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  1. #1
    kjk
    Guest
    Hi Folks,

    The Motorola V180 is physically a quad band phone, but the carriers
    limit it to tri-band. I presume this is done through the software.

    Cingular describes it as . . .
    "Operates on 850/900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks "
    http://onlinestored.cingular.com/web...&svcAreaId=SCR

    T-Mobile describes it as . . .
    "International phone: Tri-band (1900,1800,900 MHz)"
    http://tmobile.com/products/overview...63&class=phone

    What incentive would the carriers have to limit the phone to only
    three bands? If I could convince Cingular to unlock the phone, would
    I then be able to receive all four bands? Any advice would be much
    appreciated. Thanks.

    Ken



    See More: moto v180 tri-band limitation




  2. #2
    Richie
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    I beleive that the V180 is only tri-band. It's customized for each carrier.
    Cingular needs the 850MHz band.


    "kjk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Hi Folks,
    >
    > The Motorola V180 is physically a quad band phone, but the carriers
    > limit it to tri-band. I presume this is done through the software.
    >
    > Cingular describes it as . . .
    > "Operates on 850/900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks "
    > http://onlinestored.cingular.com/web...&svcAreaId=SCR
    >
    > T-Mobile describes it as . . .
    > "International phone: Tri-band (1900,1800,900 MHz)"
    > http://tmobile.com/products/overview...63&class=phone
    >
    > What incentive would the carriers have to limit the phone to only
    > three bands? If I could convince Cingular to unlock the phone, would
    > I then be able to receive all four bands? Any advice would be much
    > appreciated. Thanks.
    >
    > Ken






  3. #3
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation


    In article <[email protected]>,
    Richie <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >"kjk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> Hi Folks,
    >>
    >> The Motorola V180 is physically a quad band phone, but the carriers
    >> limit it to tri-band. I presume this is done through the software.
    >>
    >> Cingular describes it as . . .
    >> "Operates on 850/900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS networks "
    >>

    >http://onlinestored.cingular.com/web...&svcAreaId=SCR
    >>
    >> T-Mobile describes it as . . .
    >> "International phone: Tri-band (1900,1800,900 MHz)"
    >> http://tmobile.com/products/overview...63&class=phone
    >>
    >> What incentive would the carriers have to limit the phone to only
    >> three bands? If I could convince Cingular to unlock the phone, would
    >> I then be able to receive all four bands? Any advice would be much
    >> appreciated. Thanks.
    >>
    >> Ken

    >
    >I beleive that the V180 is only tri-band. It's customized for each carrier.
    >Cingular needs the 850MHz band.


    The hardware is indeed quad band. The AT&T version had all 4 bands
    enabled, as do the non-branded ones that turn up on eBay and elsewhere.
    A simply seem edit can enable the 4th band that is disabled by come
    carriers.







  4. #4
    kjk
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    On Tue, 3 May 2005 18:37:37 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] (Mike S.)
    wrote:

    >The hardware is indeed quad band. The AT&T version had all 4 bands
    >enabled, as do the non-branded ones that turn up on eBay and elsewhere.
    >A simply seem edit can enable the 4th band that is disabled by come
    >carriers.


    What incentive would the carriers have to limit the phone to only
    three bands?

    How would one go about editing the SIM?



  5. #5
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation


    In article <[email protected]>,
    kjk <[email protected]> wrote:
    >On Tue, 3 May 2005 18:37:37 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] (Mike S.)
    >wrote:
    >
    >>The hardware is indeed quad band. The AT&T version had all 4 bands
    >>enabled, as do the non-branded ones that turn up on eBay and elsewhere.
    >>A simply seem edit can enable the 4th band that is disabled by come
    >>carriers.

    >
    >What incentive would the carriers have to limit the phone to only
    >three bands?


    In the case of T-Mobile, they have sometimes disabled GSM850 (a band they
    have no spectrum license for) in order to prevent the phone from roaming off
    network.

    >How would one go about editing the SIM?


    I said _seem_, not SIM.

    http://www.xlr8.us/hofo/



  6. #6
    Jerome Zelinske
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    Perhaps the carrier wants to save money by only including the parts and
    circuitry that are needed to work with their network.



  7. #7
    Steve
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    No, it is s/w.
    Tmobile doesn't want their customer roaming onto a Cingular 850 and vice
    versa. Saves them $$$ paying the roaming bills. Free to you, costly to them.

    --

    "Jerome Zelinske" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Perhaps the carrier wants to save money by only including the parts and
    > circuitry that are needed to work with their network.






  8. #8
    kjk
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    On Sun, 08 May 2005 13:34:59 GMT, "Steve" <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >No, it is s/w.
    >Tmobile doesn't want their customer roaming onto a Cingular 850 and vice
    >versa. Saves them $$$ paying the roaming bills. Free to you, costly to them.


    If I wanted to use the phone outside the US, I believe it would be
    better if it could function as a quad band. I believe I've read here
    that after you're on a plan for a number of months, the carrier will
    usually be willing to unlock the phone. If I could convince Cingular
    to unlock the phone, would I then be able to receive all four bands?
    Thanks.



  9. #9
    (PeteCresswell)
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    Per Mike S.:
    >The hardware is indeed quad band. The AT&T version had all 4 bands
    >enabled, as do the non-branded ones that turn up on eBay and elsewhere.
    >A simply seem edit can enable the 4th band that is disabled by come
    >carriers.


    Is there a patch or something that will make a v180 work on all 4?
    --
    PeteCresswell



  10. #10
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation


    In article <[email protected]>,
    (PeteCresswell) <[email protected]> wrote:
    >Per Mike S.:
    >>The hardware is indeed quad band. The AT&T version had all 4 bands
    >>enabled, as do the non-branded ones that turn up on eBay and elsewhere.
    >>A simply seem edit can enable the 4th band that is disabled by come
    >>carriers.

    >
    >Is there a patch or something that will make a v180 work on all 4?


    You could do seem edits to enable all bands, and then to change the text
    to "Quad Band GSM" on the info screen:

    http://www.xlr8.us/hofo




  11. #11
    Mike S.
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation


    In article <[email protected]>,
    (PeteCresswell) <[email protected]> wrote:
    >Per Mike S.:
    >>seem edits

    >
    >I figured that was some kind of typo - then it dawned on me to Google it and
    >sure enough.... Sounds something like a firmware flash. Have I got it
    >right?


    Yes. A seem edit is editing and re-flashing a tiny portion of the firmware
    where various settings are stored.






  12. #12
    (PeteCresswell)
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    Per Mike S.:
    >seem edits


    I figured that was some kind of typo - then it dawned on me to Google it and
    sure enough.... Sounds something like a firmware flash. Have I got it
    right?
    --
    PeteCresswell



  13. #13
    CharlesH
    Guest

    Re: moto v180 tri-band limitation

    Mike S. wrote:
    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > (PeteCresswell) <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    >>Per Mike S.:
    >>
    >>>seem edits

    >>
    >>I figured that was some kind of typo - then it dawned on me to Google it and
    >>sure enough.... Sounds something like a firmware flash. Have I got it
    >>right?

    >
    > Yes. A seem edit is editing and re-flashing a tiny portion of the firmware
    > where various settings are stored.


    A "seem" is a small set of data bytes where the bits enable/disable
    various functionality. Normally the user interface on the phone does not
    have any way to change these bits, and "special" tools (such are used
    for firmware flashing) are needed to edit them. A seem edit is not
    really changing the firmware code, and is therefore unlikely to mangle
    the phone.



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