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13NOV: CDMA Rhodium Q&A: GSM, 3G Bands, SIM UNLOCK, ESN, IMEI, HARDSPL, ROMS, FM, GPS

13NOV: CDMA Rhodium Q&A: GSM, 3G Bands, SIM UNLOCK, ESN, IMEI, HARDSPL, ROMS, FM, GPS
I've seen a million (not a million literally, but close enough) of these threads in all shapes and sizes around the forum, yet there still doesn't seem to be a definitive answer to everyone's questions.
Telephony Network & 3G band compatibilty
SIM Unlocks
HARD-SPL & ROM compatibility queries
Domestic (US) and International Usage
Usability of Both CDMA and GSM radios
GPS
FM Radio
As someone that shares most of the comunities queries about the Rhodium CDMA's compatibility, I am listing all the questions that I have encountered around the forum and a format in which the answers must be provided in order to eliminate any unwanted chatter in order to be able to get to the "bottom of this" ASAP.
ANSWERING FORMAT
1. Please indicate the Q number to which you will be providing your answer
2. If you are going to describe compatibilty with any service provider, please indicate the following before you start answering or asking any questions.
Name of the Serive Provider: Verizon / AT&T etc.
Country of the Serive provider:
Network Type: CDMA / GSM
3G Bands supported by the service provider:
QUESTIONS
Q1. Are the Verizon, Sprint and Telus versions of the TP2 identical as far as the hardware is concerned? The only difference I can find between the 3 of them as compared on PDADB is that the Verizon and Telus versions support only UMTS2100 instead of both UMTS 900 / 2100 like the Spint version. We need this sorted out. Is the info at PDADB not accurate?
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Q2. As far as I know, ESN is used for CDMA phones and IMEI is used for GSM phones. Can anyone check to see if the CDMA Rhodiums come with 2 identifications numbers, one for each radio?
A2. Seems like it does come with both, although the ESN in this case is referred to as as an MEID
Read This
Q3. Again, as far as I know most CDMA service providers around the world offer phones without a SIM card (or even a SIM Card holder). They program the "SIM Card equivalent identification number" (maybe the ESN itself is used as identification) into the phone and that is how it identifies itself on the network. More recently, I have started to notice that CDMA phones are coming out with SIM card slots and even CDMA service providers (like Verizon) are offering CDMA SIM cards. Now multiple questions arise from this.
a. Does the Rhodium allow your Verizon / Sprint / Telus telephone number to be programed into it or do you receive a SIM card for your telephone number?
A. All CDMA Rhodium's that come from the carrier are programmed with the telephone number on them (Well it's not exactly that, but for the noobs that just means that you don't need a SIM Card.) Some users (Verizon and Sprint) receive a GSM SIM card along with the phone. That is just for roaming purposes. If you are ever in a country where Sprint / Verizon don't have a roaming agreement with a CDMA provider, then it will seek out a GSM carrier that they do have a roaming agreement via the GSM radio and SIM card. That's the only reason it's there. It (the SIM Card) serves no purpose while you're in the US.
b. Does the SIM card slot accept SIMs for both GSM and CDMA networks?
A. Ok First things first...
I'd like to correct something here regarding the "SIM" for CDMA. It's called an "UIM" or "RIM" for CDMA networks. It looks identical to a GSM SIM card but believe it or not, United States, or in North America, the UIM/RIM is integrated into the phone, where the rest of the world such as China, the users can remove the UIM/RIM just like GSM-counter parts.
We still don't have a concrete answer if the SIM slot will accept UIM/RIM cards although chances are very slim that it can.
c. If the Rhodium supports having the telephone number programed into it, does that mean that I can have another CDMA service provider (in a different country of course) delete the existing number and program in a new telephone number?
A. Of course you can. It just depends on the service provider although not all of them might co-operate and would be willing to do this. Why? Simply beacuse it might affect their phone sales.
If you are willing to do most of the work yourself, check out this thread at PPCgeeks.
Further Reading
d. Essentially, the question I want answered here is, can I use 2 telephone numbers (one CDMA number programmed into the phone and another GSM / CDMA number via use of a SIM card). I understand you cannot have both radios active at the same time and that's not what I am asking.
A. Yes, you most certainly can although I doubt youll be able to stick a CDMA UIM/RIM into the SIM Card slot and gain access to a second CDMA carrier.
Q4. This might sound like a silly question, but a lot of people including myself aren't a 100% sure about it. Once HARD-SPL is introduced for the CDMA Rhodium, can we use all the ROMs cooked here at XDA, or do we have to use ROMs that are specific to these CDMA models?
A. NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT! You cannot use a GSM ROM for a CDMA device. You might brick it! Of course if you do something silly like that, you might be able to recover it, but why do it in the first place?
Q5. Leaving T-Mobile and AT&T aside, most GSM 3G networks around the world use 900 / 2100 bands. The CDMA Rhodium (atleast the Sprint version) supports both. Does this automatically mean that 3G would work on this where ever 900 / 2100 is available? or is there more voodoo magic to this? If I understand it correctly, then this phone is exactly the same as the HTC European version (except the Front CAM) + the fact that it has a CDMA radio as well?
A. Yes, it should work!
Misc Questions
Q6. Is there a SIM Unlock tool (or any other kind of paid service / hack) available to make this phone compatible with the US GSM service providers?
A. YES YES YES! Olipro and Cmonex have made this happen for real. Works with all CDMA Rhodiums.
General SIM Unlock (for worldwide use): Read This
Sim Unlock for Domestic US carriers: Read This
Alternatively you can do the following (There's no point really with the unlocker now available)
Verizon: Call Global Services Customer Care (1. Customer in good standing can get it done immediately after purchase. 2. New customers or defaulters need to wait for 60 days) After it is unlocked, you'll have no problems making it work with any US GSM carrier.
Sprint: It's already unlocked, but won't work with US GSM carriers.
Telus: I'm not sure if Telus does that for you but thankfully enough there are a lot of paid unlocking services available starting from as low as $13.00.
Option #1: eBay
Option #2: Others
Q7. This phone seems far more superior to the International version simply because it supports CDMA and has everything else that the International version has (except the Front CAM). Is there any reason why this is not the preffered phone for ALL?
A. It's just a matter of taste and also some people really want that Front CAM from the HTC Branded Rhodium.
Q8. What is the deal with the FM Radio?
a. Is the hardware built-in for it or not?
A. Nobody is entirely sure about it yet, although based on some of the digging around that the folks over at PPC Geeks have done, it seems the hardware might be present. You can follow the development for that here. Get's interesting around Page 5.
b. If the hardware is present, then which port needs to be used as the antenna? Ext USB or the 3.5mm jack?
A. We'll find out when someone figures out how to make it work.
c. A lot of people report that it's locked or doesn't work. Any sign of a hack for it yet?
A. Not yet. There is one available for the GSM versions but that doesn't work for the CDMA Rhodiums.
Q9. GPS...
a. Is it locked to only Sprint's or Verizon's navigators or can Google maps or any other third party navigation / map software be used?
A. It's NOT locked. 2 Confirmed reports state that both Verizon and Sprint TP2s work with every navigation and map software under the sun with pretty accurate locks.
b. If it is locked, where is the hack for it?
A. Not required. It's NOT Locked
c. I'm having issues with getting accurate locks.
A. Follow the links to these discussions.
Read This #1 (PPC Geeks)
Read This #2 (XDA)
Q10. Front Camera. There isn't one, is there?
A10. Nope. No Front Camera for CDMA Rhodiums.
Q11. Headset
a. Do you get audio (stereo output) from the Ext-USB port like with the GSM versions?
b. Can an old headset with the Ext-USB connector work as a handsfree?
c. Telus comes with a 3.5mm based handsfree. What are Verizon and Sprint customers (who don't get one) doing about it?
A. Click HERE

