Cautionary Advise for would be 3G Tablet Buyers

[geofferyh]

A number of tablet manufacturers are now offering 3G capable tablets. However, trying to get the tablet to work in 3G mode can be a frustrating experience to say the least.

Here in the USA there are four primary players in the mobile networks arena, AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint. AT&T and T-Mobile operate WCDMA Band Networks, while Sprint and Verizon operate CDMA Band Networks.

From what I have seen thus far here in the USA the typical tablet with an internal 3G radio operates using the WCDMA band frequencys. If I use a PiPo 3G tablet as an example only, the printed M8 User Manual specifications are outlined as follows:

HSPA/WCDMA: 2100/900MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE Quad band: 850/900/1800/1900
Download maximum 7.2Mbit/s
Upload maximum: 5.76Mbit/s

All this simply means that the tablets are supposed to be totally suitable for use on an international basis. However, as they say, "There is a fly in the ointment".

First, in the USA the choice of carrier is limited to either AT&T or T-Mobile because only they support the WCDMA (HSPA & EDGE) 850/1900 frequency bands.

Second, note that the tablet only supports the Edge (2G) 850/1900MHz frequency bands, but does not support the WCDMA (HSPA) 3G 850/1900 frequency bands. And, in the case of my PiPo M8pro 3G tablet, based on its IMEI number, the AT&T provisioning system identifies it as a 2G device of "Unknown Manufacturer" and "Unknown GSM".

For the most part, to be able to utilize other than the very slow EDGE (2G) networks, you will now need to have a tablet that supports the 4G T-Mobile 1700MHz band or AT&T 2100MHz band. It is my opinion, that at this time there is no 3G advertized Chinese tablets that will work satisfactorily in the USA.

 

[gollum18]

Why would you buy a Chinese made tablet anyway? In my experience with them, they are all junk.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[sting7k]

I would like to personally welcome you to 2013.

 

[gollum18]

I would like to personally welcome you to 2013.

Heh I like your sarcasm. Would you believe I got in a fight with a guy about a week ago over where his iPhone was made. He swore up and down it was made in the USA and I was like flip it over and read the back. So after some bickering he does so and his mouth just about falls off his face. Funniest thing I've ever seen.

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[grenefroggie]

There are all kinds of people will different backgrounds that read the forum. For someone who might see a great deal on a Chinese 3G tablet and buy it thinking it will work with AT&T or T-Mobile, it is useful information to have. Just because a tablet supports the same frequencies, like the OP's, does not mean it supports the same carrier technology. Basically, for the same reason I can carrier unlock my old Atrix 4G and get a T-Mobile SIM, until T-Mobile finishes rolling out their HSPA network on 1900Mhz, it will be stuck on EDGE. People tend to only find that out after they unlock the device and make the switch.