Hi,
my name is Andrea and first of all thanks to give me your attention.
I'm in europe, italy, and was watching Z3 model d6683, it's for chinese market i guess, particular version of dual sim model. Now, i've two sim, the operator is "3 italia", and its signal is from 3g to 4g (if the area is covered by 2g signal only, i go in roaming signal, and can't surf etc). Now, i'm looking for a dual sim phone, and both sim have to get at least 3g signal at the same time. I'm not asking to surf with both sim at the same time, and i'm not asking "dual active", not interested if when i call, the other sim goes airplane mode. I'm asking if Sony Xperia Z3 model d6683 has two sim can get both at least in 3g mode during standby and always in general, cause i surf with one sim, i call with the other one, but this last don't want to go roaming all the time. Hope it's clear.
I can get this particular model because an Eshop has it online, but first need to know this problem.
Hope it can, and battery can last in any case.
Or if you know some other phones...
Thanks
None has it?
Help please, if you know this model can do what im looking for, or just another phone..
Thanks
Bro i also have D6683 in which one sim will work as 4G and other as 2G.
Hope i have helped you
niks20 said:
Bro i also have D6683 in which one sim will work as 4G and other as 2G.
Hope i have helped you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the second one can't get higher than 2g? Are you sure, could be the operator..or is just the phone? And if you put sim 1 to 3g, the second always max 2g?
Thanks a lot, some people told me this phone could be the only one to do what i'm looking for, but i guess it doesn't exist.
|Renovatio| said:
So the second one can't get higher than 2g? Are you sure, could be the operator..or is just the phone? And if you put sim 1 to 3g, the second always max 2g?
Thanks a lot, some people told me this phone could be the only one to do what i'm looking for, but i guess it doesn't exist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
D6683 is designed specifically for the Chinese market. It uses bands that are incompatible with rest of the world, therefore, it would be mostly useless anywhere else.
The following is from xperiablog.net:
Sony Xperia Z3 Dual TD (D6683) network support
– Dual SIM version which supports TD-LTE in China
– 4G FDD LTE: Band 1 (2100), Band 3 (1800), Band 7 (2600)
– 4G TD-LTE: Band 28 (2600 CMCC),Band 39 (1900), Band 40 (2300), Band 41 (2600 Unicom)
czguy said:
D6683 is designed specifically for the Chinese market. It uses bands that are incompatible with rest of the world, therefore, it would be mostly useless anywhere else.
Following is from xperiablog.net
Sony Xperia Z3 Dual TD (D6683) network support
– Dual SIM version which supports TD-LTE in China
– 4G FDD LTE: Band 1 (2100), Band 3 (1800), Band 7 (2600)
– 4G TD-LTE: Band 28 (2600 CMCC),Band 39 (1900), Band 40 (2300), Band 41 (2600 Unicom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?
Fdd are here in europe, my operator cover 1800 and 2600 lte. Maybe Tdd too.
But could be enough the fact to support just 3g, but the important would be both sim can get up to that at the same time. I'm just asking this.
|Renovatio| said:
?
Fdd are here in europe, my operator cover 1800 and 2600 lte. Maybe Tdd too.
But could be enough the fact to support just 3g, but the important would be both sim can get up to that at the same time. I'm just asking this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to make sure is to test it. When I went to China last month my Z3 Dual worked nicely on Unicom's 2600 band. The first time I've read about D6683, I've got really excited until I've found out that it does not support bands used on North American continent wich makes is useless as a world phone to me. If you plan to use it in Europe only, there is a chance that it will work for you. I was not able to find out what 3G bands D6683 supports because the situation there is quite messy. Chinese 3G network is 80% incompatible for rest of the world, the only network that works with foreign phones is Unicom. It's very similar in Japan as well. Understanding that this phone is targeted for the Chinese market, I am pretty sure that it would be useless in North America (and most likely in Europe as well) on 3G bands. Luckily, with the proliferation of LTE networks while 2G is being slowly phased out, we are going to see more phones supporting simultaneous LTE on both SIMs soon.
czguy said:
The only way to make sure is to test it. When I went to China last month my Z3 Dual worked nicely on Unicom's 2600 band. The first time I've read about D6683, I've got really excited until I've found out that it does not support bands used on North American continent wich makes is useless as a world phone to me. If you plan to use it in Europe only, there is a chance that it will work for you. I was not able to find out what 3G bands D6683 supports because the situation there is quite messy. Chinese 3G network is 80% incompatible for rest of the world, the only network that works with foreign phones is Unicom. It's very similar in Japan as well. Understanding that this phone is targeted for the Chinese market, I am pretty sure that it would be useless in North America (and most likely in Europe as well) on 3G bands. Luckily, with the proliferation of LTE networks while 2G is being slowly phased out, we are going to see more phones supporting simultaneous LTE on both SIMs soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course stay in Europe lol.
But i do not care the fact could not work here, as the fact I want it to support 3g at least at same time.
I guess user niks answerd the question, but i asked to check a few things via mp. But probaly he's right, the phone could show if, after you set connection on sim 1, could support 3g signal on second one. It's impossibile, i have to admit
|Renovatio| said:
Of course stay in Europe lol.