Answer to Q9 in regards to the VERIZON version - no, it is not locked to the VZ programs. I've successfully used the GPS (with nearly instant locks) on both Google Maps and Garmin MobileXT.

Q9 GPS is unlocked on sprint TP2... All gps applications work accuratly

I want to know the answer to whether the UMTS900 in the Verizon phone simply isn't installed or if it was just an omission at PDADB.

Q4: You need to flash CDMA phones with CDMA roms. Flashing with a GSM rom will probably brick it.

dweidman said:
Q4: You need to flash CDMA phones with CDMA roms. Flashing with a GSM rom will probably brick it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although I'd imagine that most ROM cookers will release both versions of their major releases. At least, I'd hope so.

I get conflicting reports about that.
I've read in some places that as long as you don't cross flash the Radio ROMs (GSM for CDMA), then it's ok to use the generic ROMs available for GSM phones.
Also, can anyone check on the box of your CDMA Rhodiums to see if you ahve both an ESN and an IMEI number?
What are you guys doing about the handsfree? From all the unboxing videos I have seen for Verizon and Sprint TP2s, they don't provide you with it although the Telus version comes with a 3.5mm based headset. (Not the Ext-USB one)

My answer comes from my reading when I had the VZW TP - the CDMA threads were very specific about being CDMA only (and warned of bricking if you cross flashed). The radios will be different in them - so I am imagining it will be separate still. I don't cook - so maybe one of the more experienced can weigh in.

Humble1 said:
Answer to Q9 in regards to the VERIZON version - no, it is not locked to the VZ programs. I've successfully used the GPS (with nearly instant locks) on both Google Maps and Garmin MobileXT.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that too, only tried it with Google Maps though. To anyone having issue with the GPS make sure you run the QuickGPS program that comes installed while you have an active data connection. It downloads data on GPS satellites or something that makes the locks much faster than without this data.

Q8: Works. Had to install it twice (First time it said not supported) but it works.

leepriestenator said:
I get conflicting reports about that.
I've read in some places that as long as you don't cross flash the Radio ROMs (GSM for CDMA), then it's ok to use the generic ROMs available for GSM phones.
Also, can anyone check on the box of your CDMA Rhodiums to see if you ahve both an ESN and an IMEI number?
What are you guys doing about the handsfree? From all the unboxing videos I have seen for Verizon and Sprint TP2s, they don't provide you with it although the Telus version comes with a 3.5mm based headset. (Not the Ext-USB one)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the telus one and it COMES with a 3.5mm besides the usb port

LifeStealer said:
Q8: Works. Had to install it twice (First time it said not supported) but it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what? really?

@ LifeStealer.
Are you sure you got your RADIO working? FM RADIO???
How? When? What? Where?

Q7. This phone seems far more superior to the International version simply because it supports CDMA and has everything else that the International version has (except the Front CAM). Is there any reason why this is not the preffered phone for ALL?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My take on it is that, currently, we can't flash custom ROMs onto it. That's a huge part of the community here, and really, very often custom ROMs are superior in every way. Plus, you get a "new phone" feel every flash.
Once HardSPL/whatever comes out, perhaps everyone'll love the CDMA/GSM version. Who knows. In any case, Verizon's already sold out and most everyone on VZW who has one loves it, so perhaps just wait for time to tell.

Another question.
Have they in any way crippled the Video Out feature on the CDMA's?

Q11. Headset
b. Can an old headset with the Ext-USB connector work as a handsfree?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that the Ext-USB stereo headset that came with my Sprint Mogul works just fine.

I just bought a brand new sprint touch pro 2 but I'm looking to use it on GSM US network. I do know that it's sim unlocked and it can be used with any GSM carrier except for US carriers. I know there's currently no unlock code or app for CDMA tp2. I want to know if the phone is missing the hardware to use with GSM US carriers or is it just locked with software and if it's possible to sim unlock it in the future.

It probably just is software. The verizon model works with US carriers after you receive the unlock code.
Just a matter of time before someone here figures it out.
Also regarding the Radio. This is the PM I received from LifeStealer
LifeStealer said:
So... its installed and picking up stations I know to be be real (Via my stereo). But no sound. So it picks up but doesn't play? I dunno I didn't have a headset when I first tried it and now that I have one plugged in maybe it needs the default HTC headset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone check this out?

leepriestenator said:
It probably just is software. The verizon model works with US carriers after you receive the unlock code.
Just a matter of time before someone here figures it out.
Also regarding the Radio. This is the PM I received from LifeStealer
Can anyone check this out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that you can INSTALL the program and START the program, but it doesn't actually pick up any stations. The interface allows you to dial in any frequency but doesn't actually pick up any signal despite the fact that it says "Now Playing".

AstarteSV said:
I can confirm that you can INSTALL the program and START the program, but it doesn't actually pick up any stations. The interface allows you to dial in any frequency but doesn't actually pick up any signal despite the fact that it says "Now Playing".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have the headphones plugged in? I read somewhere the headphones have to be plugged in to pickup radio stations.

[Q] Unlocking Droid Charge to work on T-Mobile's Network

Greetings folks,
I apologize for posting this in this forum especially if a question has already been answered similar to what I'm asking but I can't seem to find a solution specifically to the problem that I am facing so I come to you all for help.
I have this brand new SCH-i510 Droid Charge by Verizon. I would like to use the phone but on T-Mobile's network and this phone does have a slot where a SIM card is installed. However when I try to put my working T-Mobile's SIM card (the one that they've issued me) into the Droid Charge phone, of course the phone will say that the SIM card is from an unknown source. Now keep in mind that since the phone is brand new, this phone want's me to initially set the phone up which means going through the setup of the SIM card, which is the first thing. So I can't. Now if I had a SIM card just laying around the house from Verizon, at least it would get me past this screen, but out of all the junk that I have horded over the years, I can't find one from Verizon.
I have, on the other hand, played with some ROM's to where I had to use the ODIN program and have successfully gotten myself past this screen without the use of the SIM card but I can not remember how in the hell I did it.
Is there any way that I can basically use ODIN to unlock this phone to where I can use it on T-Mobile's network and at the same time get it rooted as well??
I've had this phone for two months and the only thing that I've been able to use it for is to show off to my friends that I have one but put it away before any of them ask to play with it only to find out that it's still unusable?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!! I mean A LOT!!!
Sincerely,
Leonard Peacock

get a prepaid verizon sim, why would you use it on tmo anyway verizons 4g blows it out of the water !!

This phone will never work on T-Mobile's network. This phone is CDMA. T-Mobile is GSM. A CDMA phone will never be able to connect to a GSM network. The SIM in this phone is for LTE, not GSM.

The LTE radio in the Charge uses the SIM, and AFAIK, the LTE radio doesn't use the same frequency as any of T-Mobile's bands.

Please be a troll...I just laughed while reading this.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

Ain't gonna happen
The Droid Charge/SCH-i510 uses CDMA for everything EXCEPT 4G. The SIM card is ONLY for 4G data connectivity. You can still use the phone with Wifi on no network. If you can't get past the login screen, I suggest flashing a new ROM (like Team Black Hat's GB2.3.6 rooted/deodexed/debloated) with Odin. If you can get an unlock code for the phone, you may be able to use it on Sprint's network. Verizon may give you an unlock code if you're a current and loyal customer. Otherwise, there are various semi-reliable Googleable ways to unlock it (sometimes requiring payment to sketchy 3rd party companies).

Some bad news
Sorry, but it's not possible... The sim card is only for LTE, and the phone contains no GSM ratio, thus can't be used on T-Mobile's network, unless tmobile decides to use LTE on the same bands as Verizon, and switch their network over to CDMA, also, you would have to flash the phone and unlock it.

Jayjaymac said:
Sorry, but it's not possible... The sim card is only for LTE, and the phone contains no GSM ratio, thus can't be used on T-Mobile's network, unless tmobile decides to use LTE on the same bands as Verizon, and switch their network over to CDMA, also, you would have to flash the phone and unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Way to drag up an old thread and give the same answer that was already given

Jayjaymac said:
Sorry, but it's not possible... The sim card is only for LTE, and the phone contains no GSM ratio, thus can't be used on T-Mobile's network, unless tmobile decides to use LTE on the same bands as Verizon, and switch their network over to CDMA, also, you would have to flash the phone and unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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Ok ,can Voice work on any other networks other than Verizon,can the CDMA VIA chipset be reprogramed to work for Voice rather than data.Any program to access the VIA chipset as QPST does not help here(Qualcom).

imagecolour said:
Ok ,can Voice work on any other networks other than Verizon,can the CDMA VIA chipset be reprogramed to work for Voice rather than data.Any program to access the VIA chipset as QPST does not help here(Qualcom).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All phone functions run off of the SIM card. Unless you figure out how to unlink the two radios somehow, the Charge is VZW only as far as a Phone goes.

What they are saying can be challenged, remember the blackberry storm, that phone is on verizon and ive seen it operate on verizon at&t and straight talk, so its possible. Google sim-unlock and search for the unlock code but its expensive. By the way the droid 2 global is verizon cdma but its also cdma.

doe101 said:
What they are saying can be challenged, remember the blackberry storm, that phone is on verizon and ive seen it operate on verizon at&t and straight talk, so its possible. Google sim-unlock and search for the unlock code but its expensive. By the way the droid 2 global is verizon cdma but its also cdma.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bb storm and Droid 2 global were "world" phones. This one is not. It contains no edge, umts, hspa, or hspa+ radios or a sim card slot for such radios and therefore cannot operate on t-mobile's network.
Sent from my handheld Linux computer using electromagnetic radiation.

