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“We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

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61–70 of 148 posts

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#61
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Old Teslas (like 5+ years) will lose net when 3g goes. You can do a computer upgrade but I don’t think it’s cheap ($500-$1500 range offhand)

They really should have used an easily replaceable mPCIe cellular module. $50 replacement cost. Interface has been around since 2005.

Tethering off your phone seems simpler, especially if you got their app running.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#62

Ignoring the primary issue of the post, I take issue with the reason for not going with the alternative phones: > The problem I have with both phones, especially the Galaxy, however is that they are several years old. The Pixel 4a was released in October of 2020. My Pixel 2 was receiving updates for years after I got it, so I'm not sure what the author is referring to here.

You are correct. I was conflating the lower battery capacity of the 4a with the age of the s10e, which are independent issues I got mixed up in my head. I'll fix the post tomorrow. Thank you for pointing that out.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#63
post #14

> The problem I have with both phones [Pixel 4a, Galaxy S10e], especially the Galaxy, however is that they are several years old That appears untrue. The Pixel 4a was released in August 2020, so less than a year ago. It has guaranteed software updates until August 2023. (Or maybe until November 2023, unclear which model the author is referring to.)

You're correct, I conflated the lower battery size of the 4a with the age of the s10e in my head. Both were independent issues.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#64
My AT&T 3g flip phone was cut off yesterday morning. I got a text from AT&T at ~6am telling me that the device I was trying to activate was not supported. Sure enough I was unable to send or receive calls or texts. I knew about the Feb 2022 cut off date but its absolutely ridiculous that they would pull this ~8 months early.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#65
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can confirm, I've worked with mobile phone related stuff for about 15 years and never before this article have I heard of a whitelist. My first reaction is that the concept sounds ridiculous, you're supposed to be able to put a SIM card to any device you find and just use it.

The US (not sure about Canadian) mobile market is completely different to the European one. It's almost alien in comparison - the carrier tries to control absolutely everything, and generally sees the handset as an extension of their network to the extent they want to "type approve" every firmware release on every handset that is "allowed" onto their network. Apple appeared to become the exception due to having such…

> On any other phone, expect branding, pre-installed bloatware apps, modified startup and shutdown screens, modified top-bar to show "5G" on presence of a 4G network, and 6+ month delays to security updates while they get the above modifications made to the firmware before they approve it.

Have never seen anything like that on Pixel / Nexus phones bought from Play Store and not tied to a particular network. Is this an issue specific to carrier-bought phones or are all Pixels exempt?

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#66
post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Old Teslas (like 5+ years) will lose net when 3g goes. You can do a computer upgrade but I don’t think it’s cheap ($500-$1500 range offhand)

That's not accurate. You don't need to upgrade the MCU/infotainment computer and the retrofit is only $200. "A source has informed me that due to AT&T shutting down its 3G network by Feb 2022, Model S's without an LTE-capable modem will lose connectivity features unless connected to WiFi. HOWEVER, Tesla will offer retrofits for $200. Affected vehicles are pre June 2015." "Tesla will be offering retrofits for these ve…

See https://www.tesla.com/support/update-3g-services

They're going to upgrade the modems to LTE for $200 each.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s really annoying this isn’t software defined for future proofing. As long as your RF hardware is robust onboard, the rest can be done in software.

the radio cannot be software defined (and user modifiable) for type acceptance and regulatory reasons

In what country? The FCC certainly allows SDR to be certified. "User modifiable" is sufficiently broad as to be nearly meaningless.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#68
post #37
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They really should have used an easily replaceable mPCIe cellular module. $50 replacement cost. Interface has been around since 2005.

Car manufacturers don't even try to pretend that their prices have anything to do with the actual costs of components. You want an "original X" part? That will be $$$$, thank you very much.

[deleted]

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#69
post #28

I have an old OnePlus phone that still works fine, but it won't work with AT&T's network changes. I called and AT&T said I could get an iPhone SE for free, but when the contracts came for me to confirm, there was no mention of getting a free phone, and instead I was committing to paying $400 over three years. The AT&T reps assured me I'd get be credited at some point in the future and that the phone would end up bein…

I am on a OnePlus 5 via AT&T Red Pocket (mvno). The minimum supported OnePlus next year is the 6t.

https://www.xda-developers.com/will-my-phone-work-on-att-aft...

Specifically, I'm using the Red Pocket "essentials" plan that I bought on eBay for $100 (1 year of service, unlimited texting, 1000 minutes, 1gb data per month).

Red Pocket didn't know anything about the XDA article, and forwarded it to a higher tier.

I think that I would have the option of switching my account to a T-Mobile Sim card, but I bought a pixel 3a xl, and loaded lineage sans gapps. I think Verizon becomes an option with this device.

It doesn't like my home WiFi, so I'm upgrading to Gargoyle. This is going to be a project.

There are a lot of Pixels going out of support that will be cheap, and perfect for Lineage. Don't try to replace the battery (usually wrecks the display). The problem with old Pixels is that you won't get the Qualcomm updates.

On AT&T's conversion day, mvno customers will switch in great numbers.

Re: “We're Shutting Down Our 3G Network”

#70
post #65
post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US (not sure about Canadian) mobile market is completely different to the European one. It's almost alien in comparison - the carrier tries to control absolutely everything, and generally sees the handset as an extension of their network to the extent they want to "type approve" every firmware release on every handset that is "allowed" onto their network. Apple appeared to become the exception due to having such…

> On any other phone, expect branding, pre-installed bloatware apps, modified startup and shutdown screens, modified top-bar to show "5G" on presence of a 4G network, and 6+ month delays to security updates while they get the above modifications made to the firmware before they approve it. Have never seen anything like that on Pixel / Nexus phones bought from Play Store and not tied to a particular network. Is this a…

Carrier bought phones except iphones. I think that was the point the OP was making; you can walk into a carrier store and buy an iphone from them, and it's the same phone you'd get from Apple, just with the carrier sim already included. But any Android phone you buy from the carrier is going to come with a whole lotta cruft.

None of that applies if you buy a phone separately from the carrier (so Google phones, or OnePlus, or similar), but most of those also make arrangements with the carriers, I think, to recognize the phone before sale (at least, my carrier recognized both my Pixel and OnePlus devices at the times I had them).

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