Develop Bugs

[Q] Having Signal Issues with UK GSM Galaxy Nexus on TMO Network

I've been reading this forum for the past two days trying to see if there is a similar thread with this issue. Please point me in the right direction if there is a similar thread resolving this issue (this forum is colossal!).
I recently bought a UK version GSM Galaxy Nexus running Modaco 4.0.2 Ir8. I'm using it on T-Mobile's network (The GN is replacing my HTC Sensation).
The gentleman that sold it to me had already unlocked, rooted, and flashed it with Modaco. It works blazing fast. The only thing is that when ever I make a phone call it literally drops in less than 5 minutes. The signal seems to be switching like crazy from 3G to HSPA+ as well.
I've called TMO and they have no clue what the issue is (4 different reps told me 4 different things from needing to factory reset to the towers being down etc.).
Again the phone works great besides the fact that I can't make a phone call for more than a couple of minutes before it drops.
Has anyone seen this with their GN? Is it the phone? The Mod? Are T-Mobile's towers not able to pick up this phone's radios because it's from the UK?
How can I go about fixing this (Factory reset? etc.)? I'm literally about to factory reset this thing this morning when I get home from work.
I don't really have too much experience as far as rooting goes but willing to learn and get this issue resolved.

What radio version are you using?
I'm on T-Mobile and xxkk6 works well for me.
If you don't know what you have, I suggest u go to the dev section and start reading for a while

xxkk6 at the least should be on there. i think there is xxkl7 possibly. the xxkk6 is the stock radio, but if there is a kk7 or kl7 might want to try that as it would be a later version.

How can I tell which radio version I'm on and does it give me the option to switch it?
dwang said:
What radio version are you using?
I'm on T-Mobile and xxkk6 works well for me.
If you don't know what you have, I suggest u go to the dev section and start reading for a while
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Jjonlife said:
How can I tell which radio version I'm on and does it give me the option to switch it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings, about phone.
I had similar problems until I switched to KK6.
This thread has all the different basebands:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1405345
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I've been reading the forum for a minute and haven't noticed any threads regarding this issue. Bear in mind this forum has like 1 thousand threads to go over.

Jjonlife said:
I've been reading the forum for a minute and haven't noticed any threads regarding this issue. Bear in mind this forum has like 1 thousand threads to go over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using KK1 before and it was absolutely fine until about a week ago, then I started to get dropped calls etc.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Jjonlife said:
How can I tell which radio version I'm on and does it give me the option to switch it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on xxk1. How do I switch to kk6?

Thanks for sending me that link. Which baseband set up would be good for the US (NYC specifically). They all look like they are designed for European areas.
And once I put in my Sim card, why didn't the phone just figure out with Radioband to attach itself to?
pnnorth said:
Settings, about phone.
I had similar problems until I switched to KK6.
This thread has all the different basebands:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1405345
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Jjonlife said:
Thanks for sending me that link. Which baseband set up would be good for the US (NYC specifically). They all look like they are designed for European areas.
And once I put in my Sim card, why didn't the phone just figure out with Radioband to attach itself to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basebands beginning with UG are for north America. I think there are a couple of threads in the dev section about UG basebands, it might be worth have a look at those.
KK7 Thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1382699
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

Thanks for the link. After reading through a couple of pages I'm starting to realize that I have no idea what the hell is going on with switching radio bands. Even worse, I have not read about any instances where one or the other will work very well in NYC (my area).
Is there a grid which shows which radio band is for which area? Anyone know of anywhere that shows the step by way to do this?
pnnorth said:
Basebands beginning with UG are for north America. I think there are a couple of threads in the dev section about UG basebands, it might be worth have a look at those.
KK7 Thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1382699
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Jjonlife said:
Thanks for the link. After reading through a couple of pages I'm starting to realize that I have no idea what the hell is going on with switching radio bands. Even worse, I have not read about any instances where one or the other will work very well in NYC (my area).
Is there a grid which shows which radio band is for which area? Anyone know of anywhere that shows the step by way to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See section 3 in the first post of this thread for a step by step guide:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

I appreciate that. Will be looking into it later this morning when I get off work.
For anyone who had to do this process: Is this a normal thing when rooting and flashing, to have to find a better baseband etc.? Is it because my phone is a UK version that TMO is having an issue dropping my calls?
And lastly, anyone know what the best baseband/radio is suitable for NYC? And why doesn't the phone just figure out which is the best baseband?
pnnorth said:
See section 3 in the first post of this thread for a step by step guide:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Jjonlife said:
I appreciate that. Will be looking into it later this morning when I get off work.
For anyone who had to do this process: Is this a normal thing when rooting and flashing, to have to find a better baseband etc.? Is it because my phone is a UK version that TMO is having an issue dropping my calls?
And lastly, anyone know what the best baseband/radio is suitable for NYC? And why doesn't the phone just figure out which is the best baseband?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the baseband should work. it's gsm, the world standard. but i'm guessing since i don't know exactly what is tweaked, but that the specific baseband for your region will bias your phone for the known networks. ugkk7 works great for me. atnt. i think there is a ugkl6 or 7. sometimes you have to test them. some will work better for others. some will work great and not eat battery. if it eats battery, try another one. i think samsung is decent about releasing different radios for different regions. it can be confusing. now when it's comes to updating their roms, that is a different story.

