Just bought a Unlocked S8 from Best Buy. Using on metro and I'm having trouble in areas where I did not have trouble before, and when in a call I immediately go straight to 3G or HSPA. My previous phone was carrier locked T-Mobile S7 Edge on Metro nearly perfect service. Was wondering if if possible and how I could go about flashing T-Mobile firmware onto the unlock And if there would be any downsides.
At this rate, if I can't fix some of these issues I'm going to be returning the phone to Best Buy. Restocking fee or not.
UPDATE
VoLTE fixes 3g issue, but I would occasionally turn off VoLTE to fix certain calling issues and didn't have to deal with 3g while in call on the s7
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Hey folks,
I'm currently on vacation in Spain and thought that my DVP would automatically start roaming when I got over here. Not the case. So I just signed up for T-Mobile's "Worldclass International Service". Still not getting any signal. Am I too late? Was I suppose to do this before I left the U.S.? Currently using GoVoice on any Wi-Fi I find here, but it would be nice to be able to actually call/text in case of an emergency. If anyone has any ideas/suggestions I'd really appreciate the help. Thanks!
Perhaps your number has not been unlocked for international roaming. Call TMobile's international customer care # (i think it is 505-998-3793) to unlock your line.
I'm guessing it's just a time lag before your international service turns on. Beware the roaming rates for data. I've racked up $500 a week in some countries. scandinavia has been the worst for me.
I work in europe regularly and just sold my TMo locked DVP and bought the unlocked model. I'm going to use locally sold sim cards in europe. it's the cheapest for data, in my experience. I rarely download video so I only use about 20mb a week.
This was most likely caused by a certain delay, it may have been a shock to your phone, just wait it out, if not it had already been fixed.
Considering switching to Tmobile with my LG V20, only paid $350 for it not looking to really switch to T-Mobile variant if I don't need to. Does anyone know if Sprint version will work Flawlessly under Tmobile Network. Any feedback given is appreciated. Thanks.
Did you ever figure out the answer? Thinking of getting the LS997, but might move to T-Mobile when contract ends. Thanks!
Also interested in knowing this, and AT&T?
I think I can be of help here! I used to own a Sprint V20 and got it remotely unlocked to be used with GSM. Everything works great including I got LTE with AT&T. TMo should not be a problem either. My only gripe was the damn phone went into "Hands free activation" on every reboot.
I have since moved on to a Verizon V20 unlocked for GSM and am perfectly happy with that. The only reason I did this was to try Total Wireless in the future. Since I am not going to use Sprint in the foreseeable future, buying a Verizon phone made sense in that I can use Verizon and GSM networks globally.
Anyway, your V20s should be fine with LTE signal from GSM carriers.
Sweet thanks
Hi,
I see Samsung has sales on S8+ from US Cellular for less than the one from ATT.
If I buy the US Cellular one and insert my ATT SIM, it should rebrand it as an ATT phone right?
At that point, will it work and behave just like an ATT phone or will ATT block/prevent the stuff like VoLTE/HD voice/visual VM etc as it is not a true ATT branded phone?
thanks
It is unlikely to work that way. After you purchase you will need to have US Cellular unlock the phone. If buy it outright, they may do that but you will want to check with them first. If you buy it unlocked as mentioned in the title it should be ok.
Once the phone is unlocked there is no reason it wouldn't work on AT&T, but it will not rebrand itself. You will need to load AT&T branded firmware on it to take advantage of VoLTE.
ZuluAlpha said:
It is unlikely to work that way. After you purchase you will need to have US Cellular unlock the phone. If buy it outright, they may do that but you will want to check with them first. If you buy it unlocked as mentioned in the title it should be ok.
Once the phone is unlocked there is no reason it wouldn't work on AT&T, but it will not rebrand itself. You will need to load AT&T branded firmware on it to take advantage of VoLTE.
