Nexus 4 shown working with LTE after simple tweak

[digital.l0gic]

Some enterprising tinkerers on the XDA Developers forums are demonstrating that despite the lack of a working signal amplifier and filter in LG’s device, it’s still possible to force the phone onto an LTE network from the phone’s debugging menu — at least on LTE band 4 (1700MHz and 2100MHz) on Canadian carriers Telus and Rogers.

Last week, Anandtech reported that "Band 4 (AWS) could essentially be supported with the power amplifiers and transceiver that already are onboard the Nexus 4, but again it ultimately comes down to a particular OEM choice whether these get supported." As we've written previously, getting LTE support across multiple carriers across the US and internationally is a minefield, which is why Google chose not to include support for multiple LTE bands on the Nexus 4.

Turning back to the US, AT&T is also licensed to operate on Band 4 (Verizon uses the incompatible Band 13), which held some promise for getting things to work south of the border. Unfortunately, we've only been able to test on AT&T in a market served by Band 17, which has been predictably unsuccessful. While we can't say at this point whether the trick will work elsewhere, we'll let you know as soon as we hear anything new.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/23/3681450/nexus-4-band-4-lte-support

Haha I knew this was theoretically possible..but It's really refreshing to see it actually working! awesome work by the XDA Dev community.

PS: Btw Tmobile uses Band 4 for LTE as well!

Edited to Add:

Vid of LTE working on N4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GXOY9EVZ4vA#!

 

[nickchallis92]

that's amazing. This phone has become even more of a bargain

 

[dalbir4444]

I wonder if Google will disable this in a future patch. I hope not. Although LTE's not very useful for me, this is still great news for other people.

 

[ChazUK]

I wonder if Google will disable this in a future patch. I hope not. Although LTE's not very useful for me, this is still great news for other people.

Anything disabled will be bought back by hackers, I wouldn't worry.

Great news for those that can use this. What a freebie!

 

[cynics]

That is actually quite incredible.

 

[nfl46]

Nice! The price is a steal!

 

[THE JUICEMAN]

Who's excited? Me! I hope we can get this working in the states. I think I may stay on AT&T a little longer just in case.

 

[Roessnakhan]

When the second batch of phones are posted they're going to go even faster now.

 

[daveathall]

I'm not that technically gifted, am I seeing this right, dial in a number and take the option of LTE, if there is a signal thats all there is to it?

Not that it matters in the UK for me, I am in a no LTE area, but it would be nice to know.

 

[ravenvii]

More proof that the Nexus 4 will work/be featured with the rumored Google+Dish Network LTE network?

 

[dalbir4444]

When the second batch of phones are posted they're going to go even faster now.

I think that would make the early adopters pretty angry.

Why is this phone still not in stock?

 

[cynics]

I'm not that technically gifted, am I seeing this right, dial in a number and take the option of LTE, if there is a signal thats all there is to it?

Not that it matters in the UK for me, I am in a no LTE area, but it would be nice to know.

Yep. It's accessed in a similar way the test mode is on an iPhone just by dialing a specific number.

 

[daveathall]

Yep. It's accessed in a similar way the test mode is on an iPhone just by dialing a specific number.

Thank you, I did access it on my phone but never changed anything, just seems so simple.

 

[2298754]

Can they hurry up and drop a VZW and AT&T LTE compatible version?

It's ridiculous that ****ing T-Mobile gets a Nexus, but not the big 2

 

[digital.l0gic]

Who's excited? Me! I hope we can get this working in the states. I think I may stay on AT&T a little longer just in case.

It will most definitely work with TMobile's LTE as its Rolling out band 4. Not sure about the others though.

Btw here are some amazing speedtest results.

The main indicator that this is Truly LTE is the Upload speed. There is absolutely no way HSPA+ would get that upload speed.

Can they hurry up and drop a VZW and AT&T LTE compatible version?

It's ridiculous that ****ing T-Mobile gets a Nexus, but not the big 2

The issue is that the Big 2 have been really lackluster in providing updates...usually taking Months to release them..and even add carrier bloatware. This goes against the grain of the Nexus program and I guess Google opted to leave them out due to the fact they were not able to compromise.

However, This is also a very good indication that Google is going to be its own Phone carrier (the Dish+,Google plan).

 

[michaeljohn]

Can they hurry up and drop a VZW and AT&T LTE compatible version?

It's ridiculous that ****ing T-Mobile gets a Nexus, but not the big 2

I want one for Verizon too but it will never happen. Not only did Google brass claim that not including LTE made the Nexus more cost efficient (read:cheap) this is what Andy Rubin said when asked about it.

“A lot of the networks that have deployed LTE haven’t scaled completely yet — they’re hybrid networks.. which means the devices needed both radios built into them. When we did the Galaxy Nexus with LTE we had to do just that, and it just wasn’t a great user experience.”

