N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

Is it possible to change the 3G frequency of the N900 by software or by hardware? to make it compatible with AT&T or Canadien frequency?

Re: N900 frequency
 

in practical terms (ie for an end-user), no. But anything's possible with enough money and patience.

Re: N900 frequency
 

The phone will work on AT&T or Rogers in Canada, but the data will only transfer at 2.5 G (Edge) with the current setups.

See
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...ht=n900+canada
and
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...ht=n900+canada

Re: N900 frequency
 

The phone will work but it take much longer on 2.5g than 3G. if you look in the video down bellow you can see. I wonder how can we change the frequency of the phone or if it is possible so we would be abble to work 3 g on AT&T and Rogers. With the current frequency of the N900 it is impossible to get 3G in Canada and AT&T only 2.5G wich is twice longer to download. If we could change a chip or a part inside the phone it would be great.


http://www.touchpodium.com/2008/05/0...t-speed-video/

Re: N900 frequency
 

@JD2010: how are your soldering skills? any good at antenna design?

Re: N900 frequency
 

Any positive finding about this thread??

AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

I posted a bug, because no one knows whether the frequency support is for sure hardware or firmware/software. The bug is for only 2.5G in the AT&T network. We want them to implement the 850/1900 MHz support for 3G! Check it out, and please vote for it! Who knows what it will bring about, it's worth a shot (just a click).
---------Kham

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

The N900s hardware is finalized. That "bug" is going to be marked as invalid as there is no way to "fixing" the "bug"

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Yeah, clearly the hardware is finalized. But no one can confirm whether it is a hardware radio issue or software/firmware issue. That was the whole point.
------Kham

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Meh...I think its "hardware", but even if it isn't, I can't wait to end my $100/mo at&t bill and finalize my cut-over to my $43/mo "unlimited everything" on T-Mo. Especially w/7Mb data.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Sure I'll vote. Would be cool to get 3G from AT&T on this thing. I'm happy as is because I have never had a data package before I got my n900.

bad news. programmers could not
 

hi
I am a GSM user, and even so, I decided to buy this device. I think it is impossible for any developer to emulate 850hz for 3g, then, they are not as good.
I think nokia can not do. very bad for nokia.

I'll vote. hahaha

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

I believe its hardware so its hardly a bug... I used to be an ATT customer however since I switched to TMO my bills have went down considerably and I believe I am getting better 3G service too (granted not as much converage outside of the city)!

Really dislike ATT, switching to TMO is a savings of approx $30 a month so well worth it...

Re: bad news. programmers could not
 

so you insist that your life must be made as hard as possible? instead of switching operator to other who has standard 3g-frequencies that just work, you wait for devices that work in minority frequencies.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

my TMO USA data plans have always been unlimited, but u r saying you have a 7mb cap on att, right?

Re: bad news. programmers could not
 

First, many people do not have the option to change carriers. Either due to lack of service coverage, contracts, family plans or any number of other things. Second, T-Mobile's 3G frequencies are used far less frequently globally than AT&T's. There's nothing "minority" about it.

Re: bad news. programmers could not
 

I think you have that backwards. The N900 is available in the U.S. because T Mobile uses the same frequencies as most of Europe, which is Nokia's main target. Perhaps you meant to say nationally instead of globally?

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

No, T-mobile USA uses W-CDMA 1700MHz (band IV) which is only used there and in Canada. AT&T uses band II (1900MHz) and V (850MHz), which is also used in South America and Australia. Europe mostly uses band I and VIII (2100MHz and 900MHz).

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Naw, I'm saying that I'd rather pay $10/mo for T-Mobile's 7Mb (and soon to be 21Mb) download speeds vs. $30/mo for AT&T's 800Kb. 99% of my life is spent in a region well covered by T-Mobile (and AT&T), so the switch is an easy one for me.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

It's just downright silly to log a "bug" for the N900 not supporting a different set of UMTS frequencies.

Frequency support is hardware locked. You want a different set of frequencies, you get a different hardware model.

That's why we have a Nokia N95-3 that supports AT&T's USA 3G frequencies as a separate model from the Nokia N95 that supports the standard European set of 3G frequencies.

Last time I checked, in the USA anyway, having a radio transmitter where anyone but the hardware manufacturer could change the broadcast frequency was ILLEGAL.

That's why hardware manufacturers submit their devices for FCC certification on a SPECIFIC series of frequencies. They are then allowed to operate the devices on said frequencies and at the manufacturer's stated transmission power levels.

At the very least, if new frequencies were enabled, a NEW model would have to be re-submitted for FCC certification.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Ah, moved to Brainstorm. That should be interesting.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Where did you find this plan? From t-mobile.com I see unlimited everything is $79.99.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Floffe is 100% correct. cddiede, if it is in fact a hardware issue, then so be it, nothing can be done. I am posting this in the off chance that it is not a hardware issue, or if it is a hardware issue, whether it can be easily edited. I know that different frequencies are obtained and transmitted through varying antennae lengths, so maybe some sort of swap? If someone is well versed in antenna technology, specifically with the N900, I would really appreciate some knowledge dropping.
----Kham

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

colango which plan exactly is it thats $10/mo and give you unlimited data? I pay $15 for umlimited data with at&t and use a nokia e71 but would love to go to n900.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Order a "minutes" plan.

