Hello,
A HTC Hero phone I bought from eBay arrived today.
It's said to be a recent replacement for a phone the owner bought from Orange 6 months ago. I got it for my daughter to take to Canada and I guess it will need to be unlocked for this purpose.
I'm a newbie but I've done some reading here over time, which encouraged me to go for this model of phone.
A recurring cautionary tales has been that bricked phones often get sold on, so I want to test the phone for functionality.
The phone seems to be charging ok and switches on fine.
I put my wife's Orange PAYG SIM into it, in the hope of checking phone function but there's a SIM icon with a red X showing on the display from time to time.
Is it that the Orange PAYG SIM is unsuitable for this phone or is it more likely to just be badly inserted or have dirty contacts?
Regards,
Mike
Firstly Orange UK phones are known to have issues unlocking for use on other networks, but its not impossible.
Secondly ensure the sim is locked into place as it can come loose causing sim errors.
An Orange SIM not working in an Orange handset?!
As Lenny already said,... make sure the metal catch that secures the SIM is flicked as far as possible to the left once your SIM is inserted.
If this fails, you'll need to double check it with another Orange SIM.
Hopefully your phone hasn't been reported lost/stolen,... but if it has and you paid by Paypal or your creditcard on ebay then you should have something to fall back on.
P.S... It shouldnt make a difference if the SIM your trying is on contract or PayAsYouGo. If the SIM your trying is working fine in your wife's handset but not in the Hero then it sounds like the HERO maybe dodgey!!!
Thanks for the replies Lennyuk and ddotpatel.
The SIM came good after a few cleanings, polishings and some extra care in fitting, as suggested.
I did check here on the forum last week that the Orange SIMlock could be removed. It does seem to be something of a multi-step process and other network SIMlocks may be a lot easier but I got the clear impression that it could be done fairly easily for a few quid.
I suppose any used phone that comes up for sale could potentially be stolen, eBay goods being no exception. I'll be quite surprised if it is though.
Is there a database of stolen phone serial # that can be checked?
Regards,
Mike
The only way I know of to check if its in be black listed is to either contact the police or the carrier, but obviously if it has been blacklisted then they will know you have stolen goods and will take them away from you.
Fortunately, I'm such a friendly and innocent looking chap, I'll probably get time off for goog behaviour.
Regards,
Mike
MickyLuv said:
Fortunately, I'm such a friendly and innocent looking chap, I'll probably get time off for goog behaviour.
Regards,
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the innocent ones are the ones to be wary of
Related
Greetings all,
I'm having the following issue with a Qtek 1020 I just purchased from Microdirect, sold as SIM unlocked. The phone just doesn't find the network when I turn it on with my Pay As You Go T-mobile SIM. No error message pops up, nothing asks me for an unlock code etc, I just get the message 'No Service' under Connectivity when I select the aerial icon at the top of the screen. When I go to Phone Settings I can see listed under 'other networks' O2 and Vodafone, but no T-mobile. I've tried changing GSM bands in the bootloader and listing networks but to no avail (I switched through 900, 1900 and 900/1800). I have also tried the unlocking tools around this site with no success. I know the SIM works as it asks for my PIN when I switch on and I can also browse through contacts stored on it. I'm wondering if anyone here has any ideas as I'm all out.
Information about my Qtek:
Qtek 1020
ROM version: 4.02.04 ENG
ROM date: 8/24/05
Radio version: A.33.02
Protocol version: 1.3.3
Model No: PW10B1
Please don't let me pull any more hair out :x
Thanks and warm regards,
Neil.
Same here
Hi,
Just wanted to let you know you're not alone! I too bought the 1020 from Microdirect and have the same problem. I've tried my t-mobile pay as you go SIM in an i-mate pda2k and it worked straight away. That made me think the 1020 was restricted to o2/vodafone. If its an unlocked PDA why do Microdirect say it won't work with Orange? Where I work we successfully unlocked an XDA and used an Orange SIM, but that was a couple of years ago.
I've e-mailed qtek but have had no response yet.
I've tried the xda developers ROM and while it is cool I still get the problem with the t-mobile SIM, although it says No Signal as opposed to No Service. I was going to try the GSM modes on the bootloader but notice you've tried that already so I won't bother.
If I get any further I'll post back asap.
Mark
Thanks for your reply Mark and now I can rest knowing I'm not the only one having trouble! I too tried the developer's ROM with no luck, although it was nice to play with the extra applications. Funny how Microdirect stated that it was compatable with T-Mobile, when it seems that it is not. I tried my sister's T-Mobile contract SIM and it doesn't work either, but my mum's Vodafone SIM works fine as well as my dad's Pay As You Go Vodafone SIM. It seems like this device is locked out of T-Mobile.
Regards,
Neil.
News from Microdirect
Microdirect have backtracked on the unlocked claim.
See link below for their comments.
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=11864&GroupID=1162
Oh well!
Yep I saw that. I decided to keep the PDA because it was such a good deal and I'm trying to go for a cheap contract with Vodafone. Check out http://www.mobilephonesdirect.co.uk/phonenetwork-84-1-Nokia_1100_on_Vodafone.html - £8 per month for the first 6 months then £16 afterwards. You get 1000 off-peak minutes per month to landlines and other Vodafone users as well as 250 TXTs plus £110 cash back after 6 months!! Sounds like a bargain to me, let's hope I pass the credit check!
Neil.
I was about to ask the very same question myself. I'm somewhat annoyed that Microdirect never even bothered to apologise or correct the mistake directly when I presented this problem to them last week - their response was to simply "return the item". For a Pocket PC PDA though, it's nice and cheap so like others, I'll keep mine and buy the cheapest possible Vodafone PAYG system that I can.
Well my Vodafone contract was approved and I immediately put the SIM into my Qtek 1020 whilst leaving the bundled Nokia phone unopened. All is well, I set up GPRS etc and my handy new PDA just got handier. Now I can sell this Nokia 1101 phone as it's SIM unlocked... might get 20 quid for it or something!
Regards,
Neil.
Okay well here's another damn issue with this thing... After a couple of weeks happy usage, the SD card slot decides to spit out anything I put into it - it just won't hold a card no matter what. I didn't force the mechanism at all or insert a card too forcefully - it just popped out one day and wouldn't go back in. I've written to Microdirect requesting an RMA, they replied thinking I was requesting an RMA for an SD card so I had to correct them and let them know it's actually the card slot in the 1020 that seems to have developed a fault of some kind. Just wondering if anyone else has ever had an issue with the card slot on their wallaby, so maybe we can say they are notoriously weak or something, or perhaps I was just unlucky.
Regards,
Neil.
Update: My replacement 1020 arrived today and all is well, well done to MicroDirect.
Rgds,
Neil.
For anyone who's interested in making the SIM on their x7500 hot-swappable - like the Kaiser -and perhaps hasn't been sure whether to try it or not, the fiddly little clip that goes over the SIM card and which cannot be opened without removing the battery CAN be taken off with a little careful persuation and agitation.
It has no effect on the sim (which is held in place perfectly well by friction) and makes me wonder why HTC put it there in the first place.
I have been using my handset with this mod for about a month now, swapping sims between my normal handset and the Ameo with no problems whatsoever. The clip can easily by reattached in the event of a sale or warranty repair.
Upon hot swapping you have to deactivate and reactivate the via the Comms manager et voila!
Pictures attached.
Leon
yep i been using it like this for about 3 months now as well
it works really well...
although the sim for me was a bit hard to get out each time so i took a knife and cut a little groove in the sim card so i could get my nail into it
thanks for your point!! good idea!
leoni1980 said:
For anyone who's interested in making the SIM on their x7500 hot-swappable - like the Kaiser -and perhaps hasn't been sure whether to try it or not, the fiddly little clip that goes over the SIM card and which cannot be opened without removing the battery CAN be taken off with a little careful persuation and agitation.
It has no effect on the sim (which is held in place perfectly well by friction) and makes me wonder why HTC put it there in the first place.
I have been using my handset with this mod for about a month now, swapping sims between my normal handset and the Ameo with no problems whatsoever. The clip can easily by reattached in the event of a sale or warranty repair.
Upon hot swapping you have to deactivate and reactivate the via the Comms manager et voila!
Pictures attached.
Leon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice tip!
Why not simply get an extra sim card though? In my case that costs 18 euro.
patrickl said:
Why not simply get an extra sim card though? In my case that costs 18 euro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
define what u mean by an 'extra sim card'. I have a specific number with an attached data tarif which I want to use with my n95 and also my ameo (when im not out and about) are you talking about a pay as you go sim card, a new tarif or some kind of 'spare' sim as I was not aware that I could get a clone sim card.
leoni1980 said:
define what u mean by an 'extra sim card'. I have a specific number with an attached data tarif which I want to use with my n95 and also my ameo (when im not out and about) are you talking about a pay as you go sim card, a new tarif or some kind of 'spare' sim as I was not aware that I could get a clone sim card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the marketing term is "Duo SIM". It's a clone of the original SIM. Some companies give one for free (IIRC Vodafone).
You can use only one at a time though (you have to switch the phone you don't use off).
i'm on t-mobile uk and they certainly don't offer this service. I'd be interested to know how i could clone my sim though, since my reasons are entirely legitimate. Does anyone know if this can be done or if it's allowed?!
there's a reason you can't just pull the simcard out; and it's because the radio *really* doesn't appreciate it and generally speaking, it shouldn't be done.
that said, there's all likelihood that it won't matter anyway.
do you feel lucky, punk?
leoni1980 said:
i'm on t-mobile uk and they certainly don't offer this service. I'd be interested to know how i could clone my sim though, since my reasons are entirely legitimate. Does anyone know if this can be done or if it's allowed?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's strange. I'm on T-Mobile in the Netherlands and they do have this. It's sold in the T-Mobile shops or through customer service.
patrickl said:
That's strange. I'm on T-Mobile in the Netherlands and they do have this. It's sold in the T-Mobile shops or through customer service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also be very interested in this in the UK, but I've never come across it.
If anyone knows any better, please let us know.
Alternatively, is it possible to 'clone' my sim? Or maybe ask for a replacement sim for my 'faulty' one, and then use both... not at the same time, obviously.
Pantaloonie said:
I would also be very interested in this in the UK, but I've never come across it.
If anyone knows any better, please let us know.
Alternatively, is it possible to 'clone' my sim? Or maybe ask for a replacement sim for my 'faulty' one, and then use both... not at the same time, obviously.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile UK used to offer this service, back when it was One2One, but to Business Users only. The benefits were that people could have a SIM in their mobile and one in their car phone, however for two reasons it was stopped. Firstly the car handsets never really took off, and secondly and probably more obviously security reasons.
As far as I'm aware, the other UK networks are of the same standing.
--
Also, if you clone your card and the network detects two users, it will disable one of the sim cards. (In theory anyway - I don't know if people have created a "workaround")
jmdrizen said:
Also, if you clone your card and the network detects two users, it will disable one of the sim cards. (In theory anyway - I don't know if people have created a "workaround")
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, T-Mobile says you need to switch one phone off. Otherwise the first phone logged on will stay logged on. Which is unfortunate. You'd wish the phone you have with you to get the connection even if you forgot to switch the other one off.
I still have to go pick mine up, so I don't know exactly how it works. They did tell me that I will get 2 new SIMs. Not sure why, but that might be an indication that you cannot simply clone any SIM.
Duo SIM
Enquired with T-Mobile in the UK... They don't do the Duo SIM. Very annoying. I remeber that back in Holland every provider (used to) do them; car phone & mobile. My dad had one (eh... two?). Does anybody know if it's possible to clone a USIM?
I have an Ameo (Athena), an M3100 and a laptop with a UMTS card built in, so I could do with not having to swap SIMs every time... SIM is getting a bit worn...
Hi guys, I was wondering whether anyone had any problems when going from regular sim to microsim after upgrading your Orange contract with the Carphone Warehouse? I've just upgraded to the Sony Xperia S and it is being a nightmare to activate, been on the phone to Orange, then Carphone Warehouse and back to Orange again who say that it should take under 2 hours, although it has been about 8 now and still no activation. Turned it off and on again many a time, old phone with number I want to transfer has remained off, taken new sim out and then back in a few times...
Is it just taking a while due to Orange network being slow/them not activating correctly or is there something blatantly obvious I have been missing?
Cheers
Niko
I have the same problem, tragedy ah
---------- Post added at 12:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:19 PM ----------
I wish someone would solve this problem as soon as possible, looking forward to it
.
Thread moved. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.
Failure to comply with forum rules will result in an infraction and/or ban depending on severity of rule break.
Cut your old sim down to to microsim size and use that untill it disconnections and then use your new sim
orb3000 said:
Thread moved. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.
Failure to comply with forum rules will result in an infraction and/or ban depending on severity of rule break.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I initially was tossing up whether to post it in this sub-forum but I thought as it was predominately about an upgrade issue it would be better suited in General as it is not phone specific.
Thanks for the advice about cutting my old sim-card down, hadn't thought about that! Great shout.
No problem
I want to finish using my credit up on my pay and go sim before i use my contract sim so i had to cut mine to fit
I need to leave my phone on until 6.30 as that is when Orange are, once again, calling me back. Eehhh
nikotime said:
I need to leave my phone on until 6.30 as that is when Orange are, once again, calling me back. Eehhh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded via phones4u, they rang Orange for me and put a 4 & half hour delay on it to give me time to finish shopping etc. it took just over that. I have found Orange customer service to be absolute sh!te in the past and have been forever having to ring back to check and double check things with them.
I feel your pain m8
Just A comment went into o2's shop this morning to pick up a micro sim they activated it for me in the shop and said it may take up to 24 hours to work.
My phone was up and running before I even got out the shop!
it's easier to cut your sim card and use it by the way. I did that for me and my friend's 4 year old sim card too, both worked flawlessly
Jealous! I wish I'd have done it in a shop, but I have to stick with Orange due to signal and Magic Numbers, and wanted this phone which Orange didn't stock directly...
And I am still awaiting a phone call from Orange (said 30 minutes ago) and if that does not resolve it, I definitely shall do that. Do have the slight fear of ruining it though...
I had already cut up my old sim card to fit the phone, but as it was an upgrade they also sent out a new micro-sim to take over from the old one. Unfortunately now they have deactivated the old sim card and I cannot get hold of them to activate the new one!
Cutting it up did it! Thanks guys, fingers crossed Orange become too incompetent and forget about me so it won't stop working. Ace, should have done that from the start.
Abandoned-Trolley said:
I had already cut up my old sim card to fit the phone, but as it was an upgrade they also sent out a new micro-sim to take over from the old one. Unfortunately now they have deactivated the old sim card and I cannot get hold of them to activate the new one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to say that after contacting Orange, with my new sim number and telling them my original phone number that I wanted to keep, it took about 2 hours after this post to be all up and running. I was surprised how easy it was in the end.
nikotime said:
Cutting it up did it! Thanks guys, fingers crossed Orange become too incompetent and forget about me so it won't stop working. Ace, should have done that from the start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fingers crossed, but I have to say that it's pretty unlikely Enjoy the new phone while you can!
I too had cut the sim to micro but the phone is not detecting. When I bought the mobile from the amazon.com, the title said 'unlocked, international version'. But the GSM sim that I have is not working when I cut it and inserted into it.
What should I do now?
Edit: I cut the sim successfully and my mobile is good to go now.
