I work for Tmous retail sales and we have never really been taught anything about bands. Ive been pretty curious myself since some customers come into the store with AT&t phones asking about tmo service. I have been instructed (by a fellow retail associate) to tell them that no At&t phone will ever have 3G on tmo ( I assume thats just the safe answer though).
real question!
in terms of 3G/4G (hspa+) what bands does tmous use?
same question for AT&t.
To tie that together. ex: If a phone from At&t hypothetically has capabilities to use the same bands as tmous and is unlocked, can it get 3G/4G service on tmous?
i did search around and didnt find a very clear answer so i figured i'd start a thread, im sure other noobs have the same question.
T-Mobile uses 1700 2100 MHz bands for 3G/"4G"
AT&T uses 850 and 1900 MHz bands for 3G/"4G"
Yes if a phone has all those bands for 3G, and it's SIM unlocked you can get 3G on other cell company.
The T-Mobile Vibrant actually has those AT&T bands too, if you SIM unlock the Vibrant, you can get 3G on AT&T.
http://www.androidguys.com/2010/08/22/samsung-galaxy-unlockable-tmobile-vibrant-supports-att-3g/
It's very rare to see a phone that supports both T-Mobile and AT&T 3G bands.
nxt said:
T-Mobile uses 1700 2100 MHz bands for 3G/"4G"
AT&T uses 850 and 1900 MHz bands for 3G/"4G"
Yes if a phone has all those bands for 3G, and it's SIM unlocked you can get 3G on other cell company.
It's very rare to see a phone that supports both T-Mobile and AT&T 3G bands.
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Thanks for the clarification. In hopes that im not being a further nuisance, I was wondering, what about a phone that has 1 of the matching bands?
T-Mobile USA is using the 1700/2100 Mhz bands for 3G (UMTS)
T-Mobile Germany uses 1900/2100 Mhz for 3G (UMTS)
If you couldnt tell, im considering buying an iPhone (to develop on for fun). Will a phone that uses 2100 Mhz only be usable on USA towers (for 3G service)?
DrewMullen said:
Will a phone that uses 2100 Mhz only be usable on USA towers (for 3G service)?
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No it will not get 3G
Related
I want a 3g enabled smartphone/PDA for t-mobile, not the G1 dont like it. T-mobile 3G uses bands 1700 Mhz and 2100 Mhz right? So if i buy a phone that supports HSDPA 2100 Mhz will it work on the t-mobile 3G data network?
t-mobile is a gsm network though, so i don't know that an hsdpa phone would work with them (first of all no sim slot)
tmobile's 3g is new and not fully released so it would be difficult to find a phone that supports their 3g (you won't find anything but the g1, and you couldn't unlock a phone from att to support there 3g because the bands are different)
This is my understanding, but if i am wrong you guys can correct me
Is there a way to change the 3G Frequencies on the G1 to support AT&T 3G network?
Nope, thats a hardware issue.
I thought it was possibly a software issue. If not, is there a way to change out the chip or the incompatable part to make it compatible?
card13 said:
I thought it was possibly a software issue. If not, is there a way to change out the chip or the incompatable part to make it compatible?
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Nope...not going to work for many reasons.
been answered plenty plenty of times.
From what I can figure a hardware change may not be required with the correct radio but we dont know the right radio without the right hardware. lol I know that makes no sense but it makes as much sense as anyone can make of it thus far. When its possible I assure you I will be among the first to do it. Although Im not ready to try installing a new radio without first acquiring a backup phone but if I do Im gonna give it a try and maybe have better luck than the last guy to try.
What about a mini-usb attachment that can receive atnt signals?
I am sure with that and the right software manipulation it could work.
sjbayer3 said:
What about a mini-usb attachment that can receive atnt signals?
I am sure with that and the right software manipulation it could work.
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While it sounds great in theory I doubt anyone would put forth the resources for such a limited market.
You would be best off getting android to work on existing AT&T hardware.
in order to do it we would need hardware which would plug in the bottom and software to tell the phone to use the signal from the attachment.
while there wouldnt be millions in the market i guarantee there are hundreds.
if anyone wants to think about it i dont mind making 50 of em and selling for cost. i have some hook ups in the engineering field i work in
ok, my question is... Europe 3g is diff than tmob usa 3g, but is tmob europe the same 3g setup as US? and if europe 3g is same as tmob europe 3g, is att US 3g same as europe 3g. so if tmob europe is same as europe 3g then a europe g1 should work on att US 3g. am i coming thru clear or am i jumping all over?
