Hey guys i recently unlocked my HOX and tossed a T-Mobile chip in it. Is there a way for me to get a better data speed? I'm only able to use 2G at the moment.
You can't simply enable it, as T-Mobile uses the 1700 AWS spectrum for 3G/4G in most of their areas. The HOX doesn't support 1700. T-Mobile's older 2G network runs on 1900mhz, which the HOX will pick up, but you'll be limited to EDGE speeds.
There is good news though. T-Mobile is currently in the process of upgrading those areas to support 3G/4G on the 1900mhz spectrum they have. Their main goal is to attract iPhone customers (since the iPhone also cannot run on their 1700mhz network). From what I've heard they're doing a pretty good job, but until they get your area upgraded, you'll be stuck on EDGE.
Hope that explanation makes sense. If not, here's a decent writeup:
http://9to5mac.com/2012/05/07/t-mob...rk-in-large-number-of-markets-by-end-of-2012/
Related
As the title indicates I am curious if there exists any phones outside of those offered by Tmobile that are capable of using its 3G network (1700 & 2100 MHz). None of their 3G phones catch my eye and am curious if anyone can point me in the direction of some other possibilities.
Thanks for your time...
Jay
Att and tmobile use different bands for 3g.... so i know none of att's will work. (alltel i really doubt, but would have to look it up) Cell providers do it on purpose to lock there services to there own phones for good.... So you'll probably have to switch providers or settle for 2g speeds
I have not seen any devices outside of Tmob usa that have their strange 3g 1700/2100 combined bands...unfortunately!
I know how At&t are gonna have HSPA+ 4g, I'm confused about the new devices they're gonna have that support HSPA+. Are they going to be able to connect to HSPA+ on T-Mobile's network.
So for example, I buy an unlocked HSPA+ tablet from AT&T, straight from their store. Is it going to be able to use T-Mobile's HSPA+ network if I put a T-Mobile SIM card inside?
Also, one last question, if I use T-Mobile's SIM card, do I have to do some special stuff to get it to work on their cell network? Like how you have to unlock an iPhone for it to work on T-Mobile?
Thanks
xAliceNine said:
I know how At&t are gonna have HSPA+ 4g, I'm confused about the new devices they're gonna have that support HSPA+. Are they going to be able to connect to HSPA+ on T-Mobile's network.
So for example, I buy an unlocked HSPA+ tablet from AT&T, straight from their store. Is it going to be able to use T-Mobile's HSPA+ network if I put a T-Mobile SIM card inside?
Also, one last question, if I use T-Mobile's SIM card, do I have to do some special stuff to get it to work on their cell network? Like how you have to unlock an iPhone for it to work on T-Mobile?
Thanks
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Hello,
Unfortunately you will not be able to use HSPA+. HSPA+ is just an extension/revision of the current 3G. Effectively it is also called 3.5G/3.75G in some reports. They use the same 3G band of each respective company. The At&t tablet would work on 850/1900 band and T-mobile will work on their AWS (1700) band. So if you bought an At&t tablet, you may need to get it unlocked, not sure if they lock the sim on tablets. At best you would get Edge service with a T-mobile sim.
thanks man, argg
do you think it's worth it to change to at&t because I just heard of the Motorola Atrix and it sound PRETTY BAD ASS!
I don't know since people I know are always angry at AT&T for their service either..
xAliceNine said:
thanks man, argg
do you think it's worth it to change to at&t because I just heard of the Motorola Atrix and it sound PRETTY BAD ASS!
I don't know since people I know are always angry at AT&T for their service either..
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NP. I have had every major carrier offered in the US. I have had at&t, t-mobile, and sprint within the last year. I had verizon a while ago and dropped them because they could never get my bill right. Honestly, the service is about the same. The question is how is the service in your area. I mainly stay in my area about 90-98% of the time. I live in a major city so all carries have great service. But I have stayed with At&t for the last few years. Every time I go to another carrier I kept my at&t service, go figure. So I would just look at coverage to where you travel the most and go with a carrier that will give you the best coverage for the best price. Do i prefer a carrier over another, yeah. I like GSM carriers better because I do like to surf and talk at the same time. Sprint can do this if your in a 4G coverage area and have a 4G phone. Verizon is a no go with this feature until they release their LTE phones. But At&t has a better coverage footprint than T-mobile that is why I stick with them. Hope it helps.
Wondering a bit about this too.
I have service through Bendbroadband using a HSPA+ SIM with USB modem Dongle by bandluxe. The service is stellar on the speed, but I can't use the dongle with everything (iPad), so looking for alternate routes before i decide to move to a different provider.
I noticed that the CTO of the company said in a comment regarding their service that any unlocked UE that supports HSPA/HSPA+ in the AWS band could be used, but also had an unclear reponse on cell phones with HSPA+.
I have a Huawei Comet (unlocked), it lists the same AWS Bands compatible, but says HSDPA (which I thought HSDPA + HSUPA = HSPA+ but at higher speeds, correct me if I am wrong), and has hotspot tether that works with tmobile web service no problem.
I plugged the SIM in, and it updates the bar with BendBroadband but I get no data. (might need to provide the IMEI or something)..
Curious if you think it should work, before i go knocking on their doors.
Some other specs:
the mytouch 4g (HSPA+) lists the bands as:850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz;UMTS: Band IV (1700/2100)
The comet is listed as: 850 MHz;900 MHz;1800 MHz;1900 MHz;UMTS: Band I (2100);UMTS: Band IV (1700/2100)
I am fairly sure the comet is HSPA+ but not advertised that way.
According to comments on the site, Bendbroadband technicians do not actually support moving of the SIMs. Bummer.. trying to keep my business local.. Bumping and moving to Tmobile once the month is up.
I'm sure you guys have heard that T-Mobile will have a joint venture with Verizon (LTE deal next year).
So the question is, do you guys think the Lumia 900 will work with T-Mobile's future LTE?
Tmo will use some of AT&T's and Verizon's spectrum, so there's a slight chance that it will work. What do you guys think?
It will probably work, yes. T-Mobile is also apparently moving some of their current 2G capacity (which uses the same bands as AT&T, hence why you can get 2G on T-Mobile with an AT&T phone) to 3G, bringing essentially full compatibility between the two networks. I don't know any details as to when, though.
Of course, your Lumia would need to be SIM-unlocked.
As the Title says, it is possible to use the AT&T Version of the HTC 8x on Tmobile? I know Voice will work, but will I get HSDPA+ speeds? i don't want to be stuck on 2G
Thanks in Advance!
You probably will be stuck most of the time on Edge. T-mobile is moving their 3G from the 1700 to 1900 MHz but this process is still incomplete, hence you will have some 3G with some Edge. The ratio of 3G vs Edge time depends on how "complete" is the process in your city (try google)
You will have voice and sms though.
Bottom line: if you really care about data speed, just sell your phone and get the t-mobile equivalent.
So T-Mobile seems to be ramping up their LTE coverage and my area seems to be one of the LTE markets.
I was wondering, would now be a good time to buy an AT&T Android LTE phone (like the Note 2 or GS3)?
I'm not entirely clear if the LTE on those AT&T phones will work with the current/future T-Mobile LTE network.
Right now I'm currently using an iPhone 4 on T-Mobile. I get spotty 3G coverage since I'm in one of the 1900MHz refarmed areas. Would using an AWS LTE compatible AT&T phone let me get T-Mobile LTE service?
Is T-Mobile eventually going to get rid of their 3G service on the 1700MHz frequency so they can use it for LTE and then put their 3G service on the 1900MHz frequency?
I can't afford a brand new phone, but when it comes to used phones it always seems that AT&T ones are cheaper to buy than T-Mobile equivalent.
Outrager said:
So T-Mobile seems to be ramping up their LTE coverage and my area seems to be one of the LTE markets.
I was wondering, would now be a good time to buy an AT&T Android LTE phone (like the Note 2 or GS3)?
I'm not entirely clear if the LTE on those AT&T phones will work with the current/future T-Mobile LTE network.
Right now I'm currently using an iPhone 4 on T-Mobile. I get spotty 3G coverage since I'm in one of the 1900MHz refarmed areas. Would using an AWS LTE compatible AT&T phone let me get T-Mobile LTE service?
Is T-Mobile eventually going to get rid of their 3G service on the 1700MHz frequency so they can use it for LTE and then put their 3G service on the 1900MHz frequency?
I can't afford a brand new phone, but when it comes to used phones it always seems that AT&T ones are cheaper to buy than T-Mobile equivalent.
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It has been my understanding that AT&T and T-Mobile smartphones are network cross-compatible because they use the same bands for HSPDA and LTE. So as long as you have the following, you should be good to go.
First and most important: ***Phone Unlocked***
The correct sim for the carrier.
The correct APN settings for the carrier. (If this isn't auto-populated after the new sim is in the phone, you can search here on XDA for them.)
Lastly, apply any patches/fixes/tweaks for the particular device where needed. (if needed)
As for this network cross-compatibility changing in the future, odds are that it probably will not happen any time soon as this would be very costly for the carrier to change so soon after launching the LTE service. Post-LTE, maybe, but that is at least another 10 years away if I had to guess. :fingers-crossed: