Activating a N5 bought from T-Mobile on Virgin mobile - Nexus 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I have noticed that Sprint's coverage map is full blown LTE in my town now and was thinking about a cheap prepay Sim from Sprint to try it out. Will I have any problems doing this while its still active on my T-Mobile account? I get Sprint real cheap through work so I'm curious. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Danzoman said:
So I have noticed that Sprint's coverage map is full blown LTE in my town now and was thinking about a cheap prepay Sim from Sprint to try it out. Will I have any problems doing this while its still active on my T-Mobile account? I get Sprint real cheap through work so I'm curious. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should be able to swap out sims easily.

Danzoman said:
So I have noticed that Sprint's coverage map is full blown LTE in my town now and was thinking about a cheap prepay Sim from Sprint to try it out. Will I have any problems doing this while its still active on my T-Mobile account? I get Sprint real cheap through work so I'm curious. Thanks.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swap sims and reboot phone. Easy. Now getting Virgin Mobile USA to activate a Nexus 5... that's the hard part.

lilotimz said:
Swap sims and reboot phone. Easy. Now getting Virgin Mobile USA to activate a Nexus 5... that's the hard part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's what I was worried about. I saw that ting would activate one but they made it look like it needed to be unactivated to do it. Hmm
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Related

Nexus S 4g no contract carrier options?

So, I excitedly purchased a Nexus S 4g off eBay the other day thinking, hey it's a CDMA phone it might work on the Verizon network. Now I'm not so sure. I'd even be willing to use the Sprint network but those guys just told me Sprint has no sims and the only option is to open a 2 year contract agreement to use that phone. Sounds a little crazy to me. I'm not willing or able to do that at this time.
I need a no-contract phone carrier for the Nexus S 4g. Are there any no-contract carriers in the USA that will provide service?
My wife uses her Nexus S 4G on Metro PCS.. there is probably a guide to alternative carriers on here if you look around. She only gets 3g on it but for phone and text its perfect.
Sent from my JellyBeaned Epic 4G
TONYSALEM78 said:
My wife uses her Nexus S 4G on Metro PCS.. there is probably a guide to alternative carriers on here if you look around. She only gets 3g on it but for phone and text its perfect.
Sent from my JellyBeaned Epic 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi thanks for your reply. If I remember correctly the phone you mention would be a GSM variety. I have a CDMA version. My phone's spec name is Nexus S 4G SPH D720.
Found some good info here....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_wireless_communications_service_providers
So just to get 3g I'd need to match up a carrier that supports CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, then a compatible sim, then assuming they allow a sim swap if I have to buy one of their phones unless they have a sim program like Smart Talk.
UNLESS... and this is the real reason I posted this on XDA, I can get some information on how to flash my phone to one of these carriers. I'm now looking hard at Cricket Wireless. They're pretty good in my neighborhood. I know I can pay somebody to do the flash but where would the fun be in that even if I could afford it lol.
So any info on how to flash the phone, correct the settings or whatever else I need to do to get this phone Cricket ready is appreciated!
I'm looking into net10 now. They have a SIM program and support 3g.
My wifes phone is the same.(I think) It was a sprint phone originally. Anyhow, I was in my local metro dealer the other day and he showed me some sim cards as they are about to start using them in September for the bring your own phone program. So if you have a sim slot, that is a possible option for ya! Good luck and keep us posted what you decide,so others know their options as well.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
TONYSALEM78 said:
My wifes phone is the same.(I think) It was a sprint phone originally. Anyhow, I was in my local metro dealer the other day and he showed me some sim cards as they are about to start using them in September for the bring your own phone program. So if you have a sim slot, that is a possible option for ya! Good luck and keep us posted what you decide,so others know their options as well.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no SIM card in this phone. It arrived today. They used an embedded SIM from what I understand. Although I've used Metro PCS in the past it isn't even available in my area if my phone had a SIM. I do appreciate your responses as it appears this device is not getting much love anymore. Funny thing, the phone state is still in service although Sprint has closed usage. So I get a signal and all and have discovered the Sprint network is weak in my area. Specifically my home is a dead zone practically. Back to the drawing board. Be nice if I could switch out the radio I guess. Not sure I wanna undertake all that. Seems a shame as this is still a nice device running Jellybean as well.
You can use sprint or any derivative, ie boost or possibly virgin. No sim, but the phone can be flashed to work on boost. Pretty sure of that. It will never work on anything but sprint guaranteed.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
---------- Post added at 11:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:35 AM ----------
This might help. Different phone but good information. Still might work the same. Forgot about ting! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2060085
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
My opinion is buy gsm unlocked ns and your options are endless and I believe gsm has more development as well. Sell the ns4g to pay some of the difference. Gsm are almost always slightly more expensive than gsm but this Phone is 3 years old so it really shouldn't be a problem finding one for less than $100
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium
You could check out ting.
Thanks for the link. I'm gonna look into flashing this phone to Verizon today.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
Yeah good idea. i had very limited funds the other day while looking for a device and came across the sprint phone cheap. i figured the gsm phones would be just out of my pocket money's reach.
I might end up selling it off and getting a gsm version in the future. in the meantime i went and bought aSamsung illusion running on Verizon network. this phone is very similar to the Nexus phone. Smaller than the "s". Now that Im contracted with Verizon (prepaid) I'll see if i can move the sprint phone over via flashing it. Stay tuned!
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
jumico said:
You could check out ting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard of ting while researching possibilities. Don't quite remember what that was all about. thanks. will check it out.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
KEB64 said:
I heard of ting while researching possibilities. Don't quite remember what that was all about. thanks. will check it out.
Sent from my SCH-I110 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ting runs off Sprint towers. You can use any previous Sprint contract phone that Ting has on their eligibility list. Just go to their web site and enter your phone's ESN/MEID to check for eligibility.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
michaelandrew said:
Ting runs off Sprint towers. You can use any previous Sprint contract phone that Ting has on their eligibility list. Just go to their web site and enter your phone's ESN/MEID to check for eligibility.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know thank you. I ended up signing with Sprint and getting an EVO 4g LTE. I did have the nexus running on Sprint for a few days whil I made my decision.

[Q] Straight Talk T Mobile LTE

I have Straight Talk with a T Mobile SIM in my Nexus 5 and I am getting awesome LTE coverage, although my friend has the exact same setup and is only getting H data and not LTE. We are both using the same APN settings, and the only difference that I can think of is that I bought my SIM card more recently. I didn't think that the T Mobile SIMs on Straight Talk supported LTE, but I am definitely getting it and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same. If you are getting LTE, what are your APN settings?
jab0321 said:
I have Straight Talk with a T Mobile SIM in my Nexus 5 and I am getting awesome LTE coverage, although my friend has the exact same setup and is only getting H data and not LTE. We are both using the same APN settings, and the only difference that I can think of is that I bought my SIM card more recently. I didn't think that the T Mobile SIMs on Straight Talk supported LTE, but I am definitely getting it and was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same. If you are getting LTE, what are your APN settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought ATT was the only one you could get LTE through on Straight talk, Tmobile is the 4G speeds but HSPA+.
ketjr81 said:
I thought ATT was the only one you could get LTE through on Straight talk, Tmobile is the 4G speeds but HSPA+.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought, but I am definitely on Straight Talk with a T Mobile sim and am getting LTE data. Not just in my area either, since I recently took a trip and had LTE coverage in many major cities.
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
m0nk89 said:
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right on, will have to tell my friend to order a new Sim then!
m0nk89 said:
I can confirm that the new ST T-Mobile SIM cards support LTE. Received my new SIM one week ago and have been enjoying LTE speeds for the past week. Interestingly, the color of the SIM card was hot pink as opposed to the light pink T-Mobile SIM I used to have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I tried to contact useless Straight Talk support regarding this question. They didn't seem to understand it, sent me the at&t APN settings, when I called them on it, they sent me the non-smartphone APN settings. They said that yes, t-mobile does support LTE, not just H+ (but I didn't actually trust them to understand the question), however said nothing about needing a new sim card. I have the light pink sim right now.
However I'm still not entirely convinced. Here's a picture on ebay of what I assume is the new hot pink sim:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Straight-Talk-Micro-SIM-Card-T-Mobile-Network-/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/b7gAAOxy3zNSlQHw/$_57.JPG
You can see clearly on the card that it admits "4g" is HSPA+, not LTE. I'm also suspicious because T-Mobile has a different APN setting for LTE, while Straight Talk does not. Has anyone checked the "Mobile Network Type" in settings to verify that you really truly are getting LTE? Could the hot pink be because it's in micro sim size? The at&t cards have a similar color scheme (light blue for full sized sim, dark blue for micro), and I think offering the Micro Sim size for t-mobile is new, but the internals of the sim may not be.
Can someone post a speedtest speeds result of their "LTE" speeds? My H+ speeds are very fast, so I don't know if there'll be much difference..
T-Mobile sucks where I'm from. New England so I got the at&t Sim
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
imablackhat said:
T-Mobile sucks where I'm from. New England so I got the at&t Sim
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, incredibly helpful comment.
Going to order a T-Mobile sim and see if I can get LTE. Hoping i can use straight talk with LTE vs the $60 T-Mobile plan. Tried the $30 T-Mobile plan but need more than 100 minutes and VoIP isn't cutting it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
Going to order a T-Mobile sim and see if I can get LTE. Hoping i can use straight talk with LTE vs the $60 T-Mobile plan. Tried the $30 T-Mobile plan but need more than 100 minutes and VoIP isn't cutting it
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please update us. From what I can understand it seems like they're only advertising "4g" as the H+ speeds.
XDAcat62 said:
Please update us. From what I can understand it seems like they're only advertising "4g" as the H+ speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is great to see. I actually email support and their replies were so generic that it didn't answer my question.
So best place to get SIM card to insure i get LTE for tmobile?
thank you,
-D
bucd said:
This is great to see. I actually email support and their replies were so generic that it didn't answer my question.
So best place to get SIM card to insure i get LTE for tmobile?
thank you,
-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered mine directly from the straight talk website but I think you can order one from Walmart
Just curious if anyone here has been cutoff by straight talk. I read the small print, and you are only unlimited on their web space. So technically they can cut you off if you use too much data.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Its unlimited 2.5gb LTE. Then they throttle you down.. Maybe if you blew threw all your 2.5gb in five minutes by downloading a torrented movie they'd shut you off. All your data in less then a day.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
edd247 said:
I ordered mine directly from the straight talk website but I think you can order one from Walmart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok cool. So as long as i order it from straight talk, i should get the LTE card? I need to order two and wanted to make sure before i do it.
Currently have the older card and i'm not getting LTE on TMobile. After reading through this thead, sounds like the newer cards will do it.
thank you,
-D
bucd said:
Ok cool. So as long as i order it from straight talk, i should get the LTE card? I need to order two and wanted to make sure before i do it.
Currently have the older card and i'm not getting LTE on TMobile. After reading through this thead, sounds like the newer cards will do it.
thank you,
-D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah if you order it from them you should get the newest sim cards.
edd247 said:
Just got the T-Mobile sim yesterday and can confirm that LTE is working on straight talk. I'm getting great speeds too
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download/install LTE settings app. Run your test and look at the app. You can see this in your settings about phone status as well. What does it say you're connecting at?
---------- Post added at 06:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------
Zandeer said:
Just curious if anyone here has been cutoff by straight talk. I read the small print, and you are only unlimited on their web space. So technically they can cut you off if you use too much data.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In my personal experience, I can confirm you get throttled/data cut off on ST-AT&T sims.. It happen to me, but has never happen to me on a ST-Tmobile sim.
BUT YMMV...
clockcycle said:
Download/install LTE settings app. Run your test and look at the app. You can see this in your settings about phone status as well. What does it say you're connecting at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is what I get
edd247 said:
Here is what I get
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks promising, you must be in a test area.

