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Help - want to buy Captivate for UK?

Hi everyone. I’m currently living in the UK and I’m interested in the Samsung Galaxy S (i9000). Unlike in the USA, there’s only one variant and its quite expensive. Much cheaper in the USA! So I’ve been looking at the Samsung Captivate, AT&T’s Galaxy S variant.
Network
Samsung Galaxy S –
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100
Samsung Captivate –
2G Network
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network
HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100
2G is exactly same band, but 3G is only 50MHz difference.
Will both 2G and 3G networks work fully in the UK?
Software
Am I correct in thinking I can remove the AT&T bloatware by flashing a custom ROM?
Can someone please suggest a good, fast lag-free 2.2 Froyo ROM?
Android Market
Am I correct in thinking I can use Market Access to change US market to UK?
Thanks for help in advance

you are confused on the 3G bands.... "only 50Mhz difference" statement is meaningless - if bands are not exact, then it won't work - period.
Having said that, the captivate will work in the UK - the 1900/2100 bands are 3G in US (ATT) and UK. You will get 2G and 3G.

alphadog00 said:
you are confused on the 3G bands.... "only 50Mhz difference" statement is meaningless - if bands are not exact, then it won't work - period.
Having said that, the captivate will work in the UK - the 1900/2100 bands are 3G in US (ATT) and UK. You will get 2G and 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that.
What about the android market? Can I change it to UK using "Market Access" app?
Also, seeing as for 3G the first band is different (900 vs 850) will it have any affect on my 3G network connection?

The Captivate is a World Phone, meaning it will work around the world. If one 3G band doesn't work, you have 2 others, which you have already been told will work just fine
Sent from my Captivate

bilalbilal said:
Thanks for that.
What about the android market? Can I change it to UK using "Market Access" app?
Also, seeing as for 3G the first band is different (900 vs 850) will it have any affect on my 3G network connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should be able to use the Market Access app, but it takes a carrier code, not a country code. Using the phone with another SIM may set it automatically.
As for bands - you will probably find some areas where 3G is offered on a band you don't have - it is possible, but shouldn't happen any more often then if you had 900 on the phone. I took my iPhone all over EU - it was an ATT iPhone, and it worked fine with 3G. The Captivate should do just as well.

Thanks for the help guys

Not only can you flash custom ROMs, but the SetiroN kernel lets you flash regular Galaxy S ROMs onto the Captivate. If you look in the development forum here, you'll see that there's basically only one native Captivate custom ROM (Cognition); the rest are all Captivate-flavored Galaxy S adaptations using SetiroN (or its predecessor).
Sent from my Voodoo-powered Fascinate with XDA

[Q] 3G900 on O2 UK

I have not been able to find much information about this at all, and totally forgot about it.
My 3G coverage is absolutely **** at home, but 2G is pretty decent. According to the coverage map on O2's site, I should have good 2G and 3G indoors and outdoors, but as I said, I'm lucky to get even 1 bar inside.
My question is this, how do I know what spectrum the Desire S is using? I know it supports 900 MHz 3G, but how do I check if it's using it or not? Or is there any way to force it? Because I haven't seen any improvement since the 3G900 switched on, is there anything to do with the radio perhaps?

Bump !?!?!?!?!

It's a matter of checking what networks are appearing and working out from there which one is which frequency spectrum, for me I have a Telstra Mobile (GSM), Telstra Mobile 3G (850hz) and 3Telstra (2100hz).
Scan and see what networks appear, then even Google their individual names and see if you get any responses as to what spectrum they are.

zeekiz said:
It's a matter of checking what networks are appearing and working out from there which one is which frequency spectrum, for me I have a Telstra Mobile (GSM), Telstra Mobile 3G (850hz) and 3Telstra (2100hz).
Scan and see what networks appear, then even Google their individual names and see if you get any responses as to what spectrum they are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that my network (O2 UK) recently activated their 3G/HSPA services on the 900 Mhz band (in addition to the 2100 Mhz), in order to extend coverage.
See this: http://blog.o2.co.uk/home/2011/05/superfast-900mhz-3g-explained.html
My question is that because I have seen no difference, even in the major city centres listed there, is there a way to find out if my phone is actually trying to use the 900 Mhz band for 3G or is it just staying on 2100 Mhz, how to check, any way to force?.. etc etc etc

Any chance to enable all LTE frequency supported by MSM8960?

Dear All,
I recently got this device in Hong Kong and is hapi with its performance!
But I am still wondering if this device could actually use the LTE available in HK?
I knw the msm8960 claimed to be capable of utilizing all frequency of radio,
so is it possible that there is some soft lock in the baseband?
Could i flash the baseband or replace the modem driver from other device to access other frequency?
any idea is appreciated!
Thanks!
Vasco

I think it has to modifiy the ROm and the hardware

I tried to figure out, if our Photon Q is supporting more LTE bands than 1900 MHz (#2 or/and #25).
-> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-UTRA#Frequency_bands_and_channel_bandwidths
On some sites there are reports for having another band. (Have to search again, I think it was 850 MHz, #26 or 700 MHz, #12/#17/#29.)
I have also searched for supported frequencies for MSM8960.
I found some BlackBerry devices based on that SoC and 2 different versions of supported LTE bands.
One version (UK) supported 4 in europe used bands und the other version (US) supported 4 in US/Canada used bands.
I think that the Photon Q is like the BlackBerry US version and supports 4 LTE bands in US/Canada.
If you need a few sites, I will search again and show it to you.
The strange thing is, if I set to LTE only (via 4636) I can see all 4 carrier (germany).
We have 3 bands with LTE on it, but I can only get signal to max 2 of them.
Band 3, 7 and 20 (1800, 2600, 800 MHz).
The weird thing is, that on band #20 (800 MHz) only 3 carrier are active, so it has to be band #3 or #7.
Maybe I'm missinterpreting things and thats just a sideeffect of crossing bands of LTE US and UMTS Germany.
On stock ROM there was another "secret phone code" to see what the phone-part is doing. (From qualcomm I believe.)
I think I will test it some other day, to see which band is active.
At last, I was never been able to "login" or "register" into my carriers network within LTE.
Please discuss about that possibility, I really want to find out, which frequencies are supported by our phone on LTE.

Loader009 said:
I tried to figure out, if our Photon Q is supporting more LTE bands than 1900 MHz (#2 or/and #25).
-> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-UTRA#Frequency_bands_and_channel_bandwidths
On some sites there are reports for having another band. (Have to search again, I think it was 850 MHz, #26 or 700 MHz, #12/#17/#29.)
I have also searched for supported frequencies for MSM8960.
I found some BlackBerry devices based on that SoC and 2 different versions of supported LTE bands.
One version (UK) supported 4 in europe used bands und the other version (US) supported 4 in US/Canada used bands.
I think that the Photon Q is like the BlackBerry US version and supports 4 LTE bands in US/Canada.
If you need a few sites, I will search again and show it to you.
The strange thing is, if I set to LTE only (via 4636) I can see all 4 carrier (germany).
We have 3 bands with LTE on it, but I can only get signal to max 2 of them.
Band 3, 7 and 20 (1800, 2600, 800 MHz).
The weird thing is, that on band #20 (800 MHz) only 3 carrier are active, so it has to be band #3 or #7.
Maybe I'm missinterpreting things and thats just a sideeffect of crossing bands of LTE US and UMTS Germany.
On stock ROM there was another "secret phone code" to see what the phone-part is doing. (From qualcomm I believe.)
I think I will test it some other day, to see which band is active.
At last, I was never been able to "login" or "register" into my carriers network within LTE.
Please discuss about that possibility, I really want to find out, which frequencies are supported by our phone on LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dear Loader009,
Thanks for your information! I'm really impressed that you could actually search the carrier in 'LTE only from Germany!
Could you please share the version of ROM you are using?
And if possible, any screenshot? I really want it can be used in HK with LTE(1800, 2100 & 2600Mhz)
Also do you have more information about the secret phone code? I think it would be interesting
Actually, I noted that xt925 and xt905 are using the same chip MSM8960 with LTE usable in HK.
Is there anyone can locate the radio/baseband of their rom and port it for XT897?
I am willing to try it with my machine.
If this work, I think we could use this photon q all over the world!
Any idea?
Regards,
Vasco

disablewong said:
Dear Loader009,
Thanks for your information! I'm really impressed that you could actually search the carrier in 'LTE only from Germany!
Could you please share the version of ROM you are using?
And if possible, any screenshot? I really want it can be used in HK with LTE(1800, 2100 & 2600Mhz)
Also do you have more information about the secret phone code? I think it would be interesting
Actually, I noted that xt925 and xt905 are using the same chip MSM8960 with LTE usable in HK.
Is there anyone can locate the radio/baseband of their rom and port it for XT897?
I am willing to try it with my machine.
If this work, I think we could use this photon q all over the world!
Any idea?
Regards,
Vasco
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, I was just blind guessing the hardware for xt926 and xt907 are using the same hardware.
If not, there should be one chip controlling the modem channel of the device to be replaced.
But WHICH ONE???
Any expert in this area can solve this question? I am a dummy for radio stuffs

This seems like it's getting pretty interesting.
Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk 2

Dear all,
I'm also very interested in this topic since I imported a Photon Q to Germany and was wondering if it's possible to use the local LTE 800/1800/2600 bands.
I think the first thing we have to find out is whether the hardware is capable of using other bands than the 1900 band listed on the Motorola website. As Loader009 states he could see LTE carriers which are known to use different bands I assume the hardware can do it. Otherwise the carriers wouldn't have been listed, right? Maybe someone from another country with different frequency bands can check and confirm that he can see those carriers as well?
Thus, the limitation to the 1900 band should be software-made and could be modified by a developer. I hope someone can participate at that point as I don't know much about coding...

I'm using CM10.1.
I can't remember the secret phone code, I have to do research again.
This secret phone code only works on Stock ROM. (I stupidly deleted it, when it wasn't working on CM10 anymore.)
The one secret phone code I used to force "LTE only" was *#*#4636#*#*.
Please DON'T change the baseband (don't even tap on it).
This can do problems to you. (I had to use QPST to recover the supported frequencies.)
Also, developers (afaik) can't modify the modem firmware.
We also don't even know, which LTE bands the Photon Q is capable of. (Except 1900 MHz)

I've got my 32GB SDCard back and will test it in the next few days out.
I hope I'll find that secret phone code, I'll also make a few screenshots.

Got the code!
##33284# <- ##DEBUG#
It only works on stock afair!
I'll test tomorrow, it's about 3am now >.<

disablewong said:
Dear All,
I recently got this device in Hong Kong and is hapi with its performance!
But I am still wondering if this device could actually use the LTE available in HK?
I knw the msm8960 claimed to be capable of utilizing all frequency of radio,
so is it possible that there is some soft lock in the baseband?
Could i flash the baseband or replace the modem driver from other device to access other frequency?
any idea is appreciated!
Thanks!
Vasco
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read the "QU_SnapdragonS4_White_Paper_FNL_Rev6.pdf" and found there following entry:
-----------------------------------------------------------
• Industry’s first fully integrated 3G/4G world/multimode LTE Modem: <<<Supports all of the world’s leading 2G, 3G and 4G LTE standards>>>.
It also includes integrated support for multiple satellite position networks (GPS and GLONASS) as well as short range radios via Bluetooth,
WiFi, FM and NFC.
• Designed for speed, compatibility and power savings:
Snapdragon S4 Processor MSM8960 chipset includes the industry’s only complete platform that integrates all of the world’s leading 2G, 3G and 4G mobile broadband modem technologies on a single chip. This new integrated multimode modem is based on an advanced, programmable architecture that is performance, size and power optimized for the fastest combination of modems available for:
- LTE FDD/TDD (Cat3)
- 3G (DC-HSPA+ Cat 24)
- EV-DO Rev. B
- 1x Advanced
- TD-SCDMA
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE NFC.
Multimode/Multiband Means Worldwide Coverage.
• Support for multiple radio frequencies: Mobile broadband technologies are growing increasingly complex in their implementation. LTE is currently being implemented in over 40 diff erent radio frequency bands throughout the world. To complement its wide range of modem standards supported, Qualcomm has designed the Snapdragon S4 Processor MSM8960 CHIPSET platform to <<< address all commonly-used frequencies (from 700–2600 MHz) and bandwidths up to 20 MHz>>>, allowing its customers to address any mobile network opportunity whether the simplest single frequency implementation to the most extensive multi-frequency global mode, whether 4G, 3G or 2G.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Based on the document the chip can handle all LTE Standards, but it depends on his "advanced, programmable architecture"....as written there and how Motorola / Sprint implemented this, maybe they reduced LTE only to one Standard.
I don't have LTE in my area and so I cannot test this.

