850 + 900MHz networks in other locations in the world ?

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3g

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#26613 27-Sep-2008 22:03

Recently we updated the firmware on a GSM modem and found that it wouldn't work after the upgrade.We discovered that the unit was locking on to the new Telecom network, which meant that the unit decided it must be in a region with 850/1900 networks (instead of 900/1800). So despite having a Vodafone SIM card in the modem, we never got registered on the Vodafone network - at least not until we went in and switched off Autoband select and manually set it to 900/1800.
Can anyone tell me if there are other locations in the world that have both 850 and 900 networks?Reason I ask is that I'd like to do some more testing, particularly to see if we've got potential issues in major markets.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
Nigel H.

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#167540 27-Sep-2008 22:08

It depends on the services... 850MHz WCDMA/HSDPA is available in Australia with Telstra. 850MHz GSM is available in the USA. The USA also uses 1900MHz WCDMA/HSDPA, while th rest of the world uses 2100MHz WCDMA/HSDPA mostly.

Vodafone is doing a soft launch of a 900MHz WCDMA/HSDPA network here.

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digitaldivide

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#167555 28-Sep-2008 10:31

You should also remember PLMN

Generally speaking, it's the RF bands that the mobile device supports, and the order/priority of RF bands searched for.

This could explain why you needed to manually assign an RF band, and turn off the automatically discover option.

Could be wrong, there's my 2cents!

3g

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#167559 28-Sep-2008 11:01

digitaldivide: You should also remember PLMN

Generally speaking, it's the RF bands that the mobile device supports, and the order/priority of RF bands searched for.

This could explain why you needed to manually assign an RF band, and turn off the automatically discover option.

Could be wrong, there's my 2cents!

From what I can gather, the manufacturer has changed the order+priority of the searching.I think their theory was that if it found an 850 GSM network, then it must be in the USA.This theory is now void in New Zealand.
Obviously having a screen for the user to set the band isn't too big a job, but it's yet another question that we need to ask the user @ setup time.
Which reminds me - anyone know if it's possible to read the mobile network provider from a SIM card?If we could do that, then we could use a lookup table to automatically select the band + also setup the APN.
Nigel H.

sbiddle

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#167561 28-Sep-2008 11:46

I've just asked another mate about the existance of another country with GSM850 + GSM900 and there aren't any that he's aware of either. NZ could be unique at present!

I guess it won't be an issue once Telecom's GSM gets pulled though so I don't think there would really be a need to change the setup.

richms

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#167615 28-Sep-2008 20:50

Apparantly its a problem with dual sim phones as well, with them not being able to run 850 and 900 at the same time, but with the proabability of it being umts only getting a chiphone isnt any use anyway...

Richard rich.ms

3g

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#167619 28-Sep-2008 21:16

sbiddle:
I've just asked another mate about the existance of another country with GSM850 + GSM900 and there aren't any that he's aware of either. NZ could be unique at present!

Thats good info - thanks for that!

sbiddle:
I guess it won't be an issue once Telecom's GSM gets pulled though so I don't think there would really be a need to change the setup.

Are you saying that the Telecom network might not get off the ground?
It would be a shame if that's the case (competition is long overdue).

Nigel H.

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sbiddle

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#167621 28-Sep-2008 21:26

3g:
Are you saying that the Telecom network might not get off the ground?
It would be a shame if that's the case (competition is long overdue).

Nigel H.

No. Just the expectation that any day soon Telecom will announce that their new network will be 850/2100 WCDMA and that the existing 850 GSM network will be pulled and will never be launched.

munchkin

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#167629 28-Sep-2008 22:05

sbiddle:
I've just asked another mate about the existance of another country with GSM850 + GSM900 and there aren't any that he's aware of either. NZ could be unique at present!

There are several countries with an 850/900 configuration - Brazil, Guatemala and El Salvador, as well as The Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guernsey, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and finally, the Turks and Caicaos Islands. The Dominican Republic are reportedly building a quad-band network, too.
Funnily enough, with the exception of Guernsey, they're all in the Americas.

NealR

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#167663 29-Sep-2008 08:41

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone esle who has experienced similar problems with device locking onto the TelecomGSM850 network. Details such as deivce make/model and location of problem would be useful.

Thanks,
Neal

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vinni

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#168280 1-Oct-2008 11:27

Bettre late than never

here is a comprohensive list of country/operator with 3G ntwrk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Deployed_UMTS_networks

inquisitor

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#168307 1-Oct-2008 12:57

The question is the reason, why the device locks down to the American bands. Either it's the firmware which aims to prevent the phone from wasting time and energy on (supposedly) useless frequency scanning or it's the hardware, which can run only in European or American mode. I remember the first triband-phones had to be switched manually between 900/1800 and 1900 mode.
What model is you GSM phone actually?

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richms

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#168391 1-Oct-2008 16:24

A friend flashed their phone and found it in 850/1900 mode after if came up, if that was it finding telecom or a defult after the flash - no idea, but it was a bit of a concern initially that they had broken it.

Richard rich.ms