[Q] Possible to use on T-Mobile? - Motorola Droid Bionic

I've seen some mixed answers after browsing the Internet.
So, once my friend upgrades I am able to buy his Bionic from him.
I want to use it on T-Mobile's Monthly4G plan.
Is it possible to use it, even if it's only EDGE speeds?
All input is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

yes....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1953987

There is no definitve answer because not all of the Bionics are built the same way. My bionic for instance, will only obtain 3G signal, many others have found the same issue. Some models are able to pickup EDGE (2G) some models are only able to pickup UMTS (3G). There seems to be no pattern as to which phones work and which ones don't.

Related

No 3G ?

Hi,
I am new user and want to get the HTC Touch Diamond 2 ( Topaz ) next week. My current provider is AT&T.
I found some decent deals on eBay, but one seller wrote back saying that this phone is 100% working with AT&T and I only have to switch my SIM card out. Except for 3G....... he said, 3G won't work.
So my question is : Why would 3G not work ? Is this a phone normally used for other providers or is the 3G just turned off ? If so, can 3G be turned on easily via a hack or something ? I don't get it.
Thanks for helping.
JCE
**search**
the phone is 3G capable but I dont think the providers support it in your country.
If you are talking about AT&T in the USA, yeah 3G doesn't seem to work for me. I think the specific atenna range for 3G is not the one AT&T uses. I might be wrong though and just haven't seen a 3G link since its rare in my area and I don't use data that much. The best I can get is Edge.
supreme_one333 said:
If you are talking about AT&T in the USA, yeah 3G doesn't seem to work for me. I think the specific atenna range for 3G is not the one AT&T uses. I might be wrong though and just haven't seen a 3G link since its rare in my area and I don't use data that much. The best I can get is Edge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
America doesn't use the same 3G frequencies.., Europe 900/1200. America 850/whatever else. These phones are Euro 3G frequencies only so the best you'll get is GSM, which is quad band (i.e. work everywhere).
If you're cool with that that's fine, but when my phone drops from 3G to GSM I find it pretty unbearable (think dial up days).
jce2005 said:
Hi,
I am new user and want to get the HTC Touch Diamond 2 ( Topaz ) next week. My current provider is AT&T.
I found some decent deals on eBay, but one seller wrote back saying that this phone is 100% working with AT&T and I only have to switch my SIM card out. Except for 3G....... he said, 3G won't work.
So my question is : Why would 3G not work ? Is this a phone normally used for other providers or is the 3G just turned off ? If so, can 3G be turned on easily via a hack or something ? I don't get it.
Thanks for helping.
JCE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunatley I don't think our phones support it. Here is my original post with the same question from May:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=512828

fast help please (may be buying a nexxus one)

