I was considering buying a used HTC phone on eBay to start tinkering around with Android. I noticed that there were several phones listed as having a "bad ESN" and they were generally cheaper. Now, I know if a phone has a bad ESN it can't be activated with service from the carrier. But, can I still use it as a fully functioning device via Wi-Fi? (without calling, texting, 3G obviously)
Thanks
tpat212 said:
I was considering buying a used HTC phone on eBay to start tinkering around with Android. I noticed that there were several phones listed as having a "bad ESN" and they were generally cheaper. Now, I know if a phone has a bad ESN it can't be activated with service from the carrier. But, can I still use it as a fully functioning device via Wi-Fi? (without calling, texting, 3G obviously)
Thanks
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it sounds like it could, seeing that you only would use it with wifi and local internet.
I haven't owned an Android phone before, and don't know much about ESN, but I have some hacking experience with iPhone/iOS. if the ESN is used to activate a phone on a carrier/network, who's to say it isn't used to activate the phone itself. Iphones require activation on a network prior to being used as a device, and it can only make emergency calls until activated
rayzeur22 said:
if the ESN is used to activate a phone on a carrier/network, who's to say it isn't used to activate the phone itself. Iphones require activation on a network prior to being used as a device, and it can only make emergency calls until activated
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That's what I was worried about. Basically I just want to get a used HTC Evo or Incredible, flash CyanogenMod 7 on it and use it like a tablet, not a phone. Anybody have experience with phones that have a bad ESN?
I had a Sprint Evo 4G that had a bad ESN and WiFi, BT, GPS, etc. all worked fine. I believe the iPhone series are the only phones that require device activation, and you could always push custom software to the phone. I'm pretty sure you can even run a stripped-down version of Ubuntu on most Android phones if you want to use it as a tablet
No experience with bad ESNs, but just a heads up - if you want to get an Evo, make sure that it's either already rooted or on 2.2, as Evos with GB cannot be rooted yet. There's talk that it's coming soon, so you may want to check when you get ready to purchase.
For what it's worth, I use my Evo in airplane mode with wifi only when I don't have a signal and everything works. But mine is activated, so that could make a difference. I only run AOSP roms, but it should be the same for Sense.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
arcticwolf8 said:
I had a Sprint Evo 4G that had a bad ESN and WiFi, BT, GPS, etc. all worked fine.
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That's what I wanted to hear! Thanks
tpat212 said:
I was considering buying a used HTC phone on eBay to start tinkering around with Android. I noticed that there were several phones listed as having a "bad ESN" and they were generally cheaper. Now, I know if a phone has a bad ESN it can't be activated with service from the carrier. But, can I still use it as a fully functioning device via Wi-Fi? (without calling, texting, 3G obviously)
Thanks
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Click to collapse
YES, Definitely!
When I started shopping for a Xoom, I knew that getting one that would work on 3G/4G would get me advantages over the Wifi version. That's where my knowledge stopped.
Are there any advantages to having the CDMA/LTE capability, besides being able to get data outside of wifi areas?
Am I correct that the Xoom can NOT be used as a voice calling phone on the carrier's network (Verizon)?
I went with Xoom instead of the Nexus 7 because of the MicroSD card ability on the Xoom, and for it's 4G connectivity (even not knowing what that would get me ) Oh well, there is always more tech coming....
Your questions could really be answered by doing some searching around the forums... but:
I believe you are correct, no voice calling.
And yeah, when you buy into a mobile data plan, you can get data access anywhere the carrier has signal.
Are you planning on unlocking your bootloader and using custom ROMs?
This can be dangerous, there is a chance of bricking your device, so don't run into it without planning/researching. You may decide this route isn't for you.
IF your willing to mod your device, I believe there is way to allow your device to have access to SMS messaging (but not positive, I don't own one).
Some potential drawbacks though, if your not planning on rooting your device, it normally takes longer for the carrier branded ones to get OTA updates. Example: The wi-fi only Xoom is now getting its JellyBean update, but the Verizon branded ones are not. That update has to come through Verizon, instead of just through Google.
Hope that helps...
I just recently switched from Sprint to ATT after unlocking my phone. After the switch was pretty terrible when all the installed software just kind of broke. Caller ID even started screwing up.
Fast forward to now and I ran the process using the Factory Binary and Canadian Firmware and successfully got my phone to identify as an ATT phone and boot with the full logo and software suite. However after doing that I am still unable to get anything really ATT related working properly. All my caller ID issues are now fixed, but I can't get WiFi calling to work (the main reason I flashed ATT instead of unlocked)
Is there any way to get wifi calling working on my phone? If not should I just switch to the us unlocked firmware since Wifi calling is really the only reason I know of to use a carrier firmware.
