Acer Liquid and Bell Canada

[Guest chewtoy0]

I just purchased one of these devices yesterday, with the assurance that it operates with Bell Canada's network.

After getting a SIM card and installing...and waiting 24 hours...I still have no service. I took the phone into Bell and ran the IMEI number, which says the device is not compatible.

Interestingly, under preferred networks, all that shows up is ROGERS.

Is the phone truly unlocked, and if not, how can I restored it completely to factory condition...including the removal of root. Please be gentle, I'm a rookie here.

[Guest chewtoy0]

Can anyone help me with the factory reset bit?

[Guest Seth Cold]

which bands does bell use??

[Guest chewtoy0]

Your device must be compatible - it must be HSPA (or UMTS) and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz compatible.

http://www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvWls_COAM...ty_110409_TM_EN

That's the link I used.

The tech guy where I bought the phone says there's a setting in the carriers I have to change, and I need to add the bell apn for data. Being a rookie, finding this info is tedious.

[Guest chewtoy0]

Still awaiting my saviour to come and assist :)

[Guest Seth Cold]

liquid is so far 900/1900/2100 in 3g... so be sure u got coverage on 1900mhz band...

do you know the apn data for bell???

if so just enter settings, wireless settings, mobile settings, apn... enter menu and add apn

[Guest chewtoy0]

liquid is so far 900/1900/2100 in 3g... so be sure u got coverage on 1900mhz band...

do you know the apn data for bell???

if so just enter settings, wireless settings, mobile settings, apn... enter menu and add apn

I can get these settings, but it's the entering of them that's difficult I guess. I need a clear step by step of where to find everything I need to enter. Could you help me with that?

[Guest Seth Cold]

I can get these settings, but it's the entering of them that's difficult I guess. I need a clear step by step of where to find everything I need to enter. Could you help me with that?

i just did!! in my last post... sorry if its not the exact term in your phone, im using mine in spanish (my native language)

just follow those steps, its easy :)

[Guest chewtoy0]

Nope, still nothing. I don't think there's any setting that can make this phone work on my carrier.

Having learned that, when looking at phone specs, I need to ensure that it has HSPDA 850 AND 1900 right? That'll ensure that it works with my carrier, won't it? Or does having 850 and 1900 under GSM ALSO ensure the same.

I don't want to make the same mistake again...this company offers both the droid and the N1, but I want to make sure I've got the specs right before dropping an additional 200.00 on either unit.

[Guest three_pineapples]

So you can't make calls at all because you have no service? Or are we just talking about data services here?

You should be able to get some form of reception from the GSM bands. GSM bands give you 2G services (EDGE or GPRS for data depending on location).

Your network will have some areas serviced by 1900UMTS (or HSDPA) and some by 850UMTS. This is 3G data (shows up as 3G or HSPDA for data).

This phone will only work as 3G in areas serviced by 1900UMTS. Find a coverage map for your service provider, that will show you with a bit of digging, what services are where.

As for APN settings, Go to Settings -> Wireless controls -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point names. Hit the Menu Button (4 horizontal lines) and Select "New APN". Enter the APN info you have (leave sections you don't have info for as they are).

That should help! But If you can't make calls at all, then there is probably something else going on...Maybe your service provider blocks all phones they don't sell from working...??

[Guest chewtoy0]

So you can't make calls at all because you have no service? Or are we just talking about data services here?

You should be able to get some form of reception from the GSM bands. GSM bands give you 2G services (EDGE or GPRS for data depending on location).

Your network will have some areas serviced by 1900UMTS (or HSDPA) and some by 850UMTS. This is 3G data (shows up as 3G or HSPDA for data).

This phone will only work as 3G in areas serviced by 1900UMTS. Find a coverage map for your service provider, that will show you with a bit of digging, what services are where.

As for APN settings, Go to Settings -> Wireless controls -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point names. Hit the Menu Button (4 horizontal lines) and Select "New APN". Enter the APN info you have (leave sections you don't have info for as they are).

That should help! But If you can't make calls at all, then there is probably something else going on...Maybe your service provider blocks all phones they don't sell from working...??

I have no data and no voice. At all. I can't even use *#06# to access the IMEI number on the phone. Doing so returns "No Network" or somesuch as an error. I have to pull the battery or look in the settings to access the IMEI number. I find this odd.

