Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 hi guys this is regarding the 3G network with T-mobile USA I bought a phone from ebay recently. According to the seller's location, the phone was shipped from Hong Kong. The OS when I got the phone is 1.5 but I want it to be 2.1 so I flashed the 2.1 ROM(not sure which one I used) and then the FLB 1.6b ROM. I has a $10 data plan with T-mobile. After a "proper setting", EDGE network seems to work fine but the speed is really slow. I called T-mobile and the rep told me I have to update to a $30 android data plan to get 3G network. Here comes the question... Can anyone tell me if I take that $30 plan, with FLB1.6b, do I get the T-mobile's 3G network? I went to setting -> wireless & networks -> Mobile networks -> Network operators. The only networks shows on my phone are T-Mobile 2G and AT&T 2G. Does this mean I can't get 3G even I purchase the $30 data plan? or maybe 3G network will show after I get that plan (very unlikely....?)? Is there anyone who has T-mobile Pulse and upgrade to 2.1 with working 3G? If yes, please tell me the correct ROM I should use and what I should do now (I am on 2.1 but a unknown ROM with FLB)? Any comments are appreciated!
Guest AntonioPT Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 Maybe the choice of you using EDGE or 3G is not made by the phone, but by T-Mobile itself. And also, maybe you don't have 3G coverage in your location.
Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 Thank for the response! Maybe the choice of you using EDGE or 3G is not made by the phone, but by T-Mobile itself. Well... I thought so...that's why I think maybe I need to get that $30 data plan. But I need some experienced people to give me some confidences since I cannot see 3G network being detected on my phone. And also, maybe you don't have 3G coverage in your location. Good question. I checked the coverage map. The whole Richmond VA is covered with 3G and the rep from T-mobile confirmed that, too.
Guest pouncep Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 (edited) Thank for the response! Well... I thought so...that's why I think maybe I need to get that $30 data plan. But I need some experienced people to give me some confidences since I cannot see 3G network being detected on my phone. Good question. I checked the coverage map. The whole Richmond VA is covered with 3G and the rep from T-mobile confirmed that, too. I bought this phone while on a trip in London, knowing the following: The Euro 3G does not work with T-Mobile USA since they're on different bandwidths. You can only use EDGE here in the US. Sorry man, that's how it's been working for me. I have the full plan and am in where 3.5G is supposed to be available. Also, I have it on the Hungarian 2.1 and am waiting for BigBear to get 2.2 and multitouch. :lol: Edited October 1, 2010 by pouncep
Guest Simon O Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 T-Mobile US use a different 3G frequency (1700MHz) which isn't support by the Pulse hardware.
Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 (edited) T-Mobile US use a different 3G frequency (1700MHz) which isn't support by the Pulse hardware. Thanks to flibblesan... I am very sorry to hear this answer. I guess I was fooled by the ebay seller... Maybe I should file a complain to claim my money back.... Edited October 2, 2010 by YUNGYEH
Guest pouncep Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 Thanks for flibblesan... I am very sorry to hear this answer. I guess I was fooled by the ebay seller... Maybe I should file a complain to claim my money back.... The phone has 3G, just not TMo US compatible. EDGE works fine for me now, especially for navigation since if 3G is spotty you'll have problems with the map. You won't be able to keep the 10$ plan with an Android phone, I believe, TMo will catch you and freeze your data and tell you to move to the more expensive plan. This is all coming from personal experience. And yes, I'm paying 25$/mo for Edge...
Guest mark2410 Posted October 1, 2010 Report Posted October 1, 2010 Thanks for flibblesan... I am very sorry to hear this answer. I guess I was fooled by the ebay seller... Maybe I should file a complain to claim my money back.... well its not really fooled, tmob in the US is the only company using the set up they do so easily a genuine mistake an one ofcourse assumes you specified US tmob rather than any other country
Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 (edited) The phone has 3G, just not TMo US compatible. EDGE works fine for me now, especially for navigation since if 3G is spotty you'll have problems with the map. You won't be able to keep the 10$ plan with an Android phone, I believe, TMo will catch you and freeze your data and tell you to move to the more expensive plan. This is all coming from personal experience. And yes, I'm paying 25$/mo for Edge... I think you are right about 3G. I will just keep the $10 data plan. By the way, with a "proper" setting in APN, you can keep your $10 data plan and using EDGE without any trouble. You won't get caught by T-mobile. I have used it on other Android phone for more than 6 months. In case you don't know, here is the trick... If you do have a $10 data plan, in your APN setting, type "internet2.voicestream.com" in APN. If you don't have a $10 data plan, do the following... 1. Don't call 611, the rep will tell you there is no such plan available for your device unless you just happen to catch a super nice guy! 2. Register an account on http://www.t-mobile.com/ using your phone #. Find change service. A window will pop to prompt you select your device. 3. Choose your device as T-mobile -> sim card. 4. All available services show up, check "Unlimited Web for phones". Submit your order! If you select a different device, and "Unlimited Web for phones" does not show, clear web browser cookies, close your web browser, and then start over again. 5. After getting a confirm SMS from T-mobile. Change the APN settings! Edited October 2, 2010 by YUNGYEH
Guest Tom G Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 T-Mobile US use a different 3G frequency (1700MHz) which isn't support by the Pulse hardware. Aren't most US networks the same as the south american networks? Using a european based firmware won't work for 3G, but a south american firmware might.
Guest Simon O Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 Aren't most US networks the same as the south american networks? Using a european based firmware won't work for 3G, but a south american firmware might. For 2G yes, but T-Mobile US use a completely different 3G frequency which the pulse hardware doesn't support at all. I think South American uses 900 or 2100
Guest mark2410 Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 Aren't most US networks the same as the south american networks? Using a european based firmware won't work for 3G, but a south american firmware might. at&t does but US tmob uses 1700mhz or AWS band and they are the only major netwark in the world that uses it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Wireless_Services its really not widely supported by any manufacturer
Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 2, 2010 Report Posted October 2, 2010 (edited) For 2G yes, but T-Mobile US use a completely different 3G frequency which the pulse hardware doesn't support at all. I think South American uses 900 or 2100 I believe flibblesan is correct! And this thread clear my confusion! Thanks to all! Base on the discussion, I have found some interesting articles that have fully discussed why T-Mobile USA is a very unique 3G carrier in US. Let me sum them up: Apparently, there are several different frequencies using by various carriers, and there are two major types. The Band 1 UMST 2100 (actually covers 1900, 2000, 2100) is used by some carriers (Asia and Europe area, ATT?). This band uses 1900-2000 Mhz range for Uplink, 2100 Mhz for Downlink. However, T-mobile USA uses band 4 1700/2100 AWS. Band 4 uses 1700 MHz for Uplink, 2100 MHz for Downlink. The most important is that, band 4 and Band 1 are not compatible although certain phones do support both. Unfortunately, T-mobile Pulse only supports UMST2100 (band 1) 3G transmission.... Take a look at this thread to learn more about what I have described above: http://forum.brighthand.com/smartphones/27...0-mhz-umts.html In the nutshell...I cannot use T-mobile 3G in USA with T-mobile Pulse/Huawei U8220/CHT8000....only 2G (EDGE/GPRS) :lol: Edited October 2, 2010 by YUNGYEH
Guest pouncep Posted October 4, 2010 Report Posted October 4, 2010 I think you are right about 3G. I will just keep the $10 data plan. By the way, with a "proper" setting in APN, you can keep your $10 data plan and using EDGE without any trouble. You won't get caught by T-mobile. I have used it on other Android phone for more than 6 months. In case you don't know, here is the trick... If you do have a $10 data plan, in your APN setting, type "internet2.voicestream.com" in APN. If you don't have a $10 data plan, do the following... 1. Don't call 611, the rep will tell you there is no such plan available for your device unless you just happen to catch a super nice guy! 2. Register an account on http://www.t-mobile.com/ using your phone #. Find change service. A window will pop to prompt you select your device. 3. Choose your device as T-mobile -> sim card. 4. All available services show up, check "Unlimited Web for phones". Submit your order! If you select a different device, and "Unlimited Web for phones" does not show, clear web browser cookies, close your web browser, and then start over again. 5. After getting a confirm SMS from T-mobile. Change the APN settings! You mean you never got caught? I switched to a Touch Diamond a while back and they disabled my internet in 1 day! I had the 10$ plan. Maybe they don't catch Android phones? I'll give your suggestion a try and save 15$. Now their Android data is 30$ it there's more incentive for me to use the cheaper plan or god forbid switch to At&t.
Guest YUNGYEH Posted October 5, 2010 Report Posted October 5, 2010 You mean you never got caught? I switched to a Touch Diamond a while back and they disabled my internet in 1 day! I had the 10$ plan. Maybe they don't catch Android phones? I'll give your suggestion a try and save 15$. Now their Android data is 30$ it there's more incentive for me to use the cheaper plan or god forbid switch to At&t. Well...the default APN setting, epc.tmobile.com, will direct you to the T-mobile web start page for mobile device. It contains a proxy like service that can identify the type of your phone in according to the browser and coordinated service. The face is, T-mobile is not allowed to collect information in user's phone unless users permit to (such as you call them and tell the rep the phone you are using or IMEI for unlock purpose). Therefore, they have no way to know the real device you are using or IMEI of your phone. You got caught because the T-mobile start page will check the web service you pay for and the device type you are using (smart phones including Android or iPhone and all others, basic phone using only web or GPRS service...etc...). You could use network for a day because the system takes time to response to your device type information. The following page reveals all the T-mobile APN service: http://wiki.howardforums.com/index.php/T-Mobile_APNs As you can see, the one for total Internet does not use WAP/HTTP proxy so give you a direct access to mobile network. The drawbacks using this direct access are that you cannot use most T-mobile apps from Android market/Apple store because they usually require web service through their WAP/HTTP proxy, and also you only get 2G (EDEGE/GPRS) network. Honestly, I do not know if this direct access will last forever. But it seems a legal way to get a mobile network to your smart phone device since this method has been widely spread around forums and discussion boards for several years. The only difficulty is how to get the service cheap! I believe my method to get the $10 data plan is the easiest one although I've heard some people got the ultimate web for only $4.99 by calling T-mobile rep.... Good luck!
Guest carlos raul g Posted November 14, 2010 Report Posted November 14, 2010 T-Mobile US use a different 3G frequency (1700MHz) which isn't support by the Pulse hardware. The Pulse (u8220) wiki says hardware supports 850 Does your 2.1 ROM support the full hardware range down to 850? Best regards
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