better than Bell's.
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Yes, they are with rogers. I can't even get texts or calls at all in the library, and my desk is hit and miss...I think to myself..."i spend 1/3 of my day here...whats the point then?"
What frequencies does bell support? Is it possible they use 2 frequencies for their network but only 1 is supported by this phone (here in Australia, telstra uses 850mhz, and special i9000's are apparently required for that)
andrewluecke said:
What frequencies does bell support? Is it possible they use 2 frequencies for their network but only 1 is supported by this phone (here in Australia, telstra uses 850mhz, and special i9000's are apparently required for that)
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Yeah the international i9000 supports 900/1400/2100 bands.
I think AT&T uses 900 where as Rogers uses 850, not sure though. :\
sturmeh said:
Yeah the international i9000 supports 900/1400/2100 bands.
I think AT&T uses 900 where as Rogers uses 850, not sure though. :\
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AT&T is also 850
900 is only used in Europe
Try turning data off or using 2g only mode when at work. Other wise buy a new at&t sgs. Apps like locale and tasker can make switching off data/2g mode painless
Sent from my Apple Newton 2100
I've got similar problems, except that for some reason my connection drops significantly at home. Everywhere else it's almost always constant 4 bars or 3, but at my house it drops to 2, 1 or sometimes loses it altogether (though latter rarely happens). So it's not THAT bad or anything but annoying nonetheless... damn Bell. As soon as it's unlockable I think I'll head over back to Rogers, Fido or whatever.
Bell uses 850/1900 bands the same as Rogers and AT&T. As we discussed in another thread, turning off the 3g is not an option for Bell as Bell has no underlying 2g GSM network to fall back on. This is probably why your coworkers are getting better reception, they are most likely falling back on Rogers 2g network when inside. This will probably not improve unless Bell puts up a new microcell nearby you or something. It is most likely just the building though that is blocking the 3g signal. If you switched to Rogers when they get the Captivate later this year, or get bell to unlock your Galaxy and switch you may get better voice/sms reception because you can then fallback on Rogers 2g.
he just need to get it unlock, so he can use another network
no need to switch phone
I was wondering why I can only get EDGE on my TMobile G2 phone... is it because of the GSM incompatibility that some TMobile phones have with the ATT network or am I doing something wrong?
Does your phone support 1900 MHz UTMS? That would be a problem. If it does then use *#0011# and make sure the bands are unlocked.
Sent from my xt862 using xda app-developers app
MrObvious said:
Does your phone support 1900 MHz UTMS? That would be a problem. If it does then use *#0011# and make sure the bands are unlocked.
Sent from my xt862 using xda app-developers app
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I got "connection problem or invalid MMI code" when I ran that.
Edit: Did a bit more research and it turns out that it does *not* support 1900 MHz UTMS for 3G, so basically, this phone + ATT network = no 3G service, as the hardware is incompatible.
M!x said:
I got "connection problem or invalid MMI code" when I ran that.
Edit: Did a bit more research and it turns out that it does *not* support 1900 MHz UTMS for 3G, so basically, this phone + ATT network = no 3G service, as the hardware is incompatible.
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Click to collapse
Someone doing their own research? Get the hell out.
Actually, I don't think the G2 even does 3G on anything but AWS. The HTC Desire Z (identical but without carrier branding) has a version that supports AT&T 3G, however.
luftrofl said:
Someone doing their own research? Get the hell out.
Actually, I don't think the G2 even does 3G on anything but AWS. The HTC Desire Z (identical but without carrier branding) has a version that supports AT&T 3G, however.
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You are correct.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
MrObvious said:
Does your phone support 1900 MHz UTMS? That would be a problem. If it does then use *#0011# and make sure the bands are unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Can you explain what you mean by "use *#0011# and make sure the bands are unlocked"? My Samsung phone can't get 4g service here on T-Mobile and it doesn't do 3G so I'd really like to enable HSPA+ if that's possible. I don't see anything on that screen that I can unlock though.
stevec5000 said:
Can you explain what you mean by "use *#0011# and make sure the bands are unlocked"? My Samsung phone can't get 4g service here on T-Mobile and it doesn't do 3G so I'd really like to enable HSPA+ if that's possible. I don't see anything on that screen that I can unlock though.
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Check which UMTS (3G) bands your phone supports - I suspect yours does not support T-Mobile's 3G band (IV). The information is usually available on wikipedia or gsmarena.
You do not "enable" 3G through software changes. Your phone supports it or it doesn't.
luftrofl said:
Check which UMTS (3G) bands your phone supports - I suspect yours does not support T-Mobile's 3G band (IV). The information is usually available on wikipedia or gsmarena.
You do not "enable" 3G through software changes. Your phone supports it or it doesn't.
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It does support band IV, 1700Mhz, but it doesn't do HSPA+ so it can't get 3G. That screen still doesn't tell me anything though.
GSMArena says it has 3G Networking on HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 2100 / 1900 but that's not true. There is no 2100Mhz band, not on mine anyway. Actually GSMArena isn't very complete or very accurate, it don't even list the model T959V!
stevec5000 said:
It does support band IV, 1700Mhz, but it doesn't do HSPA+ so it can't get 3G. That screen still doesn't tell me anything though.
GSMArena says it has 3G Networking on HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 2100 / 1900 but that's not true. There is no 2100Mhz band, not on mine anyway. Actually GSMArena isn't very complete or very accurate, it don't even list the model T959V!
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That's not how HSPA+ works - it's essentially just faster 3G. Also, I found your phone on GSMArena, not sure how you searched but the information is all there and it supports band IV (1700/2100) and I (2100).
Are you sure you've enabled 3G (or deselected "Use only 2G networks")?
What is the history of the phone (bought new, used, etc.)? It should "just work" on T-Mobile as it's T-Mobile branded but, no offense, your details are a little vague.
luftrofl said:
That's not how HSPA+ works - it's essentially just faster 3G. Also, I found your phone on GSMArena, not sure how you searched but the information is all there and it supports band IV (1700/2100) and I (2100).
Are you sure you've enabled 3G (or deselected "Use only 2G networks")?
What is the history of the phone (bought new, used, etc.)? It should "just work" on T-Mobile as it's T-Mobile branded but, no offense, your details are a little vague.
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Sorry if I was vague but it doesn't "just work" on T-Mobile! At first I though all Exhibit II models would be the same however they could have different versions like the Galaxy 2 that has an older version for 3G and a newer version that also now gets 4G, who knows.
The phone was purchased new a few months ago and is still stock. I know HSPA+ is faster 3G since I can get it on 1700Mhz on another device using the T-Mobile SIM from the Exhibit 2. Can't get HSPA+ or 3G on the Exhibit 2 though.
Yes the phone is on GSMArena but the info is not accurate, it claims the phone gets 3G and has a 2100Mhz band but that's not true. It only supports band IV on 1700.
There is no option to enable 3G or "Use only 2G networks". It has options for WCDMA (for 4G on 1700) or GSM (for Edge on 1900) but there is no setting in between for 3G or HSPA+. I tried setting it to WCDMA only but it defaults back to Auto using Edge unless I go to a T-Mobile store where they have a strong 4G signal that gives 5 bars. If I leave the store and go down the street there's no signal though.
I have verified that WCDMA for 4G is on 1700 and GSM for Edge is on 1900 using a spectrum analyzer but it never uses 2100 and has never used 3G anywhere in the Phoenix, Mesa or Scottsdale area, just Edge. There may be other modes and frequencies but I haven't been able to verify them.
If there is a way to turn on 3G I'd like to know what it is? Someone suggested dialing *#32489# clicking #3 then UTMS but that didn't do anything.
stevec5000 said:
Sorry if I was vague but it doesn't "just work" on T-Mobile! At first I though all Exhibit II models would be the same however they could have different versions like the Galaxy 2 that has an older version for 3G and a newer version that also now gets 4G, who knows.