Ok,
The baseband def has to be affecting my battery. I'm getting not even 10 hours on a full charge from moderate use.
I don't really know exactly what the first owner did to it, only what he told me.
My plan is to bring it back to factory settings (found an article about how to restore the GSM version, but have yet to find any youtube videos abou it....I only see LTE videos on rooting and unrooting, and I'm not sure if it's the same process so I'm not touching those).
If that doesn't help it then I'll go about flashing and changing the baseband.
Again this whole baseband business is really new to me. The input you guys have been giving so far is much appreciated.
pukemon said:
the baseband should work. it's gsm, the world standard. but i'm guessing since i don't know exactly what is tweaked, but that the specific baseband for your region will bias your phone for the known networks. ugkk7 works great for me. atnt. i think there is a ugkl6 or 7. sometimes you have to test them. some will work better for others. some will work great and not eat battery. if it eats battery, try another one. i think samsung is decent about releasing different radios for different regions. it can be confusing. now when it's comes to updating their roms, that is a different story.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Update:
Ended up coming home early from work and staying up all morning trying to figure this out. I decided on using this link first: (http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/restore-galaxy-nexus-to-stock-how-to/)
to re-lock. That took about 4 hours of troubleshooting and getting to know the lingo and terminology. Then from a combination of other youtube videos I spent another 4 hours trying to figure out how to lock the bootloader. Believe it or not the Xda link about this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310) saved me from losing my mind. I literally didn't go to sleep until I made sure I brought the phone back to factory settings.
After I finally got the phone back to factory settings (believe me, it wasn't fun figuring this out especially when I've never rooted before) I noticed the wifi wasn't working, or had a very weak signal. Content with the phone at least being back on factory settings and locked, I go to sleep and wake up today seeing the same issue with the wifi (mean while, I now have good signal/service...didn't even have to mess with the baseband radio config).
I restart the router in our house and power down the phone and restart. Problem fixed.
Not really sure why or how, but bringing the phone back to factory settings seems to make it work just as fast as it worked when Modaco Ir8 4.0.2 was on it. Except now I have amazing Service signal.
I can honestly state that rooting really isn't for me especially with the notion that with every new mod that comes out you have to be flashing on a constant basis. Even though I almost lost my mind trying to figure this out, I would still rather have this approach vs Apple's walled garden approach though. Any day.
One of the reasons I like the Nexus line of phones is that it's pretty much the only Android phone that gets all the updates first and on a constant basis. Which makes it such an awesome phone in that it's also the phone that Google allows any and all capabilities to be customized. I have true respect for all the devs out there who attack this stuff daily.
Just be sure to get enough exercise in and healthy meals along with rest lol.

Jjonlife said:
Update:
Ended up coming home early from work and staying up all morning trying to figure this out. I decided on using this link first: (http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/restore-galaxy-nexus-to-stock-how-to/)
to re-lock. That took about 4 hours of troubleshooting and getting to know the lingo and terminology. Then from a combination of other youtube videos I spent another 4 hours trying to figure out how to lock the bootloader. Believe it or not the Xda link about this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310) saved me from losing my mind. I literally didn't go to sleep until I made sure I brought the phone back to factory settings.
After I finally got the phone back to factory settings (believe me, it wasn't fun figuring this out especially when I've never rooted before) I noticed the wifi wasn't working, or had a very weak signal. Content with the phone at least being back on factory settings and locked, I go to sleep and wake up today seeing the same issue with the wifi (mean while, I now have good signal/service...didn't even have to mess with the baseband radio config).
I restart the router in our house and power down the phone and restart. Problem fixed.
Not really sure why or how, but bringing the phone back to factory settings seems to make it work just as fast as it worked when Modaco Ir8 4.0.2 was on it. Except now I have amazing Service signal.
I can honestly state that rooting really isn't for me especially with the notion that with every new mod that comes out you have to be flashing on a constant basis. Even though I almost lost my mind trying to figure this out, I would still rather have this approach vs Apple's walled garden approach though. Any day.
One of the reasons I like the Nexus line of phones is that it's pretty much the only Android phone that gets all the updates first and on a constant basis. Which makes it such an awesome phone in that it's also the phone that Google allows any and all capabilities to be customized. I have true respect for all the devs out there who attack this stuff daily.
Just be sure to get enough exercise in and healthy meals along with rest lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
some people actually recommend factory resetting your device from the get go. i would, but i always just run with the hardware just to make sure the hardware and stress i throw at it will handle all the roms and stuff. and to exchange my phone if finding there is a problem.

Good to hear that you got it sorted out in the end
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Rooting/Flashing is great IMO for people who will never have the luxury of getting updates like Nexus phones get. Take control in your own hands on when you decide you want to update(s) etc.
I'm sure any Devs out there (like on this forum) also love tinkering. To each his own.
pukemon said:
some people actually recommend factory resetting your device from the get go. i would, but i always just run with the hardware just to make sure the hardware and stress i throw at it will handle all the roms and stuff. and to exchange my phone if finding there is a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Indeed. I def learned a lesson: Never let anyone ever root your phone for you. The guy who rooted it for me was nice enough to say I could email him for questions but the more I kept emailing him the more I could tell he was probably getting frustrated at all my worrisome questions ("I'm dropping calls", "Is it because of the rooting?", "My wifi isn't working", "is it because of the rooting?..." etc.).
Just glad to know there are tons of available options for one to seek out help when issues like this arise.
pnnorth said:
Good to hear that you got it sorted out in the end
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Is there an external for the SGH-T989 ?

