[HOWTO] / [GUIDE] SPH-L720 Domestic SIM Unlock T-Mobile:AT&T:metroPCS:Straighttalk

[Roxisayshi]

Hello everyone,

I have started having voice quality issues recently on my sim locked sprint galaxy s4. I am T Mobile sim and on call the voice breaks a lot. Not only I am able to hear other person's voice, my voice is not audible as it break after the interval of 2-3 seconds.

Are their anyone else facing this issue and can help me out? I downgraded my modem to MDC to unlock my phone then upgraded back to NAE with stock ROM. Initially I thought that it might be network issue but when I insert the sim into my other mobile, it works just fine so I am definitely sure that it is my phone that is causing problems and not T Mobile network.

Please help me or suggest possible ways to resolve this. Thanks.

 

[dabar7]

You're on edge because you chose GSM all instead of WCDMA all when you were going through the service menu. WCDMA all will get you H+. GSM only gives you edge.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

---------- Post added at 11:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------



Have you tried restarting and waiting a few minutes for it to register a signal? I've never had an issue using WCDMA all, and it gets me H+ on every phone I unlock. When you have no bars is it in searching mode or emergency calls only mode? If it's in emergency calls only I'm going to have to say you've got a blacklist situation going on (which is weird if it still works on GSM all).

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app

I had the same issue, that WCDMA took all my bars away and mine isn't searching, it just sits there.I know the IMEI isn't blacklisted on mine. Won't it search for a sprint signal if I choose global? I've had some settings give me 3G for a moment and it dissapears..this is driving me crazy, I get nothing but EDGE and I downgraded to MDC and upgraded back to NAE..any ideas?

 

[TheZander]

Hey, when I do this. Does anyone know of a way to keep the Mobile Network type from reverting to CDMA? Sometimes it happens and needs to be changed to back to GSM / UTMS . What would happen if after I unlcoked it and have it working and flash a MetroPCS or Tmobile ROM ? Would it screw it up?

 

[ecs87]

Hey, when I do this. Does anyone know of a way to keep the Mobile Network type from reverting to CDMA? Sometimes it happens and needs to be changed to back to GSM / UTMS . What would happen if after I unlcoked it and have it working and flash a MetroPCS or Tmobile ROM ? Would it screw it up?

I've never had a phone revert back to CDMA after unlocking. And I've done about a hundred of them. As long as you follow the general instructions in the first post it'll stick.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app. Please click Thanks if I've helped you out!

---------- Post added at 01:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------

I had the same issue, that WCDMA took all my bars away and mine isn't searching, it just sits there.I know the IMEI isn't blacklisted on mine. Won't it search for a sprint signal if I choose global? I've had some settings give me 3G for a moment and it dissapears..this is driving me crazy, I get nothing but EDGE and I downgraded to MDC and upgraded back to NAE..any ideas?

It needs a minute or two to find the signal. Follow the general instructions in the original post. There's no need to EVER touch the connection type. Changing it to global, gsm, umts, etc will simply screw with the unlock. If you only get emergency calls then you're going to need to double check the IMEI. The only reason why you'll get no signal and emergency calls only is if the phone is blacklisted.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app. Please click Thanks if I've helped you out!

 

[dabar7]

I've never had a phone revert back to CDMA after unlocking. And I've done about a hundred of them. As long as you follow the general instructions in the first post it'll stick.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app. Please click Thanks if I've helped you out!

---------- Post added at 01:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:29 PM ----------



It needs a minute or two to find the signal. Follow the general instructions in the original post. There's no need to EVER touch the connection type. Changing it to global, gsm, umts, etc will simply screw with the unlock. If you only get emergency calls then you're going to need to double check the IMEI. The only reason why you'll get no signal and emergency calls only is if the phone is blacklisted.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app. Please click Thanks if I've helped you out!

PROFIT! I believed in WCDMA so to speak, I left it there, and I messed around with the service menus, reset all the freq's but when I looked at what they said, they were all still "full"..long story short, I chose WCDMA ALL, and ALL for GSM and LTE for the hell of it, making sure I chose WCDMA All again..and somewhere I saw "atomatic"..I also notice that through the phone's setting menus (not service menu),..in mobile networks..it was automatic, chose it ...and H+ ! way faster, I was glad to return the phone to my friend, thanks for everyone who replied and attempted to help

 

[hindjew1]

So, I was able to unlock the device. I don't exactly see WCDMA but it works perfectly on GSM and even uses HSPA with AT&T. I was able to enter the AT&T APN and data works. I can send MMS but I cannot receive them. I don't have the MSL so I can't exactly enter ##DATA# and change the information there. Since the phone is no longer active with sprint, sprint can't provide the MSL either. I've tried using MSL Readers but they all state that it has to be on CDMA (I've switched back to CDMA onto sprint's network and the readers still don't work). AT&T's visual voicemail works but sprint's visual voicemail continues to pop up.

Every time I restart the device, it tries to activate the handset (i hit cancel). Can I load any AT&T based ROMS? or is there a vanilla ROM that I can load that has touchwiz but doesn't include any of Sprint's Customization? Any solution for the MMS?

Thanks to everyone for all their help. I've searched this forum prior to posting.

Root: CF Auto Root
Downgraded to MDC: SPH-L720_MDC_Modem.exe
Upgraded back: L720VPUFNAE_L720SPTFNAE_L720VPUFNAE_HOME.tar
Somewhere down the line also used: SPH-L720_Rooted_NoData_Restore.exe

The phone locks up every time i tried going to mf9 using: mf9fullupgrade.tar.md5

Current modem = NAE

 

[Chuki82]

How can I tell if my area is running hspa+? I've left it on wcdma for awhile and I get no service. Switching it to gsm all and I get service, and edge too obviously.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[iBowToAndroid]

Every time I restart the device, it tries to activate the handset (i hit cancel). Can I load any AT&T based ROMS? or is there a vanilla ROM that I can load that has touchwiz but doesn't include any of Sprint's Customization? Any solution for the MMS?

Thanks to everyone for all their help. I've searched this forum prior to posting.

The MMS fix has been posted back in the thread. I wouldn't try a ROM from another carrier unless you're positive you know how to recover if it bricks. I'm sure there is a Touchwiz ROM sans Sprint extras, if you search.

How can I tell if my area is running hspa+? I've left it on wcdma for awhile and I get no service. Switching it to gsm all and I get service, and edge too obviously.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Coverage map?

 

[Chuki82]

I have a t mobile gs5, if I set it to wcdma only I still get a 4G connection. On my gs4 just get a red x. How do you check the imei certification?

It's my own gs4, so I know it's good.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Chuki82]

I let it sit all night long and still had a red x, and emergent services only

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[iBowToAndroid]

I have a t mobile gs5, if I set it to wcdma only I still get a 4G connection. On my gs4 just get a red x. How do you check the imei certification?

It's my own gs4, so I know it's good.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

This is for the Sprint GS4, not the T-Mobile GS5. Are you in possession of a Sprint S4 (SPH-L720) and are you attempting this unlock process with it?

 

[Chuki82]

Yes sir... switched to t-mobile, trying to save money by using my old sprint gs4.

Trying to find out if the hspa network here is on the 1700mhz band or not.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[iBowToAndroid]

Yes sir... switched to t-mobile, trying to save money by using my old sprint gs4.

Trying to find out if the hspa network here is on the 1700mhz band or not.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

If you're only getting a red X, then the phone might be blacklisted. You need to first worry about getting ANY signal at all, before you worry about 4G. Did you finish paying off your Sprint account?

 

[hindjew1]

The MMS fix has been posted back in the thread. I wouldn't try a ROM from another carrier unless you're positive you know how to recover if it bricks. I'm sure there is a Touchwiz ROM sans Sprint extras, if you search.

The only fix I've seen is the ##DATA# which requires the MSL. But I may have missed it. So i'll go back to reading the 70+ pages to see if I can figure it out.

So can I flash any Sprint based ROM?

The reason I asked if I could switch to an AT&T ROM was because people have talked about switching to a T-Mobile based ROM in here. I figure it's worth a shot. I'm so glad I asked!!! Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Coverage map?

Gives me a solid H on top and I can pull down a solid 8mbps on speed test. For my uses, that's good enough.

 

[Chuki82]

If you're only getting a red X, then the phone might be blacklisted. You need to first worry about getting ANY signal at all, before you worry about 4G. Did you finish paying off your Sprint account?

I can get it to work with gsm edge just fine. Phone isn't black listed. just pulled it off of sprint yesterday.

When I change it wcdma I get stuck with a red x. If I change it to gsm I get full uninterrupted service. Texts and calls work fine. Haven't mms yet.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[iBowToAndroid]

The only fix I've seen is the ##DATA# which requires the MSL. But I may have missed it. So i'll go back to reading the 70+ pages to see if I can figure it out..

Or you could search for "mms". Just sayin.

I can get it to work with gsm edge just fine. Phone isn't black listed. just pulled it off of sprint yesterday.

When I change it wcdma I get stuck with a red x. If I change it to gsm I get full uninterrupted service. Texts and calls work fine. Haven't mms yet.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

You don't need to be messing with that. Make sure the bands are set to GSM All and WCDMA All in the service menu, and then put the phone in GSM/UMTS only via Settings. It will pick up whatever's available in your area.

 

[Chuki82]

Or you could search for "mms". Just sayin.

You don't need to be messing with that. Make sure the bands are set to GSM All and WCDMA All in the service menu, and then put the phone in GSM/UMTS only via Settings. It will pick up whatever's available in your area.

That's how I have it right now. I live in rural town as well.

If I check my GS5, it shows I'm connected to band 4, which according to wikipedia is a 1700/2100 HSPA+ network. It seems that I wont get HSPA+ (4g), on my Sprint GS4.

Ironically edge is more reliable than Sprints 3g network they have here.

 

[iBowToAndroid]

That's how I have it right now. I live in rural town as well.

If I check my GS5, it shows I'm connected to band 4, which according to wikipedia is a 1700/2100 HSPA+ network. It seems that I wont get HSPA+ (4g), on my Sprint GS4.

Ironically edge is more reliable than Sprints 3g network they have here.

Sprint's devices don't support 1700. And you being rural means no 1900 MHz refarm. 1900 is still Edge in your area, hence that's all you get

 

[augiebaez04]

mms help

i hate to beat the same dead subject but ive searched for the mms fix and cant find anything other than flashing the tmo rom (which i did try and it gave me an error) i am on the nae rom with everything to match base and modem with hsap+ and voice already just need mms please point me in the right direction my forehead has lump from beating it against the wall..:silly:

 

[ecs87]

http://www.mediafire.com/?u8nzdyfs7vgfqqm get your SPC with this app. You MUST have an active data connection on your phone to use this (or be connected to wifi).

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Free mobile app. Please click Thanks if I've helped you out!