[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mbastats:
How To: Verizon I545 S4 running T-Mobile service with LTE, 4.2.2 with many 4.4 apps and features.

This took a lot of time for me to figure out. There were a lot of questions I had to read and a lot of testing of trial and error on my part. Many of the actual ROMs, apps, etc came from other people, which I will name and give credit to. Everything is working for me. LTE, call signal, wifi, hotspot, NFC, IR, EVERYTHING!

This is what I have and have tested. I will mention if I believe other options will work, but it does not mean I have tested the other options. I do not take any responsibility for your phone or data. You read this for educational purposes only and anything you choose to do is at your own will.

With that being said, I never bricked my phone or even ran into any serious problems while figuring this out. The worst I had was testing out different deodexed roms that I had modified, which some would give a black screen on boot. When this occurred, I simply powered off or pulled the battery. I then powered back into recovery, wiped data/cache/dalvik, then reinstalled a ROM that worked. You shouldn't run into any of these problems at all, since I've figured it out for you. Always back up what you currently have before testing anything.

View the attached screenshots to see my current settings.

Black 16gb Verizon S4 SCH-I545 with the original MDK modem. I will not go into detail on how to root or install custom recovery, as that was way too long ago for me. I will give you the links to the forums and tutorials that I used to do this. Please verify that your equipment is either the same as mine or that it will work with these tutorials before using them. If you use them successfully, please THANK the author and contributors. They all have worked hard to get us here. Otherwise, find a tutorial that works for you.

How to root and install custom recovery posted by open1your1eyes0

Find it here and make sure to THANK all those involved: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2290798

What is needed (I’ll get into the HOW TO later, but make sure this list is covered first):​

1) A rooted Verizon S4 SCH-I545 model (other S4 models might work, but I have not tested)

2) A custom recovery (I use ClockworkMod 6.0.3.2, there might be an updated version and others might work. I have not tested any other option)

3) ROM: [ROM] [G.E.] [4.2.2] [AROMA] [VZW] GoogleEdition.v6.0 09/11/13 by Dubbsy and hlxanthus

Find it here and make sure to THANK them… http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2343355

4) Stock Android 4.4 KitKat Launcher & Google Apps Extracted posted by MyDeSTiNaTe

Find it here and make sure to THANK him… I will not post the direct file links without permission, so please find what you need on his thread. http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2508334

Feel free to test and use whatever is posted there, but the below is what I was able to use and what worked for me.

PreBuiltGmsCore (Google Play Services 4.0)

Velvet (Google Search)

GoogleHome (Google Launcher) Although I’m choosing to use the latest version of Nova Launcher Prime, this worked well.

Gmail

Keep

QuickOffice

Keyboard

Hangouts 2

Wallpaper

5) These other apps for the 4.4 “feel” or due just to my personal preference.

8sms (Stock Messaging, KitKat) on Google Play

ExDialer & Contacts on Google Play

Android 4.4 KitKat Dialer (theme used with exDialer) thanks to Terrance Veigas which posted at this link. http://www.techniciastudios.com/android-kitkat-dialer-exdialerapk/

KitKat Clock on Google Play

6) The modem of your choice. Remember, I am stock MDK and can return to it at any time. I have chosen the MJ7 modem ONLY. DO NOT USE the modems with NON-HLOS unless you know what you are doing. Using these can potentially affect your root.

Find it here and make sure to THANK Surge1223

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2487298

Now for the HOW TO:​

There are two different ways to approach this. Depending on your knowledge, one may be easier than the other. I’ll go into more detail later when I have more time and as questions come in.

1st option: Install the ROM but avoid selecting the apps listed above if possible. This will help so that you can install the 4.4 apps later on without having to delete the preinstalled ones from the ROM. After the ROM is installed, install the apps from section 4 and 5 listed above. You might run into some issues with installing apps in Section 4 which is unlikely, but that’s why I prefer my 2nd option.

2nd option (my preferred choice): Open the deodexed ROM and replace the specific apps inside with those you have downloaded in section 4 listed above. Rezip the ROM and flash it. Download and install the apps listed in section 5 after you have installed the ROM. (I suspect there might be questions on details from some of you, but I will edit and add these in later when I have more time.)

During the installation, make sure you select and install the apps not listed in the sections above (4 and 5) that you might need. I believe Samsung WatchON is needed for IR. There might be other better options out there that I’m not aware of.

I selected the KT-SGS4 kernel by ktoonsez during the installation of the ROM. This one works great, but you are free to try any of the others.

After you have finished with one of the options above. You will need to flash the modem of your choice. Remember not to use the modem with NON-HLOS.

After this, go to the Phone Info app which was included in the ROM. Select Phone Information, then change the setting to LTE/GSM auto (PRL). Close the app. You may need to turn airplane mode on and off, only once. I did not have to though.

You should now have your phone running 4.2.2 with many 4.4 KitKat apps and features. Please feel free to ask any questions, offer suggestions, and THANK those above who provided everything we needed. Please do not criticize anyone involved. This is only meant to help those who were looking for a solution, plus it’s my first tutorial.

I’ll add more details as I have more time. I’m working on modifying the ROM listed above with all of the files needed to make this an easier process for all of you to install, but I will have to ask permission from the original ROM builders before posting. I do not know when this will be completed. Give me some time. ;)

Thanks.