Samsung Vibrant 3G Symbol (?)

[islandracer]

I went to Lime, signed up for their 3G plan. I have "data" on my phone now but the fact that the symbol says "E" and not "3G" makes me wonder if it is 3G and not "E" for edge (?). The kid behind the counter at Lime helping me seemed to have some issues getting it to run and I'm not too convinced of his abilities. It seems quicker than edge but not really super fast as what I thought 3G would be. Any way to know if this is 3G or not? See my screenshot below. I have seen other Vibrant screenshots and the symbol says "3G", posted underneath is an example. Much thanks...
Mine:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/8215/screenshotyn.jpg
Off some forum:
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/4766/newscreenshot.png

[islandracer]

Samsung Vibrant can't work with Lime 3G...Lime blows...

[ram130]

It's really your fault still. You should have checked the frequency that LIME 3G works on. Likewise AT&T..Lime 3G works on 850mhz, while AT&T runs on 850/1900mhz..if you note, the vibrant only supports 1700/1900/2100 3G bands. Hence the reason it only shows EDGE but once unlock it will get 3G on AT&T.

[islandracer]

I took the phone to lime - asked the service dept if this phone can work with lime 3g. They said YES. The tech even put in a sim and told me it works. I said I hope he's sure cause it is the only reason I'm signing up, for 3G. He assured me it's fine. I returned the next day, signed up etc and even asked him (same tech) to insert the sim and make sure it works before I leave. same tech assures me it's working and sends me away with edge. Went back again today to get the 3g to work and after 20 mins somebody walks up behind the same tech and whispers to him it's a tmobile and it doesn't work. We average humans rely on these service techs for this stuff. Should have known something was up when he arrogantly told me real mobile phone techies only use bb's. Really was liking the phone too...

[ShadowWolfe Hellscream]

Real phone techies only use bbs? What planet him come from? Still when you're gonna get/buy a phone, best you read up on it cuz some would be telecoms techs only know what they read in outdated books, hear or nothing at all.

[ram130]

I took the phone to lime - asked the service dept if this phone can work with lime 3g. They said YES. .

I see your mistake, well now you know. Never asked a sales/tech rep if a foreign phone works with 3G on their network. Common mistake ;)

[islandracer]

It's been a steep learning curve in one week - with the biggest lesson not trusting them guys behind the counter. Sold the Vibrant for what I paid for it so no biggie there. Now onto the Captivate unless somebody can recommend a better Droid (with Swype) that runs 3G on 850mhz.

Iphone - RIP, not even interested in that overpriced 4...

[ram130]

It's been a steep learning curve in one week - with the biggest lesson not trusting them guys behind the counter. Sold the Vibrant for what I paid for it so no biggie there. Now onto the Captivate unless somebody can recommend a better Droid (with Swype) that runs 3G on 850mhz.

Iphone - RIP, not even interested in that overpriced 4...

I really don't know what else to recommend honestly ..unless you want the iPhone 4...the Desire HD looks good but I don't think it operates on 850mhz.

[islandracer]

Samsung Captivate ordered and on the way - looking forward to the froyo 2.2 update. Will def post a review. Much thanks for the help again.

[ram130]

Samsung Captivate ordered and on the way - looking forward to the froyo 2.2 update. Will def post a review. Much thanks for the help again.

Yea I wish you all the best...I'm actually thinking of selling my Vibrant for the MyTouch 4g but the Engadget review (http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-review/)seems really bad yet the users love it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=828322).. weird? I can't decide any more :(..what you think?

[Virus]

These are your 850mhz options....

Telstra (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telstra&country=all)

AT&T (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=att&country=all)

Telus (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telus&country=all)

Bell (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=bell&country=all)

Rogers (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=rogers&country=all)

[Neoprimal]

Yea I wish you all the best...I'm actually thinking of selling my Vibrant for the MyTouch 4g but the Engadget review (http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-review/)seems really bad yet the users love it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=828322).. weird? I can't decide any more :(..what you think?

It's odd that you read engadget and not know that if it's not an apple device or an iphone, they're not going to give it a great review. It's always very muted. I love engadget, but I know exactly how to "read" their reviews.

I agree with him that the speakers are awful, but bwoy I just can't look at the phone's little head speaker and call it ugly. Maybe because I own it? But I don't think so - I'm normally pretty impartial and unbiased with things. The external speaker sound is really a shame though, really tinny but this isn't a departure from most all HTC phones for some reason. Even their external speakers on flagship phones like the Evo 4G, Desire HD and HD7 aren't 'great' and they're stereo.

