Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gsm

Why does my iPhone phone home when off?

m1ndsurfer — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:34:37 -0800

Why (and what) is my iPhone transmitting while switched off? My (Australian bought, legitimately carrier-unlocked, T-Mobile-SIM'd) iPhone 3GS is switched off (hold down top button, swipe red switch on screen) but connected to wall power and sitting on top of a poorly shielded computer speaker. Almost exactly at 5:00am it uttered the characteristic "dit dit de-dit dit de-dit dit de-dit" of a GSM phone chatting to a cell tower. I switched it off ffs, the GSM radio shouldn't be active! What is it sending to the tower and why? I was at a pub the other day with some friends who were spouting conspiracy-theory baloney about how the CIA/FBI/NSA/USDA can track us and listen to our conversations via our iPhones. "Pshaw", I said, "while technically feasible to remotely install an app which starts an iPhone's mic recording and transmits back to a Three Letter Agency with the screen ostensibly off, Steve Jobs has got better things to do with his engineers' time and would tell the TLA to go jump unless it was law in which case I would have heard about it. You tinfoil-hat nutters!"

But then they told me to turn my iPhone off and see if it still transmits once every three hours or so. I've just done the experiment and lo and behold it does. What's going on? Do I need to be paranoid or is there a benign explanation?

It's the buzz buzz buzz in the drum of the ear, or, making my amplifier a tinfoil hat to stop GSM noises from my phone.

Halle — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:22:38 -0800

It's the buzz buzz buzz in the drum of the ear, or, making my amplifier a tinfoil hat to stop GSM noises from my phone. Like many others, I have GSM buzz in my speakers. But, I frequently don't have the option of setting my phone to silent while I'm working, because I'm working on the phone. That leaves the options as a) not getting to listen to music while working, or b) letting hideous noises that come out of my speakers every hour at a much higher volume than the music make me aggro. So, I've done some research (and read the old and inconclusive GSM noise questions here in AskMe) and I've concluded that it's most likely my amplifier lacking shielding. I'm going to put ferrite chokes on my speaker and audio cables just in case, but the main plan of attack is to put a faraday cage around the amp since it's out of sight. What is a good way to construct the cage with the following specs:

1) blocks interference really well,
2) isn't terribly expensive,
3) will last/can be moved (i.e. alternatives to tinfoil),
4) has some possibility of heat dispersal so it doesn't kill the amp.
5) no negative electrical safety implications (I can't imagine what these could be but I thought I'd throw it in there in case there is anything I'm overlooking in this department).

Thank you!

How should I go about unlocking a Canadian phone for use in Iceland?

csjc — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:55:08 -0800

How should I go about unlocking a Canadian phone for use in Iceland? I have a compatible GSM phone but I have no idea how to go about unlocking it. I'll be in Iceland this weekend, and I'll need a functional cell phone. Roaming isn't an option. I took a look through my stash of old phones for those compatible with the Icelandic GSM bands (800/1900), and it seems like the Motorola V235 should do the job.

I'm planning on buying a prepaid starter kit on Vodafone Iceland, but of course I need the phone to be unlocked first.

I'm on Fido... how should I go about getting an unlock code? Will it cost me anything?

Best android phone?

DJWeezy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:44:23 -0800

Whats the best unlocked android phone available? I'm in the market for a new phone and I'm almost certain I want something with Android. I have AT&T and can't switch at the moment plus T-Mobile isn't offered where I live. I think the G2/Ion/HTC Magic would be perfect but they aren't readily sold unlocked here other than the international version (is this coming out as the Android Dev Phone 2 anytime soon?). I'm pretty sure I don't want the G1 because I dislike that huge chin.

Android either with root or rootable so I can upgrade the firmware

Decent battery life, I don't use my phone a whole lot but I would like to be able to go at least 2-3 days on a charge

GSM Quad Band

Unlocked

Some way to listen to audio books (3.5mm preferred but an adapter is fine)

mp3 ringtones seems pretty standard but checking

Good reception, I get crappy reception at my apartment and a phone that exacerbates that isn't cool

Best voice+SMS GSM carrier for one month of travel in Europe?

thewalrus — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:30:50 -0800

What is the best flat calling rate pan-European GSM SIM card for temporary use? Two people with iPhone 2G (iPhone1,1) quad band unlocked phones will be in Europe for one month. We want voice and SMS only, not GPRS data, and the ability to add credit to either phone by scratch cards... From around August 20th to September 20th I'm going to be in western Europe with my wife. Our area of travel will primarily be Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy.

