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

bittle21

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Dec 9, 2011
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Congrats. As a heads up if you will keep a stock sprint ROM when your kid uses it on cricket. With a root explorer go into system/etc/apn-config and delete this APN config file as it had all of sprints APNs and will not let MMS work if you have Crickets APNs selected.
Delete the entire XML file?
 

ecs87

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2012
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All other Sprint Samsung models can now be unlocked. Theres an unlock APK out. Doesn't even need to put your phone into diag mode :)

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
 
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epadiredja

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Feb 21, 2009
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Congrats. As a heads up if you will keep a stock sprint ROM when your kid uses it on cricket. With a root explorer go into system/etc/apn-config and delete this APN config file as it had all of sprints APNs and will not let MMS work if you have Crickets APNs selected.
I did that after following all steps. I could call, text/SMS and get data service with T-Mobile. But even after removing APN config file (system/etc/apn-config), I still cannot get MMS to work. When I get the MMS message, it would show up as link that I could not download. Then, when I tried to send it would fail. Even if I tried to use Hangout as my messaging, I would only get my old sprint number as default where MMS would be sent from. Hence that would cause issue receiving any response. How could I remove or change my old Sprint number in my S4? Any help please? :confused: :confused:

I appreciate the summary of steps on first page. Those were really helpful since I got here because of that.

Thanks
 

spydc

Senior Member
Jun 23, 2007
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Is anyone using an unlocked Sprint S4 with Negalite X6 Rom on AT&T. Everything is working with the exception of MMS. I can send MMS but im not receiving any at all. I tried Go sms too. Any thoughts? Can i just install an AT&T specific rom?

Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
 

daniel4653

Senior Member
Jul 10, 2010
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Is anyone using an unlocked Sprint S4 with Negalite X6 Rom on AT&T. Everything is working with the exception of MMS. I can send MMS but im not receiving any at all. I tried Go sms too. Any thoughts? Can i just install an AT&T specific rom?

Sent from my SM-G900T using XDA Free mobile app
You can install an ATT ROM and MMs will work but GPS probably won't.
 

ecs87

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2012
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MetroPCS is now GSM (as far as I know). This means no flashing; flashing is for CDMA, unlocking is for GSM. The apk will get you one step closer but won't allow you to use it domestically. You're going to need to do some service menu finagling to get it to work domestically.

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
 
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pin2ver2

New member
Feb 2, 2013
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I am stuck at step 4

ServiceMode
No Service
IMEI CERTI: NA

Any suggestions?

Pin2

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 t-mobile was inactive (brand new from t-mobile store.) and it has a bad esn. 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. Update: confirmed hspa+ for tmobile, metroPCS, straight talk and AT&T.

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 ) you can switch to any ROM later and the unlock will stick.

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

3) I went to the dialer and typed *#0011# which brought me to the "service mode" Menu.

IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE GETTING THE HIDDEN MENU TO OPEN DO NOT FEAR! I had a ton of trouble at first. 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. If you are in the umts menu, press the menu button and select back, this should then proceed to the next step.

5) Select CDMA, then 1.COMMON, press next page twice until you reach page three of COMMON and select 8.PREF MODE SET and select 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 manually:manually:manually 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 search for apn settings shortcut and build.prop editor in the Play Store.

Go into the build.prop editor and add the following two lines:

ril.sales_code=LOL
ro.csc.sales_code=LOL

REBOOT PHONE MANUALLY now.

Now Install and create a shortcut on the home screen and select to open. Press the menu soft key and select add apn.

Use:

Name: T-Mobile
APN: epc.tmobile.com or fast.t-mobile.com (for LTE devices)
Proxy:
Port:
Username:
Password:
Server:
MMSC: http://mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc
MMS proxy:
MMS port:
MMS protocol: WAP 2.0
MCC: 310
MNC: 260
Authentication type:
APN type: default,supl,admin,dun,mms

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 Service Mode 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) reboot
15) profit

At this point I had full access to the TMOBILE UMTS/HSPA+ network and voice/text/mms were working.

At this point you may change roms, be careful not to update past mf9 as you may be unable to downgrade to mdc. YOU MUST DOWNGRADE TO MDC MODEM FOR THIS TO WORK.
If you use a non touchwiz rom you can still access the tellinfo menu by pressing *#*#4636#*#* and selecting WCDMA only and manually adding the apn.

GOOD LUCK! let me know what needs changed in the guide as well.

If you have questions it's useful to know your Baseband /kernel/ rom.
 

ecs87

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2012
1,256
816
0
I am stuck at step 4

ServiceMode
No Service
IMEI CERTI: NA

Any suggestions?

Pin2
Downgrade to MDC modem. Enter the dialer code. Press menu, tap back (NOT THE BACK BUTTON BY HOME AND MENU, THE ONE BROUGHT UP BY TAPPING MENU). Press menu, tap key input, type 1. Wait 10-15 seconds. It will come up.

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
 

pin2ver2

New member
Feb 2, 2013
3
0
0
Downgrade to MDC modem. Enter the dialer code. Press menu, tap back (NOT THE BACK BUTTON BY HOME AND MENU, THE ONE BROUGHT UP BY TAPPING MENU). Press menu, tap key input, type 1. Wait 10-15 seconds. It will come up.

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
I tried ODIN to downgrade to MDC however ODIN crashed and firmware is corrupt. I have now updated to stock Sprint ROM so any other suggestion for MDC downgrade?

Pin2
 

ecs87

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2012
1,256
816
0
I tried ODIN to downgrade to MDC however ODIN crashed and firmware is corrupt. I have now updated to stock Sprint ROM so any other suggestion for MDC downgrade?

Pin2
DO NOT flash the entire firmware. Flash the MODEM PORTION ONLY.

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
 

ecs87

Senior Member
Nov 17, 2012
1,256
816
0
Thanks it worked I am running T-Mobile but one more question can I now flash to Shock T-Mobile ROM and still retain the settings?

Pintu
In terms of the international unlock and domestic unlock? Yes. I can't guarantee everything will work on a custom ROM though.

Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
 
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