Parallel imported Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, no software updates

[TheEdge76]

My apologies - I'm talking about two different things.

FM radio - coverage is great with that (using the A41) but I can't seem to get the radio app to open on this phone. Sucks, but that's life - I've got another option for that one however (an FM-enabled headset!)

Mobile signal/coverage - this is the one I want to test this coming weekend. I'm going to take the S20 to the areas on the map (some of which are quite rural) and hold it alongside the A41, and see how well the S20 does at picking up a weaker mobile signal. Will be interesting to test the two side-by-side and see if there's any difference

 

[TheEdge76]

Right, mobile signal testing all done! I can post my test results if anyone is interested - just there would be a fair few images, that's all...does anyone mind if I do this?

 

[mustang7757]

Right, mobile signal testing all done! I can post my test results if anyone is interested - just there would be a fair few images, that's all...does anyone mind if I do this?

Sure you can share it

 

[TheEdge76]

Okay, these were done with Network Cell Info Lite. For some reason today it was having a hard time showing the location of any cellsite (can someone recommend a reliable app that does this?) hence why there's a lot of "Cell location not found!"
For the purposes of comparison, the screenshots saying "Vodafone NZ" were done with my old SIM card on the A41, and the ones saying "One NZ" were done with the S20 using a newer SIM card.


This first one was in a 4G only area on the A41. I've never seen "LTE+" on a phone before, is this different to LTE? Faster? Newer? Better?


The same area on the S20 - this handset doesn't seem to get the LTE+ signal; is this a bad thing?


Now we get to a 5G area - I was surprised Riverhead has a 5G signal at all as it's really tiny! But it appears to have one.


The same area on the A41 - note the 4G signal seems to be coming in a bit stronger than on the S20.


Finally a spot that's mostly rural/farming etc. Great 4G signal on the A41...



And a fairly decent 5G signal on the S20.

I mostly feel I'll be okay to move over to the S20 now, although I would welcome anyone's opinion/feedback

One quick query:

Is there any way to get the circled indicator to appear on the taskbar of the S20? It showed up as "5G" or "4G LTE" before I upgraded the firmware. Is it a setting or something I need to change to display it? I know it must be doable, as a colleague has an S21 (also on Vodafone) and her display has it:

 

[TheEdge76]

Too much info? I thought you might like to see the signal meter, etc

 

[mustang7757]

Too much info? I thought you might like to see the signal meter, etc

Haha...no just been a little busy will look by tomorrow.

 

[TheEdge76]

Haha...no just been a little busy will look by tomorrow.

How did you go? Any feedback?

 

[mustang7757]

How did you go? Any feedback?

You should be good
LTE+ is a 4g so no issues there .

The symbol icon for 4g/5g doesn't appear on the s20 ?

 

[TheEdge76]

Sadly, no - also I note there's no icon for Wifi calling either (the A41 has this appear if I use the function).
I just tried doing a reset of the network settings to see if this would show it, but to no avail, no 5G or 4G appearing in the notification bar any suggestions?
I did some Googling and (I think?) one of your posts on here suggested to someone else having the same issue to do a factory reset - but then I would lose the current ROM etc and it would revert to the AT&T one, wouldn't it?
I have no issue blowing this phone away as there's nothing on there at the moment, but would like to see if there's some way to get the relevant icons appearing in the taskbar before taking a step like that, and understanding what the implications might be of doing so...

Edit: I recall on an earlier page someone suggested installing a "vanilla" ROM, not locked to any carrier, but that may mean "rooting" the phone. Is this a good option to pursue?

Edit 2: found it, from @smvim:
2 -- Yes, the ROM you're downloading from sammobile will contain the same AT&T ROM as what was originally installed on your phone. All the ROMs that site provides are stock firmware obtained by their original manufacturers.
If you want to use a cleaned version of Android, there are various third-party ROMs available, LineageOS being one of more popular. I'd recommend you focus on using a stock, Samsung ROM in your situation but third-party firmware is a solid option to consider.

By "stock" I assume they mean the AT&T ROM, or have I misunderstood?

 

[TheEdge76]

I had a thought - as I'd still like to get the 4G/5G/wifi calling indicators to display as they do on my A41 - would it be useful to post what ROM my current A41 is running, as I don't think it's locked to any carrier, and maybe use that as a guideline for a similar ROM for the S20?
I wonder if my A41 has a stock Samsung ROM as mentioned on the other page?

Otherwise is there an app that could display what network I'm connected on (2G/3G/4G/5G etc) in the taskbar? That could be a workaround - but if I can get a vanilla ROM for this phone first that would be my preference.

 

[mustang7757]

A series ROM are not interchangeable especially US version, if you factory reset it doesn't take you back to Att firmware that you would need to flash again

 

[TheEdge76]

Oh I thought it would be worth a look come to think of I don't think I saw any ROM's for an A41 on the sammobile page...

 

[mustang7757]

Oh I thought it would be worth a look come to think of I don't think I saw any ROM's for an A41 on the sammobile page...

They should have it and Frija but international and US firmware are not interchangeable

 

[TheEdge76]

They should have it and Frija but international and US firmware are not interchangeable

Thanks for that, I'll have another (closer) look after work today at both the A41 and S20 firmware options.

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks for that, I'll have another (closer) look after work today at both the A41 and S20 firmware options.

Welcome

 

[TheEdge76]

Is it okay if I come back to you with more questions if I have any? Sorry I must be a real pain

 

[mustang7757]

Is it okay if I come back to you with more questions if I have any? Sorry I must be a real pain

No problem I don't mind helping

 

[TheEdge76]

And thank you, I appreciate yours and all the help given here so far

 

[mustang7757]

And thank you, I appreciate yours and all the help given here so far

Your welcome

 

[TheEdge76]

Right, so I'm back here:

Latest Samsung Galaxy S20 firmware

Download the latest Samsung firmware for Galaxy S20 with model code SM-G980F. Check out our free download or super fast premium options.

www.sammobile.com

All the firmwares seem to be locked to a carrier though, there's no "Samsung" one or anything like that.
I did find firmwares for the A41 in the end ( https://www.sammobile.com/samsung/galaxy-a41/firmware/ ) but they're all for European countries, even though I did read the A41 was meant to be released in the US; maybe it's wasn't?

Out of interest, this is what my A41 says (if anyone (Mustang?) feels like translating what ROM it's using I'd be grateful )


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The "Service provider software version" is - I think - the relevant part here...am I right?