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Will my phone work on the Fido network?

Cawtau
Senior MVP Senior MVP
Senior MVP

Hello,

 

Your device must be compatible with the Fido/Rogers network, which uses:

 

GSM ~ EDGE (2G) ~ on band 5 (850MHz).

UMTS or WCDMA ~ HSPA (3G) / HSPA+ (4G) ~ on band 5 (850 MHz).

 

To access LTE, the device must be compatible with one or more of the following:

  • 700 MHz on Band 12;
  • 850MHz on Band 5;
  • 1900 MHz on Band 2, Band 25;
  • 1700/2100 MHz on Band 4, Band 66;
  • 2600 MHz on Band 7.

 

  The more compatible bands/frequencies a phone has, the greater likelihood of service. That said, the phone does not need to be compatible with all of the bands/frequencies in order for it to work with the Fido/Rogers networks. Access to the networks would depend on the bands/frequencies of the surrounding towers. Not all of the towers use all of the bands/frequencies. For more info, see here.

 

 Hope this helps Smiley

 

Cheers


68 REPLIES 68


@manntonio wrote:
Hello, new at this forum thing--- I'm using my cousin's galaxy S5 from Verizon. I bought it from her while up here on holidays this last Christmas. I'm giving it to my parents and they went to fido and it does not want to work as in no bars/signal. I've made sure it is not on the blacklis, and as far as I know verizon phones are not carrier locked. Any iDea why it won't work? Thank you in advance.

 

Hello Manntonio,

 

  Welcome to the forums!

 

  According to the specifications listed here, the Verizon S5 (SM-G900V) is a CDMA-based phone but should have all of the compatible bands/frequencies for 2G and '3G'. However, there would only be one compatible band/frequency for LTE, band 4 (1700/2100 MHz).

 

  There have been difficulties trying to get Verizon phones to work on other networks (see here). First, had your cousin used the phone on the Verizon network? I had previously speculated that a phone needed to be activated on Verizon prior to being able to be used on other networks.

 

  Have you verified that the phone is set for GSM networks? Verizon's main network is CDMA and would not be compatible with GSM. Under Settings --> More networks --> Mobile networks --> Network mode, ensure the phone is set for GSM/HSPA/LTE (auto connect). If your setting is CDMA/GSM (auto) or similar, I would still change it to a setting without CDMA.

 

  You should also verify that the APN settings are correct. It should be using ltemobile.apn. You can verify the correct settings here, under How to configure Android device.

 

 Hope some of this helps Smiley

 

Cheers


Cawtau
Senior MVP Senior MVP
Senior MVP

Hello,

 

  Following acquisitions from the 2014 Canadian 700 MHz spectrum auction, Fido/Rogers now also operates band 12 (700 MHz) in some provinces.

 

Cheers


spice
I'm a participant level 2
I'm a participant level 2

Is there an area map coverage for the different bands to share?

 

  • Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz) and/or
  • Band 7 (2600 MHz) and/or
  • Band 17 (700 MHz


@spice wrote:

Is there an area map coverage for the different bands to share?

 

  • Band 4 (1700/2100 MHz) and/or
  • Band 7 (2600 MHz) and/or
  • Band 17 (700 MHz

 

Hello Spice,

 

  Welcome to the forums!

 

  There are some sites which show the location and bands/frequencies of the cell towers. I tend to use this site. While I can't vouch for its accuracy, it does seem to be fairly up-to-date. Unfortunately, it does not show the 700 MHz locations. Hopefully it will be updated with that information soon.

 

 

  Hope this helps Smiley

 

Cheers


JohnBJr
I'm a contributor level 1
I'm a contributor level 1

Thanks for the link to the site. It has some very useful information.

 

Cheers 

 

John


@Cawtau wrote:

...

  There are some sites which show the location and bands/frequencies of the cell towers. I tend to use this site. While I can't vouch for its accuracy, it does seem to be fairly up-to-date. Unfortunately, it does not show the 700 MHz locations. Hopefully it will be updated with that information soon.

 

 

  ...


  Hello,

 

  That cellular tower mapping site has now been updated to include 700 MHz locations.

 

Cheers