yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Armadill0:
So the update should normally work or should I be carefully with this?

Phone is still at the customer clearance till Monday morning.:crying:
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] AllBlaxx:
I'd pay it. I'd cover shipping costs and kick in something for your labor costs to have you to this to the Photon Q for me.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Maxpowersxp:
yes it works 100% after update
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] (phenix):
sim card not found

I try to make sim mod, but when I insert sim phone say: "The sim card is not found. Insert valid sim..."
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Armadill0:
Ok, the sim card slot is here, but it is very huge (18mmx17,5mm)! It is larger than my slot for normal sim cards of the Optimus Black.

I'm getting the phone next morning, 10 hours left. :)

I'll check the size of the sim slot of the s3, maybe this is a better way.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] H4CK_H0PP3R:
Looks cool..Nice mod mate.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...if are used good wires, then is capacitor not needed

...and is needed connect sim ground to sim ic ground - not to mainboard ground

Only one problem within approx half year was with wind 4g 128K sim
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] photonqaccount:
The decoupling capacitor doesn't do any harm either, so no problem.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Fr4gg0r:
My photon does not switch to hspa mode, even though the signal strengh is better than -80dbm (indoor). My nexus 4 switches to hspa at the same spot after some time.

Is there an option to force 3g mode (on cm)?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] enigma9o7:
I'm using SIM card mod with AT&T in USA.

Until last time I noticed, play store identified my phone as "AT&T Photon Q" or somtehing to that affect (with AT&T listed as carrier). Now, it says No Carrier. Is this happening for other US AT&T users? Does it matter? I'm not sure if it's due to something google did with play store, AT&T did with my service, or perhaps related to a CM update...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] arrrghhh:
If you're not noticing any negative side effects, ignore it...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...on what cm build?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] G32420nl:
Happy customer

Just another happy Photon Q user rapporting in thanks to Cornholio, received my modded phone this weekend after a relatively short wait.

Not a single scratch or imperfection and de simslot looks like it was there when the phone came out of the factory.

Communication was clear and fast.

I'm using the phone in the Netherlands and everything works as it should. (Provider is Simpel on T-mobile network, just 3G)

Cornholio also was kind enough to install CM11 Carbonmod on it and so far i'm loving the room for tweaking.

Keep up the good work :)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Skymidt:
This is awesome!!!

Man, i don't have the phone, but qith this i want.

Can u sell me a completed SIm unlocked Photon Q?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] wykolejony:
So is pinout from first post correct?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...yess correct :)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
.

Happy New Year for all Photon Q users : );

.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] wykolejony:
Thank you very much for this mod, and happy new year for you :)

Also, I'd like to confirm how important appropriate cables are. I live in poor signal area, where phones constantly reconnects with BTS. I've got almost instantly no sim error using ATA cable for the first try, and some enamelled 0.5mm for seccond try. Even with 100nF cap. And when I used enamelled 0.2-0.3mm cable from some little converter everything worked like a charm, without any caps.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] K.O.K.:
Hi Cornholio,first of all.. congratulations for this amazing work and thank you so much for sharing it with us. keep going man!

I'm new is this forum, i'm from venezuela and I felt in love with the Photon Q phone when i saw it, i'm a former Blackberry Torch 2 9810 user and since someone stole it i was looking for a full qwerty replacement.

I'm looking to import a brand new P. Q. from amazon but first i need some advice.

What tools do you recommend best for the mod? a butane flame torch or an hot air gun? i'm asking because since i'll be importing the phone i can buy them and save in the shipping cost. i'm a little scared of peeling off the keyboard foil and i read here that with a butane torch there is no need to peel it off. is that right?

I was looking at the mod pictures and i think that if i use a nano sim push in/out slot connector like this: jae.com/jccom/en/connectors/detail/SF72/MemoryCard i'll be able to place it right next to the microSD card slot and cut the back frame and make a slot in side of the back cover so the cap for the microSD can cover the nano sim slot too. i don't know if i explain myself. if i do, plz comment.

Any guidance or advice will be appreciated.

thx in advance and sorry for my english.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...you need torx 5 screwdriver, one s sim slot (alps), 0,3mm enameled wire, micro solder station, tape (capton) and hotair rework station.