My upgrade
I upgraded my to this phone a couple of days ago, I did it on my upgrade date. (went with phones4u as orange on-line didn't have any stock and there stores wanted £50 more, they actually recommended I went elsewhere when I showed them the on-line offer)
There computers initially accepted the upgrade and gave me a 10% discount! but when it came to activating the new sim they said they couldn't upgrade it today because today was my upgrade date and that it would take another day before the system would process it.
The phones4u people were really helpful on this front and instead of saying come back tomorrow and doing it all again they asked if it was ok if they put it through on my behalf in the morning.
Then they suggested if I wanted to use it straight away they had a tool for cutting my old sim up.
The device cut the sim up so well that with a bit of sticky tape it could go back to being a full sim (if I needed to move contacts etc)
end of the story is old sim went into the new phone for 18 hours, it cut out I switched the sims over and it worked straight away.
Orange remembered about me, so it switched over eventually, but luckily I kept the new sim in my wallet and plonking it in worked without problem. Hurrah and hurray, and all that.
Sorry if this is in the wrong place, first time poster here.
In December I purchased a nexus5 off of some guy that was selling one in my local area. He seemed like a good guy, the phone was in the original box and I was pumped at getting one for a bit cheaper than they are on the play store. Although this last week it randomly could not connect to the network, so I called Telus (my Canadian provider) and after a half hour of troubleshooting they told me that the IMEI is blacklisted as a lost or stolen device? I feel pretty ripped off and disappointed. I found the guys email that I brought it from and tried to contact him but he wont answer his phone, texts, or email. So I don't know what to do? Am I just screwed and forced to buy a new phone? is there anyway I can change the IMIE address? Or anything that anyone can recommend I should attempt to do? Thanks in advance for any help that can be supplied!
Always check before buying. If it is stolen (instead of lost) then you should turn it in to the police. But there is no way to tell and the provider will never tell you which.
It also isn't unheard of for a telco to incorrectly block a phone. I'd try arguing your case since you used it for a month before they shut you down.
nordlead2005 said:
Always check before buying. If it is stolen (instead of lost) then you should turn it in to the police. But there is no way to tell and the provider will never tell you which.
It also isn't unheard of for a telco to incorrectly block a phone. I'd try arguing your case since you used it for a month before they shut you down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the input. Who would I contact about arguing it? I talked to someone at Telus for a good half an hour, and they just told me that they have no control blacklisting the IMEI. They would if say i was under contract and I didnt pay my bill. But I am off contract and just put their SIM in my unlocked device. The person told me that say for example if the phone was stolen from BestBuy in novemeber, it could have worked this entire time because it took bestbuy this long for them to put the numbers in there system, and it finally just caught up with me. And also, my SIM works in my friends nexus4, so it doesnt have anything to do with Telus, its an issue with the phone not getting access to the towers. And if it is blacklisted on the national list for being lost or stolen it wont work on any of the carriers in the country... So i dont know what to do
Friend of mine bought a phone from CEX a while back that was locked to EE, she's now moved to GiffGaff and is wonder if I can unlock her phone for her, its been a while since I used to mess with ROM's and stuff on Android having gone to the dark side (iP6s) as everyone else in the house has one...
Any threads to do this?
Trig0r said:
Friend of mine bought a phone from CEX a while back that was locked to EE, she's now moved to GiffGaff and is wonder if I can unlock her phone for her, its been a while since I used to mess with ROM's and stuff on Android having gone to the dark side (iP6s) as everyone else in the house has one...
Any threads to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does it do the "unrecognized sim" error (the wording is probably different, but similar)?
i ask this because if its locked to a carrier, then youll likely have to employ a third party paid service. Ive used one place twice already and it was seamless
If I power it on with a non-EE SIM in it, I get an onscreen message, "SIM network unlock PIN".
Guessing the £15 unlock code is due then :/
TBF its been a good few years since I last flashed a ROM and used fastboot to poke about with stuff.