Jump to content

Thomas L.

S4GRU Premier Sponsor
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    607

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Thomas L.

    International Use

    in General Topics

    Posted

    If you mean calling a US cell phone customer who is currently roaming abroad, you are not charged any differently, the person you're calling that's roaming abroad will be charged the same as if they had made the call - if you were a T-Mobile customer roaming in France for example, the T-Mobile customer would be charged 25 cents a minute for a call - the same if it's incoming or outgoing.

    If they are overseas and call you here in the US, nothing changes for you, it just comes out of your normal allowance. The best solution I've found is just using a Google Voice number and making data calls abroad with a cheap local SIM or esim. 

    US Mobile only offers international roaming through eSIM.

    If your phone supports wifi calling (any iPhone, a ton of Android phones nowadays), your calls abroad will be charged as if they were being made in the US. It's a great option. I have used T-Mobile's wifi calling all over Europe and also in Mainland China and it worked great. 

    • Like 3

    Going to Ireland in June

    in International Networks

    Posted

    I haven't been out of the country since LAST June, but my Sprint card worked fine in Spain at that time for the super-slow free data. I am not sure about the T-Mobile SIM - they were causing people problems when traveling abroad at one point but I'm not sure if that's been resolved. If your devices are unlocked you might look into just getting a cheap eSIM for data for the iPhone and Pixel (and Samsung depending on the model). 

    Pixel 6/6 Pro

    in Google

    Posted

    On 11/26/2021 at 2:11 PM, ingenium said:

    It is, but you'll have to active it without DSDS enabled (if it is enabled, you have to do *#*#4636#*#* and disable it), otherwise the network won't allow you to connect. Then you need to find a T-Mobile rep who is willing and able to change the eSIM binding from IMEI1 to IMEI2. I was able to escalate it enough through T-Force (Twitter DM) to get a rep to do it. Once the eSIM IMEI binding it changed, you can enable DSDS again.

    So I got my pixel and I have been dying trying to get this done. T-Force said it wasn't possible on Twitter, I asked for a supervisor call back, and the whole team seems to be based overseas with NO idea what I was talking about. When I finally got to a tech (also oversees), he had no idea what I was talking about and put me on an endless hold to get rid of me. How did you get this done?!?!

    • Like 1

    Pixel 6/6 Pro

    in Google

    Posted

    3 hours ago, dkyeager said:

    Interesting. My understanding is T-Mobile allows sims to be moved to different devices without issue, unlike Sprint which requires reactivation with the new IMEI. Perhaps a foretaste of things to occur?

    Only once you're on the T-Mobile billing system, so fully migrated. TNX is still IMEI locked (for no good reason). 

    • Like 1

    Pixel 6/6 Pro

    in Google

    Posted

    19 hours ago, ingenium said:

    Unfortunately it seems that dual SIM doesn't work if you use eSIM for Sprint/T-Mobile. The eSIM moves to IMEI 2 on Pixels when you enable dual SIM, so the IMEI no longer matches and the network rejects the attachment. 

    Not sure who to report this to or how to go about getting it fixed... 

    It wasn't an issue with previous Pixels because they used Sprint SIMs, and the Sprint SIM only checks the IMEI when you provision or do a profile update (I've checked signaling messages in NSG and the network doesn't ask for it upon attachment). So enabling dual SIM basically was a SIM swap. But T-Mobile SIMs apparently report the IMEI upon attachment, so the network immediately sees that it doesn't match and rejects it.

    I have ordered the unlocked Pro 6. I wanted to use my Cricket SIM and T-Mobile on eSIM since Cricket doesn't support eSIM. Will that not be possible?

    Official Tmobile-Sprint merger discussion thread

    in T-Mobile Merger/5G NR Deployment

    Posted

    On 9/16/2021 at 12:09 PM, thisischuck01 said:

    Yep! But that mmWave spectrum has been deployable for quite a while now - last years iPhone supported n260/n261, and so did the Galaxy series as far back as the S10. The only phone that T-Mobile currently sells that supports n258 is the OnePlus 9 Pro 5G.

    Having a mainstream device such as the iPhone supporting n258 will greatly increase T-Mobile's amount of deployable mmWave. Tampa, for example, would go from 600MHz of deployable spectrum to 1000MHz (400MHz n260 + 200MHz n261 + 400 n258). NYC, which is currently only operating with 100MHz of n261, will go from 500MHz of deployable spectrum to 900MHz (400MHz n260 + 100MHz n261 + 400MHz n258). Hopefully, having more deployable spectrum will push them to expand deployment.

    I was reading the FCC filing for the Pixel 6 yesterday and saw that it included n258 - I was wondering what that was. That will be my next phone so nice to know it will support this new spectrum. 

    • Like 1

    T-Mobile Expands Home Internet Service.. Will this be the next Clearwire Disaster?

    in T-Mobile Merger/5G NR Deployment

    Posted

    On 12/2/2020 at 5:33 PM, epra72 said:

    I'm currently using TMobile home internet. It's ok. During the evening, I get throttled pretty bad. It's still usable, but annoying at times. I like the idea of no caps, unlike my only cable provider. I'm waiting patiently for 5G home internet. 

    Can you talk more about what your speeds look like? Are they the same more or less as T-Mobile on your phone (if you have it?). I am moving and I qualify for it in my new place, but I am also a teacher and use the internet constantly to teach. I like the idea of no caps but I also want it to be reliable.

    Build your own devices, routers, relays, IoT etc.

    in Hotspots/USB Modems

    Posted

    On 3/19/2020 at 2:58 PM, notsrealinc said:

    Hey everyone, I wanted to share something that I've been working on. I bought a Fibocom 850GL from eBay (the HP version) for about $30. My original intention was to create a DIY Portable Mobile Hotspot with a Raspberry Pi acting as the router and a TP Link WR902ac for a fast WiFi AP. I got two Cradlepoint antennas (I didn't trust any cheap ones on eBay/Amazon) that is rated to pickup 2.5 GHz and put the modem in an enclosure that converts from M.2 to USB 3.0 with a SIM slot.

    You can see it all together held by rubber bands (there is also a 20,000 mAh battery underneath it all):

    rVQNzAn.jpg

    It worked great! I installed OpenWRT on the RPi and configured it to get a cellular data connection. I used it for a few weeks taking it around town and it was stable. However data speeds weren't as fast as it should be (about 42 Mbps). I initially thought it was the antennas but after some digging around I figured out a way to fix it. To keep it brief, abrasive on GitHub figured out how to change USB modes with an AT command. I tried changing the USB mode to 7 which allows it to work in Windows using CDC MBIM (before it wouldn't work in Windows). To my surprise it worked, and without any drivers! Best of all, I'm seeing much better data speeds almost upwards of 120 Mbps download. The modem supports 3xCA on B41. 

    trrmc2j.png 

    From here, I haven't gotten much further. I'd like to put this modem in a real router using PCIe instead of USB but I'm unsure about compatibility and drivers when looking some up. Now why this modem? You can activate it on Sprint as a "tablet" which costs $15/month after auto pay (the HP version only) for unlimited data.

    Also as a side note, right now I deactivated it. Should I reactivate it again because of the merger and the plan not being available? I don't need this but it's pretty cool to have. 

    Would you be willing to share what the enclosure is that you had that had a SIM card slot? I'm thinking about trying to figure this out and this seems like a great possible solution. Also, are you familiar with a similar enclosure that would provide ethernet connectivity? There seem to be several Fibocom 850GL versions, will they all work if the LTE band support is there? - Thank you!

    Build your own devices, routers, relays, IoT etc.

    in Hotspots/USB Modems

    Posted

    Hello all,

    I was wondering if someone would be able to help me. I have a Coolpad Surf from a Mobile Citizen reseller that I use for internet, and it's been fine, but, as a teacher, now that I'm teaching online with Zoom all day, it would really help to have a device with carrier aggregation and that I can use for multiple devices more effectively. It is of course IMEI locked, technically, but I have noticed that if I have a non-Sprint device that supports Sprint bands, the SIM card will work if I use the right APN settings. I am pretty tech savvy, but I don't have a huge amount of time right now to figure out a custom build. Is there any guide that would facilitate my building of my own router solution, preferably one that would allow me to use 5G if/when it becomes available for Mobile Citizen reseller customers?

    I am very appreciative for this thread and thank you in advance for any guidance you might be able to offer,

    TL

    Official Tmobile-Sprint merger discussion thread

    in T-Mobile Merger/5G NR Deployment

    Posted

    On 7/19/2020 at 6:24 AM, Paynefanbro said:

    It is a T-Mobile tower and it has Bands 2, 12, and 66 on it according to Cellmapper.

    Sidenote: That's a really cool tower. I've never seen one painted blue like that.

    Interestingly, in China the carriers tend to paint and mark their cell towers to indicate what carrier they belong to. The first is a China Unicom site - China's HSPA+ and LTE carrier. The second is a building top panel transmitting n41 from China Mobile.

    5pkebpzx.jpeg

    ndhnpdlmdv.jpeg

    T-Mobile TV

    in General Topics

    Posted

    I don't find it to be a particularly compelling product if you still have to use your own internet connection. They'd have a chance to really make a competitive product if they used something like LTE Broadcast, or eMBMS over 5G, so it didn't have to rely on another internet connection. I hope to see something like that with their relaunch. 

    Official Tmobile-Sprint merger discussion thread

    in T-Mobile Merger/5G NR Deployment

    Posted

    On 7/8/2020 at 6:03 PM, jamesinclair said:

    So I took a road-trip in northern (way north) California, and the new combined Sprint/T-mobile network was almost nowhere to be found.

    In fact,  found myself roaming on Verizon most of the time...and even got some very usable data! I can't recall the last time Verizon roaming let me use data. How long do we expect that to continue?

     

    Out of curiosity, where did you go exactly? Do you have a band 71 capable device? Almost all of T-Mobile's new coverage in north NorCal is band 71, Sprint has totally ignored the area for ages. US Cellular is usually pretty good up there, if your phone has band 13. 

    Dish Network/Boost Mobile cell/5G buildout thread

    in General Topics

    Posted

    3 hours ago, S4GRU said:

    That negotiation was in good faith and agreed.  To fish for a better deal after the fact is just so ridiculous.  Does he have no honor?  He probably feels he has Tmo in the corner since they have to sell as part of the settlement.  But this could blow right up in his face.

    Robert

    How would it blow up?

    Service in Central Mexico: San Miguel de Allende

    in International Networks

    Posted

    On 2/12/2020 at 1:47 PM, mark said:

    As I read yesterday (with sadness) about the (apparently) upcoming T-Mobile purchase of Sprint, I'm reminded how much I've enjoyed this site...and how useful it has been to me and my family...two decade Sprint customers.

    Between Feb 15 and Feb 22...my wife and I will be in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

    Am I understanding things right...

    For two dollars a day, I can use my Sprint iPhone 6s while in Mexico?!

    In San Miguel de Allende, what kind of service can we expect? Great. Middling. Poor?

    Anything I should know?

    Thanks for reading.

    I looked up coverage in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato - you should have decent coverage there, if not LTE, at least HSPA+, which is plenty fast. 

     

    Have fun!

    HotSpot recommendation

    in Hotspots/USB Modems

    Posted

    4 hours ago, belusnecropolis said:

    What is your carrier, budget and what do you hope to achieve?

    I have one Sprint line that I use for fixed internet from a Mobile Citizen reseller, but am stuck with an extremely awful Coolpad Surf (you can't switch devices), it works in some other android devices when I have it set to LTE only with the right settings, so I'd like to build a device that supports multi-carrier aggregation and maybe even upload carrier aggregation on band 41.

×
×
  • Create New...