Galaxy S2 speed - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Kent · 2012-05-19, 04:08 PM

I'm travelling in the US and bought a sim card from T-Mobile with a pay by the day plan which is suppposed to give me the first 200 mb data at 4g speed
However I can only get edge service and a Speedtest shows 155 kb download speed.
My phone is unlocked (Bell) but is not rooted.
Nothing I can see in T-Mobile's brochure says anything about a restriction on unlocked phones
Did I get ripped off?

TorontoColin · 2012-05-19, 04:21 PM

Bell's variant of the Galaxy S II doesn't have support for T-Mobile's HSPA network in most regions. In most areas, T-Mobile uses the AWS band for HSPA, like Wind, Mobilicity, and Videotron in Canada.

There are very few areas where T-Mobile uses PCS (1900) which would work with the Bell Galaxy S II. Doesn't seem like you're lucky enough to be in one of those however.

Kent · 2012-05-19, 05:36 PM

Thanks for that. Do you have a recommendation for an alternate to Bell's roaming charges? Wha about AT&T? And will I run into the same problem when I go to England later this year?

Kent

BGY11 · 2012-05-19, 07:46 PM

You should be able to get 3G (HSPA) speeds on AT&T, although I'm not sure good their prepaid options are. In England, you also shouldn't have any issues, as the phone supports the 2100MHz frequency band that is used there.

johnvan · 2012-05-25, 07:55 PM

Quick question, I'm new to smartphones and am unsure about the different network compatibilities.

I am with Virgin Mobile in Canada but occasionally use my phone with a T-Mobile SIM in the U.S.

It looks like I would get 3G speeds in both cases if I bought the Rogers LTE version but would only get 2G speeds with T-Mobile if I bought the Bell version.

Is this correct? Thanks.

BGY11 · 2012-05-25, 09:27 PM

Unfortunately, you will be limited to 2G (EDGE) speeds with either phone when roaming on T-Mobile's network.

T-Mobile uses the 1700MHz frequency band for 3G (HSPA), which neither the Rogers nor Bell version support.

johnvan · 2012-05-26, 09:58 AM

Thanks.

tsuda · 2012-06-06, 10:05 PM

If you can trade your phone for the Telus Galaxy SIIX T989D, it will get you 3G+ on TMobile.

awebber · 2012-06-13, 12:53 AM

And it should also work at 3G or 4G (not LTE though) on Bell and Rogers, right? I have the Telus phone, unlocked it for $20, and was happy using it on TMo in the US on their $30 for 5GB+100min plan (for new activations only). AT&T is much more expensive for prepaid data, though I don't know how their service compares.

I think this nifty phone would work on Telus, Bell, Rogers, AT&T, (all 1900MHz), Wind, Mobilicity, Videotron, and TMobile (1700MHz)?

=aw

2012-05-19, 04:08 PM	#1
Kent Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 70	Galaxy S2 speed I'm travelling in the US and bought a sim card from T-Mobile with a pay by the day plan which is suppposed to give me the first 200 mb data at 4g speed However I can only get edge service and a Speedtest shows 155 kb download speed. My phone is unlocked (Bell) but is not rooted. Nothing I can see in T-Mobile's brochure says anything about a restriction on unlocked phones Did I get ripped off?

2012-05-19, 04:21 PM	#2
TorontoColin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Wind Mobile, Rogers Cable, Teksavvy Extreme Cable Posts: 3,257	Bell's variant of the Galaxy S II doesn't have support for T-Mobile's HSPA network in most regions. In most areas, T-Mobile uses the AWS band for HSPA, like Wind, Mobilicity, and Videotron in Canada. There are very few areas where T-Mobile uses PCS (1900) which would work with the Bell Galaxy S II. Doesn't seem like you're lucky enough to be in one of those however. __________________ Rules of the Forum \| DHC Help Desk DHC now supports Tapatalk for mobile devices!

2012-05-25, 07:55 PM	#5
johnvan Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 117	Galaxy S2 LTE - Virgin Canada and T-Mobile speed Quick question, I'm new to smartphones and am unsure about the different network compatibilities. I am with Virgin Mobile in Canada but occasionally use my phone with a T-Mobile SIM in the U.S. It looks like I would get 3G speeds in both cases if I bought the Rogers LTE version but would only get 2G speeds with T-Mobile if I bought the Bell version. Is this correct? Thanks.

2012-06-13, 12:53 AM	#9
awebber Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 225	And it should also work at 3G or 4G (not LTE though) on Bell and Rogers, right? I have the Telus phone, unlocked it for $20, and was happy using it on TMo in the US on their $30 for 5GB+100min plan (for new activations only). AT&T is much more expensive for prepaid data, though I don't know how their service compares. I think this nifty phone would work on Telus, Bell, Rogers, AT&T, (all 1900MHz), Wind, Mobilicity, Videotron, and TMobile (1700MHz)? =aw __________________ My TVFool results are at my profile Homepage URL. Thanks roger1818 for the idea.

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2012-05-19, 05:36 PM	#3
Kent Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 70	Thanks for that. Do you have a recommendation for an alternate to Bell's roaming charges? Wha about AT&T? And will I run into the same problem when I go to England later this year? Kent

2012-05-19, 07:46 PM	#4
BGY11 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 3,183	You should be able to get 3G (HSPA) speeds on AT&T, although I'm not sure good their prepaid options are. In England, you also shouldn't have any issues, as the phone supports the 2100MHz frequency band that is used there.

2012-05-25, 09:27 PM	#6
BGY11 Veteran Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Calgary AB Posts: 3,183	Unfortunately, you will be limited to 2G (EDGE) speeds with either phone when roaming on T-Mobile's network. T-Mobile uses the 1700MHz frequency band for 3G (HSPA), which neither the Rogers nor Bell version support.

2012-05-26, 09:58 AM	#7
johnvan Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 117	Thanks.

2012-06-06, 10:05 PM	#8
tsuda Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 16	If you can trade your phone for the Telus Galaxy SIIX T989D, it will get you 3G+ on TMobile.