[thurask]

Thurask, in a different thread/post (linked to above,) thinks that the -3 might have all the bands as the -1. Personally, I'm not so trusting of AT&T. Regardless, there's quite some overlap between AT&T's frequencies and Rogers'/Bell's: UMTS 850, 1900, LTE 4 and 17. Band 7 may or may not be in there, but AT&T doesn't have a reason to take it out (like UMTS 1700, which they would take out to deter TMO buyers.)

FCC ID L6ARGV160LW by BlackBerry Limited for Mobile phone with GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900, WCDMA/HSPA FDD 2, 4, 5, 6, LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 17, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth, NFC, FM Radio and GPS. (L6A-RGV160LW, L6A RGV160LW)

[raino]

FCC ID L6ARGV160LW by BlackBerry Limited for Mobile phone with GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/1900, WCDMA/HSPA FDD 2, 4, 5, 6, LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 17, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth, NFC, FM Radio and GPS. (L6A-RGV160LW, L6A RGV160LW)

UMTS 1700, nice! I wasn't expecting that.

[thurask]

UMTS 1700, nice! I wasn't expecting that.

There might be more bands in the phone, the SQW100-1 page is missing LTE 1/3/7/8/20, for one. FCC only cares about North America bands.

[raino]

There might be more bands in the phone, the SQW100-1 page is missing LTE 1/3/7/8/20, for one. FCC only cares about North America bands.

True. Hopefully the S&PI goes up soon as that gives away the non-US bands.

Edit: they don't even show UMTS 2100 in the RF exposure report...

[thurask]

PTCRB listing is up: https://ptcrb.com/vendor/complete/vi...?modelid=28153

Posted via CB10

[raino]

PTCRB listing is up: https://ptcrb.com/vendor/complete/vi...?modelid=28153

Interesting. They list a bunch of non-US bands (which I wouldn't have expected out of the PTCRB,) and also...LTE band 29. It's a 700 MHz aggregation band, and AFAIK, none of the 700 MHz spectrum holders are aggregating yet.

[thurask]

Interesting. They list a bunch of non-US bands (which I wouldn't have expected out of the PTCRB,) and also...LTE band 29. It's a 700 MHz aggregation band, and AFAIK, none of the 700 MHz spectrum holders are aggregating yet.

Future proofing?

[raino]

Future proofing?

I thought since there were no concrete deployment/usage plans, OEMs weren't putting this band in any more. Nevertheless, it's kinda nice to see BB working with AT&T so closely.

I wish BB would start putting in cat. 4 chips...you know, in the interest of future proofing. And LTE b12 for the #band12brigade.

[thedose]

I wish BB would start putting in cat. 4 chips...you know, in the interest of future proofing.

I would have thought they had done so as well since cat 4 was launched in March of 2014, giving them ample time to have included it in the Passport. I mean, the iPhone 6/6+ have cat 4 chips, don't they?

[raino]

I would have thought they had done so as well since cat 4 was launched in March of 2014, giving them ample time to have included it in the Passport. I mean, the iPhone 6/6+ have cat 4 chips, don't they?

I don't know (or frankly care) about the iPhone, but Android phones have been cat. 4 for a while now. You're right--BB has had plenty of time to incorporate cat. 4 chips in their phones, but has chosen not to. Even the Classic--a later release--is not cat. 4.

[giper54]

I don't know (or frankly care) about the iPhone, but Android phones have been cat. 4 for a while now. You're right--BB has had plenty of time to incorporate cat. 4 chips in their phones, but has chosen not to. Even the Classic--a later release--is not cat. 4.

Raino the AT&T version is adding band 29, will that help with reception, especially indoor reception. I bought a Passport in November but I had to return it because I had a hard time at work with my indoor reception. Most phones I have used would get and hold two bars of AT&T LTE, while the Shopblackberry.com Passport would have one bar and usually go down to 4G.

What do you know about band 29 and LTE reception on AT&T?

[raino]

Raino the AT&T version is adding band 29, will that help with reception, especially indoor reception. I bought a Passport in November but I had to return it because I had a hard time at work with my indoor reception. Most phones I have used would get and hold two bars of AT&T LTE, while the Shopblackberry.com Passport would have one bar and usually go down to 4G.

What do you know about band 29 and LTE reception on AT&T?

Band 29 has been showing up in AT&T phones for a while now, but AFAIK, they haven't started aggregating it. The Passport (SQW100-1) has all the AT&T bands your Z10 has, so it shouldn't be dropping you to 4G. Do you know/have you checked which LTE band your phone parks itself on?

May I ask where you saw band 29 in the AT&T version?

[giper54]

Band 29 has been showing up in AT&T phones for a while now, but AFAIK, they haven't started aggregating it. The Passport (SQW100-1) has all the AT&T bands your Z10 has, so it shouldn't be dropping you to 4G. Do you know/have you checked which LTE band your phone parks itself on?

May I ask where you saw band 29 in the AT&T version?

AT&T Passport (SQW100-3) loses Verizon (13) and the EMEA/Asia roaming bands (20/8), but has improved aggregation with pre-existing frequencies (29), so domestic LTE should be faster.

How do I find which LTE band my phone parks itself on?

[raino]

Right. Thurask is who I learned about band 29 from myself, and he found out about its presence in the PTCRB certification. They had not finalized the leases as of 2013, which is why anticipated usage start was 2014. But I haven't heard seen anything on Fierce Wireless or HoFo about anyone reporting detecting it.

So even if the network has gone live, we don't know a) where, and b) how many licenses AT&T owns, and where.

How do I find which LTE band my phone parks itself on?

Here are the instructions: http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe.../#post10112890 Be careful with the escreens. This is a relatively low risk check, but it's always good to be careful with escreens.

[raino]

Raino the AT&T version is adding band 29, will that help with reception, especially indoor reception. I bought a Passport in November but I had to return it because I had a hard time at work with my indoor reception. Most phones I have used would get and hold two bars of AT&T LTE, while the Shopblackberry.com Passport would have one bar and usually go down to 4G.

What do you know about band 29 and LTE reception on AT&T?

AT&T's webpage for the Passport has gone live, and while they list a LOT of additional LTE bands, b29 is not one of them: Blackberry Passport -- AT&T

[giper54]

4G-LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 17, and 20

4G HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul

3G � UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz

GSM/GPRS/EDGE850/900/1800/1900MHz

Wi-Fi connectivity 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

5GHz Wi-Fi-capable

[raino]

I have added the SQW100-3 to the OP. The good news is that it has almost all the same bands as the -1, therefore virtually the same worldwide compatibility.

[thurask]

Okay, something's up with the regulatory listings...




Posted via CB10

[raino]

Okay, something's up with the regulatory listings...

Wait, even BB acknowledges UMTS 1700 in the S&PI. And IIRC, it's there in the FCC docs as well. AT&T has no reason to acknowledge its presence; do you think there's a hidden UMTS 1700 band a la STL100-3 here?

Edit: just noticed UMTS 900 is missing too.

[raino]

I just looked through the RF Exposure Report again and UMTS band IV is definitely acknowledged. Plus its there in the BB S&PI. I'm thinking its the AT&T SIM masking it. Any idea what Signal says?

Anyone who bought the SQW100-3, wants to get it unlocked, and is willing to test a TMO SIM--please let me know. Thanks.

[raino]

BB has put up a -3 specific product page: BlackBerry Passport at AT&T Specs ? Specifications for BlackBerry Passport at AT&T Smartphone - US

It too shows UMTS 900 and 1700 present.

[tlgem]

This band 29 has me confused,(would like an opinion if possible) is it really of value on the 3 now or is it something that is just there that may come into play later and really isn't developed yet?

[raino]

This band 29 has me confused,(would like an opinion if possible) is it really of value on the 3 now or is it something that is just there that may come into play later and really isn't developed yet?

I'm not sure if it's even there in the -3. There's only one place (PTCRB) I've seen it appear for the -3, and four places (FCC docs, BB's product page, AT&T's product page, About>General screenshots) where I haven't seen it being acknowledged as present.

Band 29 is going to be part of their LTE-A setup, which I don't think has gone live yet (you would hear about it for days when it does.)

[tlgem]

Thank you for the info/opinion - Thats what I suspected - In all the reading I did it it said how it WOULD work, how they want it to work, and how the t-mobile deal falling through spoiled their plans but not how it IS working and as you said bragging about it.

[raino]

Okay, something's up with the regulatory listings...

Confirmation of UMTS 1700 and 900: http://forums.crackberry.com/blackbe.../#post11401778

It's weird that AT&T SIMs mask UMTS 900 in this phone. I wonder why.