SUBSIM mobile phone thread [Archive] - Page 2

Rockin Robbins

08-28-15, 03:33 PM

I run a Moto X (2013 model) on Republic Wireless. This guy switches all access to wireless when available and not watching my use at all I'm under half a gig per month of cell data use.

My plan starts out at $25 for 1 gig cell data, unlimited everything else and I get rebated at full retail for every byte I don't use of cell data. My bill last month: $15. I can buy as much data as I want for cheap if I'm going where there's no such thing as a wireless signal (where in the world would THAT be) and I get rebated full retail for every byte of add-on data that I don't use too.

I'm on wireless just about all the time but drive time. Republic is so far the least amount I can pay for the most benefit that nothing else comes close. If you must use 10 GB a month cell data I don't know if it would still be cheapest but surely worth checking out.

Onkel Neal

08-28-15, 03:51 PM

This guy switches all access to wireless when available and not watching my use at all I'm under half a gig per month of cell data use.

That's a useful feature. I'm on a 30GB data plan at $200 a month, because managing Subsim from the road, it's the only option. :doh:

Rockin Robbins

10-12-15, 02:50 PM

That's a useful feature. I'm on a 30GB data plan at $200 a month, because managing Subsim from the road, it's the only option. :doh:
Yup and navigation will eat up data as well and you can't go without that when you're on the road.

Rockin Robbins

11-04-15, 02:02 PM

By the way, it seems that the media is very fond of poo-pooing the LG G4 cell phone. But if you like cameras, its camera outperforms my Kodak DX 6490 in all points. Yes, the cell phone has a lot more megapixels, but megapixels is almost irrelevant to camera quality.

With full manual settings, my LG G4 has even more adjustment than my stand-alone camera. It has no optical zoom but with 16 megapixels vs 4, I can zoom a long way digitally without giving up resolution.

Where it comes in impressively is the full manual settings on the camera, white balance, manual focus (!!!), a plus or minus brightness control, adjustable ISO, selectable shutter speed between 1/6000 and 30 seconds (you read that right. Read it again). You have burst mode, on screen level indicator, touch to focus (if you want), image stabilization.....I'm leaving stuff out, I know it. The iPhone WISHES its camera were in the same century as this one. The newest Samsung cameras are equal or better on automatic settings only. But if you're a camera afficianato, this one is light years better. Actually, in this case it's 2 million light years better to M-31, a bit more than that to M-33.

Let's put it this way: probably the first cell phone photo in history of two galaxies, M-31 (Andromeda Galaxy) and M-33 (Pinwheel Galaxy). I took this photo on a night where M-31 was not a naked eye object.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Andromeda%20w%20black%20screens%20best%20copy_zpsm rtrlvo3.jpg

Here is a GIF showing all six individual shots and you can see the clouds wafting through the view as I took the photos. This camera can do much better than the above!
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/20151101_212007-ANIMATION_zpsbrssskbv.gif
https://app.box.com/s/k5ks4592mj3hiceuebpzcv0ou61y890r

Rockin Robbins

11-09-15, 11:00 AM

My latest cell phone astrophotography effort. It's a mixed bag. But on the whole a much better image on a much better night.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/RockinRobbins13/Cygnus_zpss9c0hpbp.jpg

Rockin Robbins

11-13-15, 01:14 PM

And here's a new cell phone photo of the Cassiopeia area. Can you find the constellation Cassiopeia in this Milky Way mess of stars? This is a fricking huge area of sky from the top of Cygnus at upper left to Cepheus, Cassiopeia, a chunk of Perseus...yikes! Imagine seeing this with your naked eye. You could from the deck of a submarine in the Pacific ocean.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hsuLHT2J0Lk/VkVQgeznWjI/AAAAAAAA8bY/qvE59kbHwas/w958-h539-no/Casseopeia.jpg

CaptainRamius

11-16-15, 01:30 AM

Been using a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini. Perfect for what I use it for (Whatsapp, phone calls)
No other apps whatsoever :D

HunterICX

04-05-16, 03:37 AM

Recently purchased a Huawei P8 Lite for 177€ (unlocked)
Being faster (2gb Ram), has 16gb storage space and at least has a decent camera for taking pictures while on the road.

http://i.imgur.com/S2r0rDd.jpg

Onkel Neal

04-05-16, 07:41 AM

Huawei is a fast growing company.

Rockin Robbins

04-08-16, 01:53 PM

Yay for the little guys duking it out with the bruisers! Competition is good for everyone except for those who don't compete.

Onkel Neal

09-06-17, 10:18 PM

Ugh, my LG G3 has developed some kind of hardware issue. The display has a curtain of lines and bars and overall is hard to read (similar to the video below). Man, not happy. I've had this phone 2+ years but I am not ready to sink more $$ into a new one. Very disappointed in LG. :nope:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDqy0XuG9fM

Onkel Neal

09-06-17, 10:27 PM

I'm gonna try this fix, pray for me :timeout:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNoPq9-ZuuQ

v-i-c-

09-06-17, 10:59 PM

There are several videos about how to fix this problem. I think you should watch them all and read the comments before you start trying to fix it. Some reflow the chip with high temperature:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft8V5yrQFic

Onkel Neal

09-08-17, 06:23 AM

Aye vic, good idea. I plan to study up and then attack this phone tomorrow, so I'll have the whole weekend to grieve if I kill it. I don't have a heat gun so I'll stick it in the microwave for a minute.

I just hate trashing things if there is a way to repair them and get more life out of them. I guess that's the Gamer in me, squeezing resources. :03: These phones are ultra cool mini computers, it makes me cringe to think about throwing it away without trying to repair it.

If the phone surgery does kill the patient, I am going to buy a Moto G4 or G5. I no longer live on the road so I really don't need a high end mini computer... er, mobile phone. I just need something that will make calls, take pics, run Google Maps, and tether my laptop. If I buy a phone outright I do not have to have a contract with the carrier.

propbeanie

09-08-17, 09:21 AM

I did an HP laptop motherboard like that several times. It worked the first two times quite well. I got another year and a half the first time, and almost a year the second time. After that, I couldn't bring it back. Phones probably are more finicky about temperature and the bake-time length, so definitely watch all the videos you can find, but you're still at the mercy of your own decision. You want to use a combination that gets the motherboard hot enough for a long enough duration of time, to melt the solder and re-flow it (a "natural" process), but not so long as to have the solder fall off the joints, or melt parts that may be "delicate". I'm certain that you'll have to make some "foil hats" to protect some areas of the board and / or chips... Good luck! :salute:

Rockin Robbins

09-08-17, 04:22 PM

You know, I'm a bit burned out on slightly less than $1000 (and soon to be over that) flagship phones. My daughter bought an Honor 5 and absolutely loves the thing. Their new Huawei Honor 8 (https://www.cnet.com/products/huawei-honor-8/review/) is darned good, within spitting distance of an $800 cell phone for $270.

About the only thing not to like is short battery life.....sorta like my LG G4. But I really don't care much until the hurricane strikes. Then I can keep the battery charged but I know there won't be any cell phone service.

Unfortunately, I'm very experienced dealing with these hurricanes and know I'll survive but also know it won't be fun. Losing communication is the worst part about these things.

Hint for those in the path: what drains your battery in three hours when under normal use you have ten or twelve solid hours from a single charge? NOTHING other than navigation services drains your battery faster than your phone looking for a connection and not finding one. After the storm, if you don't have service, put your phone in airplane mode. Once in awhile take the phone out of airplane mode long enough to search for service and if you don't have it, put that phone right back into airplane mode. You'll find that your batteries will now last a little LONGER than they normally would instead of about a third as long as normal.

Onkel Neal

09-09-17, 02:14 PM

Well, I tried several "fixes", I added the paper wedge, did not help. I baked the motherboard for 8 minutes at 350F, twice, nothing helped. Alas.

Went to Best Buy and got a Moto G5 Plus. I asked several questions about using the charger from my old phone, was it compatible, what kind of data/charger port did the new phone have, if the phone I was buying was the same, etc. I specifically asked if all I had to do was remove the sim card from my old phone and put it in the new phone. I was told yes, sure. The associate should have picked up on my concerns about changing phones; when I got home I learned the new phone uses a mini sim card, so the old sim card won't work. I will have to go back to the store and see if they can make a new sim card with my old data. I could have gone to Wal-Mart and gotten this kind of service.

propbeanie

09-09-17, 05:38 PM

Sorry 'bout both of your experiences Onkel Neal. The baking doesn't always work, but the store?... Seems that a lot of places have the incompetency issue. I had to "update" my dum-dum fone (the only kind I'm qualified to operate), since AT&T was shutting down their 2G service, and my flip fone was going to obsolete. I'd had that Motorola Razer since the day I got a cell fone... alas, progress marches on, and I had to change sim cards. Then they screw up the little amount of data you ~do~ have on your sim card. I've lost all of my music, my ring tones, my text messages, and I've now got 400 contact entries instead of 100... Everybody quadrupled when the girl at the store "set me up"... :lol: - and I still can't figure out how to operate the beast, like mute the dad-blamed thing when I go into places, so I have to turn it off... :har:

Rockin Robbins

09-09-17, 05:49 PM

Went to Best Buy and got a Moto G5 Plus. I asked several questions about using the charger from my old phone, was it compatible, what kind of data/charger port did the new phone have, if the phone I was buying was the same, etc. I specifically asked if all I had to do was remove the sim card from my old phone and put it in the new phone. I was told yes, sure.

I'm sure he picked up on it. He just wanted to sell you the phone. Best Buy is off my buy list. I've repaired lots of computers that were totally screwed up by their Geek Squad. And so many times Geek Squad does the quick and dirty "screw their data" repair and the customer loses everything they went to Geek Squad to save. They have a working soulless husk of a computer. If they're lucky.

mapuc

09-09-17, 05:51 PM

Since some month back I have a new smartphone which are quite unknown by people here.

Name of the phone Dancell Vina from Dancell company.

Markus

Onkel Neal

09-09-17, 07:50 PM

Best Buy is usually pretty good at this. I guess I was in too much of a hurry and they girl thought I knew what I was doing. I sorta do, but I did not know about nano sim cards.... I guess I should have figured something like that changed in the last two years :wah:

d@rk51d3

09-09-17, 08:39 PM

If your old sim is too big, cut it to fit. Stores often have a punch tool to do it if you're not comfortable with the scissors.

If your sim is too small, check the cheap starter sim packs. Often the sims are in a series of frames that you knock out until you reach your desired sim size. You can use the empty frame to bring your sim up to size.

