XT mobile on 2 degrees

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zicomeg

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#94108 6-Dec-2011 06:50

Hi there, i was looking at buying a Telecom XT Motorola defy to use with my 2 degrees sim card but I was told that although call and texts will be fine, data will be painfully slow.
Can someone please confirm that? All I can find on 2 degrees website is that "XT mobiles will work just fine".
Thanks for your help,
Nick

SaltyNZ

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#554298 6-Dec-2011 07:04

'Painfully slow.' A Telecom rep told you that, right? ;-)

Anyway - yes, most XT mobiles will work fine on 2degrees, and your data will be great too. You will want to check the Defy, specifically, though: GSM Arena says it comes in 900/2100, 1700/2100 and 850/1900 models.

So all jokes aside in this case whoever told you data would be painfully slow is probably correct. Telecom will be selling the 850/1900 model, so you will only get 2G data if you try to use it on the Vodafone or 2degrees networks.

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

freitasm

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#554299 6-Dec-2011 07:27

SaltyNZ: So all jokes aside in this case whoever told you data would be painfully slow is probably correct. Telecom will be selling the 850/1900 model, so you will only get 2G data if you try to use it on the Vodafone or 2degrees networks.

GSMArena is most of the times incorrect and/or lists American/European models.

Telecom sells 850/2100 models. It will work just fine on 2degrees on Vodafone networks and it will work on 3G. The only times it will be slow is if you are using 2degrees SIM while on the Vodafone network *AND* the 3G cell site is 900.

Other than this, enjoy.

SaltyNZ

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#554301 6-Dec-2011 07:33

freitasm:

GSMArena is most of the times incorrect and/or lists American/European models.

Yeah, I looked up the manual on the website and it didn't mention frequencies at all as far as I could tell. I was sure I'd seen someone with a Defy on the 2d network but not sure enough to contradict GSM Arena. :-)

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

munchkin

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#554310 6-Dec-2011 08:22

The Telecom version of the Defy is WCDMA 850/1900/2100MHz.

Data won't work until you enter in the correct APNs, but after that you should be fine.

zicomeg

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Wannabe Geek

#554339 6-Dec-2011 09:34

Sounds good. Thanks for the replies.

Nick

NonprayingMantis

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#554366 6-Dec-2011 10:51

2Degrees sell the Defy+, so probably better just to get that one as it has a better spec and 2degrees will support it. It's more expensive though

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#561930 27-Dec-2011 18:11

Digging through older post.
I am using a XT defy on 2degrees too.
Seems to encounter the 3g connection problem too, 2g works fine but 3g stuffed.
I am pretty sure 2100 mhz is working in central Auckland, so I am sure I can get 3g connection.
But whenever I try to connect to 3g, the emergency only mode pops up.
I am aware some people mentioned microsim will fix the 3g issue, but newer normal sim will do the trick as well???

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2degreesCare

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#562124 28-Dec-2011 11:35

wanghou168: Digging through older post.
I am using a XT defy on 2degrees too.
Seems to encounter the 3g connection problem too, 2g works fine but 3g stuffed.
I am pretty sure 2100 mhz is working in central Auckland, so I am sure I can get 3g connection.
But whenever I try to connect to 3g, the emergency only mode pops up.
I am aware some people mentioned microsim will fix the 3g issue, but newer normal sim will do the trick as well???

Check your settings here - http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/defy and in the 'Android' settings tab. If you're still not picking up 3G, if possible try the SIM in another 3G device and if it's working ok then it's pointing to the SIM.

You can pick up a blank SIM from a 2degrees store, Dick Smith, Warehouse Stationery or Harvey Normans or call us on 0800 022022 or 200 from your 2degrees phone and we can send you one.

^POB

wanghou168

453 posts

Ultimate Geek

#562157 28-Dec-2011 14:33

2DegreesCare:
wanghou168: Digging through older post.
I am using a XT defy on 2degrees too.
Seems to encounter the 3g connection problem too, 2g works fine but 3g stuffed.
I am pretty sure 2100 mhz is working in central Auckland, so I am sure I can get 3g connection.
But whenever I try to connect to 3g, the emergency only mode pops up.
I am aware some people mentioned microsim will fix the 3g issue, but newer normal sim will do the trick as well???

Check your settings here - http://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/defy and in the 'Android' settings tab. If you're still not picking up 3G, if possible try the SIM in another 3G device and if it's working ok then it's pointing to the SIM.

You can pick up a blank SIM from a 2degrees store, Dick Smith, Warehouse Stationery or Harvey Normans or call us on 0800 022022 or 200 from your 2degrees phone and we can send you one.

^POB

Thanks
went to a 2d store today, a new blank sim fixed the 3g issue

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Waspman

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#563184 31-Dec-2011 11:31

Don't use XT handsets with 2degrees or Vodafone, at least not on the 3G network.

I ended up inadvertantly with an XT Defy with my 2degrees SIM card and it just didnt work properly. I had inconsistent coverage on the internet so had it set on "3G only" to improve the situation. However by doing this it dropped out completely, that is everything, when I left Auckland.

No one seems to be able to (or wants to) fully explain why XT handsets don't work well on Vodafone or 2degrees networks but it looks like its something to do with their 850/2100 band. The 2100 band according to what I have read infills in the urban areas but the 850 band is nation wide. Vodafone & 2degrees and all others use 900/2100.

A number of people I know have had similar reliability issues with XT handsets on other networks.

To fix the problem I returned the XT Defy and paid a little more and got a Defy Plus, (still way cheaper than 2degrees retail them for) and I have had no issues since.

freitasm

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#563189 31-Dec-2011 11:51

Waspman: I ended up inadvertantly with an XT Defy with my 2degrees SIM card and it just didnt work properly. I had inconsistent coverage on the internet so had it set on "3G only" to improve the situation.

This is nothing to do with Telecom XT but how 2degrees works. If you have a 2degrees SIM in the main centres where it has coverage it will connect to 2degrees sites.

If have a 2degrees SIM outside the main centres where it has no native 2degrees coverage then it will automatically roam on Vodafone cell sites.

The problem is if you are in a city with native 2degrees coverage but the signal is too weak you won't get any service, because it will not roam on Vodafone cell sites when in these 2degrees areas.

As I said, it's not a Telecom XT handset problem, but how 2degrees operates.

Waspman: However by doing this it dropped out completely, that is everything, when I left Auckland.

That's because when you set it to 3G only it will look for 850 or 2100 MHz cell sites. Vodafone (and 2degrees by roaming) use 3G 900 MHz outside most centres so you won't have any coverage. If the handset is locked to 3G (as you did) then it wouldn't even get the old 2G cell sites still available around outside the centres. Nothing to do with the handset, but how you configured it.

Waspman: No one seems to be able to (or wants to) fully explain why XT handsets don't work well on Vodafone or 2degrees networks but it looks like its something to do with their 850/2100 band. The 2100 band according to what I have read infills in the urban areas but the 850 band is nation wide. Vodafone & 2degrees and all others use 900/2100.

I just explained it above.