vmax
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ET is old. But then, so am I.
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Post by vmax on Apr 30, 2017 12:39:56 GMT -5
I recently purchased a cheap Chinese 8" Phablet to use as a navigational tool when I'm flying. It is a Teclast P80 4G (with a Meditek MT8735 chipset). The GPS works great and I'm getting ~ 3m accuracy with the free Avare software. However, when I pop a SIM card in I cannot connect to cell service.
From what I have read, only certain cell bands are unlocked from the factory. What I need to do is unlock the US bands so I use the cell radio (for data, voice and text). Emailing Teclast in China has yielded zero response, so I am left to browse translated Chinese websites. What I am *hoping* is that one of you smart people know Android/Mediatek and can help me...
All thoughts, recommendations, and help appreciated! -V-
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Post by tonofclay{QAW} on Apr 30, 2017 13:42:38 GMT -5
I don't really know anything about the topic, but it seems from googling that there's a hardware element involved as well, so unlocking isn't all there is to it: www.androidcentral.com/what-radio-bands-do-i-need-my-unlocked-phoneCan't really guarantee any accuracy here but the specs I found for that model are: Network: GSM: 900/1800MHz WCDMA: 2100MHz FDD-LTE: 1800/2100MHz which don't seem to align with the numbers given in the link for the major carriers. Also, I have no idea how reliable this site is but you can punch in the info here: willmyphonework.net/I dunno which carrier you use and it doesn't have the 4G version listed, but I tried the 3G version of that model with the big three and it showed up as unsupported on all of them. From my limited knowledge and quick and dirty research I'd say your screwed, but hopefully you can find some info elsewhere that seems more promising than what I have to offer
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Post by SpaceAge_Pimp{QAW} on Apr 30, 2017 13:50:57 GMT -5
I don't really know anything about the topic, but it seems from googling that there's a hardware element involved as well, so unlocking isn't all there is to it: www.androidcentral.com/what-radio-bands-do-i-need-my-unlocked-phoneCan't really guarantee any accuracy here but the specs I found for that model are: Network: GSM: 900/1800MHz WCDMA: 2100MHz FDD-LTE: 1800/2100MHz which don't seem to align with the numbers given in the link for the major carriers. Also, I have no idea how reliable this site is but you can punch in the info here: willmyphonework.net/I dunno which carrier you use and it doesn't have the 4G version listed, but I tried the 3G version of that model with the big three and it showed up as unsupported on all of them. From my limited knowledge and quick and dirty research I'd say your screwed, but hopefully you can find some info elsewhere that seems more promising than what I have to offer Agreed. A locked phone doesn't mean when unlocked, it'll be compatible with every signal type. I'm no expert either though. Good luck :/
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BlaZeR
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Regrets lasts longer than pain...
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Post by BlaZeR on May 1, 2017 0:18:37 GMT -5
In my experience, all the chinese products come "unlocked" but as space and ton said they do not support some bands and unfortunately the missing bands are the ones that most carriers use in the US.
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amig0
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Post by amig0 on May 1, 2017 16:19:20 GMT -5
Im not familiar with Chinese phones but I used to unlock my old SGS2 reading through lots of threads in here: forum.xda-developers.comI was also able to unlock/root my mom's but it is an LG's You might consider posting ur issue in there!
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Post by mcbain{QAW} on May 1, 2017 19:30:15 GMT -5
Agreed by others here...many Chinese market phones don't have the necessary bands to work in the US. I just bought some IP Cameras off AliExpress for cheap and found out they are PAL and have Chinese setup software...saved maybe $15 over Amazon...lesson learned. BTW - how much did you pay for this tablet? It seems like on eBay you can get a US version 4G Android Tablet for less than $50. www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&_nkw=4g+android+tablet+unlocked&_sop=15
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BlaZeR
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Regrets lasts longer than pain...
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Post by BlaZeR on May 1, 2017 20:42:43 GMT -5
Im not familiar with Chinese phones but I used to unlock my old SGS2 reading through lots of threads in here: forum.xda-developers.comI was also able to unlock/root my mom's but it is an LG's You might consider posting ur issue in there! The difference is that chinese devices lack of documentation and people don't really invest time working on them , on the other hand known brands such as the ones you mentioned have lots of information that allow developers to create patches or even find the hidden codes in the OS.
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vmax
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ET is old. But then, so am I.
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Post by vmax on May 2, 2017 18:44:36 GMT -5
Agreed by others here...many Chinese market phones don't have the necessary bands to work in the US. I just bought some IP Cameras off AliExpress for cheap and found out they are PAL and have Chinese setup software...saved maybe $15 over Amazon...lesson learned. BTW - how much did you pay for this tablet? It seems like on eBay you can get a US version 4G Android Tablet for less than $50. www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&LH_BIN=1&_nkw=4g+android+tablet+unlocked&_sop=15I actually bought two of these Teclast tablets - a 3G and a 4G. The 3G was about $50 (after I complained to Gearbest, they knocked off a few dollars and credited my PayPal account). The 4G was $80. Guess I need to complain to whoever I bought it from and get a few bucks back. BlaZer, ton, McB and Pimp are correct - they do not support the bands that US carriers use. It's plain as day in their ads which bands are supported - totally 'pilot error' on my part not researching FIRST to determine if it would work in the US. Dumb dumb dumb. Amig0, I looked at the xda forums, but no one has a Mediatek SDK / toolkit to unlock the US bands. If I were younger, solving this technical problem would be a 'challenge accepted' but I don't have the desire to mess with it. Guess these tablets will go on eBay... As a sidebar, some lady posted an AT&T Trek 2 HD for sale on Craigslist for $60. She had three to sell but I only bought one for $50. All brand new in the box. All unlocked. Slid my FreedomPop SIM in and the damn thing recognized AT&T and acquired a 4G signal! It works. So 'mission accomplished' - I have a functional 8" phablet which serves as a cool navigational aid with free cell service (200 mins of talk, 500 texts & 200Mb of data per month). Thank you everyone for your input - I appreciate it! -V-
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