Shaggy
Shagman68 said:
ok, my question is... Europe 3g is diff than tmob usa 3g, but is tmob europe the same 3g setup as US? and if europe 3g is same as tmob europe 3g, is att US 3g same as europe 3g. so if tmob europe is same as europe 3g then a europe g1 should work on att US 3g. am i coming thru clear or am i jumping all over?
Shaggy
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The American G1 has 3G support for HSDPA 1700 MHz & 2100 MHz, both bands I believe are used by T-Mobile. In Europe I believe they use only 2100 MHz band for 3G.
AT&T on the other hand uses 850 and 1900 MHz HSDPA
The phone has the capability for 2G at 850 and 1900 MHz, so technically it can be used on their network, just not at 3G speeds.
Although technically it's possible to design a Phase-Locked Loop to operate at a variable frequency and to be tuned with jumpers or something, it's probably cheaper for them or they might be subsidized to make phones so that they are exclusive for one network in the US.
To me the ideal is more about standardizing the protocols and the frequencies used for all companies, and having all bands available for traffic. But at least in the short-term that's not really good for business and so probably won't happen for a while.
This is all based entirely on a limited amount of research and my opinion, take it for what it's worth.
Europe uses 1900/2100 in a pair (1900 is the uplink, 2100 is the downlink). (source)
Most phones produced these days are tri or quad band and can work (almost) anywhere.. I'm surprised the G1 isn't.
Shagman68 said:
ok, my question is... Europe 3g is diff than tmob usa 3g, but is tmob europe the same 3g setup as US? and if europe 3g is same as tmob europe 3g, is att US 3g same as europe 3g. so if tmob europe is same as europe 3g then a europe g1 should work on att US 3g. am i coming thru clear or am i jumping all over?
Shaggy
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TonyHoyle said:
Europe uses 1900/2100 in a pair (1900 is the uplink, 2100 is the downlink). (source)
Most phones produced these days are tri or quad band and can work (almost) anywhere.. I'm surprised the G1 isn't.
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*sigh*.
Folks, you need to learn about UMTS bands before complaining about that the G1 or any other phone can't do this or that when it certainly can.
The G1 is a 3g worldphone. It works on the US 1700 AWS network (UMTS Band IV) and works on the world's 2100 network (UMTS Band I). ATT uses the 1900 Band (UMTS Band II).
Apparently the common names for these networks is being confused with the actual operating frequencies because they don't upload and download on the same frequencies. The 1900 band is not the same as the 2100 band, even though the 2100 band (UMTS Band I) uploads in the 1900mhz frequency and downloads at the 2100mhz frequency range. The 1900 Band (UMTS Band II) uploads on the upper half of the 1800mhz and downloads on the 1900mhz frequency range. UMTS Band II uploads on the frequencies that UMTS Band I downloads.
These bands separate.
TMO 3g band is different from ATT 3g band which is also different from EU 3g band.
The 1700 band (UMTS band IV) is actually made up of 2 frequency ranges like the other bands I and II are: 1700mhz and 2100mhz. In fact, the 2100mhz download range for UMTS Band IV is within the same frequencies used for the Band I download range, theoretically making it cheaper/easier for manufacturers who make Band I phones to "support" UMTS Band IV phone production.
Most phones produced today are NOT "tri or quad-band" 3g phones. In fact, I have yet to find a quad-band 3g phone. If quad-band 3g phones were made, they would be very likely to support the T-Mobile 3g network, because it's the 4th largest UMTS band type (behind Band I, II, and V). I would be very shocked to find a phone which was 2100/1900/900/850 instead of 2100/1900/1700/850.
And the G1 is a worldphone. It works just fine on UMTS in Europe. It is a band I and band IV device.
read these 2 links:
http://www.htc.com/www/product/g1/specification.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#UMTS-FDD
So to clarify, when you see a list of support bands, this is what you should interpret from those advertised bands:
2100 Band = UMTS Band I (The entire world outside of North America)
1900 Band = UMTS Band II (The Americas, ATT)
1700 Band = UMTS Band IV (The Americas, TMO)
900 Band = UMTS Band VIII (Australia)
850 Band = UMTS Band V (The Americas, ATT)
Outside of North America, the 2100 band is almost universally deployed, even where the 850,900,1700 or 1900 band is deployed.
as stated here, then does that mean that a SIM-unlocked CDMA Touch Pro2 could use at&t 3G being that it supports GSM 850/900/1800/1900?
Also, what are the differnt GSM frequencies, and how are they differentiated (GSM, UMTS, HSDPA, etc.)? (ex: at&t 3G - 850MHz)
I thought the Sprint TP2 only handled GSM on the Euro bands, unlocked? Basically the GSM portion is unlocked already but only on the Euro bands.
Why not just wait for the AT&T version?
LordLugard said:
I thought the Sprint TP2 only handled GSM on the Euro bands, unlocked? Basically the GSM portion is unlocked already but only on the Euro bands.
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Okay, so the Verizon announcement document for the Touch Pro2 states "GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz WCDMA/HSPA 2100 MHz". And, I'd imagine the Sprint version to use the same.
LordLugard said:
Why not just wait for the AT&T version?
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As a CDMA user, I'm not familiar with the various frequencies on GSM networks. Can someone provide some clarity of the following bands?...
US T-Mobile 2G/3G...
US at&t 2G/3G...
Europe/Asia 2G/3G...
i remember reading somewhere on this forum that the radio is software AND hardware locked so you can't use GSM in the US, only for international.
at&t 2g: 850/1900 Mhz depending on region (i think...)
at&t 3g: 850/1900 Mhz
tmobile 2g: 1900 Mhz
tmobile 3g: 1700/2100 Mhz (only 1700 is currently implemented, HSDPA+ will use both)
ace.app said:
i remember reading somewhere on this forum that the radio is software AND hardware locked so you can't use GSM in the US, only for international.
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We'll just just have to see, but
ace.app said:
at&t 2g: 850/1900 Mhz depending on region (i think...)
at&t 3g: 850/1900 Mhz
tmobile 2g: 1900 Mhz
tmobile 3g: 1700/2100 Mhz (only 1700 is currently implemented, HSDPA+ will use both)
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I'm grateful for, thanks.
...Which could mean that at&t's 850MHz band oughta provide 3G, given the Touch Pro2 is SIM-unlocked/able to access US GSM networks, right?
kain144000 said:
...Which could mean that at&t's 850MHz band oughta provide 3G, given the Touch Pro2 is SIM-unlocked/able to access US GSM networks, right?
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if what i heard is correct, then you cant because SIM lock is software. On top of that, there is hardware lock. So even if you unlock the SIM, there's the hardware lock to bypass, which isn't easy/impossible.
here's another thread about it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=558626
I want to buy this device but it is overpriced here in the uk and t mobile in the usa have it a affordable price. I checked the bands and most uk phones have: 900, 1900 and 2100 for 3g
This one has : 1700 and 2100 for 3g
This concerns me a lot. Can I flash a radio from the original optimistic 2x or something to make it work in the uk? Do you think it will work on 3g out of the box? Some help please.
As you've noted T-Mobile uses non standard frequencies in the states. So, out of the box it's incompatible. As far as flashing an Optimus 2x radio, that appears to be a very bad idea due to file system differences.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've read the answer is no.
According to this:
http://www.wireless.att.com/travelguide/coverage/coverage_details.jsp?CIDL=1305&MNC=CING
uk carriers use 2100 primarily and according to gsmarena the bands this phone supports are:
1700 and 2100 for 3g
Wouldn't it still work out of the box even if it supports 2100 band?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Also according to this:
http://www.mobileworldlive.com/maps...ma/gb/17016/comb/&layer_id=951&lstCountry=275
Most uk networks use 2100 band as suggested by at&t . The 1700 band is used by t mo for 4g network according to engadget. Any change of opinion now?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
"Band I" is 2100 MHz, which is supported by the G2x and is used all over Europe and Asia.
and according to this http://www.phonearena.com/phones/T-Mobile-G2x_id5272
the G2X supports 2100 UMTS (3G) or am I missing something?
The G2x supports 850/900/1800/1900 MHz for 2G/GPRS only, and supports 3G/4G UMTS/HSPA+ bands I (2100) and IV (1700). The G2x does not support AT&T’s 3G bands.
G2X spec sheet
http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/engadget/files/T-Mobile_G2x_with_Google_FactSheet_FINAL.pdf
Yes it should work, I'm currently in Europe and my g2x connects to 3G, but of course there is no 4G...I'll be in the UK in a few days in fact
rashad1 said:
Yes it should work, I'm currently in Europe and my g2x connects to 3G, but of course there is no 4G...I'll be in the UK in a few days in fact
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Thanks for confirming
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Thanks to all who corrected me...I was under the impression most of Europe used the same 3G bands as AT&T do here. Stupid US centric assumption...I need to get out more....and keep my mouth shut when I'm not absolutely sure!
Anyway, sorry for my small contribution to internet misinformation...
bdkinney said:
Thanks to all who corrected me...I was under the impression most of Europe used the same 3G bands as AT&T do here. Stupid US centric assumption...I need to get out more....and keep my mouth shut when I'm not absolutely sure!
Anyway, sorry for my small contribution to internet misinformation...
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Both at&t and tmobile phones would be able to get 3g signals outside of the states. I had no problem using my old iphone 3g in Hong Kong,Beijing nor my tmobile blackberry 9700 in Italy.
jdaclutch said:
Both at&t and tmobile phones would be able to get 3g signals outside of the states. I had no problem using my old iphone 3g in Hong Kong,Beijing nor my tmobile blackberry 9700 in Italy.
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Yeah...now that's not quite right. Here's the deal:
Most of the world uses 2100 MHz 3G bidirectionally (for both sending and receiving data). This includes England, China, and Hong Kong.
In the U.S. AT&T uses Both 850 & 1900 MHz (depending on the coverage area) bidirectionally. Not compatible with "world standards". The reason you could use you iphone in China is because it has tri-band 3G. Not all AT&T phones support the 2100 MHz band.
T-Mobile uses 1700 MHz for uploads and 2100 MHz for downloading. However, all their current phones have the ability to use the 2100 MHz band bidirectionally when operating overseas.
So to sum it up T-Mobile phones will do 3G overseas, some AT&T Phones will work overseas, but most phones from overseas won't do 3G here.
I hope that makes things a bit more clear; and I apologize again for confusing T-mobile with AT&T in my earlier post.
So yesterday I flashed this phone to ICS, its great, thanks guys!
However, I have a question about radio (I'm a software guy not a hardware guy).
Apparently, this phone supports Triple band UMTS 1700 1900 2100 MHz.
Rogers Wireless in Canada 'operates on the frequencies of 850/1900 MHz'
So, why can't I connect to Rogers Wireless with 3G speeds on the 1900mhz band? Does the phone require both 850 and 1900 MHz UMTS to operate 3G on a 850/1900MHz network?
The best connection I can get is EDGE and it's painfully slow...I bought this phone before I had a data plan with Rogers, so I never quite realized this issue...I guess I could just switch to WIND I just want to understand why it cant operate 3G over the 1900MHz band
3g needs 2 bands, one for upload and one for download. And that's why most phones, for example, bringing to the T-mo network you won't get 3g/ 4g speeds since it would need both the 1700/2100 bands and not a whole lot of non T-mo phones have these bands. So in your case a phone to run on Rogers with 3g would need both the 850 and 1900 bands.
the hardware should be able to operate at those frequencies but its software locked to 1700/2100 or 2100 mhz, so if you want 3g/hspa you must be on an operator which uses one of those 2 frequencies
Braccoz said:
the hardware should be able to operate at those frequencies but its software locked to 1700/2100 or 2100 mhz, so if you want 3g/hspa you must be on an operator which uses one of those 2 frequencies
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how do i software unlock it? Does cid uunlocking do this?
Although I haven't use it, I often see 4G Rogers data connection when I'm in Wind's "away" zone. Assuming there are no other models of MT4GS (with different radios) I'm rather sure this phone can use Rogers 3G network.