GEOMAX:

 

If it was an 850 I don't think it would work on 2degrees anywhere ?

 

It would work in areas where we have UMTS on 2100, which is most places, but it has less reach than 900 so the coverage will not be as wide - exactly as you report.

 

My understanding is this is programmed into the SIM (?) Is it possible that Telecom (now Spark) have locked it in the phone so with the 2Degrees SIM in it is trying to use both 850 and 900 ?

 

No, the handset just camps on the best signal. If the 2degrees signals are on 900 and 2100, and your handset does 850 and 2100, then it will camp on 2100 but with reduced signal unless you're closer to the site.

SaltyNZ:

 

GEOMAX:

 

If it was an 850 I don't think it would work on 2degrees anywhere ?

 

 

 

 

It would work in areas where we have UMTS on 2100, which is most places, but it has less reach than 900 so the coverage will not be as wide - exactly as you report.

 

 

 

 

My understanding is this is programmed into the SIM (?) Is it possible that Telecom (now Spark) have locked it in the phone so with the 2Degrees SIM in it is trying to use both 850 and 900 ?

 

 

 

 

No, the handset just camps on the best signal. If the 2degrees signals are on 900 and 2100, and your handset does 850 and 2100, then it will camp on 2100 but with reduced signal unless you're closer to the site.

 

Not to be confused with 900MHZ UMTS and 900MHZGSM if the handset had been switched to GSM only the OP would have had a normal signal. Please correct me if wrong.

Unless they have turned off 2g on the handset because of it constantly going onto it when on 2degrees network due to it having greater strength than the 3g. I know I had to when I was on 2 degrees because otherwise you get your phone out to look something up when in a store and there is that E on the signal bar showing that it is slow and useless.

ajw:

 

SaltyNZ:

 

GEOMAX:

 

If it was an 850 I don't think it would work on 2degrees anywhere ?

 

 

 

 

It would work in areas where we have UMTS on 2100, which is most places, but it has less reach than 900 so the coverage will not be as wide - exactly as you report.

 

 

 

 

My understanding is this is programmed into the SIM (?) Is it possible that Telecom (now Spark) have locked it in the phone so with the 2Degrees SIM in it is trying to use both 850 and 900 ?

 

 

 

 

No, the handset just camps on the best signal. If the 2degrees signals are on 900 and 2100, and your handset does 850 and 2100, then it will camp on 2100 but with reduced signal unless you're closer to the site.

 

 

 

 

Not to be confused with 900MHZ UMTS and 900MHZGSM if the handset had been switched to GSM only the OP would have had a normal signal. Please correct me if wrong.

 

In settings I see Network set to (auto mode) should this be WCDMA only?

Network to select automatically . OK?

I see in Google that the  Samsung s3 mini  i8190 T lists 900 in the available connections etc. I also via Kies (lite) see the firmware has a Telecom custom version installed. How can I remove this and replace it with whatever works properly for 2Degrees?

I have looked through trademe and find loads for sale saying will work on any network etc.

Something is horribly wrong here (I think)

GEOMAX:

 

ajw:

 

SaltyNZ:

 

GEOMAX:

 

If it was an 850 I don't think it would work on 2degrees anywhere ?

 

 

 

 

It would work in areas where we have UMTS on 2100, which is most places, but it has less reach than 900 so the coverage will not be as wide - exactly as you report.

 

 

 

 

My understanding is this is programmed into the SIM (?) Is it possible that Telecom (now Spark) have locked it in the phone so with the 2Degrees SIM in it is trying to use both 850 and 900 ?

 

 

 

 

No, the handset just camps on the best signal. If the 2degrees signals are on 900 and 2100, and your handset does 850 and 2100, then it will camp on 2100 but with reduced signal unless you're closer to the site.

 

 

 

 

Not to be confused with 900MHZ UMTS and 900MHZGSM if the handset had been switched to GSM only the OP would have had a normal signal. Please correct me if wrong.

 

 

 

 

In settings I see Network set to (auto mode) should this be WCDMA only?

 

Network to select automatically . OK?

 

I see in Google that the  Samsung s3 mini  i8190 T lists 900 in the available connections etc. I also via Kies (lite) see the firmware has a Telecom custom version installed. How can I remove this and replace it with whatever works properly for 2Degrees?

 

I have looked through trademe and find loads for sale saying will work on any network etc.

 

Something is horribly wrong here (I think)

 

 

 

If you are happy to talk and text only switch the handset to GSM if using the 2 degrees network. Sorry I cannot give you instructions on how to do this on your handset. Perhaps somebody else can help. Also have you thought about Skinny they have excellent pricing, are a subsidiary of spark and use the spark network.

Also relying on what people on trademe say for something they sell is like asking a begger for financial advise.

deadlyllama:

 

GEOMAX:

 

 

 

In settings I see Network set to (auto mode) should this be WCDMA only?

 

Network to select automatically . OK?

 

I see in Google that the  Samsung s3 mini  i8190 T lists 900 in the available connections etc. I also via Kies (lite) see the firmware has a Telecom custom version installed. How can I remove this and replace it with whatever works properly for 2Degrees?

 

I have looked through trademe and find loads for sale saying will work on any network etc.

 

Something is horribly wrong here (I think)

 

 

 

 

According to this site https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/AKag0/samsung-gt-i8190t-galaxy-s-iii-mini-nfc-16gb-samsung-golden the i8190T does 850/2100MHz UMTS/WCDMA (3G) and 850/900/1800/1900 GSM (2G).

 

Away from highly populated areas you'll only get 2G on 2Degrees or Vodafone.  You'd get 3G on Telecom or one of their MVNOs (Skinny et al). 

 

So "it will work on any network" and you'll probably get 3G in most places in the big cities, but everywhere else it's going to be 2G a lot of the time.  Unless you switch to Telecom/et al or buy a new phone.  I've been pleasantly surprised by the $140 Samsung Galaxy J2 I just bought to replace my broken phone.  4G, decent screen, reasonably snappy.

 

Note that the exact model number matters, there will be several "Samsung S3 Mini" phones with different numeric model numbers that support different frequency bands.

 

They all have the same frequencies just different menus etc in New Zealand.

 

 

 

This all started going wrong in December. I was away after being in hospital in October and when I returned home started  getting this emergency calls only message and no service. Eventually working out it was going towards Cambridge (less than 0.5k) I am not in the country but in a normal suburban area . when I returned home....no service.

I know I can fix it by buying a Vodafone or Spark SIM card as others on this post have done but I just want the same service I previously had.

richms:

 

Also relying on what people on trademe say for something they sell is like asking a begger for financial advise.

 

I was looking to see if people advertised which provider etc. The perception is it will work on all Networks.

If you are happy to talk and text only switch the handset to GSM if using the 2 degrees network. Sorry I cannot give you instructions on how to do this on your handset. Perhaps somebody else can help. Also have you thought about Skinny they have excellent pricing, are a subsidiary of spark and use the spark network.

If I only wanted to talk and text I would still be using my old Nokia 5230 phone .

SaltyNZ:

 

GEOMAX:

 

If it was an 850 I don't think it would work on 2degrees anywhere ?

 

 

 

 

It would work in areas where we have UMTS on 2100, which is most places, but it has less reach than 900 so the coverage will not be as wide - exactly as you report.

 

 

 

 

My understanding is this is programmed into the SIM (?) Is it possible that Telecom (now Spark) have locked it in the phone so with the 2Degrees SIM in it is trying to use both 850 and 900 ?

 

 

 

 

No, the handset just camps on the best signal. If the 2degrees signals are on 900 and 2100, and your handset does 850 and 2100, then it will camp on 2100 but with reduced signal unless you're closer to the site.

 

In my case if I am 2100 type and the received signal is very weak why does it not just connect me to Vodafone ? Why is the signal not tuned  down to be non existent as I doubt if the return signal would work anyway?

oxnsox:

Its important to understand how 2d roaming works. If 2d have what their engineers measure as adequate coverage in your area, then you cannot roam to VF. Roaming only happens where 2d can't provide their own network. 

I think that's how it's supposed to be in theory but my experience is other than Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch I have always been able to roam onto Vodafone even in cities and towns 2Degrees cover in full.

Point taken deadlyllama

. The technician in me says fix it. I have now  bought a Samsung J2 (LOCKED TO 2DEGREES) It is bigger, better, faster etc. Unfortunately it also suffers from unreachable problem but does not show emergency calls only and restores when reachable again. I have now set up call forwarding unreachable  to another phone. 3 months ago roaming took over. 

The question now is this sloppy service for areas east of Shakespeare street in Leamington the new norm or what?