Heres an idea; instead of making things hard on yourself by trying to do the impossible; sell your charge and buy a tmobile phone.

+1
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA

doe101 said:
What they are saying can be challenged, remember the blackberry storm, that phone is on verizon and ive seen it operate on verizon at&t and straight talk, so its possible. Google sim-unlock and search for the unlock code but its expensive. By the way the droid 2 global is verizon cdma but its also cdma.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm, posting on a thread that's been inactive for two months? Looks like someone's trying to get their post count to 10

If you have a contract phone with verizon for at least 30 days they will give you an unlock code
Sent from my LG-V909 using XDA

Even if they would, it will never work on T-Mobile or at&t. Like everyone else has said, this phone doesn't contain the proper hardware to connect to their networks. If you look elsewhere on this board, people have been unsuccessful even getting it to connect to other CDMA networks.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

It does not have a slim slot, it has a VERIZON 4G slim slot. Verizon, verizon, Verizon,
Again, Verizon. They won't even activate it on verizon prepaid, I tried.
Again, Verizon only!
Sent from my vivow using xda premium

motorola bionic 4g verzion can work on t-mobile
brd912 said:
It does not have a slim slot, it has a VERIZON 4G slim slot. Verizon, verizon, Verizon,
Again, Verizon. They won't even activate it on verizon prepaid, I tried.
Again, Verizon only!
Sent from my vivow using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not and why can?

Unlocked T-Mobile Note 5 runs on Google FI Network ;)=

Well here is an interesting tidbit, I just got my Nexus 6P as a device for driving for Lyft and after booting the Nexus with the Project FI Sim card to register it on the network I realized I didn't need two phones to drive for two providers so I dropped my T-Mo sim card in the nexus 6P as as expected she fired right up on the T-Mo network and I had no where to keep the G-FI Sim card, out of fear of losing it i popped into my Note 5. Well I shut down the N-5 and kept playing with the Nexus 6P. In the morning I tuned on the N-5 to swap and copy files and the T-Mo update rolled in with full 4g LTE % bars. So it seems our Note 5 will definitely run on the Google FI network at full speed FYI. See Upper Left Corner of Note 5 http:
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That's pretty interesting. Do you think it has to do with Project Fi using the Tmo network? If that's the case, then theoretically any unlocked Tmo phone should run on Fi

Well I think that's a stretch but our phone has almost every existing band which could also be a factor I'm sure. I have yet to drive all around Los Angeles or out of the county or state of CA but I will report my findings as I do travel. But none the less its a great discovery for sure.
Please hit thanks if I've helped

It would be interesting to see if it can actually switch between the different networks through. I know that you need Google Connectivity Services installed on a Fi device for proper functionality, and it does show as compatible with the Note 5. But if we don't have Sprint bands in our phone, then you'd be SOL as soon as you got out of T-Mobile or trusted WiFi coverage.

True, I haven't yet sat down and looked at Sprints cdma bands but I bet they are in this device.

The Fi SIM will only work on T-Mobile. It will NOT work on Sprint, in this configuration.
The Nexus's ESNs are whitelisted with Sprint, I believe.

wifiguru said:
The Fi SIM will only work on T-Mobile. It will NOT work on Sprint, in this configuration.
The Nexus's ESNs are whitelisted with Sprint, I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That hypothesis of not working on Sprint would seem highly improbable as long as a phone is unlocked and the device and sim card are not carrier specific the device should work as my phone is now as long ...again as the phone has the carrier bands to run on that network...as stated here on the Nexus 5: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/project-fi-nexus-5-how-bypass-googles-nexus-6-exclusivity-453947 . I have turned off WIFI calling and called my office...see here: http://www.androidheadlines.com/2015/06/project-fi-works-nexus-6-xda-begs-differ.html

wiseguyy said:
That hypothesis of not working on Sprint would seem highly improbable as long as a phone is unlocked and the device and sim card are not carrier specific the device should work as my phone is now as long ...again as the phone has the carrier bands to run on that network...as stated here on the Nexus 5: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/project-fi-nexus-5-how-bypass-googles-nexus-6-exclusivity-453947 . I have turned off WIFI calling and called my office...see here: http://www.androidheadlines.com/2015/06/project-fi-works-nexus-6-xda-begs-differ.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no hypothesis here, it is proven fact.
Sprint has a whitelist of IMEIs/ESN.
Put a Fi sim in a non-Fi phone, and it will not connect to Sprint -- no matter what you try to do.
Put a Fi sim in an unlocked Sprint device, and I bet it will work.

wifiguru said:
There's no hypothesis here, it is proven fact.
Sprint has a whitelist of IMEIs/ESN.
Put a Fi sim in a non-Fi phone, and it will not connect to Sprint -- no matter what you try to do.
Put a Fi sim in an unlocked Sprint device, and I bet it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does Sprint tell the difference from device to device? Do you think Sprint had all the Nexus 6 IMEI's that exist or were made released to them so they could specifically either admit or omit them?? Show me the FACT my phone is blacklisted? Where are you getting your information can you provide some links to relevant content?

wifiguru said:
There's no hypothesis here, it is proven fact.
Sprint has a whitelist of IMEIs/ESN.
What are the criteria for Whitelisted Devices and where is this data?
This is an excerpt from a discussion that a Nexus 6 user had trying to port over to "Sprint Only" not running on the FI network....again this is ONLY..Fully porting over to Sprint:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectFi/...g_nexus_6_to_sprint_after_leaving_project_fi/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

wiseguyy said:
How does Sprint tell the difference from device to device? Do you think Sprint had all the Nexus 6 IMEI's that exist or were made released to them so they could specifically either admit or omit them?? Show me the FACT my phone is blacklisted? Where are you getting your information can you provide some links to relevant content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another issue with Sprint devices is that they still do not rely solely on the SIM for programming. When Verizon made the switch to LTE, all programming follows their SIM as you change phones. But with Sprint, pulling a SIM leaves you with a working device, just no LTE. So that is likely why it won't automatically jump to their network.

wifiguru said:
There's no hypothesis here, it is proven fact.
Sprint has a whitelist of IMEIs/ESN.
Put a Fi sim in a non-Fi phone, and it will not connect to Sprint -- no matter what you try to do.
Put a Fi sim in an unlocked Sprint device, and I bet it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an excerpt from a different experience than wifiguru is stating here although it appears it worked at startup and seemed to from what the user stated failed:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...SIM-and-use-it-in-an-unlocked-Sprint-iPhone-6
I only signed up to reply back to this comment ...
Quote Originally Posted by J Wireless View Post
Google has already said it will work for other phones in the future. The service runs on a hybrid sim that allows it to go back and forth. Supposedly even older Nexus phones can't read this sim. But Project Fi is an Android only project. Just as the new iPhone sim will not work in an Android phone, this new sim will not work in an iPhone. Even if there was a work around for it, Apple would probably make a new update to lock the phones into reading only the new Apple sim.
Actually - I started searching today to see if anyone else had tried this yet, and while I didn't search too hard - the lack of replies on this thread might tell me something.
I got my Nexus 6 yesterday. I like the phone, but the service ... still not sure if I'm going to keep it. The voice quality sounds somewhat compressed and it is difficult to hear people sometimes.
However, I was bored at work today - or kind of bored - and decided to put the Project Fi SIM in my iPhone 6 (Verizon)
I was expecting it to tell me that the SIM card wasn't approved for use in this device, but to my surprise it actually connected to Sprint and I had LTE. So, I found out my iPhone is unlocked (w00t).
I tried to make a call, and I heard a blip (like a fraction of a fraction of a second of a voice), a few seconds of silence, and then the generic cannot complete this call (Probably because the device isn't provisioned for use on the Sprint Network).
I restarted the phone, and when I restarted it - it connected to T-Mobile.
So I tried to make a call, and it worked - it went through
So, I dug around in the settings on my iPhone, and a menu called "Carrier" showed up on the main screen, and when I opened it it said "Automatically Manage Networks" or something to that effect.
I turned that option off, and it scanned for about a minute and came back with a list of Mobile Networks:
T-Mobile
Sprint
Verizon
AT&T
Metro PCS

wiseguyy said:
This is an excerpt from a different experience than wifiguru is stating here although it appears it worked at startup and seemed to from what the user stated failed:
http://www.howardforums.com/showthr...SIM-and-use-it-in-an-unlocked-Sprint-iPhone-6
I only signed up to reply back to this comment ...
Quote Originally Posted by J Wireless View Post
Google has already said it will work for other phones in the future. The service runs on a hybrid sim that allows it to go back and forth. Supposedly even older Nexus phones can't read this sim. But Project Fi is an Android only project. Just as the new iPhone sim will not work in an Android phone, this new sim will not work in an iPhone. Even if there was a work around for it, Apple would probably make a new update to lock the phones into reading only the new Apple sim.
Actually - I started searching today to see if anyone else had tried this yet, and while I didn't search too hard - the lack of replies on this thread might tell me something.
I got my Nexus 6 yesterday. I like the phone, but the service ... still not sure if I'm going to keep it. The voice quality sounds somewhat compressed and it is difficult to hear people sometimes.
However, I was bored at work today - or kind of bored - and decided to put the Project Fi SIM in my iPhone 6 (Verizon)
I was expecting it to tell me that the SIM card wasn't approved for use in this device, but to my surprise it actually connected to Sprint and I had LTE. So, I found out my iPhone is unlocked (w00t).
I tried to make a call, and I heard a blip (like a fraction of a fraction of a second of a voice), a few seconds of silence, and then the generic cannot complete this call (Probably because the device isn't provisioned for use on the Sprint Network).
I restarted the phone, and when I restarted it - it connected to T-Mobile.
So I tried to make a call, and it worked - it went through
So, I dug around in the settings on my iPhone, and a menu called "Carrier" showed up on the main screen, and when I opened it it said "Automatically Manage Networks" or something to that effect.
I turned that option off, and it scanned for about a minute and came back with a list of Mobile Networks:
T-Mobile
Sprint
Verizon
AT&T
Metro PCS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This quote is exactly what I just said. Did you read the post?
"At the end of the Day - T-Mobile is the ONLY one that connected and still connected"

wifiguru said:
There's no hypothesis here, it is proven fact.
Sprint has a whitelist of IMEIs/ESN.
Put a Fi sim in a non-Fi phone, and it will not connect to Sprint -- no matter what you try to do.
Put a Fi sim in an unlocked Sprint device, and I bet it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wifiguru said:
This quote is exactly what I just said. Did you read the post?
"At the end of the Day - T-Mobile is the ONLY one that connected and still connected"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are we talking about the same thing here the author said "My theory with why Sprint connected for 1 time (and why T-Mobile connected and disconnected)) ..he did say "My Theory" and that was (iPhone 6 (Verizon) and also said
" T-Mobile connected and disconnected". Now I understand you are seeing this but he does plainly say " T-Mobile connected and disconnected" but I can tell you my phone is 1. Still connected and I have made over 10 calls and it has stayed connected all day so this would have to alter the authors "Theory" as he himself stated the term.
When the dust settles and the smoke clears and at the end of the day the author of your facts.. used the terminology "Theory"..hence me using the term "Hypothesis" now I realize you may not like that but that is the way it is until actual further testing is done and as of this point my phone has not been disconnected from the FI network which contradicts what the authors "Theory" stated.
(wifiguru) I am not here to have a urination match with you because I am here stating the the experience I have had at a personal real level and what I have stated is 100% factual and not simply what another author has stated as theory. I want to further explore what this could mean for this Galaxy Note 5 device the bands it internally carries and what possible benefits can come from that endeavor.

NotATreoFan said:
Another issue with Sprint devices is that they still do not rely solely on the SIM for programming. When Verizon made the switch to LTE, all programming follows their SIM as you change phones. But with Sprint, pulling a SIM leaves you with a working device, just no LTE. So that is likely why it won't automatically jump to their network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what another post stated as theory his phone connected and then failed but I am still 100% active on the T-Mo Network with full blown LTE 5 bars so I need to try and test this out in some for or fashion.

Day 2 No Change. I drove all over Los Angeles to Pacific Palisades and still have excellent 4g LTE! I have yet to drop connection!

U still suck.
---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:56 AM ----------
Tony.

wiseguyy said:
Day 2 No Change. I drove all over Los Angeles to Pacific Palisades and still have excellent 4g LTE! I have yet to drop connection!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm i'm also in Los Angeles and tried putting my Project Fi sim in an unlocked T-mobile Galaxy Note 5 and it does NOT work for me. Tried messing with the apns but no go on my end

mrpunk2u said:
Hmmm i'm also in Los Angeles and tried putting my Project Fi sim in an unlocked T-mobile Galaxy Note 5 and it does NOT work for me. Tried messing with the apns but no go on my end
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been using my Google Fi SIM in unlocked 920T for months in Miami. Been traveling across country and just started monitoring what networks I'm using. Download app called Fi Info and you can monitor via widget the network and also force it to use Sprint. Haven't tried US cellular yet. I'm in Ohio now and it's working fine. Will see how it works when I land in Seattle.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

TeamHackura said:
I have been using my Google Fi SIM in unlocked 920T for months in Miami. Been traveling across country and just started monitoring what networks I'm using. Download app called Fi Info and you can monitor via widget the network and also force it to use Sprint. Haven't tried US cellular yet. I'm in Ohio now and it's working fine. Will see how it works when I land in Seattle.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update: made it here and only had service where T-Mobile had service. No switching networks. Here's hoping the new nexus phones have a smaller footprint.
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

ATT suspending Huawei phones?

I've just sold my Mate 20X, and I put my ATT sim card in it one last time to make sure everything was fine. When I did so, my ATT service was suspended. I had to get them to re-enable my sim card. Talking to ATT, they said it's because they don't support Huawei phones anymore. I used this phone on ATT as my primary phone a year ago and never had any problems. Did I just miss this?
I'm slightly worried it's because I gave out my IMEI to a prospective buyer, but the ATT rep said there was no problem with it being blacklisted, just that they don't allow Huawei phones on the system anymore. I'm very suspicious of this, so I thought I'd check here.

I'm still using AT&T and T-Mobile on my AL00 without issues
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Agreed I am using mine on ATT without issue.

bigfire said:
I've just sold my Mate 20X, and I put my ATT sim card in it one last time to make sure everything was fine. When I did so, my ATT service was suspended. I had to get them to re-enable my sim card. Talking to ATT, they said it's because they don't support Huawei phones anymore. I used this phone on ATT as my primary phone a year ago and never had any problems. Did I just miss this?
I'm slightly worried it's because I gave out my IMEI to a prospective buyer, but the ATT rep said there was no problem with it being blacklisted, just that they don't allow Huawei phones on the system anymore. I'm very suspicious of this, so I thought I'd check here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Happened to me after testing my sim card in a S20 FE. When I put it back on my Mate 20 X the service got disconnected. Called AT&T they say because I need to update to a 4G phone. I told them that my Mate is 4G and they reactivated without issues. The rep that attended me didn't told me that Huawei was not being accepted anymore from AT&T, just that needed to make sure it supports 4G.

I did try it out with Tmobile later and had no problems, and the buyer hasn't reported any issues, so it sounds like just bad information. Thanks for the info!

bigfire said:
I've just sold my Mate 20X, and I put my ATT sim card in it one last time to make sure everything was fine. When I did so, my ATT service was suspended. I had to get them to re-enable my sim card. Talking to ATT, they said it's because they don't support Huawei phones anymore. I used this phone on ATT as my primary phone a year ago and never had any problems. Did I just miss this?
I'm slightly worried it's because I gave out my IMEI to a prospective buyer, but the ATT rep said there was no problem with it being blacklisted, just that they don't allow Huawei phones on the system anymore. I'm very suspicious of this, so I thought I'd check here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kin USa idiots at ATT .. pss message to them from me pls !

I got a text message today from AT&T saying "we're sending you a phone. if you don't activate it, we will auto activate it after 30 days and your phone you're using now will only be able to call 911"
This is a huge bummer.

I only got that they are retiring 3G, but nothing that says they are suspending supporting The phone as they have NEVER supported the phone, so thats a crock of crap. The only thing they can do is turn off the 3g band and if your phone doesnt use 4G then your SOL. Mate 20X uses 4G LTE so they cant touch me and if they do they have alot more to answer for.

is Tmobile still going to keep supporting it?

At least from a test
AngelDeath said:
I only got that they are retiring 3G, but nothing that says they are suspending supporting The phone as they have NEVER supported the phone, so thats a crock of crap. The only thing they can do is turn off the 3g band and if your phone doesnt use 4G then your SOL. Mate 20X uses 4G LTE so they cant touch me and if they do they have alot more to answer for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is what I thought BUT I think I found the issue. If you download an app that check the band your phone is using, you will see that for CALLS the 20x with an ATT sim card, will drop to a 3G band not LTE!
Now, if I try a TMobile sim card and make a call, the phone still shows using LTE band so looks like people with TMobile will be able to keep the phone just fine.

