[INFO] [FAQ] Galaxy S3 w/ LTE - SGH-T999L & SGH-T999N

Processor
Qualcomm MSM8960
1.5GHz Dual-Core
1MB Level 2 Cache
ARMv7

Memory
2GB RAM
LPDDR2

Storage
16GB Total
xxxx User Accessible
Up to 64GB SD Card Expansion

GPU
Qualcomm Adreno 225
4.8" Super AMOLED Display (Active Matrix, Organic LED)
720x1280 Display Resolution
305.8 Pixels /inch
1920x1080 Video Out Resolution (via MHL)

Audio
Wolfson WM1811
Stereo Output

Camera (Rear)
8MP
1x Optical Zoom
16x Digital Zoom
JPG Format

Camera (Front)
1.92MP
1280x720
Picture Format - JPG
Video Format - 3GP

Camcorder
1920x1080 @ 30fps
Formats: 3GP, 3G2, MPEG4

USB
Micro USB Connector
USB 3.0
USB OTG (On The Go) 1.3 Compliant

Bluetooth
BT 4.0
BT Stereo A2DP/AVCRP
Broadcom BCM4334

Wi-Fi
a/b/g/n
2.4GHz / 5.0GHz
Broadcom BCM4334

Cellular Networks
Band 1 - UMTS 2100
Band 2 - UMTS 1900
Band 4 - UMTS 1700/2100 & LTE 1700/2100
Band 5 - UMTS 850 ; GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
Band 17 - LTE 700

Data Links
GPRS - Class 12
EDGE - Class 12
UMTS
HSPA+21
HSPA+42 - HSDPA Cat. 24 (42 MB/s) - HSUPA Cat. 6 (5.76 MB/s)
LTE - Cat. 3

LTE
LTE 1700/2100 - Channels available with 5MHz, 10MHz, 15MHz and 20MHz bandwidth
LTE 700 - Channels available with 5MHz and 10MHz bandwidth


Other Features
Digital Compass
Barometer
Active Noise Cancellation
DLNA
NFC
Business Certified Samsung SAFE v2.5
CMAS
HD Voice

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Ponce
San Juan

Here is a somewhat rough draft of some of our most frequently asked questions. I will add, edit, revamp, make better as we go. If you notice a popular question that I left out, let me know so I can add it! I just wanted to get them out asap as I felt I have waited long enough!

Why Can't I Get LTE?
That depends:
Are you certain you have an LTE capable device? Namely the SGH-T999L?
Are you sure that LTE is available in your area?
Did you pay your bill on time?
It is also highly possible that there are currently network/tower problems in your area. Call T-Mobile Support and ask.
Check your IMEI number. If it is zero, PM me!



My ROM doesnt show LTE in the statusbar, only 4G.
If you have flashed a custom rom, you may be getting LTE only it does not know how to display this in the status bar.
To tell what your connection is for sure, start a download (your next rom is a good one), then go to Settings > About Device > Status > Network Type



Why does my phone say it is a T999?
Because you flashed a rom that was based on or intended for the original T999 model. This is perfectly normal.
If you really want to change it, go to /system/build.prop and edit all lines that say SGH-T999, to your model or whatever you like.
(WARNING!!!) If you change this to a different model than the T999 or T999L, some apps may think they are on that different model device. This can cause a brick if you try to flash firmware with Mobile Odin. Other apps may not function as intended. Use Caution!



Can I flash ROMs from the T999?
In short, YES
BUT....some ROM's will not flash without a little intervention, so to speak. If you get a Status 7 error and the ROM will not flash, this is what you do:
Unzip the Rom.
In the Meta-Inf folder, delete the signatures (CERT.RSA, CERT.SF, MANIFEST.MF)
Browse to META-INF\com\google\android\ and open the updater-script in Notepad++
At the top of the script, there will be one or several lines beginning with "Assert". Delete these Lines. Save the updater-script.
Re-Zip the Rom and try again to flash.



Can I update my bootloader so I can Flash CM?
NO. AND DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO SO!!! YOU WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE!!!!
See the question above about removing the "Assert" lines from the Rom's updater-script to make the rom flashable.



Can I Network/Carrier unlock via the free method posted in General?
Unfortunately, this is not possible on 4.1.2 as Samsung patched against it in this build. Because there is no earlier firmware for the device, you cannot downgrade like people can with the original T999.
Your only options are to try to get the unlock code from T-Mobile, or pay for the service from an online retailer. You can find some on ebay, or just by a google search.



Can I flash another radio?
YES.
The T999 and T999V modems will flash, but you will have no connectivity. So do not flash these. There is no point.
However, as of right now you can only use two modems. UVAMB7 from the T999L, and UVAME4 from the T999N are interchangeable. Meaning you can use the T999N modem on the T999L, and vice versa. Please read my Modem/Baseband thread for downloads and more information on modems. (Link is in my sig)



Can I flash any of the firmware that is for the T999 or T999V?
NO! YOU WILL HARD-BRICK YOUR DEVICE!!!!
ONLY flash T999L firmware to a T999L and T999N firmware to a T999N!!!!
If it does not match your model EXACTLY, it will almost certainly brick your device!!!



Can I flash the T999L firmware to my T999N, or vice versa?
NO! This is one of the areas where the two are NOT compatible!
ONLY flash T999L firmware to a T999L and T999N firmware to a T999N!!!!
If it does not match your model EXACTLY, it will almost certainly brick your device!!!



What is safe to flash to the T999L?
You can safely flash any of the Roms, Kernels and Recoveries found here in the T-Mobile GS3 forum.
You should also be able to flash any of the mods available, but unless you are on a matching firmware build, YMMV.
Flashing T999/T999V modems shouldn't harm the phone, but they will not work.



Why wont my camera work after I flashed CM?
This is a known issue reported by several people on several roms. It seems the fixes are different for some roms, and one or two have no solution as of right now. The most likely cause is a Kernel/Module mismatch. (for example, if you flashed a T999 based rom, but kept your T999L kernel, it will not work as the kernel cannot work with the T999 modules.) In this case, the fix is simple, flash any of the kernel plus modules I have made available. This will flash the kernel, plus its compatible modules and should solve the camera issue. Some have reported this being fixed by flashing the ktoonsez kernel (it includes its own modules).
In the cases where this does not solve the issue, it may be due to an incorrect module, lib, framework, cameradata, kernel, or any combination of those or possibly something else we have not found yet.



Why is my WiFi and/or Bluetooth not working after flashing a T999 based Rom?
Most likely this is also due to a kernel/module mismatch. Try flashing one of the kernel plus moudles I have available.




Let me know if you think of any other questions I should add here! Thanks!

Use Odin to flash the ROOT66 Firmware. Download from my firmware thread or mrRobinson's original Root66 thread. (Don't forget to thank mrRobinson for his hard work! He doesn't even have this device, but he still takes the time to fix us up with this firmware!)
Download the Root66 firmware. Several builds may be available, it is suggested that you use the latest version available, though you should read about any update before taking the plunge!!! (At the time of this writing, NC1 is the latest firmware for the T999L).
Flash in Odin 3.09 as you would any other firmware. (Place in the AP section) (If still using Odin v3.07, put the firmware in PDA instead of AP like in v3.09)

Use Odin to flash either CWM or TWRP custom recovery. (use the latest available d2tmo or d2lte version. d2ltetmo versions will have some compatibility issues with certain Roms/Mods)
Reboot to the custom recovery.
Flash your preferred superuser app and binary.

You can download Odin, SuperSU, Superuser, TWRP and CWM from my signature.

Use the MotoChopper Exploit
Thread and instructions here: [ROOT] Root Samsung Galaxy S4 with Motochopper
Yes this tutorial is for the S4, but it will work for the T999L as well.

Note: I dont recommend using Motochopper simply because it will be patched against soon. (most likely the next update) So IMO its best to just learn a method you can use again in the future.

This will create an On-Device backup of your IMEI and other NV Items.
Do this and you will not have to keep track of any files as it will be backed up internally, permanently.
You only have to do this ONCE! It will not go away when you flash Roms, Recoveries, Firmware, etc!

Download and Install the Terminal Emulator from the Play Store.

Open Terminal Emulator and enter the following:


The device will reboot and backup all necessary data. That's it!!!

Restoring your NV-Backup

If you do lose your IMEI, all you have to do is open Terminal Emulator and enter the following:

Reboot into CWM or TWRP Recovery
Flash PureStock Rom
Flash the unmodified, Secure UVAMB7 Kernel
Flash Stock UVAMB7 Recovery

Next, if you want to wipe everything but your internal SD Card, Factory Reset before rebooting.
If you want a 100% clean, out of the box type device, reboot Recovery.
This should take you into the stock recovery you just flashed. Now Factory Reset.

Reboot Phone
(Last chance to run Triangle Away!)
Open SuperUser/SuperSU (app)
Find and select the option to Permanantly Unroot.
Reboot
Done!!!

Reboot Phone
Install Triangle Away and reset the flash counter.
Reboot and check Triangle Away to see if it still says the counter is at zero.
Now, to unroot, open SuperUser/SuperSU (app)
Find and select the option to Permanantly Unroot (Full Unroot or similar)
Reboot

Next, if you want a 100% clean, out of the box type device, reboot Recovery.
This should take you into the stock recovery you just flashed. Now Factory Reset.
This will wipe Triangle Away as well as your Internal SD Card.
Your phone should now be exactly as it was when you powered it on the very first time!

Done!!!

What you need to know

Currently, only CWM has a recovery specifically for the T999L. Because of this, you can use Rom Manager to install CWM if you are rooted.
I do not recommend this however....

I suggest you use either CWM or TWRP for the T999 (d2tmo). It will work just the same and you will not have any of the compatability problems.
Most devs do not have their roms set up to allow flashing to the T999L, this will solve one part of that problem.

The only drawback to this is that you cannot use Goo Manager or Rom Manager to install/update your recovery.
Depending on where you get it, the flashable zips for CWM and TWRP may not flash if you try to change/update by flashing from your current recovery. If you use the files I have linked to in my signature, this should not be an issue.

So unless you know for sure that you have a d2tmo recovery installed, I would go ahead and flash one I have available just to get it out of the way.

Mobile Odin does not yet support the T999L. I have already submitted the required information to Chainfire, and since it is most likely already completely compatable, I am hoping it will be added in the next update.
If you are currently running a T999L build, Mobile Odin will immediately tell you it is not supported if you open it. If you are using a T999 Rom, Mobile Odin would most likely work. I base this on the fact that the T999 recoveries will work and Mobile Odin functions in a way as a temporary recovery. Keep in mind, this is nothing more than a guess on my part.

You CAN flash any of the ROM's which are built for the original T999. Pretty much any ROM you find in our Development Section should work on the T999L.
There are, however, just a few small things that you need to remain aware of.

TouchWiz ROM's
Touchwiz ROMs are those based on the Stock, Shipped firmware (The software that came on your device)
If the ROM you choose includes a kernel, everything should work and you have nothing else to worry about.
If it does NOT come with a kernel, you will most likely have to flash either the UVDMD5 kernel, or the UVAMB7 kernel + Modules. More information and both can be found in my Development thread.
Either kernel should work just fine. You are free to choose either one. If you run into issues with one, please share the information so everyone else can benefit, and also to confirm for you that it is a kernel problem.


CM / AOSP / AOKP
Some of these roms will not flash without editing the updater-script. As these roms progress, the devs should add the T999L making this more of a Non-Issue.
If you get a Status 7 error, you will most likely need to follow these steps to make it flashable.

Unzip the ROM.
Browse to and open the updater-script (use Notepad+++
At the top you will see the 'Asserts'
You have 2 options:
1. Remove all of the Assert lines.
2. Add another assert. If the current ones are using d2tmo, add d2ltetmo. If using UVDMD5, add UVAMB7.
Save and rezip the file. (delete the signatures if present)
Flash ROM.