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

[aktran9]

You might want to try switching the hiddenmenu option to on in efs/carriersetting/hiddenmenu (note that the files are hidden by default. Use a text editor to open the hiddenmenu file and change off to on or no to yes I forget which it is. Then reboot and try again.








excellent man, I'll update the guide.






So we have t-mobile, simple mobile, Att and straight talk all confirmed working in some markets. And confirmation that you ARE able to update to mf9 and keep the unlock. I haven't updated yet but will and will update the guide accordingly.

Thanks for the feedback guys, I'm trying to monetize this in the phx market but it seems that we might be the only people interested, ha!

Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Updated to MF9 and works on both Tmobile and Straight talk without issues. I used Triforce rom 3.1 btw

 

[fergdizzle9090]

so if im on mdl can i update after i unlock or should i leave it on mdl? can i flash custom roms after i unlock and does it have to be sprint or should i use tmobile S4 roms? and is it possible to use any gsm lte? or only hspa+?

 

[imbmiller]

so if im on mdl can i update after i unlock or should i leave it on mdl? can i flash custom roms after i unlock and does it have to be sprint or should i use tmobile S4 roms? and is it possible to use any gsm lte? or only hspa+?

MDL should be fine to use

You can update after the unlock to mf9.

You should be able to flash touchiz based roms no problem and aosp /kp with a little extra tinkering.

You should use the sprint kernel with either a sprint or touchwiz rom.

It is only confirmed working on hspa+.



Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[gershee]

this is relevant to some posts a few pages back.
I'm on cm10.1 mf9.
called sprint and had them unlock my phone.. took 2 minutes..
in Australia using an optus sim card..
had to mess with a few settings..
everything is working EXCEPT SMS. can't send but I CAN receive.
other then that everything is perfect..
anyone have any ideas to fix SMS? think I may flash gummy tmob version cause this is driving me nuts..
when I switch from NV to SIM (under cdma subscription) I get force close on phone.. maybe that has something to do with it?
all SMS I receive have the country code in front of them.. my phone still thinks its under my old american phone number.. help?

 

[hayat4]

Streamlined Guide for Domestic T-Mobile GSM Unlock for SPH-L720

Credit for all of this goes to @autoprime and @nicotheandroidguy

A few notes: I used Windows 7 for the odin flashes , my phone is a SPH-L720 and it is not active on the Sprint network, also the sim card from tmobile was inactive (brand new from tmobile store. I am located in the Phoenix az market so I'm able to take advantage of the 1900mhz band that tmobile has here.

I'm unsure of how this will work with mnvos or other primary carriers and frankly I don't care at the moment, this is my primary phone.

I HAD MY NEW UNACTIVATED TMOBILE SIM CARD IN THIS ENTIRE TIME

1) First I reverted my rom to a stock MF9 rooted touchwiz rom, instructions and one click odin here:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2486134 I’m trying not to straight copy and paste someone else’s work so take a look at that post if you need a clean start. If you are coming from non stock you will need to boot into stock recovery and wipe data/cache before you get started. (I also later used SAC’s rom after a failed attempt at an AOKP fix and it worked as well )

2)I rebooted the phone and followed the instructions listed here in post #1 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2415587

See pages 20-30 for the back and forth comments.
3) i went to the dialer and typed *#0011# which brought me to the "service mode" menu. If you are on aokp, @nicotheandroidguy says that you can still access the menu by pressing *#*#4636#*#* device info, scrolling down and making sure your on WCDMA perfered then add the apn. I'll try this at another date or you can try and let us all know, you sucker. (read: ##freemechanicalturk)

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE HIDDEN MENU TO OPEN DO NOT FEAR! I had a ton of trouble. In some builds you need to activate an option by adding a line to your build.prop or changing the no flag in efs/hiddenmenu to ON. Google it, there is a ton of help out there.

4) Press the left menu softbutton (the menu button that lights up and vibrates when you touch it) then press the either the button “select” or “Key Input” and type the number 1 or 2 into the box, if nothing happens press menu and select the “back “ button then repeat. This app is sort of like a tin can radio, you can kind of tell that it’s working, but it doesn’t work well.

Depending on if you pressed 1 or 2 in the dialogue box it will take you into either an UMTS or CDMA menu.

5) Select CDMA, then 1.COMMON, press next page until page three of COMMON and select 8.PREF MODE SET and selet GSM_WCDMA_ONLY

6) Press menu and back until you are at the main menu and select [1]UMTS, then select [1]DEBUG SCREEN, then select [6]PHONE CONTROL, select [2]FAKE SECURITY CONTROL and make sure it is set to ON
7)Press menu and back and select [3] NAS CONTROL. We are going to check a few different settings in this menu so remember how to get here cause I don’t want to repeat myself.
[1] CIPHERING CONTROL = OFF
[2] INTEGRITY CONTROL =ON
[3] SIM CLASS CONTROL = UMTS
[4] REVISION CONTROL = DO NOT TOUCH
[5] RRC(HSPA) CONTROL = DO NOT TOUCH
[6] DUALMODE IMPROVEMENT CONTROL= DO NOT TOUCH
[7] NAS AVOID SECURITY CONTROL= OFF, 0
[8] BIP BLOCK = 1

8) Press menu and back twice, you should be on the PHONE CONTROL menu. Select [7] NETWORK CONTROL, select [1] GFC and make sure that it is set to [1]GSM/(E)GPRS/WCDMA REL8 .

9) Press menu and back and select [2] BAND SELECTION and select WCDMA/GSM ALL for both WCDMA and GSM band preferences. I selected the ALL choice for LTE as well even though I know it isn’t supported for TMOBILE.

10) Under the NETWORK CONTROL menu we just came from select [4] AQUISITION ORDER and change it to [3]UMTS_GSM

11) Press menu and back until you are in the PHONE CONTROL menu and select [5] SIMULATION , press the [2] SW WATCHDOG button 6(six) times and then the [3] HW WATCHDOG 6(six) times. Nothing will happen at all to let you know if you have done this correcctly but as soon as you finish the sixth press on HW WATCHDOG reboot the phone IMMEDIATELY . I’m not sure what this does or why this works but @nicotheandroidguy seems to have divined that this is the vital part of the process.

YOUR PHONE STILL WILL NOT HAVE DATA OR VOICE WHEN YOU REBOOT FROM THE WATCHDOG TAPS DO NOT PANIC!!!!!!!!!!! (hopefullly you have your towel with you)

12) WIFI that sonofa up and find HIAPN in the Play Store. Install, give root, ask it to “autoset” your APN, it will tell you that it needs to be installed as a service to work, say OK and it will reboot your device again.

13) Go into your android settings, select wireless networks, you should see the network mode set as wcdma only do not change this, we set this in the diag menu, Check that your roaming settings are set to for roaming data/ international data etc.also make sure that there are no roaming guards left on. (roaming guards will only allow you to uncheck GSM and GSM data under international roaming.)

14) Go back into HIAPN and select autoset APN again , it will need to reboot again.

At this point I had full access to the TMOBILE UMTS/HSPA+ network and voice/text/mms were working. Again this isn’t a complete guide by any means, I’m just starting to dabble in the dim world of basebands and modems. My hope is that everyone can see how I did it and find their own way and in the process share their knowledge with me.

If anyone has any sources of information on basebands, modems and the like feel free to hit me up, I really enjoy learning from people more than machines.

GOOD LUCK! let me know what needs changed in the guide as well. I gotta jet but I'll put up screencaps in a few.

step 11 not working, it does not reboot. any suggestions?

 

[laoh]

How do I get Sprint data working again after successful int'l and domestic sim unlock

Ok, so I did all the steps (tried to follow as close as possible, hopefully didn't deviate).

I do finally have Tmobile connection. I have an inactivated new sim so I popped it in, scanned available networks and get ATT and Tmobile to show on the list. Picked Tmobile and now I have H+ sign. I tried to call a phone number but obviously, it didn't dial b/c of inactive sim, but I got the Tmobile automated message, so I know Tmobile is working.

Now the problem I'm having is trying to get back to Sprint. I put Sprint's sim back in and selected LTE/CDMA for network but I can't get LTE or 3G data to work. I can make calls and do sms but I have no data whatsoever. I have also re-flashed the model back to MF9 after downgrading to MDC.

I wish I backed up Sprint's APN settings on HiAPN but I hadn't
Does anyone know how I can get Sprint's data working again? Thanks! (and my Sprint line is still active... not ready to close account yet).

 

[laoh]

step 11 not working, it does not reboot. any suggestions?

Right I experienced the same thing, expecting auto-reboot.
But I think it's saying you should reboot it manually after those 6 + 6 presses. But I was expecting to auto-reboot so I pressed 6 + 6 again (total 12 each!) and manually rebooted... then when it rebooted, no connections, nothing (had inactivated tmobile sim inside). I then went into settings and manually changed from LTE/CDMA to GSM/UMTS. After changing that, I was able to do a manual scan and saw that ATT and Tmobile were avail and was able to select Tmobile. Connects at HSPA+ where I live (though it seems to hunt among Edge, 3g and H+ for no clear reason).

 

[doctorman]

I used this method and unlocked my phone and now having issues connecting to movistar mexico can someone comment on it please

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=47916003&postcount=604

 

[nicotheandroidguy]

I used this method and unlocked my phone and now having issues connecting to movistar mexico can someone comment on it please

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=47916003&postcount=604

That is a international unlock, so your question belongs in the international unlock thread.

Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[doctorman]

Can someone please explain some of the basics for me..

the process of the unlock affects which part of the phone software.?!

SO there is the firmware for the phone including, the ROM, Bootloader, Modem, recovery etc..

which parts are changed by this process?

then what are the parts that are backed up in the nandroid backup/restore? trying to understanding if a nandroid restore would return the root and the unlock stat to the way it was..

which parts are changed with a factory reset?

Thank you

 

[nicotheandroidguy]

Can someone please explain some of the basics for me..

the process of the unlock affects which part of the phone software.?!

SO there is the firmware for the phone including, the ROM, Bootloader, Modem, recovery etc..

which parts are changed by this process?

then what are the parts that are backed up in the nandroid backup/restore? trying to understanding if a nandroid restore would return the root and the unlock stat to the way it was..

which parts are changed with a factory reset?

Thank you

The unlock seems to be stored on the modem so factory resets do not remove it and nandroids will make no difference in getting or losing the unlock.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[doctorman]

The unlock seems to be stored on the modem so factory resets do not remove it and nandroids will make no difference in getting or losing the unlock.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I know that we can upgrade MDL to MF9 without changing the settings
what does that mean then?
if the unlock is saved in the modem and modem does not get reset by installing an upgrade?!

 

[nicotheandroidguy]

I know that we can upgrade MDL to MF9 without changing the settings
what does that mean then?
if the unlock is saved in the modem and modem does not get reset by installing an upgrade?!

It tricks the modem, it only applies to mdc-mf9 modems because it is a bug that carries over as a modem setting so it stays but it hasn't worked with the mja update yet.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

 

[sergio_sss]

This is all i keep on getting, I tried the steps mentioned before lots of times but it still does not change :crying:

 

[tronac]

Has anyone managed to get this phone working on 1700 Mhz? The Verizon version which has the exact same logic board as this phone works on 1700 so this phone should also have the capability. Since the internal hardware is the same as the Verizon version this phone should also have the ability to work on the same LTE frequencies.

 

[DAFTEK]

FYI, I was on a T-Mobile ROM with a Sprint kernel, wiped everything, and then flashed a T-Mobile 4.3 AOSP ROM. Worked perfect right out of the gate. Even using the T-Mobile kernel that came with it. Everything works right away. Even wifi/bluetooth and such. Just throwing it out there, because it went a LOT easier than I thought it would.

I just installed 4.4 kitkat with these exact instructions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlYPFxr2O2w#t=140

rooted and t-mobil prepaid worked right out of the box as you mentioned. no unlocking no nothing...

I downloaded this rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2544474

 

[xuser]

I just installed 4.4 kitkat with these exact instructions http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlYPFxr2O2w#t=140

rooted and t-mobil prepaid worked right out of the box as you mentioned. no unlocking no nothing...

I downloaded this rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2544474

Are you on the MJA modem? If not, which one?

 

[DAFTEK]

Are you on the MJA modem? If not, which one?

No, I am on MF9

 

[xuser]

No, I am on MF9

Thanks. So basically you did not have to do any on the 14 steps in the OP? You just installed a T-Mobile TW ROM with a Sprint kernel on a MF9 modem? Then flashed the KK T-Mobile ROM and everything worked even with the stock kernel? Sorry its not clear to me. Did you ODIN the TW ROM or just flash it in recovery? What did you wipe between the TW ROM and the KK ROM?

 

[DAFTEK]

Thanks. So basically you did not have to do any on the 14 steps in the OP? You just installed a T-Mobile TW ROM with a Sprint kernel on a MF9 modem? Then flashed the KK T-Mobile ROM and everything worked even with the stock kernel? Sorry its not clear to me. Did you ODIN the TW ROM or just flash it in recovery? What did you wipe between the TW ROM and the KK ROM?

You first need to do steps 1 to 11 then you can root, then mf9 then ODIN or TW then install t-mobile rom, once the phone boots the phone works with no other changes made. I only get 2G apparently in my area from I wireless. I now switched to this rom with no problems. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341026