But i do not care the fact could not work here, as the fact I want it to support 3g at least at same time.
I guess user niks answerd the question, but i asked to check a few things via mp. But probaly he's right, the phone could show if, after you set connection on sim 1, could support 3g signal on second one. It's impossibile, i have to admit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I was able to find out about D6683 and band support for 3G slightly differs based on where you look:
2G/Voice Bands 850/900/1800/1900
3G/HSPA Bands 850/900/1700/1900
LTE Bands 1/3/7/38/39/40/41
http://www.expansys.ca/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td-d6683-unlocked-lte-16gb-copper-278237/
2G GSM
3G WCDMA 850 + 900 + 2100
4G TDD LTE B38 + B40
4G FDD LTE B3 + B7
http://www.eprice.com.hk/mobile/intro/5146/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td/
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network FDD LTE : Band 1 (2100), Band 3 (1800), Band 7 (2600)
TD-LTE : Band 28 (2600 CMCC), Band 39 (1900), Band 40 (2300), Band 41 (2600 Unicom)
http://supero.co.nz/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td-d6683-16gb-lte-black/
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
TD-LTE (Band 38, 39, 40, 41) FD-LTE (Bands 1, 3, 7)
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Xperia-D6683-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B00YDIEC9A
czguy said:
This is what I was able to find out about D6683 and band support for 3G slightly differs based on where you look:
2G/Voice Bands 850/900/1800/1900
3G/HSPA Bands 850/900/1700/1900
LTE Bands 1/3/7/38/39/40/41
http://www.expansys.ca/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td-d6683-unlocked-lte-16gb-copper-278237/
2G GSM
3G WCDMA 850 + 900 + 2100
4G TDD LTE B38 + B40
4G FDD LTE B3 + B7
http://www.eprice.com.hk/mobile/intro/5146/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td/
2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100
4G Network FDD LTE : Band 1 (2100), Band 3 (1800), Band 7 (2600)
TD-LTE : Band 28 (2600 CMCC), Band 39 (1900), Band 40 (2300), Band 41 (2600 Unicom)
http://supero.co.nz/sony-xperia-z3-dual-td-d6683-16gb-lte-black/
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100
TD-LTE (Band 38, 39, 40, 41) FD-LTE (Bands 1, 3, 7)
http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Xperia-D6683-Factory-Unlocked/dp/B00YDIEC9A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Maybe we re not understanding each other.
I think it can support 3g and even 4g here. My question is when one sim is on 3g/4g,the other one goes 3g? Not to connect data to surf, just about quality, frequency.. at least..
I'm looking one phone it can do it. Seems does not exist.
|Renovatio| said:
Thank you. Maybe we re not understanding each other.
I think it can support 3g and even 4g here. My question is when one sim is on 3g/4g,the other one goes 3g? Not to connect data to surf, just about quality, frequency.. at least..
I'm looking one phone it can do it. Seems does not exist.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do understand what you mean. It would have to be tested, however, there is a very good chance that it might since D6683 can simultaneously run on LTE bands using both SIMs which no Z3 Dual (D6633) can do. Most of the networks in Canada where I live use 3G for voice (same in Australia) and regular Z3 Dual is useless in such scenario, however, there is a chance it would work fine with D6683 which would become a dual SIM phone to go to except LTE bands.
Hope it can. Maybe will buy one to test it,directly.
Ok, Sony America and Sony China say it can't, as user niks wrote.
A Shop wrote on the sony z3 product crearly it can.
Will write to that Shop and to sony hong kong for the last time.
I don't know where to find my D6683 stock rom HELPPPP...!!!
Sent from my D6683 using Tapatalk
I can't seem to find the list of CA bands. I saw it before but can't seem to find it again.
FRD-L04 supports the following bands
GSM
850
900 (E-GSM)
1800 (DCS)
1900 (PCS)
UMTS
B1 (2100)
B2 (1900 PCS)
B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
B5 (850)
LTE
B2 (1900 PCS)
B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
B5 (850)
B7 (2600)
B12 (700 ac)
B17 (700 bc)
and since its an LTE-A device, Carrier aggregation is possible.
vsriram92 said:
FRD-L04 supports the following bands
GSM
850
900 (E-GSM)
1800 (DCS)
1900 (PCS)
UMTS
B1 (2100)
B2 (1900 PCS)
B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
B5 (850)
LTE
B2 (1900 PCS)
B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1)
B5 (850)
B7 (2600)
B12 (700 ac)
B17 (700 bc)
and since its an LTE-A device, Carrier aggregation is possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get this information from? There's a site called FrequencyCheck claiming this, but it contradicts the information from Huawei/Honor - and Honor's live chat confirms it is incorrect. I'm not going to have my Honor 8 for a few weeks, but I sincerely hope this information is incorrect.
The official information (from https://store.hihonor.com/us/honor-8/specification ) is:
LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B20, WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8, GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Interband CA: B2-B17,B5-B4,B5-B2,B2-B12,B2-B4 Intraband Continuous CA: B2
Given I plan to use this phone in the UK, I'm obviously seriously hoping that this is the correct set of info...
AllieKitty said:
Where did you get this information from? There's a site called FrequencyCheck claiming this, but it contradicts the information from Huawei/Honor - and Honor's live chat confirms it is incorrect. I'm not going to have my Honor 8 for a few weeks, but I sincerely hope this information is incorrect.
The official information (from https://store.hihonor.com/us/honor-8/specification ) is:
LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B20, WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8, GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Interband CA: B2-B17,B5-B4,B5-B2,B2-B12,B2-B4 Intraband Continuous CA: B2
Given I plan to use this phone in the UK, I'm obviously seriously hoping that this is the correct set of info...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh. Got that info from that FrequencyCheck website only.
According to the Official website it has B8 and B20 in addition to the bands I mentioned in my post.
If confusion over sources is the problem, why not take a look at the FCC's tests? https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/repo...id=RVnBofSaGkQDhYOqmiLX/A==&fcc_id=QISFRD-L04
The RFExposure document says that only the downlink of Release 10 CA is supported, with a max of two carriers. It does not have R10 uplink CA, ESC-FDMA or Uplink MIMO, or any other R10 features. Uplink comms are R8 specs. (Sect 1.3.3)
(7.1.17 has some more info on CA.)
In that same document, there's a power reduction specsheet showing the distribution of each band over various antennas. From there, it looks like these are the supported bands:
GSM:
- 850
- 1900
UMTS:
- II
- IV
- V
LTE:
- 2
- 4
- 5
- 7
- 12
- 17
(Sect 1.3.2)
Section 1.3 has a really clear listing, since it's the EUT (Equipment Under Test) Description. It lines up with the above information.
So @AllieKitty, the FCC doesn't mention anything about LTE/UMTS B1, B3, B8 or B20, not does it say GSM900 and GSM1800 are supported. It's possible they just didn't test those bands, since they aren't really used here, but I think they'd still be listed in the Device Configuration.
---------- Post added at 12:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:59 AM ----------
AllieKitty said:
Where did you get this information from? There's a site called FrequencyCheck claiming this, but it contradicts the information from Huawei/Honor - and Honor's live chat confirms it is incorrect. I'm not going to have my Honor 8 for a few weeks, but I sincerely hope this information is incorrect.
The official information (from https://store.hihonor.com/us/honor-8/specification ) is:
LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B17/B20, WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8, GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Interband CA: B2-B17,B5-B4,B5-B2,B2-B12,B2-B4 Intraband Continuous CA: B2
Given I plan to use this phone in the UK, I'm obviously seriously hoping that this is the correct set of info...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a reason to not get the FRD-L09 (VAT or something)? It supports LTE 3, 7, 20.
Zacharee1 said:
If confusion over sources is the problem, why not take a look at the FCC's tests? https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/repo...id=RVnBofSaGkQDhYOqmiLX/A==&fcc_id=QISFRD-L04
The RFExposure document says that only the downlink of Release 10 CA is supported, with a max of two carriers. It does not have R10 uplink CA, ESC-FDMA or Uplink MIMO, or any other R10 features. Uplink comms are R8 specs. (Sect 1.3.3)
(7.1.17 has some more info on CA.)
In that same document, there's a power reduction specsheet showing the distribution of each band over various antennas. From there, it looks like these are the supported bands:
GSM:
- 850
- 1900
UMTS:
- II
- IV
- V
LTE:
- 2
- 4
- 5
- 7
- 12
- 17
(Sect 1.3.2)
Section 1.3 has a really clear listing, since it's the EUT (Equipment Under Test) Description. It lines up with the above information.
So @AllieKitty, the FCC doesn't mention anything about LTE/UMTS B1, B3, B8 or B20, not does it say GSM900 and GSM1800 are supported. It's possible they just didn't test those bands, since they aren't really used here, but I think they'd still be listed in the Device Configuration.
---------- Post added at 12:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:59 AM ----------
Is there a reason to not get the FRD-L09 (VAT or something)? It supports LTE 3, 7, 20.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The FRD-L09 doesn't support bands 2, 4, and 12 though. Also, it costs a LOT more - got my L04 (in my friend's possession in the US right now) for $259.99 on Amazon.
As for the FCC... that means nothing... the L14 has the same FCC tests. ONLY bands used in the US get tested by the FCC. Which makes the band 7 tests odd, as band 7 isn't used in the US yet - but it is used in Canada. My understanding is that band 7 is a possibility for future use in the US, which is probably why this needed testing.
PS thanks for the FCC link, I found the correct list under the description of equipment in the RF test report:
FRD-L04 is subscriber equipment in the GSM/WCDMA/LTE system. The GSM frequency band includes GSM850 and
GSM900 and DCS1800 and PCS1900. The UMTS frequency band is B1 and B2 and B4 and B5 and B8. The LTE
frequency band is B1 and B2 and B3 and B4 and B5 and B7 and B8 and B12 and B17 and B20. But only GSM850 and
GSM1900MHz，UMTS frequency B2 and B4 and B5，LTE frequency B2 and B4 and B5 and B7 and B12 and B17
bands test data included in this report. The Mobile Phone implements such functions as RF signal receiving
/transmitting, LTE/HSPA/UMTS and GSM/GPRS/EDGE protocol processing, voice, video MMS service, GPS, AGPS,
NFC and WIFI etc. Externally it provides one micro SD card interface (it can also used as SIM card interface),
earphone port (to provide voice service) and one SIM card interface. FRD-L04 is single SIM smart phone. It also
provides Bluetooth module to synchronize data between a PC and the phone, or to use the built-in modem of the phone
to access the Internet with a PC, or to exchange data with other Bluetooth devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AllieKitty said:
The FRD-L09 doesn't support bands 2, 4, and 12 though. Also, it costs a LOT more - got my L04 (in my friend's possession in the US right now) for $259.99 on Amazon.
As for the FCC... that means nothing... the L14 has the same FCC tests. ONLY bands used in the US get tested by the FCC. Which makes the band 7 tests odd, as band 7 isn't used in the US yet - but it is used in Canada. My understanding is that band 7 is a possibility for future use in the US, which is probably why this needed testing.
PS thanks for the FCC link, I found the correct list under the description of equipment in the RF test report:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad I'm wrong
Zacharee1 said:
Glad I'm wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too! The band 7 testing is odd. Those frequencies are used in the US for TD-LTE (as band 41). Band 7 is a theoretical possibility from my understanding but unlikely. Sprint would be in the best position to try to get their spectrum paired to use as band 7, but why? TD-LTE offers benefits FDD-LTE doesn't in efficiency. Canada uses B7 tho, so that may explain it.
Anyway, to reiterate for OP's sake in case it got lost in the crowd:
Interband CA: B2-B17,B5-B4,B5-B2,B2-B12,B2-B4 Intraband Continuous CA: B2
I have confirmed EU-version (FRD-L09) CA Combos: https://cacombos.com/device?model=FRD-L09 - only Contiguous CA seems support.
1. I will be living in the US and Colombia in an orphanage. I am currently in the US and my latest phone is a Note 3 and Verizon (CDMA). Colombia doesn't have CDMA. My Verizon Note 3 will work there, but not well. The closest spectrum match from a US carrier AT&T and I like anything in the Note series. I would like the Note 4 because it has a replaceable battery, a back that comes off so I can add a dual SIM adapter, the price, and if it comes up missing, it won't cost much to replace. However, Claro and Movistar are the two most popular networks in the country, and it appears that I see that the Note 4 and Note 5 do not support Movistar's UMTS B4, so it appears that the Note 8 is the only option if I want to support both. I've never been a band expert, so I organized the information below for your comment. The red in the Note 5 and Note 8 show the differences between them and the Note 4.
Colombian Mobile Service Providers
Claro (48%), Movistar(24%), Tigo(18%), remaining 10% are MVNOs of these.
Colombian Bands
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS) - Claro, Movistar, Tigo
UMTS B2 (1900 PCS) - Claro, Tigo
UMTS B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar
LTE (4G): Band 2/1900 - Movistar
LTE (4G): B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar, Tigo
LTE (4G): B7 (2600) - Claro, Tigo
LTE (4G): Band 38/2600 - DirectTV data
LTE (4G): Future - Colombia will "real soon" (when pigs fly) be auctioning in the 700 range 2x 15MHz blocks (Block A/B12), 2x 10MHz blocks (Block B/B12) and two 2x 5MHz blocks (Blocks C/B12&orB13, and D/B14). A supplementary 2x 2.5MHz block of 1900MHz spectrum will also be auctioned, comprising frequencies in the 1865MHz-1867.5MHz/1945MHz-1947.5MHz bands (Block E/B25).
AT&T Bands (as near as I can find)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carriers/at-t-united-states
GSM Supported Protocols: GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols: UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850)
LTE Supported Protocols: LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850 CLR), B12 (700 ac), B14 (700 public safety), B17 (700 bc), B30 (2300 WCS), B40 (TDD 2300 implementing), B66 (1700 AWS)
Note 4 N910A (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/GLDb7/samsung-sm-n910a-galaxy-note-4-lte-a-samsung-muscat
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B12 (700 bc), B17 (700 bc)
Supported LTE Protocols LTE, LTE-A
Note 5 N920A (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/A1aaA/samsung-galaxy-note-5-sm-n920a
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
LTE Supported Protocols LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B3 (1800 +), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B7 (2600), B12 (700 ac), B17 (700 bc), B20 (800 DD), B29 (700 de)
Note 8 N950U (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/mode...axy-note-8-td-lte-us-sm-n950u1-samsung-baikal
https://www.techwalls.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-sm-n950-model-number-differences/
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
LTE Supported Protocols LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B3 (1800 +), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B12 (700 ac), B13 (700 c), B17 (700 bc), B18 (800 Lower), B20 (800 DD), B25 (1900 +), B26 (850 +), B28 (700 APT), B29 (700 de), B30 (2300 WCS), B38 (TD 2600), B39 (TD 1900 +), B40 (TD 2300), B41 (TD 2500)
2. Another entirely different subject is how good the AT&T network is these days? (Southwest Michigan mostly with some rural.) On Verizon pre-paid I'm always connected and get 13.9 down and 9.23 up in the worst part of the day on 3 bars. How well does it do inside buildings as I'm often buried in basements and wire closets with my IT work. Any advice appreciated.
