Activating a Globalstar/Qualcomm GSP-1600 on VZW?

[storkus]

I've been told it can no longer be done, are there any VZW people here who can
comment better. FYI, this is the main Globalstar phone sold in North America and
a few other places CDMA is used locally. In addition to the satellite part, it is also
a simple 800 MHz CDMA/AMPS phone with no PRL capability (AFAIK).

The 2 problems for VZW and others is that it's 800 MHz only (almost everyone
has something on the PCS bands these days, and around here VZW has both)
and no provision for PRL's. It used to be they would activate it on the local
California/Nevada coverage area, but now I'm told not. But I saw someone else
not too long ago who got it done, so what gives?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

[MeatChicken]

Originally Posted by storkus

I've been told it can no longer be done, are there any VZW people here who can
comment better. FYI, this is the main Globalstar phone sold in North America and
a few other places CDMA is used locally. In addition to the satellite part, it is also
a simple 800 MHz CDMA/AMPS phone with no PRL capability (AFAIK).

The 2 problems for VZW and others is that it's 800 MHz only (almost everyone
has something on the PCS bands these days, and around here VZW has both)
and no provision for PRL's. It used to be they would activate it on the local
California/Nevada coverage area, but now I'm told not. But I saw someone else
not too long ago who got it done, so what gives?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

I have a feeling it may be PRL capable, but not OTA.... But forget it.
Your not going to get any non-E911/gps, non VZW firmware compliant fone onto VZW, let alone a single band model.....

[storkus]

Originally Posted by MeatChicken

I have a feeling it may be PRL capable, but not OTA.... But forget it.
Your not going to get any non-E911/gps, non VZW firmware compliant fone onto VZW, let alone a single band model.....

Ok, *STUPID QUESTIONS ALERT*:

1. VZW won't let anything not carrying their own crippled firmware onto their
network? No unlocked phones, for example?

2. They were selling single-band phones until 2 or 3 years ago. Are they really
that congested now everyone has to have at least a dual-band phone?
("At least" meaning EV-DO operates on its own band, if I remember right.)

Anyway, I'll try feeding this into the Alltel group and see what happens (they and
USCC have systems on east and NW of mine here on the A-side).

Thanks again, Mike

[Quint101]

2. They were selling single-band phones until 2 or 3 years ago. Are they really
that congested now everyone has to have at least a dual-band phone?
("At least" meaning EV-DO operates on its own band, if I remember right.)

Dual-band CDMA phones are those that operate on CDMA 850 and CDMA 1900... EVDO operates on something else. Analog has its own thing also. All current VZW phones are at least dual-band; You dont have to have a phone that is EVDO capable (most VZW areas dont have it anyway). If you get a single band phone (one that lacks 850 or 1900), your phone wont work everywhere... For instance, the VZW network in FL is 1900 only, so having an 850 only phone means that you'd be roaming on Alltel or you'd have no service... conversely, having a 1900 only phone would leave you without service throughout most of the USA

[MeatChicken]

Originally Posted by storkus

Ok, *STUPID QUESTIONS ALERT*:

1. VZW won't let anything not carrying their own crippled firmware onto their
network? No unlocked phones, for example?

2. They were selling single-band phones until 2 or 3 years ago. Are they really
that congested now everyone has to have at least a dual-band phone?
("At least" meaning EV-DO operates on its own band, if I remember right.)

Anyway, I'll try feeding this into the Alltel group and see what happens (they and
USCC have systems on east and NW of mine here on the A-side).

Thanks again, Mike

Answers to the Puzzle above: :
1 - You can't get any "radom" CDMA fone onto A VZW plan, simply because it is unlocked. The ESN must be in VZW's database, & the only fones there are current E911/gps VZW approved models. (You used to years ago). FCC regulations that went into effect about a year ago are going to make it very hard or impossible to get a non E911 fone on any major carriers network, so I doubt alltel or USCC will plan activate it either.

2 - There were NO single band fones in VZW's linup 2 or 3 years ago. It has been "many" years since they offered a single band model EVDO also operates on the same PCS 1900Mhz, but is for Data only & is not another band.......

Most carriers in their fine print Require a dual band digital fone in order to qualify for their current plans.. it has been this way for quite sone time now, this ensures that the fone will be able to access native systems & preferred roam partners in all areas, Before using a less preferred system.
As the other poster mentioned, in many areas, such as Florida, VZW is 1900-only, & your fone would not be capable of accessing VZW's signal, & would always use a roam partner instead........

[storkus]

First ont he bands, I meant dual (cellular and PCS) and tri (with EV-DO). Sorry for
the confusion, it was late.

Second, thanks for the E911 and all warning. You're right, the technology in
this phone is probably a decade old (it's bigger than an original Moto AMPS
phone!), so E911 hadn't even been thought of yet. The phone does include
location info, but it's by ranging off the G* birds themselves, not even with GPS
(as both Iridium and Thuraya do), and it's more for billing than tracking (+/- 5
MILES!!).

Third, VZW in Nevada and California is the old Pac-Bell Cellular, later Airtouch.
It has always been a B-side system (not A, which is AWS, more confusion from
typing away around midnight last night); when PCS came out, they got a 1900
segment as well, just like AWS. If you use a "local" plan, it's 100% B-side with that
1900 overlay, so it shouldn't be a problem as long as I don't roam out of the 2
states.

Thanks, Mike

[Gonz]

The only way I know of to activate an older phone on VZW, is to use VIVA wireless, a small prepaid carrier which uses the vzw network. I've activated a 5185i with them, as well as a CDMA startac. They will give you a free package of minutes, free first month if you search the web for a promotion.