Onkel Neal

09-10-17, 11:33 AM

Yeah, no I don't think so :). I'm 99% sure if I cut it, it will not work.

I went back and got the nano sim card and let the associate transfer all my contacts. I can do the photos and apps myself.

Onkel Neal

09-12-17, 10:33 AM

Man, what a pain it is, trying to adapt to new photo album and phone contact apps

Aktungbby

09-12-17, 12:17 PM

Man, what a pain it is, trying to adapt to new photo album and phone contact apps
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2246934&postcount=244 (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2246934&postcount=244) I'm still using my https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/BjQAAOSwk5FUzSrR/s-l225.jpg
reliable LG-VX8300 flip phone for business and actually got 2 new batteries for it after using the original for over a decade!!!. The original battery was made in Korea and still got the job done but couldn't hold a charge so well.. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41k414-IyfL._AC_UL115_.jpg
The new ones say 'made in China':hmmm: (no doubt still produced and smuggled from North Korea:oops:) Wait till' the Donald' finds out I'm circumventing his economic sanctions on Fatboy!:haha:

Onkel Neal

09-22-17, 06:44 AM

Ok, so after changing some settings to improve the call quality (should't good call quality be the baseline for any cell phone), I'm happy with the Moto G5Plus. It's plenty fast enough and very reasonable cost-wise $225 vs $600 for the top tier phones.

https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g5-plus/review/

Now, if it will last 5 years, I'll be thrilled :Kaleun_Cheers:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RC-KWEyWFi1iGympLUcTx7BNTeDtjWQiRuOV3w_baS1dCbWlBaF_w LY1QgmjVDcnX-vn2ClwkQph_e86wGw5G4zg4cU0UAbrduLefEaA94bwpTnc9vTX FX2n-qHwojuPXQmHH3M60kHCXrJt4MwlG1Hld4BPJyKbWbAV_aMXAkB 61oJM1z8_nS99_rql-NCMwXLPQkiwB9NJwOTh=s800-pd-e365-rw-pc0xffffff

Jimbuna

09-22-17, 07:22 AM

Neal, the buggas only 'splash resistant', shouldn't you have something that is totally waterproof :)

Rockin Robbins

09-22-17, 11:34 AM

h and very reasonable cost-wise $225 vs $600 for the top tier phones.

https://www.cnet.com/products/motorola-moto-g5-plus/review/

Now, if it will last 5 years, I'll be thrilled :Kaleun_Cheers:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/RC-KWEyWFi1iGympLUcTx7BNTeDtjWQiRuOV3w_baS1dCbWlBaF_w LY1QgmjVDcnX-vn2ClwkQph_e86wGw5G4zg4cU0UAbrduLefEaA94bwpTnc9vTX FX2n-qHwojuPXQmHH3M60kHCXrJt4MwlG1Hld4BPJyKbWbAV_aMXAkB 61oJM1z8_nS99_rql-NCMwXLPQkiwB9NJwOTh=s800-pd-e365-rw-pc0xffffff
$600 for a top-tier phone? That's two years ago news. The new Samsung and Apple phones will be over $1,000! There is a point where you have to say "I really don't have to be a trend setter," especially after the Galaxy Note 7 flameout issue.....

When I have to update, I'm keeping my present phone for its camera and going for the $250 range. Lots of great phones in that category.

Rockin Robbins

10-23-17, 05:54 PM

Just bought a Huawei Honor 8 and so far I'm impressed!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/7fchpCVQe9XyNZQvbja5c7RrCWhoUd5mUC4s6aZ1cMHBrA5PEZ MZpPFBmbDqNzZFQQMrbeRzIEcocQRLf5FfQl8D1KCjeN1EUkkX I4w3H8gklmJ5FIvLHzrFPVhI2gGtPahtFn0Tm-7GhcHVDvyFjgDNxH7CTkajqj6ofXgbMzlbySFHbACzn4YOaL9s MigV88c4z-BwrNsy798JoMcVodAVhaiN39v7YKq-6Ngb7WOvHVnOisyfMcObQUGEj_X9UV6b0ctu_Ytal2FTBB6Qg-d34HjfWUTKsuj0tFUV1kOBEP9twx8mjZ2oDKayR2owuh-Hv50Vzd3q33CA4bKXrbwwRSbL7NZAevsd4whyZpPe6qSeVzt0c rB43Xk9RPwDbu7QIJkQd7y9xF-a4RubvGyI4yaa_RSwKOsukcPBJDL9LUiQft9ZcmXvm-2h2LWQwkJ11KJTC_d9XL0jLVluiKhKmaiGPSmT6fodM0bYJp3_ awJdbkD5OwRX-6IKNXhKjIOybKN4zMSSNqANF9JGRypchIue4omdUkHZ2-CXBq-IaHQtwMUHfSxJuR18Vpu8JDURefqrV35O6uoBcX6vGvFNDvUJF wmX1aF9eudScnA=w1666-h937-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aHa0qiWcTnAa2BXsyeqgjsaSSwQNSO5RRLnIu8pd9vPvUTVeAf Eko_Iia9AMrMWl3UUT477lj9gZiE91PmiCnhlJ8We-3VMgTedwJqgfFpU7pUrtY5VGEBiBw4R0bH861iQtA4AvrAj_nf G_veKfiIHQxSpmijAV6Ed3j1WMHbQrnCZaruxDCw6BtxT13UkW _TJeuyxoTlzjnX-Z2al1GVDU9chIWFdWPEJy-CzIt9S_Na2kgORDirNsA0rRXUbV9h-r_QbXhxZek7qlfWIUocC1CrDYdPet3m2XxQUGrzromxOA83rZz HuIvKuJF1eWmAgm39UknHIBDgjBeadnZGSs-qfg5tt5KEa6GxrVLgW4D6zwfJMFTL9gweoI3RJwAzvhN0syDQz Q7EwVBu6QTSbqCZuPJFw-Upmme4UdSfAu9dCTdNYDigKfJAREpMtjlSLYzHNJHR4sF5Cyv5 0JJLHVfem02SuUQyfk6vl0JiFZPKKqHPe_KlOUBbzIc2ZozMJS tSf1FlFzUWS8q5US-3RfoCWvpR_HTHPQacBPRPrgvb1qDk15YGHC_PGCP2QAky1FQVN DZxDZQbCtthI35KAh2rdN-Dik_MMmnETLyJg=w1666-h937-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/PczKOcK_qUoI4u4Agph14VSNomz32bj0uDcAOX1MXxTPmJw-0jcZQiTH_jc6spVBF-qnibGhhmLspgJ4AaMNDsb1h7oWGrXQjBpNf0W3HLLtQYiliYn4 e_14AYFteoxh70AcdVKxAP1E7E-oNWHBHZdpHROs_4FKZqUTOSv4oLJPZTgSeEufKM_MO-jRfBmMtGrYKLLAjY6A7nZPLPGSYPUs0J62dS17A_TjYQy9CNp_ xAdxUuP9V3JHeP0ifW2R-nQXmCt8M1pbG2_STktCuZvpYjHmlXSEJAlHnD4-4fuVUY4LqP1vqU2zC2mgeP1FRshJmzR2gEoX-74SUawBCMldL1K7eyxnb3dWbZJlE74gPQeTg2nxpe1itdY8BWw LOckjnSg4jfvIbZgaXq01Hl-FDRmEvg-daQZP_i44V02zWSEuOZZkcEJbwxNELFjSKJMSOd8AyF4PowNuB C5i661Jjvx24BSENBzYzwQ30WTEsMwCX2sfkh2YbNqVmKLmTgQ rT1C0yZvD8SpJ679DjZidrydFU_zYMF5yIlc2crbSgNova_MYU flhfA_ShkMQ_4U3a5mmZMq75Ri6vEAYz2wcD6s_Bc8Wc6FQUlI pT-U=w1666-h937-no

I'm impressed by the build quality, the menus I've used have been right snappy and the camera looks promising. For $300 I think it's a flagship buster so far!

Onkel Neal

02-25-19, 06:37 AM

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/24/18238437/lg-v50-dual-screen-second-display-mwc-2019

I'm really interested in foldable phones. Hopefully someone will take LG's idea and make it better, with a hinge on the outer side and zero bezels on the inner edges, so in effect, a single screen when opened.
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/88fQxkCCxDLqAnGykjTUzFDGjzA=/0x0:2040x1360/920x613/filters:focal(857x517:1183x843):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63112233/vpavic_190223_LG_DUAL_SCREEN_0001.0.jpg

THE_MASK

04-19-19, 04:39 PM

Samsung should have just made there phones be able to join together and software to allow 2 phones to be used as one . Discount if you buy 2 phones . Lego has been joining stuff for decades .

Reece

04-20-19, 02:13 AM

:haha: I think Neal just wants captain Kirks communicator. :yep:

Sailor Steve

04-20-19, 02:17 AM

For years now I've used a service called Net10. I bought an LG phone when I joined them, and it cost me less that $40. Three or four years ago they upgraded their service, and told me my phone would no longer work. Then the sent me an LG 900...free! It can get on the web, but not very well, and that's fine with me. It does texts, but I hate texting. Phone calls? No problems and no complaints.

u crank

04-20-19, 08:52 AM

Up until a week ago I had an iphone 5 and my wife had a 6. Our cellphone provider has constantly offered all kinds of deals which we ignored since the phones were paid for. Finally a deal we couldn't turn down. Two new i7s for $5 more a month each on our bill for two years. That's $240 for $1200 worth of phones. Makes you wonder. I'm happy. My i5 was not getting any signal if I was out in the country away from the towers.

STEED

04-20-19, 08:56 AM

After 10 years my old phone died so I bought another unlocked cheap phone. No point giving out my number once the credit is used up I will buy another £10 sim and so on.

Onkel Neal

07-11-19, 08:19 PM

Bold new experiment!

Since I live in the countryside, there are no high speed interest options without data caps. I have been using my Verizon cell phone as a hot spot for the last 4 years. Speed is great but the data cap is 30 GB and it's $200 a month. :doh:

I've been watching the carriers compete, and lately "Unlimited" data is the thing. It's 50% cheaper but they still cap it at ~22GB, and much less than that if it goes through the hot spot.

So the news update today was about one of these Mobile Virtual Network Operators "Visible" supposedly offers unlimited hot spot at 5MB/s. That should be plenty fast for plain jane Internet access. (Alas, no countryside Netflix yet).

So, I ordered the cheapest phone that will work on their plan $99 and the $40 unlimited plan to try it out. If it really works, great. I have 2 weeks to return it, so if I am not satisifed after 12 days back it goes and I'll give Sprint a try, their Unlimited Premium plans include 100GB of hotspot use, more than 3x what I have now, at $80/month.

Onkel Neal

07-16-19, 07:09 PM

Ok, phone set up and active, now running wild on unlimited plan. :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

Speed test shows it is actually faster than my main Verizon account. As long as I can manage 5MB/s without worrying about running out of data, I'll be fine.

Onkel Neal

08-06-19, 06:05 PM

Well, 3 weeks in, I can no longer return the phone for a refund. But so far, the service has been good, as good as on the my other plan. :)

So, maybe it's time to let go of the mega $$ plan now. The risk is, once I end that the old plan service, I can't get it back.

Then again, Verizon just came up with 4 new plans, and the "Get More Unlimited" plan (https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/unlimited/) (how does one get more unlimited? Isn't "unlimited" all that can be gotten??) comes with 30 GB of "Unlimited" Hot spot data, which is the same as my current $200 plan.

Decisions....:hmmm:

BarracudaUAK

08-06-19, 06:53 PM

... and the "Get More Unlimited" plan (https://www.verizonwireless.com/plans/unlimited/) (how does one get more unlimited? Isn't "unlimited" all that can be gotten??)

...

Maybe you're getting more things that are "Unlimited"?

Now that I think about it...
There is only so much time in a month (one month to be exact), so how exactly is it "Unlimited"?

Anybody else getting tired of this joke, because it seems there are an "Unlimited" number of puns I can make here... the possibilities are...

"Limitless".
:haha:

I'll see myself out...

Barracuda

P.S. I didn't look at the link before I posted... so if my post doesn't make any sense, that why.

Onkel Neal

08-07-19, 05:10 AM

:Kaleun_Applaud: Brilliant.

Onkel Neal

09-21-19, 09:26 AM

Now 2 months in, so far no issues at all. Still paying for the coveted $180 30GB plan, afraid to let that go but the new Visible hot spot is as good as anything I've used outside of a cable connection.

Maybe in a couple months I'll cancel the $180 plan, then I'll be totally dependent on Visible, no going back. :06: But if Visible maintains the current performance, I'll be saving $120 a month.

ColinCejay

10-08-19, 04:19 AM

With telstra, my only choice on a great day can get 24 Mbs worst can be as low as 8Mbs. Have an optus tower nearby but no signal.

Regards

Onkel Neal

10-26-19, 12:21 PM

Skybird

10-26-19, 12:42 PM

Hehe.

I pay 2 Euros per month for mobile web, and 9 cent per SMS and 9 cent per telephone minute. At max I spend 10MB per month mobile, do one or two minutes of phon e talking, and send no or one SMS.

:D 2 - 2.36 Euros per month. Who's still with me?

40 Euros per month for cable connection, however. Plus 18 Euros obligatory media tax. Beyond that no further pay TV.

Aktungbby

11-29-19, 08:44 PM

ceciharri25!:Kaleun_Salute:

Onkel Neal

06-26-20, 06:31 AM

I went out on a limb and cancelled my long time 30 GB plan, because now Verizon has a $90 plan that provides 30GB of hot spot data, so, that saves me ~$85 a month. With the $40 plan and $90 plan, $180 - $130 = $50 a month savings and I have a 30BG plan and the Visible unlimited plan, I finally have fairly high speed unlimited internet in the country! :Kaleun_Applaud:

If I really get brave, I may transfer my number to the $40 Visible plan and cancel Verizon altogether, but I'm not ready for that now :)

Between my October post and this update, I have been successfully streaming Hulu and Netflix, pretty much as often as I wished, using Visible's $40 a month unlimited. It has been terrific! But ...

Massive changes at Rancho Subsim:

Bought a house with fiber access, 350MBS download speeds and no more data cap.

Cancelled Visible service

Switched mobile to Verizon prepaid, 15GB data cap at $40 a month.
https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-att-adjust-prepaid-prices-to-attract-long-term-subscribers-2020-6

Success at last!

Skybird

06-26-20, 06:43 PM

Did I get this right - you moved and bought a new house only in order to get rid of your old telephone wire? Thats dedication - no half solutions, but clear cuts.

:O:

Texas Red

06-26-20, 07:45 PM

Between my October post and this update, I have been successfully streaming Hulu and Netflix, pretty much as often as I wished, using Visible's $40 a month unlimited. It has been terrific! But ...

Massive changes at Rancho Subsim:

Bought a house with fiber access, 350MBS download speeds and no more data cap.

Cancelled Visible service

Switched mobile to Verizon prepaid, 15GB data cap at $40 a month.
https://www.businessinsider.com/verizon-att-adjust-prepaid-prices-to-attract-long-term-subscribers-2020-6

Success at last!

We tried for a year to get Xfinity to come out and make a line out here in the Suburban countryside. We had a Verizon Jetpack that had 15gb of unlimited data and guess how fast that went out when I was playing my games? less than a day And the more gigs you used, the slower the speed got. Literally, in two weeks, we would have 35 kb/s download speed AT MAX. We would get more 15gb data after a month had passed.

Then, Xfinity came out with fiber internet out here in May, after using Verizon for about a year and I could download SH5 in two minutes, with the max speed capping off at around 500 Mb/s. The Xfinity speed test says that we get nearly 1gb max speed, which is insane.

