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T-mobile LTE N4 vs N5

I just helped my son install the hybrid modem for his Nexus 4 and set up the T-mobile APN for it. I was about to tell him that he would have to go somewhere else to test it since I never get LTE at home, and then boom, the 4G icon shows up on his phone! I checked Network Signal Info and sure enough, it's got an LTE connection with about 6Mbps transfer rate. Sitting right next to him my N5 has only 3G with occasional switches up to HSPA and back, and a very low transfer rate. What gives? I am able to get LTE on the N5 in other areas of town and it works wonderfully, but around my home it is very weak and almost never runs in LTE mode.
Could it be that the N4 is connecting on a different LTE band? If so, why is the N5 not using that band as well? Is there something that can be done for the N5 to tweak it to improve its LTE reception or how it chooses how to connect to available LTE signals?

Both N4 and N5 have 1700 band so it should get perfect HSDPA.
It might be the towers in your area are busy or the signal is weak.
I use straight talk t-mobil and I get HSDPA around 15Mbps and my friend get a little more on LTE here in chicagoland.
Also for people on Straight talk if you want to get LTE att version you need to get a new simcard and change APN and for t-mobil
just get a new simcard and boom you get LTE.

Idk if I'd worry about it. In most places the HSDPA speeds for T-Mobile are the same or better than the LTE speeds you would get. I'm in the far north chicago suburbs and I get LTE and HSDPA downloads at 25mbps. The LTE coverage is still a bit spotty. Its probably only worth it if I you're in a developed urban area. However it is a bit strange that you guys have the same hardware, service and location but different connections. The only thing I can think of is that I've seen some people instruct to setup the apn as fast.tmobile.com. however mine only worked with fast.T-Mobile.com (with the dash). I would also check to confirm that your phone is set to lte preferred (LTE/gsm) and not gsm priority. Those are the only things I can think that I can think of. Hope it helps.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

gorilla p said:
Idk if I'd worry about it. In most places the HSDPA speeds for T-Mobile are the same or better than the LTE speeds you would get. I'm in the far north chicago suburbs and I get LTE and HSDPA downloads at 25mbps. The LTE coverage is still a bit spotty. Its probably only worth it if I you're in a developed urban area. However it is a bit strange that you guys have the same hardware, service and location but different connections. The only thing I can think of is that I've seen some people instruct to setup the apn as fast.tmobile.com. however mine only worked with fast.T-Mobile.com (with the dash). I would also check to confirm that your phone is set to lte preferred (LTE/gsm) and not gsm priority. Those are the only things I can think that I can think of. Hope it helps.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
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T-Mobile 4G LTE will properly works on fast.t-mobile.com, fast.tmobile.com is not the proper APN (the - matters)
There are just way too many variables. Maybe his modem has better reception, newer sim card, etc.

RobinD42 said:
I just helped my son install the hybrid modem for his Nexus 4 and set up the T-mobile APN for it. I was about to tell him that he would have to go somewhere else to test it since I never get LTE at home, and then boom, the 4G icon shows up on his phone! I checked Network Signal Info and sure enough, it's got an LTE connection with about 6Mbps transfer rate. Sitting right next to him my N5 has only 3G with occasional switches up to HSPA and back, and a very low transfer rate. What gives? I am able to get LTE on the N5 in other areas of town and it works wonderfully, but around my home it is very weak and almost never runs in LTE mode.
Could it be that the N4 is connecting on a different LTE band? If so, why is the N5 not using that band as well? Is there something that can be done for the N5 to tweak it to improve its LTE reception or how it chooses how to connect to available LTE signals?
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Click to collapse
Fwiw there are other threads where people have reported that the N4 picks up LTE in the same place that an N5 does not. So you are not alone. N4 may have a stronger radio. That would be unfortunate... Never good to see a step backwards on something as important as that.
Sent from my Nexus 5

