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Bootloader unlocked, can I use any rom?

So Ive had this Verizon Note 3 since day one. Finally unlocked my bootloader... What are the rules on what I can and can't do now. Can I install any Android rom? Can I only install note 3 roms from any carrier... Can I install only Verizon note 3 roms? Or is it a hybrid... I can install any rom if I replace the firmware and or modem.
I really want something on 7.1 but I'd rather take 6 and have something custom... Fast and responsive.
Thanks community.

You are in luck. :crying:
There's hardly anything to choose from; maybe 3 or 4 ROMs and about the same number of kernels.
AFAIK, there are no Nougat ROMs and only one Marshmallow ROM (AryaMod6.6).
Normally, when a dev ships a "ROM", there are two important pieces: the /system image (what some folks call "the ROM"), and the boot image. The boot image is what some folks erroneously call "the kernel"; but it is really a combination of kernel + ramdisk. The ramdisk has all the scripts in it that the "init" process reads to start up all the low-level daemons and services... as well as the Android UI as well.
The kernel is very tightly tied to the specific hardware in a given handset - both the processor/gpu and all the sensors/leds/peripherals.
So that's the reason you can't just flash any old ROM. In the least bad case, your device wouldn't boot; in the worst bad case the kernel would boot up far enough go off in the weeds and possibly damage some of your hardware.
You might be tempted to think "we'll, what if I find a boot image for the "hltevzw" SM-N900V device... can I flash that after I have flashed 'any old Android ROM'? Won't that take care of things?"
Well, not really. The system library binaries in /system are possibly compiled with instruction-set optimumization tweaks that are only supported by specific CPU and GPU hardware chips. Moreover, other peripheral chips such as GPS have unique "downloadable" vendor firmware in the system image... so again, there's the issue of hardware dependencies of the /system image.
Beyond that, there's carrier-specific "setup and activation" software that differs between ROMs, so even using ROMs that are from a different carrier's version of the exact same handset hardware might not work fully - specifically in the telephony function areas. Everything else might work fine though. For instance if you wanted to use the device as a WiFi-only unit for kid's games etc.
Note BTW that the "International" Note 3 GSM phones are not the same hardware - they use an Exynos processor.
good luck in your quest

Thanks
That was very helpful... Looks like Araya is my best bet. I'll leave jasmine rom to try it.
I was hoping that I could get another note 3 rom on this forum and flash the CDMA modem for networking... But doesn't seem like that's an option.
If I'm still stuck to Verizon Note 3 rom... What is the purpose or benefit of unlocking the bootloader... Was that really just to avoid Odin so I can flash my couple rom choices easier?
I appreciate your time!

cyberoptics said:
That was very helpful... Looks like Araya is my best bet. I'll leave jasmine rom to try it.
I was hoping that I could get another note 3 rom on this forum and flash the CDMA modem for networking... But doesn't seem like that's an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might have very slightly overstated the case for pessimism. There is a "consolidated" Verizon Note 3 Forum which is meant for devs to provide development tools and even ROMs that could potentially be used on devices from more than one carrier. But the world being organized the way it is, that means that you are more likely to find multi-carrier GSM ROMs over there than multi-carrier ROMS which support GSM and oh by the way CDMA and LTE as well.
If you want to fool around over there, I recommend that you proceed with great caution to make sure that the ROMs you choose specifically target Qualcomm MSM8974AB Note 3 handsets, and you should read the developer notes very carefully to see whether you need to flash an "hltevzw" kernel separately. If the dev does not mention "supports hltevzw" or "supports N900V" (for example here) you might be taking chances with your hardware.
I suppose it is possible that the radios are 100% "software defined" in the sense of which bands they can support. Maybe you can get what you want by simply flashing the desired carrier's "modem" firmware, but I have never done that so I can't say for certain whether that works or you are risking a brick (or hardware damage) by doing that. I simply don't know (e.g.) if the chips and antennas in a T-mo version of the Note 3 are identical or different from a Verizon Note 3's hardware
cyberoptics said:
If I'm still stuck to Verizon Note 3 rom... What is the purpose or benefit of unlocking the bootloader... Was that really just to avoid Odin so I can flash my couple rom choices easier?
I appreciate your time!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, for one - having a custom recovery allows you to make backups - even if you never change ROMs
People don't think of backups as being "sexy", but they allow you something which is really valuable: freedom to mess around and experiment with the knowledge that "if something goes wrong, I'll just restore the backup".
And with Odin, you only had the choice of Stock Roms. Now you have a few more.
cheers

Yes you can install Any rom for note3
Here is my experience with installing roms on note 3 after unlock bootloader
you should Flash twrp-2.8.7.0-hlte-4.4.img by ODIN for the hlte roms or twrp-2.8.7.0-hltevzw-4.4.img if you looking to flash verizon roms ,
im on Phronesis Rom N7 now and i tryed many roms
AryaMod N7 & S7 Edge
MagMa-NX from NXT TEAM
Resurrection Remix Nougat 7.1.1
CM 13 ROM 6.0.1 for Trader418
Purify CM13 6.0.1 ( the best CM13 till now )
and more ...
i have only one problem that i cant get LTE in mobile network always on H+
i tryed to add screenshot but i couldn't its my firist reply :laugh:

@ALPHA85
Pretty informative first post - thanks, and welcome aboard!
Are you on a Verizon SIM? If not, have you been flashing modems from other Note3 devices?
Just curious; I don't have much experience with radio issues or carrier activation issues. Trying to port a carrier-specific ROM elsewhere (esp starting from a VZW ROM) looks like a massive pile of interlocking software dependencies, though. My respect to anyone who can succeed at it.
Feel free to write a brief summary about what's broken in each - any of them have NFC working? I was on CM13 (trader418) for a long time and would have been happy to stay there were it not for all the GPS issues.

Thank you ,:angel:
i dont use Verizon SIM becouse im from egypt, i bought my verizon note 3 by wrong , when i bought it i saw N9005 under the battery and in the boot screen also inside the rom ,it was lollipop 5.0 ,but sinse i did factory rest i surprised it change to N900V even the imei changed , till now i cant understand how they flashed N9005 rom for N900V device with locked bootloader
i'm on OF1 bootloader unlocked and i flashed PL1 Modem i thought maybe it help me to get LTE but still the same H+
about NFC i really didn't try it at all , i always disable it by titanium pro

ALPHA85 said:
when i bought it i saw N9005 under the battery and in the boot screen also inside the rom ,it was lollipop 5.0 ,but sinse i did factory rest i surprised it change to N900V even the imei changed , till now i cant understand how they flashed N9005 rom for N900V device with locked bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you first got it, did it appear to have a Verizon ROM on it? (For instance, the Verizon splash screen?) Or some other carrier's logo?
Actually, that cleared something up for me. Well, except for the part about the IMEI changing
Apparently there were both LTE and GSM models of the "Note 3" that were sold in international markets. I understand the LTE version was originally sold in China, but the GSM model is more common?
The SM-N9005 is an LTE phone (I don't know about CDMA) with the Qualcomm MSM8974 processor
and the N9000 is the GSM model with an Exynos 5420 processor
So that probably explains the binary compatibility of the SM-N900V and the SM-N9005 - same processor, and both phones were designed for LTE service.
But your report should give @cyberoptics a little less pessimistic view of things; thank you for that.
But I wouldn't go so far as to say you can flash ANY Note 3 ROM. Even though both the Exynos and Qualcomm processors use ARM cores, they are fairly different - the Exynos has 8 cores, half of which are Cortex-A15, and the MSM8974 has only four cores which are Krait- something or other. I think they are not quite compatible. Note that in theory, ARM code that was compiled to earlier standards (e.g. thumb, armv5) would certainly work on both devices - but if they compiled ALL the code in ROM libraries that way they would be giving up a lot of performance on either device. So.... to the extent that they target processor specifics for either Cortex-A15 or Krait, they will be incompatible.
cheers.

bftb0 said:
You are in luck. :crying:
There's hardly anything to choose from; maybe 3 or 4 ROMs and about the same number of kernels.
AFAIK, there are no Nougat ROMs and only one Marshmallow ROM (AryaMod6.6).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bftb0 I just wanted to thank you once again for your consistently helpful, verbose posts about the N900V. I've been using CM13 thinking it was the best thing going, when, as nice as it was at the time, it doesn't hold water compared to AyraMod, which I switched to yesterday after reading this thread.
Now my GPS won't take me sailing past Easter Island when en route to a noon meeting downtown. Maybe Google Cardboard will even work, now that NFC appears to.
Thanks again, and please don't ever bore of being a great and helpful resource, we need you!