Sorry for asking for fast help but I may be buying a (used, good shape) Nexxus One (via craigslist) and have an important question.
I have ATT wireless, the old, old "blue sim" ATT wireless (with a grandfathered plan I will not get rid of). Also added "unlimited mmode data plan in time before they cancelled unlimited plans (*this is not the iphone data plan).
I currently use a Nokia E51 (symbian s60v3, wifi, decent reception, works on 3G (and switches to Edge when 3G isn't avail).
I'm looking at a Nexxus One that is unlocked, currently on Tmobile.
Question is: will this nexus one work 100% (3g and edge) on my ATT account?
and/or - Is there anything I can do to make it work? (I'd like to buy it).
I'm just not sure a unlocked Tmobile nexus one is 100% compatible or will work on ATT (or can be made to work).
it's cost is making it risky so I came here in hopes of advice and help.
I hope this is the right forum section.
Any help here is appreciated and thank you very much
You will not get 3G. Only edge. T-Mobile and AT&T use different bands for 3G.
btw: here is a link to info on my Nokia E51 (GSM arena)
gsmarena.com/nokia_e51-2106.php
Am I correct in saying that nexus one has the same bands (3g/edge) as the E51 and should work well for an updated phone?
thanks
Like I said, it depends which Nexus one. The AT&T one will only give 3G on AT&T, and the TMobile one will only give 3G on Tmobile. You can't change it, no way to hack it. If you want 3G, you need the correct version for your network.
I see, and thanks for the reply. i was thinking there is a hack/workaround but there isn't apparently.
Now, is there a like phone which still would fullfill my ATT needs (blue sim plan, 3g/edge modes, wifi capable, etc that I should be looking at...essentially like the nexus one)?
What about the HTC Desire (or is this the sam scenario)?
* again, i just can't leave this grandfathered plan, and I'm not a big iphone fan (enough to make me switch plans that is).
thanks for any advice
I just received a reply from a user on the ATT forums (very well versed with my blue plan and mmode, GSM phones) who stated this...
The Nexus One would be your best choice if you want to use AT&T Mobility's 2G & 3G network (they use 850 & 1900 MHz for both).
Now in regard to this used, unlocked Tmobile nexus it may be unusable for me...
but based on his reply, he seems to be saying an (att) Nexus one should offer the 2g (edge) and 3g band features (which I need).
Are we sure about the 3g or edge but not both in regard to the nexus one?
* got my eye set on a att nexus one (really, first it was the HTC Desire - very similar, but the band support was the concern there with the Desire)
thanks
Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. You are not listening. The Tmobile Nexus One will NOT give you 3G on AT&T.
BUT the AT&T Nexus One WILL give you 3G.
You just need to get the right one. You just need to buy the AT&T compatible Nexus One. Not the Tmobile one.
You need a Nexus One with the AT&T bands. They exist. I have one. A friend of mine is selling his in the CT area.
No, no...i'm listening, but likely not asking the question right.
I understand to get att 3g I need to get the ATT nexus one. Got it.
* And no, I will not be buying this tmobile nexus one thanks to your replies.
What I'm asking is in regard to 2g/edge ability here. Are you saying that a att nexus one will ONLY offer 3G and not offer any 2G/edge capability?
Others are saying it will also offer the 2G/edge capability as well as att's 3G (like with my E51 currently).
* see there are times when att 3G is unavil/spotty and the phone (E51 in my case) switches to 2G/edge. I just wanted to make sure the att nexus one offers this ability.
thanks
URPREY said:
You need a Nexus One with the AT&T bands. They exist. I have one. A friend of mine is selling his in the CT area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I inquire about this phone for sale somehow?
I was looking at this tmobile nexus one for $350, decent condition.
I'm very interested in buying an att nexus one (provided it's 100% working and condition isnt too bad).
thanks for replying guys!
jojoatt said:
No, no...i'm listening, but likely not asking the question right.
I understand to get att 3g I need to get the ATT nexus one. Got it.
* And no, I will not be buying this tmobile nexus one thanks to your replies.
What I'm asking is in regard to 2g/edge ability here. Are you saying that a att nexus one will ONLY offer 3G and not offer any 2G/edge capapbility?
Others are saying it will also offer the 2G/edge capability as well as att's 3G (like with my E51 currently).
* see there are times when att 3G is unavil/spotty and the phone (E51 in my case) switches to 2G/edge. I just wanted to make sure the att nexus one offers this ability.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Nexus One with AT&T bands works just like every other 3G AT&T phone. It works on both EDGE and 3G. If you look at the bands it has, there's no reason it wouldn't.
You need an AT&T banded N1 to get both 3G and EDGE.
If you get the T-Mobile version, you will ONLY GET EDGE on AT&T.
That's the difference: the 3G bands are different between the two, but the EDGE bands are the same.
jojoatt said:
Can I inquire about this phone for sale somehow?
I was looking at this tmobile nexus one for $350, decent condition.
I'm very interested in buying an att nexus one (provided it's 100% working and condition isnt too bad).
thanks for replying guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can email him at t4show at gmail dot com
It's only about a month old. He bought an iPhone 4. Yuck.
thank you, i sent him an email. hopefully it's still for sale.
btw: what about the HTC Desire? issues with this on my ATT network?
http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_desire-3077.php
The desire does not have ATT 3g bands, so you will be stuck on edge. Recently they announced a usa desire which might come with proper 3g, but that phone does not yet exist. So no the desire won't work unless you just want edge.
well, your friend selling his att nexus one stopped replying so I have to assume he's either kept it or selling for a bit more on ebay/etc.
I can bid on a few on ebay that will likely end up being $500+ for slightly used, but can anyone tell me if I can still buy the att 3g version ffor $529 straight from google (as in if I order by this friday)?
or I should also ask: does anyone have an att verision nexus one they're selling?