External antenna
I activated my phone yesterday and my signal is weak and very spotty. Sometimes I can get as high as 4 bars, most times 1 or none. If I can't get something to boost the signal, I'll have to sell my phone and look for something else. Is there anything sold or any mod I can do to boost my signal? Many thanks, for any help I can get.

ardent_phoenix said:
External antenna
I activated my phone yesterday and my signal is weak and very spotty. Sometimes I can get as high as 4 bars, most times 1 or none. If I can't get something to boost the signal, I'll have to sell my phone and look for something else. Is there anything sold or any mod I can do to boost my signal? Many thanks, for any help I can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a different radio. Mr x just reactivated the links in his thread
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

capcanuck said:
Try a different radio. Mr x just reactivated the links in his thread
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have patience with me. This is my first smartphone. I don't know what a radio is in this context and who and where can I find this Mr x thread?

ok I now know what a radio is, but is a hacked version better than the stock version that came with my phone. I just got it yesterday and I don't want to mess anything up. I don't know enough about this stuff to fool around with it just yet. I am trying to learn so that I can IMPROVE it's functionality. Notice improve, if it will not work better than stock, what's the need to change anything?

ardent_phoenix said:
ok I now know what a radio is, but is a hacked version better than the stock version that came with my phone. I just got it yesterday and I don't want to mess anything up. I don't know enough about this stuff to fool around with it just yet. I am trying to learn so that I can IMPROVE it's functionality. Notice improve, if it will not work better than stock, what's the need to change anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Radios give different mileage depending on your location. Which is why the above poster suggested trying different radios because in your particular area you might get better reception with a radio other than stock. You'll need to have your phone rooted in order to flash new radios.

Thank you for the quick reply. If I can't find a hardware solution, I may gather the courage to try a new radio. Is this the software or is it firmware, that I need for the T989?
http://www.androidfilehost.com/.mrx/..._Kj3_radio.zip:)

ardent_phoenix said:
Thank you for the quick reply. If I can't find a hardware solution, I may gather the courage to try a new radio. Is this the software or is it firmware, that I need for the T989?
http://www.androidfilehost.com/.mrx/..._Kj3_radio.zip:)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what that list of files is but whatever it is, it's not applicable to our phone either way. The galaxy s2 they have listed is the I9100 which is the international version. We are sgh-t989 and any software or firmware is not cross platform.

Ardent are you in the Phoenix area? If so the kl1 modem is the best.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk

capcanuck said:
Ardent are you in the Phoenix area? If so the kl1 modem is the best.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I am in Appomattox, VA. I live in the county, not the actual town. I know for sure that I am 7 miles from a Novatel tower. I get mostly a signal with 2 to 3 bars, that's between -100 and -92, respectively. I an using a U727 data stick on Ntelos 3G network. It wasn't always that way. I used to get practically no signal, until I cleared all the trees on my property.
I got the link in my last post from the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1426001
and it says at the top of the page that it is for the SGH-T989 series, that would make one believe that our phone is supported by it. I believe that it was derived from the SGH-T989D to be exact.
Someone please chime in, if I'm wrong. I have been getting, what I believe to be a lot of contradictory info here and for a newbie such as myself, that will only impede my progress and send me scurrying post haste to some other "authority" on the subject.
There does not seem to be anyone here who will correct faulty procedures. I understand that no one here is liable for bad advice, but believing that many here are proficient at modifying these devices, people come here to seek advice.
I need to increase my signal, either by hardware or script, can someone please help me resolve this issue?

ardent_phoenix said:
No, I am in Appomattox, VA. I live in the county, not the actual town. I know for sure that I am 7 miles from a Novatel tower. I get mostly a signal with 2 to 3 bars, that's between -100 and -92, respectively. I an using a U727 data stick on Ntelos 3G network. It wasn't always that way. I used to get practically no signal, until I cleared all the trees on my property.
I got the link in my last post from the following link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1426001
and it says at the top of the page that it is for the SGH-T989 series, that would make one believe that our phone is supported by it. I believe that it was derived from the SGH-T989D to be exact.
Someone please chime in, if I'm wrong. I have been getting, what I believe to be a lot of contradictory info here and for a newbie such as myself, that will only impede my progress and send me scurrying post haste to some other "authority" on the subject.
There does not seem to be anyone here who will correct faulty procedures. I understand that no one here is liable for bad advice, but believing that many here are proficient at modifying these devices, people come here to seek advice.
I need to increase my signal, either by hardware or script, can someone please help me resolve this issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you don't really need to because you can always return everything and get out of contract without ETF since you just activated. Just saying you can use it as a trial run and if reception sucks you can go somewhere else. You can try the radios but for what it's worth, might not produce any results.
You can probably safety use any of the ones in the link you have, and I think anything that screws up is recoverable. Any screwup will just mean you get no signal at all. Just flash back to the stock one which you can easily find with search.

8Fishes said:
you don't really need to because you can always return everything and get out of contract without ETF since you just activated. Just saying you can use it as a trial run and if reception sucks you can go somewhere else. You can try the radios but for what it's worth, might not produce any results.
You can probably safety use any of the ones in the link you have, and I think anything that screws up is recoverable. Any screwup will just mean you get no signal at all. Just flash back to the stock one which you can easily find with search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I am not in a contract. I would have to sell my phone, which I really like. I am using T-mobile prepaid. I bought the phone on eBay for $500. It has a clean IMIE as verified by T-Mobile Customer Service. I have bought over $125 in accessories also and would lose too much selling everything.
So I prefer to try to resolve my weak signal dilemma before taking such drastic action. Is there anybody out there that can help?

ardent_phoenix said:
No I am not in a contract. I would have to sell my phone, which I really like. I am using T-mobile prepaid. I bought the phone on eBay for $500. It has a clean IMIE as verified by T-Mobile Customer Service. I have bought over $125 in accessories also and would lose too much selling everything.
So I prefer to try to resolve my weak signal dilemma before taking such drastic action. Is there anybody out there that can help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still same problem, anybody Please help.

[Q] Samsung note 2

First of all I would like to thank all of you hear that have sound wisdom in dealing with my nightmare. I'm so new to this that my last phone's antennae is still on the top of my care and phone is in it's big carrying bag LOL. I'm 50 years old but am not done trying to learn something new. Here's the problem. I have a note 2 i317 that i bought online from someone. It's build number is jedi xp 9 android 4.1.2 Dernel version 3.0.31 SaberKernel_07+ptmr3 ect ect. So I have little to no signal strength and cannot hook up to the internet. I've called straight talk and spent an hour or two with them as well to no avail. I've been up and down these posts but I'm lost as how to employ some of the things that I have read about. Remember that I'm a noob to the max. I would love someone to put the instructions on how to fix my phone, in plain english that i can understand. I thought I might have a bad sim card as well but don't know how to check it. I've put at least 6 different apn's in and nothing. My old phone worked great in my house now i have this 500 dollars ornament that I can barely even get calls on. PLEASE can someone help me? I would be very grateful to say the least. I've read if you install something wrong that you can brick your device (whatever that means, but it doesn't sound good). I will be anxiously awaiting for the bravest soul to write me back. I say brave cause with me it might take a while. Sorry
Sincerely
Ed

You only 'thought' that you may have a damaged sim card but did you try to change it to a new one?
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium

TheEdge49 said:
First of all I would like to thank all of you hear that have sound wisdom in dealing with my nightmare. I'm so new to this that my last phone's antennae is still on the top of my care and phone is in it's big carrying bag LOL. I'm 50 years old but am not done trying to learn something new. Here's the problem. I have a note 2 i317 that i bought online from someone. It's build number is jedi xp 9 android 4.1.2 Dernel version 3.0.31 SaberKernel_07+ptmr3 ect ect. So I have little to no signal strength and cannot hook up to the internet. I've called straight talk and spent an hour or two with them as well to no avail. I've been up and down these posts but I'm lost as how to employ some of the things that I have read about. Remember that I'm a noob to the max. I would love someone to put the instructions on how to fix my phone, in plain english that i can understand. I thought I might have a bad sim card as well but don't know how to check it. I've put at least 6 different apn's in and nothing. My old phone worked great in my house now i have this 500 dollars ornament that I can barely even get calls on. PLEASE can someone help me? I would be very grateful to say the least. I've read if you install something wrong that you can brick your device (whatever that means, but it doesn't sound good). I will be anxiously awaiting for the bravest soul to write me back. I say brave cause with me it might take a while. Sorry
Sincerely
Ed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would love to help you Ed, need more information on what you mean by 'low signal / cannot connect to internet'. Do you have normal phone service i.e. make calls & send receive texts?
Did the phone ever work at one point, or once you gained possession and tried it, you got the described result? I don't have your AT&T version phone but may be able to help with more info from you.

Is the modem is ur carrier modem?
Have u tried to change the modem to your carrier modem?
Edit : I mean modem+csc
Sent from my GT-N7105 using MoonROM v1

tweeny80 said:
Would love to help you Ed, need more information on what you mean by 'low signal / cannot connect to internet'. Do you have normal phone service i.e. make calls & send receive texts?
Did the phone ever work at one point, or once you gained possession and tried it, you got the described result? I don't have your AT&T version phone but may be able to help with more info from you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does work with voice and text messages but no mms and I can't connect to the internet cause of the weak signal I suppose. I haven't tried a new sim card just yet. Installed one that they sent me 5 months ago but when I called them today to activate it was no longer any good. They told me I took too long to activate it and they were sending out another one. As for the signal ...it's very weak. Like one bar two at the most. When we went to oshkosh over the weekend I saw that most everyone was on their cell phone and I couldn't call my kids unless I went searching for an area where my phone would work. I never had this problem before with my other phone that was through straight talk. I spent all day today looking for some more possibilities here and saw that maybe my modem on the phone is no good. I tried to download one and I did but haven't put it into the phone cause I'm scared that I might do it wrong and then the phone will be even more messed up than it is. i believe it's this one i717-ics-ucle2. The guy said it worked good for his straight talk. But if you all think that it's something different then please let me know. Thank you all very much for your time and patience with me. I will definitely try to learn more now that I found this wonderful website.

antique_sonic said:
Is the modem is ur carrier modem?
Have u tried to change the modem to your carrier modem?
Edit : I mean modem+csc
Sent from my GT-N7105 using MoonROM v1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My modem is this one....I317UCALK7 with a [email protected]#1 Whatever all that means I don't know. Thanks for trying to help me.

still waiting for some answers
TheEdge49 said:
My modem is this one....I317UCALK7 with a [email protected]#1 Whatever all that means I don't know. Thanks for trying to help me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope someone is still searching for some help for me. I don't mean to be a pest and i KNOW that 2 days isn't too long. But I'm desperate for some help. Tweety are you still there? Please let me know to get this problem resolved. And thank you in advance to anyone who can help this noob out. :good:

TheEdge49 said:
First of all I would like to thank all of you hear that have sound wisdom in dealing with my nightmare. I'm so new to this that my last phone's antennae is still on the top of my care and phone is in it's big carrying bag LOL. I'm 50 years old but am not done trying to learn something new. Here's the problem. I have a note 2 i317 that i bought online from someone. It's build number is jedi xp 9 android 4.1.2 Dernel version 3.0.31 SaberKernel_07+ptmr3 ect ect. So I have little to no signal strength and cannot hook up to the internet. I've called straight talk and spent an hour or two with them as well to no avail. I've been up and down these posts but I'm lost as how to employ some of the things that I have read about. Remember that I'm a noob to the max. I would love someone to put the instructions on how to fix my phone, in plain english that i can understand. I thought I might have a bad sim card as well but don't know how to check it. I've put at least 6 different apn's in and nothing. My old phone worked great in my house now i have this 500 dollars ornament that I can barely even get calls on. PLEASE can someone help me? I would be very grateful to say the least. I've read if you install something wrong that you can brick your device (whatever that means, but it doesn't sound good). I will be anxiously awaiting for the bravest soul to write me back. I say brave cause with me it might take a while. Sorry
Sincerely
Ed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Ed,
the phone has been modified by the owner who sold it to you. He has changed the software oh the Note2. The Problem is we don't know whether there was any problem in signal for him as well. First check whether the SIM is working fine on any other phone. If it does, then I'm afraid you might have to restore the phone to the original Software to make sure this is not a Hardware issues.

TheEdge49 said:
First of all I would like to thank all of you hear that have sound wisdom in dealing with my nightmare. I'm so new to this that my last phone's antennae is still on the top of my care and phone is in it's big carrying bag LOL. I'm 50 years old but am not done trying to learn something new. Here's the problem. I have a note 2 i317 that i bought online from someone. It's build number is jedi xp 9 android 4.1.2 Dernel version 3.0.31 SaberKernel_07+ptmr3 ect ect. So I have little to no signal strength and cannot hook up to the internet. I've called straight talk and spent an hour or two with them as well to no avail. I've been up and down these posts but I'm lost as how to employ some of the things that I have read about. Remember that I'm a noob to the max. I would love someone to put the instructions on how to fix my phone, in plain english that i can understand. I thought I might have a bad sim card as well but don't know how to check it. I've put at least 6 different apn's in and nothing. My old phone worked great in my house now i have this 500 dollars ornament that I can barely even get calls on. PLEASE can someone help me? I would be very grateful to say the least. I've read if you install something wrong that you can brick your device (whatever that means, but it doesn't sound good). I will be anxiously awaiting for the bravest soul to write me back. I say brave cause with me it might take a while. Sorry
Sincerely
Ed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from ur model no its the AT&T variant so post your prob here they will be able to help better http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1870 in Q&A thread
chk under settings/more settings/network mode- if its auto and see if it works and is there any circle on your signal bar
if not do some reading in AT&T thread it will help you rather thread there will get you prominent response
stock rom + patches http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2354944 the patches will help you get the right apn and work right with at&t
modem http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1986480
and yes dont try to use traingle away in custom rom as it need stock rom orelse it may lead to brick , just do some reading there or wait for proper assistance from some1 using the At&T variant

Ed, I'm hoping the links provided to you from other posters has helped. Some of the suggestions have been to try flashing new modems (you're hesitant) and even to install a new ROM. If you have managed to correct your problem, kindly update the thread so other users can benefit from your experience.
If you've had no joy, pursue within the forum for your specific device (AT&T it seems) and good luck!

note 2 problems
tweeny80 said:
Ed, I'm hoping the links provided to you from other posters has helped. Some of the suggestions have been to try flashing new modems (you're hesitant) and even to install a new ROM. If you have managed to correct your problem, kindly update the thread so other users can benefit from your experience.
If you've had no joy, pursue within the forum for your specific device (AT&T it seems) and good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi all and thanks again for the help you have given me. I just got my new sim card today and it seemed to help. I can get on the internet now but my signal is still only one bar and sometimes not there at all. But at least I can connect via wifi. So the sim was partly to blame. Tweeny...I never said that I wouldn't put another radio or modem on my phone, I'm just not too sure about how to do it just yet. I don't want to ruin my phone anymore than it is. I should just dive into it and see what happens. If anyone else has anymore ideas as to why i have poor reception and also I still can't mms, please let me know. Thank you all once again. I will be a regular visitor here and hopefully one day I can be as confident and resourceful as all of you. God bless you all

Hi ed
i reckon u could read up and try flashing a different modem. beyond that flash a different rom. but u obviously have a lot of reading b4 that. good luck
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Which firware to use SGH T999 or I9300

I hope someone could be so kind as to answer question. I asked this over in the I9300 thread and all but one had all negative responses. Look at the thumbnails and tell me what firmware to use. I just unbricked my phone using debricked img file for T999.... I previously had no response(download mode, recovery mode). I stuck my Micro SD in the phone on pressed the power button and presto! Now according to the thumbnails what firmware to use. (GT-I9300-TGY-I9300ZSEMC1) which my phone has in it ...I guess or this(SGH-T999-TMB-T999UVDLJC) Remembering I have an Qualcomm CPU S4 and Adreno 225 GPU. Any help will be very appreciative. Is it normal to have an I9300 with an Qualcomm S4 CPU and Adreno 225? Thanks for your time

Here are the screen shots...thanks again

ggsnyder0318 said:
I hope someone could be so kind as to answer question. I asked this over in the I9300 thread and all but one had all negative responses. Look at the thumbnails and tell me what firmware to use. I just unbricked my phone using debricked img file for T999.... I previously had no response(download mode, recovery mode). I stuck my Micro SD in the phone on pressed the power button and presto! Now according to the thumbnails what firmware to use. (GT-I9300-TGY-I9300ZSEMC1) which my phone has in it ...I guess or this(SGH-T999-TMB-T999UVDLJC) Remembering I have an Qualcomm CPU S4 and Adreno 225 GPU. Any help will be very appreciative. Is it normal to have an I9300 with an Qualcomm S4 CPU and Adreno 225? Thanks for your time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have the international version. You can verify by removing the battery and reading the label underneath it.
Wrong forum.

