Unlocked phones on MTS HSPA+: Success, Failures and Q&A

**Azure1203** · 10-10-2011, 11:41 AM

So I bought a brand new Galaxy S, unlocked it and popped in my SIM card.

Works fine, but why would I have a 'R' symbol above my signal bars? A quick google search shows that it means roaming. I'm pretty sure I'm not roaming. I did a network search on the phone, found MTS, clicked on it, and it said registered on network.

I don't have a data plan, so I turned off all the data stuff. Would that be why?

Also, it was a Telus phone originally. Just wondering if that might have something to do with it.

**WPGHTC** · 10-10-2011, 12:20 PM

It does that.
When it jumps to a rogers tower it displays roaming for some odd reason. It happens more often in Unicity for me.
As long as your preferred network is selected as MTS, it shouldn't happen very often.

**Azure1203** · 10-10-2011, 01:06 PM

Well the phone is the Telus Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 3G+.

And according to the official specs, it says

however it only supports 850/1900/2100 MHz 3G networks

Would this have anything to do with it? Also, I do not have the service I had with my old phone. Same SIM card, but way less service.

**Windigo8** · 10-10-2011, 01:16 PM

So I am looking at buying a unlocked HTC android off CanadaGSM or PureMobile. I have asked a few MTS reps and they don't have a clue. I can probably get a better answer on here.

To use the 4G network MTS offers It needs to be on a HSPA 850 freq. This is what I have been told. The Sensation is the one I am looking at, and there are two models on CanadaGSM. One is the 4G model and the other is the 3G model. Here are the specs.

4G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G AWS 900/ 1700/ 2100

3G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G HSDPA 850/1900/2100

Pure Mobile has the 4G
GSM 850/900/1800/1900
3G HSPA 900/2100

Am I correct to assume that the 4G phones wont work at 4G speed on MTS? That they will only work at 3G speeds?

**Azure1203** · 10-10-2011, 01:18 PM

Also, when I pop in the SIM card, and I go to the mobile settings, and select network mode, and I click on GSM, it says 'your SIM card does not allow connect to this network.' When I select WCMDA, it works perfectly.

And yet the frequencies for the phone, according to this site,

http://pocketnow.com/android/telus-o...ung-galaxy-s-f
ascinate-3g

3G HSPA 850/1900/2100 MHz and Quad-Band GSM

And the MTS frequencies are from what I know....

HSPA 850/1900.

It is a Telus phone, so I don't understand why it won't work.

**Azure1203** · 10-10-2011, 03:04 PM

I'm seriously confused. If I put in *#0011# I says my band is UTMS 850 Band 5.

And yet it constantly says roaming, and I don't get the same service as someone sitting right beside me gets on the same network.

**Derfel** · 10-10-2011, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Windigo8

3G
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G HSDPA 850/1900/2100

That's the one to get.

**Windigo8** · 10-10-2011, 06:50 PM

The phone is the HTC Sensation Z710a 3G 850/1900. Your saying though it will work on MTS' 4G network even though it is called a 3G phone?

I am just a little confused. I just want to make certain before I throw down $500 plus.

thanks

**caanda45** · 10-10-2011, 07:41 PM

MTS`s network is not 4G just called 4G to confuse the hell out of everybody. It is really a 3G+ network. To put it to understand easily the new HSPA networks run by Rogers/Bell/Telus/SaskTel and the Famous MTS are all compatible with each other. These are the bands that are needed...

GSM Bands:
850/900/1800/1900
HSPA Bands:
850/1900/2100

2100 is a added extra band.

**Windigo8** · 10-10-2011, 08:40 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I will be placing my order tomorrow with CanadaGSM. If anyone has anything to say about them speak now. If not, I will let you know in a week or so how it works.

**Azure1203** · 10-11-2011, 11:29 AM

2100 is extra, and it is mainly used for overseas roaming from what I understand.

**codwif** · 10-31-2011, 10:51 AM

Chalk up one more successful Galaxy s Captivate on the MTS network. It took all of ten minutes at IDC on Niakwa road to get it setup. And they didn't charge me anything for the sim or the setup.

**Derfel** · 10-31-2011, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by codwif

Chalk up one more successful Galaxy s Captivate on the MTS network. It took all of ten minutes at IDC on Niakwa road to get it setup. And they didn't charge me anything for the sim or the setup.

Nice! Congrats and enjoy the phone/unlimited data!

**codwif** · 10-31-2011, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Derfel

Nice! Congrats and enjoy the phone/unlimited data!

Thanks! I was just about ready to throw my Hero against a wall. And some how I got $130 selling it! Gotta love Kijiji!

**Azure1203** · 10-31-2011, 02:54 PM

So I have an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S Fascinate 3G+ that I brought over from Telus. Popped in the SIM card and everything works perfectly, except for data. I added the APN settings as indicated in the sticky thread on top of the MTS forum, but for some reason it still won't give me data. Tried the 2nd APN too.

Is there such a thing as blocking data access on certain SIM cards?

Because phoning and texting work perfectly, and I'm 100% sure that the APN settings I put in were correct.

Thanks!