iPhone 5: had GSM model, received CDMA (i think) after repair service

[Omnirai]

Hello MacRumors members,

I have a question concerning the GSM vs CDMA iPhone 5:

Background information:
I bought the iPhone 5 from the official dealer in Belgium (Mobistar). This is a simlock free GSM model, and should be A1429 GSM.

One month later, I had a hardware fault and returned it to Mobistar. One week later (we do not have an apple store here, everything goes through Mobistar) I received my new one..
Now, when I downloaded firmware "iPhone5,1_6.0.1_10A525_Restore" file, it gave me an error about "not compatible" firmware file.. However, file "iPhone5,2_6.0.1_10A525_Restore works..

So I received back a CDMA model I suppose? f0recast gives me the same information: "model: iPhone 5,2 [ND297DN/A].

Are there any consequences by having a CDMA iPhone 5?
Should I take it back, and ask for a GSM model? (this will result in 1 week of no iPhone..)

ps: My carrier is 'Proximus', and will provide LTE on 1,8 Ghz.


Thanks!

[kage207]

Originally Posted by Omnirai

Hello MacRumors members,

I have a question concerning the GSM vs CDMA iPhone 5:

Background information:
I bought the iPhone 5 from the official dealer in Belgium (Mobistar). This is a simlock free GSM model, and should be A1429 GSM.

One month later, I had a hardware fault and returned it to Mobistar. One week later (we do not have an apple store here, everything goes through Mobistar) I received my new one..
Now, when I downloaded firmware "iPhone5,1_6.0.1_10A525_Restore" file, it gave me an error about "not compatible" firmware file.. However, file "iPhone5,2_6.0.1_10A525_Restore works..

So I received back a CDMA model I suppose? f0recast gives me the same information: "model: iPhone 5,2 [ND297DN/A].

Are there any consequences by having a CDMA iPhone 5?
Should I take it back, and ask for a GSM model? (this will result in 1 week of no iPhone..)

ps: My carrier is 'Proximus', and will provide LTE on 1,8 Ghz.


Thanks!

Um, when exchanging a faulty product with a new one, they must return the exact same model so you should have got a GSM model back.

GSM and CDMA are not the same. They are different technologies that are not the same. GSM is more of a world wide signal (meaning most carriers use this technology) where as CDMA is not.

[Omnirai]

Originally Posted by kage207

Um, when exchanging a faulty product with a new one, they must return the exact same model so you should have got a GSM model back.

GSM and CDMA are not the same. They are different technologies that are not the same. GSM is more of a world wide signal (meaning most carriers use this technology) where as CDMA is not.

I know that I should have received the exact same model again.. But I'm not up for one week of being iPhone-less
So my question is more if it will give problems with LTE or not.. Cause at the moment, my Phone is just working fine with 3G. LTE should be available (if apple approves) in the next 'bigger' firmware update

PS: Im pretty sure in Belgium we are working with GSM signals..

[kage207]

Originally Posted by Omnirai

I know that I should have received the exact same model again.. But I'm not up for one week of being iPhone-less
So my question is more if it will give problems with LTE or not.. Cause at the moment, my Phone is just working fine with 3G. LTE should be available (if apple approves) in the next 'bigger' firmware update

PS: Im pretty sure in Belgium we are working with GSM signals..

All I know about the LTE is that the difference between GSM & CDMA is what Apple has made available.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html

The site states that the GSM model supports bands 4 & 17 while CDMA supports 1, 3, 5, 13, 25. So it all depends on what your carrier is supporting. Though there is another GSM model that supports different bands (1, 3, 5).

Again, it is all about how your carrier delivers the signals.

Lastly, who cares if you go a week without an iPhone? I know you do but you have to make sure that your phone is supported on the network otherwise you paid money for a feature that you aren't going to use.

[Merkie]

Kick.

I just found out my replacement phone is also an iPhone5,2 (and not iPhone5,1). Is the iPhone5,2 the CDMA iPhone 5? Can anyone confirm?

[andy265]

Originally Posted by Merkie

Is the iPhone5,2 the CDMA iPhone 5?

I don't think it is. Mine is a 5,2 but it is on Orange in the UK who are a GSM provider.

[ThatsMeRight]

Originally Posted by Omnirai

I know that I should have received the exact same model again.. But I'm not up for one week of being iPhone-less
So my question is more if it will give problems with LTE or not.. Cause at the moment, my Phone is just working fine with 3G. LTE should be available (if apple approves) in the next 'bigger' firmware update

PS: Im pretty sure in Belgium we are working with GSM signals..

The CDMA model is superior to the GSM model sold in Europe. The CDMA model is equal to the GSM model you had, but it also supports CDMA and if supports MORE LTE bands.

[wxman2003]

The A1429 model is both CDMA and GSM.

[ThatsMeRight]

Originally Posted by wxman2003

The A1429 model is both CDMA and GSM.

There are actually TWO A1429 models: a CDMA model (supporting CDMA, GSM, LTE ) and a GSM model (which supports only GSM and LTE (fewer LTE frequencies, though)).

[dontwalkhand]

Originally Posted by andy265

I don't think it is. Mine is a 5,2 but it is on Orange in the UK who are a GSM provider.

yeah but one wouldn't notice, and who really cares as the CDMA model has more LTE bands, and still will work with GSM anyway. The CDMA side won't activate until you find a Verizon 4G SIM card.

[hafr]

Originally Posted by Omnirai

Hello MacRumors members,

I have a question concerning the GSM vs CDMA iPhone 5:

Background information:
I bought the iPhone 5 from the official dealer in Belgium (Mobistar). This is a simlock free GSM model, and should be A1429 GSM.

One month later, I had a hardware fault and returned it to Mobistar. One week later (we do not have an apple store here, everything goes through Mobistar) I received my new one..
Now, when I downloaded firmware "iPhone5,1_6.0.1_10A525_Restore" file, it gave me an error about "not compatible" firmware file.. However, file "iPhone5,2_6.0.1_10A525_Restore works..

So I received back a CDMA model I suppose? f0recast gives me the same information: "model: iPhone 5,2 [ND297DN/A].

Are there any consequences by having a CDMA iPhone 5?
Should I take it back, and ask for a GSM model? (this will result in 1 week of no iPhone..)

ps: My carrier is 'Proximus', and will provide LTE on 1,8 Ghz.


Thanks!

I would keep it until I knew whether 4G worked with Proximus by actually trying it. If it didn't, I would go over to Mobistar with all the documentation and tell them "kutkanker, jullie hebben mij de CDMA iPhone gegeven!" and demand one that works.

But most likely they're not trying to dump phones in Belgium that won't work.

Myself, I'm doing Mobile Vikings until someone offers us in Bxl 4G

[takeshi74]

(nm)

[moonman239]

Wait, I thought the iPhone was a dual-band phone.

[takeshi74]

Originally Posted by kage207

The site states that the GSM model supports bands 4 & 17 while CDMA supports 1, 3, 5, 13, 25. So it all depends on what your carrier is supporting. Though there is another GSM model that supports different bands (1, 3, 5).

Mobistar is probably using the A1429 that is being used by other carriers in the eastern hemisphere.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

I'd suspect that they switched the OP from one A1429 to the other.

Originally Posted by Omnirai

Are there any consequences by having a CDMA iPhone 5?

Nope. It really makes no difference for you.

Originally Posted by moonman239

Wait, I thought the iPhone was a dual-band phone.

The 5's are multi band and multi mode. Take a look a the specs page posted earlier. All models are quad band GSM and UMTS. CDMA model has dual band CDMA. LTE varies by model.