Phone Radio Compatibility Details Requested (both general and US T-mobile specific)
I have been doing a lot of researching regarding this phone and all of its cousins as well as how they will operate on the various US carriers. I have the following requirements for my next phone purchase:
1) Must be an Android device
2) Must have front facing camera (for international video calls to relatives)
3) Must be GSM (for compatibility with local prepaid SIM cards when traveling)
As AT&T and T-mobile are the only two carriers in the US (the only two viable ones at least, I don't know if any smaller carriers use GSM) and I refuse to renew my contract with AT&T that narrows it down to one option.
I have been researching the different carrier frequencies, both what they are and why they are different. It seems T-mobile decided to be special and as a result it is nearly impossible to get a T-mobile high speed compatible phone unless you purchase it from them directly. I almost want to call that evil, but it is easy to believe that is just a bad side effect rather than the intent.
Anyways, as we all know the Galaxy S has been severely nerfed by everyone except for Sprint. If Sprint only had a GSM phone that I could use internationally I would pick up their model, but alas it is not. I will not purchase the Vibrant because it lacks the front facing camera. My last option is the unlocked Galaxy S available abroad unless I am missing something.
Most of the online retailers I have seen all list different band frequencies and not even all of them have it divided into 2G/3G frequencies. I have some specific questions, but if you have any useful information for me I would appreciate it.
Question 1: Do the online retailers just suck, or are there truly many different frequency bands for the unlocked Galaxy S?
Question 2: Does anyone know of a Galaxy S phone that is fully compatible with T-mobile in the US (not the Vibrant, I need the front facing camera)? If not, would it be good enough?
Question 3: The radio bands I have ready about are usually divided into 2G and 3G categories. Is the phone radio physically divided into one for 2G and another for 3G, or is it the same radio and those are the frequencies USUALLY used by the different speeds? If I see the appropriate T-mobile high speed frequencies listed under 2G, would that mean the radio is in fact compatible with the T-mobile 3G because the radio can talk on that frequency, or is the hardware actually different and unable to comprehend the 3G speeds?
Bumping my own thread and also wondering if anyone has any recommended vendors to buy the international Galaxy S in the United States.
i bought mine from handtec.co.uk and it is working ok..
beware though that at&t unfort. in my error has been slowly getting rid of 1900 3g and more 850 3g which does not work on the phone..
at least at home the microcells are 1900 3g.
Radio chip/antennae changes?
It seems the internal Galaxy's electronics is all the same or modular. Is there a chance to take the radio module out of T-Mobile body and put it into the Sprint's nice hardware? How easy it is to obtain the desired component?
related post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=718041
[Q] Which CSC (Phono/radio) version will give the best results?
I'm wondering what CSC-version (Or is it the Phone/Modem?) will give the best results in The Netherlands with Vodafone as telecom provider, or maybe... where can i find the stock version of the radio (and is it possible to use it with a root?)
I'm using Froyo (I9000XXJPC) - Rooted, but I'm wondering if my connection isn't worse since updating, I believe my 3G/HSDPA is weaker since then.
Anyone the same problem?
I also have the same problem, but already since upgrading to jm1 trough KIES.
I think we need a i9000XEN CSC.
shumix said:
I also have the same problem, but already since upgrading to jm1 trough KIES.
I think we need a i9000XEN CSC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the "i9000XEN CSC" the stock one?
I'm not on JPC but changing from JM3 to JP2 (modem) actually makes my GSM signal and wifi sort of worse, dropping 1-2 bars at the exact same location compare to JM5
CSC has NOTHING to do with reception or 3g whatsoever... its just branding stuff and APN etc...
the MODEM file is the one you need to look out for!
Right now i'm on JM1 (rev03) with the appropriate modem file and i have no problem whatsoever!
BackfireNL said:
CSC has NOTHING to do with reception or 3g whatsoever... its just branding stuff and APN etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You sir, are wrong.
I have a Bell I9000M and flashed the new HK JP2 Froyo to it. I lost my 850mhz UMTS Band. I then flashed back to stock JH2, including the modem and still no band. The only thing that fixed it was doing the *#272*xxxx# CSC select. Once I did that, bingo, 850MHZ Reception.
I know what you're saying SHOULD be correct, but unfortunately, it is not.
I'm still correct! CSC contains carrier costumizations. Which also can contain settings to ENABLE the 850mhz radio band!
BackfireNL said:
I'm still correct! CSC contains carrier costumizations. Which also can contain settings to ENABLE the 850mhz radio band!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, enabling/disabling a band doesn't have anything to do with reception?
So, when I get no reception because I'm in an 850MHZ ONLY area, which is disabled by the CSC. The CSC has nothing to do with it? I don't see the logic there, but alright.
You can use whatever CSC you want as long it enables the 850MHz band. It doesnt matter what CSC...
Modem file is the one that contains the drivers for the radiochip etc... A better modem file means that you can get higher 3G/Wifi speeds or even have better reception.
The CSC only contains the setting to enable the band.. nothing more nothing less
BackfireNL said:
You can use whatever CSC you want as long it enables the 850MHz band. It doesnt matter what CSC...
Modem file is the one that contains the drivers for the radiochip etc... A better modem file means that you can get higher 3G/Wifi speeds or even have better reception.
The CSC only contains the setting to enable the band.. nothing more nothing less
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool man, I was directly referring to:
BackfireNL said:
CSC has NOTHING to do with reception or 3g whatsoever... its just branding stuff and APN etc...
the MODEM file is the one you need to look out for!
Right now i'm on JM1 (rev03) with the appropriate modem file and i have no problem whatsoever!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which was wrong. No service due to CSC = No Reception. Plain and simple. You can argue what you meant all day, it's not what you said.
I'm done with this. I apologize to the OP for having this thread turn into this childishness.
Have a good day.
BackfireNL is right. Selecting a CSC indicates which band/frequency the radio will use according to the place you are.
dnsp said:
BackfireNL is right. Selecting a CSC indicates which band/frequency the radio will use according to the place you are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhh, that's what I said, disagreeing with his "CSC has NOTHING to do with reception" comment.
Just so you two know, the actual Merriam-Webster definition of reception is:
"the act or action or an instance of receiving"
CSC not allowing 850MHZ = No Reception.
If you're taking about small increases/decreases in quality of reception, then absolutely yes, CSC has no effect. But that is not what was stated.
Confused...
Okay... thanx, both of you!
I've learned a lot new thinks...
Finally... I understand that I must use the Modem file if I have issues with the reception of the 3G network, but which version should give me the best results for my provider (Vodafone/Netherlands) and the new Froyo (JPC), and where can I get that modem file?
The Radio Chip in the SGS
ht tp://ww w.triquint.com/prodserv/more_info/proddisp.aspx?prod_id=TQM6M9014
(remove spaces)
That is the chip, now if I understand that right, it is a Pentaband radio. So that would mean it is all locked out in software.
No?
Users in the U.S., What Radio are you using?
I am running CFLagFix1.60(StockXXJF3) and using AT&T.
Everything works fine, except for a weak signal.
I can receive and make calls, but at times have calls dropped.
My home is in an area where there is a weak signal.
I am not try to get 3G, just a stronger signal.
May not be possible, but worth a try.
Signal is fine when not at home.
I have tried the following Radios without boosting the signal.
MODEM_I9000XXJF3.tar
I9000UGJH2-Modem
MODEM_I9000XXJP2.tar
bell_I9000_radio - No signal with the bell_I9000_radio
Any suggestions, or is it a lost cause?
Is this a haiku?
PS It would help telling us what carrier you are using it on.
Hello,
I am new here and this is my first post. I do not know if there is a special thread to present me so let me do this here now.
I am 31 years old an live in Germany, I like to test, repair, restore all kind of things. My english is not very good, but I hope you will understand my problem.
Actually I bought a damaged Samsung Note 5 N920V (Verizon) in the US and now it is working very fine. Some parts have to be substitute by new ones, but everything important is working fine.
I think you all know the problems with band frequency of Note 5 Version in Europe. The signal ist not the best one because in the US they use other frequencys for GSM/LTE/UMTS and so on...I think you know what I mean.
Now I saw that the Note 5 Version N920C is fully compatible with european band frequency. Somebody want to sold the chargin port platine with softkey buttons and atenna and so one...the whole platine.
I want to ask you If somebody knows if it is possible to build in this part from the N920C Version into my N920V Version to get the european band frequency I need? Or is band frequency "blocked" in the software and this parts are absolutely the same?
Hope somebody can help me.
Thank you.
Kindly,
JeBaFe
I'd like to figure out this too. I managed to 'allow' LTE bands via QXDM (like here) but it still did not appear in Service Menu (2263 - LTE Bands Preference) so I guess it is some other low-level software restriction (modem firmware maybe). I'm getting poor signal reception in Europe and no LTE...
Hi,
the first of all problems is, to get into the service mode of an Note 5 N920V....or I am wrong? Actually I found no working solution for this. King root does not root temporarily on a N920V...
The second problem is, if the antenna of the N920C is adaptive to the N920V and if the signals are now covered by the new antenna, we should have problem number 1....we can not get into the service mode to unlock the needed LTE frequency? Right?
Somebody there who can help?
Kind regards.
U can change your network setting by dial *#2263# on your phone keypad.
Hi,
this does not work. I tested it some days ago...
I think the antenna board / modem is the problem.
But I am a little bit afraid to test it.
I rooted my phone (920K).
Usually it is low network signal indoor.
I dial*#2263# then service mode appeared. In Network setting select Band selection. Then i chose LTE/WCDMA/GSM. Then restart phone and wait a while to see what happen.
Hi, my Note 5 is from Dubai, does it mean I may encounter network issues here in Switzerland?
Prerna said:
Hi, my Note 5 is from Dubai, does it mean I may encounter network issues here in Switzerland?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This depends which Networks are used for 3F / 4G in Swiss and Dubai. If they use the same frequenzy it should be no problem.
By the way....I swapped a Motherboard / logic Board from a Note 5 N920C to a Note 5 N920A and it was no problem. Now I can use my Note 5 without any problems here in Germany. :good:
So I can say now, swapping a logic board from one Note 5 to an other is possible. :good:
Has anyone going WiFi calling working on your Nokia 7 plus? I'm on Vodafone in the UK but have also tried an ID SIM.
I have got WiFi calling enabled by Vodafone but the option doesn't appear in the phone. I'm moving to a house with no signal so this will be pretty essential.
Any ideas?
I'm on a TA-1055 with the July patch.
Wifi calling and Volte work on BT Mobile and I suspect EE.
Vodafone seem to only allow devices purchased from them with their firmware on and I don't think they do a Nokia 7 Plus therefore it doesn't work.
Ollie2 said:
Wifi calling and Volte work on BT Mobile and I suspect EE.
Vodafone seem to only allow devices purchased from them with their firmware on and I don't think they do a Nokia 7 Plus therefore it doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks @Ollie2. I have called Vodafone several times and they've always directed me to their page which lists the approved phones (Nokia 7 plus isn't one!).
I've logged a complaint as deliberately turning the function off if you haven't bought the phone from them seems to be anti-competetive and, frankly, a bad business model. I'll be leaving them for EE as soon as my contract ends.
The whole wifi calling and Volte situation on Android is a complete mess. I think the blame lies with both networks and the manufacturers.
Since Android 6 there has been a mechanism to add the correct details for Volte and Wifi calling to work without having to have a custom firmware for each network but lots choose not to utilise it.
With security updates being releases by the manufacturers having to wait for the networks to change a test their firmware seems ridiculous and networks and manufacturers should work to a standard that just works. That said I imagine that is easier said than done.
EE seem to be better than the rest but they're not perfect either.
Hello there,
I am not getting good data speed on S20 FE 5G . When i put same sim in old HTC U11 and Pixel 3a XL then get double speed eventhough they are old phones . I tried to toggle 4G only but still its very slow internet epsecially indoors. I also did reset of network settings but still did not improved internet speed. Any solution? I like everything else about this phone but this issues is irritating and i dont want to send it back just for this issue
I recall that carriers have different network connection settings for each model of phones. So it's not actually 'fair' to compare those devices.
I suggest you talk to you carrier and ask for help, or you can also submit error report to samsung members app > get help > error report after reproducing the speed issue once more.
Could you share the device model number and the software version it's on?
TheNewGuy92 said:
I recall that carriers have different network connection settings for each model of phones. So it's not actually 'fair' to compare those devices.
I suggest you talk to you carrier and ask for help, or you can also submit error report to samsung members app > get help > error report after reproducing the speed issue once more.
Could you share the device model number and the software version it's on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried all possible setting my EE network(UK) suggested to me and even created a new access point but it did not make any difference. Model Number is SM-G781B/DS and is android 11 running the latest nov security Patch. Another funny thing is that there is often 5G that appears on the phone signal bar when the speed is less than 1MB/sec. I don't know if it's just me or anyone else who also gets less speed in comparison to any other android phone. I use fast. com and Speedtest to know about downalod and upload speed
Rajaasim1980 said:
there is often 5G that appears on the phone signal bar
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5G icon could appear but in reality still be connected to LTE, some carriers do that.
anyway, data related things will have to be taken care by the carrier side but sounds like you're not getting a good care...Idk what to tell you since i'm in the US region. Idk much about what sort of help you can utilize in the UK region.
trying to install nethunter kernel but all the good looking roms require diff kernels bro....
And whats a good ROM for tweaking CELL NETWORKs.. maybe establishing svc on multiple cell towers..? RiL, 5g IN NON 5G AREAs...NO BURST LIMIT??, anti throttling?, wi-fi calling Well ? lol shhhhhh
fr best i can find is Resurrection rom remix... -___- bussin'!
You can usually mix and match kernels vs ROMs.
As far as tweaking cell networks, this isn't possible. As a former telecom tech I can tell you much of the network operations are handled from the carrier side via packet switching - while your device does communicate with multiple cells as part of the "soft-handoff" strategy, the network decides which site to actually use to send and receive data. You cannot change this from your phone.
The same goes for using service that you either aren't provisioned for, or trying to defeat throttling. If you don't have 5G UW as part of your plan, your phone may still connect to UW hotspots, but your actual connection will exist only on the LTE network. You can't defeat throttling because it's all done on the carrier side - they look at the data going to and coming from your device, as well as what type of data it is.
I don't know what "bussin" means but I would highly encourage you to use proper English when asking for help. XDA is a worldwide forum; not everyone understands contemporary slang and colloquialisms, and you may actually offend someone by using such coarse language.