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Comment by samueloph | Hacker News Reader

"The Librem 5 is an open network phone, not locked to any particular network.

We aim to support 3G and 4G for the most common international frequency bands and carriers, with an interchangeable module. Exact specifications will follow as we are evaluating the data+voice modems that will be used.

We expect it to work on 3G and 4G networks, and hope for it to also work for GSM, UMTS, or LTE-based network services."

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Just because it's technically compatible doesn't mean the network operator will allow the device, does it?

I remember hearing Jeff Jarvis' story about trying to get Verizon to let him use a Nexus 7 tablet. IIRC was compatible with the network but Verizon dragged their feet for a long time.

https://buzzmachine.com/2013/11/06/the-verizon-saga-continue...

T-Mobile usually have no problem with custom devices. Avoid Verizon if you can.

Verizon still has by far the best coverage in many parts of the US, so it may be the only option if that's important to you.

That was the case in the past, but T-Mobile were actively building up their network in the recent times so it should be a lot better than before. I didn't compare it myself, so can't say how much it has improved in areas where it was bad before.

I switched from Verizon to T-Mobile a couple years ago, and where I live (Oregon), T-Mobile's service is absolute garbage compared to Verizon's. It was fine in the dense parts of the city, but anything outside of that was a total gamble. Driving to the mountain, the beach, or really anywhere outside the metro area nearly guaranteed a lack of service all or most of the way. I even had poor reception in parts of my house, and would sometimes lose calls in my kitchen!

I recently switched to AT&T and am much happier, but there are still occasions where my wife (on Verizon) has service but I don't. I've also heard similar anecdotes from people I've met in other parts of the country, so I don't think Oregon is the only state for which this is true.

(Before you say that this was a problem with my phone, I changed phones once while I was still on T-Mobile, and the service did not improve.)

I live (Oregon), T-Mobile's service is absolute garbage compared to Verizon's

It's all regional. There are places in America where T-Mobile is streets ahead of Verizon.

The upper Midwest, and the Gulf Coast, for example, because T-Mobile bought VoiceStream, and PrimeCo, which were dominant in those areas years ago.

Between personal and work devices, I carry AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile with me almost everywhere I go across America (usually two or three different states a month). Verizon is best in populated areas. T-Mobile is best in lower density places. AT&T is something of a crapshoot. Some places it's incredibly good, and some places it's like trying to make a phone call on an angry hedgehog.

Yep, exactly. So if you happen to live somewhere that's only well covered by Verizon, and consistently good reception is important to you, you don't really have a lot of other options. It's similar to the situation with ISPs in the US.

> There are places in America where T-Mobile is streets ahead of Verizon.

Nonsense, it's not even a comparison. Tmobile is complete garbage coverage compared to Verizon or AT&T. I don't believe there is any place in the US where Tmobile has better coverage than Verizon.

How do you know?

I don't believe there is any place in the US where Tmobile has better coverage than Verizon.

All I can suggest is you get out more. And carry one of each device with you simultaneously, as I do.

I had a phablet on AT&T for years - a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, which I ordered from Indonesia. I didn't have any issues with it at all. I didn't even contact them, I just swapped the SIM from my existing phone to my new tablet and that was that.

Most phones/tablets are a little different of a story, because the chip is integrated with the phone. The Librem 5, using a separate removable module for LTE, is going to be a bit more like a connected laptop. Verizon doesn't certify laptops for their network, they certify the cards/modules that you put in a laptop.

If you use an approved module, there should be no issue: https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/design-and-build...

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