...thats all :)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Fr4gg0r:
nightly of two weeks ago.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] K.O.K.:
thx for you reply Cornholio..

so, bottom line, i'll have to remove the keyb foil anyways?

what about using a nano sim push in/out slot connector and place it right next to the microSD card just where the sim IC is and make a slot hole in side of the back cover so the cap for the microSD can cover that nano sim slot hole too?

BTW.. i thought the thicker the cable the better because the voltaje drop of a thin cable.

:)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] wykolejony:
Don't be afraid the foil part, this is just sticker with not that strong glue. Easy to pull off and to stick it back.

Cables are problematic. I write few posts up what happened when I tried thicker cables. Cornholio chooses the best option by practice.

If you don't want to buy hot air, you can ask in some phone repair shop about desoldering the shield and IC for you.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Of course Nano is smaller. The Sim. What do you know about the slot?

TheSolutor has posted a pic showing measurements. Do You can tell a device

fitting?

A sim Slot next to SD would have to be cut extra. I wonder if you in fact obsess a PhotonQ..

edit: of course you're pointing right direction - am workin on it ;)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...near sd slot is not space for nano sim slot
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Schattenspieler:
But the PQ seems to have been designed with a SIM slot in mind, but for some reason Motorola decided not to go for it. Thing is, if they decided to use a very specific design for the slot, it probably won't be available publicly.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] K.O.K.:
what i know about the nano sim slot connector i'm talking about is here: jae.com/jccom/en/connectors/detail/SF72/MemoryCard They show there the slot's measurements. Unfortunately i couldnt find theTheSolutor's post with the measurements.

i dont have the phone yet since the price in amazon has gotten too damn high in just a couple of days, i dunno why.. from $ 120~150 brand new it now cost $250, its ridiculous.

i'm not obssesed with the photon q, is just that i need a phone with a full qwerty since i text and email a lot and the PQ is best specs qwerty phone out there.

:)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
http://oi62.tinypic.com/2a6nr43.jpg

You've got 10,5mm next to SD slot.

Unfortunately the Nanoslots i could find start from 11mm.

btw: sorry stupid mistake by me: i wanted to say "possess", not "obsess".
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ST Dog:
- 1.25mm height, 11.2mm width, and 14.3mm depth, industry’s lowest-in-class height and smallest-in-class dimensions as a push-push type.

0.7mm too wide. And that doesn't account for the actual pad locations.

http://www.jae.com/z-en/pdf_download_exec.cfm?param=SJ114535.pdf

Looks like you need 2.8mm from the edge of the SD card to the left pads then 4.04mm from the right pads to the edge.

And it's designed for the pads to be 2.2mm form the edge of the board.

Just no way it'd solder to the board properly.

So it'd be a mess of wires underneath to route the signals then insulation and glue to hold it in position.

the nanoSIM alone is 8.8mm wide. Just not a lot of space left of a socket.

That leads me to think it was never intend to have a SIM socket. They designed around the embedded-SIM/Embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) standard from the beginning.

Likely an interface to program the eUICC for the desired carrier after assembly. (http://www.eseye.com/en/eseye-m2m-d...ons/es4510-and-es4520-anynet-sims-second.html)
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Well, i don't think push-push is really necessary.

The housing for the spring at the side of the slot costs us aprox.2mm.

I wouldn't mind using tweezers.

Another thing - taking a look at cornholios pics in post#1, theres one showing the pinouts

of simIC and how they have to be connected to simcards.

The way those pins are arranged fits to a (nano)simcard with contacts pointing towards motherboard, gnd placed outwards.

Flat elastic contactplates soldered to those pins (isolated from the rest of the motherboard e.g. with kapton tape)

and a cut to fit housing would serve the shortest possible sim connection.

Only those contacts, no wires.

In this case the sim may not be accessible unless the battery is removed.