Thanks!
Cannot find anyone to answer this either. Have Unlocked version of S8+ on AT&T and cannot get Wifi Calling or Video Calling. Get no answer that if I Flash AT&T firmware on phone will that get me Wifi Calling etc. like an AT&T phone.
I believe that with anything but a carrier sold device, you will never be able to get WiFi calling. In spite of flashing the proper CSC and firmware, the IMEI still shows up in their system as an "unknown" device.
I spent over 2 hours last nite with att reps trying to enable numbersync to work between the s3 and s8 phones.. the s8 phone is an unlocked phone (not bought through att), only to find out today via another rep that the phone must be bought via ATT or truly att branded.. which i find a bit absurd, as i think others have succeeded..
Is this really the case.. anyone know or have this same experience?
Specifically this error would appear after going through the get started via the watch then on the phone (after creating a seperate accessid):
Oh darn! We can't enable device syncing on this phone. Want to find out more? Call us at 800.331.0500 so we can help.
(MSSITWINREL12)
If this turns out to really be an unlocked phone issue (which is a bit ridiculous), i think i read that it might be possible to take my sim card out of that phone and put in another phone that is att branded, enable number sync then put the card back in my s8 and go from there
Thanks
The phone does not have to be AT&T branded, I have a T-Mobile Note 4 and until the last update numbersync worked. Updated my S# over the weekend after avoiding it for as long as possible, and now numbersync is no longer an option on my S3.
pasco8525 said:
The phone does not have to be AT&T branded, I have a T-Mobile Note 4 and until the last update numbersync worked. Updated my S# over the weekend after avoiding it for as long as possible, and now numbersync is no longer an option on my S3.
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Thanks for the reply.. your saying you had an unlocked tmobile phone on att and it was working till a recent tizen update then?
The rep further told me to take the phone to the best buy samsung experience store and have it flashed with the att firmware to get around this issue.. maybe not needed then? (which i assume means a wipe and possibly lose my unlock)
I had the same problem with my Gear S3 and my Axon 7. Worked on for a solid hour with an ATT rep in store and another hour on phone with someone else. Finally it was determined that it wouldn't work on an unlocked phone. Haven't tried the sim swap with an ATT branded device yet, but if I do, I'll let you know if it works.
karlkarloff said:
I had the same problem with my Gear S3 and my Axon 7. Worked on for a solid hour with an ATT rep in store and another hour on phone with someone else. Finally it was determined that it wouldn't work on an unlocked phone. Haven't tried the sim swap with an ATT branded device yet, but if I do, I'll let you know if it works.
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Spoke to an att rep again today who called me.. basically in my case the 950U1 s8 phone.. because its this model it wont work with numbersync they say.. they also contradicted the previous reps suggestion of taking the phone to the samsung experience place and having the att firmware flashed on it (or doing it at home).. saying it wont help.. that they need HD voice provisioned and it wont let them provision it (the phone wont).. they said swapping the sim card to a real att phone only may help for a short period, till the system does a sweep, sees a non att phone and reverts it (same with just adding the imei to the database).. There is also a good chance the recent update to either the s3 or the samsung s8 caused numbersync to do a detection for unlocked phones and not allow this (they indicated).
They said i could still try doing the firmware flash but it probably wouldnt work (i dug around online trying to find out which flash it would be and i didnt get too far, short of going to the store to do it at best buy samsung experience)
Really sucks, as the alternative, if i were that desperate to enable this feature (i dont think i am willing to go this far) would be to sell the old phones and get new att branded ones.. end up costing me the price of a new watch in the mix just to do that
markm75 said:
Spoke to an att rep again today who called me.. basically in my case the 950U1 s8 phone.. because its this model it wont work with numbersync they say.. they also contradicted the previous reps suggestion of taking the phone to the samsung experience place and having the att firmware flashed on it (or doing it at home).. saying it wont help.. that they need HD voice provisioned and it wont let them provision it (the phone wont).. they said swapping the sim card to a real att phone only may help for a short period, till the system does a sweep, sees a non att phone and reverts it (same with just adding the imei to the database).. There is also a good chance the recent update to either the s3 or the samsung s8 caused numbersync to do a detection for unlocked phones and not allow this (they indicated).