Aerowinder said:
You have the international version. You can verify by removing the battery and reading the label underneath it.
Wrong forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your telling me that a I9300 firmware will work with Qualcomm CPU and an Exynos quad core. So some I9300 have Qualcomm Snapdragon processors? That don't make any sense. I have the Samsung galaxy Skyrocket and I could never install Exynos firmware on my Snapdragon. I just what to be 100% before I reflash firmware. Thanks for your reply. It's so comical that the I9300 forum sends me here and you tell I'm in the wrong forum.

The US models use a Qualcomm SoC. Your international model uses Exynos. It does not have Qualcomm hardware as I understand it. Don't trust what some apps might tell you. Research and look up the specs online from a reputable source if you want to know for sure. Vender? Lol.
Don't know how or why you used a debrick image from the T999. But if that really did work it's probably because it's sole purpose is to boot download mode so you can flash the correct firmware.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 4

ggsnyder0318 said:
So your telling me that a I9300 firmware will work with Qualcomm CPU and an Exynos quad core. So some I9300 have Qualcomm Snapdragon processors? That don't make any sense. I have the Samsung galaxy Skyrocket and I could never install Exynos firmware on my Snapdragon. I just what to be 100% before I reflash firmware. Thanks for your reply. It's so comical that the I9300 forum sends me here and you tell I'm in the wrong forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can put this issue to rest easily. Simply remove the battery cover and remove the battery. Underneath the battery will be a sticker. This sticker contains the model number of your phone. Tell us what it says.

DocHoliday77 said:
The US models use a Qualcomm SoC. Your international model uses Exynos. It does not have Qualcomm hardware as I understand it. Don't trust what some apps might tell you. Research and look up the specs online from a reputable source if you want to know for sure. Vender? Lol.
Don't know how or why you used a debrick image from the T999. But if that really did work it's probably because it's sole purpose is to boot download mode so you can flash the correct firmware.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually typically you would be correct....but I do have a ID on back of battery that clearly says it's an I9300. So when I originally rooted it didn't take. I noticed when I first plugged the usb it listed it was searching for T999 drivers but eventually put in I9300 drivers. So I tried rooting for a I9300... it didn't take. Then I try rooting for T999 and it took. After a day or so I wanted to flash Hyperdrive Rom so I install it to SD card and went to reboot in Recovery TWRP 2.5.0. and it didn't reboot. It also did not boot into download mode(3 button),recovery mode(3 button). I knew then I had brick it. It did not charge or get any feedback when plugged to the PC. I place the img file on a 16GB 10 class micro sd and placed it in the S3 and it took. It booted up normally...I hooked it up to odin and flash a t999 tar.md5 and it took. Now I re-rooted and now I flash the Hyperdrive Rom. Thanks for the reply. Here are some old and recent screenshots.

Aerowinder said:
We can put this issue to rest easily. Simply remove the battery cover and remove the battery. Underneath the battery will be a sticker. This sticker contains the model number of your phone. Tell us what it says.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep telling the back of the battery say I9300 and the firmware is T999. Look carefully at my attachments...take my word for it. The must have made a mistake at the factory...I don't know how this would happen. By the way this is not my first time rooting and flashing Android. I never posted a thing until now. I've rooted 6 different android devices. thanks

ggsnyder0318 said:
I keep telling the back of the battery say I9300 and the firmware is T999. Look carefully at my attachments...take my word for it. The must have made a mistake at the factory...I don't know how this would happen. By the way this is not my first time rooting and flashing Android. I never posted a thing until now. I've rooted 6 different android devices. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Posts are chronological, you didn't need to post your pictures twice. Also, history is repeating itself. This is a very fringe case, I've never seen it before. I suppose it is theoretically possible that some parts were shipped to the wrong factory.
You are still leaving out some details that could help clarify things for us:
1) How long have you had the phone?
2) And what firmware did it come with, I9300 or T999?
3) It was working fine until you rooted it, with CF Auto Root?
4) Can you put the filename of the ROM you are using? I know it's Hyperdrive. Or the thread that you pulled the ROM from. It's a Verizon build number, so unsure if you're running the Verizon version, or using the proper ported version.

