[GUIDE] Getting your unlocked Note fully functional on AT&T (including MMS)

---

I know I originally posted this in another thread as a response, but for the sake of making things easier to find for new folks coming here, I thought I'd consolidate your one-stop-shop for getting your unlocked, unbranded, Galaxy Note N7000 working properly on AT&T.

To get your Note fully functional, and running optimally on AT&T, it's not quite as simple as just popping your SIM card in and off you go...

The three basic things you need to do are as follows:
1. Make sure you have the correct account provisioning.
2. Configure and use the correct APN('s).
3. Disable Fast Dormancy.*

*Some people have been reporting better device performance (speed and battery life) with Fast Dormancy left turned on. This appears to be geographically significant. Since there currently isn't a way to see whether or not AT&T is using this feature in your area, it may be worth trying your device for a day with the feature disabled, and comparing the performance to what it's like enabled. Go with whatever seems to work best for you in your area.

I'll cover these in more detail below, but first of all I need to clarify something: the Note supports 21mbit HSPA+, which if you want to call that 4G, OK fine. HSPA+ is an evolution of UMTS (a 3rd generation mobile technology) kinda like how EDGE is an evolution of GPRS (a 2nd generation mobile technology). LTE is a truly 4th generation mobile technology which is completely different from the previous generations from ground up. Even though HSPA+ is not truly a 4th generation technology like LTE, AT&T is still marketing it as "4G." Personally I try to avoid marketing catch-phrases like "3G" and "4G" altogether, so henceforth, and to avoid confusion, I shall refer to the Note's mobile connectivity by what it actually is: HSPA+

Now, before you're able to fully take advantage of HSPA+, you'll need to make sure that your account is properly provisioned for that feature, otherwise you'll run into a virtual speed limit which will keep your device from reaching its full speed potential. So, in order to check that you have the correct provisioning on your account, you should call in to customer service and make sure you're on a proper 4G plan. Ask them if you have the correct SOC code. In my case (grandfathered unlimited data user), my SOC code should be "LTEDPPB." If you're on a tiered plan, it'll be something else. Either way, you need to be on a 4G plan of some sort.

"Ok, how do I do that then?"

Easy. Go to you local store and get the IMEI from a similar Samsung device (from a connectivity standpoint anyway), like an Infuse 4G, or a Galaxy S2, or even AT&T's own Note. From the dialer, enter in *#06#, and the IMEI should show up. Make a note of that number (hehehe). You can probably find another IMEI on the internet, too, but either way you need that. When you call in to AT&T customer support, just tell the rep that you've upgraded your device to a *insert name of device from which you got the IMEI* that you bought on eBay or something, and you want to make sure that you're on the correct plan. Provide them that IMEI, and now your account should be provisioned for HSPA+ (YAY! WOO!).

<UPDATE> (for folks still on "unlimited" plans):
Since AT&T has started throttling grandfathered "unlimited" data users, they have finally clarified at what threshold they would slow you down. If you're on an HSPA+ unlimited plan (SOC code HSDPPB), they will slow you down once you reach 3GB of data in a billing period. However, if you are provisioned for an LTE unlimited data plan (SOC code LTEDPPB), then they won't bother you until you hit 5GB instead of 3! You will still be able to connect to HSPA just fine. So if you want to take advantage of getting 5GB of unrestricted, un-throttled data instead of 3, then use the IMEI from an AT&T Note for the account provisioning process described above. Also, it should be noted that this only applies to people who are grandfathered into a $30/month smartphone data plan (or equivalent, such as iPhone unlimited, Blackberry unlimited, etc.); $15/month "feature phone" unlimited plans are not eligible for unlimited data if you want to upgrade to a proper 4G smartphone plan. However, the former should still be able retain their unlimited data if they stick to their current plan and use the wap.cingular APN settings below... at least until AT&T somehow figures out that you're using a smartphone...
</UPDATE>

Now that that's out of the way, you need to configure your APN or APN's if you're using more than one (this only usually applies if you're grandfathered into an older plan). Go to Settings => Wireless and network => Mobile networks => Access Point Names. From here, tap the menu button and select "New APN."
Populate the fields as follows (Case sensitive!):


Name: Doesn't matter, you can call this whatever you want.
APN: Phone
Proxy: <not set>
Port: <not set>
Username: <not set>
Password: <not set>
Server: <not set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net
MMS Proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net
MMS port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication type: <none set>
APN type: internet

This next APN will only work if you are provisioned for LTE as described earlier:

Name: Doesn't matter, you can call this whatever you want.
APN: pta
Proxy: <not set>
Port: <not set>
Username: <not set>
Password: <not set>
Server: <not set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net
MMS Proxy: proxy.mobile.att.net
MMS port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication type: <none set>
APN type: internet

The APN info above is for achieving the highest possible speeds over HSPA+


The next APN generally offers slower data speeds, but depending on your area may not be any different in terms of speed after all. This is the old legacy Cingular APN. GoPhone users should use these settings.

