How do I know if my phone will work on the Public Mobile network?

[Lachlan_M]

Public Mobile works on following frequencies: 

• For 3G use (UMTS/HSPA): 850MHz/1900MHz bands
• For 4G/LTE use: 1700MHz/2100MHz bands
• For 4G/LTE use: 700 MHz band

Which means most of the 3G,4G HSPA/ LTE phones that are compatible with these frequencies will work on Public Mobile. If your phone is locked to specific carrier, you’ll have to get it unlocked. 

Phones compatible with Telus, Koodo, Bell, Virgin will work on Public Mobile network. All 3G, 4G phones from Rogers, Fido and ChatR are compatible and will work on the Public Mobile network. 

To verify if you phone will work on Public Mobile network click here 

[srlawren]

@DallasL I've never heard of a device not being authorized for PM use--incompatible yes, locked elsewhere yes, but not "unathorized".  OH wait.... could it have been added to the blacklist?  Check your IMEI using PM's checker here:  https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-started.  It's not useful for compatbility, but is for checking blacklisting.  You should also check here: https://www.devicecheck.ca/check-status-device-canada/.  

[DallasL]

Thankyou for your responces Carld123 and srlawren! I apreaceate it.

@srlawren the M simply denotes the canadian edition of the phone, otherwise it is the same as the regular S3 SGH-i747 (i747M is the Canadian version. 1747 is AT&T's version)

I have an S3 with Liniage OS installed that is also unlocked (though it doesnt show up right) and access to an S3 with stock Rom (curently with Virgin) that is confirmed unlocked. Both were originaly with Koodo, both can phone out using the virgin SIM. Both will not conect to the PM network.

The modorator said "...even if the device supports some or all of the required frequencies, it will not be able to connect unless the device is approved for our network."

From searching the forums, it looks like other members have used S3s in the past anyway. I would be intorested to know if anyone still is.

[srlawren]

@DallasL having a hard time finding specs for that specific variant (ending in "M").  Do you know what carrier sold it originally?  Also:  could it be locked to your previous carrier?  The statement from the moderator is a bit perplexing, but if the phone was carrier-locked (to anyone but Telus or Koodo), that might be intepreted as "not approved".  

[Carld123]

@DallasL

If your phone is not locked to another provider it should work

[DallasL]

I tried asking this elsewere in a seperate topic, but can't seem to find the topic anymore.

I have been wreting through setup isues wit hte modorator team for over a week now. TOday a modorator informed me that my phone will not work because it is "not aproved" by the network. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 SGH-i747M which by every other factor looks like it should be compatable. Is anyone else using an S3?

[rgutter]

Many thanks. No data needs at his end..

[sheytoon]

@rgutter

3G WCDMA 850/1900 is all you need for talk and text. Data works as well, but slower than 4G LTE.

See here for more info:

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Discussions/LTE-network-fundamentals/m-p/134356#M5822...

[rgutter]

Hi - do the specs quoted in the 3 year old first message still apply?

• For 3G use (UMTS/HSPA): 850MHz/1900MHz bands
• For 4G/LTE use: 1700MHz/2100MHz bands
• For 4G/LTE use: 700 MHz band

Specifically, I have a senior relative in Quebec who wants to buy a Jethro SC330v2 (https://www.jethroshop.com/product-page/sc330), which claims support for "3G WCDMA 850/900/1900 Mhz". Any ideas?

[jessicca]

Pubic Mobile has a great network

[sheytoon]

@Vaughn74, no issues. That phone is fully supported.

[Rockdaddy22]

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@Falcoara wrote:

I did the check and it said it will work...so not sure now what to do

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Where did you check it? This is a great resource https://willmyphonework.net

[KickerD21]

Hi:

i was nervous about it too.  The only way to really know would be to get the sim card.  It took me a couple of tries but it was an issue with virgin mobile.  Since then I have not had any issues and the service is excellent.  My bill has been slashed in half.  

[Falcoara]

I did the check and it said it will work...so not sure now what to do

[Vaughn74]

I’m looking at purchasing the Huawei Mate 10 Pro and am just wondering if it will work on Public Mobile. I did not see the phone listed on https://willmyphonework.net. The bands and frequencies for this phone are listed as:

4G LTE TDD: B39 4G LTE FDD: B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B12 / B14 / B18 / B20 / B28 / B29 / B30 / B66 LAA Band: B46 3G WCDMA: B1 / B2 / B4 / B5 / B8 2G GSM: B2 / B3 / B5 / B8 (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz) Note: Functions available on the live network depend on the carrier network

And data transfer as:

GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, LTE, Wi-Fi

Any help is much appreciated.

[KickerD21]

Hi:

I was not sure myself if my number was going to work either.  I had no issues switching. The only thing I had issues was when Virgin Mobile claimed that they had unlocked my phone and it took two days and multiple calls to them to finally get it unlocked.  Best thing I can suggest is to try. 

Hope that helps!

[srlawren]

@PeterL based on the specs you posted, it is compatible with PM's 3G network.  You're good to go.

[PeterL]

Hiya... I'm lookinjg at getting a flip phone for my wife... she prefers them.  We are looking at this phone, but its not listed as a compatible phone.

Here's some of the info:

• 3G WCDMA 850/1900 Mhz, 2G GSM 850/900/1800/1900 Mhz, Works with Rogers (Fido), Telus (Koodo), Bell (Virgin Mobile) or any carrier operates on these networks. The model isn't compatible with Wind Mobile or Mobilicity.

 Its called:

Jethro [SC330v2] [Black] 3G Unlocked Flip Senior & Kids Cell Phone

Thanks

[Rockdaddy22]

I’ll just leave this here for future use

https://willmyphonework.net

[srlawren]

@aruebsaat any time.  Enjoy the phone, it's really quite good for it's price!

[aruebsaat]

Thanks!

[srlawren]

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@aruebsaat wrote:

Hi I'm looking at getting a Moto G5 (XT1687). It seems like it should work on the Public Mobile network, but I want to be sure before I buy. Does anyone have any experience using one on the network? Here are the network specs from gsmarena: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g5_plus-8453.php#xt1687

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@aruebsaat based on the specs, the phone is compatible.  I bought my mother a G5 Plus last Christmas and it works wonderfully on Fido, which uses the same frequencies as PM.  Hers is the Amazon (USA) exclusive version but I believe it's the same XT1687.

[aruebsaat]

Hi I'm looking at getting a Moto G5 (XT1687). It seems like it should work on the Public Mobile network, but I want to be sure before I buy. Does anyone have any experience using one on the network? Here are the network specs from gsmarena: https://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_g5_plus-8453.php#xt1687

[ShawnC13]

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@CS_Agent wrote:

Hey there BrianM good question, right now if your mobile device is locked by another provider they would need to unlock it for you in order to use it on other networks. If you want to check if your phone is compatible here's a link (https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-started).

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@CS_Agent, I really wish you guys would get rid of the IMEI checker or at least remove the wording saying it will check network compatibility as it doesn't and misleads people.

@BrianM, there are a couple of great sites to check network compatibility willmyphonework.net and apn-canada.gishan.net/

[CS_Agent]

Hey there BrianM good question, right now if your mobile device is locked by another provider they would need to unlock it for you in order to use it on other networks. If you want to check if your phone is compatible here's a link (https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-started).

[ShawnC13]

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@BrianM wrote:

I'm not sure I fully understand. So if my phone is locked to virgin it will work without me having to get it unlocked? You say you have to have an unlocked phone but then say if its locked to these networks it should work or am I misinterpreting this?

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Your phone should be unlocked.  The only network locked phones that will work are ones that are locked to Telus or Koodo

[BrianM]

I'm not sure I fully understand. So if my phone is locked to virgin it will work without me having to get it unlocked? You say you have to have an unlocked phone but then say if its locked to these networks it should work or am I misinterpreting this?

[JFF]

I have an old phone -Samsung Galaxy S Captivate I896, which does not work on PM network although online compatibility check said ok. 

[matbasm]

@bc731, Unfortunately the IMEI check on the Public Mobile web site only checks if the phone has been reported lost or stolen.

A site like https://willmyphonework.net/ will tell you if the phone is compatible with the network.  In your case, https://willmyphonework.net shows that the phone is not compatible at all.

[computergeek541]

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@bc731 wrote:

Hello,

My uncle have an old flip phone, Samsung SGH A-107.   I've checked the imei number on your database and it say that the phone should work.  But it doesn't when I insert the PM sim card that I activated at Walmart on Saturday. 

Any suggestions?  Does he need newer phone?

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Sorry, but the database is giving you incorrect information as this phone appears to lack any 3g network support.  http://www.gsmchoice.com/en/catalogue/samsung/sgha107/ .  Pending the accuracy of that site, your phone isn't compatible.

An AT&T employee has also stated no 3g service with this phone.   https://forums.att.com/t5/Samsung-Discussion-Support/Is-a-Samsung-flip-phone-model-SGH-A107-still-us...

[bc731]

Hello,

My uncle have an old flip phone, Samsung SGH A-107.   I've checked the imei number on your database and it say that the phone should work.  But it doesn't when I insert the PM sim card that I activated at Walmart on Saturday. 

Any suggestions?  Does he need newer phone?