Good news everyone! I too has having this problem. My Nexus 4 was an LTE champ and then it was a huge let down that my Nexus 5 was treating LTE like it had cooties, but now my Nexus 5 works the way it should. What I did was go to my nearest T-Mobile store and told the representative what was happening. He called tech support and they ended up doing some sort of reset to my account. I also had questions about my SIM card and felt that it could have been at fault. He offered to switch it out to the new ISIS SIM and as soon as my phone booted up, it was on LTE. Since then, it has behaved like my Nexus 4. I am even in my office where the Nexus 5 wasn't picking up LTE, but my Nexus 4 was, and it is on LTE at the moment.
I am not sure if the reset that tech support did solved the problem or the new SIM, but I would definately give that a try--it didn't cost me anything and now I am happy with my Nexus 5. Good luck!

In my experience my N4 has slightly better signal pickup than my N5.
The real reason is probably differences in the radios' priority algorithms. Set your N5 to LTE-only and see what happens, I imagine you'll get LTE.

dijit4l said:
I am not sure if the reset that tech support did solved the problem or the new SIM, but I would definately give that a try--it didn't cost me anything and now I am happy with my Nexus 5. Good luck!
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Did you not get LTE at all, or really poor LTE signal/speed?

tcristy said:
Did you not get LTE at all, or really poor LTE signal/speed?
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Click to collapse
I would get LTE eventually only to lose it when it reached 2 bars or lower. It was really weird. I would be in areas where one would get 5 bars of LTE and the phone would sit on HSPA until I would show the phone it was on LTE by switching to LTE Only under the secret dialer menu and then back to GSM/LTE (if you use LTE only, you will lose voice). Then it would hold LTE until it reached 1-2 bars and then go back to HSPA.
I hope this helps.

I am seeing strange readings of signal strength. I see a 10+ db difference between what is reported in the phone status and an app like rootmetrics.
I don't know which one is misrepresenting the signal strength but it seems the roometrics is more accurate because my nexus 4 the signal strength is roughly the same on lte.
Can anyone else confirm?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Q] 1800MHz LTE Band

This phone is the first phone Verizon is selling (except the iPhones) that has the 1800MHz LTE Band (band 3).
When I saw this I was particularly excited as I visit Australia often and that's the band Telstra uses. I am currently in Australia now, and I am unable to pick up any LTE on this phone. I have gone through every possible mode in the phoneinfo app, but none will get any LTE signal.
I am using a Telstra SIM that has LTE service and I put in the correct APN settings.
The only possible explanation that comes to mind is that Verizon is blocking the 1800MHz LTE band from being used, just like the S4 came with AWS but only a software update pushed later on was able to unlock that band. If that were the case, is there any way around it?
Any other ideas why it's not working?

I tested my SIM in the same location in a iPhone and it got lte
Sent from my HTC One M8 using Tapatalk

levilib said:
This phone is the first phone Verizon is selling (except the iPhones) that has the 1800MHz LTE Band (band 3).
When I saw this I was particularly excited as I visit Australia often and that's the band Telstra uses. I am currently in Australia now, and I am unable to pick up any LTE on this phone. I have gone through every possible mode in the phoneinfo app, but none will get any LTE signal.
I am using a Telstra SIM that has LTE service and I put in the correct APN settings.
The only possible explanation that comes to mind is that Verizon is blocking the 1800MHz LTE band from being used, just like the S4 came with AWS but only a software update pushed later on was able to unlock that band. If that were the case, is there any way around it?
Any other ideas why it's not working?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bit of a necro-post, but I asked both HTC and Verizon associates and they said that it should work...so don't know if some bad information has been passed my way or GSM/LTE is just being funky (I do remember reading that has been, or was, a problem)

[Q] OnePlus One LTE BAND selection?

Is there a way to see and change the LTE BAND that my phone is on? Rogers support aws, 2600, 700. So I was wondering if I could manually change between them. The S5 has that option in the hidden menu, so I'm hoping I could do the same on this one.
Thanks.

The phone choose the band himself, if he don't find bands authorized by your phone company, he can't use them.

tonymtl said:
Is there a way to see and change the LTE BAND that my phone is on? Rogers support aws, 2600, 700. So I was wondering if I could manually change between them. The S5 has that option in the hidden menu, so I'm hoping I could do the same on this one.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*#*#46363#*#* > Phone information > Set Preferred Network Type > 'LTE/GSM auto (PRL)'
That's as far as you can get in telling it what network to operate on. It won't let you select specific bands (at least not stock). Mine was set to 'TD-SCDMA, GSM and LTE' out of the box (international version) and since I don't plan to use my phone in China anytime soon, it didn't make sense for the phone to waste resources searching for a TD-SCDMA (China's homebrew 4G) signal. Haven't noticed much improvement to my LTE signal though, still the weakest radio I've seen in a 'flagship' in a while.

Thanks.
I am also on Rogers.
Does that mean when I am on the phone, it will revert to EDGE instead of 3g by using the LTE-edge setting?

I have major issues with reception on this phone.
LTE Works Fine but the 3G/H+ signal is awful, absolute disaster on this phone. It is extremely, extremely weak. And I lose coverage often and over 50% of the times my calls go straight to voicemail because Rogers uses 2g/3g for calling. The phone can't drop back to 2G or 3G in time to receive calls when on LTE
Rly frustrating. Have tried playing with all the settings.

Same issue
hashim71 said:
I have major issues with reception on this phone.
LTE Works Fine but the 3G/H+ signal is awful, absolute disaster on this phone. It is extremely, extremely weak. And I lose coverage often and over 50% of the times my calls go straight to voicemail because Rogers uses 2g/3g for calling. The phone can't drop back to 2G or 3G in time to receive calls when on LTE
Rly frustrating. Have tried playing with all the settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having issues with 3G H+ too. Dont know its CM issue or not coz I had nice H+ signals on Color OS...
Can't even use internet data. most of the time network drops after using internet for a bit.. Network just suddenly gone and after that it comes back with no internet. Internet comes back online after a while...
Really worried.. and annoyed coz can't seem to find any solve for this. Even Mahdi rom had this issue..

Attention Canadian WIND V20 Users: Do you want LTE? PAY UP.

In what can only be seen as an amazing cash grab, WIND has rebranded itself as "Freedom Mobile" (HA!). This is in line with their LTE rollout starting November 27th.
Here's the coverage map - https://www.freedommobile.ca/network-and-coverage/lte
So you've got a V20 and ready to rock that sweet new band and get real LTE Speeds on Freedom Mobile? Well you best get on their new plan.
LTE Plan Details:
$45 a month ($5 off for 1 year)
3GB of Data (Double data for 1 year, so 6GB total)
Unlimited CAN/US Calling
Unlimited Global Text
Voicemail+
So if you're using WIND and want to take advantage of their LTE capabilities, you've gotta jump off your plan and go on this one... and also be living in Vancouver or Toronto.
So F*** you, I guess?

Thanks for sharing.

LTE Network in Toronto Really Screwed Up.
Anarchaotic said:
In what can only be seen as an amazing cash grab, WIND has rebranded itself as "Freedom Mobile" (HA!). This is in line with their LTE rollout starting November 27th.
Here's the coverage map - https://www.freedommobile.ca/network-and-coverage/lte
So you've got a V20 and ready to rock that sweet new band and get real LTE Speeds on Freedom Mobile? Well you best get on their new plan.
LTE Plan Details:
$45 a month ($5 off for 1 year)
3GB of Data (Double data for 1 year, so 6GB total)
Unlimited CAN/US Calling
Unlimited Global Text
Voicemail+
So if you're using WIND and want to take advantage of their LTE capabilities, you've gotta jump off your plan and go on this one... and also be living in Vancouver or Toronto.
So F*** you, I guess?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got a V20 here in Toronto, with LTE plan, been one firmware update, no LTE even in the downtown core and in 'Settings' 'Mobile Network' there is no LTE options available, only GSM/WCDMA. They say it'll be added in a firmware update though.
And since I got on the Toronto LTE network when my data is over 6GB the network slows to a crawl, Google play apps take an hour to download, then won't install, web pages won't load, streaming music won't work even on lowest settings, it's horrible. :crying:
On my Nexus 6 on regular network Google Play apps took maybe ten minutes to download even when over my bandwidth limit and all of the above worked.
Anyone else having this issue on the LTE network in Toronto? I need to know because if it's the phone I want them to replace it, I only got it last weekend.
I called the store, they say they have issues with the network they are fixing. But I still wonder if it's an issue with the phone.
Edit: Good news!! Was having battery drain trouble, pulled the battery with phone on, waited a minute, put it back in and not only is battery trouble solved send to have fixed my network issues!!

KedarWolf said:
Got a V20 here in Toronto, with LTE plan, been one firmware update, no LTE even in the downtown core and in 'Settings' 'Mobile Network' there is no LTE options available, only GSM/WCDMA. They say it'll be added in a firmware update though.
And since I got on the Toronto LTE network when my data is over 6GB the network slows to a crawl, Google play apps take an hour to download, then won't install, web pages won't load, streaming music won't work even on lowest settings, it's horrible. :crying:
On my Nexus 6 on regular network Google Play apps took maybe ten minutes to download even when over my bandwidth limit and all of the above worked.
Anyone else having this issue on the LTE network in Toronto? I need to know because if it's the phone I want them to replace it, I only got it last weekend.
I called the store, they say they have issues with the network they are fixing. But I still wonder if it's an issue with the phone.
Edit: Good news!! Was having battery drain trouble, pulled the battery with phone on, waited a minute, put it back in and not only is battery trouble solved send to have fixed my network issues!!
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Click to collapse
The network isn't actually live yet, so LTE doesn't work. Will probably be a week or two, considering they want to launch it by Christmas.
You can manually connect to any LTE band using the Modem menu by dialing *#546368#*915#
The above is how you can connect internationally.
My phone is unlocked and running on public mobile, so I don't have any issues with LTE.

Anarchaotic said:
The network isn't actually live yet, so LTE doesn't work. Will probably be a week or two, considering they want to launch it by Christmas.
You can manually connect to any LTE band using the Modem menu by dialing *#546368#*915#
The above is how you can connect internationally.
My phone is unlocked and running on public mobile, so I don't have any issues with LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Freedom Mobile uses the AWS band. I've done the *#546368#*915#, AWS is only option that that works with Freedom Mobile right now. The AWS band currently has no option for LTE, in 'Settings' 'Mobile Network' or in the Hidden Menu. the LTE options in the Hidden Menu don't work, probably because Freedom Mobile uses band 66, which is an AWS band. LTE options on this phone go from bands 1 to 20 , not band 66.
LTE will be enabled on Freedom Mobile phones in a future firmware update.
Edit: And only two Freedom mobile branded phones will do the LTE on band 66, any other phone, like a Pixel XL or anything will only work as 4G, only these two phones support band 66.

KedarWolf said:
Freedom Mobile uses the AWS band. I've done the *#546368#*915#, AWS is only option that that works with Freedom Mobile right now. The AWS band currently has no option for LTE, in 'Settings' 'Mobile Network' or in the Hidden Menu. the LTE options in the Hidden Menu don't work, probably because Freedom Mobile uses band 66, which is an AWS band. LTE options on this phone go from bands 1 to 20 , not band 66.
LTE will be enabled on Freedom Mobile phones in a future firmware update.
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Click to collapse
Ah thanks for the clarification. According to others the network is live, but you can't connect. So presumably the only thing keeping it back is this software connection?

Anarchaotic said:
Ah thanks for the clarification. According to others the network is live, but you can't connect. So presumably the only thing keeping it back is this software connection?
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Click to collapse
No, the network is live, but on V20s only 4G is working, not LTE. A tech from Freedom Mobile confirmed this, that LTE will be enabled in a firmware update before Xmas on the V20.
i hope this doesn't post twice, XDA has been really buggy for me lately.
The only two phones that will support LTE band 66 are the two current Freedom Mobile phones. Any other phone like the Pixel XL do not support the band and will only get 4G.

unless people can confirm that LTE works, I'm not very eager to switch from my sweet "Holiday Miracle" plan to the new LTE plan.
and I have a hunch this is more than likely just a cash grab, I'm sure if I buy the V20 out right and stick my existing "Holiday Miracle" plan, I'll still get LTE with a SIM card change.

KedarWolf said:
No, the network is live, but on V20s only 4G is working, not LTE. A tech from Freedom Mobile confirmed this, that LTE will be enabled in a firmware update before Xmas on the V20.
i hope this doesn't post twice, XDA has been really buggy for me lately.
The only two phones that will support LTE band 66 are the two current Freedom Mobile phones. Any other phone like the Pixel XL do not support the band and will only get 4G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just got the update to my phone, I'll see if Band 66 is an option once it's done.

Have LTE on my Freedom Mobile V20 now with yesterday's firmware update, getting 56 mb/sec down, 36 up. Haven't accessed the Hidden Menu yet to see new options though.

KedarWolf said:
Have LTE on my Freedom Mobile V20 now with yesterday's firmware update, getting 56 mb/sec down, 36 up. Haven't accessed the Hidden Menu yet to see new options though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only see up to band 40 in the hidden menu, but it's great that it's working.

KedarWolf said:
Have LTE on my Freedom Mobile V20 now with yesterday's firmware update, getting 56 mb/sec down, 36 up. Haven't accessed the Hidden Menu yet to see new options though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still on the old Plans or using the new LTE Plans?

T-Mobile LTE in US isn't working...ideas?

I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.

4G+ is the UK's LTE as far as iconography is concerned. Have you done a speediest on 4G+?

I've noticed the same thing, but I (as mentioned above) thought that LTE and 4G+ were synonymous. I think the only reason to flash a region based image would be to enable radio bands that are disabled based on location (which may be in this case).

Works fine here. Lower Manhattan using same version.
4G is LTE in US.

Download LTE Discovery and you'll be able to see if it is connected to LTE or HSPA(+). Mine, also from Clove, is just fine with AT&T LTE.

nd_geek said:
I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are looking at the signals wront, I'm on T-Mobile and have 4G+ as well it's the UK version of LTE. Look at my screenshot.

nd_geek said:
I imported the 8141 from Clove in the UK. So far, my only real issue is I have yet to see it connect to LTE. I've seen "4G" and "4G+", but no LTE...which is a problem because I can barely pick up a signal other than LTE in my area. I checked and confirmed it's using the correct APN (fast.t-mobile.com). I'm on the 110/unlimited/unlimited $30/month prepaid plan and confirmed I haven't hit the LTE cap. If I put the SIM back in my Moto X Pure/Play, it hops on LTE without a problem.
Everything I've read says the radio should support T-Mobile's frequencies. Is there another setting somewhere I need to change? Do I need to flash another region's stock ROM (and is that even possible yet)? Did I get a lemon? Do I need to hold it a certain way like whatever iPhone it was a couple years back?
Any and all suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4G is basically the same thing as LTE in this case. 4G includes WiMax and LTE. So when you see "4G" it means you're using LTE. The same goes with 4G+ - LTE-Advanced (LTE+).
I have LTE logo on my Z3 while Z5 Premium shows 4G while using the same network.

4G is LTE in europe. We did not have that silliness that some 3,5G was called 4g. Also there is no band limitations on XZ Premium.
For app to check which band of spectrum you are connected to, please use Cellmapper app (from my signature).
If you wish to see different icon in there, you could flash Customized DE firmware which has "LTE" icon. But this has only cosmetic effect.

Instead of making a new thread, anyone knows if VoLTE works with the XZ Premium for T-Mobile?

Currently no. You need region or operator specific image Flashed (oem.sin) but there is none for XZ Premium.
But there is hope as there is t-mobile us specific modem configuration in all region images.. which will be loaded when you have correct oem image Flashed.