When prompted, choose "Standalone SIM card", instead of a phone.

When prompted to choose a "service", choose a $10 web2go internet plan...though your internet traffic may all route through proxy/gateway somewhere in Midwest.

If you need unlimited calling "out" to PSTN for US/Canada, you can use Skype Out, $3/mo., and set your caller ID as your cell phone's #. That or use Google Voice and configure it with a Gvoice/sipgate/sipsorcery configuration, and get all US calls free via data connection.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Again, if this were possible to accomplish using hardware hacking methods, it's still damned illegal. That's why all nations license their wireless bands. Having end users transmit willy-nilly across any frequency they want would result in the rapid death of radio as the noise would uncontrollable.

Having said that, I'm sure there are many forums in the vein of Pirate Radio Broadcasters where there exists hackers with this skill set. You just won't ( I pray ) find them on this site.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Diabolical. I might have to switch to this. Do you know the difference between the data plans? What actually do they do. For example what is the difference (if any) between "T-Mobile Smartphone Unlimited Web" for $25 and "Unlimited Web" for $10. Do they block stuff?

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

"web2go", per T-Mo(USA) rep, is "designed" for "non-smartphones", as it "offers certain features", and presents data, in a format for said phones. APN may be limited to Internet2.voicestream.com but is good for "at least" 3Mb download speed (Broad St., Philadelphia, below Central/Girl's High)...no oddities in any form of data access, including SIP, w/n900. Again, data seems to be routing out of somewhere near Kansas, per speakeasy.speetest.net. 2nd level tech said Internet2 APN was the "newer" APN, and " is most likely less accessed by less subscribers...but most people should be on the epc APN".

"Smartphone" plan, allows access to epc.tmobile.com APN, and possibly others (I get all 3-4 APNs). Gateway/proxy seems more in line with user's "actual" location. May be more desireable if using time sensitive data connections (VoIP not recommended for circuits with latency above 150ms).

Only thing I have not checked is sling traffic (for my needs anyway) as my Motorola Q only gets 2G speeds w/T-Mo SIM. I also don't use T-Mo right now, as I'm using AT&T w/my 900. I only install the T-Mo SIM to check for 7Mb upgrade in my area, which is still not available.

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

I'm pretty sure Telstra are the only one in Australia with 850MHz

Most of Australia is GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 I think optus also have 900Mhz 3G

EDIT:

Oh just found this :)

http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_au.shtml

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Everyone take a peak at this. The nice people over at Brainstorm provided me with some FCC docs that I browsed over extensively and looky here--- https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/f...ive_or_pdf=pdf --Yes, they tested the 850 and 1900 bands on this phone and they seem to be functional, at least in this prototype, now does that mean they are available in the models we have?
---------Kham

Re: N900 frequency
 

No but the question has been raised in other thread

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...749#post486749

Re: N900 frequency
 

The thread "AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support" with twenty-four posts has been merged into this thread.

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

Can we get a link to the brainstorm? I just looked through 60 effing pages and couldn't find it... (I was trying to find a valid link to the FCC doc mentioned in post 30 of this thread, since it's broken)

Edit: Is there no brainstorm? Just a thread in brainstorm sub-forum on t.m.o?! *sigh*

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php...973#post485973

But it looks like I jumped the gun and it isn't 850/1900 WCDMA/3G but just the EDGE variant, however I'm still trying see if there are any other options.

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

Ok, I guess I assumed the talk about this being in brainstorm meant the actual brainstorm - not the brainstorm sub-forum on t.m.o. It would have been nice to know that before going through 60 pages of brainstorms, however. Maybe we need to get some people to vote on the brainstorm for making brainstorms searchable, as it would have saved me from wasting as much time.

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

Sorry, I'm trying to add it to brainstorm but I am having log in problems. I registered for a community account but it isn't allowing me to log in.

AT&T 3G support Now in Brainstorm
 

In Brainstorm!! PLEASE VOTE!!

http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...y_support-002/

Re: AT&T users--Please vote for bug # 8240-850/1900 support
 

Its "GSM850/900/1800/1900 and WCDMA Band I/IV(1700)/VIII".
Which means that they support 4 bands for GSM communication but only 1 band for WCDMA which is 3G.

The N900 you and everyone has is quad band which means that it supports 4 band (850/900/1800/1900) for GSM communications.

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

Here is the new brainstorm link http://maemo.org/community/brainstor...uency_support/

Re: N900 3G Frequency: Limited by Software or Hardware?
 

It IS a hardware ''issue''. In fact, I'm pretty sure that rogers and AT&T will have these bands one day but we'll have to wait. For how long, I don't know. I'm currently with Rogers and I use 2.5g, I really got used to it.
I updated to PR1.1 over the air with 2.5G :D Yes it was pretty long to update, but I wasn't in a hurry. I use about 500 mb per month with 2.5g.
I can wait.