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

[xuser]

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

Thanks. I'm still a bit confused on the steps. Maybe the OP can add this method to the OP. Did you also do the SIM international unlock prior? I wonder if it would work on a Sprint phone with a "Bad ESN"?

 

[DAFTEK]

Thanks. I'm still a bit confused on the steps. Maybe the OP can add this method to the OP. Did you also do the SIM international unlock prior? I wonder if it would work on a Sprint phone with a "Bad ESN"?

I have done the sim international unlock from sprint, but I have not traveled yet outside. I am hopping I wont have any problem when I do go to europe.

 

[imbmiller]

Thanks. I'm still a bit confused on the steps. Maybe the OP can add this method to the OP. Did you also do the SIM international unlock prior? I wonder if it would work on a Sprint phone with a "Bad ESN"?

Basically what he is saying is do steps 1-11 and then flash a tmobile rom with a sprint gs4 kernel and you won't have to change your apn etc.

So yes he did the international unlock, and yes it works with bad sprint esn s.

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

 

[xuser]

Basically what he is saying is do steps 1-11 and then flash a tmobile rom with a sprint gs4 kernel and you won't have to change your apn etc.

So yes he did the international unlock, and yes it works with bad sprint esn s.

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

OK gotcha, all clear now. The T-Mobile ROM just simplifies the APN settings. Would be cool if we can get some type of automated program for the steps 1-11 to make it a "One Click" hack. Thanks again!

 

[premiumg]

Damn... I went through all the steps successfully. I'm not able to confirm domestic unlock though.

I have MetroPCS and am unable to get my Sprint phone to work on my SIM. Metro requires you to call in and register the IMEI/ESN with them before the SIM will work. When I called, they said they are not able to register using the DEC or HEX number I provided and clarified they will only activate Iphone for Sprint....

I guess my choices are:
1- sell this phone, get a proper GSM unlocked one
2- switch carriers to T-Mobile or Simple Mobile

 

[heartless-1]

Damn... I went through all the steps successfully. I'm not able to confirm domestic unlock though.

I have MetroPCS and am unable to get my Sprint phone to work on my SIM. Metro requires you to call in and register the IMEI/ESN with them before the SIM will work. When I called, they said they are not able to register using the DEC or HEX number I provided and clarified they will only activate Iphone for Sprint....

I guess my choices are:
1- sell this phone, get a proper GSM unlocked one
2- switch carriers to T-Mobile or Simple Mobile

the imei is missing one number in the back, on mine when i had to dial *#06# and found out it had one extra digit that wasn't present in the back of the phone

 

[premiumg]

the imei is missing one number in the back, on mine when i had to dial *#06# and found out it had one extra digit that wasn't present in the back of the phone

You've given me a lot of hope! I'm gonna try calling Metro PCS again.
Did you get your Sprint GS4 working on Metro?

---------- Post added at 06:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 AM ----------

damn.. i got the missing digit at the end. Metro PCS was still not able to activate using the HEX number from the Sprint GS4. The representative said IMEI should start with 359 (what they usually see).

Has anyone gotten the Sprint GS4 to work with MetroPCS?

 

[heartless-1]

You've given me a lot of hope! I'm gonna try calling Metro PCS again.
Did you get your Sprint GS4 working on Metro?

---------- Post added at 06:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 AM ----------

damn.. i got the missing digit at the end. Metro PCS was still not able to activate using the HEX number from the Sprint GS4. The representative said IMEI should start with 359 (what they usually see).

Has anyone gotten the Sprint GS4 to work with MetroPCS?

i did it for a friend on saturday, (metropcs byod) we gave them the 99 number with the missing digit and they registered it. most of those reps are knowledgeable but some...not so much. i'll try to register another one tmrw and report back.

another note, anyone else try with mja, i can get it setup for about 3 seconds: reads t-mobile network on the carrier label then changes to emergency mode. also i can receives calls but can't make them.

 

[premiumg]

i did it for a friend on saturday, (metropcs byod) we gave them the 99 number with the missing digit and they registered it. most of those reps are knowledgeable but some...not so much. i'll try to register another one tmrw and report back.

another note, anyone else try with mja, i can get it setup for about 3 seconds: reads t-mobile network on the carrier label then changes to emergency mode. also i can receives calls but can't make them.

Thanks heartless. I tried calling Metro again hoping to get a rep that has more knowledge. I used http://www.meidconverter.com to get a "Metro PCS SPC". I was careful not to say that I am using a Sprint GS4. When they ask me what device I'm using, I said it's a Galaxy S4. When they asked what carrier it was previously used for, I said "I don't know, it bought it unlocked". With the "Metro PCS SCP" and the extra digit, I was able to get my Sprint GS4 activated.

However, I am only able to make calls, and send texts. i cannot receive texts or calls. With texts, nothing happens. With calls, I get "Subscriber you have dialed is not in service. If you feel you received this message in error, please hang up and try your call again later. Message CA25756".

I've tried HiAPN with no luck. At least I'm half working now. Able to send texts and make calls outbound.

If you have any insight, that would be greatly appreciated.

 

[imbmiller]

Thanks heartless. I tried calling Metro again hoping to get a rep that has more knowledge. I used http://www.meidconverter.com to get a "Metro PCS SPC". I was careful not to say that I am using a Sprint GS4. When they ask me what device I'm using, I said it's a Galaxy S4. When they asked what carrier it was previously used for, I said "I don't know, it bought it unlocked". With the "Metro PCS SCP" and the extra digit, I was able to get my Sprint GS4 activated.

However, I am only able to make calls, and send texts. i cannot receive texts or calls. With texts, nothing happens. With calls, I get "Subscriber you have dialed is not in service. If you feel you received this message in error, please hang up and try your call again later. Message CA25756".

I've tried HiAPN with no luck. At least I'm half working now. Able to send texts and make calls outbound.

If you have any insight, that would be greatly appreciated.

The apn setting only pertain to Mms and data, not calls and text. It sounds like you aren't set to wcdma preffered or have an android setting set incorrectly like roaming guard or ROAMING settings.

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

 

[premiumg]

The apn setting only pertain to Mms and data, not calls and text. It sounds like you aren't set to wcdma preffered or have an android setting set incorrectly like roaming guard or ROAMING settings.

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

Thanks for the tip imbmiller. I think I might have missed a step.

For step 4 to step 5, you said this:

"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 "

I did not get CDMA menu, I got UMTS menu. I see "COMMON", but how do I get to page 3? (how to get to next page of common)? I don't see next page as an option on "COMMON" page. I see:

COMMON
1 FTM
2 DEBUG INFO
3 RF SCANNING
4 DIAG CONFIG
5 WCDMA SET CHANNEL
6 NV REBUILD
7 FACTORY TEST

---------- Post added at 01:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 AM ----------

I found the CDMA menu now. To get to the CDMA menu, I had to go "back" from the UTMS menu.
I was able to find "COMMON" and then next page x3 times. I set 8.PREF MODE SET and select GSM_WCDMA_ONLY.

I then searched for MetroPCS under networks and was able to find it. I registered with MetroPCS, but still not able to receive calls or texts.

imbmiller, I flashed a Tmobile ROM and used a Sprint Kernel so i don't have access to the Roaming guards or ROAMING settings anymore. Do you think that could still be it? (even though my rom doesn't have the settings?)

 

[premiumg]

Ok, my Sprint Galaxy S4 phone is now working on Metro PCS. I figure I'd try giving Metro PCS support a call to see if they can fix the issue. They had me run the the standard pull out battery and SIM card. When nothing worked, I asked him to "reactivate" or "reset" my activation.

That seemed to have done the trick!

Thanks much to Imbmiller, heartless-1

 

[imbmiller]

Ok, my Sprint Galaxy S4 phone is now working on Metro PCS. I figure I'd try giving Metro PCS support a call to see if they can fix the issue. They had me run the the standard pull out battery and SIM card. When nothing worked, I asked him to "reactivate" or "reset" my activation.

That seemed to have done the trick!

Thanks much to Imbmiller, heartless-1

I'm glad you worked it out. I edited the guide to clarify the parts where you had difficulty.

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

 

[heartless-1]

Ok, my Sprint Galaxy S4 phone is now working on Metro PCS. I figure I'd try giving Metro PCS support a call to see if they can fix the issue. They had me run the the standard pull out battery and SIM card. When nothing worked, I asked him to "reactivate" or "reset" my activation.

That seemed to have done the trick!

Thanks much to Imbmiller, heartless-1

metros weird sometimes, today i registered my imei on friends metropcs account to test it out (worked), and like yours also had to do an account reset. customer care calls it "resetting the switch". glad you got that up and running

 

[fergdizzle9090]

can it use att 4g or lte? what the fastest signal speed like?

also im on mdl and will unlock it but once im done unlocking what firmware can i update to without breaking the unlock? or does the unlock always stick? and i am rooted now as i need to be correct? and would like to unroot and put everything stock after it is on att, can that be done?

 

[premiumg]

can it use att 4g or lte? what the fastest signal speed like?

also im on mdl and will unlock it but once im done unlocking what firmware can i update to without breaking the unlock? or does the unlock always stick? and i am rooted now as i need to be correct? and would like to unroot and put everything stock after it is on att, can that be done?

Mine is MetroPCS and is using HSPA+. I'm a novice to this, so I've no idea if the unlock sticks, and if unroot will break unlock...

 

[premiumg]

Which modem do you guys recommend? I'm using MDC now. Should I update to MDL or MF9? (reading from previous posts in this thread, it looks like I can do so without breaking the domestic unlock, but not to the MJA modem)

 

[yougivemerash!!!]

If I flash a tmobile rom, will Tmobile wifi-calling work? Can anyone that's flashed a Tmobile rom on their Sprint S4 answer this? Thanks.

 

[hayat4]

If I flash a tmobile rom, will Tmobile wifi-calling work? Can anyone that's flashed a Tmobile rom on their Sprint S4 answer this? Thanks.

Thank you for asking that, can anyone help answer this please?

and perhaps provide a link to the tmobile rom?

 

[nicotheandroidguy]

Thank you for asking that, can anyone help answer this please?

and perhaps provide a link to the tmobile rom?

Yes it does work I've tried it on my sprint S4 I used the stock T-Mobile ROM in the android development section.