Thanks TONS!!!
IT_Architect said:
1. I will be living in the US and Colombia in an orphanage. I am currently in the US and my latest phone is a Note 3 and Verizon (CDMA). Colombia doesn't have CDMA. My Verizon Note 3 will work there, but not well. The closest spectrum match from a US carrier AT&T and I like anything in the Note series. I would like the Note 4 because it has a replaceable battery, a back that comes off so I can add a dual SIM adapter, the price, and if it comes up missing, it won't cost much to replace. However, Claro and Movistar are the two most popular networks in the country, and it appears that I see that the Note 4 and Note 5 do not support Movistar's UMTS B4, so it appears that the Note 8 is the only option if I want to support both. I've never been a band expert, so I organized the information below for your comment. The red in the Note 5 and Note 8 show the differences between them and the Note 4.
Colombian Mobile Service Providers
Claro (48%), Movistar(24%), Tigo(18%), remaining 10% are MVNOs of these.
Colombian Bands
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS) - Claro, Movistar, Tigo
UMTS B2 (1900 PCS) - Claro, Tigo
UMTS B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar
LTE (4G): Band 2/1900 - Movistar
LTE (4G): B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar, Tigo
LTE (4G): B7 (2600) - Claro, Tigo
LTE (4G): Band 38/2600 - DirectTV data
LTE (4G): Future - Colombia will "real soon" (when pigs fly) be auctioning in the 700 range 2x 15MHz blocks (Block A/B12), 2x 10MHz blocks (Block B/B12) and two 2x 5MHz blocks (Blocks C/B12&orB13, and D/B14). A supplementary 2x 2.5MHz block of 1900MHz spectrum will also be auctioned, comprising frequencies in the 1865MHz-1867.5MHz/1945MHz-1947.5MHz bands (Block E/B25).
AT&T Bands (as near as I can find)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carriers/at-t-united-states
GSM Supported Protocols: GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols: UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850)
LTE Supported Protocols: LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850 CLR), B12 (700 ac), B14 (700 public safety), B17 (700 bc), B30 (2300 WCS), B40 (TDD 2300 implementing), B66 (1700 AWS)
Note 4 N910A (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/GLDb7/samsung-sm-n910a-galaxy-note-4-lte-a-samsung-muscat
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B12 (700 bc), B17 (700 bc)
Supported LTE Protocols LTE, LTE-A
Note 5 N920A (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/A1aaA/samsung-galaxy-note-5-sm-n920a
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
LTE Supported Protocols LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B3 (1800 +), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B7 (2600), B12 (700 ac), B17 (700 bc), B20 (800 DD), B29 (700 de)
Note 8 N950U (AT&T)
https://www.frequencycheck.com/mode...axy-note-8-td-lte-us-sm-n950u1-samsung-baikal
https://www.techwalls.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-sm-n950-model-number-differences/
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
LTE Supported Protocols LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B3 (1800 +), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B12 (700 ac), B13 (700 c), B17 (700 bc), B18 (800 Lower), B20 (800 DD), B25 (1900 +), B26 (850 +), B28 (700 APT), B29 (700 de), B30 (2300 WCS), B38 (TD 2600), B39 (TD 1900 +), B40 (TD 2300), B41 (TD 2500)
2. Another entirely different subject is how good the AT&T network is these days? (Southwest Michigan mostly with some rural.) On Verizon pre-paid I'm always connected and get 13.9 down and 9.23 up in the worst part of the day on 3 bars. How well does it do inside buildings as I'm often buried in basements and wire closets with my IT work. Any advice appreciated.
Thanks TONS!!!
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Click to collapse
Get an unlocked international model(GSM), then you can use it anywhere, it just requires changing SIM and maybe flashing the firmware from whatever region/carrier you use the device in.
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Droidriven said:
Get an unlocked international model(GSM), then you can use it anywhere, it just requires changing SIM and maybe flashing the firmware from whatever region/carrier you use the device in.
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Click to collapse
I run across story after story like this https://forums.att.com/t5/Samsung-D...ote4-LTE-on-the-AT-amp-T-network/td-p/4731477 while hawking online forums of the issues people run into attempting just that. In the case of the AT&T phones all use the 32-bit Snapdragon processor and chipset. The international versions that also have the required bands, use the 64-bit Exynos processor and chipset, which would be incompatible with AT&T's firmware. (Qualcomm chip's modem/radio is compatible with many frequencies but only 6 can be enabled at any one time.) Additionally, in approximately 50% of the instances where users buy even seemingly identical phones from Samsung, or from another US GSM carrier that is not an MVNO of the same network, they fail to get the firmware of the new carrier to flash to their phone, and end up swapping phones to one from the new carrier. It seems at very minimum they run into unresolvable VoLTE issues, and often even basic 4G connection issues. These problems seem to be a common only when a US carrier is in the mix. Thus, my thought is the only realistic option is to get a phone from a US GSM carrier like AT&T, that has the bands I need, and use SIMs in it from Colombia. The Note 8 is the earliest of the Note series from AT&T that has all of the bands necessary to cover all three wireless networks in Colombia.
The problem with the Note 4 is it has B4 for LTE, but not UMTS, which is the only UMTS band used by the 2nd largest wireless network in Colombia, Movistar, and reportedly the network business people prefer. I checked coverage maps hoping Movistar had LTE and VoLTE almost everywhere and wouldn't need UMTS. That turned out to be not true. They have a lot of 3G-only areas and 2G-only in a few. I checked coverage maps hoping to see that I could just use Claro. That didn't look too promising either. In fact, it looks like one would not want to cut themselves out of any of the the three. So it's either a used Note 8, or an inexpensive new AT&T phone that can cover all of the bands. If I bought a new AT&T phone with the required bands, it wouldn't be near the phone of a used Note 8, and cost more. So it is looking more and more like an AT&T Note 8, which is too bad, because from every other perspective, I'd far rather have the Note 4, even if it was the same price.
Thanks!
IT_Architect said:
I run across story after story like this https://forums.att.com/t5/Samsung-D...ote4-LTE-on-the-AT-amp-T-network/td-p/4731477 while hawking online forums of the issues people run into attempting just that. In the case of the AT&T phones all use the 32-bit Snapdragon processor and chipset. The international versions that also have the required bands, use the 64-bit Exynos processor and chipset, which would be incompatible with AT&T's firmware. (Qualcomm chip's modem/radio is compatible with many frequencies but only 6 can be enabled at any one time.) Additionally, in approximately 50% of the instances where users buy even seemingly identical phones from Samsung, or from another US GSM carrier that is not an MVNO of the same network, they fail to get the firmware of the new carrier to flash to their phone, and end up swapping phones to one from the new carrier. It seems at very minimum they run into unresolvable VoLTE issues, and often even basic 4G connection issues. These problems seem to be a common only when a US carrier is in the mix. Thus, my thought is the only realistic option is to get a phone from a US GSM carrier like AT&T, that has the bands I need, and use SIMs in it from Colombia. The Note 8 is the earliest of the Note series from AT&T that has all of the bands necessary to cover all three wireless networks in Colombia.
The problem with the Note 4 is it has B4 for LTE, but not UMTS, which is the only UMTS band used by the 2nd largest wireless network in Colombia, Movistar, and reportedly the network business people prefer. I checked coverage maps hoping Movistar had LTE and VoLTE almost everywhere and wouldn't need UMTS. That turned out to be not true. They have a lot of 3G-only areas and 2G-only in a few. I checked coverage maps hoping to see that I could just use Claro. That didn't look too promising either. In fact, it looks like one would not want to cut themselves out of any of the the three. So it's either a used Note 8, or an inexpensive new AT&T phone that can cover all of the bands. If I bought a new AT&T phone with the required bands, it wouldn't be near the phone of a used Note 8, and cost more. So it is looking more and more like an AT&T Note 8, which is too bad, because from every other perspective, I'd far rather have the Note 4, even if it was the same price.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might be able to get the AT&T device of your choice and then flash it with a different modem that has been extracted from a firmware from a different region, flashing just the modem can avoid any incompatibilities between the complete firmware packages, i.e. bootloader, kernel, system differences wouldn't be an issue because those aren't being modified.
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Droidriven said:
You might be able to get the AT&T device of your choice and then flash it with a different modem that has been extracted from a firmware from a different region, flashing just the modem can avoid any incompatibilities between the complete firmware packages, i.e. bootloader, kernel, system differences wouldn't be an issue because those aren't being modified. Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I like the idea if I can find one that that uses the same processor and it can be done without tripping KNOX. My thought is I would be safer with Samsung Pay than a real credit card...when they get around to implementing it there. LOL!
Something I wish they would do is implement a method to reset KNOX and return it to an exact factory image.
IT_Architect said:
I like the idea if I can find one that that uses the same processor and it can be done without tripping KNOX. My thought is I would be safer with Samsung Pay than a real credit card...when they get around to implementing it there. LOL!
Something I wish they would do is implement a method to reset KNOX and return it to an exact factory image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a stock modem from a firmware for a device that is the same model but from a different region, won't trip Knox, that I know of. Its a stock file so it should pass all security and signature checks by the bootloader/kernel.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
I believe in order to not trigger KNOX, I would have to flash the entire firmware because the modems and bootloaders require the ROM to be of the same firmware. If I do that, I will have a carrier problem. If I don't do that, I would have a KNOX problem.
IT_Architect said:
I believe in order to not trigger KNOX, I would have to flash the entire firmware because the modems and bootloaders require the ROM to be of the same firmware. If I do that, I will have a carrier problem. If I don't do that, I would have a KNOX problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, flashing a modem from a different region's firmware for THE SAME MODEL NUMBER device to use the device on a different carrier/region is a very common thing, bootloader and ROM differences aren't an issue, that I know of. If the model numbers on the devices are the same, you can mix and match the firmwares and their parts, certain things might not work as they should, though, but that's more carrier related than it is hardware/software related.
What you're saying would probably happen if you flashed a modem from A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER device.
But, I could be wrong, I'm almost sure that I'm not though. I've seen different modems used many times, even done it myself on a few devices.
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Droidriven said:
No, flashing a modem from a different region's firmware for THE SAME MODEL NUMBER device to use the devive on a different carrier/region is a very common thing, bootloader and ROM differences aren't an issue, that I know of. If the model numbers on the devices are the same, you can mix and match the firmwares and their parts, certain things might not work as they should, though, but that's more carrier related than it is hardware/software related. What you're saying would probably happen if you flashed a modem from A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER device.
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Click to collapse
Got it! I just went looking for what you suggested. Using FrequencyCheck.com, I learned there isn't a modem combination that works in the Note 4 line, nor Note 5. Grrr!
Claro (think Verizon) and Tigo(think Altel) are no problem with their 3G UMTS on B2. The stickler turns out to be Movistar(think AT&T), Colombia's second largest, and most advanced carrier, because their 3G UMTS is on B4. Movistar has VoLTE everywhere they have LTE, but there is plenty of 3G-only between cities. It isn't a good idea to cut yourself out of any of the three. It would be a stretch to give up Tigo, whose claim to fame is to service pockets the other two don't, and you might end up living. However, Movistar could very easily turn out to be the only one capable of usable data in your area.
I hate so say it, but it looks like there will be an AT&T Note 8 with its not-easily-replaceable-battery in my near future.
IT_Architect said:
Got it! I just went looking for what you suggested. Using FrequencyCheck.com, I learned there isn't a modem combination that works in the Note 4 line, nor Note 5. Grrr!
Claro (think Verizon) and Tigo(think Altel) are no problem with their 3G UMTS on B2. The stickler turns out to be Movistar(think AT&T), Colombia's second largest, and most advanced carrier, because their 3G UMTS is on B4. Movistar has VoLTE everywhere they have LTE, but there is plenty of 3G-only between cities. It isn't a good idea to cut yourself out of any of the three. It would be a stretch to give up Tigo, whose claim to fame is to service pockets the other two don't. Movistar could very easily turn out to be the only one capable of usable data in your area.
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Click to collapse
I'm not familiar with your region, the carriers in that region or which devices would have what support or not. I was just offering commonly used solutions for switching carrier/region.
Maybe someone else can provide more specific info for your particular scenario.
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You've done a FABULOUS job helping me. Because the stars didn't align isn't anything either of us could have predicted. Figuring out what won't work is part of figuring out what will. :laugh:
IT_Architect said:
Got it! I just went looking for what you suggested. Using FrequencyCheck.com, I learned there isn't a modem combination that works in the Note 4 line, nor Note 5. Grrr!
Claro (think Verizon) and Tigo(think Altel) are no problem with their 3G UMTS on B2. The stickler turns out to be Movistar(think AT&T), Colombia's second largest, and most advanced carrier, because their 3G UMTS is on B4. Movistar has VoLTE everywhere they have LTE, but there is plenty of 3G-only between cities. It isn't a good idea to cut yourself out of any of the three. It would be a stretch to give up Tigo, whose claim to fame is to service pockets the other two don't, and you might end up living. However, Movistar could very easily turn out to be the only one capable of usable data in your area.
I hate so say it, but it looks like there will be an AT&T Note 8 with its not-easily-replaceable-battery in my near future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd start digging a little deeper and look at other Samsung model numbers with the exact same hardware, i.e. same CPU and same radio. If you find other models with the same hardware, you might find one out of the bunch that has a modem that you can use. It will be tricky, but, if there are enough devices that match, the better the chances of one of them having a modem that is compatible with your hardware and region/carrier.
It would require some intense and in depth comparison of all the minutia of details at the software level, comparing bootloader and modems to find a firmware that has a modem that is compatible with your bootloader and hardware at the bootloader/kernel/coding level. In some cases, a modem can be made compatible by modifying the bootloader from your firmware thrn flashing the bootloader to allow the modem to flash or by modifying the modem to make it compatible with your stock bootloader(or the modified bootloader) before flashing.
It's tricky, but can be done. And it doesn't cause a Knox issue as long as the files are signed correctly. It's risky, modified bootloaders and modems can hardbrick devices, but if modified correctly, it usually works.
I don't have the knowledge to make those kinds of modifications but others here have done things at that level. Members here use modified stock ROMs, stock kernels, bootloader and modems more than you'd think. In a lot of cases, this is the only kind of modifications that Samsung devices with locked bootloaders have the option to use.
Then again, it would probably be much less hassle to buy a device that you can confirm is viable for what you need.
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Droidriven said:
Then again, it would probably be much less hassle to buy a device that you can confirm is viable for what you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I've summarized based on what I've learned.
U.S. lay of the land:
- AT&T is the GSM network in the U.S. most likely to be able to service you satisfactorily.
- AT&T as a rule does not work with carrier unlocked U.S. or international phones from a practical standpoint. Even IF you manage to get it to work somewhat with their network, you will have at least these service issues:
1) AT&T will not do carrier aggregation therefore maximum download is around 17mbps and upload is around 6mbps while with an AT&T branded phone download is 82mbps and upload is 44mbps.
2) AT&T will not provision LTE advanced features such as VoLTE, Wi-Fi calling, or advanced messaging.
3) AT&T will not recognize the IMEI in order to push secondary LTE bands which in turn also throttles bandwidth.
- AT&T works grudgingly, with T-Mobile phones. Government edict forced them support B12 as well as their B17 (a subset of B12) to be interoperable with T-Mobile. If you go with the T-Mobile phone to pickup the new B71 600 band, you lose out on the AT&T B17 range of B12, which is well managed by AT&T.
- The U.S. Unlocked Note 9 SM-N960UZBAXAA (128GB) is the best of all worlds. It has the SnapDragon, all of the AT&T bands and T-Mobile bands for the current and foreseeable future, AND all of the Colombian band for the current and foreseeable future, AND all of the CDMA bands for Verizon and Sprint. It is in most cases less expensive than the carrier versions. The problem, as mentioned, is getting it to work well with AT&T. I would guess the same situation exists with other carriers as well, and that it would require legislation, like they did with cable companies, to change that.
Summary:
- I need to pick an AT&T branded phone, and get it unlocked in order to work in the U.S.
- The phone needs to be able to also do the Colombian bands.
Colombian Bands
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS) - Claro, Movistar, Tigo
UMTS (3G) B2 (1900 PCS) - Claro, Tigo
UMTS (3G) B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar
LTE (4G): Band 2/1900 - Movistar
LTE (4G): B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1) - Movistar, Tigo
LTE (4G): B7 (2600) - Claro, Tigo
LTE (4G): Band 38/2600 - DirectTV data
LTE (4G): Future - Colombia will "real soon" (when pigs fly) be auctioning in the 700 range 2x 15MHz blocks (Block A/B12), 2x 10MHz blocks (Block B/B12) and two 2x 5MHz blocks (Blocks C/B12&orB13, and D/B14). A supplementary 2x 2.5MHz block of 1900MHz spectrum will also be auctioned, comprising frequencies in the 1865MHz-1867.5MHz/1945MHz-1947.5MHz bands (Block E/B25).
AT&T Bands
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carriers/at-t-united-states
GSM Supported Protocols: GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols: UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850)
LTE Supported Protocols: LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850 CLR), B12 (700 abc), B14 (700 public safety), B17 (700 bc), B30 (2300 WCS), B40 (TDD 2300 implementing), B66 (1700 AWS)
Note 4 N910A (AT&T) - Note 4, by far my favorite, and Note 5 fail because they do not support Movistar's UMTS (3G) B4[/B]
https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/GLDb7/samsung-sm-n910a-galaxy-note-4-lte-a-samsung-muscat
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
LTE (4G) B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B12 (700 abc), B17 (700 bc), B29 (700 de),
Supported LTE Protocols LTE, LTE-A
Note 8 N950U (AT&T) - Note 8 & 9 support all bands for all three Colombian carriers current, and the proposed bands
*Differences between Note 8 and Note 4 are highlighted in red.
Note 9 adds B66/AWS-3 which is used by U.S. T-Mobile's 4G, but not T-Mobile's new B71 (600) that they are rapidly deploying. That is only available on the T-Mobile model.
*Differences between Note 9 and Note 4 and 8 are highlighted in blue.
https://www.frequencycheck.com/mode...axy-note-8-td-lte-us-sm-n950u1-samsung-baikal
https://www.techwalls.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-sm-n950-model-number-differences/
GSM Supported Protocols GPRS, EDGE
GSM (2G) 850, 900 (E-GSM), 1800 (DCS), 1900 (PCS)
UMTS Supported Protocols UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+
UMTS (3G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B8 (900 GSM)
TD-SCDMA (3G): B34(2010), B39(1880)
LTE Supported Protocols LTE, LTE-A
LTE (4G) B1 (2100), B2 (1900 PCS), B3 (1800 +), B4 (1700/2100 AWS 1), B5 (850), B7 (2600), B8 (900), B12 (700 ac), B13 (700 c), B17 (700 bc), B18 (800 Lower), B20 (800 DD), B25 (1900 +), B26 (850 +), B28 (700 APT), B29 (700 de), B30 (2300 WCS), B38 (TD 2600), B39 (TD 1900 +), B40 (TD 2300), B41 (TD 2500), B66/AWS-3
Summary
I can come up with other phones that will straddle the fence, and some are quite inexpensive. However, if I want a Note, I can't go less than the Note 8 to do it.
Thanks for all of your help!