Name: Doesn't matter, you can call this whatever you want.
APN: wap.cingular
Proxy: <not set>
Port: <not set>
Username: <not set>
Password: <not set>
Server: <not set>
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com
MMS port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication type: <none set>
APN type: internet


So now you have your APN's set up for data, now you need to set them up for MMS. This is easy; just duplicate the APN's above, but under APN type, set it to MMS. Of course, if you know which MMS proxy works for you, you can just set your APN type to internet + MMS.

<UPDATE>
I have been seeing a lot of posts about people having trouble with MMS. If you're having MMS problems, first read the previous paragraph very carefully...
Done?
Good!
Now you should have two identical APN's, with exception of the APN type being internet on one, and MMS on the other. If you are still having trouble sending and receiving MMS, try using the wap.cingular APN settings for your MMS APN instead, and set the APN type for that to MMS instead of internet. If you are already using the wap.cingular APN for data, then you can actually just use that APN for everything by setting it to internet + MMS under the APN type.
</UPDATE>

Congratulations! You should have now successfully set up both your account and your APN's properly for making your Note fully functional on AT&T! You should now at the very least be able to get onto the internet and browse etc. Pat yourself on the back!

But wait! There's more!

You still have to disable a feature on your Note called Fast Dormancy. Fortunately, this is really quick and easy to do. But first, what the hell is that, and why do I have to disable it? Well without getting all technical, simply put, it's a feature which allows a device to very quickly switch from an idle data state to UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ and back to idle again, and generally work more efficiently, thus improving performance, and saving battery life. Problem is, in order for this feature to work, BOTH the device and the network that device is on need to support it. Unfortunately, AT&T does not currently support Fast Dormancy. As a result, by having fast dormancy enabled on your device, it'll have the complete opposite effect than what it was intended to have. Basically, your battery life will suck more, data connections will be erratic, slow, and unreliable, and you're effectively wasting data overhead on a feature that, for AT&T, just doesn't exist. Disable it, and your Note will fly like it was intended.

To disable Fast Dormancy, from your dialer, enter in *#*#9900#*#*
This should pull up your SysDump menu. There, close to the bottom it should indicate your current Fast Dormancy state, enabled by default. Select that option, and it should indicate that Fast Dormancy is disabled. Exit and enjoy! Reboot the phone for good measure though. You generally don't have to, but sometimes it irons out any issues that may arise.

Hope this all helps! Enjoy your Note on AT&T!!

Thread stuck

---

Good information, thread stuck.

Originally Posted by reinbeau

Good information, thread stuck.

Thank you!

Awesome! wish this was as easily available before.

Of note(no pun intended), I tried changing my wap.cingular APN to the suggested MMSC Proxy: mmsc.cingular.com and it broke my MMS. Mine only works with MMSC Proxy set to: wireless.cingular.com

Grandfathered Unlimited Data

Originally Posted by brycestejskal

Awesome! wish this was as easily available before.

Of note(no pun intended), I tried changing my wap.cingular APN to the suggested MMSC Proxy: mmsc.cingular.com and it broke my MMS. Mine only works with MMSC Proxy set to: wireless.cingular.com

Grandfathered Unlimited Data

Interesting. My MMS works just fine with the mmsc.cingular.com. Out of curiosity, what's the SOC code on your account plan?

I come from the Motorola Atrix 4g plan on my sim card.
Only the proxy "wireless.cingular.com" setting works for me as far as sending and receiving mms pictures..
the other proxy wouldnt send or receive.. ie:
mmsc.cingular.com -nor- proxy.mobile.att.net.

thank you for this guide!

Well, the wap.cingular APN works on my Note, but for some reason the Phone APN does not. Don't know why though.

Perhaps it's because I'm using my Note as a GoPhone?

Originally Posted by Beethoven9th

Well, the wap.cingular APN works on my Note, but for some reason the Phone APN does not. Don't know why though.

Perhaps it's because I'm using my Note as a GoPhone?

Possibly. Then again, the GoPhone plans won't get you the fastest possible data speeds anyway. Probably why only the older/legacy APN works for you. It's the trade-off you pay for still getting unlimited everything for $50 a month with no commitments. Not a bad deal all things considered!

Great job on the post!!

How about the new apn that Att uses for their LTE devices? (pta)

I've noticed that the apn (Phone) and pta get about the same data speed and at times i have noticed pta get faster. I one area using pta on my note i got 10.7mbps which is the fastest I have ever seen hspa+ go.

What's your opinion or fact about this?