*WIP* Making a Sprint galaxy S3 sim card compatible.. *update / installed*

[ranchosteve]

The Goal is to let a L710 sim card compatible. (global capable)


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12/24

I installed a few verizon roms. I can change the network setting, but always get an error when i search for net works.
I only have 2 sim cards to test it out so I am not sure if there are bad sims. One is verizon LTE and onther is from an overseas gsm carrier tigo.
What more can I do with out bricking my phone?

I added some screen caps.

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12/6

I finally received the part from china. I installed it fairly easily. I did have to cut the back cover and pat of the metal plate from the reader.

Sd card works and reads fine. I only have have a verizon LTE and a tigo sim card to try it out So I am going to try flashing different roms soon, I am on Blazer. Nothing seems to happen when the verizon sim is inserted.

you are still be able to use sprint LTE, since the sprint sim is built into the main board and not the sd/sim reader.

Any have advise on how i can check if it know a sim card is inserted?



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I was searching ebay for parts and I found this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIM-SD-Card...341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2575c1e915

It should be as easy as unplugging the old one and plugging in the new one. You would also need to get a verizon back plate. But this phone is super easy to open and change parts, minus the screen.

You will lose LTE, unless there is some way to get a sim from sprint (the Iphone 5 has one).

Does anyone know a res eon this will not work? I plan on ordering one later today.

Thanks

 

[iBustCh3rries]

The Goal is to let a L710 sim card compatible.

I was searching ebay for parts and I found this.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIM-SD-Card...341?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2575c1e915

It should be as easy as unplugging the old one and plugging in the new one. You would also need to get a verizon back plate. But this phone is super easy to open and change parts, minus the screen.

You will lose LTE, unless there is some way to get a sim from sprint (the Iphone 5 has one).

Does anyone know a res eon this will not work? I plan on ordering one later today.

Thanks

This seems pretty ambitious! I can't wait to see what develops

 

[NeoMatrixJR]

Quick question... Why?

Sprint LTE uses a different frequency than every other major carrier. You're not going to pop in an AT&T (or any other) card and use their LTE, and you'd still be tied to Sprint CDMA unless I'm mistaken.

 

[Emerl]

Quick question... Why?

Sprint LTE uses a different frequency than every other major carrier. You're not going to pop in an AT&T (or any other) card and use their LTE, and you'd still be tied to Sprint CDMA unless I'm mistaken.

I believe he stated his goal is to put a SIM slot in his s3. No where did he mention AT&T or using it for any other companies. He said he would need a Sprint SIM, and no others. He did say something about a Verizon backplate though

I believe you must have left the Matrix Neo, you're not on your toes

Edit: Oops, didn't see the "JR". You're still in training

Sent from my White Galaxy s3 by Sprint

 

[shiftr182]

What is the point? Most carriers that use SIM cards(if not all) use GSM radios. This phone has CDMA radios, so it wont pick up the signal.

 

[ranchosteve]

What is the point? Most carriers that use SIM cards(if not all) use GSM radios. This phone has CDMA radios, so it wont pick up the signal.

I can see it's pointless for most. But for those who travel and don't wanna pay sprint ridicules roaming rates, like me. It does have a cdma radio but the LTE part of the phone has gsm capabilities like the Verizon version.

It's more of proof of concept more than anything.

 

[Mutiny32]

The Sprint SGSIII uses a RUIM that is hardwired to that board. A RUIM can do what a SIM can do as well as handle CDMA subscriber information. An early manual for the Sprint SGSIII showed instructions for SIM removal/installation, but it was changed before launch to be a non-removable component. Likely why the phone was delayed; they changed their minds on making it a fully-fledged World Phone in lieu of other models like the new Photon.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

 

[crazeebiker]

its next to impossible to get a sim card for the iphone5...

 

[sircody]

The S3 would have to have another Radio hardware installed to be what you are talking about as in Travel.
That's one of the Cool features on my line 2, Motorola Photon.....World Phones is what they are called.....Sim cards most useful purpose is to move data from one phone to another, contacts etc..

 

[theclerk74]

I spent hours researching this as well, not to try and enable GSM for global roaming, but to maybe, possibly get LTE from Cricket working. I looked at a few pictures of the main board from Ebay auctions, and while I think it's possible to do what the OP is proposing, our main board is not the same as other GS3s. I'm no expert, but the components that are under the microSD and cover plate aren't the same, even compared to a Verizon board. On top of that, the embedded SIM card is located on the skinny side that runs up the side of the phone, next to the battery.

I can't say with certainty, since I haven't scoured every single thread on the subject, but I haven't seen anyone provide the ability to bypass the embedded SIM. Well, maybe they did when they hacked the Photon. As far as the radio goes, it would seem that flashing new radio firmware might work to get the radio operating at the right frequency. Again, I make no real claims on this, as I'm no expert. LOL But from the info I can find, the radios are the same, at least on the dual core variants across the board, and are controlled by firmware. So, in the OP's idea, this would be less than ideal, unless someone could write a custom radio version that would retain CDMA voice and EVDO data for Sprint, as well as pointing the LTE/GSM side to the appropriate frequency.

Looking at Sprint's Galaxy Note 2, the embedded SIM looks to actually be on the metal cover that houses its microSD slot, so at least that part of the equation seems like it would be easier to accomplish with that phone.

For my part, I figured that even if Cricket would allow me to buy an LTE SIM and attach it to my ESN in their system, it would still be a major pain to try and overcome the embedded SIM hurdle.

In closing, I hope that no one interprets my ramblings as me being negative. When I saw the Photon hacked, I quickly realized that it was well beyond my comfort zone seeing as I don't have the funds to replace my phone when (Not if!) I destroyed it! I'm sure that it could be possible, especially given the talent of a lot of the members of XDA. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents, and point out that there is a lot more involved than just plugging in a new component and popping in a SIM card. Hopefully people here will rip apart my thoughts and prove me wrong, as I am very interested in trying to convert my phone to use Cricket's LTE.

 

[ranchosteve]

Why not just get a Verizon gs3 ?

Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

 

[xTMFxOffshore]

It works on the Photon? If I'm not mistaken that came with a dual freq radio I think.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

 

[EvgeniX]

any updates?

 

[illusionistpro]

why not just get a gsm gs3?

 

[ranchosteve]

first post update.

 

[nerys71]

why not just get a gsm gs3?

have you SEEN what S3's sell for ? yeah that's why hehehe

 

[DirtyShroomz]

Jesus Christ fix the title of this thread already.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using XDA Premium HD app

 

[lei09]

how about a verizon gs3 port

would you think a verizon gs3 port to sprint gs3 will work being that phone is a world phone? i think it is..

 

[freeza]

a Sim toolkit is included in /system/app/

All you need i a launcher or an app that lets you create shortcuts to Activities, and you can then point it to the Sim Toolkit.

 

[lei09]

O I c...

Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium