Help Trouble with Unlocked Sensation overseas

[cswake]

I'm using my unlocked, non-rooted Sensation overseas while I am visiting for an extended duration. I have the foreign SIM in my phone and am able to make/receive both phone calls and text messages. However, the data connection is not working and I have the following notification in the status bar:

Data roaming - You have lost data connectivity because you left ...

Does anyone know what I should do to get the data stream up and running?

Thanks.

 

[chanchan05]

You didnt specify if your home country was the US, but assuming that's true, in most cases you wont be able to use 3G on your phone because the US uses a different 3G frequency than the rest of tge world. You should be able to use GPRS though.

 

[cswake]

Correct, USA. T-Mobile Sensation 4G specs say:

HTC Mobile Phones - Sensation? 4G

Network
HSPA+/GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz

Sixth picture of the Sensation 4G box shows the specs:
T-Mobile Branded HTC Sensation 4G In The Wild!

GSM: 850,900,1800,1900 UMTS: 1700,2100,1900

I went to these sites and found matching band(s) for my provider, Oi:
1) Cellular Providers and Frequencies of Brazil | RoamTheWorldCellPhones.com
2) PrePaidGSM: Brazil
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UMTS_networks#Americas

Oi shows support for GSM 1800.

Furthermore, UMTS 2100 is the standard in Brazil (Mobile networks - GSM and 3G coverage),
shouldn't both 2G and 3G work if the phone and carrier support GSM 1800 and UMTS 2100?

 

[cswake]

Let me also add that if I:

1) Enable GSM only Network Mode then the "Mobile network type" under "About phone" shows as EDGE.
2) Enable WCDMA only Network Mode then the "Mobile network type" under "About phone" shows as HSDPA.

Data does not work under either.

 

[chanchan05]

1. From the official site, your phone only supports 850/900/1800/1900MHz bandwidths. The second link you posted is unofficial and of course official wins. With that, you shouldnt be able to work on 2100 bands.

2. Are you sure you have your network enabled your data roaming? Not sure how it is in the US but over here (SEA) data roaming is disabled by default and we have to enable it from the provider first.

 

[chanchan05]

1. From the official site, your phone only supports 850/900/1800/1900MHz bandwidths. The second link you posted is unofficial and of course official wins. With that, you shouldnt be able to work on 2100 bands.

2. Are you sure you have your network enabled your data roaming? Not sure how it is in the US but over here (SEA) data roaming is disabled by default and we have to enable it from the provider first.

 

[cswake]

1) That second link is the picture of the Sensation 4G box that shows UMTS 2100, so isn't that pretty official? (My box was the same)
2) Under the network settings, I have the following settings:

Data roaming - Connect todata services when roaming: Checked
Data roaming sound: Unchecked
Network Mode: CSM / WCDMA auto
Network operators: Oi
Enable always-on mobile data: Checked

Is there some Market app that can specifically choose/force the bands to use? Would rooting the phone and making it "international" so that it isn't roaming help?

 

[El Presidente]

Are your APN's set up correctly for the foreign SIM?

 

[cswake]

Don't know what APNs are, so I didn't touch them. The only thing I did do was unlock the phone, insert the international SIM, and play with the network settings.

What do I need to do?

 

[El Presidente]

Don't know what APNs are, so I didn't touch them. The only thing I did do was unlock the phone, insert the international SIM, and play with the network settings.

What do I need to do?

APN stands for Access Point Names. They're the settings your phone will use to connect to the internet/send MMS if it's not connected to a wireless router.

On my handset, they're located

Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point Names

Yours should be there or there abouts. Do you see anything that resembles the name of the network you're using with the foreign SIM in?

If not, once in that sub menu, hit the menu button, select add new APN. I can't give you the settings unfortunately, you'll have to phone the network to find out what the settings are (or google). You'll need 2 seperate pieces of information, 1 for MMS and one for internet (although the MMS isn't overly important unless you want to use it).

From the APN menu, you could also try reset to defaults if that option is available, that may read any settings that are on the SIM Card. That worked for me when I was having issues with my Mobile network & MMS.

 

[cswake]

APN is completely blank. Resetting the default leaves it blank. I guess I will reach out to the provider and follow-up here.

*UPDATE* Found the APN data and mms settings here: http://www.androidz.com.br/forum/topic/1338-como-configurar-apn-oi/ and http://n3t0l0b0.blogspot.com/2010/06/configurando-apn-no-android.html

Entering the APN for the data brought up the 3G symbol pretty fast. A quick speed test shows 951kpbs/272kbps speed...

I noticed GPRS in the data setting name, will the operator have separate settings for 3G?

 

[El Presidente]

APN is completely blank. Resetting the default leaves it blank. I guess I will reach out to the provider and follow-up here.

Keep us posted please.

I could be totally wrong, but if the settings are blank, I suspect that's what the issue is.

 

[cswake]

Nope, you were correct in the troubleshooting. (See above for a follow-up question)

 

[El Presidente]

Good stuff!

It will probably be one setting for all (both 2G & 3G data). If it brought up a 3G symbol straight away, that will be fine. Watch for it switching to H at points too.

A lot of APN configs over here (UK) still have WAP in the name somewhere.

 

[cswake]

Got one more question, if I root the device, can I configure it for Brazil and disable roaming?

 

[El Presidente]

Got one more question, if I root the device, can I configure it for Brazil and disable roaming?

Apologies for not getting back to you yesterday, I've had a relatively busy weekend.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean? If you've a Brazillian SIM in it, is it roaming?

Generally though, I'd recommend rooting although I'm not entirely sure on the procedure for rooting the Sensation yet as I believe it's still in its infancy. Also not sure what's available in terms of ROMs etc.

I'll have a read up on it if you like?

 

[cswake]

The 3G connection doesn't occur until I enable Data Roaming. The phone and SMS work fine without roaming enabled.

 

[El Presidente]

Like I say, I'm not entirely sure on what different ROMs are available for the Sensation, but I'm not sure if that's one of the options.

Seems weird though? It could be that for 3G, your network will piggyback on to another providers, hence the need for roaming?

 

[cswake]

I saw the temporary ROMs. As for the issue with roaming, I was thinking that the phone is identified as a US phone and hence it is roaming since there is a Brazilian SIM.

 

[El Presidente]

I saw the temporary ROMs. As for the issue with roaming, I was thinking that the phone is identified as a US phone and hence it is roaming since there is a Brazilian SIM.

I was thinking that too, was it bought unlocked or did you do it yourself? Also, what's your software version? Settings -> About Phone -> Software Information.

 

[cswake]

Bought unlocked. Software 1.45.531.1

 

[El Presidente]

I've had a look and that appears to be T-Mobile branded software which could well be the reason you need to enable roaming. I would've thought it was locked to T-Mobile though?

You probably wouldn't need to use roaming if you had unbranded software on there or a custom ROM based off the unbranded software.

 

[cswake]

Was locked to T-mobile. Guess I'll wait for a permanent custom ROM and root the phone then.

Thanks for all the help!!

 

[El Presidente]

No problem!

 

[hel22]

sorry, I know this thread is old but I have a question.
The reason my friend is selling her phone is that the 3G doesnt work here in Belgium (phone was Tmobile officially unlocked) she tried to use the local network, put in all the right APN settings and they said that the US uses 4G and here they use 3G. Does that make sense?
Is there anything to be done that internet should work on this phone? (besides wifi?)

Thanks!