[T-Mobile, Samsung Galaxy SIII] BizzyBeth:
I'm lost and I really could use some help. :confused: I'm a total newb, so please be patient with me. Old dog learning new tricks.

I'll try to explain what's going on in a million words or less.....

I currently have service with MetroPCS. My son in Jersey is on T-mobile. He upgraded his phone to an S5 and thought that his old Galaxy S3 would be a nice upgrade for me. He called T Mobile and got the unlock code for the S3, unlocked it using his mother in law's SIM from her ATT phone. It said unlock was successful so he packed it up and sent it to me.

I got the phone, got on chat with Metro and was directed to buy a new SIM card because the one in my LG Spirit supposedly isn't compatible. I received the new one, got back on chat with Metro and got the phone activated by putting in a new APN for Metro using fast.t-mobile.com info.

I can make/receive calls, send/receive simple texts, but I have zero data or internet. I have talked to Metro a number of times and nothing has helped. I have re-input APN info, reset to default, had the network refreshed, edited the metro APN more, reset to factory, yadda yadda yadda. I have read and read and read some more, to the point where I'm just confused. This has been going on since last Wednesday. My son pointed me in the direction of this forum in hopes that I might be able to find out what I need to do in order to get data service on MetroPCS networks with this crazy phone.

My phone is a Samsung Galaxy SIII - SGH-T999 (No letter at the end)

It is running on Android version 4.3

Kernel - 3.0.31-1962493

Build - JSS15J.T999UVUENC2

It is not rooted, never has been in the past.

If you need more info, just let me know.

Under mobile networks I have:

Mobile data/Data roaming both enabled.

There are 2 APN's. One for T-mobile which is not enabled, but I cannot remove or edit this APN.

APN for MetroPCS:

APN: fast.t-mobile.com

MMSC: http : // mms.msg.eng.t-mobile.com/mms/wapenc (had to add the spaces)

Was also given an MMSC of: http : // metropcs.mms.mvc.com/mms/wapenc (had to add the spaces)

Neither get me connected to data, even though 4G is shown at the top of the phone screen.

MCC 310

MNC 260 (both these were there automatically, I did not put the numbers in)

APN type: default, mms, supl

APN protocol: IPv4

APN roaming protocol: IPv4 (again, both of these were there when I added APN for metro)

Everything else is either not set, none or unspecified.

I did notice that if I went under Bearer, it has the options for LTE, eHRPD or unspecified. Currently unspecified is selected. I had a brief moment of thinking I had solved the problem myself, but alas, if I change to either of the other two options when I save the APN and go back out to APNs, the radio button will move off the APN for metro and go back to the TMobile APN. I click MetroPCS, in a moment it will go back to TMobile.

Under Status it does show my network as MetroPCS.

signal strength -95 dBm 9 asu

Mobile network type: UMTS

Service state: In service

Not roaming, IMEI is there, blah, blah, blah.

So, what do I need to do people? If I can't get this phone working properly on Metro's networks, my only option is to revert back to my LG Spirit. I'm disabled, so other providers are not really an affordable option. Yeah, I know TMobile has $40 prepaid plans now, but add taxes, surcharges, local fees, etc. etc. it adds up and I live on a very tight budget.

Thanks for taking the time to read my novel, and for any help you might be able to offer. I have tried to get answers from Metro, but they keep telling me the same things over and over again and nothing changes. I don't know much, but I'm trying to figure it all out. Thanks!