[International / GSM] ***Brand new and needing help!!!*** Waffles anyone?

[pngwolffman]

So I bought an unlocked Galaxy Nexus off the Google Play Store and should be here tomorrow. I also bought a T-Mobile sim card that should be arriving about the same time. So I'm excited to be part of this community!

I have a few questions. Also all tips you can give me would be appreciated. Like is the T-mobile $30/month for 100min/5gb data a good plan? Is there anything I have to watch out for when I activate my plan? Is there a better plan out there somewhere? What's the best carriers for my new GSM phone?

Also what's the best ROM and Kernel? Other optimization tips I may be interested in? I used CM9 on my old Moto Triumph so a CM9 ROM is preferable.

I read somewhere that if I turn on wifi-tethering, T-Mobile will know it and will charge me more. Is that true? Or is that only on the phones that they specifically issue?

Anyway, as I said before I'm excited to be a part of this community and am looking forward to corresponding more with you guys.

Also. I still have my Virgin Mobile USA Triumph with the $25/month plan. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with it, maybe sell it... If anyone here is interested maybe. I may keep it as a backup or as a home phone (on wifi).

Well, cheers.

 

[TheOozyman]

HAHAHHA WOW! I got the same exact phone and plan as you, coming from the same exact phone and plan as you .

When I first got my Gnex I activated and everything - easy. After I was activated I noticed that I for some reason was only getting GPRS and EDGE connections which really scared me. I thought I dropped $475 on a phone that couldn't even achieve 3G connection. Getting to the point - I flashed a radio on my Gnex and found that the SC04DOMLA1 radio/baseband works the best for me I now get HSPA+ connections.

This thread should help you with that: [Radio] (GSM) Galaxy Nexus I9250 Baseband dumps collection & discussion

I live in Texas, USA so you if you do too, you might wanna try out the SC04DOMLA1 radio because it works great for me.

Good luck, and if you need anymore help with Radios - dont hesitate to drop me a PM

 

[pngwolffman]

Wow! That was such an easy setup. I'm already up and running. I didn't need to root and mess with my radio to be getting good 4G speeds. I'll probably root and install a custom ROM later though.

 

[TheOozyman]

I ran stock for a while but I mainly wanted a customizable lockscreen so I first tried Liquidsmooth ROM - which is great but it didn't have the translucent ICS style google search widget and just the really ugly grey one. So I flashed Black Ice Kangorade and I love it - plus it has a really nice black theme and the Gnex really shows a beautiful black

 

[pngwolffman]

If I use the wireless tether in the menu to connect my tablet or my old phone to it will t-mobile know it and charge me more? Or since this phone has nothing to do with T-Mo will they not even know? I don't want to accidentally get charged more... Also is there a good CM9 ROM out there? Also is Codename Android on the Nexus?

 

[nicolevb]

Ok guys not sure if im in the right place but all i know is... I need help.
Got a brand new Nexus today and tried to connect it to my homehub wifi but it just keeps saying authentication problem.... I have a password on my wifi but it accepted it... For some reason it just wont let me connect to any time of internet because of this problem... Any ideas on how to help?

 

[TheOozyman]

If I use the wireless tether in the menu to connect my tablet or my old phone to it will t-mobile know it and charge me more? Or since this phone has nothing to do with T-Mo will they not even know? I don't want to accidentally get charged more... Also is there a good CM9 ROM out there? Also is Codename Android on the Nexus?

Yeah theres Codename android and a few CM9 ROMs, about tethering Im sure it charges unless you're rooted/running custom ROM.

As to nicolevb, Im not sure but try resetting your router or maybe check for a new system update?

 

[FrenchToast]

Holy ****, small world, I'm on a Triumph right now and will be ordering a Galaxy Nexus later today. Going to the exact same T-Mobile Plan!

 

[pngwolffman]

I loved my Motorola Triumph, and I still do. But I had horrendous 3G speeds at times where I needed it most. Other times when I went downtown it had awesome speeds, just way to inconsistent.

And it seemed as if Virgin Mobile was backing me into a wall concerning my $25/mo deal. And their refusal support their phone with updates. The devs are the ones who get all the credit when it comes to CM7/GB and CM9/ICS.

I really don't want to cancel my 25/mo deal and sell my Triumph, but If T-Mobile takes care of me I won't feel so bad about it.

Right now it'll be my backup/wifi phone untill further notice. It works out good because I use Google Voice as my main number and pick up on whichever phone I want to.

 

[dhi29]

i just got rid of my triumph, and got a galaxy nexus. that's awesome i'm not the only one.
i personally don't mind the stock rom. i've only had it a few days, but the stock rom performs so well i don't see the need to flash a custom one.

as for a better plan, i use the straight talk sim card, $45 a month unlimited everything. i get hpsa+ where i live.

 

[FrenchToast]

i just got rid of my triumph, and got a galaxy nexus. that's awesome i'm not the only one.
i personally don't mind the stock rom. i've only had it a few days, but the stock rom performs so well i don't see the need to flash a custom one.

as for a better plan, i use the straight talk sim card, $45 a month unlimited everything. i get hpsa+ where i live.

Nice, I'm sure when mine arrives I will flash the weekly MIUI v4, its probably one of the only roms I appreciate.

 

[TheOozyman]

Yeah and coming from a Triumph you wont have to worry about it lagging lol

 

[lowlow5683]

Yes very small world hey toast I've been one of the lucky ones to use one of ur roms uve had a hand in building so can't wait to see what u. Come up with now galaxy style lol......can't wait for my phone hopefully get Ziggy and rest of crew over here......and yes agreed MIUI all day everyday

 

[pngwolffman]

i just got rid of my triumph, and got a galaxy nexus. that's awesome i'm not the only one.
i personally don't mind the stock rom. i've only had it a few days, but the stock rom performs so well i don't see the need to flash a custom one.

as for a better plan, i use the straight talk sim card, $45 a month unlimited everything. i get hpsa+ where i live.

Wait! What? You get HSPA+ speeds on Straight Talk? What's your upload/download speeds? I'm getting up to 7 or 8 mbps here in upstate South Carolina with T-Mobile. Straight Talk uses the T-Mobile towers right?

 

[TheOozyman]

Im pretty sure straight talk uses at&t towers. I get 11 mb/s down on tmobile prepaid. It really helped me to flash a new radio.

 

[dhi29]

you can get a sim card that's either att or tmobile for straight talk. you get to choose which network to run off of.

i chose att, and i get 7 kbps according to speedtest.net app. i guess that's really not all that great, but coming from the triumph on virgin mobile it feels like lightning. the 7 kbps is in my room too. i've noticed when i'm outside or in the car i get more bars.

 

[pngwolffman]

Im pretty sure straight talk uses at&t towers. I get 11 mb/s down on tmobile prepaid. It really helped me to flash a new radio.

What's a new radio? What exactly does this mod do and alter? I'm pretty confused about this. I altered the PRL on my Moto Triumph, is it similar to that?

 

[GrenW]

A new radio is often part of a new rom and gets updated in a similar way (either through OTAs or flashed as a zip file in recovery). It's the code that allows the phone to communicate with the outside world - cell, wi-fi and BT. Different radios work better for different people so its often best to try a few - newer ones aren't always the best but its a good place to start.

For the GNex there are US radios that start with GL and European radios that start with XX. Some people use the 'wrong' one and get better results!

 

[TheOozyman]

Yep! Im using a Japanese radio and it works best for me

 

[colchiro]

Soooo, where's the waffles?

 

[pngwolffman]

So updating my radio will give me faster speeds than 8 mb/s? That's what I'm getting right now.

 

[colchiro]

Not necessarily. You'd have to update and see if they work better for you. If they don't, you can simply flash back an older version.

I have good 4g coverage (I'm in the Midwest) and have had no issues on any of the radios. If you're on a busy tower or the towers are too far away, your situation is different.

There are no waffles, are there?

 

[pngwolffman]

Not necessarily. You'd have to update and see if they work better for you. If they don't, you can simply flash back an older version.

I have good 4g coverage (I'm in the Midwest) and have had no issues on any of the radios. If you're on a busy tower or the towers are too far away, your situation is different.

There are no waffles, are there?

There are waffles. Just find the closest McDonalds with NFC Google Wallet machines, buy yourself a waffle, an we'll eat them together (in spirit).

 

[JarGnex]

:O I'm coming from the same circumstances. I'm still using my mt triumph though and ill be installing the osap rom I think I got it right lol
Edit: AOKP

 

[pngwolffman]

:O I'm coming from the same circumstances. I'm still using my mt triumph though and ill be installing the osap rom I think I got it right lol
Edit: AOKP

I just installed the AOKP last night and I'm loving it! I'm sure you enjoy it as well.