[Q] What carriers does the Nexus 5 work with?

I have a Nexus 5 and currently use Net10 with AT&T towers. Where I live AT&T doesn't have the best coverage. I would love to be on Verizon but I have been told that is impossible with the Nexus 5. What carriers can I use the Nexus 5 with and how good are they in speed, coverage, price, and amount of data(data cap)? Does anybody have Straight Talk with the Nexus 5 and how good is it?
Thanks in advance.
Edit: Don't need any info on Straight Talk anymore. Compared it to Net10 and it is basically the exact same thing with minor plan differences. I would still like to know about any other carriers though.
Just not verizon.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
There is an entire thread dedicated to straight talk.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/general/nexus-5-straight-talk-att-thread-t2581840
Don't need any info on Straight Talk anymore. Compared it to Net10 and it is basically the exact same thing with minor plan differences. I would still like to know about any other carriers though.
shiznoroe88 said:
Don't need any info on Straight Talk anymore. Compared it to Net10 and it is basically the exact same thing with minor plan differences. I would still like to know about any other carriers though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It all depends on your location. Att is great where I live, that's why I still use att.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
shiznoroe88 said:
Don't need any info on Straight Talk anymore. Compared it to Net10 and it is basically the exact same thing with minor plan differences. I would still like to know about any other carriers though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works on every carrier except Verizon. This isn't really a carrier comparison forum.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
As other people said, the USA version of Nexus 5 work with ANY GSM Carrier (T-mobile, at&t, any of their prepaid / MVNO partners)... just need to swap the sim card
For CDMA, works with Sprint (and SOME of it's MVNO partners). Ting supports it, but not Boost Mobile
Doesn't work with Verizon or any of it's MVNO.

Verizon Note edge on Metro pcs?

