So, I've decided to buy an Athena.
1 problem though - Its not available in Australia. So I guess the best option is to import it. I've found a store (mobileplanet) that will deliver to Australia, but I'm worried about a few things
- The specs on HTCs site say that the HSDPA frequency on the device is 850/1900mhz in the US, 2100mhz in Europe - is this a hardware thing? Because Australia uses 2100mhz and I don't want the phone to arrive and not be able to handle any 3G networks here.
- Charging it - where do I get an Australian charger for it? The US uses different AC mains voltage to us and it'll probably **** something up if I just use a US -> Aus plug point converter.
Can anyone shed some light on these points?
I would assume then that you need a EUROPEAN Athena for 2100 3G rather than one from US!
If you got one from UK with 240Volts charger would that be more suitable for you also?
eaglesteve has one in australia - might be worth pming him?
No issue with the signal. It works perfectly. Telstra uses 850but the rest uses 2100, so Athena works on all of them.
no problems with the adaptor as well since it does 120 to 240. if i were you i would get it from ebay as well it's cheaper & while you get it from mobileplaet they do not offer the warrenty with it as well so you areb ack to square one. the machineworks like a dream mate with 3 mobile broadband but i am eager to know how it does with telstra bigpond here in sydney as well...anyone had the experence?
i actually found that i had to overclock it or set the cycle at a higher frequency with an overclocker to make it work well for me. anyone else had a similar experience? hope its not just my setup running sbd & the black rom
i bought my advantage x7501 from mobileplanet also and it comes w/ a european outlet adapter.
*hope that helps*
Hi guys,
I received word late yesterday from my contacts that Telstra will be supplying the HD2 exclusively for at least 2-3 months on the NextG network.
No word on pricing yet but I have got a loose release date! For us Aussies the wait isn't too great which is a bit of a surprise for me, I thought we'd wind up being last! So without further ado:
Just wanted to let you know we finally have an idea on the Touch HD2;
Touch HD 2 – Due for release mid - late January. Exclusive to Telstra for 2 - 3 months. Launching with Windows Mobile 6.5
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My name is already down for one, I can't wait!
I guess anyone not on Telstra can just use an imported one... Blue Fly Mobile are selling them for $900 at the moment.
Do you know if the "official" Australian version will have anything special that a UK one, for example, doesn't have?
CreepinJesus said:
I guess anyone not on Telstra can just use an imported one... Blue Fly Mobile are selling them for $900 at the moment.
Do you know if the "official" Australian version will have anything special that a UK one, for example, doesn't have?
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A NextG compatible version is what I am after so I am holding out for it.
Basically Telstra bloatware will be the only special thing on it haha. Which I'll remove with cooking my own ROM. And of course NextG compatibility.
Hopefully the main difference will be that it will have the 850 3G band, like the Touch HD did, which will make it useable on most of AT&T's 3G network in the US.
CreepinJesus said:
I guess anyone not on Telstra can just use an imported one... Blue Fly Mobile are selling them for $900 at the moment.
Do you know if the "official" Australian version will have anything special that a UK one, for example, doesn't have?
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Click to collapse
Yea, a sweet US 3G radio.
it seems a telstra rom already leaked (841 is telstra rom code)
ftp://rom:[email protected]/Leo_HD2/Official/Leo_1.49.841.1_21869_WWE_OS.NB.rar
btw, what does it mean that the phone is only exclusive for 2-3 months? So for those 2-3mos, you can only get it through telstra (no e-retailers)? Can you get it sim-free during this time or after that time?
lude219 said:
btw, what does it mean that the phone is only exclusive for 2-3 months? So for those 2-3mos, you can only get it through telstra (no e-retailers)? Can you get it sim-free during this time or after that time?
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it simply means that in Australia, the Australian mobile phone networks like Vodaphone, Telstra, Optus, T-mobile,etc will have to wait a few months before they can have the option of selling it on their networks.
you can still get the device anywhere else in the world unlocked and as long as the device has the right network frequencies for your SIM card then you'll be fine. there are slightly different HD2's made for the world markets, because not all countries use the same network frequencies (USA being the odd-man-out of the world)
i bought my HD2 from the UK (Handtech) delivered for Au $840. the frequencies are a match for my 3mobile SIM card and the device is "unlocked" so i don't have any bull**** about vendor locking and software bloat.
