vB Easy Archive - Is 5150 tri-mode capable?

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Is 5150 tri-mode capable?
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Posted by: dsrosen

I was just wondering if the 5150 is really a tri-mode phone, even though Sprint just advertises it as dual-mode. The reason I ask is that if Sprint and Verizon are in roaming agreements, I want to know if it will work in Verizon's 800 mhz digital areas. On Sprint and Sanyo's websites, they say that it can roam on other CDMA networks, but don't say if it is tri-mode.

Posted by: dsrosen

Actually, it says it will roam on other PCS CDMA networks, leading me to believe it is only 1900 mhz. Am I correct?

Posted by: Faluzure

That doesn't mean tri-mode. Tri-mode is specifically for GSM networks.
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My bad, read it wrong. But tri-mode doesn't specifically mean 1900MHz PCS Digital, 800MHz Digital, and analog.

Tri-mode applies when your phone can use 3 different spectrums at once.

Your 5150 is a dual band phone. When you are in another company's area and out of the SprintPCS one, you will usually either use that company's analog spectrum (800MHz) or digital spectrum (1900MHz).

Posted by: dsrosen

Um, no...tri-mode is NOT for GSM. GSM in the USA is only single band, 1900 mhz. Tri-mode CDMA is what Verizon uses on their phones, 1900 mhz PCS digital, 800 mhz digital, and analog.

Posted by: psycho-

OKAY EVERYONE

In most common usage:

tri-band= 3 different frequencies
dual-band = 2 different frequencies
dual-mode= 2 different communications modes
tri-mode = 3 different communcations modes

So, a Digital/analog 800mhz phone is single-band dual-mode
A Digital 1900/800mhz analog 800mhz is dual-band tri-mode
A GSM 900/1800/1900 is tri-band

Posted by: Bonka

I haven't caught up with cellular news lately but from what I gather, the 5150 is "dual band", which makes me believe that it has both digital bands (800MHz, 1.9GHz). Along with analog, this would be a "trimode" handset.

I may be wrong so feel free to correct me

Posted by: dsrosen

Dual-band means it just has digital and analog. Both dual-mode and tri-mode phones are considered dual-band. Dual-mode phones have one type of digital, and analog. Tri-mode phones have two types of digital and analog.

Posted by: DaBigBR

Dual Band is two frequency bands (800 and 1900) referring to the phone as dual-band automatically implies that it is dual mode (two types of service...1900 PCS and 800 AMPS).

A tri-mode phone has two bands, however the 800 MHz band is both AMPS and CDMA.

The 5150 is a dual band, dual mode phone.

Brad

Posted by: dsrosen

Exactly, but it is not tri-mode, because it doesn't have 800 mhz digital.

Posted by: lindigj

actually ....

tri-mode is exactly what it sounds like... 3 modes... one of the more common setups of tri-mode is 800 amps/cdma 1900 cdma but that doesnt mean its the only way it is ever used

Posted by: dsrosen

Tri means three. 1900 CDMA/800 Amps is DUAL mode, dual band. 1900 CDMA/800 CDMA/800 Amps or 1900 TDMA/800TDMA/800 AMPS is tri-mode, dual band.

Posted by: dfunct51

This is the funniest thread I have seen in all my time here....

Posted by: dsrosen

Why is this so funny? Because I know what I am talking about and others obviously do not?

Posted by: DaBigBR

It is pretty bad.

Check out the one in the Nokia thread about the "easy way" to unlock a GSM phone...