I have a Verizon Note edge, it's currently on my mom's Verizon plan but I have no data, she took off on me so I need to switch carriers.
I'm running lollipop. Is there a way for me to use metro pcs fully with lte and all?
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
All recent verizon phones with LTE should be unlocked.
Sent from my SM-N915T using Tapatalk
I keep reading that, however I've been doing a bunch of searching and have found a bunch of issues with people not getting them to work.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Anyone?
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
So after calling Verizon, calling metro and T-Mobile. I'm still left without a straight answer. But from what I'm hearing it's not going to work.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Bump
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Just to report in on this, I went out and bought the SIM kit, got a spare phone just in case, activated it and everything. It does not work.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Will this not work because my phone is still on contract with Verizon?
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Huge update. This phone is now working 99% on Metro. Even still being associated on my mom's Verizon account. It is using my metro service, on a tmobile apn. Full lte, working mms, voice, text, data, everything. So happy to have resolved this.
Future reference, it won't work if you add your imei via the metro website, you would have to call metro or in my case use the online chat support.
The only thing not working is the hotspot built in. I have yet to test if a third party hotspot app will work or not.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Why not hop on Page Plus Cellular while your Verizon Note Edge esn is still clear. Maybe they'll let her/you pay off the phone or it's already out of contract and you won't have to worry about a blacklisted esn, or if all else do a basic bare minimum plan with it on Verizon keeping the esn in good standings.
But I believe their sim's are usually international use only and metroPCS isn't CDMA anymore, so you'd get spotty coverage as it'd only be dependent upon the sim cards coverage which my not meet the specifications for metro's coverage, but with Page Plus Cellular you'd get the coverage that works for your phone model and carrier and you'd also get LTE with it.
I've never heard of page plus here in Tampa bay area. Metro is huge here, and $60 for unlimited LTE ain't a bad deal lol. I need the unlimited LTE also.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Nickdroid86 said:
I've never heard of page plus here in Tampa bay area. Metro is huge here, and $60 for unlimited LTE ain't a bad deal lol. I need the unlimited LTE also.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea man I'm on metroPCS too T-Mobile Note Edge. haha! I work for Cricket wireless too and the owner is always 24/7 trying to convince me to switch. LMAO
I didn't see your post before mine, that's cool though it's all working good, yea I was using PPC before I switched back over to metroPCS: They're a Verizon MVNO https://www.pagepluscellular.com/plans/ another good company of Page Plus Cellular reseller is http://kittywireless.com they're always doing special promotions and extra plans.
Not sure exactly how that would work with the phone still being under contract. If ya have walgreens drug stores there look at the wireless cards section you'll probably see a Page Plus Cellular card.
Hey, HOW DID YOU GET THE PHONE TO WORK ON METROPCS NETWORK????! I have a note edge on verizon and want to switch it over to metropcs. I called verizon and they said the phone was unlocked so I took it to metropcs for activation. They put a metropcs sim card and turned my phone on but it wouldn't read the metropcs sim card and the phone stated that the sim card was not a verizon sim card. What do I do now? Any help would be much appreciated!
I am just starting with MetroPCS with my NoteEdge which I had been using with Verizon. I am having the same problem when trying to use the MobileHotSpot.
Any luck finding an answer or solution?
Thanks in advance
volant007 said:
Hey, HOW DID YOU GET THE PHONE TO WORK ON METROPCS NETWORK????! I have a note edge on verizon and want to switch it over to metropcs. I called verizon and they said the phone was unlocked so I took it to metropcs for activation. They put a metropcs sim card and turned my phone on but it wouldn't read the metropcs sim card and the phone stated that the sim card was not a verizon sim card. What do I do now? Any help would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A little different for me. I have a USC and put a StraighTalk sim in and it works. Just edit the apn. To verify what I read about the 6.0.1 update. I downgraded back to Kitkat and got "Invalid" sim. Might be worth a try and nothing really lost...

Switch to another services...

So, I recently paid off my phones and unlocked them (note 5 and note 4) and I want to switch to another pre-paid service. I'm moving back to a small town that doesn't really have tmobile towers (always had E and could never connect I less of used wifi when I visited last year. So, what pre-paid service, if any, can I switch to? Anyone able to help? Thank you!
zxandrewxz said:
So, I recently paid off my phones and unlocked them (note 5 and note 4) and I want to switch to another pre-paid service. I'm moving back to a small town that doesn't really have tmobile towers (always had E and could never connect I less of used wifi when I visited last year. So, what pre-paid service, if any, can I switch to? Anyone able to help? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that would depend on the town you are moving to.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Lancerz said:
I think that would depend on the town you are moving to.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, Verizon, Sprint, [email protected], and Straighttalk all work well out there
Turn on roaming an pick up a signal booster
Try tmo again. They have been flipping the band 12 switch within the last year. It may work now?
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
I'll see about it. Right now the phones are under a friend's name since he had good credit at the time. Is he able to close the account and I can just go tmobile prepaid?
zxandrewxz said:
I'll see about it. Right now the phones are under a friend's name since he had good credit at the time. Is he able to close the account and I can just go tmobile prepaid?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to drop a prepaid SIM card right into it
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Alright, I'll look into it at the end of the month. Thankw you

Categories

Resources