The slot you've found is pretty slim (1,25mm), but less would be better, as we've got only 1,4mm in total,

an cornholio suggests 0,3mm wires.

edit: eBay would be a better way to buy a PhotonQ - if you plan to perform the sim mod

you can buy one with bad ESN pretty cheap...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] schmandroid:
The Photon Q that I modded - I ripped a std sim card reader from an old phone & fixed it inverted on the board (contacts up) - the sim can be removed with tweezers.

Works fine.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] deramirez:
thanks people for this great thread!

i modded Motorola Photon q from Sprint.

it have stock motorola rom. bootloader not unlocked yet.

GSM 3G/2G network works fine, i able call, send sms, ussd.

but, phone wont connect to mobile internet EDGE/UMTS.

i entered correct APN, Checked "Allow GSM Data" but without success: "Mobile Network State: Disconnected".

UPD1: Problem sloved. "APN Type" must be "default,supl,dun" not empty.

PS: looks like optimal sim connector in our case: "MUP-C781 nano sim card holder for iPhone 5s" availiable on alibaba
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Some pic would be great...

edit: when taking a look at my Q's motherboard yesterday i came to find 11mm instead of 10,5.

edit2: nice non push-push nano slot:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/400821623492?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Should fit on both sides of sd slot.

Hey! we could build double nano sim PhotonQs! :highfive:

edit3: [MENTION=2793970]deramirez[/MENTION]: right, MUP-C781 nano sim slot also looks good.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] schmandroid:
I just fired this one up again to test ICS - I'll post pics if I pull it apart for anything.

I didn't use a nano either, I just used an old sim slot & glued a sim adapter in it so it will take a micro. Fitted it near the 'ok' button & didn't even need to remove the component shield.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] K.O.K.:
Sorry guys, i don't know if i'm supposed to post this here but, i have a question, like i said before, i'm looking for a brand new Photon Q to import and, since the amazon price is too damn high, i was looking at ebay to see if i could find some better deal and i found this: eBay item number: 161554204594. it says something like "iWireless Kroger" which i don't know.

what you guys think?

it's really a new phone?

would it work for doing the mod and use it with a international gsm carrier?

plz advice and thx in advance!
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
If you read items' description you'll find it to be a sprint prepaid phone with just some Kruger refund function.

Technically it seems to be just a common PhotonQ.

As you aim to do the sim mod, and - i presume- unlock bootloader, root PQ and find some nice ROM like The Solutors'

i don't think you'll have to mess with sprint or Kruger any further.

So if the mod is done properly you should be able to use any international sim card.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ST Dog:
Not much detail in that listing. No dimensions at all.

[IMG="MUP-C781"]http://g02.s.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1o358GXXXXXcqXFXXq6xXFXXXE/200136538/HTB1o358GXXXXXcqXFXXq6xXFXXXE.jpg[/IMG]

Looks useful, but minimum order of 3000 isn't really helpful.

Might be able to get engineering samples direct from MUP (I've done that in the past with Molex and Amphenol)

http://www.mupconnector.com/
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] deramirez:
good idea! i asked their sales about sampes, but no answer yet.

i thinking about to remove metal cover from MUP-C781 and mount it reversed on top of SD slot. so, SD slot can be a cover for MUP-C781.

in this case SIM card can be inserted with SD card, without need to dissasemble phone case.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ST Dog:
China. Different time zone.

Helps to have a company email address/mailing address too.

I was looking at some of the "block" style connectors from Amp and Molex. Would be similar to pulling the cover off.

Just trying to figure out how to hold it/the card in place...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] photonqaccount:
I have a problem with the Photon Q running CM11 sometimes loosing the 3G data connection.

Sometimes it help to toggle the airplane mode but sometimes I need to restart it.

Any hints on this?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] mionica:
I've been getting that with the old mod (SIM GND tied to board GND). Though it only happened while I kept the phone in "GSM only" or "GSM/WCDMA" - in "WCDMA only" it worked perfectly. Typically it shows on the CM lock screen as "Invalid SIM card". (Though it might have been the fact that I only got HSPA service in the 2100Mhz band - it might not work with HSPA in the 900MHz band).

The new mod (which uses SIM GND with 0.3 wires) doesn't have that problem (at least for mods done by Cornholio himself). If you search the thread, you'll find people put scopes on SIM GND and saw it essentially floating when connected to the board's GND. I reckon the proximity of the antenna doesn't help.

Anyway, if it's a mod done by Cornholio, you could contact him about upgrading the mod (I did :D); if it's yours, make sure the SIM's ground is soldered to the removed chip's ground and that you use 0.3mm enamelled wires.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] photonqaccount:
I'm not having any problems with the sim card not beeing recognized.

The phone is connected to the mobile network, but there is no icon

for the mobile data and mobile data is not working. So it looks like a

software problem.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...you are on stack rom? if yes then is wrong apn settings.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] Nataniel:
Hi guys,

I did this mod to my Motorola Photon but I've got a problem and I'm hoping you can help:

Before modding I've installed TWRP 2.7.1.2 and cm-11-20140104-SNAPSHOT-M2-xt897 and it all worked fine (I guess, I've started it, checked if everything works, it worked, so I packet the phone and gave to my dad to make to hardware mod).

After getting it back it didn't start (froze on loading screen and restarted), I've triend reflashing the same ROM but it didn't help, but downloading newest nigtly cyanogen did the job. It started, SIM worked, so I was really glad. But afer a while it lost the signal, so I've tried to reboot it, but... it didn't start again, just froze on the loading screen and restarted.

After that I've tried different ROMs, newst stable Cyanogen, different versions of Pac Moto, always with the same result - starts, works, I'm happy, sometimes even close everything hoping it will just work, and than it looses signal. Sometimes rebooting works, but usually it just freezes. Then, sometimes wiping cache and Dalvic allows me to start it again, but usually I have to reglash another ROM to make it work, sometimes multiple times. Taking SIM out sometimes helps, sometimes no, so I guess it might be just a coincidence, not really a rule.

Any idea where the problem lays? I've checked on tho sim cards (one old, one new), or without any. I no longer have any idea what to try next. I'm really counting on your help :<

EDIT

If I just reflash it seems to be working fine, until I insert the SIM. I cant turn it off and on again, or simply reboot it and it always starts.

It also never really "crushes" while working, even with SIM inserted. Just looses signal (SIM?) and what I try to reboot it sometimes starts again, and sometimes not.

The mod was performed using this tutorial: charleswilkinson.co.uk/2013/12/02/add-sim-card-to-photon-q-4g-lte/
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
[MENTION=5320537]ST Dog[/MENTION]: I'm sure this won't be the only source.

BTW: if you take a look at the data sheet you'll see it's a bit fat - 1,5mm.

About the one i've listed - i can't find any datasheet, think will have to order a piece to find out...

[MENTION=278050]ramirez[/MENTION]: if you place the Slot on top of SD holder - what about the battery?

edit: just got answer: the slot is 10x13x1mm

Means the slot will fit both sides of SD slot.

The side where simchip is - no problem.

The other side would make it possible to access it behind cover of sd, but we would have to find a different way

to hold this cover, the plug holding it stands really close to the sims' way in and out.

Needs a probe...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ST Dog:
Once you have one in hand you might be able to get the real part number off of it.

That's how I found the Molex CF socket for my HP camera (original had bent pins)

True enough. Someone mentioned it so I posted the drawing I found. Didn't look real close at the values on it.

If a means of holding the SIM could be found the block style looks to be the lowest profile.

http://www.amphenol.de/scc/C707-10M006-169-2/167.html

http://www.amphenol.de/scc/C707-10M006-147-2/140.html

Strangely I'm not seeing much nanoSIM stuff on the websites for Amp or Molex. Just mini (2FF) and micro (3FF).
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Yes, and if you find some Nano slot most use a frame to insert the card making the slot as large as a micro slot.

I really can't see the sense in first inventing nano cards and then wasting their benefits by using those slide frames.

What we need to find are devices with nano sim inserted directly.

Like HTC Desire 816 :cool:

edit: just added slotsize to post #1419
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ChristianHJW:
Dear Tomas, this is just to say 'thank you' once again for the last three phones which you modded for me, making this a total of 6 phones now. All three phones work perfectly, there can be no doubt at all that you have brought your SIM mod to perfection meanwhile.

As you may recall, two of the phones were ment for some colleagues of mine, but one has left the company and the other bought an Xperia Z2 in the mean time. I put the two phones on ebay.de now, ending tomorrow evening, let's hope i can get the invested money back :) .....

I still love my Photon Q, and now i am safe because i have a second, fully operational backup phone !! :good:

Best Regards from Buxtehude, Germany

Christian

P.S. Please also read my article here : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-we-allow-smartphone-industry-ignore-needs-us-christian-wiesner
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] kabaldan:
You have some errors in that article - Photon Q was launched in August 2012 (not 2011). And its specs were rather fine for that time...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ChristianHJW:
Thanks, corrected. Of course you are right, my old Xperia Pro was launched in 2011, not the Photon Q.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] tobby88:
No, there is still the sentence which says, that PQ was outdated when it was launched. Which is incorrect...
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
HTC Desire 816 Nano Sim Slot

Just to show you- HTC Desire 816 Nano Sim Slot positioned next to SD Card.

As you may see on first pic i had to cut off the springs' cover at three points.

Soldering isn't finished, but i'll post further pics asap.

It's hard to explain how i'm planning to connect sim slot to motherboard,

better illustrate it. Will use flat contact plates taken from Siemens Lumberg phoneplug.

btw- as you can see i've toasted the front row of capacitors... clumsy me.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] enigma9o7:
"The Photon Q runs a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, which is at the absolute high end of mobile chipsets right now. " http://www.theverge.com/2012/8/31/3273082/motorola-photon-q-4g-lte-review

And Sprint was the only carrier willing to even try QWERTY keyboard phone, thanks to them we have the Photon Q... your article seems to blame them for killing it, when they're the one that kept it alive the longest..
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] K.O.K.:
ohh man.. this looks really nice! good job..

i cant wait to get my photon q. i've orederd it already. :)

Recently I was looking for phones with nano sim slots and i found that the Samsung Galaxy Alpha G850F uses a slot without push-push and it looks just about the size of the nano sim itself without anything else on the connector.. here is the only place i found where they sell it: .impextrom.com/producto.asp?comprar=Conector-con-lector-de-tarjeta-SIM-para-Samsung-Galaxy-Alpha-G850F&id_tienda=1&id=999989455&grupo=111125

maybe we can use that one and use tweazers to pull the sim when needed..
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] ST Dog:
I get lots of hit using the part number from that page

https://www.google.com/search?q=3709-001856

eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/351249371405

Amazon UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RNHEIIS

This site has a good photo of the bottom too

http://stellatech.com/samsung-sm-g850f-galaxy-alpha-nano-sim-card-reader,a,en,817627.html

Unfortunately I can't make out the manufacturer name under the stamped number.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Non push-push slots should be no problem any more- just ordered one of those i've posted for testing.

If the slot is less than 10,5 mm wide it can be placed left of sd holder, connected by wires.

Placed right side of SD you can get shortest possible connections, but we have to find slots making soldering possible...

like the one i've posted. There are others, but i don't have any idea how to connect.

The closer we come to initial simchip place, the less space is left.

edit: I recognized the one you've posted isn't new to us, same pics, just the same as in my previous post. You know, the one in #1419.

As i wrote i've already ordered one, think it will fit. Just wait for confirmation, i'm up to it.
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] CornholioGSM:
...so is not better connetion and sim slot used by me?
[Motorola Photon Q 4G LTE] B-44:
Of course it won't run better than your great mod.

It's more to show the possibilities given with these slots which hadn't been available when you started your work.

The place close to original simchips' place uses shortest possible connection.

(There had been the idea long wires could cause problems).

Quite possible any improvement at all compared to your solution.

Taken HTC Desire 816 slot to the place you usually use this little shield wouldn't have to be removed, and maybe you wouldn't have to cut that trench into motherboard any more.

Not bad.

(This Slot in connection with Flex-PCB like PC-Coholic did would be a grat thing.)

Samsung G850 Galaxy Alpha slot left of SD could make a sim slot possible which would be accessible behind the cover of SD slot.

Just a nice to have, sim card swapping without the need to remove the backcover.

Technically no difference, but in practice a bit more comfortable, don't you think?