Huawei Ideos X5 - Why doesn't it work on XT?

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Gazza08

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#96849 5-Feb-2012 00:55

Before I bought my X5, I did A LOT of internet research about it, including checking the frequencies it uses. Even Telecom's compatibility checker says it should work. But it doesn't? Can anyone give more insight to this other than, "it just doesn't"?

l43a2

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#577384 5-Feb-2012 01:02

the phone is a 900/2100 3G/GSM phone which would support Vodafone/2degrees... XT is pure 850/2100 3G only network

mckenndk

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#577386 5-Feb-2012 01:43

Mauricio's blog post should answer all.

http://www.freitasm.com/6009#comments

The X5 will only work in the city's where telecom has 2100mhz coverage but not in the country side.

Dion

Gazza08

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#577388 5-Feb-2012 01:58

Thanks for that mckenndk. I'm still not sure why Telecom's compatibility checker says it'd be okay, but now I get that for Xt, it would need to operate the 3G 850 band, rather than the 900/2100 it currently has. I figured it would work fine, as the GSM band has 850, and the 3G band has 2100 - simpleton logic?

Don't fully understand the bands thing, but that's okay.

Gazza08

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#577390 5-Feb-2012 02:11

Noob question warning: wouldn't it be easier for phone makers to simply put all network bands available with their phones? Do they avoid this (apart from the latest phones) because of cost, or market preferences?

mckenndk

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#577406 5-Feb-2012 07:04

Gazza08: Noob question warning: wouldn't it be easier for phone makers to simply put all network bands available with their phones? Do they avoid this (apart from the latest phones) because of cost, or market preferences?

What I probably should of said before that it supports
2g GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3g HSDPA 900 / 2100

It would probably come down to cost and affordability.

You can make a phone cheaper by the less chipsets, Features and money you have to pay for the use of patients.
I guess size might come into it as well.

Dion

sbiddle

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#577412 5-Feb-2012 07:56

Gazza08: Noob question warning: wouldn't it be easier for phone makers to simply put all network bands available with their phones? Do they avoid this (apart from the latest phones) because of cost, or market preferences?

They don't do it because of cost, and the fact chipsets to do this are still limited. You can't expect to get high end chipsets and features included in a low end phone.

Market preference has nothing to do with it, but when there are only around a handful of countries in the world (with NZ and Australia being the main two) that have both 850MHz and 900MHz UMTS networks, the only reason they want to include multiband chipsets it to simplfy their range and distribution chain, but clearly the costs of chipsets outweight this.

As for frequencies GSM is not UMTS. When you see GSM frequency support on 850MHz it doesn't mean the phone support UMTS 850.

Ragnor

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#577575 5-Feb-2012 15:47

Basically this information on the Telecom site is wrong, the Ideos X5 does not support 850 3G/WCDMA/UTMS. The Telecom network is 3G only no GSM and it's primarily 850 (with 2100 infill in main centres).

There may be a 850/1900/2100 variant for the US market but the version being sold in NZ is for 2degrees and Vodafone and is 900/1900/2100 3G

Tri band 3G radio's are way cheaper than quad or penta band. At the moment only expensive higher end phones are quad band 3g eg: iphone 4gs and Samsung Galaxy S2 etc.

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Technofreak

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#577656 5-Feb-2012 21:01

What happens if you put in your IMEI number as suggested on the Telecom site? Does it say the phone is compatible?

The only sure fire way to know if the phone is compatible sometimes is the IMEI number as there can be several variants plus many of the "reputable" sites like GSMArena get their info wrong.

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sbiddle

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#577662 5-Feb-2012 21:26

Technofreak: What happens if you put in your IMEI number as suggested on the Telecom site? Does it say the phone is compatible?

The only sure fire way to know if the phone is compatible sometimes is the IMEI number as there can be several variants plus many of the "reputable" sites like GSMArena get their info wrong.

This also isn't 100%, this data comes from 3rd parties and there have been issues in the past.

Gazza08

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Wannabe Geek

#577850 6-Feb-2012 14:23

When I put my IMEI in, it says compatible. I guess it really is just faulty information. Disappointing, but I'm reasonably happy with my choice of network.

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#578163 7-Feb-2012 13:09

The Telecom checker is problematic; at one point (I don't know whether this is still the case) it reported my Telecom-sourced phone as incompatible!

wanghou168

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#578168 7-Feb-2012 13:18

it works in the cities where 2100mhz is operating
I am running a X5 on Slingshot in Auckland, XT MVNO.

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dolsen

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#578174 7-Feb-2012 13:30

Checking my x5 (which is WCDMA 900 / 2100MHz) using the imei checker on the Telecom phone checker, it states

Huawei U8800 - IDEOS X5

Your device supports the following frequencies:

GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100MHz

More features...

Telecom Network Compatibility

This device should work on the XT Mobile Network

Seems a bit wrong to say it supports these frequencies and that it will work on the XT Mobile Network when it will not work in the majority of areas out of the cities. It does state to check the phone in store with a Telecom Sim, however, if I did that, it would probably work due to 2100 infill coverage. I would hope that the store person would know enough to say it wouldn't work, but, I wouldn't count on it.

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#578192 7-Feb-2012 13:51

Running a 2100MHz only phone on XT is not recommended, and the experience won't be a good one. You woon't get blanket coverage anywhere, even in cities like Wellington and Auckland, because it's only designed as infill capacity, not primary.

Ragnor

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#578321 7-Feb-2012 17:32

Long story short relying on the online checker is hardly "extensive research".

The page even has a big side panel saying chcek with a Telecom store to confirm your device will work.