Desperately Need Help - Samsung SM-N960F/DS + T-mobile PUK and other issues.....

[pappaellio]

I have been using my phone on the Tmobile network for the last year. It was working flawlessly, thanks to your instructions. HOWEVER, i recently noticed a LOT of network problems -- my phone calls keep dropping and my internet intermittently resets. It's been going on for 1 week. Any advice? How is your phone reception?

NEED HELP

---------- Post added at 05:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:54 AM ----------

No. Check your messaging app settings but more likely this is a carrier based limitation.

I have been using my phone on the Tmobile network for the last year. It was working flawlessly, thanks to your instructions. HOWEVER, i recently noticed a LOT of network problems -- my phone calls keep dropping and my internet intermittently resets. It's been going on for 1 week. Any advice? How is your phone reception?

NEED HELP

 

[orsonwells456]

For some reason I never got a notification on replies to this thead.....and then all of a sudden I did. Waduheck.
@pappaellio I have also been experiencing intermittent functionality on the Tmobile network. Sometimes people can't call me and it goes straight to voicemail, other times it works fine. I was just in Mexico for those interested and the phone worked almost perfectly.......except I have a weird issue with text message threads starting anew with existing people. That may be a bug with the Textra app I'm using though and not necessarily anything to do with the phone. Some recipients did not receive any pictures and it seems like it was Tmobile recipients.......again who knows what caused that.........

I actually don't mind not receiving phone calls. If people really want to call me, they can leave a message and I'll call them back. That said, you don't want to miss an emergency call. I'm pretty sure there's an update to the Detonator and also a newer rom with updated security features. Perhaps this would resolve any issues. As this was the first time I rooted a phone I'm not sure on what I need to do since I really don't want to lose anything on the phone datawise. And I really don't want to get *stuck* again like I did.

To be fair I haven't researched it at all just yet but I'm sure there's an update to the detonator. Will check into it and respond later.

 

[pappaellio]

For some reason I never got a notification on replies to this thead.....and then all of a sudden I did. Waduheck.
@pappaellio I have also been experiencing intermittent functionality on the Tmobile network. Sometimes people can't call me and it goes straight to voicemail, other times it works fine. I was just in Mexico for those interested and the phone worked almost perfectly.......except I have a weird issue with text message threads starting anew with existing people. That may be a bug with the Textra app I'm using though and not necessarily anything to do with the phone. Some recipients did not receive any pictures and it seems like it was Tmobile recipients.......again who knows what caused that.........

I actually don't mind not receiving phone calls. If people really want to call me, they can leave a message and I'll call them back. That said, you don't want to miss an emergency call. I'm pretty sure there's an update to the Detonator and also a newer rom with updated security features. Perhaps this would resolve any issues. As this was the first time I rooted a phone I'm not sure on what I need to do since I really don't want to lose anything on the phone datawise. And I really don't want to get *stuck* again like I did.

To be fair I haven't researched it at all just yet but I'm sure there's an update to the detonator. Will check into it and respond later.

Please let me know. I am having the same problems as you. My phone calls are routinely dropped. My phone calls go silent. My internet goes in and out.

It worked GREAT before, thanks to all your instructions.

However, now it's unusable.

---------- Post added at 07:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:53 PM ----------

For some reason I never got a notification on replies to this thead.....and then all of a sudden I did. Waduheck.
@pappaellio I have also been experiencing intermittent functionality on the Tmobile network. Sometimes people can't call me and it goes straight to voicemail, other times it works fine. I was just in Mexico for those interested and the phone worked almost perfectly.......except I have a weird issue with text message threads starting anew with existing people. That may be a bug with the Textra app I'm using though and not necessarily anything to do with the phone. Some recipients did not receive any pictures and it seems like it was Tmobile recipients.......again who knows what caused that.........

I actually don't mind not receiving phone calls. If people really want to call me, they can leave a message and I'll call them back. That said, you don't want to miss an emergency call. I'm pretty sure there's an update to the Detonator and also a newer rom with updated security features. Perhaps this would resolve any issues. As this was the first time I rooted a phone I'm not sure on what I need to do since I really don't want to lose anything on the phone datawise. And I really don't want to get *stuck* again like I did.

To be fair I haven't researched it at all just yet but I'm sure there's an update to the detonator. Will check into it and respond later.

Just so you know, Im using the Detonator v4.0 Tmobile. I noticed theres a v4.2 just now, but I havent installed it until I hear back from you.

So far I have --

1. Factory reset the phone (didnt help)
2. Reset network settings (didnt help)
3. Asked Tmobile to reset network (didnt help)
4. Used *#2263# to change the bands my phone connects to (didnt help)
5. Tried reception in different neighborhoods (noticed some areas I have better reception than others)
6. Placed my sim card in another Tmobile branded phone (which resolved problem) -- so definitely a phone issue.

 

[orsonwells456]

Please let me know. I am having the same problems as you. My phone calls are routinely dropped. My phone calls go silent. My internet goes in and out.

It worked GREAT before, thanks to all your instructions.

However, now it's unusable.

---------- Post added at 07:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:53 PM ----------



Just so you know, Im using the Detonator v4.0 Tmobile. I noticed theres a v4.2 just now, but I havent installed it until I hear back from you.

So far I have --

1. Factory reset the phone (didnt help)
2. Reset network settings (didnt help)
3. Asked Tmobile to reset network (didnt help)
4. Used *#2263# to change the bands my phone connects to (didnt help)
5. Tried reception in different neighborhoods (noticed some areas I have better reception than others)
6. Placed my sim card in another Tmobile branded phone (which resolved problem) -- so definitely a phone issue.

I'd suggest reaching out to TekHD himself - the guy who created Detonator. I have the Telegram app on my phone and you can either direct message him or just join the group chat. It appears his website is not working properly (tekhd.com). Hm.

I posted a message on the telegram group thread......let's see what he says.
@TEKHD Any help is appreciated!

 

[pappaellio]

I'd suggest reaching out to TekHD himself - the guy who created Detonator. I have the Telegram app on my phone and you can either direct message him or just join the group chat. It appears his website is not working properly (tekhd.com). Hm.

I posted a message on the telegram group thread......let's see what he says.

@TEKHD Any help is appreciated!

Thanks for msging him. I hope he responds.

I also noticed the website was down.

 

[pappaellio]

I'd suggest reaching out to TekHD himself - the guy who created Detonator. I have the Telegram app on my phone and you can either direct message him or just join the group chat. It appears his website is not working properly (tekhd.com). Hm.

I posted a message on the telegram group thread......let's see what he says.

@TEKHD Any help is appreciated!

Did you hear back?

 

[grunt0300]

Ok guys thanks to @TEKHD this issue has been resolved. I cannot thank him as well as everyone else who has tried to help on this issue. I spent $800 and was basically freaking out thinking I had bricked my phone. Thank you so much!

So my problem was related to the mps_code.dat file in the /efs/imei/ directory. After attempting to install Detonator for T-mobile..............this file was altered to read TMB.

When I tried to reflash with the correct stock ROM (model SM-N960F/DS region MYM N960FXXU2ARJ1) it didn't quite take.......and I'll tell you something I don't think I mentioned before. After the flash when setting up the phone I noticed I only had to agree to 4 things - terms of service, privacy, etc.) but I remembered that when I initially set up the phone the very first time, I had to agree to FIVE things.

To remedy this problem the solution turned out to be rather simple (of course) - replace TMB with MYM and then go into download mode, reflash the correct stock rom. This, of course, required root access. I used ES FIle Manager and followed Dr. Ketans latest version of rooting the Note 9 (including allowing modifications instead of read-only in TWRP). I installed his kernel and the oem patch just to be on the safe side.

After reflashing the stock rom I inserted the sim card and it worked perfectly as it did the first time out of the box. However, I still didn't have wifi calling so I decided to install detonator.

First, however, I backed up my EFS dir with Dr. Ketan's EFS backup too. I also backed it up in TWRP just in case.

Then I followed Dr. Ketan's procedure for rooting the device again.........and proceeded to install Detonator by booting into Download Mode, installing TWRP via Odin, then simply clicking INSTALL on TWRP and selecting the Detonator package.

Wifi calling is working 100% now as you can see from the screenshots.

