How To: AT&T Lumia 1520 (RM-940) on T-Mobile/Wind/Mobilicity AWS1700Mhz/HSPA+ Band 4

[aleunge]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

Yo beyondcr, prior to the Denim update, the ATT version has been proven to work on 3G/3.5G AWS. So it would function technically like the 1520.3 (minus some capacity for your on board storage for most models, Qi). If you're ok with the ATT firmware update schedules though (with software you're covered with the Preview for Developers program), you're getting about the same thing either way... actually the ATT version already got Denim today but a lot of the CV/factory unlocked versions have not. But that's out of the ordinary...

I'm not affiliated with the seller and have not try the listing myself, but the good old bay has a "daily deal" on right now for $299 ATT 1520... many colors! (search for 281349181295)

Anyhooooo, hopefully someone can confirm the hack still works after the fw update :grin: mega thanks!

 

[Dr_8820]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

This hack had been proven to work. The only difference is with the 1520.3, you get 32gb of storage and wireless charging built in, whereas the AT&T model is only 16gb unless you can find the rare 32gb version, but no wireless charging.

Edit: I hard reset my 1520 because the denim update wouldn't download but I did this hack before it happened, the hack was still there .

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[aleunge]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

So dr, that hack actually changes something that remains even after a hard reset??? Wow. That's tasty!

 

[beyondcr]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

Aleunge, Thanks for the heads up, going to grab one now, I assume it will not be to terribly difficult to unlock the phone.

 

[AR2186]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

Aleunge, Thanks for the heads up, going to grab one now, I assume it will not be to terribly difficult to unlock the phone.

Works fine still. AT&T is compelled to unlock any phone that was paid in full and isn't reported stolen. Just go to the unlock request page and say you were not an ATT customer and provide your email address should have unlock in 2 days

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

I concur... I recently unlocked two devices that were GoPhones (an ATT owned mvno) via the ATT unlock portal. https://forums.windowscentral.com/e...tt.com%2Fdeviceunlock%2F%23%2F&token=htj8ZhAa

I am not an ATT customer and have not been. These were not even main-line ATT phones (although GoPhones do get the ATT badge). One had been on the ATT network previously, the other had never been activated. Both got their unlock codes. More here: http://forums.windowscentral.com/t/332109-how-unlock-t-windows-phone-non-contract-edition.html

 

[aleunge]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

Just wanted to confirm that my ATT 1520 with Denim was indeed able to apply this hack. And like dr_8820 said, even after a hard reset, the setting sticks! WIND/MOBILICITY/TMO support forever (hopefully)!

Signal strength for AWS HSPA+ on the ATT version is about the same as my 1520.3 (maybe just a small tad tiny bit weaker) so I'm assuming the antenna hardware is quite close if not the same. Thank you again OP and anyone who contributed. You are awesome. :kiss:

 

[snakeg]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

guys i have rm938 i want to update to denim can i flash rm940 and then re enable the lte bands?

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

guys i have rm938 i want to update to denim can i flash rm940 and then re enable the lte bands?

This thread is about the 3G Band 4... H+ on the 1700/2100 pairing... Not LTE.

Field Test menu is what this thread depends upon. Field Test is accessible on an RM-940... Field Test is NOT accessible on RM-938. Cross flashing to other variants is never recommended and there is NO guarantee that Field Test will get enabled on your RM-938 if you do this thing. There is no guarantee you will not bork your RM-938 if you do this thing.

I'd rather wait patiently for Official Denim than risk my device.

 

[dwest3784]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

this is what I got...

 

[RumoredNow]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

^^^ I assume this is after the Denim update on an RM-940?

The Field Test does show a valid UARFCN number for Band 4 AWS (3G on the 1700/2100 pairing).

 

[Dr_8820]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

I think this thread should be a sticky....

 

[AR2186]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

I think this thread should be a sticky....��

I'd prefer it not to be, as the last thing we want to do is get the attention of AT&T and have them force Microsoft to lock down Field Test Mode. It's better to leave the thread in the forums for people to find when they are deliberately searching for AT&T 1520 on T-Mobile or something like that. If you guys have suggestions regarding a better title to make discoverability easier, let me know as I believe I can change the title

 

[Dr_8820]

I can confirm that this hack can survive a hard reset, but, and as a fellow XDA member, I can respect your decision. I just feel that we could save some people some money who wants the 1520 but can't afford the 1520.3.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[AR2186]

I can confirm that this hack can survive a hard reset, but, and as a fellow XDA member, I can respect your decision. I just feel that we could save some people some money who wants the 1520 but can't afford the 1520.3.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

Yeah I know. Every thread I've seen regarding the 1520.3 vs 1520.2 (rm-940) I have referred to this thread and said consider getting this instead

 

[beyondcr]

I just wanted to confirm and thank everyone for their help I have my 1520.2 running on T-Mobile hitting 60Mbps down and 12.6 up, time to lay my s5 to rest.

 

[AR2186]

I just wanted to confirm and thank everyone for their help I have my 1520.2 running on T-Mobile hitting 60Mbps down and 12.6 up, time to lay my s5 to rest.

Sounds like you're on their LTE network at the moment, but glad your phone is now more compatible with T-Mobile than it was

 

[ElronTheElder]

Just a minor point that has rattled around in my head.
Don't consider this a "hack", in the slipshod sense. If anything consider the disabled band a hack.
The hardware was always there; The phone was made to have this band active.
This was an "unnatural" limitation of the hardware purely for business reasons.
So kudos to AR2186 for the procedure. Calling it a hack doesn't do it justice.
Although I don't use it with my AT&T mvno, I still admire the technique.

 

[Dr_8820]

Don't consider this a "hack", in the slipshod sense. If anything consider the disabled band a hack.

I didn't want to hi-jack this beautiful thread, however, you have to "hack" (old school saying) the settings in order to make this work.


Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[beyondcr]

Re: Instructions: AT&T Lumia 1520 on T-Mobile AWS 3G (HSPA Band 4 - 1700)

Signal strength for AWS HSPA+ on the ATT version is about the same as my 1520.3 (maybe just a small tad tiny bit weaker) so I'm assuming the antenna hardware is quite close if not the same.

Thought... what if we find antenna cable/hardware for the 1520.3 and swap whats in the 1520.2 , anyone think it will give us the same reception as the 1520.3?