yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] christiebunny:
Well, still fighting with HTC for a refund-- need to call back tomorrow and talk to an 'e-commerce specialist', whatever that is :/ I really don't want to give up and sell it on Swappa for significantly less than I paid, but looking like I might have to :(

I'm trying to push the "false advertising" angle, because that's illegal, and enough U11's don't work with Verizon that there's good legal standing to call it that.

I get it, it works one day, then nothing, RUU fixes it, once, then nothing. reflash 1.16, still nothing. Talk to them, "fix is on the way"

Try with 1.28 when it comes out, then back to 1.16, then back to 1.16, still nothing.

wait, and 14-day return ends without noticing it.

Talk to them again, "verizon's working on a fix, we'll have it soon"

Offered a warranty replacement, turn it down because that won't solve the issue, and I need SOME sort of smartphone, even just on wifi, to use with my temporary flip phone.

Borrow a t-mobile sim, works absolutely perfectly.

Work with HTC, get 4G data but no calling, keep working, lose 4G data again.

"fix is coming soon"

get my old LG V10 fixed under magically extended-to-next-month warranty repair (thanks to LG lawsuit)

use t-mobile for a month, works great, go back to Verizon, nothing again.

"just wait for Oreo, that'll fix everything"

Use my V10 in the meantime, U11 makes a wonderful tablet, no better than a brick as a phone.

Oreo Arrives, 2.31, so I try, and try again, flash back to 1.28, then back to oreo, and everything else I can think of, still nothing.

Contact HTC, politely, dead end.

holidays, weekends, mom goes to the hospital, life gets in the way (mom's fine, btw!)

Contact HTC again, NOT so politely, still dead end... but get told to talk to the 'e-commerce manager' the next day-- missed him friday, and monday, trying again early as I can, tomorrow.

I am *NOT* happy about this. and I'm tempted to start legal action, what with everyone else having all these problems too-- but it'd end up costing more than the phone, and almost certainly not worth the time or trouble :/

I'm gong to be VERY loud and VERY pushy tomorrow, but if I'm still at a dead-end, I'll probably get it replaced under warranty, and sell that on Swappa for as close to what I paid as I can get, and just not deal with HTC for anything ever again.

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 PM ----------

On a different topic, anyone know anything about the Note8's unlocked version? I know the Essential's rommable, and it looks like the Note8 is, I was wondering if anyone had experience with it?

Narrowed my choices down to those two, and they're neck-and-neck at the moment.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Pretty nice for at my house on band 4. I can hit over 100mbps on band 2.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] christiebunny:
Well, to Swappa I go :(

The Essential is about the same as I'd be able to sell my U11 for (~$450)

Pixel 2 XL is a good phone too, but neither the essential nor the pixel have SD slots, which makes them a hard sell

And, unfortunately, both the Note 8 and the Pixel 2, are nearly what I paid for the U11 new-- which is close to double the price of the Essential, ~$300 extra :/

I'd give my left.... ear, for a Note 8, but unfortunately I don't see how I could afford one, so I guess it'll be the Essential after all-- we'll see once I know what the U11 sells for.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bryguy80:
christiebunny, that's a bummer that things didn't work out. I can't remember if you're in a heavily populated region, but it seems that the u11 comes through for the most part under those circumstances. After my SMS issues and hard reboot, things are still looking positive. Since I'm planning on dipping into NG soon, I might as well throw my phone into airplane mode for a bit and see if it reconnects to the network.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] christiebunny:
Small town, not very 'heavy' in population, but decent coverage... for just verizon tho :/
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bryguy80:
I wonder if that plays a role, aka, less towers = less chance of this phone working through their network. It's mysterious, frustrating and a little bit fun. Especially when things aren't working, then out of the blue, most things start working (like SMS coming through all at once). Just got out of airplane mode and texted myself and it's still working. Weee

---------- Post added at 04:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:44 AM ----------

I wanted to comment to Liberty's technique with advanced calling btw. In a nutshell I believe that process is farfetched but also, who has time or a want to do that type of manipulation with the phone to activate it correctly? As long as the correct SIM is installed and your advanced calling is activated, which by the way you can activate through googling keywords through your verizon acct, the phone works well on the network... at least until it doesn't :p I've been stock so I'm sorta basic.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Just telling my experience. Why I have so much success and others have so many issues is a mystery I guess. I just know the SIM card gets screwed up as it was proven twice for me swapping back to my Verizon HTC 10 and then causing the same type text and sms issues over to it. That tells me it's not the U11 device but an activation issue of some sort.

