I currently have the Z3Compact and am considering getting the Z3 T-Mobile variant, as I'm a T-Mo prepaid customer. Just a few questions:
1) Can the Tmo variant Z3 be used on another carrier? Without unlocking the bootloader? I would like to root without unlocking the bootloader to still use all the Sony features (like with the Z3C). If I switch to another GSM carrier in a year, I'd like to still be able to use this device.
2) Is VoLTE up & working? Can it be used while rooted, locked bootloader? The same question with wifi calling.
3) Can the Tmobile ROM / Firmware be flashed on the International hardware and function exactly the same?
4) Will / can VoLTE / wifi calling come to the Z3C unlocked international variant?
1. Yes you can use it, BUT it only has 3 LTE bands and the 700Mhz (Band 12) LTE is not compatible with AT&T 700Mhz (Band 13). 700Mhz is important for indoor reception. Better to buy the regular Z3 as its a more global phone. Also if you still want the TMO variant you must use it on TMO for at least 40 days for them to unlock.
2. VoLTE works and rooting does not have anything to do with it so go ahead. WiFi calling is the same.
3. Don't do that as you may get no signal/baseband issues.
4. Don't know.
Extra: The T-Mobile variant has quality control issues and has been pulled from sale.... I am on my 8th Z3 after 7 exchanges. In addition TMO had to open a further 3-4 boxes on my third exchange to get a good one.
Just buy the international version..... They don't seem to be problematic like the TMO version and are LTE compatible with more networks.
abhinav.tella said:
1. Yes you can use it, BUT it only has 3 LTE bands and the 700Mhz (Band 12) LTE is not compatible with AT&T 700Mhz (Band 13). 700Mhz is important for indoor reception. Better to buy the regular Z3 as its a more global phone. Also if you still want the TMO variant you must use it on TMO for at least 40 days for them to unlock.
2. VoLTE works and rooting does not have anything to do with it so go ahead. WiFi calling is the same.
3. Don't do that as you may get no signal/baseband issues.
4. Don't know.
Extra: The T-Mobile variant has quality control issues and has been pulled from sale.... I am on my 8th Z3 after 7 exchanges. In addition TMO had to open a further 3-4 boxes on my third exchange to get a good one.
Just buy the international version..... They don't seem to be problematic like the TMO version and are LTE compatible with more networks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) If I only plan to use the phone in the US is it important that the international version is more 'global'? I'm kind of confused: Does the Tmobile version omit bands, or includes all the bands the int'l version plus band 12 / 700Mhz?
If you want to use it on AT&T the 700 Mhz band is not compatible. As you can see below the TMO variant is missing the 2 low bands needed by AT&T for better indoor reception. The global Z3 supports all the AT&T bands except T-Mobile's Band 12....
AT&T LTE Bands
17(700Mhz), Band 5(850Mhz), Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz)
T-Mobile LTE Bands (TMO Z3 only supports these 3 bands)
Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz), Band 12 (700Mhz)
abhinav.tella said:
If you want to use it on AT&T the 700 Mhz band is not compatible. As you can see below the TMO variant is missing the 2 low bands needed by AT&T for better indoor reception. The global Z3 supports all the bands except T-Mobile's Band 12....
AT&T LTE Bands
17(700Mhz), Band 5(850Mhz), Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz)
T-Mobile LTE Bands
Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz), Band 12 (700Mhz)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I remember before buying my z3C hearing the info from GSMArena was inaccurate for one of the models.
I'm going to see if i can find more info on the quality control issues with the Tmo variant. I've owned Tmo branded versions of phones before and never had an issue.
I replace my phone every year to 18 months so if for some desperate reason I go to AT&T at least it will work in the meantime. I use Google Voice / Hangouts for calls so if I travel internationally I'd use wifi if the LTE reception isn't as good as on an international device for calls (won't use VoLTE), but since I'm in a Tmobile band 12 area I would like to use that.
Found this post on using the Tmo with AT&T: http://www.reddit.com/r/SonyXperia/comments/338q7q/help_with_tmobile_z3_on_att/
The issue is not with T-Mobile, its the variant Sony made for T-Mobile.... When a carrier itself stops selling a device due to problems you are taking a big risk. T-Mobile was good about exchanges though immediate replacements unlike Sony which can take up to 3 weeks. Remember if you want exchanges for any issues with TMO you must buy from TMO itself otherwise you deal with Sony. Considering TMO no longer sells this device TMO won't cover you..... As you will be buying from a third party.
So I strongly suggest you get the international Z3, unless you can buy the TMO variant from TMO itself so you can get replacements easily.
Whatever you decide I hope you enjoy, its a good phone, battery life and screen are amazing.
Thanks for your advice. I bought a Z3 off eBay for cheaper than I got my Z3Compact for a few weeks ago. I've never had to return or repair a smartphone so hopefully I stay lucky.
Well, I hope so too. Enjoy the device, its still the most well rounded device out there despite the release of the new gen phones.
abhinav.tella said:
Well, I hope so too. Enjoy the device, its still the most well rounded device out there despite the release of the new gen phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I noticed that when I bought my Z3C. The Z3 apparently outperforms the Z3+. My only concern is if I can truly get used to the larger form factor, as I'm passing along my Z3C to someone else as a birthday gift. If not, I'll just sell it and get another Z3C for myself .
I asked this in the D6616 rooting thread but haven't gotten a reply yet: Will I need to downgrade, then root, then flash a pre rooted TFT firmware to get stock rooted (similar process to rooting without unlocking bootloader on the Compact) or can I just use the instructions here regardless of the firmware I have on my Z3? I think Kingroot sounds too shady and wouldn't want to use it.
Good morning xda community,
I just purchased a brand new Z3 (D6603) in addition to my existing Z3C. Before I purchased the device I researched that it has the proper basebands for AT&T. Based on xda, Sony, and various other online sources, the D6603 should support the following bands:
LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20; UMTS HSPA+ 850 (Band V), 900 (Band VIII), 1700 (Band IV), 1900 (Band II), 2100 (Band I) MHz; GSM GPRS/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHzâ
When I received the phone, I immediately proceeded to root it and update it to 5.1.1. Once I did that, I proceeded to obtain a nano-sim to fit the device. Once I put the nano-sim in I got "no service" whatsoever. The phone doesn't want to connect to AT&T. To test whether or not the nano-sim is defective, I proceeded to take the nano-sim from my Z3C, which is known to be working. Again, "no service" on the Z3. Then I put the new nano-sim in my Z3C and it did work.
In addition, I rebooted the phone numerous times, toggled airplane mode multiple time and also went back to KitKat to ensure it is not a Lollipop issue. All of this did not help.
Following that I proceeded to check the service menu (*#*#7378423#*#*). The phone states it is a D6603 unit. So does the original Sony packaging. However, when I looked at the available (working) basebands in the service menu I couldn't believe what I was seeing:
GSM_850, GSM_900, GSM_1800, GSM_1900, UMTS_BC1, UMTS_BC5, UMTS_BC6, UMTS_BC19, LTE_BC1, LTE_BC3, LTE_BC19, LTE_BC1â
Obviously several LTE basebands are missing when compared to the original specs - some of which I need to connect to AT&T LTE. That said, I also switched the band preference to GSM only and couldn't connect either. Again, the nano-sim is confirmed functioning.
Any idea what this is? Did Sony change the D6603 specs? Any chance I can get to the full baseband spectrum as per the original specs? Right not it is basically a $350 paperweight for me.
In case you suspect the firmware's I used to flash / root / update and subsequently downgrade, I used the following:
D6603_23.0.A.2.93 from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/guide-rootrecovery-how-to-root-install-t3017056
D6603_23.4.A.1.232_Customized_US_SuperSU_XZDR2.8.2 1 from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/d6603-5-0-2-flashable-stock-23-1-0-690-t3056361
When flashing, I used FlashTool without any exclusions (meaning that I also flashed the baseband). Full data, Dalvik and Cache wipe was also always performed.
I searched via google as well as here on XDA, but I couldn't find any post which appears to have the same problem. Again, any help would be greatly appreciated. I just want the basebands that the phone was / is advertised with. Thanks in advance!
-Oban
Also, in the Info menu (*#*#4636#*#*), when selecting the band / region, I only get "Japan band" as a selection. This would further indicate that something is off here.
Again, any help is greatly appreciated!
Oban said:
Also, in the Info menu (*#*#4636#*#*), when selecting the band / region, I only get "Japan band" as a selection. This would further indicate that something is off here.
Again, any help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Oban,
Try turning off LTE and see if that helps.
There is some issue with AT&T's HD Voice which works on LTE causing issues
http://forum.xda-developers.com/att...ming-calls-lte-mode-m8-att-arhd-34-0-t3026710
Also, where do you see the list of bands in service menu. I couldn't find it
@aviralmsharma, thank you for your response. Turning LTE off doesn't do anything to change the situation. I tried LTE only, GSM only and every combo in between.
The list of available basebands is in the service menu *#*#7378423#*#* -> Service Info -> Configuration.
As for the "Japan band", that is in the info menu *#*#4636#*#* -> Phone Information -> upper right corner where the three "..." are -> Select radio band.
Oban said:
@aviralmsharma, thank you for your response. Turning LTE off doesn't do anything to change the situation. I tried LTE only, GSM only and every combo in between.
The list of available basebands is in the service menu *#*#7378423#*#* -> Service Info -> Configuration.
As for the "Japan band", that is in the info menu *#*#4636#*#* -> Phone Information -> upper right corner where the three "..." are -> Select radio band.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, the ROM I'm using somehow managed to not show anything
Working Band/s: Unknown error
.
Attached is how it looks for me. Sorry for the bad quality, but i had to take a picture of the phone with my Z3C. And i am currently somewhere over the U.S. In an airplane, so upload is painfully slow.
Any idea how we can fix my D6603?
Oban said:
Attached is how it looks for me. Sorry for the bad quality, but i had to take a picture of the phone with my Z3C. And i am currently somewhere over the U.S. In an airplane, so upload is painfully slow.
Any idea how we can fix my D6603?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, I do see more bands. Could that be because of the ROM you're running and/or radio?
Attached is screenshot from my phone. Installed a different ROM
.
Aviralmsharma, i honestly don't know. That isnwhy i posted the question here at xda to begin with.
As you can see from my original post, i used the firmwares that are commonly available here at xda and have been used by many people before. I even used the U.S. Generic firmware version when i updated to 5.1.1.
Obviously something isn't right with my D6603. What should I do? I fear flashing the baseband in FlashTool isn't going to fix it. Is there a way to flash or enable the radio so it reads the proper bands?
AT&T
Please make sure APN is Setup properly for your carrier
gwithrow said:
AT&T
Please make sure APN is Setup properly for your carrier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The APN setting are correct and set for AT&T. I compared it to my Z3C, which is also on AT&T, as well as to AT&T's APN information available through their website. I still believe the issue is related to the fact that my D6603 does not list LTE band 2, 4, 5, and 17 as working bands - all of which are AT&T's LTE bands.
Any other suggestions that might work?
More suggestions
There is another thread that I cannot find right now that details how to unlock bands on our phones. I believe it originated in the Samsung threads but I am often wrong
Found it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=4300205
@Oban I believe that you do not have a international D6603. You seem to have purchased one of the Japanese models hence the missing bands and the Japan radio band selection. I suggest you try to return the phone to the place of purchase.
gwithrow said:
Found it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=4300205
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check this out this weekend. Thanks!
kansasboy001 said:
@Oban I believe that you do not have a international D6603. You seem to have purchased one of the Japanese models hence the missing bands and the Japan radio band selection. I suggest you try to return the phone to the place of purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kansasboy, wow... so Sony created a sub-version of the D6603 (carrying no specifically different model number) which differs from the international (or what I would call standard) D6603 model?
Is this "Japanese model" the same, hardware-wise, as the international model? Meaning, are the basebands excluded because of hardware limitations, or is it the software? If it is the latter, can the software be modified (as suggested in other threads - enabling bands on Qualcomm radios)? Or is the only way to return it as per your original suggestion?
Oban said:
I'll check this out this weekend. Thanks!
Kansasboy, wow... so Sony created a sub-version of the D6603 (carrying no specifically different model number) which differs from the international (or what I would call standard) D6603 model?
Is this "Japanese model" the same, hardware-wise, as the international model? Meaning, are the basebands excluded because of hardware limitations, or is it the software? If it is the latter, can the software be modified (as suggested in other threads - enabling bands on Qualcomm radios)? Or is the only way to return it as per your original suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on the bands you have, your phone is the SO-01G model for docomo mobile in Japan that has been flashed with the D6603 firmware, hence the D6603 model. The S0-01G has 32gb of storage which you would find by flashing the S0-01G firmware. I can not guarantee you that the bands you are missing could be enabled. It depends if Sony simply disabled the bands in the modem or if the phone actually has a different radio filter than the D6603. I have successfully unlocked lte band 12 on my D6603 and will be more than happy to walk you through the steps in unlocking bands. However if I were you I would simply return the phone and get a real D6603
kansasboy001 said:
Based on the bands you have, your phone is the SO-01G model for docomo mobile in Japan that has been flashed with the D6603 firmware, hence the D6603 model. The S0-01G has 32gb of storage which you would find by flashing the S0-01G firmware. I can not guarantee you that the bands you are missing could be enabled. It depends if Sony simply disabled the bands in the modem or if the phone actually has a different radio filter than the D6603. I have successfully unlocked lte band 12 on my D6603 and will be more than happy to walk you through the steps in unlocking bands. However if I were you I would simply return the phone and get a real D6603
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So... I did spend some time playing with the bands and working through the qualcomm band enabling thread on xda. I managed to enable everything needed and now the working bands read as follows:
GSM_850, GSM_900, GSM_1800, GSM_1900, UMTS_BC1, UMTS_BC2, UMTS_BC4, UMTS_BC5, UMTS_BC6, UMTS_BC8,, UMTS_BC19, LTE_BC1, LTE_BC2, LTE_BC3, LTE_BC4, LTE_BC5, LTE_BC7, LTE_BC8, LTE_BC13, LTE_BC17, LTE_BC20â
I also went into the *#*#INFO#*#* menu and enabled "USA Band" (previously I only had the Japan Band option). I also toggled airplane mode multiple times and rebooted the device more than once.
Now the bad news: still no service. I recognizes the sim card, but it doesn't connect / register with the network. I also triple checked the APN setting.
Before flashing it again back to stock: any last suggestion / trick I should attempt?
Oban said:
So... I did spend some time playing with the bands and working through the qualcomm band enabling thread on xda. I managed to enable everything needed and now the working bands read as follows:
GSM_850, GSM_900, GSM_1800, GSM_1900, UMTS_BC1, UMTS_BC2, UMTS_BC4, UMTS_BC5, UMTS_BC6, UMTS_BC8,, UMTS_BC19, LTE_BC1, LTE_BC2, LTE_BC3, LTE_BC4, LTE_BC5, LTE_BC7, LTE_BC8, LTE_BC13, LTE_BC17, LTE_BC20â
I also went into the *#*#INFO#*#* menu and enabled "USA Band" (previously I only had the Japan Band option). I also toggled airplane mode multiple times and rebooted the device more than once.
Now the bad news: still no service. I recognizes the sim card, but it doesn't connect / register with the network. I also triple checked the APN setting.
Before flashing it again back to stock: any last suggestion / trick I should attempt?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you add the reserved for bc10 to the value in 1877 and the guide for the xperia z2 lte unlock said in the thread?
kansasboy001 said:
Did you add the reserved for bc10 to the value in 1877 and the guide for the xperia z2 lte unlock said in the thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes Sir. mzTool has the following selected:
[07] DCS 1800
[08] Extended GSM (E-GSM)
[19] GSM 850
[21] PCS 1900
[22] I - European Japan China IMT 2100
[23] II - US PCS 1900
[25] IV - US 1700
[26] V - US 850
[49] VIII - Europe Japan 900
[60] Reserved for BC10 - 1700
Modified NV id's 441, 946, 2954 and 1877 as follows, using QPST and QXDM:
441: 384 / 0x180
946: 1768 / 0x6E8
2954: 268566528
1877: 1153484454676136320
For LTE the value was set as follows: 594143 / 10010001000011011111
Am I missing something?
And one more comment: I did all the above on the 23.0.A.2.93 Generic Canada firmware (I couldn't find a US Version, and I wanted to try something beside the Generic Global).
Would it be worth it to try all of the above modifications on the SO-01G-specific firmware?
kansasboy001 said:
@Oban I believe that you do not have a international D6603. You seem to have purchased one of the Japanese models hence the missing bands and the Japan radio band selection. I suggest you try to return the phone to the place of purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, despite the afford, the wife told me to stop tinker with it and send it back. It's now on the way back to Amazon. I hope i can find a true international D6603 that will work as advertised.
@kansasboy001, i do want to thank you for yoyr replies and help. I didn't even know there was a Japanese version of the phone. Appreciate it.