I understand how grueling it must've been for you to have the slowest internet ever. Life felt so slow back in those days, especially when I had to do online learning for school.

Good hunting! Give those tommies hell! :Kaleun_Salute:

Onkel Neal

06-26-20, 10:14 PM

Did I get this right - you moved and bought a new house only in order to get rid of your old telephone wire? Thats dedication - no half solutions, but clear cuts.

I had to move anyway, my previous house was too small. I wanted a VR room and a bigger library.

We tried for a year to get Xfinity to come out and make a line out here in the Suburban countryside. We had a Verizon Jetpack that had 15gb of unlimited data and guess how fast that went out when I was playing my games? less than a day And the more gigs you used, the slower the speed got. Literally, in two weeks, we would have 35 kb/s download speed AT MAX. We would get more 15gb data after a month had passed.

Then, Xfinity came out with fiber internet out here in May, after using Verizon for about a year and I could download SH5 in two minutes, with the max speed capping off at around 500 Mb/s. The Xfinity speed test says that we get nearly 1gb max speed, which is insane.

I understand how grueling it must've been for you to have the slowest internet ever. Life felt so slow back in those days, especially when I had to do online learning for school.

Good hunting! Give those tommies hell! :Kaleun_Salute:

Yeah, 15GB a month is barely enough for basic web surfing and video.

Ahh, I remember back in 1999 or so, when I lived in Houston and Time Warner showed up with Road Runner cable, that was amazing! I enjoyed that for 15 years the gave it up to live out of a truck for 3 years, using my phone as a hot spot. Brutal.

Well, here's hoping Starlink will help all the folks living out of town soon... :yeah:

Skybird

06-27-20, 10:28 AM

Skybird

06-27-20, 08:06 PM

I wanted a VR room
Ach ja? Tell us all about it!

Texas Red

06-28-20, 01:05 PM

I wanted a VR room :

:o Never thought that old farts were interested in that :D

I don't really want a VR, my cousin told me they give him motion sickness. I get bad motion sickness in the car, and I get terrible motion sickness, so I will probably not get one.

Jimbuna

06-28-20, 01:56 PM

:o Never thought that old farts were interested in that :D

I don't really want a VR, my cousin told me they give him motion sickness. I get bad motion sickness in the car, and I get terrible motion sickness, so I will probably not get one.

That is the second time you have referred to someone in such a derogatory manner on this forum. First it was the forum senior moderator (myself) and now it is the forum owner.

I'm not going to give you a warning, infraction, or even a brigging having taken into account your young age but I will promise you one thing....the next time will be the last time you post on this forum for some considerable time.

Onkel Neal

06-28-20, 03:31 PM

My Huawei P9 lite, which I liked, seems to give it up. Its from 2016 I think, so that comes a bit early in my thinking (I demand mobile computer devices to last at least 5 years, and stationary PCs 7-8 years). The screen's touch functionality works only with delays and stutterings now, even when removing the protection I added to it (after the original broke all by itself longer time ago, I opened it one morning and the shield was all broken, the display not). The battery counter also seems to work erratic.

I can get a cheap deal on a Samsung M31, for 210 Euros, (Amazon price is 270 Euros). The working speed seems to be comparable or maybe very slightly better (in parts same chips, some other chips are newer), battery is twice as big (6000, wowh), and it has 4x as much default memory and 3.5x higher pixel resolution camera(s). It comes with Android 10. It looks ugly, but I use to carry/hide them in leather wallets anyway.

Is it a good deal, in your opinion? Any known issues? Truckloads of bloatware that cannot be deleted (I have earlier experiences with Samsung devices and were not impressed with them beign drowned in bloatware, but that is 6 years ago or so)? Erratic compass or GPS sensor? Bad camera? These are the things that are priority for me: navigation (OSMAND), and camera, and reliable bluetooth (a weakness of the Huawei, they suck with bluetooth).

If there were no political issues, and dissatisfaction with Chinese traders' behaviour and the uncertainty over Google's Playstore, I would not have minded to go with a Chinese brand again, but as things are today, I decided that I want to turn away from them. I also was annoyed one time too often now by a Chinese traders in disguise at Amazon, they too often practice too bad behaviour, tricks, and even lie. Only Fenix torchlights I would buy again, they are just too good to be ignored.

Honestly, mobile phones are something I don't know a lot about, I simply went for one that was CDMA + GSM so I can switch carriers if necessary (never done it)
moto g5 plus is unlocked so you can switch among all major U.S. networks, like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint*, Consumer Cellular, Republic Wireless, and many more, by simply swapping SIM cards.

and 1920 x 1080 HD resolution on a 5.2-inch display. I don't like or want massive phones, but that's a bit unusual, most people like to wag tablet size phones around.

I never buy any phone when it's new, too much $$ for something I can drop and break. I think $240 is the most I've ever spent. The cameras and CPUs on cheap phones are more than fantastic enough for me.

Ach ja? Tell us all about it!

You've seen Star Trek and their Holodeck? Something like that when I am finished. :yep:

blackswan40

06-28-20, 03:43 PM

Things were so much simplar in the 70's

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1223&pictureid=11165

nuf said :D

Skybird

06-28-20, 05:49 PM

Honestly, mobile phones are something I don't know a lot about, I simply went for one that was CDMA + GSM so I can switch carriers if necessary (never done it)

and 1920 x 1080 HD resolution on a 5.2-inch display. I don't like or want massive phones, but that's a bit unusual, most people like to wag tablet size phones around.

