cell phone GSM & CDMA

[Redman]

About 3 years ago, with Mr Dale RustyBronco fine tutulage, I come to know that is good to have some understanding of GSM verse CDMA when buying a cell phone (or else just subject yourself to whatever tmobile store or verison store that hooked you in previously).

So I learnt that these are two different types of networks. I thought of it as of it as being like AM verses FM in that the transmitting equipment (and recieving equipment) are different.

I learnt that GSM is what ATT and Tmobile (and TracFone and RedPocket) use, and what is used exclusivly acorst Europe.
I learnt that, in US, is also CDMA that is used by Verison and US Cellular.
I learnt that most phones are setup to accept SIM cards for any GSM network or are set up to accept SIM cards any CDMA networks, and only a few can accept either. So need to get a phone that can accept whatever SIM card that you presently have. ANd some phones may be specific to a specific carrier, say, ATT.
Again, that was about 3 years ago.

Now looking to replace wifes iPhone 5S (TracFone), probably with a referbished iPhone8.

So, first I try to review what I understood about GSM verses CDMA. And info I find is that this is all things of the past, and that all are LTE 4 (and now maybe LTE5) these days. Huh? What? Our existing phones indicate LTE, and I know its not LTE3.

I look at referbished iPhone8 (Amazon Renew) and I see that can easly get a GSM phone or a CDMA phone or unlocked (claim both GMA & CDMA) and some are specific to say ATT or TMobile.
So I will get a GSM phone . . . . and dont need to understand what they are talking about being a thing of the past.
Oh, ah, maybe they also concider iPhone8 to be thing of the past.

[Nessism]

GSM and CDMA is still a thing, and hasn't changed. LTE relates to the speed of the connection; the higher the number, the faster (for data transfer.)

Ideal situation is to get an unlocked phone, that way you can use whatever network works best in your area. Red Pocket has service for all the major newtworks (both GSM and CDMA.) I've been using them for a few years now, after Dale's recommendation, and connect to their (GSM) AT&T network.

[Redman]

...
.... Red Pocket has service for all the major newtworks (both GSM and CDMA.) I've been using them for a few years now, after Dale's recommendation, and connect to their (GSM) AT&T network.

I can say the same. And I do thank Dale for the discussion we had where he patiently explained to me what I didnt understand. I have been using RedPocket (GSM) for 3 years now (on my Iphone 5S and then 8 last year).

[salty_monk]

I'm trying to work up the enthusiasm to change over too... Looks like you get free Mexico, Canada & UK going from here to there with Red Pocket but I can't see anything about whether you can you use them overseas. Any chance you guys know anything about that?

[rustybronco]

Now pretty much every phone will have to be VoLTE capable. The 3G networks (generally called GSM and CDMA) are being sunsetted. 4G phones may or may not be Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE).

Red Pocket calls their networks GSM and CDMA but that's a bit misleading. GSM refers to AT&T and T-Mobile service. CDMA refers to Verizon. All three are considered 4G and up networks.

https://www.webformix.com/3g-networks-sunset/

Also....

https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Service-Capabilities-Unlocked-Devices-ATT-Network.pdf

[rustybronco]

I'm trying to work up the enthusiasm to change over too... Looks like you get free Mexico, Canada & UK going from here to there with Red Pocket but I can't see anything about whether you can you use them overseas. Any chance you guys know anything about that?

From their website.

https://help.redpocket.com/hc/en-us/articles/360041160172-CDMA-CDMAS-How-do-I-make-an-international-call-

https://help.redpocket.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002735587-GSMA-How-do-I-make-an-international-call-

[rustybronco]

It's always best to get a factory unlocked iPhone. Locked to a particular network can turn into a nightmare if money is owed on the phone. (as I know it)

https://swappa.com/blog/unlocked-iphone-8-compatibility-guide/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37385501795...cAAOSwkNRh12fX I've bought from them before.

[GSXR7ED]

About 3 years ago, with Mr Dale RustyBronco fine tutulage, I come to know that is good to have some understanding of GSM verse CDMA when buying a cell phone (or else just subject yourself to whatever tmobile store or verison store that hooked you in previously).

So I learnt that these are two different types of networks. I thought of it as of it as being like AM verses FM in that the transmitting equipment (and recieving equipment) are different.

I learnt that GSM is what ATT and Tmobile (and TracFone and RedPocket) use, and what is used exclusivly acorst Europe.
I learnt that, in US, is also CDMA that is used by Verison and US Cellular.
I learnt that most phones are setup to accept SIM cards for any GSM network or are set up to accept SIM cards any CDMA networks, and only a few can accept either. So need to get a phone that can accept whatever SIM card that you presently have. ANd some phones may be specific to a specific carrier, say, ATT.
Again, that was about 3 years ago.

Now looking to replace wifes iPhone 5S (TracFone), probably with a referbished iPhone8.

So, first I try to review what I understood about GSM verses CDMA. And info I find is that this is all things of the past, and that all are LTE 4 (and now maybe LTE5) these days. Huh? What? Our existing phones indicate LTE, and I know its not LTE3.

I look at referbished iPhone8 (Amazon Renew) and I see that can easly get a GSM phone or a CDMA phone or unlocked (claim both GMA & CDMA) and some are specific to say ATT or TMobile.
So I will get a GSM phone . . . . and dont need to understand what they are talking about being a thing of the past.
Oh, ah, maybe they also concider iPhone8 to be thing of the past.

I was curious about the difference and did a google search for this thread title:

In the US, Verizon, US Cellular, and the old Sprint network (now owned by T-Mobile) use CDMA. AT&T and T-Mobile use GSM. Most of the rest of the world uses GSM. The global spread of GSM came about because in 1987, Europe mandated the technology by law, and because GSM comes from an industry consortium

Apologies for the copy/paste.

So the migration is led by Verizon & T-Mobile in CDMA...we have Verizon and are about to transition to Mint Mobile...which uses GSM and is considerably less expensive!

My wife has friends who have been with Mint Mobile for at least 2 years and they have had no problems with coverage.

We've been paying close to $200 a month (2 phones) for the past 24 months...so roughly $2400/year. (Our iPhone 11s are paid off this month)

With Mint, 1 phone with Unlimited Plan $30/month $360/year (X2=$720/year)

An annual savings of roughly $1680.

In these times when we are preparing for retirement (there's a thread for that) wife & I are slowly scaling back on things we can.

Ed

****

[Nessism]

Red Pocket 8GB data unlimited everything else is $240 a year, and you can pick whatever carrier you want.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133058350672

[dpep]

Red Pocket 8GB data unlimited everything else is $240 a year, and you can pick whatever carrier you want.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133058350672

Ed, do you know if any of the Red Pocket plans have wifi hotspot function?
...

[rustybronco]

GSXR7ED, all of the carriers are transitioning to LTE only. In fact some like Verizon won't even let you activate a non Vo(LTE) phone anymore. A true GSM network is a thing of the past."for the most part" and soon will be. CDMA is the same. T-Mo will be sunsetting the 3G network 4/1/22. 2G in 2023. It won't matter to you as your phone has 4G capabilities.

You may want to price out T-Mobiles Majenta 55+ plans. ($35 a month taxes and fees included)
Plus it roams on AT&T's network iirc.

[rustybronco]

https://help.redpocket.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001057351-Are-Tethering-and-Hotspot-services-included-with-Red-Pocket-plans-

"CDMA: Tethering and Hotspot services are supported on most iOS devices, please contact support to enable services.

GSMA/ GSMT/CDMAS: Tethering is supported on most Android and iOS Devices"

(Your mileage may vary as they are a low cost provider.)

[GSXR7ED]

GSXR7ED, all of the carriers are transitioning to LTE only. In fact some like Verizon won't even let you activate a non Vo(LTE) phone anymore. A true GSM network is a thing of the past."for the most part" and soon will be. CDMA is the same. T-Mo will be sunsetting the 3G network 4/1/22. 2G in 2023. It won't matter to you as your phone has 4G capabilities.

You may want to price out T-Mobiles Majenta 55+ plans. ($35 a month taxes and fees included)
Plus it roams on AT&T's network iirc.

Thanks for the info.

We can also consider AARP plans for cell phone service too.

My mother suggested joining and learning about discounts for people 50 and older.

Ed

****

[rustybronco]

In order to make informed decisions we need to know the network that best fits your need, the various amounts of data, minutes, messages you need on a monthly basis and any hotspot/tethering requirements.

For example I 'could' get away with 200 minutes, 1,000 messages and 200Mb of data which would cost me $2.50 a month.

[salty_monk]

It's always best to get a factory unlocked iPhone. Locked to a particular network can turn into a nightmare if money is owed on the phone. (as I know it)

https://swappa.com/blog/unlocked-iphone-8-compatibility-guide/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37385501795...cAAOSwkNRh12fX I've bought from them before.

Thanks for the links. The no roaming abroad is a bit of a dealbreaker for me. I understand why they would charge extra for it but not why they wouldn't offer it... not their key market I guess