Using unlocked phone for UMA

K

Karrie Shmarrie <3

New member
You guys miss the bit where I said this isn't T-Mobile specific?? UMA isn't missing in the software bundle - it's the carrier branding that could be messing him up.

Which carrier did the device come from, do you know?
 
I don't know that I've ever found "wi-fi preferred" If I follow this, it just gives me a list of other service providers--I can't seemt to find anyplace that says anything like "use Wi-Fi for..." Mobile Network or Voice or anything.
 
Well, there goes that idea. I guess those modules check for vendor ID to see if the device comes from a carrier that supports UMA. I guess I could decompile those modules and check to be certain. However, even if the modules check for vendor ID, I think they are signed with RIM's operating system key, so an altered version couldn't be loaded on a device.

I think Ridicule is referring to an option that is usually present in the mobile network options between Data Services and Mobile Network (Connection Preference), which is oddly missing from your device. Did you by chance restore from another BlackBerry when you got this device?
 
I did restore from my 8100 and I remember reading that people who did that with the 8120 were having Wi-Fi issues. Since Wi-Fi was working great for me, I didn't really pay very close attention. Should I try an OS reinstall and then just manually put back the the data and apps?
 
Also, looks like your wifi wasn't turned on / negotiated in the mobile networks screen (not sure if the option's only available when it's negotiated or not) - at the very least, you might want it to be for the initial setup.
 
When the 8320 first came out if you used device switch wizard you had to load somthing to your bb from their website for uma to work correctly. Have you checked out the blackberry website? ~via BB (wap.rabroad.com)~
 
Thanks for the suggestion, Melissa. I poked around, but really didn't see anything that looked like it would help. I also tried an upgrade to 4.55.0.44. It didn't have any effect on my network options or UMA. I'll be traveling for several weeks with no computer access so I decided to downgrade back to the somewhat more known-quantity of the 4.3 OS since I'll be depending on the phone for reliable email out of the country. I really wanted to get Wi-Fi calling to work while I'm away, but it looks like something I'm not going to be able to achieve in the short term.
 
Well, it's taken about 6 months, but it was worth the wait. This is completely possible. There is no hardware issue, doesn't even seem to be phone branding. Once I had the codes, it took all of 5 minutes. Way easier than an OS upgrade. Instructions are here:

http://www.blackberrynews.com/2009/01/25/use-any-uma-enabled-blackberry-on-t-mobile-us/

I'd love to buy whoever pulled this off a beer!
 
FYI, you can generate the requisite eScreen code from a generator on my website: http://absolous.no-ip.com/projects/escreen/

That way, you don't need to find someone who still has access to RIM's web generator, or the MML tool.
 
I tried to get a URL to my generator posted in that article, by the way, but it looks like it was eaten into the abyss by the comment moderators. A lot of people around still think that eScreens access is dead, so their UMA setup problems are hopeless.

Unfortunate.
 
Yes it IS possible to enable the UMA feature on an AT&T phone to work on the TMO network. (Note: the phone must be unlocked already and setup with TMO service.) This only works on TMO UMA-supported phone models, of course -- I've only tested the process on a Blackberry 9700.

The instructions are linked below:

1st - Download the attached zip file and extract the contents to your PC. This contains 3 files:
- 2 T-Mobile security certificates for UMA
- an html file to generate unlock codes for the Engineering Screen on the BB

2nd - Use the BB Desktop Manager to load the two certificates provided onto your BB (you'll need these since the links given in the instr no longer work.)

3rd - Follow the instructions in either of the following links -- with 2 exceptions:
- skip the steps for downloading certs since you've already done that above.
- In place of going to the provided link for an Engineering Screen code use the 'Eng_Screen.htm' file.
(Note: when entering the Uptime just enter the numeric digits.)

Warning: Don't expteriment with settings in the Engineering menu or you may need to reimage the phone!

http://www.berryreporter.com/2009/01/25/use-any-wifi-uma-enabled-blackberry-on-t-mobile/
or the same directions can be found at
http://gadgetsteria.com/2009/01/25/unlocked-uma-blackberrys-now-loved-by-t-mobile/

The process took about 15 mins as a 1st-timer.
 
Back
Top