That's possibly right.
Something else:
If I remember correctly, somewhere in this forum have been said that for CDMA the internal Sprint "ID"(?) is used.
Maybe that's also the reason why I cannot connect to LTE in my area.
The phone is trying to "login" with the Sprint ID and this of course won't work.
The ##DEBUG# menu wasn't helpfull. It shows frequencies for american standards and not for GSM/WCDMA.
Also the LTE menu is also not very helpfull, it doesn't show frequencies at all.

Any News on this topic?
Maybe one of the developers can give a statement?

Yesterday I tested a LTE compatible SIM card.
My Bro has a Samsung Galaxy S4 with 4G/LTE in my area.
So I've put his SIM-Card into my Photon Q and set LTE only.
I had no luck, the Phone couldn't register into the network for this SIM.
I guess either it has the wrong frequencies or LTE is for inbuilt "SIM" (Sprint SIM?) only.

The latter. LTE is configured only for 1900 MHz which Sprint uses.

LTE is configured only for Sprint's frequencies, however, it supports the United States frequencies of PCS blocks A-G. The G Block is Sprint's current LTE channel, and they may deploy it later on Blocks A through F, depending on if they own the spectrum in a given market. The reason you see EU networks when the phone is in LTE Only Mode is most likely because the Phone still sees GSM signals, but will only connect to LTE ones from those GSM signals. Likewise, in the US, if you force LTE Only and then search for networks, AT&T and T-Mobile US will come up as the GSM carriers the Photon Q sees, rather than the LTE signals it sees.
Setting the Photon to LTE Only will not do anything for LTE in the EU. I suspect that if another carrier in the EU uses the 1900 MHz for LTE, the Photon Q will have no issues connecting to LTE in Europe. But until that time, be happy with HSPA.

Skrilax_CZ said:
LTE is configured only for 1900 MHz which Sprint uses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can this configuration theoretically be changed / other frequencies be added?

Only if you break BP security.

Skrilax_CZ said:
Only if you break BP security.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, what's that?

IIRC The only place with 850mhz LTE available is the Chicago market and currently no phones at all support it. :crying:
Not only does your phone need to support it, your PRL and cell-site does too...

[Q] 4G LTE

Hi, just got a device in Europe and found out it is 4G.
Read something about not being able to use it in the US.
What does that mean, that the phone won't work at all, or that it has to do with mobile internet connection or a wifi connection?
If this is a problem, is it possible to fix this with a new rom?

xda___ said:
Hi, just got a device in Europe and found out it is 4G.
Read something about not being able to use it in the US.
What does that mean, that the phone won't work at all, or that it has to do with mobile internet connection or a wifi connection?
If this is a problem, is it possible to fix this with a new rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone should work in the US but not on 4G LTE due to the different operator frequencies.
In the UK we use 800, 1800, 2600, 3500 and 3700MHz where as in the US they use 700, 850, 1700, 1900 & 2500MHz.
So it should work on the 3G/HSPDA bands but not LTE unless it uses some kind of global LTE chip.