I never buy any phone when it's new, too much $$ for something I can drop and break. I think $240 is the most I've ever spent. The cameras and CPUs on cheap phones are more than fantastic enough for me.

That alls sounds pretty much like me, including the price limit. :) How some people can spend over thousand coins every two years, is beyond me. I wouldnt do that even if I were a millionaire. - However, I am concerned about bloatware that cannot be deleted blocking major shares of the memory. Samsung preinstalls so much of that stuff. Huawei did that, too, but almost all was removable. Samsung device from four years ago or so did not allow much deletion of bloatware. Samsungs is very aggressive in these things anyway, I think. Good tehcn ology, but not as good custimer polcies, that is my impression.

Anyway, I tend to pick the model I found, the price is too good. I save one quarter of the current shop price.

One word on VR headsets, in case you go with Oculus please note that the two headsets they currently offer, do not fully compare. While the small one is tempting because you do not need a PC to run it, that also hampers its performance: some apps the bigger one can run (since it is the PC delivering the performance power) , will not run with this one. Amongst them THE killer app for VR there is: Google Earth/Streetview. If you go VR, you want Earth/Streetview, and a headset not able to run these, is a complete fail. At least imo.

Traps everywhere! Watch out!

Skybird

06-28-20, 05:52 PM

Things were so much simplar in the 70's

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1223&pictureid=11165

nuf said :D
But their imagination was ahead of time!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5a/1b/de/5a1bded0cae22c3cb03964cfe89d6949.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Vs0bch5gAGcqd1-S8t_xqhQJ_R_a9CnMstYVSQ6gpWORcbyUAf50MFDjWgZfugvSG 12p1jJKHFqXv3A_UkfpgqqdvBtSgFzZg1y2Xp-KZHMQC2OGhu_PLQqj8RaOU4rl

From "Space 1999", a British series, German title was "Mondbasis Alpha 1".

So much optimism in that title's date! :D

Skybird

07-03-20, 06:23 AM

Have the M31 in us enow for three days. Its as wide and thivck as the P9lite, but 1cm longer, and heavier (battery has twice the capacity, it is very difficult to ill the batter yin this one). The feel of holding it, is okay for a full plastic body, I use a case anyway. It has a earplug connector, and a 15W charger.

Display is great. GPS sensor and compass are a bit weak, but usable, the GPS in the Huawei worked better. Single loundspeaker does the job, its not bad, but then its also not great.

Plenty of Bloatware preinstalled, as I feared. In the P9lite I could delete most of it, with samsung some things are meant to stay, even stuff like Facebook and Netflix can only be deactivated, but not deleted. Unforgiable, but Samsung since years drives an extremely aggressive anti-.customer policy on these things. I hoped they would have learned over the years, well, they haven'T. Not one bit.

Two SIM slots and 1 SD card slot, plenty of memory that way. The device handles at comparable speed as the P9lite, or slightly slower at times. In practical handling, it does not matter, though. The device is very susceptible to magnetic cas elids, the compass must be recallibrated every ten seconds if this is the case, thats why I need to replace mine.

The four cameras are a mioxed bag. The normal and widescreen lense suffer from prodcuing only image qulity usable on the hand ydisplay, then all the software magic cna be use don it, but zooming in washes out detial quickly. The close-disnatce lense works remarkably well and allows impressive magnifying shots, but you have to work very precise, the depth of field is very shallow. Do it right, an dit works very good. In generla I would reocmmend to unleash the power of the full 64 Mpixel resolution, you must miss out on all the software magic options, but get impressive resolution allowing zooming in to a degree like I have not seen before with any device I ever owned. Impressive. However, with its lower resolution, I oiked the camera in the Huawei better, especially the software interface for handlign the options was better designed.

For the 210 Euros I paid its okay, if I would have paid the current normal shop price, 280 Euros that is, i would have felt uncomfortable. Android 10 and Samsungs User interface work good, but several options I searched for were really deeply hidde, without written notes leading you there: finding by trial and error. The device cannot be automatically shut down int he evening and relaunched int he morning, a Samsung speciality. Others can do that. Motorola. Huawei.

For 210 Euros, I give it a B or B- ("gut minus"). For 280 Euros, a C ("befriedigend"), I would consider that price to be too high for what is being offered. I got it cheap due to some local action, and they have no more pieces available. The normal list price is not 210, but 270-280 currently.

If you need a phone with a good standing time (battery), consider this, its a marathon runner.

Gerald

10-13-20, 04:43 AM

(Reuters) - 5G will finally get its U.S. closeup with the expected debut of Apple Inc’s next iPhone on Tuesday. But the blazing speeds promised will not materialize for most people. The device, dubbed the iPhone 12 by analysts, can tap into 5G, or fifth generation wireless technology, that theoretically operates as much as 10 to 20 times faster than current 4G wireless networks.

Using the next iPhone or any 5G enabled device on today’s network, however, will be “like having a Ferrari ... but using it in your local village and you can’t drive to up to 200 miles per hour, simply because the roads cannot maintain those speeds,” explained Boris Metodiev, associate director of research firm Strategy Analytics.