For the APN data, is there a good place to find all of it? The site for my provider only has a section for getting the iPhone online. I'm not sure how much of that info is relevant. I've done a large amount of googling and such about this today. This forum just seems to be the best place to ask.

Thank you very much for the help.

[Guest chewtoy0]

Looking further into my service provider's coverage, my area is SATURATED by HSPA+ and HSPA. There are no gaps within hundreds of kilometers in any direction.

[Guest three_pineapples]

Ok, so it sounds like an issue with either the phone, or the sim card you've got in your phone. Once you've managed to make calls with your phone we'll try and get data working!

So two things to try. Put your sim card in a phone that is known to work. Does it still work?

Borrow a sim card from someone who is on another network, and see if you can make calls with it in your phone.

[Guest chewtoy0]

Yes this SIM works in other phones. I went to my carrier's store and tried it. Also, the SIM they have in store to test DOES NOT work in my phone either.

I think it is most definitely the phone.

[Guest chewtoy0]

Yes this SIM works in other phones. I went to my carrier's store and tried it. Also, the SIM they have in store to test DOES NOT work in my phone either.

I think it is most definitely the phone.

Update:

I took the phone down to Toronto to the business that sold it to me. He altered one setting in the Radio Bands bit. Put it to US. The phone picked up service right away.

...I live 160 km away from Toronto, north. I have discovered that the HSPA network must not saturate the area, because 10km from home, my phone lost all connectivity. It shows "No Service". Dropping it back to 2g doesn't help either.

Luckily I'm moving south soon, 50 km or so. I guess I'm just in for a rough ride with coverage until the network extends farther. I'll continue to look into this. Is it because the network here may be 850, and the phone doesn't pick that up? (HSPA wise).

[Guest Morris Lee]

Update:

I took the phone down to Toronto to the business that sold it to me. He altered one setting in the Radio Bands bit. Put it to US. The phone picked up service right away.

...I live 160 km away from Toronto, north. I have discovered that the HSPA network must not saturate the area, because 10km from home, my phone lost all connectivity. It shows "No Service". Dropping it back to 2g doesn't help either.

Luckily I'm moving south soon, 50 km or so. I guess I'm just in for a rough ride with coverage until the network extends farther. I'll continue to look into this. Is it because the network here may be 850, and the phone doesn't pick that up? (HSPA wise).

Are you saying that it works with Bell Mobility 3G networks now? is it just a simple setting in the phone that you can switch to US? where did you get your phone from?? is it specifically an US version? or US and EU version does not matter? Does 3G work properly in the area with reception on Bell?

I really want one of these phone!! but I don't know if it works with my network, bell would not confirm with me, they just kept on saying "you have to bring the phone in to test" blah blah blah... sigh...

Please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

Morris Lee

Edited March 1, 2010 by Morris Lee

[Guest designgears]

You just need to add the APN...

that is all

Phone supports:

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

Bell support:

HSPA (or UMTS) and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz

How to add an APN:

settings > wireless controls > mobile networks > access point names

once in here, hit menu to add a new one

once done adding the info, hit menu and save it

select it from the list and you are all set

name:

bell


apn:

pda2.bell.ca   OR   pda.bell.ca


proxy: -

port: -

username: -

password: -

server: -


mmsc:

http://www.bell.ca/mms/wapenc


mms proxy:

web.wireless.bell.ca


mms port:

80


mcc:

310


mnc:

410


apn type: -

Edited March 1, 2010 by designgears

[Guest Morris Lee]

You just need to add the APN...

that is all

Phone supports:

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

Bell support:

HSPA (or UMTS) and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz

How to add an APN:

settings > wireless controls > mobile networks > access point names

once in here, hit menu to add a new one

once done adding the info, hit menu and save it

select it from the list and you are all set

http://www.bell.ca/support/PrsCSrvWls_Configure_iPhone.page

These are the iphone settings, should be easy enough to figure where they go.

and it might be pda.bell.ca instead of pda2.bell.ca - I think that is iphone specific.

As for the rest of you that commented, do some freakin research, the guy is a newbie, he provided the info about his network, compared to our phones it is 100% compatible. If the sim card was faulty or not reading there would be a little sim card icon in the status bar, AND he said only rogers showed up in the network list... so obvious..