The phone was purchased new a few months ago and is still stock. I know HSPA+ is faster 3G since I can get it on 1700Mhz on another device using the T-Mobile SIM from the Exhibit 2. Can't get HSPA+ or 3G on the Exhibit 2 though.
Yes the phone is on GSMArena but the info is not accurate, it claims the phone gets 3G and has a 2100Mhz band but that's not true. It only supports band IV on 1700.
There is no option to enable 3G or "Use only 2G networks". It has options for WCDMA (for 4G on 1700) or GSM (for Edge on 1900) but there is no setting in between for 3G or HSPA+. I tried setting it to WCDMA only but it defaults back to Auto using Edge unless I go to a T-Mobile store where they have a strong 4G signal that gives 5 bars. If I leave the store and go down the street there's no signal though.
I have verified that WCDMA for 4G is on 1700 and GSM for Edge is on 1900 using a spectrum analyzer but it never uses 2100 and has never used 3G anywhere in the Phoenix, Mesa or Scottsdale area, just Edge. There may be other modes and frequencies but I haven't been able to verify them.
If there is a way to turn on 3G I'd like to know what it is? Someone suggested dialing *#32489# clicking #3 then UTMS but that didn't do anything.
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Click to collapse
I don't know where to begin but let me get this straight...
-You bought a new Exhibit II from T-Mobile.
-It doesn't get 3G outside of the store.
-Your other T-Mobile compatible device gets 3G outside of the store.
-You've owned this same Exhibit II which hasn't been connecting to 3G for months.
On these points alone, am I understanding you correctly?
luftrofl said:
I don't know where to begin but let me get this straight...
-You bought a new Exhibit II from T-Mobile.
-It doesn't get 3G outside of the store.
-Your other T-Mobile compatible device gets 3G outside of the store.
-You've owned this same Exhibit II which hasn't been connecting to 3G for months.
On these points alone, am I understanding you correctly?
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Click to collapse
Close but not quite correct, it doesn't get 4G outside of the store.
It can't get 3G at all anywhere!
Since there is no 4G network is there a way to turn on or enable 3G or is it hopeless?
stevec5000 said:
Close but not quite correct, it doesn't get 4G outside of the store.
It can't get 3G at all anywhere!
Since there is no 4G network is there a way to turn on or enable 3G or is it hopeless?
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Click to collapse
In a previous post you said that you "know" what I'm talking about but clearly that is not the case.
What T-Mobile calls 4G is actually 3G with improvements to the backhaul as well as the radios on the phones - where T-Mobile has 4G, it also has 3G.
The point of my last post was to make it obvious that you have a defective phone. I shouldn't have assumed you would figure it as you haven't figured it out in the months you've owned a phone that obviously has reception issues.
luftrofl said:
In a previous post you said that you "know" what I'm talking about but clearly that is not the case.
What T-Mobile calls 4G is actually 3G with improvements to the backhaul as well as the radios on the phones - where T-Mobile has 4G, it also has 3G.
The point of my last post was to make it obvious that you have a defective phone. I shouldn't have assumed you would figure it as you haven't figured it out in the months you've owned a phone that obviously has reception issues.
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Again not true! What they call 4G is using WCDMA but 3G is using HSPA+. 3G using HSPA+ has improvements that will allow it to go up to 20Mb but my Android phone doesn't have an option for 3G, just 4G using WCDMA. The people at the T-Mobile stores would beg to differ with you about the phone being bad since I've been to 5 T-Mobile stores and they say the phone works OK since it can get 4G on 1700Mhz in the store.
stevec5000 said:
Again not true! What they call 4G is using WCDMA but 3G is using HSPA+. 3G using HSPA+ has improvements that will allow it to go up to 20Mb but my Android phone doesn't have an option for 3G, just 4G using WCDMA. The people at the T-Mobile stores would beg to differ with you about the phone being bad since I've been to 5 T-Mobile stores and they say the phone works OK since it can get 4G on 1700Mhz in the store.
