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Use LG - CU 500 for Metro PCS ?

Discussion in 'GENERAL Wireless Discussion' started by Teroma, Jan 16, 2009.

  1. Teroma

    Teroma New Member

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    Does anybody know if the LG - CU 500 can be used on the Metro-PCS network ? I am interested in this phone , and I see in the Specs. it is a GSM Quad band & WCDMA bands type of phone. Can it be used on Metro-PCS and GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile ? I'm curios about such a phone because it would definetly give an owner some great options as far as selecting a carrier, or am I engaged in wishful thinking ?:headscrat
     
    #1 Teroma, Jan 16, 2009
  2. RadioRaiders

    RadioRaiders RF Black-Belt
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    Re: Use LG - CU 500 for Metr PCS ?

    As long as it's unlocked, it can be used with any GSM/WCDMA provider, including the ones you mentioned (just be aware, T-Mobile USA has 3G on a different frequency band 1700Mhz, so it won't work on 3G with them, but the 1900MHz GSM would)

    But LG generally is low quality, and that phone looks to be a RAZR clone. Why not just pop out a few $ more and get better quality phone? You can get a RAZR with the same specs as the LG.

    Here's a quadband (no 3G tho) for $90: http://www.overstock.com/Electronic...band-Unlocked-Cell-Phone/3516797/product.html
     
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    #2 RadioRaiders, Jan 16, 2009
  3. Teroma

    Teroma New Member

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    Re: Use LG - CU 500 for Metr PCS ?

    Thanks Radio Raiders,

    Man that was a quick response, I'm new to computer and cellphone technology, a nd just getting my feet wet, don't even know if what I'm typing is on the right page or place or what , seriously, I'm guessing. I'm not an imbecile ,but until I get familiar with things , please excuse my ignorant screw-ups, thanks in advance. I 'm glad to see there is (are) ?? phones out there that are multi - band, at least now , user's can get a break. Personally , I have T-Mobile , with NO contract , (Flex -Pay Plan ) just bought a Moto-W490 (used , $75.00 with 42 hrs. on it) it is locked but I can live with that for now. I did visit your recommended site, yes , it seems to be a good deal. I just returned a "smart-phone " to Tiger Direct, a Qtek A8300,also known as a Cingular 2125 ,and HTC Faraday 2125. ($99.00) nice phone , but all I wanted is a phone, not another computer system to try to navigate. I will buy again, but armed with knowledge. I really like Nokia's ( had 3 dinosaurs) all great ,take a beating (normal wear & tear ) and keep going my last one got knocked off a counter and is recuperating . I have my eye on a Nokia 6133 but a multi-band would change that if I knew it was dependable. The LG CU-500 is the only unlocked phone with Quad & WCDMA bands I have run across so far, do you know of other's ?
    Sorry to "bend your ear" for so long , my curiosity is insatiable about this stuff now. I'll go for now , hope to stay in touch, THANKS again, ...................Ted M. .....:rolleyes:
     
    #3 Teroma, Jan 16, 2009
  4. charlyee

    charlyee Ultimate Insanity
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    Re: Use LG - CU 500 for Metr PCS ?

    Teroma,

    Firstly, welcome to WA. We are glad to have you here and do stick around we will soon turn you into an hopeless wireless addict like the rest of us. :)

    I maybe wrong in here but I believe you are presuming that a GSM/WCDMA device will work on both GSM (T-Mobile) and CDMA (Metro PCS) networks. Unfortunately that is not possible, WCDMA is also GSM, it is popularly known as 3G, which is the high speed data transfer. This is similar to EVDO for the CDMA providers.

    WCDMA does not have anything to do with CDMA for all practical purposes. A GSM/WCDMA phone will only work on GSM providers such as AT&T and T-Mobile but not Verizon, Sprint, Metro PCS etc.

    I hope this made some sense. :)
     
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    #4 charlyee, Jan 16, 2009
  5. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    Re: Use LG - CU 500 for Metr PCS ?

    As far as the CU 500 working with MetroPCS? No, it is not possible. Despite the similarity in name of band type, MetroPCS is a CDMA carrier, which is incompatible with GSM/WCDMA phones.
     
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    #5 M in LA, Jan 16, 2009
  6. COtech

    COtech Bronze Senior Member
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    Re: Use LG - CU 500 for Metr PCS ?

    Yes--you can't use the LG CU-500, a GSM/WCDMA phone on a CDMA2000 carrier like MetroPCS. They use the same digital modulation as Verizon Wireless, Sprint(not the Nextel side), Alltel, US Cellular, Cricket, and many more.

    You'd need a GSM carrier like AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile, Einstein PCS, and several more.

    COtech
     
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    #6 COtech, Jan 16, 2009
  7. RadioRaiders

    RadioRaiders RF Black-Belt
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    Oops! Sorry, I don't know anything about Metro PCS. I assumed they were GSM/WCDMA, but apparently they are CDMA.

    Here's a list of all GSM operators in the USA:
    GSM Coverage Maps | United States

    With GSM, if the phone is unlocked, you can pop in/out different SIM cards and use the phone with different providers. A quad-band GSM phone will work with just about every GSM provider in the world (and 85% of all cellphone networks are GSM). So it's a good way to go. WCDMA (or UMTS) is the next generation in the GSM family, but it's a different system really.

    As for CDMA, it's Verizon, Sprint and I guess Metro PCS and some others (oh, US Cellular also). But to switch phones between CDMA providers is more difficult, as they have to load the info into the phone itself.

    If you want freedom and worl-wide compatibility, GSM is the way to go...
     
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    #7 RadioRaiders, Jan 16, 2009
  8. Teroma

    Teroma New Member

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    Hello, to COtech; Charlyee;Mobile Mike& RadioRaiders,

    You guy's make me feel like those people from yesterdays plane splash-crash, all you guy's coming to my rescue , THANKS guy's . I am new to all the tech-sav vy about phones and computers , I've had a "cell" since "03" and just got a computer last April (learning VISTA) I like it so far,my good buddy has XP on his and he likes mine better too. About the LG CU 500, I now realize I was in LA-LA land, If it sounds to good to be true, it probably ain't . Oh well, Where the hell is "Dick Tracy" when you need answers ? I have looked at about a hundred phones and came across about 20 or so that I take interest in, all being Quad band, un-locked , and affordable. I have un-locked my old nokia's , for back-up's (that was free & easy) and I really don't need the camera or music , but , that camera , even a bad one, could come in handy under the right circumstances, accident for instance, or for land-marks. The "W" in the WCDMA is what threw me off, I do know (I think) most US carriers are using the 1900 band for GSM services (AT&T, T-Mobile) or the 850 band. I figure by getting an unlocked Quad-band , I've covered a lot of territory. So I guess I'll keep asking and learning till something comes together.
    Sure hope I'm not becoming a P.I.T.A. to you guy's, cause it's nice to have people around that know where the pathways lead to! Damn, look here, I'm writing a book , I better get outa here !
    catch ya'll later .................Ted M......
     
    #8 Teroma, Jan 16, 2009
  9. M in LA

    M in LA Mobile 28 Years Plus
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    No problem, Ted. That's what we're here for. ;)

    So keep asking questions.:)
     
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    #9 M in LA, Jan 16, 2009
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