They said i could still try doing the firmware flash but it probably wouldnt work (i dug around online trying to find out which flash it would be and i didnt get too far, short of going to the store to do it at best buy samsung experience)
Really sucks, as the alternative, if i were that desperate to enable this feature (i dont think i am willing to go this far) would be to sell the old phones and get new att branded ones.. end up costing me the price of a new watch in the mix just to do that
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.
When I first bought the watch it was for the numbersync feature. My first problem was even though the Samsung rep and the bestbuy rep said that it would work with my Note3, it did not. took several calls and many hours of trying to figure out the HD Voice (VOlte) provisioning. Bought a TMobile Note 4, rooted and rom'ed this worked to setup numbersync. the only problem was it would occasionally turn off numbersync, this occurred about once a month. Then if failed completely said that this line is not accceptabl;e for numbersync. this was after about six months. Discovered that it appeared to be age of firmware related, I was on a TM firmware that was several updates out of date. When I odin flashed the latest firmware numbersync worked again until the recent update to 3.0.0.1 on the gear firmware. Now I have the line not acceptable for numbersync again. I'm going to try to update firmware again to see if that works. If not I will probably look to change carriers to TM. will cost the price of a new watch, but will get me out of AT&Ts locked boot loader.
BTW, setting up numbersync on a different phone and switching back will not work, Tried several times and as soon as you turn on the phone that is not HD Voice capable with your SIM card in it the system sees it and turns off numbersync almost instantly. went throught that trying to get my Note 3 to work.
In all my experience the Samsung and AT&T reps were not a good resource. Numbersync does not appear to be a very popular feature and they do not know much about it.
pasco8525 said:
.
When I first bought the watch it was for the numbersync feature. .
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My main motivation for it has been that.. someone correct me if this isnt accurate.. if your phone dies or is off.. when you dial someone from the watch or text them it will still show the cell phone phone number, not the watch phone number as it does now if bluetooth isnt on.
I'm in the process of gathering the files i need to do the att firmware flash and hopefully hd voice works then (as others say it has).
markm75 said:
My main motivation for it has been that.. someone correct me if this isnt accurate.. if your phone dies or is off.. when you dial someone from the watch or text them it will still show the cell phone phone number, not the watch phone number as it does now if bluetooth isnt on.
I'm in the process of gathering the files i need to do the att firmware flash and hopefully hd voice works then (as others say it has).
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Click to collapse
Yes, that is the whole point of numbersync. The watch uses the phones number not it's own.
Tried updating to the latest firmware and a ROM based on it. No luck still get a rather comical response "Oh darn! We can't enable device syncing on this phone. " worked until the tisen update.
There also seems to be confusion on numbersync with the att reps.. one person told me the watches dont need their own numbers.. that numbersync is all we need (but how would the watch make a call if the phone is off).. another said yes they need external numbers for number sync or solo
edit: i see your last post.. so the latest reps are correct then.... so they assigned us numbers and $10 access fees each with activation fees for no reason basically.. ugh
The watch has to have it's own number, that is it's address on the network. Without it numbersync would have no way to send calls to it. Same as with the LTE enabled iPads they could not make a call, but had to have an address on the cellular network.
Just a quick note...i too spent 3 hours in an AT&T store trying to get numbersync to work..., finally returned the S3 Frontier cancelled the number in it and left frustrated...i now have a GS8 unlocked on AT&T through my work...that is synced to a Verizon Gear S3 Classic lte and i simply use call forwarding with YouMail. If i do not answer my phone after 3 rings it gets sent to my watch and if I still do not answer then Youmail picks it up..If I call out or text with the watch separately then I just let my customers know that I have 2 numbers 1 for my cell and one for their watch. I just don't think AT&T is ready for the Numbnersync technology yet and they just don't care enough to train their own people on it, sad as it is a good promise...
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
pasco8525 said:
The watch has to have it's own number, that is it's address on the network. Without it numbersync would have no way to send calls to it. Same as with the LTE enabled iPads they could not make a call, but had to have an address on the cellular network.
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Click to collapse
I meant phone number.. are you saying phone number? After the rep said i didnt need a phone number for each watch, she credited me back the cost of the two lines and said just to contact them that they would enable the numbersync once i had the phones ready.. I'm assuming number means imei, which they still have in the system.
Yes each watch has to have it's own phone number. I believe this is another case of AT&T rep not understanding number sync.