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Click to collapse
Your posts are too long to be trolling, but it still feels like you are because everything you post is wrong.
In case you're not trolling:
-Your phone has hardware defects that are affecting how well it connects to 3G.
-The fact that you get reception in stores is likely because stores have signal boosters.
-Retail employees are idiots. They are trained to use the products just enough to sell them (read: not much) and aren't paid enough to attract anyone with half a brain to the position. Walk a block away from the store and show them that your phone doesn't connect to 3G (or "4G" if you still want to call it that).
stevec5000 said:
Again not true! What they call 4G is using WCDMA but 3G is using HSPA+. 3G using HSPA+ has improvements that will allow it to go up to 20Mb but my Android phone doesn't have an option for 3G, just 4G using WCDMA. The people at the T-Mobile stores would beg to differ with you about the phone being bad since I've been to 5 T-Mobile stores and they say the phone works OK since it can get 4G on 1700Mhz in the store.
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Click to collapse
luftrofl said:
Your posts are too long to be trolling, but it still feels like you are because everything you post is wrong.
In case you're not trolling:
-Your phone has hardware defects that are affecting how well it connects to 3G.
-The fact that you get reception in stores is likely because stores have signal boosters.
-Retail employees are idiots. They are trained to use the products just enough to sell them (read: not much) and aren't paid enough to attract anyone with half a brain to the position. Walk a block away from the store and show them that your phone doesn't connect to 3G (or "4G" if you still want to call it that).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both of you are feeling like you're trolling.
It may be a tower issue or your phone. The only way to check is to use another phone.
Hey folks,
I am currently using an unlocked S4 from Wind Mobile on the Virgin Mobile network. It is technically the T-Mobile variant - SGH-M919V.
In comparison, the Virgin/Bell S4 is the SGH-I337.
My phone usually stays on LTE but it tends to revert to 3G in some areas, but never on 4G or H+. I had thought that the bands were compatible on the virgin mobile network, which brings me to my question.
Does your S4 ever revert to 4G or H+ when not on LTE? If that is the case, I am thinking of trading my Wind S4 for the Virgin/Bell S4.
Appreciate your feedback.
Thank you.
I'm pretty sure the M919 should fully support the 850 and 1900 MHz UMTS/HSPA bands, also you'd never see 3G or be able to do voice calls and texts without them.
I just got my SGH-I337M from Virgin yesterday and it definitely reverts to H+. So far it seems that it reverts from LTE to H+ after the phone has been sitting a while, and then if I start using the data it will kick up to LTE (probably doing that to save battery instead of keeping LTE on all the time?).
Who knows what could be going on with your unit. That is a Wind unit right? Maybe the software is different. One thing I know is that ROMs can show 3G/4G/H/H+ differently. Have you done a speed test while it is showing 3G? If it is true that you are falling all the way down to basic 3G/UMTS and not getting HSPA/HSPA+ then your speeds should be limited to less than 0.5 Mbps I think.
Thanks for the quick reply.
I managed to run a couple of speedtests when not on LTE. And they were around 2 Mbps down and 1.5 Mbps up. I don't think those are necessarily H+ speeds. But it's decent enough. Maybe then the reason I am seeing 3G is because of the way the ROM chooses to display non-LTE connections.
I double checked the supported bands, and it is true that the Wind S4 (T-Mobile variant) not only supports all the bands that the Bell/Virgin S4 does but the additional AWS band as well.
Is there a way for me to force the H+ connection on the phone, just to see that it works? Or should I possibly flash the modem/radio from the virgin/bell ROM?
Open up the Testing Menu, go into Device Info and see what it says for Network Type.
Make sure your wifi is off and hit "Run ping test" as few times and look at what it changes to.
HSPAP:15
HSPA:11
HSUPA:10
If you see these then it's fine, just icons are different.
