[T-Mobile] Frequency band 12 Lumia phones?

rory753

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the latest uncarrier event has them talking more and more about band 12 for LTE. they claim its the 700 MHz band, so, if you have an lte band working with 700 MHz, would it work as band 12, or is there something more to it then that?

Braxton Carter: T-Mobile will be "aggressive in rolling out low-band spectrum next year" ? TmoNews

does anyone know anything specific about what lumia phones will allow the band 12? Is this the reason we haven't seen a slightly more robust lumia on tmobile?
 

rory753

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that's kind of what I'm wondering. if AT&T is using 700mhz at band 17, is this in any way compatible with Tmobile's 700 MHz band 12?
 

RumoredNow

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Possibly? Band 17 is listed as a subset of band 12.

Band 12 uplink is 699-716 MHz and downlink on 729-746 MHz
Band 17 uplink is 704-716 MHz and downlink on 734-746 MHz

As you can see they cover the same range, except that Band 12 is broader. I believe T-Mo acquired Band 12 access when they bought spectrum from Verizon.

700 MHz is broken up into blocks. At the lower end of the spectrum (A block) there is possible interference from an adjacent Digital TV signal (Channel 51). AT&T deployed to use Band 17 with just Blocks B&C. Interoperability issues ensued with petitions from smaller carriers to the FCC. AT&T stated later that if bleed through issues from the adjacent band are addressed they will move to Band 12 over time. That all appears to be in the works... It is difficult for me to find a definitive answer without spending more time on this than I care to ATM.

Here is my guess since Band 12 works on all the spectrum of 17 and then some. A Band 17 radio will work on a Band 12 carrier. It is perfectly within the frequency range. A Band 12 radio may not work fully on a Band 17 carrier as some of the accessible frequency is missing...

Anecdotal evidence: http://forums.windowscentral.com/t-mobile/322750-lumia-735-rm-1039-works-great-t-mobile.html This is an International model with Bands 2, 4, 7 and 17... ​Check the specs here: Nokia Lumia 735 RM-1039 8GB Smartphone A00021695 B&H Photo Video

T-Mo is using Bands 2, 4, 12... If the user of the 735 (linked above) moved into a Band 12 area I have no way of knowing... But even if Band 17 LTE radio did not work, he should be H+ covered so it is a small sacrifice even if a LTE Band 17 radio is not usable on a Band 12 carrier.

At a minimum - if looking at a Band 17 LTE equiped device - make sure you are getting LTE Bands 2 and 4 as well (Band 4 being the widest T-Mo LTE deployment to date) AND make sure the 3G/H+ radio has 1700 and 1900 MHz to cover you with H+ in all T-Mo areas if LTE drops out.

​My gut says Band 17 works fine on a Band 12 carrier. I just can't find the document that proves it.
 
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rory753

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Whoa. that's a wealth of info. I think the only way we'll know is when they take their phone indoors and it actually still receives full bars as opposed to before with the 1700/2100 band.
 

mark233

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The unlocked 830 lacks the 1700 MHz. Would this knock the T-mobile signal to 2g if it falls out of the 4G range, or would the phone have no signal? The phone has 4G (LTE ) Bands:2, 4, 5, 7, 17
 
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RumoredNow

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Whoa. that's a wealth of info. I think the only way we'll know is when they take their phone indoors and it actually still receives full bars as opposed to before with the 1700/2100 band.

Yeah... That's part of the desirability of the 700 MHz use; better penetration.


The unlocked 830 lacks the 1700 MHz. Would this knock the T-mobile signal to 2g if on falls out of the 4G range, or would the phone have no signal? The phone has 4G (LTE ) Bands:2, 4, 5, 7, 17

If you are in a T-Mo LTE area: 1700 MHz is used for LTE and H+ is shifted to 1900... International 830 is fine and gets EDGE/H+/LTE
If you are in a T-Mo legacy area which is not "refarmed" for LTE: then H+ is still on 1700. That is the frequency T-Mo rolled out their nationwide 3.5G network on. International 830 would then drop to EDGE...

You could try and access the radio via the Field Test menu and enable 1700 on WCDMA if it is "hidden." I have no idea if the 830 allows Field Test of if the 1700 band can be found on the 3.5G radio. If so, here is a tutorial based on AT&T 1520 RM-940. The instructions would be the same. http://forums.windowscentral.com/no...-1520-t-mobile-aws-3g-hspa-band-4-1700-a.html
 

RumoredNow

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LOL, I know you want that 1700 MHz on the 3G/H+...

How important is T-Mo to you? I recently switched over to Straight Talk AT&T style SIM and my data speed is great, not to mention better signal hold indoors and LTE or H+ in more locations. I know T-Mo has advantages, like true unlimited high speed data, but the 3GB ST gives me at high speed is fine...

I see you are in Tulsa, just down the road from me in Springfield, MO. You have AT&T LTE busting out all over your area, neighbor. AT&T Maps - Wireless Coverage Map for Voice and Data Coverage from AT&T

​Why not take that unlocked 830 to an AT&T mvno? Their H+ runs on 1900 MHz and your phone has you covered every way on the Big Blue Towers.
 

mark233

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LOL, I know you want that 1700 MHz on the 3G/H+...

How important is T-Mo to you? I recently switched over to Straight Talk AT&T style SIM and my data speed is great, not to mention better signal hold indoors and LTE or H+ in more locations. I know T-Mo has advantages, like true unlimited high speed data, but the 3GB ST gives me at high speed is fine...

I see you are in Tulsa, just down the road from me in Springfield, MO. You have AT&T LTE busting out all over your area, neighbor. AT&T Maps - Wireless Coverage Map for Voice and Data Coverage from AT&T

​Why not take that unlocked 830 to an AT&T mvno? Their H+ runs on 1900 MHz and your phone has you covered every way on the Big Blue Towers.

I may consider that at some time ... not sure. I have good signal strength everywhere I go around town. Presently I'm satisfied with TMo. But, things can change as we know lol
 

RumoredNow

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I don't want to give the wrong impression, I love T-MoUS. They gave me great customer service. I would not hesitate to use them again or recommend them. They have implemented some really fantastic and unique features. The wife and I used the heck out of the free data and text when overseas feature and it really made our vacation so much smoother and easier to manage.

Sometimes you just have to make a switch. For me, it's about Towers. At my In-Laws, where we (my wife more) spend a significant amount of time, we were slowed to EDGE. Any time we drove to KC or St Louis there are huge swaths of interstate with super slow to zero data connection. That just doesn't work for our lives...
 

rory753

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I'm digging up this post, since this seems applicable. The Samsung galaxy avant is receiving an update enabling band 12 support. I wonder if an update to the lumia 635 will come, since that already carries band 17/700 MHz support. this feels like it's possible, since the radio is already there, and it just might take an update to enable band 12...
 

William Sanderson

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http://news.microsoft.com/download/presskits/lumia/docs/lumia950Datasheet.pdf
Connectivity:  GSM: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz
•  WCDMA: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
  LTE: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz),Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz), Band 12 (700 MHz), Band 17 (700 MHz), Band 20 (800 MHz), Band 28 (700 MHz)  TD LTE network: Band 38 (2570-2620 MHz), Band 40 (2300-2400 MHz)
 

mcheiron

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http://news.microsoft.com/download/presskits/lumia/docs/lumia950Datasheet.pdf
Connectivity:  GSM: 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz
•  WCDMA: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz)
  LTE: Band 1 (2100 MHz), Band 2 (1900 MHz), Band 3 (1800 MHz), Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), Band 5 (850 MHz),Band 7 (2600 MHz), Band 8 (900 MHz), Band 12 (700 MHz), Band 17 (700 MHz), Band 20 (800 MHz), Band 28 (700 MHz)  TD LTE network: Band 38 (2570-2620 MHz), Band 40 (2300-2400 MHz)


Any update on this? If I understand it correctly, Band 12 only works on phones that also support VoLTE. So an unlocked 950 will not work even though it has Band 12.
 

Old_Mil

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Personal experience: Trying to use a phone without band 12 support on T-mobile js a seriously frustrating experience depending on where you live.
 

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