[GUIDE][US998][TMO] Access to TMO Hidden Menu / Add Remove Bands (Band 71)

[vinniej]

PREREQUISITES:
- US998 only
- Bootloader unlocked
- Rooted

RECOMMENDED:
Full system backup in case you don’t like what you’ve done.

NEED TO KNOW:
Performing these steps will remove the “default” unlocked bands. I have not figured how to get band to default. So insert disclaimer here about me, XDA, LG, and whoever you got your phone from being responsible for your phone.

HOW TO:
1. Go to play store and download “Shortcut Master (Lite):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.shortcutmaster.lite

Or support the dev and download the full version:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.shortcutmaster

2. Launch Shortcut Master and grant it root access.

3. Select the 3 dot menu and select “Search…”

4. Verify “All apps” are being searched on the left. Click the “Enter text to search” and type in “BandSelection” and select “Search”

5. You should see 5 items in the results. Select the “Hidden Menu com.lge.hiddenmenu.tmo_only.LTEBandSelection”option. In the subsequent popup select “favorite”. In the subsequent menu you can rename the shortcut to whatever you like or keep the default name shown. Select “Add” to complete the favorite selection. You should then be brought back to the 5 item search results.

6. repeat step 5 and select “Hidden Menu com.lge.hiddenmenu.tmo_only.BandSelection” and repeat this step to add it as a favorite. Once done, hit the back menu button and this will return you to your 2 newly created favorite shortcuts.

7. Select the “LTEBandSelection” shortcut (or whatever name you renamed it) to launch the LTE Band Selection app.

8. Click the checkboxes for the bands you desire. Obviously as a TMO’er I would recommend Bands 2, 4, 12, 66, and 71 as these are the bands in use in the US. If you travel overseas you’ll need to select other bands.

9. Click “Save” and you should see a “Save Succeeded” toast if your selections were successful, otherwise you will see “Save Failed”. At a minimum, I believe you need at least 1 LTE band (2, 4, or 12). Additionally, you cannot select the whole shebang of bands as well.

10. At this point you are done and the selected bands will be active. You can verify the selected bands to be active by backing out of the menu back to your favorites, and select “BandSelection”. You should see your selected bands under LTE BAND. WCDMA / GSM should remain as Default unless you decided to mess with it.

Q: How do I get my LTE BAND back to default?
A: Dunno at this point. You figure it out and let us know.

Q: Can I reset everything back to whatever I had originally?
A: Restore that backup! Or factory reset I suppose…

I have yet to personally verify Bands 66 (extension of Band 4) and 71, but I would imagine it should work. You can verify the selected bands using another app like LTE Discovery. It shows you exactly what bands your phone is currently getting. I have confirmed that selecting single bands will only allow you access to that band (i.e you select BAND 2, you only get that band and no others).

THANKS:
@vndnguyen for Shortcut Master

EDIT - Added some screenshots from the app...
EDIT - I verified carrier aggregation goes away if I deselect Band 66 while connected to Band 4.

 

[ChazzMatt]

9. Click “Save” and you should see a “Save Succeeded” toast if your selections were successful, otherwise you will see “Save Failed”. At a minimum, I believe you need at least 1 LTE band (2, 4, or 12). Additionally, you cannot select the whole shebang of bands as well.

Thank you for this. Good to know the stuff we speculated about is actually (probably) coming true. We talked about this a lot and the T-mobile network folder in the US998 hidden menu:

December, 2017

It's not there yet without root. There IS a T-Mobile network folder, but cannot be accessed without root.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=74543993

Sent from my carrier unlocked LG V30+ US998

So, how many LTE bands total can you select? Like could you select ALL the T-mobile and AT&T LTE bands? Like 10 or 12 LTE bands?

 

[vinniej]

How many can you select? Like could you select ALL the T-mobile and AT&T LTE bands? Like 10 or 12 LTE bands?

I'm guessing, but I think it depends on whether the bands are CA bands, or not. Some are dependent on another. For instance with band 66 which is a CA band for band 4. I don't think you can just select 66 without selecting 4.

I'm still experimenting with it and I'll update as I find out more.

EDIT: Band 10 is not available in the tmobile menu. However, I was able to select 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,66,and 71 without issue.

 

[MishaalRahman]

Can anyone confirm if this actually works?

 

[vinniej]

Can anyone confirm if this actually works?

Uhhh....Yea...ME. What are you questioning??

EDIT - I should give you a better answer...I have confirmed that selecting bands in this menu does indeed change the bands that are able to be received by the handset. As I am in the USA and on tmobile, I was only able to confirm bands 2,4,and 12. If I travel about an hour north, I can confirm 71.

 

[MishaalRahman]

Uhhh....Yea...ME. What are you questioning??

You said you didn't verify if bands 66 and 71 work in the OP

 

[ChazzMatt]

Can anyone confirm if this actually works?

I understand what you are asking. It's confirmed this process adds those bands to the LTE bands list, but you are asking for proof if there's actually reception. You would need a T-mobile user with US998 and T-mobile SIM card in an area that has LTE band 66 or the very new LTE band 71.

That proof will come soon...

I have yet to personally verify Bands 66 (extension of Band 4) and 71, but I would imagine it should work. You can verify the selected bands using another app like LTE Discovery. It shows you exactly what bands your phone is currently getting.

I have confirmed that selecting bands in this menu does indeed change the bands that are able to be received by the handset. As I am in the USA and on tmobile, I was only able to confirm bands 2,4,and 12. If I travel about an hour north, I can confirm 71.

 

[jcsww]

This makes me want to buy one from B&H. My V30+ (H932BK) is great, but to have one I can root as well as ensure works with T-Mobile's band 71 would be awesome.

 

[ChazzMatt]

I was able to select 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,12,13,66,and 71 without issue.

That would be plenty. And I don't even need 66 and 71! (I'm on AT&T Prepaid.) But just in case...

Sent from my official open market LG US998 V30+

 

[vinniej]

That would be plenty. And I don't even need 66 and 71! (I'm on AT&T Prepaid.) But just in case...

Sent from my official open market LG US998 V30+

Just added a screenshot showing bands 66 and 71 selected. I do plan on making that drive to verify Band 71.

 

[jcsww]

That would be plenty. And I don't even need 66 and 71! (I'm on AT&T Prepaid.) But just in case...

Sent from my official open market LG US998 V30+

Although i can't remember exactly off hand. I believe it was posted somewhere that the T-Mobile version actually supported bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, and 71.

Would the person confirming this mind testing all of those enabled at once, please and thanks?

 

[vinniej]

Although i can't remember exactly off hand. I believe it was posted somewhere that the T-Mobile version actually supported bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, and 71.

Would the person confirming this mind testing all of those enabled at once, please and thanks?

Here you are good sir (or ma'am...don't want to assume). I was able to select all of the bands you requested.

 

[jcsww]

Here you are good sir (or ma'am...don't want to assume). I was able to select all of the bands you requested.

Thank you! Definitely not a ma'am but I don't like being referred to as sir either. Makes me feel old.

 

[cstark27]

Hi guys, I have a T-Mobile V30 and whenever I hit Reset at the bottom of the Band Selection menu, everything goes back to normal. Ie, I've locked to B71 only then hit reset and B2, B4, B71 all connect just fine, and CA where applicable. PS: there is another menu called "LTE Band Selection" and it does not have Reset at the bottom. BE VERY CAREFUL if you encounter this menu, I almost screwed up my phone until I found the "Band Selection" menu.

Since you have root, Network Signal Guru is also another tool to assist in locking bands and or verifying what's activated and deactivated.

If you have any more questions about the V30's engineering menu, Network Signal Guru, or B71 let me know.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qtrun.QuickTest


Example:
https://i.imgur.com/prXUCj5.png

https://i.imgur.com/6oIiMRI.png

 

[ChazzMatt]

Hi guys, I have a T-Mobile V30 and whenever I hit Reset at the bottom of the Band Selection menu, everything goes back to normal. Ie, I've locked to B71 only then hit reset and B2, B4, B71 all connect just fine, and CA where applicable. PS: there is another menu called "LTE Band Selection" and it does not have Reset at the bottom. BE VERY CAREFUL if you encounter this menu, I almost screwed up my phone until I found the "Band Selection" menu.

Since you have root, Network Signal Guru is also another tool to assist in locking bands and or verifying what's activated and deactivated.

If you have any more questions about the V30's engineering menu, Network Signal Guru, or B71 let me know.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.qtrun.QuickTest


Example:
https://i.imgur.com/prXUCj5.png

https://i.imgur.com/6oIiMRI.png

But this is NOT the T-mobile H932. This is the US998, rooted. The engineering menus are different. This LTE Band Selection DOES have reset. See it at the bottom of the screenshot?

Whereas, on the non-rooted US998, there is another LTE Selection menu which only allows you to choose one band at a time. Yes, that one can mess you up. But the menu shown in the OP of this thread shows LTE band menu with check boxes, where you can choose whatever bands (plural) you want to enable -- and has re-set.

Also, this thread shows how you can use root to populate MORE bands into that menu.

THIS is EXACTLY what everyone has been begging for -- and as soon as @vinniej or somebody else provides definite proof that LTE bands 66 and 71 are not only chosen but have reception, then there would be no reason to buy a T-mobile V30 H932. The US998 V30 has root and would have all the T-mobile bands.

 

[vinniej]

Thanks for explaining it @ChazzMatt

 

[JWnSC]

Chaz do you have bands 25 and 26 also?

 

[ChazzMatt]

Chaz do you have bands 25 and 26 also?

Are you asking do I have 25 and 26 normally on AT&T? Yes, at least 25. I don't see 26. This is a pre-root screenshot from my V30, posted in another thread., from my AT&T SIM card on AT&T Prepaid.

I have not attempted what's in this thread yet, as it was just posted last night. I only have time on the weekends to actually mess with my phone.

My V30 US998 (not my daily V30+ US998) is rooted, has TWRP and Magisk. But for some reason it didn't recognize my AT&T SIM card, even though that same phone had used the exact same SIM card for WEEKS before I got my V30+. I was going to have either factory reset everything and start over or create an APN from scratch. By this time it was Super Bowl Sunday afternoon... so I put the spare phone away. Right now I'm still using unrooted V30+ as daily driver.

 

[cstark27]

But this is NOT the T-mobile H932. This is the US998, rooted. The engineering menus are different. This LTE Band Selection DOES have reset. See it at the bottom of the screenshot?

Whereas, on the non-rooted US998, there is another LTE Selection menu which only allows you to choose one band at a time. Yes, that one can mess you up. But the menu shown in the OP of this thread shows LTE band menu with check boxes, where you can choose whatever bands (plural) you want to enable -- and has re-set.

Also, this thread shows how you can use root to populate MORE bands into that menu.

THIS is EXACTLY what everyone has been begging for -- and as soon as @vinniej or somebody else provides definite proof that LTE bands 66 and 71 are not only chosen but have reception, then there would be no reason to buy a T-mobile V30 H932. The US998 V30 has root and would have all the T-mobile bands.

I wasn't suggesting anyone buy a T-Mobile V30. I read the OP and wanted to offer my insight, after having used the menus extensively. I completely understand what you said, you just repeated what I typed essentially so sorry if there was some confusion. I'm not asking for help with my phone, only trying to help you guys.

@vinniej mentioned not knowing how to restore the "default bands" that's why I mentioned the Reset button. But, Network Signal Guru is another tool as well.

Cheers...

 

[ChazzMatt]

I wasn't suggesting anyone buy a T-Mobile V30. I read the OP and wanted to offer my insight, after having used the menus extensively. I completely understand what you said, you just repeated what I typed essentially so sorry if there was some confusion. I'm not asking for help with my phone, only trying to help you guys.

@vinniej mentioned not knowing how to restore the "default bands" that's why I mentioned the Reset button. But, Network Signal Guru is another tool as well.

Cheers...

I understand you were trying to help. However, your post -- unintentionally -- did cause some confusion, at least in my mind and @vinniej. I know you only meant to help, and I thank you for that. But you have not used the US998 menus extensively (have you?). There are differences in the hidden menus between those models, just as there are differences with the Verizon V30 menus.

Maybe with root, now there's less differences or no differences since we can access "all" menus now? I don't know.

Yes, with root, this "new" LTE Band Selection menu is now like the T-mobile menu discussed and shown in other threads. However, your screenshots are different, probably because you are using an app to access them?

I do not mean to denigrate your contributions in any way, but felt I had to clarify there IS a reset button on this LTE Band Selection menu and you can check off what you want and don't want.

This thread is EXACTLY what everyone has been asking for. All we have to do is confirm there's actually reception on these new bands.