Solved!
Okay,
I did a few things to verify that despite the phone showing 3G, it is in fact on 4G or H+ when not on LTE.
I went into ServiceMode by entering *#2263# in the Phone Dialer.
I forced non-LTE connections by changing the automatic preference to WCDMA 850 and WCDMA 1900 respectively.
These are the 2 bands that are 4G or H+ for Bell and Virgin Mobile Canada.
Then I ran speedtests to a close by server and got around 7 Mbps down and 3 Mbps, which are definitely 4G/H+ speeds.
Also, following @ChronoReverse advice, I found that the network type was in fact HSPAP: 15 and HSPA: 11 (screenshots attached).
So, in conclusion I can rest my obsessive personality and accept the fact that the phone is in fact capable & is running on 4G networks. It's a ROM thing I suppose.
Or in other words, the Galaxy S4 from Wind Mobile (or T-Mobile) is completely capable of running on Virgin Mobile Canada, Bell Canada, Rogers networks with full support of LTE and 4G/H+.
Embarrassed to say what a small little 3G icon does to a person these days!
Thanks for all the help!
I got an N910U for use on AT&T in the US. All the phones in my house get full bars since I am on a hill near a lot of cell towers. Except the N910U usually has 0 to 1 bars and only rarely gets LTE. I used LTE discovery app to see that it is almost always on band 2 where the signal is very poor, but very ocassionally switches to band 17 and gets full bars! Then it quickly switches back to band 2 and gets 0 or 1 bars. I tried flashing the other two modems I could find, but it did not change how it acted. I am about to send it back for a refund and get an N910T instead to see if that works better, but it would be much easier to find a solution to why it won't use the strongest signal,
Nevermind. I thought I did adequate research on this phone before I bought it for AT&T, and every Q&A on Amazon asking if the U worked on AT&T LTE said it did. But were wrong. The U does not have 700MHz band 17. So I must return it.
phoneturf said:
I got an N910U for use on AT&T in the US. All the phones in my house get full bars since I am on a hill near a lot of cell towers. Except the N910U usually has 0 to 1 bars and only rarely gets LTE. I used LTE discovery app to see that it is almost always on band 2 where the signal is very poor, but very ocassionally switches to band 17 and gets full bars! Then it quickly switches back to band 2 and gets 0 or 1 bars. I tried flashing the other two modems I could find, but it did not change how it acted. I am about to send it back for a refund and get an N910T instead to see if that works better, but it would be much easier to find a solution to why it won't use the strongest signal,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SM-N910U Galaxy Note 4 does not support band 17, therefore the device does not support AT&T's main LTE band. The device, however, supports several AT&T's supplemental LTE bands, which include band 2, band 4, and band 5. You will only receive LTE signal if you are located in the area where one of these three bands is broadcasting.
Also, you will never receive the strongest signal that AT&T provides because AT&T utilizes device prioritization. The cell tower that you are connected to is programmed to provide best service to AT&T devices. The tower will constantly inform your phone to connect to 3G which is less congested in order to allocate network bandwidth for AT&T branded devices on its LTE network.
LTE-X said:
Also, you will never receive the strongest signal that AT&T provides because AT&T utilizes device prioritization. The cell tower that you are connected to is programmed to provide best service to AT&T devices. The tower will constantly inform your phone to connect to 3G which is less congested in order to allocate network bandwidth for AT&T branded devices on its LTE network.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. Does that mean I would still have a low priority if I got a N910T to use on AT&T?
phoneturf said:
Thanks for the info. Does that mean I would still have a low priority if I got a N910T to use on AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that is correct. If you ran a speedtest with N910T and N910A (AT&T version) side by side on AT&T's network, you will notice around 5mbps - 20mbps difference between the two. As far as I know, AT&T is the only carrier in the US that utilizes this practice.
Can we change it to get the full Band access? I believe there was no any hardware limit on it, Most is on the software settings.