Cicinnati Bell Wireless, Dayton Oh

Anyone using an N1 in Dayton Ohio?
May need to switch carriers.
How is your coverage north of Dayton, I70?
arent you from howardforums....
Hi osugsxr,
Long time no talk. Not on that forum much, very active on NexusOne Forum. How's it going?
I sold my BB's and have an N1 I rooted and starting to theme, love it. But, the areas I go to now with work, like Tipp and Troy are not covered well by CBW. I need to change carriers. I was in north Columbus Tuesday and NO SERVICE.
It is obviously a TMO version, won't work on Att. Too bad cause they have nicer clamshells for the wife and my one son gave the other is 3g iphone and got the 4g. I can jailbreak it and go TMO, know only 2g works that way. May not get him data anyway. So, in a fix. Don't want to sell N1 and get an Incredible on Att, like N1 and maybe will not like Att dropped calls and the junk, Media Center, they put on their phones.
Wondering if TMO has good 3g in those ares I mentioned with the N1. Or, any suggestions.
Ken
I use the N1 on TMO but can't speak of anything past Vandalia going north. I was just up there two weeks ago and had no problems in the Vandalia area.
Cincinnati Bell roams on T-mobile. If your phone says Cin Bell USA that means you are on T-mobile. I am not familiar with coverage in the Dayton area, I typically stay around Cincy or south in KY. Hope this at least helps a little.
Thanks everyone,
OutlawPro: By Vandalia I am on Edge no 3g
stickerbob: I have seen Cinbell on occasion, no 3g. But, most of the time Edge or no connection. Figured it would roam in Columbus, but couldn't even make a call from Polaris Mall. Just norht of Columbus off of 270.
rugmankc said:
Thanks everyone,
OutlawPro: By Vandalia I am on Edge no 3g
stickerbob: I have seen Cinbell on occasion, no 3g. But, most of the time Edge or no connection. Figured it would roam in Columbus, but couldn't even make a call from Polaris Mall. Just norht of Columbus off of 270.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have same problem within my house, upstairs ill get 3g coverage and go down one floor itll be switching back and forth. As for being in Columbus my cincy bell coverage dropped and had to switch to cinbell usa tmobile, and I had 3g coverage near polaris and basically it was pretty solid, but I had to manually make the switch over to cinbell usa.
If you arent getting the coverage I would consider switching to another carrier, for me cincybell is solid only $15 for unlimited text and data.....using it to tether and for the ipad wifi been averaging 5-6gb month. What makes it worse is most of that is from downloading roms and flashing them. Its fun to develop with this phone, but I may have to get rid of it stop playing with it. New hobby probably going to be a harley .....
osugsxr,
You don't pay the extra gb's do you. CBW is suppose to be true unlimited. I have seen CinBell USA, but when I try it, it won't register on network. Mayb not far enough outside CBW area. Did not try in Columbus. Could also try checking 2g when no 3g or CinBell available. I like CBW too. But need voice and gps where I go on calls.
BTW, appreciated all your help on Howards. Glad I got the N1 and rooted.
I should be able to tether on TMO also, don't do it very often. So, limits won't apply.
Ken
rugmankc said:
osugsxr,
You don't pay the extra gb's do you. CBW is suppose to be true unlimited. I have seen CinBell USA, but when I try it, it won't register on network. Mayb not far enough outside CBW area. Did not try in Columbus. Could also try checking 2g when no 3g or CinBell available. I like CBW too. But need voice and gps where I go on calls.
BTW, appreciated all your help on Howards. Glad I got the N1 and rooted.
I should be able to tether on TMO also, don't do it very often. So, limits won't apply.
Ken
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope dont pay the extra gb's, although I did read in the contract where cbw will think you are tethering if you go over 5gbs, but nothing has been mentioned to me about my usage, so Im when that time comes we will see but I doubt it ever will. Cinbell USA you do have to be out of range, when my 3g coverage drops I will change settings to cinbell usa, it wont allow me to register onto network. Once I flip back over to cinbell I usually regain my 3g service most of the time.
Yes rooting is addicting, very fun and being able to change up your phone is nice. I did sell my original n1, and was about to make the switch to an iphone but was talked out of it, took the money and purchased another n1, basically brand, with all the original equipment which I didnt have.
Thanks for the info.

