[Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III] IamCyrious:
What is the trick to 3G from Edge??

First off, I want to tell everyone including Viper, i am extremely happy to see people actually sharing information like this. I am an old school Navy veteran electronics technician that worked for years in the communications industry back when pagers were the "in thing" and the only people that had cell phones were doctors and lawyers. I got out of the business when pagers started becoming obsolete and/or "throw away" and cell phones started taking over...seems like a long time ago, but really it isn't. As a technician, I believed in the very thing Viper is trying to do here..which is sharing of information between fellow techs and providing newly discovered techniques...something I was on the cutting edge on back then. I won't bore all of you with my climb to bigger and better things in the communications industry, but lets just say I moved into microwave (satellite) technologies and have really lost touch with my "roots".

Anyway, as more of a side thing for fun, I am coming back around, so to speak, and am working with a few of the smaller mom and pop operations to provide services to their customers that they currently don't offer directly (repairs, unlocking, etc.). Most of my services to this point have been at cost largely due to the economic state. In other words, I do it more as a hobby and to make people happy. Let's face it, we all have fallen on hard times at some point in our lives and I had the fortunate experience to have had people to help me through those times, and this is my way of "paying it forward".

Now for my question, and I please ask that you be gentle with me, here. I was asked if I could figure out the flashing of phones from one carrier to another (to Metro PCS, in particular). I have acquired a few pieces of software (DFS,CDMA Workshop,QPST (sidenote...the QPST manual puts me to sleep), and have played around with a few phones that I acquired for practice in trying to convert them. As I am sure you are aware, some are easier than others (depending on make, model and even the original carrier). I have played around with APN's, PRL's, etc, but the issue I keep running into is when I am done with some phones is that I end up with Edge for internet. The fact I can even get the phones to get that tells me I am on the right track, but I am trying to figure out the "secret process" that allows you to actually get at minimum 3G service. The ones that are kicking my butt are the S3 and S4 from Verizon (flashing to Metro PCS). I have done a ton of reading and even talking to other local techs on this with mixed answers that it is even possible. The ones that

claim

to be successful and "for profit" are typically not from my area and are tight-lipped about what I am doing wrong. So my question is, first, is it possible? Second, if so, can someone please detail what the process is. I do know the process of changing the Qualcomm settings to actually be able to read and write to these phones. I guess, I just am missing a step somewhere or am using old information that no longer works. Whichever the case may be, I would be greatly appreciative of your help. Please, also understand, I am not out to take away business from others, but I live in a small town in north central Florida, and near as I can tell, the closest people that do this sort of thing are 90 minutes or more away in cities like Orlando, Tampa, and Gainesville. Again, thank you for your help and I apologize for making this post so long...since I am a "newbie" on here, i felt the need to explain a little about my background and experience.