Unlocked att iphone 5 on tmobile LTE problem

The A1428 model phone does not support the LTE frequencies of T-Mobile. You would need the A1429 model, from my understanding.

I have a business iPhone 5 with T-Mobile and T-Mobile has LTE available in some areas where I live, but it is very spotty at best. I can watch my iPhone 5 switch from LTE to 4G to EDGE and back again sitting in the same place. I wasn't responsible for choosing T-Mobile but had I been responsible, they would not have been chosen.

Contact T-Mobile.

"4G" and LTE are two completely different things. Check the coverage map again. Does it actually say you should have LTE coverage where you are? If it does, contact T-Mobile and have them check the provisioning on your account. The phone should work or their LTE network if there actually is one where you are.

Tim,

Am I correct in stating that the "28" model doesn't support the LTE frequencies of T-Mo and that one needs the "29" model? I don't want to be perpetuating any untruths.

I don't believe so, no. The A1428 GSM that's being sold in the US now supports AT&T and T-Mobile, including LTE. AT&T or unlocked iPhone 5's sold in the US prior to when T-Mobile became a supported carrier will not work on thier "4G" network (not LTE). They will work on the Edge, 3G and LTE networks (where T-Mobile has compatible 3G coverage).

The AT&T phone will never display a "3G" indicator. If it's connected to Edge, you will see "E". If it's connected to 3G, you will see "4G". If it's connected to an HSPA+ network, you will see "4G". T-Mobile's (non-LTE) 4G network is not compatible with the older iPhone 5's, but you will still see "4G" if you are connected to their 3G network while using a phone that was originally sold for AT&T in the US.

I think...

If I've misstated something in there, I'm sure someone will come in and correct me. There was a lot of confusion when T-Mo went live as a supported carrier. Personally, it didn't matter much to me as T-Mobile has such lousy coverage in my experience, that I would never consider them as an option.

Thanks!

Same thing for me, Unlocked iPhone 5 A1428 (originally AT&T) on 7.0.4 with newest Tmobile carrier update (15.6). The phone wont connect to my local T-Mobile LTE network unless I toggle LTE off then back on in settings. It stays on LTE for a while (13-17mb/s), but then defaults back to 4G network (3-7mb/s). ANyone know why it won't stay connected/automatically connect to the LTE network? And before anyone says the AT&T phone cant access T-Mobile's LTE network, yes it can. Band 4. Thanks for any help.

I am enjoying T-mobile LTE on my AT&T unlocked iPhone 5 A1428 and my phone was manufactured before April 2012. I think there was a carrier update from Apple that fixed LTE cause when I connected to iTunes after the unlock it said there was a new one so I installed it. I then had to go into cellular setting and Enable LTE as well as Reset Setting in Cellular Data Network. Happy surfing.

Apple doesn't issue carrier updates. The carriers do.