G900F Rom Recommendation

Hi,
I have a G900F I got in the UK and I've just moved to Canada with. Problem is it doesn't support some of the bands here so I find I often have a poor signal. I'm happy with the stock ROM but I believe if I am to open it up for all bands I need a custom ROM.
I don't need anything too flashy, but I'd like everything to work and be responsive.
In terms of the most complete ROMs it seems LineageOS Official and Resurrection Remixed are the most popular. Can anyone comment? How about Android 6 vs 7?
Thanks

Used to use resurrection but now that I've moved to lineage os I can say that its better and getting improved every update it gets

Beaksterboy said:
Hi,
I have a G900F I got in the UK and I've just moved to Canada with. Problem is it doesn't support some of the bands here so I find I often have a poor signal. I'm happy with the stock ROM but I believe if I am to open it up for all bands I need a custom ROM.
I don't need anything too flashy, but I'd like everything to work and be responsive.
In terms of the most complete ROMs it seems LineageOS Official and Resurrection Remixed are the most popular. Can anyone comment? How about Android 6 vs 7?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
g900f is almost identical if not the exact same as the canadian s5 g900w8.
you would need to use correct freq for your carrier, search will provide a howto. worse case scenario is to flash a canadian 6.0.1 modem from any canadian 6.0.1 stock fw

if trying to figure out connectivity, stay w/stock first as modems are from stock fw.
imo try superlite 6.0.1, it stock based and only takes a few minutes to install that way you can test out your carrier connectivity issues
https://forum.xda-developers.com/ga...-superlite-mini-mm-v1-0-361mb-g900w8-t3497158

So I can keep my stock firmware and just replace the G900F baseband (G900FXXS1CQAV) with the Bell Canada SM-G900W8 Modem and everything will be the same except the phone will work on the Bell Canada frequencies?
I had been planning to follow this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059 to enable the 1700MHz band which is disabled on the G900F, but if flashing a Canadian modem will enable this band that sounds easiest.
Do I need to download the full 1.5GB firmware and extract the modem from it?
Thanks

Beaksterboy said:
So I can keep my stock firmware and just replace the G900F baseband (G900FXXS1CQAV) with the Bell Canada SM-G900W8 Modem and everything will be the same except the phone will work on the Bell Canada frequencies?
I had been planning to follow this guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059 to enable the 1700MHz band which is disabled on the G900F, but if flashing a Canadian modem will enable this band that sounds easiest.
Do I need to download the full 1.5GB firmware and extract the modem from it?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive never tried flashing a mdm from another model as ive never needed to for the s5.
ive not read enough to know if its possible or if it has any neg consequences.
easiest would be to change freq w/current mdm, search for samsung secret service codes to view and maybe change current freq
good place to start is here https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2729694

I've done a lot of research on this forum. Most people say that installing G900W8 firmware on G900F isn't possible. Also it seems that it is the NVRAM which stores what bands are allowed on what model, so simply flashing a different modem won't make a difference.
Some people are saying that the hardware is different and this is what limits the bands, but I don't believe so, the radio/modem chip is the same version between models.
Trying to follow the link I posted earlier to change the NVRAM values after installing a custom ROM appears to be the only way. Some people say it works, and others say it only appears to work. The original thread was closed years ago so I guess I'll just need to try it and see.
Alternatively I could buy 2 phones, one W8 to use in Canada and a F to use in Europe, this seems silly though.

No VoLTE takers for i9505?

I have been looking for a custom ROM with VoLTE enabled but quite disapponited that no dev could present one. LOS apparently have not even thought about introducing VoLTE on i9505 LTE international version though I myself could manage to get VoLTE working - that is for the only VoLTE provider at present in India namely Jio - via stock ROM after experimenting with the method described by @dhiru1602 on this forum but never found anything else. With LOS the VoLTE provisioned flag is not even enabled and so none of LOS based ROMs could provide a way for VoLTE.
One can find my alternate method which I used to modify a stock ROM for VoLTE at the link below. I have been using it since the day I posted it without any problem.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/general/volte-i9505-international-jio-easy-t3657679 using sammobile website for the stock FW and YouTube for necessary firmware and files.
I am more than sure some dev will take it up to provide a solution. Will highly be appreciated and a BIG thanks in advance. Hope to see a FW soon.

Verizon in UK

Hey guys,
So a family member (FM) of mine received a Verizon GS5 and I was just wondering if it would be possible to change to UK, as far as I am concerned when I owned a GS2 I would have to change the modem for it to work in a completely different country (e.g. owning a UK GS2 and taking it to somewhere in Asia or South America). However, would prefer to have a complete clean install (and possibly a debloated ROM) with a UK firmware? If this is possible what are the steps to folow, do I have to be careful with tripping KNOX and/or flash counter? FM doesn't mind losing data.
"This Sim Card is from an Unknown Source". Just from reading this thread I can see that I either have to root the phone and disable/uninstall the app or install a different ROM, would prefer to have it as official as possible. Tried changing the APN settings and inserting the information manually, unsuccessful. Haven't tried searching for a carrier and letting it set up itself. I don't mean to be difficult, sorry!
Checked here for frequency compatibility, does this mean that 4G wouldn't work?
Thank you!

suenoromis said:
Hey guys, So a family member (FM) of mine received a Verizon GS5 and I was just wondering if it would be possible to change to UK, as far as I am concerned when I owned a GS2 I would have to change the modem for it to work in a completely different country (e.g. owning a UK GS2 and taking it to somewhere in Asia or South America). However, would prefer to have a complete clean install (and possibly a debloated ROM) with a UK firmware? If this is possible what are the steps to folow, do I have to be careful with tripping KNOX and/or flash counter?...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never done this myself but, the following threads reflect the change from a G900V to a G900F. Don't be afraid to ask for some member guidance within one of them too.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3550445
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2839557
If all else fails, and you don't receive any responses from the above threads, then your next best bet is to post this question within the following Q&A thread that's specific to your device and variants.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2700073
Good Luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I DO NOT provide support via PM unless asked/requested by myself. PLEASE keep it in the threads where everyone can share.

suenoromis said:
Checked here for frequency compatibility, does this mean that 4G wouldn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need CSC=BTU and a clean stock-like ROM, right?
Have a look: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/development/rom-ane4-kitkat-4-4-2-multi-csc-t2813628
Installation on G900V is tricky because of locked bootloader but it works fine.
4g may work on B3 (it's supported by device, just not listed in specs) but the chances are not very high.

Add VOLTE Support For UAE 4G LTE Phone ?

Hi,
I own a Samsung Galaxy J5 Pro 2017, Model SM-J530F, which I bought from UAE. The specs on the box shows it as a 4G LTE device. I am quite confirm it does not have VOLTE in the settings. Now that I am using it in INDIA with Reliance JIo services, I badly need VOLTE functionality on this phone to make it possible to make & receive calls. Is there any way to add VOLTE functionality to it ? Any solutions from our developers ? Please don't ask for flashing a custom rom!
Thanks in advance!
( Though I can install JioCare app & use it but the app is not available on Wifi, works only on Jio LTE ( Jio Mobile Data ) & forces to keep the wifi turned off permanently for the functionality. Actually Jio provides 4G VOLTE only connection & it is not backward compatible with a 4G LTE only device. For that Jio uses VOLTE layer from within their JioCare app to support a 4G LTE device )
This phone is still quite smart! Please help!

Looking into your device model, it seems like there was no India release. In situations like this I would recommend flashing the INS version of stock firmware but since it doesn't exist for this model, I honestly think your only option is to root and edit the CSC features file yourself which can be annoying and quite honestly very long process.
You could also attempt to just flash another region and hope that it has VoLTE included. I don't know if this would even work though.

ShaDisNX255 said:
Looking into your device model, it seems like there was no India release. In situations like this I would recommend flashing the INS version of stock firmware but since it doesn't exist for this model, I honestly think your only option is to root and edit the CSC features file yourself which can be annoying and quite honestly very long process.
You could also attempt to just flash another region and hope that it has VoLTE included. I don't know if this would even work though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick response! I really appreciate it but I was just thinking if there is any other way ? Jio uses VOLTE layer from within their JioCare app!

Hi,
If I understand it right, I have to use CSC file & not the HOME_CSC file to see any changes that I desire, right ?
Thanks in advance!