Aerowinder said:
Posts are chronological, you didn't need to post your pictures twice. Also, history is repeating itself. This is a very fringe case, I've never seen it before. I suppose it is theoretically possible that some parts were shipped to the wrong factory.
You are still leaving out some details that could help clarify things for us:
1) How long have you had the phone?
2) And what firmware did it come with, I9300 or T999?
3) It was working fine until you rooted it, with CF Auto Root?
4) Can you put the filename of the ROM you are using? I know it's Hyperdrive. Or the thread that you pulled the ROM from. It's a Verizon build number, so unsure if you're running the Verizon version, or using the proper ported version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said Bricked phone is fixed....
1) 5 days
2) I9300ZSEMC1(information in thumbnail)
3) I rooted with I9300 CF Auto root first(it didn't work) so I used T999 CF Auto Root and that worked.
4) The file name of Rom is in the thumbnail ( the Rom houses multiple phone variations in a single file) 1.5 GB size file http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2176768 Awesome Rom!
This is why I kept saying my phone is a I9300 with T999 inside.... I wasn't pulling your chain. I could not understand why or how I was sent a phone so mixed up. Now I can pick up my hair off the floor and put it back on my head(frustration). thanks

ggsnyder0318 said:
I keep telling the back of the battery say I9300 and the firmware is T999. Look carefully at my attachments...take my word for it. The must have made a mistake at the factory...I don't know how this would happen. By the way this is not my first time rooting and flashing Android. I never posted a thing until now. I've rooted 6 different android devices. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2nd and 3rd pictures are not of the same phone. The 2nd one is a Stock TW ROM i9300 and the 3rd is a Hyperdrive (custom) ROM T999V. (Look at the notification bar)
I9300 ROM/FW will brick a T999 and vice-versa, they are NOT interchangeable, if you have a i9300 it would not run on a T999 ROM, stock or custom.
Even if the board was replaced (if that is even possible), it would say T999 everywhere and not refer to a Exynos or i9300. If there was an error in the factory and the wrong board was put in it never would have booted and never left the factory. *cough* Quality Control *cough*

DJ_SpaRky said:
The 2nd and 3rd pictures are not of the same phone. The 2nd one is a Stock TW ROM i9300 and the 3rd is a Hyperdrive (custom) ROM T999V. (Look at the notification bar)
I9300 ROM/FW will brick a T999 and vice-versa, they are NOT interchangeable, if you have a i9300 it would not run on a T999 ROM, stock or custom.
Even if the board was replaced (if that is even possible), it would say T999 everywhere and not refer to a Exynos or i9300. If there was an error in the factory and the wrong board was put in it never would have booted and never left the factory. *cough* Quality Control *cough*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah says you! I'm the one holding the phone.....hence my confusion. This must be that one in a million phone...inspector #10 was high!

This is the only thing i can see to use to show you this a real factory mistake......the important thing is the phone is fix. I think the point of this site is to help...not to doubt so much. I understand you must protect your self, but try harder to help. I did not get any help on this, I figured it out myself. Just got a bunch of circular questions nothing got accomplished. I guess I can thank those of you that really wanted to help, you know who you are. Thanks

I understand your point about trying to help, but this is one of those cases that there is too many impossibilities to try to help. I would very much like to help answer your question but there seems to be conflicting information.
Where did you get this phone? Does the IMEI match between the Software and the Sticker? You might need to take it apart to make sure (reading the component IDs and such).
i9300 International GSM board (note the Exynos chip):
T999/i747 Tmo/ATT GSM board (note the Qualcomm chip):
If the phone really is a T999 board in a i9300 shell (if that is even possible), I would say to get a broken/replacement T999 shell and swap over to that to kill the confusion.

I am not trying to dispute or confirm anything. Just to say that your sticker differs from mine in several ways, not just the model number. The info for mine is as follows:
SAMSUNG
Model: SGH-T999
FCC ID: A3LSGHT999
Rated: 3.8V===1025ma
FOR INFORMATION CALL: 1-888-987-4357
IMEI xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 16GB
{IMEI Barcode}
S/N xxxxxxxxxxx 12.07
{S/N Barcode}
Made In China
It does not have any of the symbols printed in the center area.
Around the speaker, mine is just a silver, metal plate, whereas yours looks like blue plastic....
Now, I understand this doesnt prove anything either way. And the stickers can vary, though I don't believe they should vary much, or often. The parts which confuse me the most are the Rating differences, mine includes the phone number, IMEI and S/N barcodes (yours has one), the internal memory size, hw revision number, and all US S3's that I have seen are made in china. (Im sure some were made in Korea, but I cannot verify this).
I have to wonder if you bought this used, where you bought it from, and if whoever sold it to you either frankensteined it together from various parts and didn't tell you, or they sold you a knock off and branded it as an actual Samsung device.
If everything T999 you have tried seems to work, Id stick with that. But considering all the unknowns, the fact that this has never happened before, and there being no real way to tell what you have from our end, I am not sure that we can be much help for troubleshooting this one. Everything would be a guess and a risk.
I should also note for you that those screenshots dont always mean much. If you flash a T999 rom it will display that its a T999. If you flash something from the I747, it will show that. Just saying its never a reliable way to determine what you have.