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Are you sure? From what I've read 1) US Cellular phones after a certain date come unlocked (forget the exact date but it was before the S8+, so nearly certain it is unlocked) 2) the US S8/S8+ will rebrand based on the inserted sim (from the galaxy s8 reddit PSA announcement old.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7jdcno/psa_with_the_latest_us_carrier_updates_your_phone/ )
So it will brand and push ATT firmware
That's why I was asking specifically if things like VoLTE would work in case someone else has done this. It seems ATT is more restrictive about allowing certain features than other carriers
mego2 said:
Are you sure? From what I've read 1) US Cellular phones after a certain date come unlocked (forget the exact date but it was before the S8+, so nearly certain it is unlocked) 2) the US S8/S8+ will rebrand based on the inserted sim (from the galaxy s8 reddit PSA announcement old.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7jdcno/psa_with_the_latest_us_carrier_updates_your_phone/ )
So it will brand and push ATT firmware
That's why I was asking specifically if things like VoLTE would work in case someone else has done this. It seems ATT is more restrictive about allowing certain features than other carriers
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That may be true of US Cellular, they do seem to be pretty customer friendly. I had interpreted that the device will configure the hardware to operate on whatever carrier's SIM is in, but not the firmware. However, I have not tried this with mine. I do have a branded S8 that I have put unlocked firmware on and it stays on that firmware.
If the phone is not carrier locked and you put an AT&T sim in it, then it should work on the AT&T network. You will NOT get VoLTE/HD calling or Wi-Fi calling. Regular calling and LTE+ data will work fine.
It will not automatically download the AT&T firmware and become an AT&T branded phone.
I do not know what will happen if you put the AT&T firmware on it. I asked if anybody had switched to the AT&T firmware and gotten VoLTE or wifi calling, but did not receive any answers.
I have an unbranded phone on AT&T. I've not gone through the trouble of switching to the AT&T firmware.
J M L said:
If the phone is not carrier locked and you put an AT&T sim in it, then it should work on the AT&T network. You will NOT get VoLTE/HD calling or Wi-Fi calling. Regular calling and LTE+ data will work fine.
It will not automatically download the AT&T firmware and become an AT&T branded phone.
I do not know what will happen if you put the AT&T firmware on it. I asked if anybody had switched to the AT&T firmware and gotten VoLTE or wifi calling, but did not receive any answers.
I have an unbranded phone on AT&T. I've not gone through the trouble of switching to the AT&T firmware.
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Have you gotten theat&t firmware to work on your phone?
fredwhocares said:
Have you gotten theat&t firmware to work on your phone?
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I have not tried. Other than VoLTE and wifi-calling the phone works perfectly, and I've never had to reset it, so I've not bothered to try and change firmware.
If I buy used T-Mobile can I Flash AT&T firmware on it so I will have AT&T Enhanced Messaging and Wifi Calling Just as if it was an ATT phone????? Thanks
If the phone is network unlocked in theory the sim it sees when you first boot from setup it should then download all the carrier software and features. There is only one carrier U firmware so there isn't specific AT&T, T-Mobile. Now if AT&T tracks their IMEI's that were meant to be on their network then that may be where this all falls apart and some features may not come over then.
At least that is how it has worked in the past. Someone else feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
tailgunner9 said:
If I buy used T-Mobile can I Flash AT&T firmware on it so I will have AT&T Enhanced Messaging and Wifi Calling Just as if it was an ATT phone????? Thanks
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I saw a report on the forums here where someone flashed the att userdata and wiped and all of the carrier features worked.
I know on the 9/9+, even with the BOYD firmware, or flashing att bloat would not make a NON-ATT purchased device have advanced messaging /wifi calling / VoLTE. The trick was to activate that stuff on an att branded phone and then swap the sim.
It was very much a YMMV.
Similar issue here. My problem is i bought a s10 plus AT&T and it was supposed to be unlocked, however it wasn't the case. Mine is still AT&T locked and when i called them about my issue they said i would have to get service with them for a few months then i could end the service by paying the cancellation fee. I could then unlock the device. They also told me that my phone has an unpaid balance that would have to be paid prior to starting service. I have tried to contact the seller but to no avail. Anyways, my question is can I flash T-Mobile stock firmware to this phone and use it on T-Mobile?
I'm currently using a US996 (the "real" factory unlocked version, not the US cellular one), and was hoping to do so for as long as possible. Unfortunately, my current carrier is AT&T and it seems that they will be dropping support for 3g calling early next year- which I am told will render my model unable to place or receive phone calls.
Anyways, I have *heard* that my device will be supported if I switch to T-mobile, but this comes from some googling a year or so ago and probably some less-than-reliable sources.
I was hoping to get a run-down on what my options are if I want to retain both my current device and ability to make phone calls come 2022. I currently have an unlocked bootloader + LineageOS installed on my phone as well, and would prefer to maintain that rather than having to use a locked-down carrier ROM
I have seen mixed reports from users who got VoLTE working on T-Mobile for their US996 while others did not (I'm still on a Sprint MVNO, so I won't be able to test this myself until T-Mobile completely takes over the network). But what's certain is that only the H910 can get VoLTE on AT&T (they keep a whitelist that determines which phones can get it), and LineageOS on pretty much any LG phone will likely never have it working.
So, at a minimum, you'll have to at least go back to a stock-based ROM if you plan on using a V20 next year on any carrier in the U.S.
I am not XDA savvy so forgive me if this is not what you are asking.
I have US996 factory unlocked ,I am on stock 8.0 and use Net10 which is ATT and do calling with LTE. which I assume is 4G.
mghia said:
I am not XDA savvy so forgive me if this is not what you are asking.
I have US996 factory unlocked ,I am on stock 8.0 and use Net10 which is ATT and do calling with LTE. which I assume is 4G.
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What OP is saying is that the calls on AT&T and its MVNOs for a US996 are actually done through 3G/HSPA and not LTE, unlike cellular data. AT&T's own H910 is the only V20 model that can make calls through LTE (VoLTE) on their network. Once AT&T turns off the 3G networks early next year, calls will no longer work on the US996 and any phone that's not on AT&T's whitelist.
You should be able to see this on your phone: When making a call, the LTE icon will not stay up, indicating that VoLTE is not working.
Oh nifty this phone becomes more and more an issue. So now I ahve to add this to my plate. Seems like it will still be a year. OK but the US996 has LTE so why is this still a problem? Why wont it just use the LTE band?
Please be kind I do not know all the acronyms or how any of this all works.
Cant the US996 also run on Verizon?
mghia said:
Oh nifty this phone becomes more and more an issue. So now I ahve to add this to my plate. Seems like it will still be a year. OK but the US996 has LTE so why is this still a problem? Why wont it just use the LTE band?
Please be kind I do not know all the acronyms or how any of this all works.
Cant the US996 also run on Verizon?
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Because of its whitelist I linked in the second post, AT&T actively blocks any phone not on the list from using LTE for calls (VoLTE = voice over LTE).
As for Verizon, they blocked direct activation of the US996 starting in 2018. You will see that entering your phone's IMEI number on Verizon's website will give you a message saying it's not compatible with their network even though it is perfectly capable. It may still work if you insert an already-active Verizon SIM card in there, but I don't use Verizon, so I can't say for sure if that still works.
Wow, talk about a way to force new contracts and phone sales. I never had a phone not be useable for PHONE CALLS. I guess I am grateful for the heads up as I was not aware and Net10 did not inform me of such things. I bought this phone because of specs and it was a removeable battery . But it seems this phone just was a pain from the start, with the screen issues, and the company claiming they would upgrade to Pie and never did.
T-mobile did not have useable coverage in my area when I tired it several years ago. So I really do not know what is going on since they now have Sprint.
Not sure if you're still looking at this thread but i have a v20 us996 factory unlocked and a G6 us997 factory unlocked and they BOTH get VoLTE on Red Pocket Mobile AT&T mvno. Calls DO NOT fall back to 3g or 2g and data stays active while in calls.