Unlocked, but 3G not working...

[jfontestad]

Hi,

Here's my situation. I had an iPhone 4 w/ Orange Dominicana. I have a 3G unlimited data plan, etc... and everything working fine. My phone got wet and had water damage and ceased to function. So, I was in the U.S. this weekend and picked up a used 3GS. It was locked and had a 5.16 baseband. So i proceeded to upgrade the baseband to 6.15 and jailbreak it, then unlocked it. It is now working fine, but on EDGE... I can not get it on to work with 3G for the life of me. Any help? Any thoughts? Any advice?

*I'm still using my microsim that was used in my iPhone 4, just put an adapter on it.*

[GnatGoSplat]

According to this site (Mobile Network Code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), Orange Dominicana uses 900MHz for UMTS (WCDMA) which is the 3G band.
iPhone 4 could get 3G with your carrier because it supports WCDMA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 (Apple iPhone 4 (GSM) Specs, Features (Phone Scoop)).
iPhone 3GS can't get 3G with your carrier because it supports WCDMA 850 / 1900 / 2100 (Apple iPhone 3GS Specs, Features (Phone Scoop)).

If the specs on the sites I linked to are accurate, the 3GS is missing the WCDMA 900 band that you need for 3G on Orange Dominicana.

[jfontestad]

Yes,

I've come to that conclusion as well. Their 3G network uses 900 hZ frequency. The 3GS uses 850 / 1900 / 2100.

Even though I have called and spoke to costumer services and they have assured me that "if my phone is 3G capable, I will be able to connect to their 3G network".

But as you've stated and as my research has shown me... I will not be able to connect to Orange's 3G network.

Too bad that I am under contract and its like US$ 2,000 to get out of it, if not I would go to Claro, which supports 850. :/

According to this site (Mobile Network Code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), Orange Dominicana uses 900MHz for UMTS (WCDMA) which is the 3G band.
iPhone 4 could get 3G with your carrier because it supports WCDMA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 (Apple iPhone 4 (GSM) Specs, Features (Phone Scoop)).
iPhone 3GS can't get 3G with your carrier because it supports WCDMA 850 / 1900 / 2100 (Apple iPhone 3GS Specs, Features (Phone Scoop)).

If the specs on the sites I linked to are accurate, the 3GS is missing the WCDMA 900 band that you need for 3G on Orange Dominicana.

[GnatGoSplat]

Why not just buy another iPhone 4?

[jfontestad]

The iPhone 4 (16GB) here is almost $700 (new) and about $500 (used). I was going to just get a BlackBerry, but found a pretty decent deal on this used 3GS. If I had the money to get the iPhone 4, I would.

Why not just buy another iPhone 4?

[GnatGoSplat]

You might consider to check the XDA Marketplace. I don't know if I should post a link since this forum has its own marketplace, but I see them go a lot cheaper there than here. I got mine for US$370 shipped and not but a few days later, 2 in the low $300s, although most are in the low $400s. Many people there ship internationally.
Your water-damaged iPhone 4 should fetch at least $200, up to mid $300s on eBay and the 3GS is worth a good amount as well, so you could possibly even profit in the end.