DJ_SpaRky said:
I understand your point about trying to help, but this is one of those cases that there is too many impossibilities to try to help. I would very much like to help answer your question but there seems to be conflicting information.
Where did you get this phone? Does the IMEI match between the Software and the Sticker? You might need to take it apart to make sure (reading the component IDs and such).
i9300 International GSM board (note the Exynos chip):
T999/i747 Tmo/ATT GSM board (note the Qualcomm chip):
If the phone really is a T999 board in a i9300 shell (if that is even possible), I would say to get a broken/replacement T999 shell and swap over to that to kill the confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got this phone off Amazon... and this is by far the weirdest experience I've had. I have been telling my self..."this is not possible".That's what I've been trying to say, that the T999 board is in a I9300 shell...as unbelievable as it sounds that's what I have. Is there any app that I can use that shows everything, an app from a reputable company? Let me know. Like I said before the important thing was that it was un-bricked. Thanks a lot for your input. And yes the IMEI number match, thanks again. I open it up...and looked to confusing. But is the cpu located under the sd&sim card? And does that just snap off? I don't see any screws around that area.

ggsnyder0318 said:
I got this phone off Amazon... and this is by far the weirdest experience I've had. I have been telling my self..."this is not possible".That's what I've been trying to say, that the T999 board is in a I9300 shell...as unbelievable as it sounds that's what I have. Is there any app that I can use that shows everything, an app from a reputable company? Let me know. Like I said before the important thing was that it was un-bricked. Thanks a lot for your input. And yes the IMEI number match, thanks again. I open it up...and looked to confusing. But is the cpu located under the sd&sim card? And does that just snap off? I don't see any screws around that area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many disassembly videos out there, just look. Also, just FYI there are a lot of adhesive mounted components on these phones.

DocHoliday77 said:
I am not trying to dispute or confirm anything. Just to say that your sticker differs from mine in several ways, not just the model number. The info for mine is as follows:
SAMSUNG
Model: SGH-T999
FCC ID: A3LSGHT999
Rated: 3.8V===1025ma
FOR INFORMATION CALL: 1-888-987-4357
IMEI xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 16GB
{IMEI Barcode}
S/N xxxxxxxxxxx 12.07
{S/N Barcode}
Made In China
It does not have any of the symbols printed in the center area.
Around the speaker, mine is just a silver, metal plate, whereas yours looks like blue plastic....
Now, I understand this doesnt prove anything either way. And the stickers can vary, though I don't believe they should vary much, or often. The parts which confuse me the most are the Rating differences, mine includes the phone number, IMEI and S/N barcodes (yours has one), the internal memory size, hw revision number, and all US S3's that I have seen are made in china. (Im sure some were made in Korea, but I cannot verify this).
I have to wonder if you bought this used, where you bought it from, and if whoever sold it to you either frankensteined it together from various parts and didn't tell you, or they sold you a knock off and branded it as an actual Samsung device.
If everything T999 you have tried seems to work, Id stick with that. But considering all the unknowns, the fact that this has never happened before, and there being no real way to tell what you have from our end, I am not sure that we can be much help for troubleshooting this one. Everything would be a guess and a risk.
I should also note for you that those screenshots dont always mean much. If you flash a T999 rom it will display that its a T999. If you flash something from the I747, it will show that. Just saying its never a reliable way to determine what you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your input...it's hard to push my case 8000 miles away. I understand your disbelieve, I wouldn't believe either if it wasn't in front of me. Doc, when I first hooked the phone to the PC it showed that it was looking for T999 drivers, I did a double take. and I also wondered if the person of Amazon fudged this phone. Or I thought it was a fake, and if it was a fake could I use Odin or Kies?
When I first got the phone I wrote down inside build in formation
GT-I9300
Android 4.1.1
Firmware Build ID JRO03L
Firmware Build PDA I9300ZSEMC
Firmware Region TGY
The reason why I chose to flash T999 was because various 3 party apps were saying that this was a dual core 1.5 MhZ Snapdragon S4. This was semi verified when I tried to root with CF Auto Root I9300 v and it didn't take(2x), then i tried same thing but used T999 v and to my surprise it worked. I asked a poster back if there is any app (trusted) that I can use to show my complete information? Thanks Doc

Any app that I know of will use the software/firmware to show what it's running on. Not aware of one that can go deep enough to directly access the hardware. And if it's a fake, yes you could still use Odin. It's running Samsung firmware, so it should work unless it horribly built. I'm actually wondering at this point if it's simply just a wrong label that got used. The whole thing is just a great big confusing mess though. I don't think you will ever find a satisfactory answer, so just keep doing what you know works is my best advice to you.
Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk 4

THE SAME THING (OR SIMILAR) HAPPENED TO ME TODAY!
Purchased what I thought was a GT-I9300 s3, then took it to a buddy (who's a wiz with phone) who confirmed I've got a T-999 mainboard with a 9300 shell. He unbricked with T-999 ... or maybe i747. Can't remember which.
Download mode showed it as a T-999.
Settings > about phone > whatever (sorry, I'm tired) showed it as a GT-I9300.
Purchased at Amazon.
Shipped back to seller today.
WTF?

can a custom ROM work for a J2 PRO with another model #?

Title says most of it, but i'll put the specifics.
The samsung j250-n is a J2 model made specifically for students in south korea.
It's a dumb phone, with no internet capabilities to help people focus on studies.
I got one in order to curb some internet addiction without having to rock a flip phone, and I like it except for the samsung bloat.
There are plenty of custom ROMs on here that I'd love to try, but none have the sm-j250n model number listed specifcally.
I haven't tried flashing any of these yet because this phones are hard to get in the west and I don't want to brick it.
Is flashing a ROM for different model a bad idea? Will I have to build my own ROM?
Thanks for reading, sorry I know it's an old phone and no one cares lol
If you do happen to have the answer though I will be forever grateful
Edit: build number is NMF26X.J250NKOU1ARL1 btw

you can try

LR7875 said:
you can try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did, I put ressurction remix on it, and it was actually crazy.
The ROM worked, and it straight up gave the phone the ability to connect to wifi.
I guess since it has the physical antenna the software is the only thing preventing it.
Anyways, the whole point was no wifi so I just went back to stock ,where ill have to stay : P