We both have unlocked iPhone 2G (first generation) phones, pwned with pwnagetool... There's no doubt the phones are unlocked as they have been successfully used for voice+SMS service with GSM carriers in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

We would like to buy a pair of SIM cards and prepaid service (scratch cards) for voice+SMS service only but are not sure which carrier has the best flat rate coverage of western Europe. We don't care about GPRS data service as there's ample 802.11b/g coverage at the places where we will be staying.

Last part of the question: Can anyone tell us specifically where at the Frankfurt airport a mobile phone shop is located, or near the airport? It should be accessible from international arrivals, after customs, so I think anything in the departure lounge areas is probably not possible...

A good quad-band phone for Europe?

ninotchka — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:22:58 -0800

What's a good quad-band, GSM, UMTS-compatible, QWERTY-keyboard phone to take to Europe? I'm going to the Netherlands soon for nine months, and am keen to find a good phone (or rather, a shell) to take with me. The plan is to buy a Dutch Sim card upon arrival and recharge with gusto, yielding an affordable telephone solution. The basics of what I want (or at least what I, in my admitted uninformitude, *think* that I want!):

1. GSM: As you can imagine!

2. Quad band: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 mHZ bands. I'll be doing a great deal of traveling, and having all four bands would save a lot of headache later, for instance, when I come back to the States.

3. Unlocked: I'd like to be able to swap up Sim cards when I get there, as you can imagine.

4. Euro Power! Comes with a 220v/European/Eurocompatible charger: don't want to have to buy one separately.

5. No Camera: I really don't want or need a camera in my phone. If it made no real difference in price, I suppose I wouldn't care, but beyond that, a camera is not a plus for me.

6. Keyboard: It might be nice to have a small QWERTY keyboard and texting capabilities. I always prefer sending something text to calling someone, since I'm an incorrigible, irascible hermit!

7. Shape/Durability: Durability definitely matters, so nothing peculiarly fragile, but beyond that I'm not picky. As far as shape I do think I might like a 'slider' shape, but either slider or clamshell is fine. 'Bar' shaped phones are a no-go.

8. UMTS-Compatibility: Ideally, I'd like to be able to link into UMTS (3G) in Europe. However, I don't know much about whether a card that is running a bought Sim card can, well, fully access UMTS/3G (would I need to buy a special Sim?).

9. Portability Not an Issue: Weight, size and shape aren't terribly important factors to me. I currently carry a i560, which is a rubber-encased, bright yellow hockey puck (that I adore), so I'm not wedded to any particular aesthetic.

Any advice that any of you can give as to what to buy - or positive/negative experiences in Europe with phones like the one I'm hinting at above - would be great. Thanks, all!

GSM phone unlockers in Toronto

jb — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:39:49 -0800

I'm in Toronto, and I need to get a GSM phone unlocked. How much should I expect to pay, and do you know of any reputable place where I can get this done? (I'm fond of my cheap, but well made phone, and am wary of letting just anyone play inside it).

A mobile browser, but for a laptop

Petrot — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:43:11 -0800

I'm looking for a mobile browser (or similar solutions). But there's a catch. I want it for a laptop, not a phone. I'm travelling around a lot at the moment, away from cities and wifi-connected areas. But there's fairly good mobile network coverage, so I bought myself an O2 mobile dongle to connect my laptop to the mobile phone network.

I pay a set amount for a set amount of data for a month, and because I don't want to pay more money than I have to, I don't want to have to go over the data limit.

Also, looking at regular sized websites, with all their fancy stuff, in Firefox is almost dial-up slow, when accessed through my mobile dongle.

So, what I would like is to be able to view webpages to the best of the mobile dongle's ability - much like as if I were browsing the internet via a mobile phone.

Is this viable? Is there a browser that would work on a laptop as it would on a mobile phone? Or an add-on for Firefox? Or can I view webpages online using their mobile web addresses (m.something.com)?

The dongle I'm using (not that it matters, I think) is the Huawei e160, on the O2 network. I'm using Ubuntu 9.04 FWIW.

Thank you!

Is the Rogers telephone monopoly drawing to a close?

the dief — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:21:21 -0800

Your wild speculations about the near term future of the Canadian cellphone market, please! Oh so much It is well known that the Canadian cellphone market sucks right now. We have effectively one provider that does GSM, and so as a result they get a monopoly on all the pretty phones. I have a pay as you go service right now that I'm pretty happy with, but I seriously ache for some Android-y goodness that I don't have to get a 3 year contract and pay out the nose for.

I've heard that there are some new players coming up in the Canadian GSM cellphone market in 2009-2010, in particular these these guys (who may or may not be planning this). People who are more plugged into the current state and future of Canadian mobile telephony, can you shed some light on the near future of GSM and Android phones in Canada? I'd really love to get an Android GSM phone with reasonable rates and a sane contract length.

Going cellular in Germany.

Gordion Knott — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:58:53 -0800

I'm a cellphone noob, and I'm seeking answers on how to use my GSM phone in Germany. I currently own an unlocked GSM Motorola V195 cellphone that I use in the States with a prepaid SIM from T-Mobile.

I'm hoping that when I arrive in Munich in a few days, I'll be able to swap out the existing SIM with a German pre-paid SIM, and begin to make calls to the States. At least, I'm assuming that this is doable, based on my muddied readings on using GSM phones in Europe.

-Am I on the right track? Will I be able to buy a prepaid SIM, install it in the phone, and begin making international calls?
-If the answer's "yes," where's the easiest place to buy the SIM? Do airport kiosks exist, or will I have to wait till I arrive in town?
-What's the pricing scenario like for prepaid SIMs, and how much will I be paying for International calls?
-Are there any other tidbits of information I should know before I dive into this?

Where can I buy a cheap unlocked 900/1800 GSM mobile phone in Manhattan?

enoent — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:22:41 -0800

Where can I buy a cheap unlocked GSM 900/1800 mobile phone (one that will work in Europe with prepaid SIM cards) in Manhattan? I'm looking to spend less than $50, if such a thing is possible.

Microcell or cell phone booster?

RikiTikiTavi — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:03:03 -0800

Which will work better for me for improving my cellphone coverage, a microcell unit or a booster? I have a 3G iPhone in the US on AT&T. My coverage inside my house is abysmal (the stucco siding probably doesn't help), I can get marginal coverage in certain rooms, sometimes I have no coverage anywhere. The coverage on the roof is excellent, so a booster could be an option (I have followed the previous booster threads with interest). Another option is a so-called microcell, which has the disadvantage that is isn't actually available right now, but is supposedly going to come out "any day now". So, pricing information for this is unknown, although I've looked at T-Mobile's pricing.

For what it's worth my current broadband connection is 1.5ish megabit DSL through Speakeasy (although I'm considering a switch to UVerse), and I have no landline. I'm looking to cover two phones at the moment.

The way I see it, the microcell has to be programmed to add handsets which is an advantage (neighbors don't steal the bandwidth) and a disadvantage (guests don't use your link either without adding them). It would probably be a good idea to allow people like my parents or babysitters to actually be able to use the phone in an emergency.

Besides the above, the other considerations I guess are bandwidth (how much does each connection take?), how many simultaneous connections are allowed, and (of course!) how well each solution actually performs, coverage wise, in the house.

Are there other things I should consider? I've seen booster users weigh in on the other threads, so I'm especially interested in any microcell users here.

My iPhone is buzzing differently now.

Space Coyote — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:55:00 -0800

Why is my iPhone (3g) suddenly making a new and totally different kind of buzzing into my cheap speakers in additional to the good old GSM buzz I'm used to? Here is the sound. (608k .wav) I'm aware of why GSM buzz happens (ugh, the one down point of switching from Bell's CDMA network to Rogers), I am more curious what new thing my phone might be doing that would cause this new buzzing sound that I've never heard before that is totally unlike the horrid staccato sound it's always made.

will need a mobile phone in Germany for a two week trip, but need the number NOW

intermod — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:10:31 -0800

I will need a mobile phone in Germany for a two week trip, but need the number NOW; what are my options and how does that translate to SIM / top-up jargon? I am going to be traveling in Germany for two weeks at the end of the month. I will need basic mobile phone connectivity, including the ability to send and receive SMS text messages. My current phone (in the USA) won't work, and anyway I want a phone number local to Germany to reduce hassle while I'm there.

I've rented mobile phones overseas before, but it appears to be less common in Europe. I haven't been able to find a place to rent a phone in Germany. T-Mobile does NOT rent out phones.

I would be arriving in Munich and departing about 2 weeks later from Paris. That's right -- at the end of the trip we are actually heading over to Paris for a few days. So bonus points for the ability to return the phone in Paris.

Now, I'm not averse to spending $50 or so and just buying a cheap phone, as long as it can do texting. But I want the phone number assignment now, before we leave. In past mobile phone rentals (e.g. to New Zealand), I've received my phone number assignment immediately upon reservation, and so I've been able to give that number out to everyone before I leave.

So, if I'm going the buy-a-cheap-phone route, is there a way to get a phone number assignment now? Would I need to purchase a German SIM card (with German phone number) now and then buy the phone when I arrive? If I have a friend buy it now for me in Munich, will the phone number be printed on the card, or will they require a phone to learn what the number is?

Is a $50 price for a cheap new phone reasonable, or will I need to plow through the used hassle? Note no service contract, obviously.

Finally, I guess I'll be getting pay-as-you-go cards to "top up" my phone for service. What kind of cards / service / prices can I expect? SMS pricing? Incoming free? Forgive me, but I'm not very experienced with GSM ...

Holy GSM, help me find the cheapest cellphone for use in Europe!

theiconoclast31 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:25:46 -0800

Should I get the Motofone F3 or the Motorola V190 for my travels to Europe? I want a cheap (~50 USD) cellphone for my 3-week trip to Europe later this year. Reviews tell me that the Motofone and V190 are good phones, but some folks claim that they're locked. Why would people think this? If any of you own either the V190 or F3, what do you think? Would you guys recommend a different phone? I'd like something that supports all the GSM frequencies and can accept sim cards ("unlocked").

Thanks, and sorry to add to the growing pile of cellphone questions.

Which ferrite cores are the best ones to stop GSM buzz in my speakers?

twiggy — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:06:02 -0800

Electricity and Magnetism geeks - help me! I would like to stop the GSM interference from my iPhone to my speakers with ferrite chokes. I imagine a bit of information would help me get the best ones... So, it has become somewhat common knowledge at this point that gsm noise is irritating lots and lots of people. While the hack of cutting these ferrite beads out of USB cables is cute, and all, I figured I'd order just the parts I need from digikey, where I've bought some electronics stuff in the past.

The issue is -- these little buggers come in a variety of sizes, with a variety of impedance levels and frequencies (frequencies? what?). I would link to a DigiKey search results page, but they seem to use POST in their forms, so I can't get you a URL with search results....

First of all, I'm pretty sure GSM is 850mhz with AT&T in the united states. All of the ferrite core snaps I've found on DigiKey have a "Frequency" of either 100mhz or 300mhz ... how can a little ferrite bead have a "frequency"?

Their impedance levels vary wildly -- from 35 ohms to as high as 572 ohms.

So, my question: If we know what frequency AT&T's GSM is that's causing my interference issues with my stereo speakers -- how do I choose the ferrite cores that will be most effective in stopping it? Does it even matter which ones I get?

They're all reasonably priced, ranging between about $0.95 and $2.50... and since I'm only buying maybe 6 or 8 of the things, I'm more than happy to shell out the extra bucks if it means less noise getting through.

Thanks!

Ping Pong Cellular Telephony: Chinese phones and US SIM cards

msbrauer — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 20:13:41 -0800

Phone from China, SIM card in the US: what do I need to know to make sure I have a working cell phone when I return to the US for a month or two this summer? My girlfriend and I are currently living in China and will be returning to the US for a month or so this summer. We would both like to have cell phones while in the US without having to get on a plan or buying separate phones for the two countries. I've never dealt with SIM cards in the US.

The best solution I envision is being able to purchase prepaid SIM cards when we arrive in the US, pop it into our phones, and start making phone calls. How plausible is this? My cell phone is a Nokia 2100, which I believe is EGSM 900, GSM 1800. Because it works with both of the major providers' SIM cards in China, I believe it is also unlocked. What other specifications are important?

My girlfriend, on the other hand, needs to purchase a new cell phone and would like one that works in both countries. What specifications does the phone need to have so we can be assured it will work in the US?

Vacation Cell Phone in London?

morallybass — Mon, 19 May 2008 08:46:54 -0800

What are my options for one week of cell phone in London? I have an AT&T GSM phone in Boston where I live, spending a week in London for vacation. What are my options for cell phone access the week I'm in London?

I'm mostly interested in keeping tabs with local people while I'm in London, no calling home. Internet would be nice as well, but not required.

Needed: speakers that are immune to GSM buzz

evariste — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:56:47 -0800

Got a lead on some decent-sounding, not-outrageously-pricey speakers that are shielded from GSM buzz? I have my speakers plugged into my Mac, and I also plug my iPhone into it. I searched AskMe, and some people said "just move your phone away from your speakers". That isn't much of an option for me, given the fact that I regularly need to sync my iPhone and my Mac, and it's also very convenient to have my phone next to my laptop instead of on the other side of the room. Others suggested getting speakers with shielded wires. Can you recommend something that would work? I don't know where to even begin. I'm completely ignorant about speakers, and I don't really want to learn anything. I just want to buy something that won't make that irritating buzz, and will reproduce the music I listen to somewhat decently.

Frenchy SIM in Windy City?

j-dawg — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:04:02 -0800

Is there anywhere in Chicago where I can buy a SIM card for France today? My girlfriend is borrowing my secondary GSM phone for use in France next week, but the French SIM card she ordered online failed to arrive in time. Is there anywhere in Chicago to get one today? (I know she can buy one in France, but according to her, sellers will be closed on Sunday, and she needs to coordinate some meetings that day.) Thanks!

How can I get a GSM Palm Centro UNLOCKED in the U.S.?

k8t — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:02:10 -0800

Palm Centro GSM Unlocked: how to get it in the U.S.? I love my Palm Centro so much. I use it on the Sprint network in the U.S. However, I am moving to GSM-land in a month and although I have a nice GSM phone, I'd love to have the brand-new GSM Palm Centro. (And it is not on eBay yet!) (And where I am going will certainly not have them available for purchase.)

AT&T is selling it in the U.S. and it is available in Europe. However, are these unlocked?

Any ideas on how I can get my greedy little paws on a second Centro?

Help me be able to make mobile calls while visiting the US

jouke — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:46:59 -0800

I'd really like to be able to make mobile calls during my visit to the US. I'm wondering what my best option is. 1. It would be nice if I'd be able to use my old european GSM. I'd buy a cheap prepaid SIM in the US 2. if that wouldn't work I'd like to buy a very cheap second hand cellphone in San Francisco and use it with a US prepaid SIM. So the questions are:
1. will my GSM cellphone work in the US? wikipedia tells me that the European frequencies are 900/1800/1900 but that only 1900 will work in the US. Will I be able to make decent calls with just one frequency available?
2. where can I find a very cheap possibly second hand cellphone in San Francisco if option 1 won't work? Are there thrift stores? I imagine that craigslist isn't an option since it's really not worthwhile to travel far to buy such a thing.
3. will my phone work in NY too? Or are providers/sims state specific?

Need cell phone advice for a trip to russia.

the ghost of Ken Lay — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:55:21 -0800

Need cell phone advice for a trip to russia. My gf is going to Russia on a business trip and her company is not springing for a cell phone. Ive set up Skype for her but she could really use a cell phone. As luck would have it I have an old t-mobile 7290 blackberry laying around which is quad-band and GSM, but I'm not a t-mobile customer and the phone has been long deactivated.

Please correct me if I'm wrong but can't I just use this in Russia? Supposedly you can just guy a SIM card there and slip it in. I also understand that the phone is most likely locked to t-mobile. I called them and they told me that I need to get it unlocked and I should contact RIM. Ive also seen a lot of third party websites offering to sell me unlock codes. Are these trustworthy? Is RIM cheap? Can I unlock it for free somehow?

Is this plan too crazy? Is it just easier to buy a disposable phone there? I'm not familiar with the region. Thanks.

Difficulty: She's leaving on Saturday morning.

stop gsm static

brent_h — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 22:15:11 -0800

How can I make the damn GSM clicking from my iphone stop attacking my baby monitor? Does anyone know of a baby monitor that will not exhibit the damn clicking that is comes from my iphone?

Also, is there something I can do on the iphone side to stop the interference in all manner of devices, short of wrapping it completely in tinfoil?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM#Interference_with_audio_devices

How should I get connected in the U.S. again?

grouse — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:00:31 -0800

I'm probably moving back to the U.S. in August or September. I'm visiting this week and again in late March/early April. I already have a UK tri-band GSM phone. What should I do to get mobile phone coverage in the U.S.? Is there a cheap SIM I can get where my balance won't expire? Is there any point in trying to pave the way for an eventual monthly plan? Which carrier is least scammy?

Not particularly interested in a new phone. If I had to have one, it doesn't need to have any frills and would prefer a non-clamshell Nokia.