A Question About LTE Band Unlocking - Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I recently bought a Verizon Galaxy S5 refurbished and used it on Ting. In my area Ting provides LTE coverage, but the Verizon-branded phone can't support it due to the LTE bands. Right now I'm stuck with Edge data, which is incredibly slow. I wanted to use this guide to add the necessary bands to get LTE data, but it requires a custom kernel, and after doing extensive research I'm wondering if it is even possible do to the locked bootloader on the G900V. My phone is currently rooted, and I can install custom ROMs but it doesn't appear that there is a way to install a custom kernel.
Any advice on how to pull off the adding of LTE bands would be greatly appreciated, since I'm willing to do any amount of tinkering if it means I don't need to buy a new phone. Thanks!

Zamaj said:
I recently bought a Verizon Galaxy S5 refurbished and used it on Ting. In my area Ting provides LTE coverage, but the Verizon-branded phone can't support it due to the LTE bands. Right now I'm stuck with Edge data, which is incredibly slow. I wanted to use this guide to add the necessary bands to get LTE data, but it requires a custom kernel, and after doing extensive research I'm wondering if it is even possible do to the locked bootloader on the G900V. My phone is currently rooted, and I can install custom ROMs but it doesn't appear that there is a way to install a custom kernel.
Any advice on how to pull off the adding of LTE bands would be greatly appreciated, since I'm willing to do any amount of tinkering if it means I don't need to buy a new phone. Thanks!
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There is no way to add a custom kernel due to the locked boot loader unfortunately so I don't think you can mess with the bands but try looking into the VPN settings maybe

Related

[Q] 900V options

Hello!
This might seems a little strange but I can't seem to find a straight forward answer. So everything I read, talks about the 900V being restricted due to it's boot loaded being locked and there are very few options with choosing ROM's. Is this common:
1) I have the 900V and i have safestrap 3.75 and Alliance Rom 2 with NE9 kernel, currently not in the states and i'm able to use a different sim card. It is using a 3G carrier vs Version LTE, my phone still says sim locked to Verzion but i'm connected to the current SIM card and pulling data off of it. I did not think this was possible with Verzions choke hold on everything.
2) Am i truly limited on what ROM's i can load on my phone? I feel like having safe strap i should be able to install more ROMs than the few options listed on here.
3) I enjoy the Alliance ROM a lot, any recommendations on what ROMs i should experiment and might enjoy. And can i install them with safestrap?
Thank you all for your time!
All Verizon phones are unlocked but the bootloader is locked. This means only stock ROMs will work, and they've locked out most other carrier's LTE bands.
stick to Verizon development thread and try all of them there.

Galaxy S 5 Active, which build no can I buy to root and upgrade the easiest?

This is really confusing. Most of the threads are written such that 'how to root while updating to OF2/OF3'...it doesn't tell me which versions allow rooting in the first place? Any help. Coming from the GS3
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
FYI The best place to buy a phone is always (XDA's own..) Swappa!
https://swappa.com/
Sean89us said:
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
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zetsui said:
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile version shares all the same frequencies plus includes an additional frequency which AT&T does not use, so therefore the T-Mobile (G900T) retains 100% compatibility with AT&T. Yes, if you want to use a G900T on any carrier besides T-Mobile it will have to be unlocked. Luckily it's not hard to find an unlocked G900T.
Let me make this clear: If it's AT&T and it's a Samsung phone and it's on lollipop, don't expect to be able to root it. Go with a T-Mobile or factory unlocked phone.

Which GS5 to get - AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or?

Looking to pick up a GS5 and put on Nougat via LineageOS. Is there a certain carrier's phone that is more desirable than others? Since I do not already have the phone I would like to acquire the best one to get to my ultimate goal of unlocking and putting on Android 7. Phone will eventually be used on the AT&T network.
Thanks in advance,
Bob
Try and see if the international G900F works on AT&T, or simply get the G900T, to not go through the hassle which involves an international version.
If you like using custom roms and such STAY AWAY FROM AT&T!!! Bc they lock there bootloader's haha
AT&T Galaxy S5 has Locked Bootloader, which means you can't flash custom ROMs. Sprint variant has different hardware for CDMA support, so some ROM may be incompatible. If you can invest on G900F (International Version), G900F is the most ideal one for custom ROMs (Or G900W8, which is Canadian version) Otherwise, you would want to get G900T since it has unlocked bootloader.

G935v flashed for gsm, question?

Long story short, I received a 935v (from a family member) had an frp lock dropped it off at a "cell phone repair shop" they flashed it to a gsm network provider. I am not willing to give up Verizon. Any way to flash it back to the Verizon rom? Anything that will work on their cdma network?
Just noticed how vague my question was (my bad). However I found the answer since it was flashed with bootloader 5 phone is pretty much bricked until Verizon updates to the bootloader 5.
G935V flashed to AT&T
I was thinking of flashing my 935V to a more compatible AT&T phone. My 935V is missing LTE band 12 and 17.
Would you know if flashing it with the G935U for AT&T firmware will add those bands?
I understand it removes the bloatware but was curious what bands if any are added or removed.
Ken
jedisme said:
Just noticed how vague my question was (my bad). However I found the answer since it was flashed with bootloader 5 phone is pretty much bricked until Verizon updates to the bootloader 5.
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Straight Talk S5

so, my dad has a SM-G903VL and its paid for, been on ST for over a year and they wont provide the unlock code. Its technically not locked, its just that the OS wont allow to switch to GSM only, change PRLs or anything related to carrier switching. All i really want to do is install a custom recovery and a ROM that allows for GSM only. Anyone had any luck rooting this thing? Also, its definitely not the 902
edit: Mods, can you put this in the verizon S5 threads? I mistakenly put it in the sprint thread

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