The SLCD is also of course, not as pretty as the Vibrant screen - the blacks aren't as deep and the colors aren't as 'Vibrant', hehe. Of course, imho the Vibrant's screen set to auto was a battery killer so the MT4G still has the heads up since at auto all the time, the phone runs a very long time. The Vibrant's 'boom' only shows up when it's at mid/full brilliance.

It runs faster than the Vibrant (even when the Vibrant is lag fixed) and so far I'm really enjoying it. Looks like this ones (finally!) a keeper as long as nothing breaks/knocks out/cracks/etc.

In the end you really should just probably get your hands on one before you decide. As you know the MT4G only has temp root for now, and you don't get 4GB from the ROM, you get like, 1GB because they're either hiding anti-root tech in it or there really is some bug preventing it from being used by customers (the bug thing I think is a complete lie). So no bionix etc. for you. The most you can do is temp root and maybe overclock or get rid of some preinstalled stuff.

[LeBoss]

Yea I wish you all the best...I'm actually thinking of selling my Vibrant for the MyTouch 4g but the Engadget review (http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/05/t-mobile-mytouch-4g-review/)seems really bad yet the users love it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=828322).. weird? I can't decide any more :(..what you think?

Follow your instincts

[LeBoss]

It's odd that you read engadget and not know that if it's not an apple device or an iphone, they're not going to give it a great review. It's always very muted. I love engadget, but I know exactly how to "read" their reviews.

I agree with him that the speakers are awful, but bwoy I just can't look at the phone's little head speaker and call it ugly. Maybe because I own it? But I don't think so - I'm normally pretty impartial and unbiased with things. The external speaker sound is really a shame though, really tinny but this isn't a departure from most all HTC phones for some reason. Even their external speakers on flagship phones like the Evo 4G, Desire HD and HD7 aren't 'great' and they're stereo.

The SLCD is also of course, not as pretty as the Vibrant screen - the blacks aren't as deep and the colors aren't as 'Vibrant', hehe. Of course, imho the Vibrant's screen set to auto was a battery killer so the MT4G still has the heads up since at auto all the time, the phone runs a very long time. The Vibrant's 'boom' only shows up when it's at mid/full brilliance.

It runs faster than the Vibrant (even when the Vibrant is lag fixed) and so far I'm really enjoying it. Looks like this ones (finally!) a keeper as long as nothing breaks/knocks out/cracks/etc.

In the end you really should just probably get your hands on one before you decide. As you know the MT4G only has temp root for now, and you don't get 4GB from the ROM, you get like, 1GB because they're either hiding anti-root tech in it or there really is some bug preventing it from being used by customers (the bug thing I think is a complete lie). So no bionix etc. for you. The most you can do is temp root and maybe overclock or get rid of some preinstalled stuff.

Sounds good, the MT4G really seems like a good phone. Hope you enjoy it

[chig]

These are your 850mhz options....

Telstra (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telstra&country=all)

AT&T (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=att&country=all)

Telus (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telus&country=all)

Bell (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=bell&country=all)

Rogers (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=rogers&country=all)

This should get a sticky so people can know what android phones are available to use on 3G in jamaica, these in addition to the Nexus One of course if you can find it.

[islandracer]

These are your 850mhz options....

Telstra (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telstra&country=all)

AT&T (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=att&country=all)

Telus (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=telus&country=all)

Bell (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=bell&country=all)

Rogers (http://www.google.com/phone/#manufacturer=all&category=all&carrier=rogers&country=all)

A lot of those phones aren't 850mhz for 3G/HSDPA, only edge...I'm not an expert but going through them , that's what I think I saw. Anybody seeing the same?

[psilos]

If you are interested in 3G/HSDPA phones that work on 850MHz stick with the ones for AT&T and Rogers as North American companies are the only ones that use those bands.

The rest in the list more or less provide "world phones" that work on all frequencies for regular GSM/Edge.

[ram130]

Follow your instincts

;) yea ..I'm gonna wait until the 11th and see what Samsung and Google is cooking up..but craiglist and ebay gonna get my Vibrant right after that...hmm I'll sell it for 500 ...:eusa_whis:eusa_whis

[Virus]

...AT&T & Rogers are the safest bet... but the other networks listed also use the 850MHz frequency.

You can wiki or google it if you want

Their online FAQ

Telus - Canada (http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/coverage/index.shtml)

Bell Mobility - Canada (http://support.bell.ca/en-ON/Mobility/Network_coverage/Will_my_mobile_phone_or_smartphone_work_on_the_Bel l_network)

Telstra - Australia (http://telstra.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17289/c/1986/kw/mhz/r_id/130958/sno/0)

[dehyah]

I some networks in Canada use AWS.Best bets are AT&T (USA)and Rogers(Canada)