[Q] US Carries and compatible plans for Galaxy note

Hi Guys, this is my first post.
I am relocating to N.Y. from Europe for work and i am bringing my Galaxy Note with me of course.
I was not aware of the situation in U.S. with phone carriers and I am only beginning to grasp the things you have to suffer.
Could you please recommend me a plan. I have already contacted sprint and they refused to accept my cell phone. I am currently thinking of getting boost mobile unlimited but i can't find out if my phone is fully compatible with their service.
I have no credit history in U.S.. I would like at least 200' 100sms and a few GBs of data. Some minutes for calling landlines in Europe would also be great.
I would realy appreciate your help, feeling kind of lost in the open sea.
Thanks in advance (if the list is complete it could be a nice sticky), relocated from general section
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App
from: foxmeister: Your Note will only give you 3G on AT&T or AT&T MVNO
The only GSM carriers (which is what you need for compatiblity with the Note) are AT&T and Tmobile (Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology which is not compatible with European phones.) Tmobile uses weird frequencies for their 3G and fauxG (HSPA+), so you would only get EDGE speeds with them on your Note. So that pretty much leaves AT&T. They're expensive compared to what you guys have; I'm sure you can find their pricing online.
There are MVNOs which appear to be carriers, but use one of the big four's networks. There are a few that use AT&T's network. One of the MVNOs, Straight Talk, has a plan that's $45 for unlimited talk, sms, and data, but there's a complicated workaround to utilize it on your Note, as they technically only offer it on a couple of their phones.
You have to buy one of their phones "compatible" with that plan (I think you can find them for $99 refurbed), take the sim card out, and put it in your Note. I haven't done this, but I've read that there's a lot more to do in order to utilize HSPA+ speeds. You'll have to search and read for more info, as this is all I know.
In addition to the great info maxh provided, I wanna say that I personally don't trust any of the "unlimited data" plans. They'll cut your data off at the most inopportune time. Classic bait & switch. You're better off with data plans that are hard limited to 2GB or maybe 5GB so you can monitor your own usage.
The Note is kinda new so not enough info is currently available online as to which AT&T MVNO's support it with 3G+ rates. I'm in the same boat as you, actually...
And there's another option. For me, since I carry a bag with me most of the time, I may eventually decide to get a MiFi with the 5GB of 4G "Walmart" plan. I'm waiting a month to see if I'll have to go that route. I ain't spending over $80/mo on voice+data combined even if I have to give up on the Note altogether. There's a limit to how spoiled I allow myself to be.
maxh said:
The only GSM carriers (which is what you need for compatiblity with the Note) are AT&T and Tmobile (Verizon and Sprint use CDMA technology which is not compatible with European phones.) Tmobile uses weird frequencies for their 3G and fauxG (HSPA+), so you would only get EDGE speeds with them on your Note. So that pretty much leaves AT&T. They're expensive compared to what you guys have; I'm sure you can find their pricing online.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't T-mobile use the same set of 850Hz HSDPA/ HSPA tech that Telstra in Australia uses?
If so then I can tell you that stuff works fine with the note.... Best internet speeds I've ever seen on a phone.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
senectus said:
Doesn't T-mobile use the same set of 850Hz HSDPA/ HSPA tech that Telstra in Australia uses?
If so then I can tell you that stuff works fine with the note.... Best internet speeds I've ever seen on a phone.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mobile only 850MHz only on their GSM network (EDGE.) For 3G and 4G (not really 4G as in LTE, but faux G as in HSDPA+) they use the 1700/2100 combo. Both are needed as one is used for upload and the other for download. 2100MHz only on a phone without the 1700 will still leave you with only EDGE speeds on Tmobile.

[Q] Does the international version have issues connecting to 3G or 4G?

I was hoping to buy the international version (link), because I dislike AT&T's service. But if it has issues connecting to T-Mobile's HSPA+, EDGE // 3G, then I might resign myself to buying the no-commitment/unlocked version of AT&T's.
Anybody?
There are dozens of threads about this. Have a search.
Fair enough. I searched for the answer, and spent 10 minutes reading and I've found the following.
1. No LTE support with the international version.
2. Using the AT&T version will allow me to flash the modem to get access to T-Mobile's 4G.
However, T-Mobile's "4G" isn't 4G, but HSPA+, which isn't LTE. But I have not confirmed any information regarding if the international
---
Upon further inspection, I've found this post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24192799&postcount=17
This says that it is possible, but unlikely that you can get the HSPA+ with the Note.
Thanks for being a (justified) ass, and getting me to do the correct thing.
kawarazu said:
Fair enough. I searched for the answer, and spent 10 minutes reading and I've found the following.
1. No LTE support with the international version.
2. Using the AT&T version will allow me to flash the modem to get access to T-Mobile's 4G.
However, T-Mobile's "4G" isn't 4G, but HSPA+, which isn't LTE. But I have not confirmed any information regarding if the international
---
Upon further inspection, I've found this post
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=24192799&postcount=17
This says that it is possible, but unlikely that you can get the HSPA+ with the Note.
Thanks for being a (justified) ass, and getting me to do the correct thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can flash the modem for T-Mobile to make it work then why would it NOT connect to HSPA+ with that working modem? This device is naturally an HSPA+ device so...
To quote the link I placed,
Okay. To answer your question, the N7000 (International Note) will work perfectly fine on T-Mobile US. Phone calls, SMS messages, and data will all work perfectly. The issue, however, is not with the services you can get, but the quality of the services you can get. Even though the N7000 is an "international" GSM device, T-Mobile uses irregular frequencies for it's HSPA+ network. Specifically, instead of supporting HSPA+ on a single frequency, T-Mobile's HSPA+ service is divided between 1700MHz and 2100MHz in what is referred to as 1700/2100 AWS (Advanced Wireless Spectrum). Because AWS is a rare and unusual implementation of HSPA+, almost no "international" phone models support it. In most cases, only phones meant specifically for North America support it. What this means, simply, is that the N7000 will never be capable of using T-Mobile's HSPA+ network (unless you have the rare privelege of being in a 1900MHz HSPA+ area).|
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By my understanding, the Note does not work with T-Mobile's HSPA+ because of AWS, and it's usage of 2 frequencies to create HSPA+. It is not designed to. It isn't a design flaw of the phone, but rather because of the non-standard way T-Mobile has implemented HSPA+. Sad, but true. If T-Mobile spends the money and upgrades their infrastructure, we will likely have HSPA+ as well.
kawarazu said:
To quote the link I placed,
By my understanding, the Note does not work with T-Mobile's HSPA+ because of AWS, and it's usage of 2 frequencies to create HSPA+. It is not designed to. It isn't a design flaw of the phone, but rather because of the non-standard way T-Mobile has implemented HSPA+. Sad, but true. If T-Mobile spends the money and upgrades their infrastructure, we will likely have HSPA+ as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhhhh... I see... Geeze... That sucks then hey? So Edge is the best you can get on T-Mobile then? Whey would anyone even want to do this then?
1) The Note is not a US only device, and neither is the Android universe. The Note works happily in other countries, it's just that the US is so ****ed up that we think we're doing it correct. Think about it, why use two spectrums when we only need one to implement HSPA+?
2) Remember, a device as large as the Note might not require a fast active data connection. For instance, the only time I'd really want to web-browse is when I'm searching for something. Otherwise I spend most of my time on my phone reading eBooks (which I'd not download "live" anyway), watching anime (which I'd never download off my data plan), or playing games (which does not require an active data connection at all.)
I'm very interested in it for the ease of reading and video playback. There's a lot of anime that would just feel nicer to watch on a big screen. Plus, anything I want to read, I'd use ReadItLater to download, and read later. Oh, and EDGE isn't so bad if you just need to pick up emails and such.
Unless you really need the FM Radio, I'd say to grab the AT&T version. They go for pretty cheap on Craigslist.
Both handle videos amazingly well. I've played 8-bit 720p mkv files on both without issue. Both stutter a bit with 10-bit video.
Yes, the International Note has slightly more powerful hardware. However, the only place I've been able to put it to use is in making n64 emulation run super smoothly. In everything else I put them through, the AT&T Note performed admirably.
If you want to toy around with NFC, AT&T is the way to go.
Moreover, while I was on T-Mobile, I always found data speeds to be great. Obviously not LTE great, but I never found a need for service THAT fast. For web browsing, streaming vids, messaging etc, it worked amazingly well. My only problem with T-mobile service was its lack of building penetration. I would be reduced to EDGE while in the office and go totally dead at my brother's school. AT&T reached those areas just fine.
kawarazu said:
1) The Note is not a US only device, and neither is the Android universe. The Note works happily in other countries, it's just that the US is so ****ed up that we think we're doing it correct. Think about it, why use two spectrums when we only need one to implement HSPA+?
2) Remember, a device as large as the Note might not require a fast active data connection. For instance, the only time I'd really want to web-browse is when I'm searching for something. Otherwise I spend most of my time on my phone reading eBooks (which I'd not download "live" anyway), watching anime (which I'd never download off my data plan), or playing games (which does not require an active data connection at all.)
I'm very interested in it for the ease of reading and video playback. There's a lot of anime that would just feel nicer to watch on a big screen. Plus, anything I want to read, I'd use ReadItLater to download, and read later. Oh, and EDGE isn't so bad if you just need to pick up emails and such.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile's AWS block has nothing to do with the U.S. being ****ed up. Every other GSM carrier in the country uses standard frequencies. The reason T-Mobile has to use AWS is because they were unable to secure the necessary frequency block to implement standard HSPA(+). It's not that the U.S. is ****ed up; it's that so much of our country has already been dependant on wireless services for years, and that means there's not much spectrum left for growth.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

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