---------- Post added at 11:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------

Another big part of the signal and SIM card getting screwey could be lack of CDMA. I don't claim to know anything technical, I just go by experience. I purchased the Verizon Exalt LTE only from Verizon for my dad and had issues with it as well and had to return it. He doesn't text so I didn't test that issue but I had activation issues with it, it would only ring one and a half times when calling him but he would never receive the call. So I called Verizon Tech support, they deactivated it and reactivated it and it worked for about a day and then started doing the same thing. So I am not claiming to know what I am talking about, just giving real life experiences. That is all I got.

---------- Post added at 06:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:38 AM ----------

There are three things we know for sure. There isn't any Verizon advanced calling settings on the phone so we have to use another Verizon device to activate it, It does not have Verizon CDMA and it only has band 13. I would say that would cause activation issues.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Just installed the latest OTA. All is well so far. Not noticing any changes yet. Hopefully battery gets even better and not worse.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bryguy80:
Nice. thanks, Liberty!

'Software update: 2.42.617.1

-December Android security update

- System enhancements'

I'm nearly afraid to click download since my phone is working :ha
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I took my SIM out through the whole process and then re-flashed twrp and magisk. I won't do anything system related with my SIM in.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
All was great and perfect until I tried flashing an old kernel, Cleanslate. After reboot I could not send any text messages. Had to run the 2.42 RUU to fix it. When I flashed it I removed the SIM but did not insert it into my HTC 10 like I usually do. My advice is to not flash anything until it is verified. From my experience with 3 HTC U11's, the only time something goes wrong is when flashing stuff. Haters can laugh, get mad or jealous or whatever they feel. That is the truth. I know people who wanted this phone get a kick out out of our demise but the bottom line is this phone is great if used properly. I should have waited on flashing that kernel.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Most people won't want to admit their text message issue was caused by flashing something cause they fear the warranty rejection. Factory reset didn't fix it for me. I had to run the RUU.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bryguy80:
I'm very new to the terminology but assuming RUU means the original software HTC tested that shipped with the phone? That's interesting (and not reassuring) that a factory reset didn't solve your texting issues. I still haven't strayed far from my everyday apps after I was back up and running. Haven't either taken the leap to update to the newest release in fear of losing one of the main capability I use daily. It did take a while (about a week) for my reset to take notice of the HD calling icon, but now it's running smooth and reliable. I was in a less than receptional zone the other day, came back to a strong tower and my services were unscathed. Who knows if it'll continue to operate smoothly in the long run, but eventually I'll need to play around for educational reasons. I'm prepared to brick my phone for at least a day if I can grab onto a quicker Band just for a few youtube videos :laugh:
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
I'll just leave this here: https://community.verizonwireless.com/thread/942693
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Yeah there's been threads already there, they get ignored and/or locked so no one can post. The best you can do is go at it with HTC and demand your money back. As for me, my U11 is still going strong. Full black theme and all on rooted stock Oreo. No way in Hell would I put up with the mess you got.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I even emailed back and forth with the head of corporate till he got pissed and credited me with a measily $40 to go away.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] Irieone:
I was just about to buy this phone for use on Verizon. I guess that would be a bad move huh?
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I don't understand how I never have issues unless I mess with system stuff like flashing or rebooting after updating system type stuff like magisk or adaway or theming. I still have not had any issues on pure stock and no random issues just from regular use. My last two issues was one from flashing a kernel from an older source, ruu fixed it and two, from installing a substratum theme. Both times I lost the ability to send texts. I figured out a work around from my last experience. I backed up my data on twrp, ran the ruu to fix my texting issue, then restored my data with the substratum theme and all my apps and I was back in business. Fully themed Oreo stock rooted ROM with everything working. As long as I'm booted and not flashing anything I never have issues. So for anyone who cares, make a data nandroid in case you have issues, run the ruu then restore your data. But I still don't get how anyone has issues just out of the blue. Never for me.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
I never get the VZW software download anymore after activating a new SIM since Oreo came out. I seriously think that is an indicator to why the network quasi rejects me.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I thought the same thing at first but I get it now. I make sure I have everything installed and restored before popping my SIM in. Then a pop-up asks if I want to install carrier settings. It didn't happen when I first upgraded to Oreo.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
I'm not, so am thinking to downgrade back to 7.1 and older baseband and start from there working my way back up via OTAs
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I would stick with ota's as well. That is what I have done. That or RUU of the current version you are on and then take the OTA. That's what I've been doing.

Like I said, I wasn't getting the carrier settings pop-up at first either but now I am. And get everything set up on your phone before you pop your SIM in then make a nandroid backup of your ROM. Make a stock backup as well but that hasn't helped fix the texting issue. If you get the texting issue again, you can run your current RUU then wipe data and restore your data backup and that should fix it.

Sounds like a hassle but for me, I don't have issues unless I'm messing with system stuff. So as long as I have a data backup of my apps, root, theme, kernel and whatever else I flash, I'm pretty much safe to update or flash something new cause the run and data backup will restore the text messaging issue if it happens again.

What is effed up is I'm not getting the signal loss issue anymore after flashing, just can't send texts. I can receive them.

Anyhow, my phone is fine 99% of the time.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I lost the ability to send text messages after using substratum to get this theme set up but backed up data in TWRP, ran the 2.42 RUU then restored data and all was fine and working again.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
This battery life is amazing. Can probably get over 10 hours sot.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
First time getting 10 hours sot. Stock settings for auto brightness with stock kernel.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
So far so good after Sunshine S-Off and downgrade to Nougat (1.28.617.30) via sd card zip.

Have to wait 24 hrs to see if VZW provisioning kicks me off again. However, I got the VZW carrier setting download prompt this time, so I'm pretty confident. Plus Wifi is working great again.

Am thinking when I upgraded to first Oreo via RUU, it flashed a corrupted radio firmware. That firmware is probably the same in the 2nd RUU update, so maybe the RUU process skips a flash if the existing firmware is already there (corrupted version in this case). Thus the latest RUU never fixes the bad flash unless you get on a diff Baseband ver and go from there.

I always use the RUU.exe windows method, so maybe the sd card zip method would forceably flash (overwrite) the radio partition (and thus overcome a corrupt same firmware version), but I didn't try that.

That's my theory anyways that I'll be able to prove tomorrow. Being rooted, I RUU.exe to next update vice OTA... However for this little ride, if it's still working on VZW tomorrow, I'll let it take the Oreo OTAs.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Good deal buddy. As I stated before, and it may just be placebo but I would make sure all your apps are restored and you have everything flashed that you want to flash before inserting your SIM on your final reboot. The less you mess with system stuff on your phone, the better off you'll be. Then you will get the carrier pop-up again after you pop your SIM in after the OTA. Good luck.

And after you get everything setup make a nandroid, the data backup may become very useful if you have to ruu again.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
Downgrading to Nougat fixed it. Then once it took the Oreo OTA, it went to crap again. Even tried full wipe and SD Card Oreo RUU, didn't help. Back to Nougat and staying there until the next OTA, and try again...
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bpstarke:
Bands to make her dance

Just got the options to enable all of these bands in Network Signal Guru for Verizon. Huge relief as Band 13 is awful in Denver. Running stock Android 8.0 with root.

I now have my U11 alternating between Bands 1-8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 41, and 66. I have screenshots but because I had to make an account for this post I can't post it.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
We used to be able to add bands by using the experiment option shown in the screenshot. Now it's saying it is a paid feature. Can you tell how you added those bands? Did you just use the lock band setting?

I've only been able to get bands 2, 4 &13. That would be great to get all of those bands.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bpstarke:
So...before this was a paid feature, I used the experimental lock band setting and enabled bands 2 and 4 using the command #13#4#2. For a while it was rotating between these bands, but just the other day I went in to disable/re-enable a band (I do this all the time), and I noticed the option to enable all of the additional bands I referenced! I did not run a command to manually enable the options for those bands, they just appeared one day.

I'm sure if you purchased the full version of the app, you could use LTE locking and enable the bands with the following command: #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#12#13#17#20#25#26#28#41#66. IMO it's worth the cost of the app to get all of this additional connectivity if it will accept the command. Please let me know if anyone on Verizon can confirm.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
It still allows us to lock all those bands by way shown in my screenshot, is this how you did it? Sorry, just trying to understand. I thought we had to add the bands before locking them. Fifty dollars a month is quite steep but if it works and the other bands are useful, I guess paying $50 for one month and then canceling would be worth it.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bpstarke:
Yes that's how I did it! Did selecting those check boxes not work for you? I never manually added the bands either, they just showed up for me like they did for you. Didn't realize the app was that pricy....
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Sweet! I'm stuck at home with a broken foot so I won't be able to really test this until I get back on the road again at work. Right now I'm still only showing getting bands 4 & 13 at home. Are you showing those other bands working like shown in my screenshot? Thanks a lot buddy. Appreciate any help we can get here.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bpstarke:
Yeah mine alternates between those bands I've done a good amount of testing. Should work for you too!
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Wow that is awesome. It's been getting a little better on Verizon, knock on wood but haven't seen the complete lost signal issue for the last couple months, not at all on my new device.

The only issue I have now is losing the ability to send texts after flashing certain things. So now before I flash anything I just back up my data in case I have to run an RUU. I stay on stock anyway so I just run the RUU and restore data and I'm back in business.

