Att variant unlocked for Tmobile- poor experience

[cfclay]

Forgive me if this should be in the T-Mobile or AT&T forum for the phone.
I bought a used note 8 that was an AT&T variant. I was on cricket, I inserted my sim card and it worked fine,however I should have called AT&T to see if this could be unlocked....because they wouldn't unlock it.

I used an unlocking company on the web and it works now, but I'm traveling places where this phone should work , mostly rural, and it isnt.

Tmobile hasn't been of much help . I've read on Reddit a suggestion to flash the Tmobile software to the phone to get full functionality on their network. I've also read it will never be possible to achieve that without a Tmobile Note8 or unlocked version.

Can anyone comment on this, is this necessary?

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[FatalONEM8]

Forgive me if this should be in the T-Mobile or AT&T forum for the phone.

About a used note 8 that was an AT&T variant. I was on cricket, I inserted my sim card and it worked fine,however I should have called AT&T to see if this could be unlocked....because the wouldn't unlock it.

I used an unlocking company on the web and it works now, but I'm traveling places where this phone should work , mostly rural, and it isnt.

Tmobile hasn't been of much help . I've read on Reddit a suggestion to flash the Tmobile software to the phone to get full functionality on their network. I've also read it will never be possible to achieve that without a Tmobile Note8 or unlocked version.

Can anyone comment on this, is this necessary?

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What update is the phone on? Should be like N950USQUXXXXX

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[cfclay]

What update is the phone on? Should be like N950USQUXXXXX

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Baseband version
N950USQU3CRC2

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[FatalONEM8]

Baseband version
N950USQU3CRC2

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Do you have a T-Mobile SIM? That new update has the BYOD feature to change the software according to the SIM carrier.

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[cfclay]

Do you have a T-Mobile SIM? That new update has the BYOD feature to change the software according to the SIM carrier.

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Yes, I am using T mobile now. It did change some parts of the software, for instance when I Reboot, you will get the t-mobile symbol on the screen for just a half second and the T-Mobile jingle, then the pattern unlock will show.

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[FatalONEM8]

Yes, I am using T mobile now. It did change some parts of the software, for instance when I Reboot, you will get the t-mobile symbol on the screen for just a half second and the T-Mobile jingle, then the pattern unlock will show.

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Ok so then what's the problem? Seems like it's running T-Mobile software now.

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[ZerosMadness]

I'm guessing he isn't getting service in places he should be

 

[cfclay]

I'm guessing he isn't getting service in places he should be

Right. I'm traveling with a work phone and Tmobile website shows towns where I should have signal. I was getting mostly band 12 in those rural areas. I dont know much about tmobile bands and frequencies but I'm trying to determine if there's bands this phone won't pick up. I've also picked up bands 2,3,4.
When I wasn't getting a signal or a signal I could use- it appeared I always had bars,probably AT&T.

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[ZerosMadness]

Right. I'm traveling with a work phone and Tmobile website shows towns where I should have signal. I was getting mostly band 12 in those rural areas. I dont know much about tmobile bands and frequencies but I'm trying to determine if there's bands this phone won't pick up. I've also picked up bands 2,3,4.
When I wasn't getting a signal or a signal I could use- it appeared I always had bars,probably AT&T.

Were the apn settings set correctly if it did them by itself? My AT&T note 8 doesn't get AT&T service where AT&T says I should. The maps are often times lying. I live out of town a little ways(roughly 10 minutes out) and the map says 4g but I get 1 bar of 4g at less than 3g speeds. And I'm in the middle of the color coat. Also our phones have the same bands as all the other games models and even American cdma models I believe. The AT&T varient supports T-Mobiles 600mhz as well. From what I was told.

 

[shouren04]

U models should all be the same hardware wise, they should all support the frequencies used by US carriers. That's the reason why they changed to U models, for compatibility, all that's different is the firmware. Gone are the days when each US carrier had their own models, ie T (TMB), A (ATT), V (VWZ), P (SPR). Best to flash carrier's firmware. Many people buy or flash unlocked variants/firmware because of less bloat but you may loose specific carrier features that you can't enable without root.

For T-Mobile, bands are 2, 4, 12, & 71 but Note 8s do not support the new 71 band. T-Mobile is also said to use 66 which the Note 8 supports but I have never seen my phone connect to B66 though. But I have a F on T-Mobile. B66 said is said to be an extension of B4.

In my area B4 is the main band I'm connected to & is the fastest. B12 is usually second & in areas with less cell density where reception is not a good or inside buildings as it's a lower frequency & penetrates walls better (sort of like what B71 is for). B12 is usually slow for me. I've never seen my phone connected to B2 though. I have seen B31 pop up when CA is active but that doesn't make sense since T-Mobile does use B31.

 

[cfclay]

Thanks! I don't do this much, where's the latest firmware?

U models should all be the same hardware wise, they should all support the frequencies used by US carriers. That's the reason why they changed to U models, for compatibility, all that's different is the firmware. Gone are the days when each US carrier had their own models, ie T (TMB), A (ATT), V (VWZ), P (SPR). Best to flash carrier's firmware. Many people buy or flash unlocked variants/firmware because of less bloat but you may loose specific carrier features that you can't enable without root.

For T-Mobile, bands are 2, 4, 12, & 71 but Note 8s do not support the new 71 band. T-Mobile is also said to use 66 which the Note 8 supports but I have never seen my phone connect to B66 though. But I have a F on T-Mobile. B66 said is said to be an extension of B4.

In my area B4 is the main band I'm connected to & is the fastest. B12 is usually second & in areas with less cell density where reception is not a good or inside buildings as it's a lower frequency & penetrates walls better (sort of like what B71 is for). B12 is usually slow for me. I've never seen my phone connected to B2 though. I have seen B31 pop up when CA is active but that doesn't make sense since T-Mobile does use B31.

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[cfclay]

U models should all be the same hardware wise, they should all support the frequencies used by US carriers. That's the reason why they changed to U models, for compatibility, all that's different is the firmware. Gone are the days when each US carrier had their own models, ie T (TMB), A (ATT), V (VWZ), P (SPR). Best to flash carrier's firmware. Many people buy or flash unlocked variants/firmware because of less bloat but you may loose specific carrier features that you can't enable without root.

For T-Mobile, bands are 2, 4, 12, & 71 but Note 8s do not support the new 71 band. T-Mobile is also said to use 66 which the Note 8 supports but I have never seen my phone connect to B66 though. But I have a F on T-Mobile. B66 said is said to be an extension of B4.

In my area B4 is the main band I'm connected to & is the fastest. B12 is usually second & in areas with less cell density where reception is not a good or inside buildings as it's a lower frequency & penetrates walls better (sort of like what B71 is for). B12 is usually slow for me. I've never seen my phone connected to B2 though. I have seen B31 pop up when CA is active but that doesn't make sense since T-Mobile does use B31.

Is there some way to control the bands you are receiving? I'm on B12 rocking 2 Mbps 500 yards from I-30 in a suburb of Little Rock right now.
View attachment 4502147

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[FatalONEM8]

Is there some way to control the bands you are receiving? I'm on B12 rocking 2 Mbps 500 yards from I-30 in a suburb of Little Rock right now.
View attachment 4502147

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Yes actually and please dont use that app lol, use servicemode *#0011# to change bands type in *#2263# there you can change bands on T-Mobile. On AT&T you have to eject the sim and reboot the phone then type that code in lol.

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[shouren04]

Thanks! I don't do this much, where's the latest firmware?

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This thread should help you.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/guide-sm-n950u-u1-t3685884

Is there some way to control the bands you are receiving? I'm on B12 rocking 2 Mbps 500 yards from I-30 in a suburb of Little Rock right now.
View attachment 4502147

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Sort of. In the Service Menu you can set preferred bands & you can also disable bands. I don't recommending disabling bands as there really is no point. You can try setting specific bands as preferred but in my experience it's best to just leave it on automatic (stock). Even if you set a specific band as preferred you won't connect to it if it's not available in a certain area anyway.

Don't know if the service menus are the same for Snapdragon but on Exynos it's *#2263# (enter it in the stock Samsung Dialer).

Again best bet is to flash T-Mobile firmware, that way you'll get the correct CA combos (carrier aggregation) & other features like VoLTE, Wifi Calling, etc., then debloat if desired.

Also forget LTE Discovery, Network Cell Info is much better.

 

[cfclay]

Thanks for all the tips, I think I will try this tonight. I do have a total conspiracy theory though....I would swear that today (again traveled in an area where it lost service but the Network Cell Info app showed I was picking up a strong signal on ATT, I think band 3) ...I turned roaming off and it seemed i haven't had any issue since.

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[cfclay]

Okay, I have flashed the phone using firmware I downloaded off of SamFirm, see attached. Phone seems no different, but I haven't traveled yet. Some debate I keep reading in forums as to if this is even necessary.

Very frustrating to be pulling in AT&T signal on phone in areas where I know I should be getting TMobile.

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[cfclay]

Update: I've traveled 1500 moles all over the state this week and I've backtracked the issue to be this phone will not pick up Tmobiles 700mhz network.
If you look at the app from TMobile called BYOD, you put in your IMEI and it straight up tells you (or at least me) that arent going to get it.


Lots of wasted time this week. Wish we would have known this before I started service.

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[FatalONEM8]

Update: I've traveled 1500 moles all over the state this week and I've backtracked the issue to be this phone will not pick up Tmobiles 700mhz network.
If you look at the app from TMobile called BYOD, you put in your IMEI and it straight up tells you (or at least me) that arent going to get it.


Lots of wasted time this week. Wish we would have known this before I started service.

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Type *#2263# and send screenshot here please.

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[cfclay]

Type *#2263# and send screenshot here please.

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Sending some love your way if you can find a solution.View attachment 4505378

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[FatalONEM8]

Sending some love your way if you can find a solution.View attachment 4505378

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Well that's weird... Band 12 looks to be enabled....why dont you try locking to only Band 12 and see what happens. Also I could find out if T-Mobile owns Band 12 spectrum in your market if you tell me what that is.

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