LG GT540 Optimus on XT network?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › LG GT540 Optimus on XT network?

Kiwipipernz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#67043 27-Aug-2010 12:48

I recently purchased an LG GT540 while in the UK. I want to be able to connect it to the Telecom XT network as they offer the plan that best suits me at the best price and without a fixed contract term.

Having tried my wife's XT sim in the handset and adjusted the network settings to WCDMA only, the phone will still only find Vodafone as a network provider.

The phone's specs say it is 3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 2100 compatible. As XT works on HSPDA 850 I thought the handset would work.

In all my searching for a solution, I have found one website that says it is only compatible with Vodafone and 2 Degrees in NZ while I also found another site advertising the phone for sale as an XT compatible handset.

Does anyone have any suggestions or will I have to sign up with Vodafone for 24 months to get the features I need?

Many thanks

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#373557 27-Aug-2010 13:24

it depends whether you have the 850/2100 version or the 900/2100 version

this is where a signature goes

Linuxluver

5828 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#373564 27-Aug-2010 13:37

If you have the Vodafone (900/2100) version, it will only see Telecom XT where they have 2100MHz coverage...and that's patchy (urban in-fill in the main centres).

As Telecom have no GSM at all.....everything hangs on that single frequency as far as XT is concerned if the phone can't do the 850MHz.

There are very few phones that do BOTH 850Mhz and 900Mhz WCDMA in the one phone.

The only one I know of so far is the iPhone 4.

There will be others in the coming months, but it is a tricky technical issue and phone makers are (apparently) having trouble making it reliable. The two frequencies are so close together.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

Kiwipipernz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#373634 27-Aug-2010 15:43

Thanks

.

Where on the phone can I find out which frequency it operates on? It isn't mentioned in the manual and I can't find it anywhere under the phone's settings.

The spec sheet when I was looking at the phone said the handset was for both sets of frequencies, I guess it might have been ambiguously worded or maybe just my lack of knowledge? This is my first GSM handset in many years and I thought I knew what I was doing when I purchased this handset.

Nevertheless, it's is an incredible phone - especially at just over NZ$200 and I'm glad I got it. I just want to make doubly sure that it cannot work on XT before I commit to Vodafone paying more per month and tied into the deal for 2 years.

Once again, many thanks for any help

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#373638 27-Aug-2010 15:54

You'd have to find out the exact model number, there should be a different number depending on if it's 850 or 900mhz 3G.

I seem to recall telecom's XT website has a form you can submit the IMEI to check to see if it'll work or not. Hte other way would be to go into an XT store and explain that you're not sure if it'll work, see if you can get them to pop a SIM in and test it?

Kiwipipernz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#373652 27-Aug-2010 16:22

Sweet.

I found the XT compatibility checker http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/ournetwork/phonecompatibility and entered the handset's IMEI number and it told me it operated on "WCDMA 850/2100MHz
GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz" and then went on to say that it should work on XT.

As I said earlier, I have tried my wife's XT sim and it didn't work so now I'm off to my local Orb store to see if they can get it going.

I'll keep you all posted

.

Thanks again!

Kiwipipernz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#373739 27-Aug-2010 20:14

Well, the nice man at Orb (he was a really, really good fella) worked out that my handset must be the 900 Mhz model. Either that or it has a faulty aerial.

It isn't really that clear going by any of the specifications, and the model number and IMEI don't help either. On the surface it appears as though the phone should work on XT but it doesn't, so I guess I'll just have to revisit Vodafone and look at what suitable plans they have that I can afford.

Regardless of all this, the GT540 is a fantastic wee handset and is good value even at NZ retail prices.

Thanks everyone for all your help.
As a footnote... what an incredibly small world eh Pageweon???

pageweon

393 posts

Ultimate Geek

#373857 28-Aug-2010 09:36

indeed it is

this is where a signature goes

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#373874 28-Aug-2010 10:08

faulty aerail ROFL

andrewcnz

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

#373920 28-Aug-2010 13:16

The fact that the hand set was brought in the UK kind of points to the fact of it being a 3G 900/2100 model. As those frequencies are used in Europe. 3G 850 is not.

Kiwipipernz

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#374061 28-Aug-2010 22:39

Uh-uh, no.

The spec sheet at Car Phone Warehouse where I bought it mentioned both 850 and 900 Mhz capability. All of their phones are unlocked - it is only if you buy from a provider like Orange, T-Mobile, O2 etc that the handset is usually locked.

I had an Orange sim that I was using in an old borrowed handset that I had taken over with me and the new handset came with a T-Mobile sim. I could use either sim in the new phone and it would connect to the appropriate network automatically, no problems. Both sims also worked OK in France.

It worked out great while I was in the UK as the Orange sim gave me incredibly cheap calling rates to NZ while the T-Mobile sim gave me essentially free internet for the whole time I was in the UK.
Once again, thanks for your help. Still trying to nut out best deal for me on Vodafone or 2 Degrees

andrewcnz

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

#374077 29-Aug-2010 03:29

Kiwipipernz:
Still trying to nut out best deal for me on Vodafone or 2 Degrees .

2 degrees are coming out with plans soon. If you needed to get up and running now try 2 degrees they are not a bad deal for pre pay. Also you can have a go getting a decent 022 number (they have a number selector on the web site). If the phone number is good but 2 degrees don't work for you, you can port it to any other provider.

My 2 cents. Andrew

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#374130 29-Aug-2010 10:59

Kiwipipernz: Once again, thanks for your help. Still trying to nut out best deal for me on Vodafone or 2 Degrees

If you want to go on prepay and live in auckland/wellington/christchurch and will be using most of your data there, i'd go with 2d's.

If you won't be using much data and mostly calling/txts, 2d's wins everywhere. Otherwise if you will be using data outside of wlg/chc/akl then your only choice is vodafone.

(This is why I still carry two phones. HTC desire for data, nokia 2730 for calls/txt)