Thanks soo much for the quick reply, but I am very very new to cell phones, I just started using it few months ago, with a cheap LG rumour phone. I just want something that I can replace my Aspire One that I gave to my dad.

it seems that the only way for me is to get it on ebay, I found one price I liked, but it did not show 850Mhz as the 3G network, so does it mean that this phone is a different model? or should they all be the same? I am leaning towards this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...E:X:RTQ:US:1123

What IS APN??? does it mean I will be using 3G or 2G to browse the web? or am I completely off the track here? or put it in the simple term, what is the bandwidth I will be using? say like in 1mbps/7, or 21??

I am sorry, but I been searching on the net for days for compatibility and asking questions on ebay sellers, so far nothing...

Thanks again!

Morris Lee

[Guest designgears]

Thanks soo much for the quick reply, but I am very very new to cell phones, I just started using it few months ago, with a cheap LG rumour phone. I just want something that I can replace my Aspire One that I gave to my dad.

it seems that the only way for me is to get it on ebay, I found one price I liked, but it did not show 850Mhz as the 3G network, so does it mean that this phone is a different model? or should they all be the same? I am leaning towards this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...E:X:RTQ:US:1123

What IS APN??? does it mean I will be using 3G or 2G to browse the web? or am I completely off the track here? or put it in the simple term, what is the bandwidth I will be using? say like in 1mbps/7, or 21??

I am sorry, but I been searching on the net for days for compatibility and asking questions on ebay sellers, so far nothing...

Thanks again!

Morris Lee

altered my post to better walk you thru it a bit better :(

All Liquids are:

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

APN stands for Access Point Name, it simply holds all of the connectivity info for data/voice/mms

Edited March 1, 2010 by designgears

[Guest Morris Lee]

altered my post to better walk you thru it a bit better :(

All Liquids are:

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100

APN stands for Access Point Name, it simply holds all of the connectivity info for data/voice/mms

Thanks for the quick reply again, but I read on bell site, it ask for "HSPA (or UMTS) and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz" specifically, the liquid only says GSM 850 on 2G and HSDPA 1900 not the HSPA or UMTS that bell supports. or are you saying that they are the same thing as long as the Mhz match? and it is just the matter of setting up APN?

sorry if I am sounding soo noob here, I just don't want to drop over 400 USD for a phone that won't work with my carrier since I already signed contract with Bell :( stupid me....

Morris Lee

[Guest designgears]

Thanks for the quick reply again, but I read on bell site, it ask for "HSPA (or UMTS) and 850 MHz and 1900 MHz" specifically, the liquid only says GSM 850 on 2G and HSDPA 1900 not the HSPA or UMTS that bell supports. or are you saying that they are the same thing as long as the Mhz match? and it is just the matter of setting up APN?

sorry if I am sounding soo noob here, I just don't want to drop over 400 USD for a phone that won't work with my carrier since I already signed contract with Bell :( stupid me....

Morris Lee

High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is an enhanced 3G (third generation) mobile telephony communications protocol in the High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) family, also coined 3.5G, 3G+ or turbo 3G, which allows networks based on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity. Current HSDPA deployments support down-link speeds of 1.8, 3.6, 7.2 and 14.0 Mbit/s. Further speed increases are available with HSPA+, which provides speeds of up to 42 Mbit/s downlink and 84 Mbit/s with Release 9 of the 3GPP standards.[1].

UMTS -> HSPA(3.5G, 3G+ Turbo 3G; Bell calls their 3.5G) -> HSDPA(AT&T calls their 3.5G)

Its all the same thing :(

Edited March 1, 2010 by designgears

[Guest Morris Lee]

UMTS -> HSPA(3.5G, 3G+ Turbo 3G; Bell calls their 3.5G) -> HSDPA(AT&T calls their 3.5G)

Its all the same thing :(

So you are implying that it will definitely work with Bell Canada? as long as I set it up correctly? :(

Morris Lee

[Guest designgears]

So you are implying that it will definitely work with Bell Canada? as long as I set it up correctly? :(

Morris Lee

It will work, you just have to setup the apn... :(

[Guest Morris Lee]

It will work, you just have to setup the apn... :(

Thank you very much for the confirmation!!!!!! Many thanks! :(

Morris Lee

[Guest Morris Lee]

I have received many reply from the seller that it won't work with Bell Canada, this is confusing me still. By the looks of it, there really is a Euro and a US version difference.

Anyone have any say on this?

Morris Lee