[AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note II] machv5:
I fixed it and the method I got it to all work with is written below in each of its steps.

*NOTE: for the stock ROM and TWRP installs via ODIN you use PDA and make sure that re-partition isn't checked or you'll brick your phone,

if your phone sets on fire or other nastiness ensues that results in a brick I'm going with the other guys and am not responsible. I also recommend verifying any and all of steps below just in case I wrote something wrong by accident. This is the first time I have written something like this in such detail with all the links etc... If you notice an error let me know and I will fix it/them asap, and if this helped please click thanks.

1. I started out with Stock 4.1.2 firmware that I rooted with Galaxy_Note2_Toolkit_v4.1.0

2. I then downloaded Stock Rogers 4.1.1 firmware from

Rogers – 4.1.1 Jelly Bean RWC_I317MVLALJ2_I317MOYAALJ2_I317MVLALJ2

Direct hotfile link DOWNLOAD_ROGERS_4.1.1

3. I downloaded Galaxy_Note2_Toolkit_v4.1.0 to unpack the firmware into an ODIN flashable tar

Toolkit http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1923956

Direct

4. I flashed the firmware and it said success but got stuck in a bootloop

5. Because the device now had a stock recovery installed again I waited till the Toolkit picked up the phone

and reinstalled TWRP using the toolkit and after success it rebooted

6. Still stuck in a loop I used ADB to reboot to recovery and did a factory reset (adb saw the phone ater about 2-3mins allowing commands)

7. The phone booted, YAY!

8. I unlocked the NETWORK lock via the service menu *#197328640#

9. On the stock 4.1.1 I had to manually set the network and create a new APN as telus.ISP doesn't give you

4GLTE internet.

APN settings for Telus SGH-I317M (Canada)

Name: Telus SP

APN: sp.telus.com

Proxy: Not set

Port: Not set

User Name: Not set

Password: Not set

Server: Not set

MMSC: http://aliasredirect.net/proxy/mmsc

MMS Proxy: 74.49.0.18

MMS Port: 80

MCC: 302

MNC: 220

Authentication Type: None

APN Type: internet + mms

APN Protocol: IPv4

Enable/disable APN: APN enabled

Bearer: Unspecified

10. I didn't care for the stock ROM so I installed Liquidsmooth JB 4.2.2 and Gapps via TWRP

XDA Thread

Direct http://goo.im/devs/liquidsmooth/t0lte/Liquid-JB-v2.9-OFFICIAL-t0lte.zip

GAPPs direct

(all links are valid as of this writing if anyone finds one broken let me know by quote and reply in case I am no longer subscribed to this thread and I will update as needed)

And that was how I managed to downgrade, remove the simlock, and install a new custom ROM I know there were other ways I could have done this but I chose to make my own hodge podge fix based on what I had and what I know (and am still learning more all the time). It maybe more complex than it needs to be but it worked. And I didn't have to read one or more other how-to's in order to find one that worked for me. I hope that this helps someone in the same situation that I found myself in and cuts down on the time it takes to get all the parts together to do the same fix.

Sorry about the messiness with my links I am a noob with the advanced features and will try to get it more down pat the next time I write something like this.

:eek: