[gjoseph14]

Hi all. I have an unlocked T-Mobile 9900. I've been using it outside the US with my carrier (Digicel Antigua) and it's been working just fine. However, my carrier just launched their 4G service and my phone is only getting EDGE. The technicians there told me their 4G is on 850mhz and thus incompatible with my device. I find that the simple answer and a little hard to believe since I travel very often and pick up other 4G networks when roaming. Is there any work around to this?

Thanks...

[greggebhardt]

Unless your phone has the required freq. for your carriers 4G, you will only get EDGE. This is quite common just like an AT&T phone will only do EDGE on T-Mo.

There is no work around as it is the hardware that lack the 4G capability with your carrier. You likely needed a AT&T 9900.

[gjoseph14]

I assumed that the 9900 is a quad-band GSM phone and thus should work on all GSM frequencies. Isn't that the theory or am I getting something wrong?

[kg4icg]

What no one has told you is that TMobile has not made the switch from 1700 mhz AWS band to 1900 PCS band nationwide yet. Only some areas have it right now, so unless it a TMobile branded 9900 then you would have no problems picking up there HSPA+ signal. Until then you are limited.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[dierre]

It just launched in cleveland about a month ago

[dierre]

If your not in a major city it probably won't be there for a while

[BlazorBoy]

Yes, you are wrong. They do that to keep you from getting their subsidized phone and using it on ATT.

[gjoseph14]

so unless it a TMobile branded 9900 then you would have no problems picking up there HSPA+ signal. Until then you are limited.

Well it is a T-Mobile branded 9900 I got new. It does pick up 4G in other countries, just not my home network which is apparently 850mhz.

[kg4icg]

Well it is a T-Mobile branded 9900 I got new. It does pick up 4G in other countries, just not my home network which is apparently 850mhz.

The 9900 is not a 4G device, it is a HSPA+ device.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

[gjoseph14]

How is one sure that an AT&T device will work fine with my carrier? What makes the TMobile one not work?

[gjoseph14]

Anyone? .

[Phill_UK]

Anyone?

You've already been given the answer.
There are 2 different 9900 models. The one you have with 3G bands 1, 4 & 8, and the other with 3G bands 1, 2, 5 & 6.
Your current model will not work on your carrier's new frequency. Nothing you can do about it except change the phone.

[FBA]

Yes, you are wrong. They do that to keep you from getting their subsidized phone and using it on ATT.

Sorry, it is you who are wrong. A T-mobile phone will NOT work on HSPA+ on most other carriers, because it simply isn't on the same bands as say - ATT or Rogers/Bell etc...

Videotron/ Wind and a few other carriers use the same frequencies as T-mobile and an unlocked T-Mobile phone will work perfectly at speeds on those carriers

Furthermore - T-Mobile does not subsidize the 9900. I know - I have one from them and I had to pay full price on a monthly billing plan. You should really check your facts before you post incorrect information.

[gjoseph14]

You've already been given the answer.
There are 2 different 9900 models. The one you have with 3G bands 1, 4 & 8, and the other with 3G bands 1, 2, 5 & 6.
Your current model will not work on your carrier's new frequency. Nothing you can do about it except change the phone.

Yes, but your response helped me understand better. Thanks....

[BlazorBoy]

Sorry, it is you who are wrong. A T-mobile phone will NOT work on HSPA+ on most other carriers, because it simply isn't on the same bands as say - ATT or Rogers/Bell etc...

Videotron/ Wind and a few other carriers use the same frequencies as T-mobile and an unlocked T-Mobile phone will work perfectly at speeds on those carriers

Furthermore - T-Mobile does not subsidize the 9900. I know - I have one from them and I had to pay full price on a monthly billing plan. You should really check your facts before you post incorrect information.

You ought to read more carefully. I was responding to gjoseph14 who assumed that the TMo 9900 was quad banded. It is not and hence its inability to work at high speeds "4g" on many but not all other networks. Further TMo does subsidize on some of their plans.

People who live in glass houses....