I managed to firmware update so that i have the att bloatware (didnt even need reset, all software was kept).. i confirmed HD voice is working but WiFi calling throws an error to contact ATT.. hd voice was the key for numbersync.. however.. despite this.. and 2 hours on the chat line with ATT.. i still get an error when you do the s3's get started numsync and it opens the page on the phone.. the oops, device sync cant work with your phone (which went from a 950U1 to a 950U btw, which is good as well).. They escalated to another backend team, but i highly doubt they will get it working.. most likely they'll still complain that my phone (was) an unlocked phone, despite adding the att firmware to it.
markm75 said:
I managed to firmware update so that i have the att bloatware (didnt even need reset, all software was kept).. i confirmed HD voice is working but WiFi calling throws an error to contact ATT.. hd voice was the key for numbersync.. however.. despite this.. and 2 hours on the chat line with ATT.. i still get an error when you do the s3's get started numsync and it opens the page on the phone.. the oops, device sync cant work with your phone (which went from a 950U1 to a 950U btw, which is good as well).. They escalated to another backend team, but i highly doubt they will get it working.. most likely they'll still complain that my phone (was) an unlocked phone, despite adding the att firmware to it.
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Update here.. i managed to get everything working by going with a new sim card.. wifi calling works now.. and i was able to complete numbersync setup.. the only remaining issue i have is that my callerid seems to be blocked on the receiving end.
markm75 said:
Update here.. i managed to get everything working by going with a new sim card.. wifi calling works now.. and i was able to complete numbersync setup.. the only remaining issue i have is that my callerid seems to be blocked on the receiving end.
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Click to collapse
With the Firmware did you have to go through the full process where you changed the CSC and flashed the ATT firmware? Currently I am running a Sprint phone that is unlocked an running the US Unlocked firmware. Even running the ATT firmware they still were not able to get HD Voice or WiFi calling working for me.
eaglerugby04 said:
With the Firmware did you have to go through the full process where you changed the CSC and flashed the ATT firmware? Currently I am running a Sprint phone that is unlocked an running the US Unlocked firmware. Even running the ATT firmware they still were not able to get HD Voice or WiFi calling working for me.
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Click to collapse
The full steps, or mostly full.. are here in this thread..
The short of it was that i only ran regular odin at first.. just did HOME_CSC (using the verizon firmware which covers all carriers).. then rebooted the phone and did all the check boxes and the regular CSC.. after rebooting nothing was wiped and att bloatware was there... at this point hd voice was working.. wifi calling wasnt.. so i went to the store, got a new sim card today, then wifi calling was working.. numbersync took the code on the phone without error.. however.. now i'm realizing it isnt really working.. when i turned the phone off, and texted, it showed my s3 phone number.. and my callerid is still botched.. i think att botched something in this whole process.. so yet another call to them needed.
markm75 said:
The full steps, or mostly full.. are here in this thread..
The short of it was that i only ran regular odin at first.. just did HOME_CSC (using the verizon firmware which covers all carriers).. then rebooted the phone and did all the check boxes and the regular CSC.. after rebooting nothing was wiped and att bloatware was there... at this point hd voice was working.. wifi calling wasnt.. so i went to the store, got a new sim card today, then wifi calling was working.. numbersync took the code on the phone without error.. however.. now i'm realizing it isnt really working.. when i turned the phone off, and texted, it showed my s3 phone number.. and my callerid is still botched.. i think att botched something in this whole process.. so yet another call to them needed.
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Thanks. It sounds like the latest firmware they did seems to fix some of the issues from bringing a non-ATT phone over but does not resolve everything. It looks like I won't be able to do this though. ATT and the ebay seller are unable to clear the ICCID on my watch, I have to sadly do a return now.
Kinda unrelated, yet ATT was horrible even for normal Sammy phone/watch. After dumping ATT service/hardware for various reasons a few moths back... Sammy watch/phone from Verizon hardware/service works flawlessly. Am carrier neutral, but one works reliably, one didn't.
BTW, Sammy pay via watch hiccuped via ATT at times, yet works flawless via Verizon.
markm75 said:
The full steps, or mostly full.. are here in this thread..
The short of it was that i only ran regular odin at first.. just did HOME_CSC (using the verizon firmware which covers all carriers).. then rebooted the phone and did all the check boxes and the regular CSC.. after rebooting nothing was wiped and att bloatware was there... at this point hd voice was working.. wifi calling wasnt.. so i went to the store, got a new sim card today, then wifi calling was working.. numbersync took the code on the phone without error.. however.. now i'm realizing it isnt really working.. when i turned the phone off, and texted, it showed my s3 phone number.. and my callerid is still botched.. i think att botched something in this whole process.. so yet another call to them needed.
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Click to collapse
well 5 chat people later they finally fixed the unknown callerid issue.. apparently there is an internal back end feature for numbersync regarding it set to active and on.. both toggles were on.. the rep removed the "on" and now my callerid shows my number when calling from my phone (and from the watch when watch is in solo mode too).. everything works! :laugh:
Pardon my noobness, I will explain this to the best of my abilities
AT&T told me that my current phone Samsung S8+ will not work on their network (international dual sim unlocked version). They said that it is because "the 3G will shut off" but this phone is clearly a 4G phone. To be more specific, my device is a SM-G955FD. They sent me a replacement phone which is less than crappy and said my current sim will be deactivated soon.
I have already rooted (and ROM'ed) my phone - and I know you can change device identity/fingerprint using build props. I want to mask my phone as a SM-G955FU which is the USA unlocked version. At this point, I'd like to know if this could make a difference and make my phone not be deactivated by fooling their system, or if there are other things to try.
List of permitted phones
https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Service-Capabilities-Unlocked-Devices-ATT-Network.pdf
Help appreciated,
I don't think they query device's brand / model property as stored in Android's build.prop file because these characteristics at any time can get changed by user.
The speed of data access relies on two things: your phone and your service provider. Every phone has a radio module that is responsible for talking to the network. It is this piece of hardware that either can or can not use latest communication technologies: if the phone does not support 4G, you will not get that speed whatever you try.
jwoegerbauer said:
I don't think they query device's brand / model property as stored in Android's build.prop file because these characteristics at any time can get changed by user.
The speed of data access relies on two things: your phone and your service provider. Every phone has a radio module that is responsible for talking to the network. It is this piece of hardware that either can or can not use latest communication technologies: if the phone does not support 4G, you will not get that speed whatever you try.
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Click to collapse
Thanks, what is odd is that it should support it on several bands
Will Samsung Galaxy S8+ work in USA?
In this page we are going to show you the compatibility of Samsung Galaxy S8+ with the mobile networks of USA and with the telephony operators that provide service in USA.
www.kimovil.com
The same thing happened to me today, woke up to a sim not registered message and no cell service (voice, sms or data).
I went to the store and they said my unlocked Moto G7 Power (XT1955-2) is not supported/compatible on ATT's network. I re-checked the phone's specs and it supports 4G LTE on bands 12 and 17 on 1900 Mhz which overlaps the data I found for ATT's network. I'm not well versed in this stuff tho. Perhaps it's a local towers thing and I am in an area where their towers are operating on the other ATT frequencies (1700, 700)? The guy at the store did something (I forget the exact details) and I do have voice back, but that is it, no data or SMS. He also mentioned that ATT is like cracking down on what kind of devices can connect. If ATT is blocking my device tho I'm curious, how is it possible? I guess they can lookup my device via the IMEI and then see if it's on their approve list of devices?
I don't understand their problem. Your phone model is listed as supported as long as you update your software to enable WiFi calling (VoLTE). Come 2/2022, you phone must either be 5G or VoLTE calling enabled to be supported. My Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s shows that it can do VoLTE under the sim card details in Settings and supports 13 LTE bands, including AT&T's bands. It should continue to work on their network after 2/2022.
Yet AT&T repeatedly disabled my phone. I had to tell them to re-activate my phone multiple times. I have tried some new phones. Turned out everytime I pulled the sim out to try a new phone and stick it back in my old phone, AT&T would check the phone's IMEI again and would disable the phone. On the 5th call with them, they put in a code/note in their system to mark my IMEI (be ware each sim tray has its own IMEI) not to be disabled until Fed 2022. I have since tried Surface Duo which on this list and decided not to keep it. Stuck the sim card back in my old phone specific sim tray and it continues to work.
Call them to re-activate/keep your phone active until Fed 2022. They have no rights to disable your phone before then.
Most A&T reps understand less than us on the reason to disable our phone. They jsut keep saying 3G phones will be disabled but our phoens are clearly LTE. VoLTE is one real reason of the problem but them our phones support VoLTE anyway. I am tired of arguing with them and am looking at a Note 10 now. But your situation got me concerned. Sounds like they may not honor the supported list which is updated frequently. I downloaded the June version of the list which is largely the same as yours and asked them how long they would support the phones on the list. They couldn't/wouldn't commit. Even on the phones they sell at their website, they would only give a vague promise to support them for "quite a while".
AT&T has always advertized BYOP. We spent big money on nice phones that are compatible with their network. And now the want to shut us out.