Here are links to all the guides I used:

Dr.Ketan's How to Root a Note 9 - This will give you access to modify system files.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/how-to/root-note-9-n960f-fd-experimental-t3832143

Tekhd's Detonator for T-mobile - this will mask your international Note 9 variant to work 100% with T-mobile (wifi calling, etc.)
http://tekhd.com/detonator/#tmodetonator

Samfirm - this is the tool where you punch in your exact model and region code and it will find a stock ROM for it. Super useful, free, and super fast download speed.
https://samfirm.en.lo4d.com/download


If you follow those two guides to the letter and have purchased an international N960F (or F/DS) phone and have T-mobile, you will get Wifi calling to work!

Thanks a million again to everyone who has helped. Seriously I am floored by everyone's kindness and generosity. Thank you so much.

P.S. As you can after installing the Detonator the codes in Service Provider SW Ver. gets changed to TMB/TMB/MYM.

Having never rooted an android phone before, I will say that I have learned many lessons by fire and if anyone has a similar problem please send me a PM and I'll try to help as best I can.

Wow. After reading this, i've got a booming headache. I want to thank you for posting this fix for wifi calling. I too, am a Tmo customer. I've been wanting a Note 9 for a year, and have always enjoyed rooting my Nexus and Pixel phones. However, this fix is way above my pay grade. Like you, i need wifi calling also, but trying this fix will leave me with a very expensive paperweight on my desk. Thanks again, but i'm afraid that i'll have to pass.

 

[MSalam11]

Thank you so much for posting this. This thread is AMAZING. I am planning to buy the SM-N960F/DS. I have Tmobile. Like you, I need wifi calling.

Just for clarification, are these the steps you took --

PART 1: ROOT the DEVICE
1.Enable Developer Option (settings - about phone - Software information - Tap 7 times on build number to activate developer option in settings menu)
2.Enable OEM Unlock from developer option (Currently no workaround for those who doesn't have this option)
3.Download and copy N9_S9_Root_for_OEM_issue_devices_V*.zip to Ext SD card
4.Download TWRP for N9
5.Switch Off device
6.Press Vol down + Bixby and connect to PC to reboot to download mode, press volume up when asked to continue to download mode
7.Download Odin and open it, Disable 'Auto reboot' from option menu of Odin
8.Select TWRP (tar image) with AP tab of Odin and Start
9.Once Successfully flashed, you will see 'Passed' in Odin tab
10.Disconnect device and hold Vol down + power till screen goes off, Now immediately press Vol Up + Bixby + Power to reboot to TWRP
11.Select to allow modification
12.From TWRP, Select WIPE menu - Then FORMAT DATA - You need to type 'yes' to perform wipe. WARNING : This will erase all data including Int SD storage from device
13.Once format device completes, go back and select REBOOT' Menu and then - 'RECOVERY', This will reboot to TWRP again
14.Now select Install and navigate path to Ext SD card - N960_root_OEM_issue_devices_V*.zip, you have copied earlier, select desired root method and select 'OEM Patch' option if your device have OEM issue. If you are not sure about this then better select 'OEM Patch', this will prevent losing OEM unlock option and so prevent 'custom binary error'
15.There is option added for Kernel patch for OEM issue, It is recommended to select this option for better fix OEM issue Also at presently this option is must to select for RI* / RJ* and newer based ROMs, otherwise device won't have radio functions. Next version will not have this limitations
16.Once flash successfully finish, Reboot to System
Magisk app may appear in drawer after one reboot.
Open settings - Developer option - Look for OEM Unlock option. If it is there, it is safe to reboot device.

PART 2: INSTALL DETONATOR
DETONATOR_EXTREME_MOD_N9_OREO-8.1_TMO_EFS-CSC_v3.tmb_INT_TEKHD.zip

Thank you again!

I just purchased the Taiwan region code note 9 exynos dual sim stock pie rom, i rooted and installed magisk, i was going to apply the detonator but i see i already get wifi calling with tmobile, with stock rom. No volte though.

How is this possible though that i can get wifi calling on tmobile without applying the detonator? I don't care much abt volte, just wanted wifi calling. Should i be happy with this and leave it alone or should i apply the detonator for tmobile? Don't want any bootloop issue as some reported. Thanks.