Two part question about buying an unlocked Samsung S5 , help please - Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Ok, I hope this isn't a totally stupid question, but here goes. My trusty old Galaxy S Blaze is, well, getting old, and I've decided after much research that I want a Galaxy S5. I'm also thinking to switch my carrier from Tmobile to Straight Talk, but would like to piggyback off the Verizon network as I've heard many good things about them. Tmobile is driving me nuts with dropped calls, coverage that sucks, etc.
Soooo....
Part One: can I use my Blaze's sim card in an new unlocked Verizon S5 that I may buy through ebay?
Part Two: Can I then take said new phone and hook up with Straight Talk? I'm just unsure because of the whole GSM/CDMA thing.
Thank you in advance!
-uesay

Related

S5 Purchase Recomendation

Hey guys,
On a s4 now, and it has been acting up (aka random shutoff) and insurance said I should replace it. They are cutting me a check and I need to purchase one today. I researched the heck out of the ATT and TMOBILE variants, but I cannot find where the best place to get it is (aka COST). Also, I am not the best with technology, so how hard is it to use the TMOBILE on the ATT and does the carrier aggregation stuff matter?
Thank you sooooooooo much,
Brad

[Q] AT&T over Verizon

So my question is quite simple, and before I get flamed, yes I have tried searching. I don't think I'm typing the correct sequence of words if there is already something on this. I never post obviously, I normally creep and derive my answers that way. Obvious again that I've been here since 2012
My question is if there is a way / guide to overwrite/reprogram the phone with the AT&T firmware and software and replace the Verizon that is currently on the device. I brought the phone over from Verizon to AT&T and there are just a couple complications that are just a bother and Just over it.
I would appreciate any guidance and information any of you could provide on the subject.
RonniEdwards said:
So my question is quite simple, and before I get flamed, yes I have tried searching. I don't think I'm typing the correct sequence of words if there is already something on this. I never post obviously, I normally creep and derive my answers that way. Obvious again that I've been here since 2012
My question is if there is a way / guide to overwrite/reprogram the phone with the AT&T firmware and software and replace the Verizon that is currently on the device. I brought the phone over from Verizon to AT&T and there are just a couple complications that are just a bother and Just over it.
I would appreciate any guidance and information any of you could provide on the subject.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if you can from a user stand point but when I was shopping around t-mobile store told me they would copy their firmware onto the phone so I could try their network. You may need to go to a store and talk to someone.
Since Verizon is CDMA and AT&T is GSM, I am not sure a simple firmware update is all that is needed to switch.
supersnackbar said:
Since Verizon is CDMA and AT&T is GSM, I am not sure a simple firmware update is all that is needed to switch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought but they insisted they could do it. Maybe since there is a Sim slot it's easier on the the 3's.
Years ago you could almost swap sim cards and be good. Idk about it anymore. I think you would have to take all the system files/partitions and the radio and swap them for the carriers. Im sure someone else whos more, but i think it would be unreasonably hard to do.
Sent From My Galaxy Note 3
This thread is moving to T-Mobile, but the concept is the same for AT&T
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2582747
Sent from my Note 3 via Tapatalk
i believe that some services would work as the phone has some radios in it for the att bands, but you would be better off trading for an att version. swappa has stuff like that all the time to straight trade
Getting service to work and getting 4Glte was no issue. That just required me to manually input APNs that were AT&T specific and presto I have service and all that jazz. My issue is a couple of other small things that really aren't big hut just thst, annoying. That's why I was seeing about the software and firmware being flashed into the device.

Taking Sprint S4 to Verizon? Other Carriers?

Greetings, I can't seem to find a definite answer or guide to this. I have a sprint galaxy s4 and once my contract was up I was looking to get off sprint and onto another contract, looking at verizon as my friends happen with them. I know they both use cdma. If I have them unlock the phone, can it be brought over and used that easily? If not, what must I do? Custom root? Find a verizon s4 motherboard with clean esn? I'm willing to do it to not spend a few hundred bucks on a new phone. I'd liketo give it to my mother and get the s6 for myself when it comes out.
Man, I'm 0 for 2 here. Anything?
bump?
Another bump. Can anyone help me?
94 views, not a peep. I thought these forums were active and helpful? Perhaps not?
All of my research leads me to believe I'd need to get a verizon logicboard with a clean esn. Maybe I can trade for one, but I would like some confirmation before I spend the 80 bucks or so. Thanks.
Dabba87 said:
Greetings, I can't seem to find a definite answer or guide to this. I have a sprint galaxy s4 and once my contract was up I was looking to get off sprint and onto another contract, looking at verizon as my friends happen with them. I know they both use cdma. If I have them unlock the phone, can it be brought over and used that easily? If not, what must I do? Custom root? Find a verizon s4 motherboard with clean esn? I'm willing to do it to not spend a few hundred bucks on a new phone. I'd liketo give it to my mother and get the s6 for myself when it comes out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is your phone still locked on sprint?
xDroidZz said:
is your phone still locked on sprint?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello DroidZ,
It is. I was planning to have them unlock it. But I heard that though both are CDMA, I wouldnt have full 4g with it. I was contemplating buying a verizon (or any other carrier's logic board that I would switch to) and sell my sprint board.
Of course I'd need a clean esn right?
Another bump. Does the lack of responses mean it's harder than a logical board swap?
bump again
Bump
You can use the Sprint S4 on Verizon, assuming it's possible for you to unlock it from Sprint's network, but LTE will never work. Verizon uses standard LTE frequencies (750 & 1700MHz) while Sprint uses "Extended PCS", i.e. Spark. Totally different technologies.
You'll need a new phone to take full advantage of Verizon infrastructure, which unfortunately means dealing with an encrypted (locked) bootloader.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
You can use the Sprint S4 on Verizon, assuming it's possible for you to unlock it from Sprint's network, but LTE will never work. Verizon uses standard LTE frequencies (750 & 1700MHz) while Sprint uses "Extended PCS", i.e. Spark. Totally different technologies.
You'll need a new phone to take full advantage of Verizon infrastructure, which unfortunately means dealing with an encrypted (locked) bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings,
Does that mean swapping the logic board with a verizon version won't fix the LTE problem? So I'd get normal 4g? I suppose I could try it. Couldnt deal with 3G. I guess I'm asking if there are any parts I could swap out to fix the problem or if I'm just screwed.
Thanks man.
Dabba
If you have a Sprint phone, you cannot simply purchase a Verizon motherboard and replace the Sprint motherboard with it. Why it won't work is because the design of the two motherboards is sufficiently different that if you tried it the Verizon motherboard wouldn't fit in the midframe.
In simpler language, you're screwed. You need a new phone if you want LTE. Whether that is a new phone from Verizon or a used device off Swappa is irrelevant, so long as the MEID is clear.
Hmm, I didnt know the motherboards were actually different. That sucks, I assumed they were more like computers. Oh well, thanks for the info though, now I know!
Again, thanks a bunch

[Q] Galaxy s4 switching carriers

Hi guys, new here. Used the place a lot when i needed help, then decided to make a account.
Anyway, i couldnt find a Straight Talk galaxy s4 specific forum so i figured the main s4 forum is where i should post this.
I have 2 Straight talk galaxy s4's i bought new, and im currently in cricket. Well i need to replace my old CDMA s4 with a new GSM one. The straight talk s4's i got are the ATT tower versions. Now, when i put a att or gsm cricket sim in, they say invalid sim. But read att sims fine. If i put the straight talk or gsm cricket sim in a att phone.. Theyre read fine. Which i dont understand. So my question is, can i flash a ATT stock touchwiz rom to them via odin to make them read the att and cricket sim's? Id just try it but dont want to brick them, figured i would ask first in case somebody already tried.
Both phones are identical. Specs are:
16gb black Straight talk galaxy s4
Model No: SM-S975L(GP)
Android 4.3
Touchwiz, un rooted, brand new barely even been powered on.
Thanks!
Current Straight Talk S4 units use T-Mobile towers, not AT&T. Flashing a new ROM won't make them read the SIM cards you're trying to use, and for the Straight Talk S4 will likely hard brick it. Your phones need to be carrier unlocked, which only Straight Talk, at their discretion, can do. As multiple users here have discovered, purchasing an unlock code does not permanently unlock the S4 and half the time doesn't even work.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
Current Straight Talk S4 units use T-Mobile towers, not AT&T. Flashing a new ROM won't make them read the SIM cards you're trying to use, and for the Straight Talk S4 will likely hard brick it. Your phones need to be carrier unlocked, which only Straight Talk, at their discretion, can do. As multiple users here have discovered, purchasing an unlock code does not permanently unlock the S4 and half the time doesn't even work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply!
I didnt think it would work but figured it couldnt hurt to ask. I'll contact straight talk, however from what ive hward they usually wont unlock phones. But, ill try. Thank you!

Is an unlocked galaxy s8 worth it?

Hi all, i'm just recently joined this site
I just bought an unlocked galaxy s8 from Samsung website, but now i'm worried. I currently have AT&T and was planning on continuing to use my plan from them, but I was reading that things like Wi-fi calling don't work on unlocked phones with AT&T. Is this true? I was debating on returning the phone (haven't gotten it in the mail yet) and get an AT&T associated one, just because in my work building, there's quite a few dead zones where I don't get service and sending texts was always frustrating until i learned about the wifi calling feature on my current phone. I really don't want to have a brand new, amazing phone like the s8 and still struggle with text messages not going through.
I was reading around on here, that there might be a way to flash AT&T firmware onto my unlocked phone so I can get Wi-fi calling abilities, is this true? How could I go about doing that? I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to messing with phone software like that (but I can follow directions easily), so would it be worth trying to figure out or am I better off just spending the extra money for the ATT specific phone? That one doesn't have the color I wanted either so it's a little bit of a bummer.
Thanks for any possible help
shaml96 said:
Hi all, i'm just recently joined this site
I just bought an unlocked galaxy s8 from Samsung website, but now i'm worried. I currently have AT&T and was planning on continuing to use my plan from them, but I was reading that things like Wi-fi calling don't work on unlocked phones with AT&T. Is this true? I was debating on returning the phone (haven't gotten it in the mail yet) and get an AT&T associated one, just because in my work building, there's quite a few dead zones where I don't get service and sending texts was always frustrating until i learned about the wifi calling feature on my current phone. I really don't want to have a brand new, amazing phone like the s8 and still struggle with text messages not going through.
I was reading around on here, that there might be a way to flash AT&T firmware onto my unlocked phone so I can get Wi-fi calling abilities, is this true? How could I go about doing that? I'm pretty inexperienced when it comes to messing with phone software like that (but I can follow directions easily), so would it be worth trying to figure out or am I better off just spending the extra money for the ATT specific phone? That one doesn't have the color I wanted either so it's a little bit of a bummer.
Thanks for any possible help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read these treads, you will get an idea and if you decided to do it or have questions, then this is your go to guide:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/snap-guide-flashing-standard-fw-carrier-t3625817
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/switch-to-carrier-firmware-100-t3609487
Basically u will not get wifi calling unless u supply ATT with a imei number from a legit wifi calling capable phone even with the flash. Since this seems to be of major importance to u I would get the ATT phone.
Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk
unlocked carrier free model OTA updates have also been already palpably behind Verizon and T-Mobile.

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