Problems changing from Vodafone to XT

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Problems changing from Vodafone to XT

izomezzo

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#100577 13-Apr-2012 19:10

Hello,

I just changed my mobile from Vodafone on account to XT prepaid. They told me to call 0800 323232 to tell them to change over my number when I got the SIM card. I didn't actually do that for a few days after receiving the SIM, but they seemed to do it anyway because my vodafone SIM just stopped working. So, assuming this is what happened I put the XT SIM in and it worked. I added some credit to it and everything seemed fine.

But when I got home to Waiheke from the city I realised the network had gone off completely. If I searched for any networks it could only find Vodafone. I tried my Vodafone SIM again but it was still dead. I wondered if it was just an outage, but the thing is I have an XT T-stick that I use for broadband and that was working fine with a good signal.

The next day going to work the SIM came alive again within 10 minutes of reaching the city by ferry. So it seems that there's no connection once out of the city. Yet my T stick works. So, does anyone know what could cause those symptoms? Obviously I need to call Telecom but I can't because I have no working phone. Could it be since I didn't ask Telecom they haven't loaded it fully, is there something peculiar about the XT and Vodafone set up in Waiheke? All a bit of a mystery.

Cheers,
Zobbo

sbiddle

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#608931 13-Apr-2012 19:15

What sort of phone do you have? From your post above I'd say there is a 99% chance you have a handset that doesn't support the 850Mhz UMTS band required for XT.

If so you'll need to buy a new phone (or move back to Vodafone).

loganjames

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

#608932 13-Apr-2012 19:17

What phone are you using? Is it a new Telecom or an old Vodafone?

It sounds like the handset doesn't fully support the XT network.
Works on the shared 2100Mhz (Used mostly in cities) but doesn't see Telecom's 850Mhz (Used where there is no 2100)

loganjames

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#608937 13-Apr-2012 19:18

sbiddle: What sort of phone do you have? From your post above I'd say there is a 99% chance you have a handset that doesn't support the 850Mhz UMTS band required for XT.

If so you'll need to buy a new phone (or move back to Vodafone).

Haha snap - guess we're thinking the same thing...

izomezzo

39 posts

Geek

#608955 13-Apr-2012 19:41

I wondered if it was something like that, but it works in the city ok on XT so I discounted it being phone related. It's only when in Waiheke it doesn't work. Is UMTS used outside the city? I don't understand that. The phone is an unlocked HTC sensation.

Cheers,
Zobbo

izomezzo

39 posts

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#608967 13-Apr-2012 19:50

Sorry I didn't see loganjames explanation there. It's a Z710e which is supposed to support 8050 UMTS a quick google tells me. Hmm, maybe I'm missing some setting on the phone.

Cheers,
Zobbo

loganjames

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

#608968 13-Apr-2012 19:52

I doubt that Telecom would use the 2100 Freq on Waiheke Island (that's just a guess as 2100 is used in cities for congestion) is this a HTC Sensation from Telecom originally or is it imported from elsewhere?

izomezzo

39 posts

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#608970 13-Apr-2012 19:53

No it's imported from a supplier who got them from Hong Kong.

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sbiddle

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#608971 13-Apr-2012 19:54

izomezzo: I wondered if it was something like that, but it works in the city ok on XT so I discounted it being phone related. It's only when in Waiheke it doesn't work. Is UMTS used outside the city? I don't understand that. The phone is an unlocked HTC sensation.

Cheers,
Zobbo

You've clearly got a Vodafone Sensation that supports 900/2100 UMTS and not the 850/2100 required for XT. You'll need to buy a new handset if you want to stay on XT.

cokemaster

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#608972 13-Apr-2012 19:54

I also have a HTC Sensation (this one is a Telecom sourced device) and it is a z710a. It sounds like you might have the 900mhz WCDMA version?

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#608974 13-Apr-2012 19:55

izomezzo: No it's imported from a supplier who got them from Hong Kong.

Now the odds are 99.9% that the phone supports the wrong band.

loganjames

272 posts

Ultimate Geek

#608982 13-Apr-2012 19:59

sbiddle:
izomezzo: No it's imported from a supplier who got them from Hong Kong.

Now the odds are 99.9% that the phone supports the wrong band.

+1 on the bright side now you can get the HTC ONE X - looks well cool

Gilco2

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#608987 13-Apr-2012 20:06

The sensation Z710e does not support the 850mhz band that Telecom uses. You need the Sensation Z710a for telecom

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izomezzo

39 posts

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#608994 13-Apr-2012 20:15

Ah crap. Yeah I can't afford one at the moment, hence the downsizing to prepaid. This one is pretty new. Though I'd love an HTC One. I guess I'll have to get a Vodafone prepaid. I somehow doubt they'll swap my number back again lol. Oh well. Thanks guys. I should have researched this properly before swapping.

Cheers,
Zobbo

Behodar

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#609150 14-Apr-2012 07:58

You'll have no trouble with moving your number back.