Using SPV in the US (permanently, not travel roaming)

[Guest revolution.cx]

For those of you using the SPV in the US it would be great if you could answer some of these questions and/or contribute some info about your experience. This all assumes an unsimlocked phone. Also this relates specifically to someone living in the US not international roaming.

* Do you need to get a SIM card from the US carrier or can the Orange SIM card somehow be reprogrammed?

* If a carrier specific SIM card is needed does it make more sense to get a card directly from the carrier or just buy a cheapy phone and use its SIM card?

* Any feedback on good data plans from any carriers?

* Is there any issue with the AC adapter? Is it worldwide or is an additional adapter needed?

* Have you ever had an experience speaking to Orange directly? Did they particularly care that you were in the US? I have an Orange unlocked phone and it would be nice if they respected that in some way.

Thanks!

[Guest sticky]

I have a UK SPV, and I live in the US. I'm trying to get my SPV working - not easy as the update seems to have screwed it. Anyway:

1. You need a new SIM card, from AT&T, T-Mobile etc Your Phone needs to me SIM-unlocked.

2. You can get a T68 for free from Amazon, complete with T-Mobile SIM card.

3. Not yet. All seem a bit lame at the moment. Apparently the Smartphone will be launched in the US within months, so maybe the plans will be updated. As I'm having problems setting up my AT&T SIM to use GPRS, I would recommend waiting for the official launch if you can.

4. The AC adaptor didn't work for me. I had to cut off the little plug and attach it to an old Pocket PC PSU I had knocking around.

5. No, not tried speaking to Orange. I don't see why they would support someone taking their phone to another country and not using their plans...

[Guest MISMan]

Have you tried the permanent SIMUnlock that was just revealed? That should take away any issues on the SIM side. On the Orange support, I do not mean to be rude, but you are not their customer nor a potential customer so expecting them to provide you with support is not a capitalistic idea. They do sell the phone, but they are a phone company and sell the service. The phone is merely the transport for their service. Now, if you are telling me that you bought it unlocked FROM ORANGE DIRECTLY, then I would change my tune and potentially even help you.

Have you done any of the restore suggestions made here? Did you have a firmware backup?

[Guest revolution.cx]

Now, if you are telling me that you bought it unlocked FROM ORANGE DIRECTLY, then I would change my tune and potentially even help you.

I just bought an Orange unlocked phone on ebay for many bucks (before the permahack came out) that was originally purchased unlocked direct from Orange. Just curious if they took the high road and supported their hardware or were the typical money-grubbing quarterly result chasing money-counters.

But really that's a side issue. It would be nice to get a definitive thread going on the hows and whats of making an SPV work well in the US. Hopefully this thread will fill up with good info and we can make a mini-FAQ.

[Guest MISMan]

I hope you did not mistake my post.

Upon further thoughts, I think I can think of a CHEAP way to get Orange to support you. When the PPCPE from T-Mobile came out, several out of country folks bought them (ebay, whatever). So, many needed support, to no avail. I helped one of them buy a SIM from T-Mobile and "service" from them (only long enough to get it fixed) and told them that the person roamed quite a bit (which is true). They were very happy to help a customer. I believe that you could easily do the same with Orange. Since you would not be buying a handset, you would not need any contract, so you could pay for the minimum tariff on your CC until you get the issues resolved, and voila you are happy and then cancel the service. Thoughts?

[Guest MISMan]

Even further thought - perhaps I could even help ya.

[Guest Myke]

As for the AC: goto radioshack and buy a UK->US power converter. Theyre $30, i had to get one.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To get the phone to work:

If you just unlocked your phone and youre getting the "Network Denied, searching..." error, DO THIS!

thanks a ton to Sea_los who gratiously told me how to do this!

Sea_los says:

- go programs / settings / telephony

band selection and make sure you're on PCS Band

if you aren't .... change it to PCS and it'll restart

if it doesnt automatically find your network, go back into Telephony / More / Networks and choose your network!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To get GPRS to work:

-Go to Settings / Data Connections

-Hit Menu / Edit Connections / GPRS Connections

-Hit Menu / Delete All 3 Orange Connections (GPRS, MMS, WAP) unless you're going to use them with an Orange SIM. I'm not, so I ditched them

-Hit Menu / Add

-Type in the following settings:

Description: ATT GPRS

Connects to: The Internet

Access point: proxy

User Name: leave blank

Password: leave blank

Primary DNS: leave blank

Secondary DNS: leave blank

IP address: leave blank

-Hit Done twice until you get to the Data Connections page and choose "ATT GPRS" for Internet connection.

Browse to an Internet Explorer favorite like MSN to test things out and you should be good to go.

[Guest MISMan]

If you want a great flexible and inexpensive solution for charging, buy this set off of Ebay. As you may or may not know the SPV was developed by the same company as the XDA, and the plugs are 100% identical - only difference is the SPV connector is flipped 180 degrees. So, buy that set, and you can use the USB adapter to hook to PC for synch & charge, AND have the AC plug for the USB cable to plug in to charge (mine is plugged into one as I type) AND you get the car lighter adapter. So, basically you get three functions for under $20.00 with shipping.

[Guest spikex]

Your SPV should of come with an adapter which allows you to use the charger worldwide despite the socket. I just checked and I definately have one.

[Guest sticky]

I've finally got my SPV working in the US, after my recent UK update problems.

I'm using an AT&T SIM and plan (the T-Mobile one was better, but had zero signal at my house).

I tried the original PSU again, and it worked. Not sure why it didn't before. Aliens maybe.

I can browse the web, send SMS (SMS's are free I think with the AT&T plan), and use IM etc. GPRS is a little expensive on the plan I have, so I don't do a lot of browsing.

I've not managed to get a working email system yet, but I think that's simply my lack of having 15 minutes to set it up.

My phone came without the camera, hope to get one in a week or so and send some pictures from the ski slopes :-D

[Guest aiwapro]

Nice, there's alot of information in here about using the SpV in the U.S.

I can't wait until I receive my SpV; I'm thinking it will arrive sometimes next week.

Once it does, and I get everything set up, I will be sure to make an actual thread about using an SpV in the U.S., that is if it's not already made by then.

[Guest revolution.cx]

The included AC charger is the universal kind and you only need a cheap $3 adapter from Radio Shack to make it work - you don't need a voltage converter. There isn't a US style adapter in the set that Orange provides.

Tried a SIM card at the T-Mobile store and it worked fine and showed a big G icon on top of the screen which I assume is GPRS.