Apple, which is expected to unveil the new phone at a virtual event on Tuesday, will need to walk a tightrope between enticing consumers to upgrade their phones while not over-promising what 5G can do today.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-iphone-5g-analysis/analysis-new-apple-iphone-12-to-offer-5g-speeds-u-s-networks-cant-deliver-idUSKBN26X18E

iPhone can certainly deliver ... but I stay with Android....so far.

Onkel Neal

11-18-20, 12:31 AM

Catfish

11-20-20, 04:09 AM

Using a Huawei P20 since 2 years. Have to admit it is pretty good, and the camera is first-class.
But.. Huawei. Supporting dictator Mr. Xi Jinping is not on my list in the future.
B.t.w. same reason why i will not by anything from Apple anymore. Apple produces its hardware in China and pays the workers 0,45 dollars per hour. The iphone, by pure numbers thus costs Apple about a hundred dollars in all, including shipping. Or even less now.
Thanks but no thanks.

Onkel Neal

06-13-21, 12:12 PM

Over the years I have dropped my phone a few times but today was not my lucky day, the screen has spider webs all over it and I actually got a glass splinter. I ordered a screen replacement kit but this phone uses adhesive to glue the back to the phone so it's gonna be tricky.

Catfish

06-21-21, 04:13 PM

Happened to me several times, but this time i had an insurance.

Reluctantly looking for a new mobile, since the US's "revenge" made GooglePlay unaccessible on my Huawei (not that I do not understand the motivation, but there should more be done). But really no idea which.. Apple is spoilt as well. Something South Korea? Never had a Samsung, and they pre-install facebook w/o chance to delete it.
Or maybe (gasp!) no. smart. phone. :hmmm:

Skybird

06-22-21, 09:47 AM

You could consider to not have a SIM card. No online connectivity and telephone that is. All software you want could be loaded via WLAN. Camera, navigation (offline map database preinstalled, non-Google Maps), chess, music: all available still. Just no mobile internet outside your home, no monile telephone.

In fact I am seriously considering this for myself. I have my old phone, kind of broken phone in this mode - and have that with me more often than my new, active one :hmmm:. I find mobile telephoning annoying, especially when being called. And I do not need mobile internet connectivity. Both imo get hopelessly overestimated - and of course hyped by political and business circles.

When I am not at home, i am unavailable, full stop. The telephone answering machine is on, use it to leave a request for calling back, or leave me alone, period.

Serious. I think it pleases some narcissistic needs of people to think they must, everywhere, all the time, be available to all the world, around the clock, no matter where. "I'm very important, the show cannot run without me", that means.

mapuc

03-03-22, 02:16 PM

Got me a new smartphone a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Had problems with the battery on my older Dancell smartphone-Had to recharge up to two times per day. I'm glad for my new phone.

Markus

Sean C

03-03-22, 09:11 PM

mapuc

03-04-22, 09:29 AM

I have an S20 FE. I like it a lot.

Have you tried the night mode on the camera? It's incredible. In fact, all of the cameras are very good. Every time I show someone a video I shot with my phone, they comment about how good the picture is.

I am so far satisfied with my new phone-Have taken some picture of my cat. Haven't tried this night mode-I will tonight.

Markus

Aktungbby

03-04-22, 11:29 AM

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2246934&postcount=244 (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2246934&postcount=244) I'm still using my https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/BjQAAOSwk5FUzSrR/s-l225.jpg
reliable LG-VX8300 flip phone for business and actually got 2 new batteries for it after using the original for over a decade!!!. The original battery was made in Korea and still got the job done but couldn't hold a charge so well.. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41k414-IyfL._AC_UL115_.jpg
The new ones say 'made in China':hmmm: (no doubt still produced and smuggled from North Korea:oops:) Wait till' the Donald' finds out I'm circumventing his economic sanctions on Fatboy!:haha:Well my long ride with my phone since the '90's(25+ years?!!) keeping in touch with 200 ATM techs et al for 17 years is over...finito... kaput! The phone with bluetooth speaker from Radio Shack on visor still works; but damn Verizon has gone from G3 to G5 technology and my faithful 'beam-me-up-Scotty" communicator is useless as of December:wah: Learning new technology in the 21st century ain't fun for me at age 71; this modern tablet I'm posting from, and my WIN10 computer, are trouble enough-even a new car would aggravate me with a damn screen in the middle of the dashboard! But most of all, I'll miss the bemused, shocked look of people when I would pull out this relic out to use it!:O::Kaleun_Mad: In short, the 21st century really sucks!:yep:

ET2SN

03-09-22, 11:43 PM

Well my long ride with my phone since the '90's(25+ years?!!) keeping in touch with 200 ATM techs et al for 17 years is over...finito... kaput! The phone with bluetooth speaker from Radio Shack on visor still works; but damn Verizon has gone from G3 to G5 technology and my faithful 'beam-me-up-Scotty" communicator is useless as of December:wah: Learning new technology in the 21st century ain't fun for me at age 71; this modern tablet I'm posting from, and my WIN10 computer, are trouble enough-even a new car would aggravate me with a damn screen in the middle of the dashboard! But most of all, I'll miss the bemused, shocked look of people when I would pull out this relic out to use it!:O::Kaleun_Mad: In short, the 21st century really sucks!:yep:

Let me guess, your modern tablet is made of clay.

:Kaleun_Smile: