Confused about the TP2! GSM/CDMA confusion

[bobda]

Hi!

I just got the TP2 as a gift! The fact that it's a CDMA/GSM phone has me really excited. But after reading through some of the threads here, i'm a bit confused.


Question 1.): If this phone is both a CDMA and GSM phone, why are there different custom ROMs for CDMA and GSM?

Question 2.): If I flash a CDMA ROM will I still be able to SIM unlock my phone and use a ATT or T-Mobile card? Can I switch between CDMA and GSM networks on-the-fly?

Question 3.): After flashing to a custom CDMA ROM, if I travel to Hong Kong, can I just pop in a pay-as-you-go SIM card and have it working? And will the data work (assuming I get a SIM card with a data package)?

Question 4.): What is the difference between the RhodiumW/Sprint/Verizon/Telus Touch Pro 2 CID/Security/SIM Unlocker, and the Sprint Unlocker - RhodiumW WU Radio Unlocked for US Networks? Reading the threads with my limited understanding, it seems like they both dot he same thing for my phone: allow the Sprint phone to use a SIM card from any network, right?


I'm on Sprint right now. That's a CDMA network, right? I was using a Diamond before, and i just had to unlock (HSPL, right?) it and flash to a custom ROM made for the CDMA Diamond.

Before Sprint, I used ATT, and that's a GSM network, I brought my 8125 to a local store to get it SIM unlocked, and I was able to use that phone on T-mobile. I was also able to pop in a pay-as-you-go SIM card when I was in HK and it worked fine.


Thanks!

Bob

[blowy666]

As far as I know are there CDMA OR GSM models available...but not both in one?

[imnuts]

Originally Posted by bobda

Question 1.): If this phone is both a CDMA and GSM phone, why are there different custom ROMs for CDMA and GSM?

The CDMA versions have both a CDMA and GSM radio in them, allowing them to be used anywhere. The GSM version only has a GSM radio in it and can't be used on CDMA networks. There are likely a couple other differences as well with the internals.

Originally Posted by bobda

Question 2.): If I flash a CDMA ROM will I still be able to SIM unlock my phone and use a ATT or T-Mobile card? Can I switch between CDMA and GSM networks on-the-fly?

Yes, as long as you unlock it and flash the tweaked radio that allows you to roam on the US networks with the Sprint devices. You won't be able to use both CDMA and GSM at the same time though. It will be one or the other. Unless you're roaming with the included SIM, it will also be one number or the other.

Originally Posted by bobda

Question 3.): After flashing to a custom CDMA ROM, if I travel to Hong Kong, can I just pop in a pay-as-you-go SIM card and have it working? And will the data work (assuming I get a SIM card with a data package)?

Yes, you shouldn't even need to SIM unlock it to do this. Data should work once it has been set up then, but calling should be as easy as changing the SIM and switching to GSM mode if it doesn't do it automatically.

Originally Posted by bobda

Question 4.): What is the difference between the RhodiumW/Sprint/Verizon/Telus Touch Pro 2 CID/Security/SIM Unlocker, and the Sprint Unlocker - RhodiumW WU Radio Unlocked for US Networks? Reading the threads with my limited understanding, it seems like they both dot he same thing for my phone: allow the Sprint phone to use a SIM card from any network, right?

The Security/SIM unlocker (first thread) allows you to used the unlocked radio (second thread) so that you can roam on US GSM networks (T-Mo and AT&T) with your Sprint phone.

Originally Posted by bobda

I'm on Sprint right now. That's a CDMA network, right? I was using a Diamond before, and i just had to unlock (HSPL, right?) it and flash to a custom ROM made for the CDMA Diamond.

Sprint is CDMA, and all you need to do to flash a custom rom is unlock it with the HSPL in the upgrades forum (CDMA Upgrades)

[wampuscat]

to answer sum of your questions . yes the the sprint version is cdma , but it has a quad band radio to pick up gsm. only 1 radio can be used at the time. the security/sid unlocker unlocks security so u can flash another rom. the WU unlocker allows u to flash a patched radio( by cmonex of coarse) to allow the phone to pick up US GSM networks. the stock sprint configuration will already allow foreign gsm networks to work. I am pretty certain that on US GSM networks you'll have voice and EDGE data but no 3g. but it takes the WU unlocker to even pickup these networks

[wampuscat]

also lets just say that you've security/sid unlocked your phone. your browsing over at homeslice.com and u find a bad arse GSM custom rom that everyone there says Is the best thing since sliced bread. and u think for a second oh my Sprint TP2 is GSM also I think I'll flash it. A GSM rom WILL brick your device. No if's and's , buts or kicks to the nuts.

[dodgeboy]

So if I were to sim unlock my sprint phone, I could roam to an AT&T/T-Mobile tower and still use my same phone number? Isn't there some risk of getting caught doing this, since the phone was purposely locked so that this couldn't occur?

I frequently work in an area that has very good GSM coverage, and no Sprint coverage. I'd really like to be able to roam to the GSM tower, but I only have the SIM card that was included with the phone.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

[stevedusa]

Originally Posted by dodgeboy

So if I were to sim unlock my sprint phone, I could roam to an AT&T/T-Mobile tower and still use my same phone number? Isn't there some risk of getting caught doing this, since the phone was purposely locked so that this couldn't occur?

I frequently work in an area that has very good GSM coverage, and no Sprint coverage. I'd really like to be able to roam to the GSM tower, but I only have the SIM card that was included with the phone.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

You need to remember that on Sprint's TP2, there is no network (SIM or Subsidy) lock on the GSM part. What the manufacturer did is they added some sort of system to check if the device is a Sprint-branded AND if it is going onto a US-based GSM network (doesn't matter if its home-service or roaming onto), then it simply refuses to work.

So as someone above answered what you need to do is apply the security unlock and flash a patched (tweaked) radio for Sprint's TP2 so it would allow you to use US-based GSM networks.

And as for using your CDMA's phone number on GSM network? Not going to happen, at least in the States it's not. Your CDMA has it's own identity, so does the SIM card you are putting in there. They are not the same. The SIM card supplied with the Sprint's TP2 is for roaming internationally, not inside the States.

[davidetkin511]

Originally Posted by blowy666

As far as I know are there CDMA OR GSM models available...but not both in one?

The touch pro 2 is a world phone (cdma/gsm)

[Dr.8820]

one of our geekers made a simple chart for those that want to unlock and get gsm service http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showpost.p...0&postcount=12

[dodgeboy]

Originally Posted by stevedusa

You need to remember that on Sprint's TP2, there is no network (SIM or Subsidy) lock on the GSM part. What the manufacturer did is they added some sort of system to check if the device is a Sprint-branded AND if it is going onto a US-based GSM network (doesn't matter if its home-service or roaming onto), then it simply refuses to work.

So as someone above answered what you need to do is apply the security unlock and flash a patched (tweaked) radio for Sprint's TP2 so it would allow you to use US-based GSM networks.

And as for using your CDMA's phone number on GSM network? Not going to happen, at least in the States it's not. Your CDMA has it's own identity, so does the SIM card you are putting in there. They are not the same. The SIM card supplied with the Sprint's TP2 is for roaming internationally, not inside the States.

Thank you very much for the detailed and informative reply!

Dave