• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root how to unlock apn settings for straight talk?

M

mattprice

Lurker
im New to all this so please bear with me:

So I've been trying to setup straight talk on my HTC one m8, to no avail. It's an AT&T locked HTC one m8. And it's rooted.

I want to add straight talks apn settings so I can use the data, but it won't let me change it.

I read the post where I can use sqlite editor and delete the carrier options, but I don't want to lose my AT&T apn settings.

Would carrier unlocking using a code be the answer? If so, when I put the straight talk SIM card in, it doesn't prompt me to enter an unlock code so idk.

I still want to keep my AT&T settings and just switch to straight talk occasionally. Please help!
 
If the M8 you have is a branded AT&T device, you'll need to get the unlock code from them, and apply before switching to Straight talk. On that note I'm not 100% sure you can switch the phone out to Straight Talk. Last I checked they were running on Verizon's network which is CDMA, and AT&T is GSM. If Straight Talk switched over to GSM tech, then you may be able to if the device is unlocked with AT&T's blessing.

Not 100% on this though.
 
Straight talk has both cdma and gsm, using Verizon and at&t at least in my area.

The SIM kit I got from Wal-Mart came with both Verizon and AT&T Sims for straight talk.

If I do need to get the unlock code, then where would I put it in? When I insert straight talk SIM, it doesn't give me the option to put in an unlock code. In fact, nothing pops up when I put it in
 
straight talk actually uses at&t or t mobiles towers,depending on what sim card you purchase. not sure if they have any cdma options currently or not.

if the phone boots and gets a signal without having to enter the unlock code,it is indeed unlocked.

if youre getting to this point,all you need to do is add a new APN. you wont be able to edit the existing AT&T one. go to mobile data/access point names then hit the menu dots and chose new APN. enter the appropriate fields,then save it.

make sure your new APN has a dot next to it.

within a few minutes you should have working data. ive been using straignt talk for awhile now,its nice it even gets ATT LTE :cool:

here are the settings that have worked for my htc one vx and my m7 one:

Code: 
FIELD		SETTINGS
NAME		straight talk
APN		tfdata
PORT		80
MMSC		http://mms-tf.net
MMS PROXY	mms3.tracfone.com
MMS PORT	80

taken from here:
Phone Programming | Straight Talk

hope that helps :)
 
Straight talk uses all 4 carriers.
AT&T and T-Mobile are gsm and Verizon and sprint are CDMA.

Any phone that you don't buy from straight talk must be unlocked through your carrier before you can switch it over.
 
I added the apn info for straight talk, but I can't add the dot next to it bc there's a pass lock on the AT&T apn settings.

So if I went and got an unlock code for my phone where would I put that in to unlock it?

It doesn't give me an option to put an unlock code in when I insert the straight talk SIM
 
mattprice said:
I added the apn info for straight talk, but I can't add the dot next to it bc there's a pass lock on the AT&T apn settings.

So if I went and got an unlock code for my phone where would I put that in to unlock it?

It doesn't give me an option to put an unlock code in when I insert the straight talk SIM
Click to expand...


You can call your current carrier and ask for the unlock code, assuming they will give it to you, they will walk you through it.
 
mattprice said:
I added the apn info for straight talk, but I can't add the dot next to it bc there's a pass lock on the AT&T apn settings.

So if I went and got an unlock code for my phone where would I put that in to unlock it?

It doesn't give me an option to put an unlock code in when I insert the straight talk SIM
Click to expand...

actually, if youre using an att phone with att based stright talk,it does not even need unlocked :eek: my one vx is still locked to att.

if your sim kit is for t mobiles towers it may be a different story,but again,an unlock code wont do you any good if the phone is not asking for it.

im not sure why you cant change your apn. you are getting a phone signal,yes? can make calls and regular sms? neither of my phones have had this issue- the m7 is running developer edition software,the one vx is 100% stock att(with su and a few att things deleted ;))

it may just be something with the att rom. try flashing
[ROM] Android Revolution HD 7.0 | ART | 1.54.401.10 | High Quality & Performance | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | HTC Sense 6.0 | Tweaks app - Sense 6 Toolbox 1.2 is live! | THEMES | Support for all M8 variants - xda-developers
or
[ROM] MaximusHD | 5.0.0 | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | HTC Sense UI 6.0 | Fast&Stable | Custom OTA Updates | 1.54.401.10 | Full AT&T and TMOUS Support | Harman Kardon Support - xda-developers
or
[ROM][MAY 11] ViperOneM8 1.6.0 | 1.54.401.5 | Android 4.4.2 Sense 6.0 | Immersive Mode, Venom Tweaks, Venom Navbar, Venom Sidebar, VenomPie, Venom Hub, Theming, Icon Packs, OTA Updates and more! - Support for all Variants - xda-developers
or some other x.xx.401.x based rom from
One (M8) Android Development - xda-developers

and see if the phone reacts any differently.
 
I am a truck driver who goes through Maryland a lot and I can get Verizon signal at all. That said I'm looking for the apn settings on this LG optimus fuel running android 4.4 kitkat but the settings for it aren't in the settings anywhere as far as I can tell. I need to be able to not only view them but also to be able to add new apn settings and change between them but I can't seem to figure it out, any advice for me anyone?
 
IrishMonster, depending on your phone, can't you just select global, CDMA or GSM in the cell networks? I looked for APN settings in my Verizon phone and was unable to find access to anything (phone was stock).
 
IrishMonster, depending on your phone, can't you just select global, CDMA or GSM in the cell networks? I looked for APN settings in my Verizon phone and was unable to find access to anything (phone was stock).
 
JennE

It won't let me switch, the phone carrier is Straight Talk, the towers I have to use by stock is Verizon which is CDMA. I can't enter nor use any different APN settings and on my other previous straight talk phones, I could view and enter new APN settings but couldn't use them, this phone, on the other hand, doesn't show APN settings at all and is not rooted (whatever that means) bc I tried using apps from Google play store for APN changing, editing, etc but none worked. I need to be able to first access my APN settings, then enter new APN settings, then use the new inputted APN setting for at&t. But I can't even see the APN settings at all anywhere at all.

JennE said:
IrishMonster, depending on your phone, can't you just select global, CDMA or GSM in the cell networks? I looked for APN settings in my Verizon phone and was unable to find access to anything (phone was stock).
Click to expand...
 
Did you buy the phone directly from ST? Was the phone that you could access the APNs GSM?

I had luck changing some settings on a Verizon Nokia Icon Windows phone. I was able to get data, voice, and text, but no MMS when I put a GSM sim card for ST in it. My HTC ONE M7, however, did not (this is the one I mentioned).
 
JennE

Yes I bought it from straight talk. The other phones were also CDMA and used Verizon towers, with the exception of the first phone I bought from straight talk which used at&t towers and was GSM. (I tend to drop phones a lot, lol) I think straight talk changes settings on the phones they sell and remove the permissions for read, write, so we users can't do this kind of thing. Google removed the ability to move files from our phones to the external SD card and vice versa on the android 4.4 KitKat. I'm still trying to find ways to redo that permission so I have the ability to move files freely on my phone but as of yet, no luck on that.

JennE said:
Did you buy the phone directly from ST? Was the phone that you could access the APNs GSM?

I had luck changing some settings on a Verizon Nokia Icon Windows phone. I was able to get data, voice, and text, but no MMS when I put a GSM sim card for ST in it. My HTC ONE M7, however, did not (this is the one I mentioned).
Click to expand...
 
I'm sure they did lock it down (ST). Do you get any ATT reception in the areas you are in? Or is that why you have a CDMA phone now? I know ST's CDMA phones aren't all that awesome and that you can't bring your own device if it takes a SIM.

I was able to use a Nokia Icon that was built for VZ with a ST sim on CDMA network, but I am unsure it would work on ST as a CDMA phone since it takes a sim. Verizon prepaid lets you use any phone, but then you have the issue that you only get .5-1.0 GB of data per month. I'm sincerely hoping that prepaid gets better soon. I think it's headed in the right direction.
 
JennE

I get both CDMA and GSM reception where I live but I am a truck driver and I was spending 4 hrs driving through Maryland who doesn't got AT&T service.

ST does allow people to bring their own devices now, phones with SIM cards and they have to be unlocked, tablets, etc. They recently started selling mobile WiFi hotspot devices that are separate of your cell phone.

If you have an unlocked phone that does got a SIM card, you can go to straight talks web site and buy a 15 dollar SIM card that puts the phone on their network and to their settings but they forewarned that on some phones, certain apps may not work if the phones service provider has been changed but I'm not sure if they fixed that or not. I just buy the straight talk phone and go from there.

Straight talk has a 45 dollar plan per month, if you use that plan (I do) that has free unlimited calling to any landline, cell phone, business phones, 411, and unlimited texting and MMS (picture messaging) and unlimited internet (but note that the first 3 gb of internet is high speed. Once you pass that point, then the rest of the month the speed goes slow but still works). I love that neither plan they offer is under contract, it is all prepaid. You just buy the refill card and add it to your phone and that's it. Overall I am not unsatisfied with the service, just wished they hadn't locked down some of the settings that I mess with for better service.
 
Last edited:
The needing to be unlocked thing is not so much true anymore (although ST swears it still is). My Son's LG Thrill is not unlocked but it is ATT. Works perfect (and it must be a tough phone b/c he's had it 2 years). I have only had 1 phone that was unlocked, the rest were just ATT. I have ST now with an ATT HTC One M8, not unlocked. I had a Nexus 5 (the unlocked phone) before this one.

The BYOD is much easier with SIM based GSM phones. The CDMA has yet to catch up, which is a bummer because I would have liked to have kept my HTC One M7. SIMs are down to 6.99 unless you buy the kit at Walmart, in which case it's 58 bucks and includes the 45.00 airtime, 2 Tmo (nano and micro sims), 2 ATT (nano and micro sims), and a verizon BYOD activation card.

I am going to guess that Verizon is being an a** about sharing the towers and is only allowing non-sim phones on their network through ST to encourage people to either do their prepaid or sign a contract to get the coverage and a decent phone.

If you hotspotted it you could use Google Talk/Voice, but I don't know if that would help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom