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!!!
Click to expand...
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.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
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
Click to expand...
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.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
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!