[Q] US T-Mobile S4 won't receive 3G international - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4

I have an S4 for myself that I bought in Thailand where I live and everything works great. Two weeks ago I bought a T-Mobile unlocked S4 from a friend who was leaving Thailand and selling everything. The unlocked T-Mobile S4 works great just like my other one except it won't receive 3G here in Thailand, only 2G. I've added the correct APN, double checked everything and I can't figure out anything else to do to get it to receive 3G. Anyone have any other suggestions?

You need to verify in which frequencies your carrier operates.
I think tmo Galaxy s4 operates in 850*MHz, 1700,1900,2100.
You can also dial *#*#4636#*#*
You'll be able to change if you want Lte, wcdma, Gsm. Try to set in wcdma (preferred).
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Thanks for the info, I'll give it a try. AIS Thailand, my carrier, uses 2100 so I figured the T-Mobile should get 3G here also. I already went into settings and set it to GSM/WCDMA auto, I didn't see the other setting about WCDMA preferred.

Try Wcdma only. Was your friend able to use 3g there?
Where are you located? Make sure you are in a 3g coverage area.
Take a look at this:
http://www.sensorly.com/map/2G-3G/TH/Thailand/AIS/gsm_52001

extrem0 said:
Try Wcdma only. Was your friend able to use 3g there?
Where are you located? Make sure you are in a 3g coverage area.
Take a look at this:
http://www.sensorly.com/map/2G-3G/TH/Thailand/AIS/gsm_52001
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes we are in a 3G coverage area and my other S4 receives H+ all of the time, it's only the T-Mobile that only receives edge. I'll try the wcdma only.

Thanks for the suggestions guys but neither one works. When I set it to WCDMA only I can't get an Internet connection at all, I have to revert to the GSM/WCDMA auto to get the Edge connection. Bummer because the Edge connection here is so much slower but maybe the hardware in the T-Mobile just won't receive it.

Related

Turning Off UMTS for us S.Floridians T-Mobile

As T-Mobile rolls out their 3G service, it appears 3G HTC phones automatically lock onto the 3G signal (UMTS) which T-Mobile has politely firewalled until they rollout the plans???? So if you have a Kaiser or Hermes in S.Florida you currently have no data access on Edge as the phone defaults to the firewalled UMTS.
SO the question is any of the tech geniuses here know how to switch off UMTS, changing the bands does not help as UMTS, and GSM bands match up (on hermes), switching to a NON- T-mobile frequency also switches the GSM to Non-T-Mobile.
???? Beware if this happened in S.Florida as the network enlarges, you too could be next.!!
By no means am I an expert. But I do know a lot of the cooked roms have an option in the commanager which allows us to turn on/off 3G
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Again, I'm no genius at this(That statement makes my reply a little bit more flame retardant) But I hope that helps. I can't wait until they hit the 3G switch here in Chicago.
Wish it was that simple!
Unfortunately it appears that this may disable the 3G data connection but not the radio. Hence the network still sees a 3G phone and treats it as such. The only way to get around the problem is to actually de-activate UMTS so the network sees an Edge only capable phone. Thanks for the help though!
I'm surprised your phone logs on to the T-Mobile UMTS network. It uses the 2100/1700 MHz AWS band, which no Windows Mobile device supports yet. Are you sure you're logging on to T-Mobile, instead of AT&T Mobility? My phone does that from time to time when reacquiring a signal.
Try forcing your phone to connect to T-Mobile instead of using automatic network selection.
Dumb question, but what if it is detecting the 2100mhz half of the UMTs connection.
I've heard (and I'm pretty sure) that the 2100MHz AWS band that T-Mobile won is different than the standard 2100MHz used worldwide. Plus, I don't think the radio will be able to register on the network anyway if it only has a one-sided conversation with the tower...
kltye said:
I've heard (and I'm pretty sure) that the 2100MHz AWS band that T-Mobile won is different than the standard 2100MHz used worldwide. Plus, I don't think the radio will be able to register on the network anyway if it only has a one-sided conversation with the tower...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the TMobile uses a combo of 2100mhz and 1700 mhz, while Europe is 2100/1900.
Chances are its picking up the AT&T UMTS network, but you can't roam on it. Are you using a stock ROM? If you're not, go under settings > phone > band (most cooked ones will have this), and change it to strictly GSM. That will lock it to GSM until you change it back.
If you are on a stock ROM, there are various tweaks you can get, I know HermesTweak will let you (yes its old, I stick to cooked ones so I dont know any other standalone ones). Or hell, you could even install Schap's 6 button comm manager as it has the 3g option on there.

Horrible 3G speeds should i be concerned?

I'm having horrible 3G speeds at work here and was wondering if anyone else was having these issues? It shows i have full 3G bars yet when i run speed test i'm consistently getting only around 100 Kbps, I'm not sure if it's the service or the phone.
Anyone else noticing ridiculously slow 3G speeds?
Not sure. Here are my Verizon 3G speeds.
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Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk
Here's my past couple ones on 3G. I dunno whether or not to call Verizon about this or not.
Why wouldn't you call Verizon about it? If it's a network problem, they could tell you. If it's a defective phone, they could help you with that as well.
I always get horrible 3g speeds at my job... similar to what you are seeing even though the signal is good. I think some towers are slower then others.
Were you getting better speeds before this phone?
True2TheGame said:
Here's my past couple ones on 3G. I dunno whether or not to call Verizon about this or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those look identical to Sprint 3G speeds.
Where are you located?
rman18 said:
I always get horrible 3g speeds at my job... similar to what you are seeing even though the signal is good. I think some towers are slower then others.
Were you getting better speeds before this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my first phone on Verizon, i switched over specifically for the Nexus
spencer88 said:
Those look identical to Sprint 3G speeds.
Where are you located?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm located in Everett, WA
True2TheGame said:
This is my first phone on Verizon, i switched over specifically for the Nexus
I'm located in Everett, WA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would give verizon tech support a call, maybe they can provision the phone again and and maybe that would help. You're sitting in a good 3G and 4G area, there isn't any reason to get those kind of speeds you're seeing.

Will a t989d work in the states?

I have an unlocked telus t989d
I will be moving to the states in a few months and i'm wondering if this phone will work on any network in the states. and if so, which network will it work on?
Thanks
Probably AT&T and Tmobile, as they carry identical phones except the AT&T version has LTE. The T-Mo ver is the same thing, but im guessing you could flash a t-mobile modem just to be sure.
Someone with more experience might know better though.
our phone woks on any cell provider in the world except JAPAN, just plug in a SIM card from your favourite local provider where you gonna be staying during the vacation / visit
Would it still be possible to flash an AT&T modem and just use their 3G network instead of the LTE? Just in case you're moving into
a more rural area where T-Mobile doesn't have acceptable coverage.
SGS2 T989 on Synergy kernel with beastMOD
I'm a quick learner, teach me something.
T-Mobile will be your best call since the phones are exactly the same in specs and radios, if you go to AT&T you won't get 3G coverage only 2G.
Dark Nightmare said:
T-Mobile will be your best call since the phones are exactly the same in specs and radios, if you go to AT&T you won't get 3G coverage only 2G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is 200% incorrect
the T989 can get 3G/4G on any HSPA provider, except CDMA
Dark Nightmare said:
T-Mobile will be your best call since the phones are exactly the same in specs and radios, if you go to AT&T you won't get 3G coverage only 2G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AllGamer said:
that is 200% incorrect
the T989 can get 3G/4G on any HSPA provider, except CDMA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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+1 Confirmation as to what AllGamer says; I use an unlocked SGH-T989 on AT&T and get 3G/HSPA speeds. The icon just stays as 3G on stock rom.

Can the i927 work on UMTS / 4G from t-mobile?

Hi,
I've read that the 3 umts bands on specs are 850, 1900 and 2100
And that T-mobile works on 1700 and 2100
But does it actually works on umts? Does anyone have any experience with this on 4g from tmobile?
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
The only sim I've got is from t-mobile. Now I own this unlocked captivate glide which I love, but I'm not sure if it will work.
I think unlocked phones can only get "edge" network
justjeff said:
I think unlocked phones can only get "edge" network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nothing like that.. unlocking does not make a difference with phone's capabilities and frequencies.. once again check the frequent of T-Mobile..
i am using 3g Frequency with unlocked phone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I927R using XDA
Funny enough, I just got back from NY and used my (Rogers) unlocked glide on T-Mobile's network. It was, sad to say, edge-only. It's fine for short trips but I'd recommend AT&T if you're staying down there a while.
This is my 3G status with an AT&T unlocked SCG.
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incidentflux said:
This is my 3G status with an AT&T unlocked SCG.
--enormous pic removed--
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good thing the OP wasn't asking about 4G/UMTS
Oh wait, yes, yes, he was.
Long Story Short: No 4G for you - no 1700 antenna = no 4G
L4T
Lookin4Trouble said:
no 1700 antenna = no 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure there's no 1700 antenna?
1. *#*#197328640#*#*
2. Select [1] Debug Screen
3. Select [8] Phone control
4. Select [7] Network control
5. Select [2] Band Selection
6. Select [4] Combi Bands []
it lists WCDMA 1700(FDD IV)
but enabling it doesn't work...
on HTC there used to be different radio firmware, are there any available for Glide?
From something I remember reading not long ago, most of the radio controller chips in high end phones are capable of the 8 primary umts bands. The problem is in the antenna and frequency filters in the phone. Doesn't matter how capable the radio is if it doesn't have a way of getting the data in or out.
What app did u use to get those stats (via screenshot u posted)
Sent from my SGH-I927 using xda premium

Switching from 3G to 4G (airplane mode toggle)

I've been using a Sprint Galaxy Note 2 in Chicago since Thursday.
Last night I was in an area where I thought there should be 4G but was only getting 3G. I did an airplane mode toggle and when it came back on I connected to 4G. There have been other times that I was on 3G and did switch to 4G automatically but there have been a lot of times that I seem stuck on 3G for awhile.
Is this likely b/c I'm still getting a weak 4G signal and as it gets stronger the automatic switchover should be more frequent (or else I would just always be on 4G) or could this be signs of a similar bug that's plagued the EVO LTE?
Anybody else finding they need to toggle airplane mode to connect to LTE?
No LTE in my area so I unfortunately cant confirm or deny this issue.
I have a few LTE spots in my market and my phone picked up the signal each time I drive by them.
Sent from my KFTT using xda premium
99% of the time I stay locked on to 4g in my area. Nothing like my Evo 4g LTE which I had to trick into locking onto LTE with *#*#4636#*#* or whatever it was. This thing is much more LTE reliable.
Op try switching roam mode to home (sprint only). This have worked real well for me.
theoner1 said:
Op try switching roam mode to home (sprint only). This have worked real well for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll give this a try.
--Edit--
Just to confirm you are telling me to change Roaming Network from Automatic to Home Only. Is that correct?
theoner1 said:
Op try switching roam mode to home (sprint only). This have worked real well for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seemed to help a lot. Thanks!
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2
Locked on no problem.
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