Telecom Sensation on T-Mobile (when roaming in the US) question

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lchiu7

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#94006 4-Dec-2011 08:59

Can somebody help me decipher the alphabet soup of cellphone 3G frequencies for me?

If I were to get a XT Sensation and was roaming in the US on T-Mobile's network which they say is now 4G, would I even be able to 3G on it? I was able to get 3G data using a Nexus One.

T-Mobile's 3G apparently uses these frequencies according to Wikipedia

The company owns licenses to operate a 1900 MHz GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) PCS (Personal Communications Service) digital cellular network and a 1700 MHz/2100 MHz UMTS AWS (Advanced Wireless Services) digital cellular network that cover areas of the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It provides coverage in areas in which it does not own radio frequency spectrum licenses via roaming agreements with other operators of compatible networks.

I am guessing my N1 worked okay because it was doing AWS at 2100.

So would the XT Sensation also work okay because it does 850/1700?

Otherwise I guess I would either use AT&T (rather not) or take along my N1.

Thanks

[EDIT]

Just answering my own question. Looks like it might not work since the XT version might be the one for Bell Canada according to GSMArena

General2G NetworkGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 19003G NetworkHSDPA 900 / 1700 / 2100 HSDPA 850 / 1900 - For Bell (Canada)Announced2011, AprilStatusAvailable. Released 2011, June 8th

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old3eyes

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#553363 4-Dec-2011 09:08

It most likely will work on GSM only as 3G AWS band use 1700Meg to send data and 2100 Meg to receive. You may be better to go the at&t route..

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johnr

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#553364 4-Dec-2011 09:08

What t-mobile calls 4G is our 3G+ HSPA+

The T-mobile network is not LTE

freitasm

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#553368 4-Dec-2011 09:17

It will work in 3G just fine because of 2100 MHz. I use AT&T though because their network is 850 MHz/2100 MHZ, exactly the same as Telecom XT.

sbiddle

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#553384 4-Dec-2011 09:53

freitasm: It will work in 3G just fine because of 2100 MHz. I use AT&T though because their network is 850 MHz/2100 MHZ, exactly the same as Telecom XT.

2100 isn't used for 3G in the US as all the FDD frequencies used elsewhere in the world weren't available. This is why t-mobile use FDD on 1700 and 2100 known as the AWS band.

AT&T use 850 and 1900 for 3G.

freitasm

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#553386 4-Dec-2011 09:54

There you go. Trust sbiddle's comments. But use AT&T.

lchiu7

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#553399 4-Dec-2011 10:21

freitasm: There you go. Trust sbiddle's comments. But use AT&T.

Problem is ATT has dearer plans. T-Mobile has a monthly plan for $30 that has 100 minutes, unlimited SMS and unlimited data with the first 5G at 4G speed (not LTE as Johnr says). Then it drops to 3G I presume. I can't see myself using 5G of data in the 3 weeks we are there.

OTOH ATT's plan is $50/month that has unlimited calls, SMS and data (from eligible phones though I don't know what is an eligible phone).

For me T-Mobile is better so I might just take over my N1.

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freitasm

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#553427 4-Dec-2011 11:22

I have an AT&T prepay that's $2 day for unlimited call/SMS (only charged on your first call/SMS of the day), plus $19.95 for 500MB/month (or something like that, last used back in July while Vegas). I can't find anything wrong with that.

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lchiu7

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#553433 4-Dec-2011 11:35

freitasm: I have an AT&T prepay that's $2 day for unlimited call/SMS (only charged on your first call/SMS of the day), plus $19.95 for 500MB/month (or something like that, last used back in July while Vegas). I can't find anything wrong with that.

Well I can't find that plan. The best I can find is $15 for 250MB for prepaid data. As for the $2/day - that's what I bought for my daughter the last time we were there since she did not have a smart phone and didn't need data.

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#553437 4-Dec-2011 11:37

Interesting. Last time in Vegas I got $40 on my SIM - used $19.95 for mobile data over seven days and the rest was for the $2/day - mainly used for SMS really.

lchiu7

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#553439 4-Dec-2011 11:44

Well that's where I am heading but it should make no difference since their plans are nationwide. Of course the chance of getting any decent data coverage with any provider during CES when I will be there will be pretty remote based on what I experienced last time.

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