This is just a ridiculous excuse IMO. Why is it that every other high end Android phone can have both GSM and CDMA radios with LTE and perform just fine? So can the iPhone 5. Bottom line was they were just too cheap to include a fully functioning LTE radio for use with CDMA networks. Full article below.

I also find it amusing that when the iPhone 4s did not include LTE, a removable battery or SD card slot, every Android fan on the planet (including myself) laughed at it and ripped Apple for not including these things. However, the Nexus 4 comes without LTE, a removable battery or an SD card slot and suddenly the lack of these things are ok now. Pot, meet kettle

http://www.androidguys.com/2012/10/29/no-lte-for-nexus-4-andy-rubin-explains-why/

 

[dalbir4444]

I want one for Verizon too but it will never happen. Not only did Google brass claim that not including LTE made the Nexus more cost efficient (read:cheap) this is what Andy Rubin said when asked about it.

“A lot of the networks that have deployed LTE haven’t scaled completely yet — they’re hybrid networks.. which means the devices needed both radios built into them. When we did the Galaxy Nexus with LTE we had to do just that, and it just wasn’t a great user experience.”

This is just a ridiculous excuse IMO. Why is it that every other high end Android phone can have both GSM and CDMA radios with LTE and perform just fine? So can the iPhone 5. Bottom line was they were just too cheap to include a fully functioning LTE radio for use with CDMA networks. Full article below.

I also find it amusing that when the iPhone 4s did not include LTE, a removable battery or SD card slot, every Android fan on the planet (including myself) laughed at it and ripped Apple for not including these things. However, the Nexus 4 comes without LTE, a removable battery or an SD card slot and suddenly the lack of these things are ok now. Pot, meet kettle

http://www.androidguys.com/2012/10/29/no-lte-for-nexus-4-andy-rubin-explains-why/

There's also an almost 100% price difference between the Nexus 4 and iPhone 5. If the Nexus 4 cost $600 off contract, it would be inexcusable. But that's not the case. For the price, it seems to be a very competitive device, save LTE and low storage. If those are crucial to you, then the N4 is not the phone for you.

 

[Sincci]

I thought that the reason for not having LTE had something to do with the fact that in most countries LTE actually requires a special SIM card that usually requires a multi year subscription with the operator (and thus making the non-contract phone once again tied with a contract).

 

[nickchallis92]

I also find it amusing that when the iPhone 4s did not include LTE, a removable battery or SD card slot, every Android fan on the planet (including myself) laughed at it and ripped Apple for not including these things. However, the Nexus 4 comes without LTE, a removable battery or an SD card slot and suddenly the lack of these things are ok now. Pot, meet kettle

http://www.androidguys.com/2012/10/29/no-lte-for-nexus-4-andy-rubin-explains-why/

What a ludicrious argument. One phone costs £239, the other is the most over-priced handset on the market

 

[michaeljohn]

What a ludicrious argument. One phone costs £239, the other is the most over-priced handset on the market

Sorry but the Nexus 4 is considered a "flagship" device. Its unacceptable and Google is missing out on millions of customers and potential sales by only offering a GSM device. Poor choice by them, it will remain a niche device.

 

[3bs]

Sorry but the Nexus 4 is considered a "flagship" device. Its unacceptable and Google is missing out on millions of customers and potential sales by only offering a GSM device. Poor choice by them, it will remain a niche device.

How many people are on CDMA worldwide? How many are on GSM?

I'm going to bed so I'm not gonna stay up to argue

 

[dalbir4444]

Sorry but the Nexus 4 is considered a "flagship" device. Its unacceptable and Google is missing out on millions of customers and potential sales by only offering a GSM device. Poor choice by them, it will remain a niche device.

You've repeated this argument way too many times. Clearly this phone isn't for you. There are other great Android phones that have LTE, removable batteries, and Sd-card slots. If you don't like Android, then you can get an iPhone or a Windows Phone. But repeating the same argument won't make this phone have LTE.

 

[michaeljohn]

But repeating the same argument won't make this phone have LTE.

You never know. Apple finally released a larger iPhone. Maybe if enough people cried about not having a CDMA Nexus 4 they would make one. However, I don't see too many Verizon and Sprint users crying for a Nexus 4. I would like one though

 

[Dmunjal]

I have to believe that when VoLTE is available, CDMA will be dead and gone in the US.

 

[dalbir4444]

You never know. Apple finally released a larger iPhone. Maybe if enough people cried about not having a CDMA Nexus 4 they would make one. However, I don't see too many Verizon and Sprint users crying for a Nexus 4. I would like one though

Maybe someone could open up a petition. That would be a better way of getting their attention.