I recently experienced the same thing on my Huawei Mate 20x evr-l29. Call AT&t and they unlocked the suspended account and explain to me my phone is registering as a 3G device. I asked them to look at my network history and they clearly see it's using the 4G LTE network without issues. The representative at tech support said they were noting my account to escalate a ticket to not shut off my device come February. She assure me it will continue to work but we will wait and see.

So I was told that, my wife's Mate 20 x had to activate the new sim card because 3G was tied to the previous sim. Was not the case and they suspended the phone number once I activate the new sim (they also sent a refurbished S9 with the sim). I had to call customer service and escalate for them to reactivate the sim card. I'm now waiting to call their "3G Sunset Department" to try to put my phone on a white list (1-800-880-8581). Seems they are only open during business hours so have to call back then. This has not been a good experience.

So I had a fiasco with AT&T. Props to the services techs that had to deal with me in store and over the phone. They kept their cool and customer service up there. I've just been trying to keep my cool over these two days spending alot of time going between different people and then also swapping to another sim being told that would fix it.
Mate 20X is no longer supported by AT&T. In the case of new customers. Basically they have black listed the model and IMEI numbers of these phones. So when a sim card is inserted the phone line associated with it will be suspended.
To get around this you have to call customer support to have them activate the SIM card so that it will work. Phone calls and Data will work after that.
For my wife's phone I used to have unanswered calls and busy get forwarded to her google voice. With the problem above with the IMEI number being technically blacklisted I was not able to set up google voice again. Took me a couple of calls and an escalation to an advanced tech to have them set up call forwarding from their side. After that the phone works as before for now until they shut off 3G data in February.
Educational moment: After I did some searching online and also a good talk with that advanced tech I found out the reason that this phone is identified as 3G. I blame AT&T for the lack of educational material being sent out and the training of their staff on the phone.
Good article explanation: https://www.androidauthority.com/volte-att-t-mobile-1148654/
The Mate 20X is a 3G voice phone. Even though it is a 4G LTE capable phone it is not a VoLTE/HD Voice phone. Hence the reason why this phone was identified as a 3G device. So basically when the cutoff date comes in February, the phone will not be able to make phone calls or receive texts. Technically it should still be capable of using the 4G data but take this with a grain of salt because they basically blacklisted the IMEI/Model of this phone. So they could just force these to not work anymore.
Here's a list from AT&T that will still work after the change to 3G: https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Devices-Working-on-ATT-Network.pdf
This is their current compatibility list for unlocked phones: https://www.att.com/idpassets/image...Capabilities-Unlocked-Devices-ATT-Network.pdf

Meh, actions have consequences...

Epiphanysfi said:
The Mate 20X is a 3G voice phone. Even though it is a 4G LTE capable phone it is not a VoLTE/HD Voice phone. Hence the reason why this phone was identified as a 3G device. So basically when the cutoff date comes in February, the phone will not be able to make phone calls or receive texts. Technically it should still be capable of using the 4G data but take this with a grain of salt because they basically blacklisted the IMEI/Model of this phone. So they could just force these to not work anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI (and I know this is really a late reply), this is incorrect if you were lucky enough to have unlocked the bootloader on your Mate 20 X (EVR-L29) phone (or if you can do so if the opportunity ever arises again in the future).
Thanks to someone else on this forum (posting about a different huawei phone, I've lost the original poster), I've discovered that it IS in fact possible to enable VoLTE on AT&T (ATT) if your phone is rooted.
Before making these changes attempts to make or receive calls will fail even though data and texts will be working and there is a 4g signal symbol.... and going into settings -> wireless & networks -> mobile network will not have the necessary "VoLTE calls" option to turn VoLTE on.
Simple way to enable VoLTE on rooted Mate 20 X on AT&T:
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount /
echo "ro.config.hw_volte_on=true" >> /system/build.prop
echo "ro.config.hw_volte_dyn=false" >> /system/build.prop
mount -o ro,remount /
Restart your phone.
The "VoLTE calls" option will now show up, and can be turned on... after which phone calls will again work on the Mate 20 X on AT&T.
I hope this helps someone like it helped me to figure out, even though I know unlocked bootloaders are rare on this phone.
I also couldn't find another phone this size that would work on AT&T (aside from fold ones that I don't want) so really happy that this ended up working.

Question What's better to use, pSIM or eSIM?

If anyone has been following my P7P saga, with the issues and problems.... Here's another question.
Currently my slot 2 eSIM is not recognized by Verizon's database, even though this phone was purchased directly from Verizon. There's a ticket that's been put in to have the slot 2 IMEI number entered into Verizon's database to fix this particular issue.
I had been having issues with my pSIM, so Verizon was going to switch me over to the eSIM to troubleshoot the pSIM, but couldn't due to slot 2 IMEI not being recognized.
I got a new pSIM today, and that seems to have fixed my calling issues. There the possibility that they may however switch me over to the eSIM in a few days...after my S2 IMEI is recognized by the system.
My question is... Are both pSIM & eSIM equivalent in all ways? Is it beneficial to be using one or the other? Basically, do I lose out on any feature(s) by having any particular one? Verizon tells me that only one can be active at any time as per my current contract. I could get both activated if I want to pay for it, for reasons of traveling to other countries for example.

Interesting. A sim card is superior as if it fails it doesn't total the phone. It can also be remotely configured as well as transferred to another phone; very nice if you have a backup phone as I do. Takes the carrier out of the setup loop. You simply slam the sim into the phone you want to use that day. Of course the carrier would love you to have a $eparate sim for each device. The manufacturer likes to save money with no physical sim with the knowledge if the esim fails out warranty it effectively totals the phone.
It's funny how they claim it's 70% more efficient but the last couple generations of smart phones generally have huge batteries and poorer SOT
Reminds me of Intel and MS; Intel builds more powerful hardware while MS compliments it with more overhead. Net result is little user gain.

That's not right.
esim just means that the data is transferred to the phone and its data/functionality is stored in the device's flash memory. This does NOT add any additional points of failure, since if the flash memory or some of the relevant circuitry fails, it will take out the phone whether you are using esim or psim.
What it comes down to is PURELY a matter of convenience. If you travel a lot, it can be more convenient to have the psim slot available to drop in a local sim. If you don't travel a lot, it can be more convenient to keep a psim in case you need to switch to another phone in an emergency. You need to think about what is more convenient FOR YOU and make the decision accordingly.
One additional piece of info; the routines that load the esim from the carrier are implemented in closed source binaries, part of gservices. If you don't trust those binaries, then you might want to avoid esim altogether. Mostly this applies to google-free AOSP distributions, like grapheneos (although they do have the option of installing gservices and esim).

^That's not right...^
The esim chipset mounts on the mobo on older phones. You are correct that it was integrated into at least the newer Qualcomm SOC's.
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Regardless it takes away end user options that only a sim card provide.
Lol, better security for the carrier...

Esim is still NOT ready for mass adoption!!!!
Psim all the way for many, many reasons!

jaseman said:
Esim is still NOT ready for mass adoption!!!!
Psim all the way for many, many reasons!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love my sim and expandable storage slots... and the options they give me. Been blowing off the new Samsung flagships for years now because they are less functional. The S23U is an expensive dud too.

Esim is generally better until you have to read out a 30 character EID to a support person. Usually persists through a factory reset too.
If you need to do a lot travelling or network testing, having physical sims might be better until esim MEP is enabled.

blackhawk said:
it was integrated into at least the newer Qualcomm SOC's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In other words, I was dead on.

96carboard said:
In other words, I was dead on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yes, you were magnification.
Unfortunately a psim is still more desirable...

I dig the eSIM. Annoys the hell out of me having to pull my phone out of my case to install a pSIM and I don't have to wait for the pSIM to come in the mail. Plus with all the carriers offering free eSIM trials, I could easily go 5-6 months of the year with free service for data and $5 plan for minutes and texts on my pSIM or a second eSIM (if they ever re-activate eSIM MEP, pissed that they removed it since it was working fine for me) as I upgrade yearly.

In my experience it comes down to the telco, some are great with esims others are truly horrendous. I have no experience with Verizon so can't help you directly. Before swapping I would get some clear answers from Verizon about the differences between each sim but more importantly the support systems in place if the esim goes wrong. I am OS at the moment had my phone stolen got a new one and my provider can't seem to get the old esim onto the new phone. It's been over 2 weeks and 32 hours of my time, so make sure you have really robust understanding of how Verizon supports esims. Good luck whichever way you go.

andygold said:
If anyone has been following my P7P saga, with the issues and problems.... Here's another question.
Currently my slot 2 eSIM is not recognized by Verizon's database, even though this phone was purchased directly from Verizon. There's a ticket that's been put in to have the slot 2 IMEI number entered into Verizon's database to fix this particular issue.
I had been having issues with my pSIM, so Verizon was going to switch me over to the eSIM to troubleshoot the pSIM, but couldn't due to slot 2 IMEI not being recognized.
I got a new pSIM today, and that seems to have fixed my calling issues. There the possibility that they may however switch me over to the eSIM in a few days...after my S2 IMEI is recognized by the system.
My question is... Are both pSIM & eSIM equivalent in all ways? Is it beneficial to be using one or the other? Basically, do I lose out on any feature(s) by having any particular one? Verizon tells me that only one can be active at any time as per my current contract. I could get both activated if I want to pay for it, for reasons of traveling to other countries for example.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For myself I'm happier with having a physical sim card. I switch between my iphone 14 pro max and pixel 7 pro. I broke the screen on my p7p so I tried to use the esim since that's all you can use for newer iPhones now and with Verizon you need your current phone in order to do the switch on Verizon's website. Long story short I spent an hour chatting with someone and because I couldn't see the code they sent to the p7p to activate the 14 pro max I had to go to a store and show them my license. Than I spent another hour for them trying to activate the iPhone with esim . It was quite the pain in the butt compared to a physical card that you can just switch with another device until you get a replacement device

Same guys going at each other rofl

eSim is much better on iPhone/iOS than on Android 13. I have spent countless and unnecessary hours to fix T-Mobile prepaid eSim issues: redownloading, reading back IMEI/EID number to customer reps, error issues between re-installation of operating systems, etc.
I heard Android 14 would fix this.

Ofc my both sim providers dont do esim.
one question , so p7p accepts 2 esims and one psim ?

lowik2 said:
Ofc my both sim providers dont do esim.
one question , so p7p accepts 2 esims and one psim ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think three esims, except only one of them could be active. Iphone can have two esims active, even if from the same carrier. A lot of catching up to do for Android 14

I have both a psim and esim, both on T-Mobile and there's constantly a significant difference between signal strength between the two. Psim simply gets better reception somehow, to the point the esim ceases to function.

Ducter said:
I have both a psim and esim, both on T-Mobile and there's constantly a significant difference between signal strength between the two. Psim simply gets better reception somehow, to the point the esim ceases to function.View attachment 5858349
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with each security update, it appears the eSim would be treated as associated with the older device. And you need to redownload it or reach out to customer service. At least that's my exp as prepaid customer. Maybe it's diff for postpaid who could manage this on their own