LG Phoenix 2 (K371) Network mode issue

Hello,
I've got a LG Phoenix 2(K371) phone that I bought from Bestbuy and unlocked through AT&T
The phone is supposed to support the UMTS B1(2100 Mhz) frequency (as stated in specs).
I'm in North Africa right now for a business trip and unfortunately I wasn't able to get any 3G data with the local carrier that uses the UMTS 2100 Mhz frequency, I'm stuck with only 2G while my other phone works just fine.
I tried to change my Network Mode from 4G to 3G but the Network mode menu is missing!!!!!!
My questions are:
1- Does the K371 really supports the UMTS 2100 Mhz frequency ?
2- How can I change my Network mode from 4G/Lte to 3g/WCDMA?
Thanks

Did you ever get this sorted out? I am in Germany and can only get 2G also.

Same here in the UK! Only 2G.
My understanding is that either the official specifications of the phone are wrong - it doesn't support the HSDPA frequency of 2100 MHz, or (most likely) this frequency is disabled in the phone software settings since [email protected] doesn't use this frequency in the US. In any case it is very frustrating: I bought this phone convinced it is going to work while I am travelling in Europe, but obviously it doesn't as 2G data connection is useless.

Same problem in SE Asia. Phone doesn't have the right LTE bands but HSPC should work. Only getting 2G. No option in the hidden menu to change the modem RAT settings that I can see. *#546368#*371#
Anyone have any luck using the k371 overseas?

Same here...
I tried every single method I know in hopes that I could root the phone, but no luck!!!
I believe at&t disabled the said frequencies....
Our only bet is a proper root, and a custom rom..

any update on no UMTS 2100Mhz?

any solutoion on this issue?

I have found a solution. I am using it outside the US. I contacted my cellular provider, gave them the phone name (LG K371) and they sent me a text message with automatic settings for their data network. As soon as I opened it, I got a message like "data settings have been updated" and now it works on 3G and 4G without any issues. You may also be able to find these data configuration settings on your cell service provider's web site.

Seriously???
Please let me know is it AIRTEL service? since i am from INDIA.
we have the same problem in 2 mobiles..

Hmmm
I tried of calling and received setting for MMS , GPRS, INERNET but still i m seeing 2G symbol as E - edge detection
Please help me

Hi this is sainath
am also facing same problem, any one got solutions
please give reply.

tromal said:
Hello,
I've got a LG Phoenix 2(K371) phone that I bought from Bestbuy and unlocked through AT&T
The phone is supposed to support the UMTS B1(2100 Mhz) frequency (as stated in specs).
I'm in North Africa right now for a business trip and unfortunately I wasn't able to get any 3G data with the local carrier that uses the UMTS 2100 Mhz frequency, I'm stuck with only 2G while my other phone works just fine.
I tried to change my Network Mode from 4G to 3G but the Network mode menu is missing!!!!!!
My questions are:
1- Does the K371 really supports the UMTS 2100 Mhz frequency ?
2- How can I change my Network mode from 4G/Lte to 3g/WCDMA?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for a late reply, but here's the real scoop about the LG K371 (AT&T)
First, being a "cheap" LG phone, there are very few bands actually included, and they only cover the main (not all) AT&T US frequencies, therefore it's no surprise that doesn't work on all overseas carriers. Again, they are covering only major US bands, and despite what it shows on the box or specs it may not be always true. B1 (2,100Mhz) band has different sub-bands, therefore it doesn't mean that the US B1 will work on an overseas B1, let alone the air-interface (2G/3G/4G/LTE) may not all be supported even if this sub-band exists.
Second, being that it's an AT&T phone, they are knows to load firmware with major restrictions for band selection called RAT Restrictions, which cannot be undone unless you can reflash it with a non-customized firmware, but you can't do that either due to the locked bootloader. A better option is to always go with the un-customized or Tmobile K7/K8 because they always have a lot more bands enabled than the AT&T version. Better yet, go with a Samsung which have more bands even on the AT&T models.
Bottom line, "cheap" phones along with AT&T restrictions will not work everywhere, despite the specs, and there's nothing you can do about it.
And my favorite old adage is "You get what you pay for!" LOL