Telstra/AT&T
Please post here when it is available through on online retailer with the 850Mhz Band so that US buyers on AT&T can rejoice and spend some dough...
Thanks
Am I reading this correct that the HD2 will not work on NextG? Is there a fix for this?
tchoklat
I highly doubt a Telstra released 3G mobile wouldn't work on their NextG network, kinda defeats the point.
tchoklat said:
Am I reading this correct that the HD2 will not work on NextG? Is there a fix for this?
tchoklat
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Because the HD2 runs on UMTS 900/2100MHz. You have to wait for HTC to release another model that's NextG compatible (runs 850/2100MHz UMTS) in early 2010.
damn, what do I do with my new phone then?
tchoklat said:
damn, what do I do with my new phone then?
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use it as a $800 coaster.
or sell it.
I'm using the HD2 imported from overseas 2 weeks ago through one of those dodgy Australian online retailers (electronicbazaar.com.au) and I'm happily using my nextG simcard without problems.
The phone was shipped from HK.
I have no problems browsing or coverage but technically I shouldn't be getting access to the network.
I guess the question remains as to whether I'm accessing the nextG network or not. The carrier name is "3G 3Telstra" on the dialer and I get the "H" symbol come up on the phone. That looks good enough for me.
This information, plus p3ngwin's use of the phone on 3Mobile suggests it's not accurate to say that we can't use an unbranded Leo in Australia...
@tchoklat - have you tried using the phone yet with your NextG SIM?
Yes it fails to log on and I only see the odd 'G' or 'E' come up suggesting sporadic connection to the 3G network, not NextG. I understand that the 'H' means HSPDA or NextG
Tchoklat
le_paulo said:
I'm using the HD2 imported from overseas 2 weeks ago through one of those dodgy Australian online retailers (electronicbazaar.com.au) and I'm happily using my nextG simcard without problems.
The phone was shipped from HK.
I have no problems browsing or coverage but technically I shouldn't be getting access to the network.
I guess the question remains as to whether I'm accessing the nextG network or not. The carrier name is "3G 3Telstra" on the dialer and I get the "H" symbol come up on the phone. That looks good enough for me.
This information, plus p3ngwin's use of the phone on 3Mobile suggests it's not accurate to say that we can't use an unbranded Leo in Australia...
@tchoklat - have you tried using the phone yet with your NextG SIM?
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In a way you have access to Telstra 3G but not NextG. Read this http://www.austech.info/137073-post16.html
Telstra 3G = UMTS 2100 which provides 60% population coverage
Telstra NextG = UMTS 850 which provides 99% population coverage
I have a NextG sim when I was using my TP2 (the sim is my Leo now) and on my Leo I only get the EDGE network and no NextG.
Just what I have found as we have no or limited Edge where I live so the phone is basically useless. I have listed it on Ebay for anyone interested.
Ebay item number 110471705953
thanks all.
Tony
I'll tell you what, I have the unlocked import of the HD2 in the USA on at&t and the edge data on this phone seems as good as my last 3g phone. I think the speed of the phone is making up for it. Now of coarse, WITH the 3G coverage is another story but the edge is acceptable to me on this device.
Raspster said:
I'll tell you what, I have the unlocked import of the HD2 in the USA on at&t and the edge data on this phone seems as good as my last 3g phone. I think the speed of the phone is making up for it. Now of coarse, WITH the 3G coverage is another story but the edge is acceptable to me on this device.
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I have to agree with you there. I reckons it's good enough.
I was looking at the best deal i could get on the HD2 when i heard about the US version, has there been any news on the 'upgraded' US version coming to anywhere else? Namely the UK? I dont want to sign up to a contract to then see the better version released
Or would an imported handset from the US work in the UK?
3g high speed data wouldn't work in the uk. and before you ask no, flashing a different rom or radio wouldn't fix that, the frequencies are built into the hardware.
for the sake of the extra rom in my opinion it isn't worth it and to be honest I suspect they'll be difficult to get as they will be tmobile usa locked.
synyster31 said:
I was looking at the best deal i could get on the HD2 when i heard about the US version, has there been any news on the 'upgraded' US version coming to anywhere else? Namely the UK? I dont want to sign up to a contract to then see the better version released
Or would an imported handset from the US work in the UK?
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samsamuel said:
3g high speed data wouldn't work in the uk. and before you ask no, flashing a different rom or radio wouldn't fix that, the frequencies are built into the hardware.
for the sake of the extra rom in my opinion it isn't worth it and to be honest I suspect they'll be difficult to get as they will be tmobile usa locked.
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I don't see why 3G data wouldn't work. The handset is listed as 1700 (AWS) / 2100.
If it only worked on the T-Mobile USA bands they would have just listed it as 1700 (AWS) [even though it still needs 2100 to work on T-Mobile USA].
Without 2100 the phone could only be used in a tiny handful of countries - well, not even a handful really, which would very much destroy some of the appeal of the phone.
If you really want one then Ebay will be your friend. However considering all the problems this phone has had I wouldn't buy one that I couldn't return or exchange, I really wouldn't.
Oh ok thanks guys, just a thought.
Think i'll plump for the Uk one then & see what happens
Thanks
I asked htc back then, even if thair response was obviously the "commercial" one, it was clear enough, "that version of hd2 has been customized especially for tmobile usa and will not be available elsewhere also because it won't work on other networks." or something along those lines.
hello all
it costs around $900 here and it will cost half that unlocked from t-mobile on the 24th. is there anything i need to worry about before ordering it for a friend from the states and using it here (Saudi Arabia). we use 2100mhz+900mhz for our 3G band so it should work fine here
anything else i need to worry about before i order it?
i dont think it'll work on saudi 3g, Tmobile uses 1700/2100, not 900. you need both bands to work
are you sure about the two bands thing
i had a t-mobile HTC G1 and 3G worked fine
that's odd, because phones that only share the 2100 band do not work on Tmobile. Perhaps its different the other way around.
the 3g of the g1 (1700/2100) and the Nexus1 (900/1700/2100) both work on our STC/mobily network. i assume the US-HD2 will be the same but i could be wrong cant anybody else confirm. i cant possibly be the only here intrested taking advantage of the US super cheap price
Well, you are not alone but I don't think anybody can confirm one way or another with 100% accuracy. I for one will buy it and then try to use it in Europe (i.e. 2100 MHz UMTS). Like you I've noticed that G1 has exactly the same specs for the radio. It also makes sense that HTC and T-mobile would like to support international roaming. All being said, there is always a chance that things are different this time. I tried to contact both HTC and T-mobile and I received contradictory answers. The only way to be sure is to try it or wait for somebody to report real-world use cases
anyone managed to test this yet?
I have already decided that this is the best replacement phone for my ageing P3600, but have a question for anyone who may already be using one on Australia's Telstra Next-G service...
Some news reports last month suggested that Telstra would be a launch partner for the device with HTC in Australia, but as yet there is no word from them officially about it. This would suggest that maybe they are in the process of tweaking (ie. bastardising) the UI with all the usual Telstra bloatware and just haven't got it finished yet. However, there are now no shortage of people selling them unlocked on Fleabay. Only problem is that some are careful to state that the device "may not be compatible with Telstra's Next-G network (HSDPA 850)"?!?
As far as I know Next-G is just Telstra's way of sexing up 3.5G. So is this just sellers trying to cover themselves or is there a real likeliness that the HD mini may actually need tweaking to work properly on that service?
OK - I have found out some info for those who may also be wondering...
Telstra modify all phones they sell in Australia to operate on HSPDA 850 instead of HSPDA 900. So no - that means an imported phone WILL NOT work on Telstra's Next-G service! In fact HTC on their own website show all phones available through Telstra as HSPDA 850, not HSPDA 900.
I purchased the HD Mini/Photon with Win 6.5 in the US 2 weeks ago and it's working fine! The phone was unlocked and listed as quad band..