Lurker1999

I need a new spare flip phone that works with a T-mobile signal booster and am looking for help trying to make sense of the technology.

The phone only needs voice/text as I cannot access data via my old T-mobile prepaid account.

I was using a Samsung SGH-T139 (http://www.phonearena.com/phones/Sam...GH-T139_id4391) which covers GSM 850/1900. According to the first reply on this thread T-mobile only supports 1900: https://support.t-mobile.com/thread/92908

I need a Celfi booster to get coverage in parts of my house ( https://www.amazon.com/Nextivity-Cel.../dp/B00NR6C9NK) which per the spec sheet only boosts LTE bands. Or at least I think that's what it means https://3gstore.com/celfi_tmobile_datasheet.pdf

I'm assuming this is why this Samsung phone is not working in my house any more as I don't get any T-mobile signal without the booster. My usual Android smartphones work fine but I specifically didn't want to a smartphone for this spare phone as I'd much rather have the long battery life of a flip phone as it serves as my emergency phone when I don't have guests who use it while they're around town. Again, I can't access data on the phone due to being on the T-mobile grandfathered prepaid Gold account.

I'd appreciate any ideas for something that has great battery life and is under $100 (or even under $50?) or at least how to search for it on Ebay, Amazon, etc.

Lurker1999

Just to add, I found this phone for example: https://www.amazon.com/LG-450-Black-.../dp/B00O15MXQY

Per phonearena it has HSPA, UMTS support and is quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) unlike my current Samsung phone. Would this work with the signal booster?

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/LG-450_id8958

Letitride3c

I, too, have T-Mo's legacy Gold voice/SMS only line, for $10 a year - it's dirt cheap, nobody has that number & I used it as emergency backup and to do 2-factors ... it get transferred among the iPhone, Nexus 5 (which I subsequently sold to upgrade to N5X), Moto E 2015 XT 1521 dual sim, and just pulled it out of Blu R1 HD (dual sim) - as I can use WiFi data with it & do GV/Hangout Calls, etc.

Would you consider getting something like a pre-owned Nexus 5 - support numerous radio bands & LTE's and if you switch off WiFi, battery life is excellent on standby. Going price for a N5 in good condition on Swappa is about $100 shipped (16GB model will suffice as a backup) - I would consider that to be a good matching pair to work with the booster's signal. Moto E on WiFi would get easily 5+ days of standby time with minimal App installed & debloated.

You might be able to find a "flip" phone for $50 to $75 but it would probably be restricted in the GSM frequencies/LTE bands supported for T-Mo use ... compatible ones offered by MNVO might be locked to the carrier.

Around here in NYC, I'm pulling a good signal, directly on LTE AWS (Band 4 - 1700 Mhz) - some of the towers in the area are using 1900 Mhz, yet to see much action on Band 12 (LTE)

Lurker1999

That's a good suggestion as I had a Nexus 5 before this current 5X so I'm well familiar with the phone.

LAXlocal

is Tmobile going to support 2g voice in the futire ?

I have an old Motorola flip phone with the gold plan , works fine and long battery life,
and I would like to keep it as it keeps working , even after dropping it so many times !

Letitride3c

Well, if that Moto's battery can outlast T-Mo's commitment, per Press Release of supporting 2G voice services for ex-AT&T customers thru 2020. It seemed that old flip phone should continue to work.
https://newsroom.t-mobile.com/news-a...t-lifeline.htm

Off-topic, (perhaps) just recently setup my (travel backup) Blu R1HD dual-sim 5" with Freedompop in slot 1 with the free 200 plan and Project Fi's data-only sim in slot 2, both pulling great 4G/LTE signals ... WiFi calling over Google Voice/Hangouts, cellular data preference set for AT&T's network but will switch to Fi's T-Mo towers if ... and when traveling outside home area ... using my 2nd. GV number. The downside, standby battery life isn't great - about 2 days but always have a charger or power source nearby.