LG optimus 0ne - P500h - XT mobile phone, work on 2D?

Forums › Android › LG optimus 0ne - P500h - XT mobile phone, work on 2D?

jojo76

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#93046 11-Nov-2011 22:25

Im looking at getting the Lg P500 through Telecom, now ive googled the specs through GSM arena, i only get specs for the P500 not the P500h variant that telecom apparently have.

So the specs for the p500 come up as HSDPA 900/2100 which is 2degrees/vodafone, not the XT network

So anyone have any idea of what bands the P500h uses? can it be used on all networks? I live in a small town not a city, as i have heard people can get all networks but they live in Auckland.

Thanks in advance :)

lokhor

2858 posts

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#544436 11-Nov-2011 22:52

The Telecom version will likely be 850/2100 meaning it will get 3G on Vodafone/2Degrees in most metropolitan areas but will drop down to Edge/2G speeds outside of the 2100mhz coverage areas.

All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

CalmStorm

36 posts

Geek

#544915 13-Nov-2011 22:52

According to the box of my P500h, the bands it support are quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and tri-band WCDMA (850/1900/2100), so this little beauty will work on any networks in NZ, both 2G as well as 3G.

However the Telecom branding is annoying to me. There is a Telecom animation at start-up and shut-down, the web browser icon has been customised with the now-defunct Yahoo!xtra icon, and there's a web link burned into the firmware to "Your Telecom" website. This phone comes stock with Android 2.2 Froyo and an official LG/Telecom update to 2.3.3 Gingerbread is available, but the update breaks auto-correct. Google and read about the Sprint/Optimus One update issue.

A non-branded firmware is available but I've yet to try it.

CalmStorm

36 posts

Geek

#544916 13-Nov-2011 22:58

Ah I just recalled that Vodafone has got WCDMA 900 don't they... this won't work on that 3G spectrum then, though will work on GSM/GPRS 900Mhz.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

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#544934 14-Nov-2011 06:09

CalmStorm: According to the box of my P500h, the bands it support are quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) and tri-band WCDMA (850/1900/2100), so this little beauty will work on any networks in NZ, both 2G as well as 3G.

As you mentioned in your post above this phone will not work on Vodafone's 900MHz 3G network. Buying a handset with the incorrect bands is a waste of time and money, since you'll just end up stuck with GSM coverage whenever you're outside a city of major town.

johnr

19282 posts

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#544938 14-Nov-2011 07:16

CalmStorm: Ah I just recalled that Vodafone has got WCDMA 900 don't they... this won't work on that 3G spectrum then, though will work on GSM/GPRS 900Mhz.

Correct our 3G extended network is UMTS 900mhz

sluggy

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#547914 21-Nov-2011 15:56

Hmm, I just bought the P500h (Telecom) after being assured it would work fine on 2 degrees. Have yet to plug in my sim, as it's in my smashed-up phone at home. A little worried after finding this forum post.... I guess I'll see how it goes.

Another thing I was assured is that it doesn't come with any telecom firmware. But when I boot up and shutdown, there's that horrid telecom splash screen, as well as a 'telecom' button on the main screen.

Do I need to flash it and install new firmware?

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#547918 21-Nov-2011 16:02

Right now I'd say you have 2 good reasons to take it back and get a full refund...
And buy one that is 100% compatible with 2deg (and VF) network.

Equinox IT

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CalmStorm

36 posts

Geek

#548787 23-Nov-2011 10:21

sluggy: Hmm, I just bought the P500h (Telecom) after being assured it would work fine on 2 degrees.

It does work on 2degrees (I'm on 2degrees). If you're in 2degrees' mobile broadband zones (the main centres) this phone will work 100% on both 2degrees' slower data network (900/1800MHz GSM), and their faster data network (2100MHz UTMS). If you're outside their mobile broadband zone then you're likely to be roaming on the Vodafone network via a 2degrees-Vodafone agreement and whether or not you can access the faster data network depends on whether Vodafone has implemented their 3G mobile data on the 900MHz UTMS (no you can't) or the 2100MHz UTMS (yes you can) spectrum where you are.

sluggy: Another thing I was assured is that it doesn't come with any telecom firmware. But when I boot up and shutdown, there's that horrid telecom splash screen, as well as a 'telecom' button on the main screen.

Do I need to flash it and install new firmware?

It'll probably void your warranty if you fiddle with non-official firmware but if that really annoys you, there are numerous alternative ROMs out there you can consider installing. Note that not everything works in these alternative ROMs (eg camera doesn't work in some, FM radio doesn't work in others etc - so do lots of reading up before installing one!). If you prefer an "official" LG firmware that is non-branded, search for "Optimus One Open European Firmware". There are two main flavours out there (one for Android 2.2 Froyo [v10e] and another for Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread [v20g_00]) and while it's tempting to get the "latest" Gingerbread version it does have its issues (namely auto-correct and GPS glitches which doesn't exist in the Froyo versions).

I had the v20g_00 installed and it got rid of the ghastly Telecom splash screen and links, but the phone prompts to me "upgrade" to v20d (the version which I moved away from to get rid of the splash screen and links).

sluggy

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#548811 23-Nov-2011 10:51

Thanks for both your replies... In the end I took the phone back and got a reasonable discount on the 2degrees version. I'd rather have full coverage and not have to meddle with firmware. Even though it cost more, it was still a good deal and I'm quite happy with the phone. =)

CalmStorm

36 posts

Geek

#548862 23-Nov-2011 12:07

Yea this little phone is rather neat especially at the current prices. The best part of it is that it fits in my pocket :-)