Everything is great otherwise. I sent an email to HTC support about the texting issues.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Those are all the bands that the new Google Pixel 2 uses. Wonder if you can get the advanced LTE up to 300mbps. I've been at about 100mbps on band 2 at at peak times.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] bpstarke:
I am in the exact same boat as you man. Got this phone in July and it has been an absolute nightmare that is, fortunately, getting better as of recent. I completely lost network connectivity on Verizon with my first U11 and it took them 4 F****ING months to send me a replacement device. I ending up having the SMS issue (can send MMS, not SMS) on the new U11 I received while I was running LeeDroid and it drove me up the wall when wiping data and resetting would not fix it. Got the new phone back working by flashing an RUU, and have just stayed on stock Oreo with a backup since then....

One thing I still haven't figured out.....do you use Google Messages as your default messaging app by any chance? I think it is the best messaging client available on Android by a landslide, but for some reason I cannot get any picture messages to send at a decent quality. Textra sends picture messages fine, but Google messages always compresses them to the point of severe blurriness. If I could just get this working I'd really have no complaints about my rooted, stock Oreo experience on my U11 at all.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
No I been using Textra lately but had Verizon message + for a long time, I actually really liked it. May go back to it, it has everything I like.

I will give Google messages a shot see how it does for me. It's nice to have someone making it work like me lol. If you're not doing it already, the ruu and data nandroid does the trick. But I find as long as I don't mess with anything, I don't have any issues.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I guess this is what you are talking about, in my 2nd screenshot, the top pic I sent to myself from Textra, the bottom I sent to myself from android messages. It shrinks it down before you even send it. The first screenshot shows sent and received and they are both shrunken.

I have to edit this from my PC I sent the same pic twice.... it's fixed.

I will have to test this on my HTC 10
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I emailed the developer of Network Signal Guru and here is his reply, does it say that Qualcomm is the reason for the missing bands?

"LTE setting is designed for the new Qualcomm handsets. Because Qualcomm didn’t initialize LTE bands in the new cell phones such as SD835 and SD660. That’s why we designed this feature. Since 2.0, we find a new way to do it… this feature is not a premium feature. We remove it since 2.0. please understand…"
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Heck ya already looking better. Can't wait to get out on the road and see if these new bands work. This was on band 2
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] beaups:
Are you no longer on Verizon? Verizon only uses bands 2, 4, 13. What do you expect to happen?
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Why are you asking me? I'm not the one making the claim. I clearly stated I can't wait to see if it is true and he claims to have seen the other bands working. So instead of attacking him I will wait and see if it is true.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] beaups:
Did he state he was on Verizon? Did he state he was connecting? All I saw was him posting something about "rotating through", which I assume means "searching".

VZW uses 2/4/13 - so I don't see any positive possibilities for VZW users, other than the possibility of decreased battery life in low/no-signal areas.

--beaups
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
I don't know what is true but am willing to find out.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Verizon has supposedly added band 5 due to new fcc regulations but I'm not going to argue cause I don't know what Verizon is up to.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] beaups:
Interesting. I've never seen that before.

Discussing and asking questions doesn't automatically mean arguing and/or attacking.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Yes he stated multiple times he was on Verizon. And it is great to discuss these issues but not when people root for failure just because others cannot manage this device on Verizon. I know it's fun and easy to side with the popular opinion but no one can prove my success wrong. All I ever did was show it. Haters can hate. This is not a high tech developers thread. No one is contributing anything. Why I'm the only one with success is effed up. But I am very happy with my U11. He must have deleted the post that's in my screenshot.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] LibertyMonger:
Full screenshot
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] secone00:
We can see your response to it in the last page..

Okay, NO ONE is attacking you, the way you present yourself and your paranoia in this thread is frankly concerning to me. NO ONE is disputing your claims. You've done nothing but dispute the claims that there's more to it than that.

Some people may just be **** out of luck, unless you start telling us you're ready to drive over to our houses and show us exactly how we're doing it wrong, you just might have to accept that it's just out of some people's capabilities to get their network working, nor should it be the expectation to leave that work up to the people to begin with, which you claim is so very convenient...

I'm still loving my U11, you're still loving it, everyone who owns one and doesn't have to face such dreadful issues is, but that doesn't mean the issues don't exist for those unfortunate enough to have them.
[HTC U11  Questions & Answers] deafmetal1:
Exactly why I'm no longer posting in here. Working directly with HTC and VZW to get these issues resolved hopefully mid February rather than dicking around with this useless forum drama. This thread has languished long enough and should be closed/locked.