I noticed that the SIM cards keep changing every so often.
The new SIM cards have a smaller gold-metal surface area, whereas the older ones have a bigger gold-metal surface area.
Any ideas why?
Is there any benefit to swap out your SIM card to the newest? The SIM that comes in the box has a smaller gold-surface area.
(When was using previously using the iphone, my SIM was pretty beat up from switching phones all the time and the gold-metal part practically had indentations, which did give me reception problems. When I swapped it out with a new one at the store it did fix the problem. Obviously a surface contact problem.)
* Picture attached below *
iunlock said:
I noticed that the SIM cards keep changing every so often.
The new SIM cards have a smaller gold-metal surface area, whereas the older ones have a bigger gold-metal surface area.
Any ideas why?
Is there any benefit to swap out your SIM card to the newest? The SIM that comes in the box has a smaller gold-surface area.
(When was using previously using the iphone, my SIM was pretty beat up from switching phones all the time and the gold-metal part practically had indentations, which did give me reception problems. When I swapped it out with a new one at the store it did fix the problem. Obviously a surface contact problem.)
* Picture attached below *
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the pic.
I did have a weird situation where replacing the sim actually somehow increased my data speeds...the old sim was only a year old ...but i ain't complaining
didn't really notice any less surface area tho
newspeak said:
I did have a weird situation where replacing the sim actually somehow increased my data speeds...the old sim was only a year old ...but i ain't complaining
didn't really notice any less surface area tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's interesting....hmmm....now I'm really curious haha...
I swapped out my 1 year old SIM as well and now im getting 3G signals in my house whereas my old sim would drop 3G service more often.
Idk I change sim cards for all my phones since g1 since there's nothing on it ever since using google contacts
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
There is typically no need to replace your sim card unless you are having problems with it (ie not registering on the network.)
However older sim cards have a restriction on how many times they can register on the network, and after they hit the limit the phone will stop connecting, so if you want to prevent this issue (usually takes a couple years, and is a lot more likely in areas where your signal drops, for people who travel a lot, and in 3G coverages areas where you swap back and forth between 3G and 2G) you can use one of the newer sim cards. To Identify whether your sim is the newer variant with no registration restriction look at the back where the gold contacts are, if its a newer sim it will say in small lettering "TMXXXX" (where X is a number, ie TM4322) and it will also have an expiration date printed (it must be activated by this date or it becomes unusable.)
In terms of 2G/3G the sim card itself and its age should not make a difference as the capability to connect to those networks is dependent on the phone, not the sim. You can think of a sim card as a gateway that connects your phone to the billing system and authenticates it.
Having had said that, if you are having connection issues it could just be a defective sim card, to check, just place the sim in a phone that isn't having any connectivity problems, if it starts having problems, replace your sim.
In terms of the digit you highlighted in that picture, I believe it has to do with the manufacture year, although if I remember correctly its digits 4 and 5 that make up that information, but otherwise isn't anything important to a consumer.
well i got curious and checked ....i have the bigger sim ...i don't think the numbers matter much
Aphotix said:
There is typically no need to replace your sim card unless you are having problems with it (ie not registering on the network.)
However older sim cards have a restriction on how many times they can register on the network, and after they hit the limit the phone will stop connecting, so if you want to prevent this issue (usually takes a couple years, and is a lot more likely in areas where your signal drops, for people who travel a lot, and in 3G coverages areas where you swap back and forth between 3G and 2G) you can use one of the newer sim cards. To Identify whether your sim is the newer variant with no registration restriction look at the back where the gold contacts are, if its a newer sim it will say in small lettering "TMXXXX" (where X is a number, ie TM4322) and it will also have an expiration date printed (it must be activated by this date or it becomes unusable.)
In terms of 2G/3G the sim card itself and its age should not make a difference as the capability to connect to those networks is dependent on the phone, not the sim. You can think of a sim card as a gateway that connects your phone to the billing system and authenticates it.
Having had said that, if you are having connection issues it could just be a defective sim card, to check, just place the sim in a phone that isn't having any connectivity problems, if it starts having problems, replace your sim.
In terms of the digit you highlighted in that picture, I believe it has to do with the manufacture year, although if I remember correctly its digits 4 and 5 that make up that information, but otherwise isn't anything important to a consumer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your input.
As for the exp. date, where is that located. I don't see it.
Aphotix said:
In terms of 2G/3G the sim card itself and its age should not make a difference as the capability to connect to those networks is dependent on the phone, not the sim. You can think of a sim card as a gateway that connects your phone to the billing system and authenticates it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought...until a lot of people started noticing better 3g connection/speeds with the new sim cards. Just a placebo effect perhaps?
The size difference could also be for users who want to make it a micro sim so they can put it in their unlocked iPhones. I don't have either of these sim cards to compare, so I'm not sure.
hmm.. the sim im using is almost 8 years old. its been moved from phone to phone so many times there are wear marks on the contacts. still works fine though.
When I first got my g1 a few years ago I had issues with the market. There were apps that I knew were available (private apps) but I could not download them. I went to a T-Mobile store and looked at the display phones. One of them was able to see private apps, the other like mine, could not. I talked it over with the rep and we decided to replace the sim card. It was a random, no other ideas, decision. Started the G1 back up and Market was now working as expected. There were no other benefits noticed. Since then, I tend to replace the sim anytime a new phone is purchased.
Your milage may vary.
-Ryan
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
When I got my Vibrant, coming from the g1, tmo wanted to just pop it in the Vibrant. I made them put in the new sim card just to be safe, figured the one that came in the box brand new SHOULD be better.
iunlock said:
Thanks for your input.
As for the exp. date, where is that located. I don't see it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its only on the newer ones, the old ones don't expire, they just stop working after a set number of registrations on the network.
In regards to sim issues, they really shouldn't have any impact at all. Changing a sim card refreshes the billing information in the system (like what kind of services your phone is supposed to have and what not) customer care can do this without the need for a new sim.
Hoenstly though, sometimes a sim replacement is needed, I've seen stranger things.
s15274n said:
When I got my Vibrant, coming from the g1, tmo wanted to just pop it in the Vibrant. I made them put in the new sim card just to be safe, figured the one that came in the box brand new SHOULD be better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I bought my phone out right, the rep opened the box and took out the SIM then sold me the phone.
I guess it doesn't matter since swapping out your SIM at the T-Mobile corporate stores is free.
I just tried this since there is a tmobile store across from where I work. I used SpeedTest app and ran it 3 times before the swap. Average was about 2500 kbps download and 300 up. I swapped the sim out, went back to the spot where I originally tested and ran three more times and got about the same rate with the new sim. My old one was about 3 yo from when I had my Dash.
MonkySlap said:
I just tried this since there is a tmobile store across from where I work. I used SpeedTest app and ran it 3 times before the swap. Average was about 2500 kbps download and 300 up. I swapped the sim out, went back to the spot where I originally tested and ran three more times and got about the same rate with the new sim. My old one was about 3 yo from when I had my Dash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking the only time one would see a difference is if they are having poor contact surface from the SIM wearing out. I've seen ooolld SIM's where the metal had indentations like no other.
Just read the thread and said why not had the same sim card since I first signed up with tmobile 5 years ago.
When I talked with the rep on the phone and explained this to him and asked could this help he stated that the official tmobile policy is if the old sim card works no need to switch. However, because of the technical specs on the card could cause better reception, they just can't guarantee it, they only guarantee it will not get worse. He asked if I was having issues and I said no i'm just a nerd and wanted to know if it would help. Just swapped it out going to give it a test around the house and will report back.
Back Story:
Upgraded from G1, perfect 3G everywhere in chicago, couldn't even get it to drop from 3G no matter where I went. With the Vibrant and and old sim card, constantly dropped to 2G no big deal still was speedy
New Sim Card:
will report after testing
Old Sim Card
My connection constantly jumped from 2G to 3G all over my house constantly
New Sim Card
Solid 3G all through the house, will report back after tomorrow when I travel all over chicago
Some time ago I posted on this forum re no end of data 3G dropouts on my Galaxy SII meaning I was experincing no end od 3G data drop outs. Well anyhow today I decided to do some experimentation and to swap SIMS.
I have two mobiles, a Galaxy SII and also a Samsung Omnia 7 WP7 Mango. I decided to swap SIMS, put the GSII SIM in the Omnia 7 and the vice versa.
I switched both phones back ON as usual, inserted the SIM PIN code and bith phones booted up without any hassles.
Now here is the interesting thing. I ran both the phones for about 40mins, thinking and assuming if the SIM was faulty from the GSII the Omnia 7 would start to play up, but unfortunately both phones ran without any hickups and better still the GSII and the Omnia 7 did not face any data 3G internet dropouts, the GSII ran well and not a single data dropout and the same went for the Omnia 7, but my main focus here was more on the GSII.
But as soon as I put the SIMS back into their original phones the trouble for the GSII started again a bit later on.
So here the big Q whats the fault here, the phone or the SIM.
My guess is that the sim that is originally in your GS2 is faulty. Perhaps the sim is worn where the sim is touching?
You ruled out a phone issue when you put another sim in your GS2 and it was running fine.
Just my opinion anyway.
Thats correct when I inserted the SIM from the Omnia 7 (my other phone) into the GSII and left it running and on the data/internet for 40mins or so I did not get one droput what so ever and the same goes for the SIM from the GSII in my Omnia 7, so i.e a sim swap.
But the funny thing is non of the data on both phones dropped out.
Now assume if the SIM is the GSII is faulty, why didnt it cut out or I loose data connection when it was in the Omnia 7, this is what I cant figure out.
Also can a faulty SIM cause this problem.
I'm assuming that the Omnia7 has better contact points on the sim from your GS2. And that's how it's not faulting.
Are you only losing DATA and still retaining all phone signal?
If that is the case then it may not be a sim issue but a carrier issue based on which baseband version you're running on your GS2?
It could be the pins of the Omnia 7 are slightly more raised than that of the GSII, probably the GSII ones a slightly more flat so the contact of the SIM and pin is just touching or skimming the surface or yet again the SIM is just faulty.
Now the other funny thing here is, say for eg if I am on the phone i.e a call and the data all of a sudden drops out, than my call will drop out as well. But this problem is more data than call.
How do find out what baseband I am using and can the carrier fix this issue.
I used my tablet (Galaxy tab 10.1 P7500) with wifi only for almost 1 year. Recently I bought a SIM card (regular, not mini SIM) for using 3G with my tablet. It worked for about 10 days and then stopped working. Surprisingly, when I took the SIM out and tried to use with a phone, the SIM failed to register with the network! My operator told me that the SIM has been probably damaged and replaced it with another. In another 10 days I am facing the same problem again!
I wish to make these clear:
- I inserted the SIM properly into the tablet as per the instructions. I had not removed it thereafter. So, there is no probability of damage.
- In both the instances, the SIM looked perfectly all right. Not even a scratch!
- My operator swears that the problem is with the tablet and it does something to the SIM and makes it non-functional.
My questions:
1) What is the possible reason behind this?
2) Can the tablet work with a regular SIM?
3) Can the tablet damage a regular SIM with 10 days of use?
4) Should I use a micro SIM?
5) Will the problem recur with a micro SIM?
Any help will be highly appreciated! Thanks!
what I did when got the same problem
Bradex said:
I used my tablet (Galaxy tab 10.1 P7500) with wifi only for almost 1 year. Recently I bought a SIM card (regular, not mini SIM) for using 3G with my tablet. It worked for about 10 days and then stopped working. Surprisingly, when I took the SIM out and tried to use with a phone, the SIM failed to register with the network! My operator told me that the SIM has been probably damaged and replaced it with another. In another 10 days I am facing the same problem again!
I wish to make these clear:
- I inserted the SIM properly into the tablet as per the instructions. I had not removed it thereafter. So, there is no probability of damage.
- In both the instances, the SIM looked perfectly all right. Not even a scratch!
- My operator swears that the problem is with the tablet and it does something to the SIM and makes it non-functional.
My questions:
1) What is the possible reason behind this?
2) Can the tablet work with a regular SIM?
3) Can the tablet damage a regular SIM with 10 days of use?
4) Should I use a micro SIM?
5) Will the problem recur with a micro SIM?
Any help will be highly appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1)dust or movement of the card
You can use only the same size of sim as you had, the size doesn't matter, it just need to "seat" right
Try: buy a fresh new eraser for the old school pencils and gently clean the SIM card - only a new eraser so you won't damage it, don't push too hard, this way you remove any small parts on it that could block it.
Eject your SIM card only when the system is shut down. and restore it in shutdown mode again.
Be sure you turn your wifi off before shuting down so you could initialize the sim at boot and see if you got conection.
Good Luck.
Does anyone think there's a chance this tablet has a modem in to that can be enabled by porting over parts of a dump from one of the cellular versions? Long shot but not use to wifi tablets even having the pins for sim card.
i don't think so, if it has been designed to be working without a sim, there's a reason for it. the only way would be to replace the entire motherboard with the t975/t976 version, so you might as well buy the sim version.
kitamurt said:
i don't think so, if it has been designed to be working without a sim, there's a reason for it. the only way would be to replace the entire motherboard with the t975/t976 version, so you might as well buy the sim version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh I get it, this is just the first wifi only tablet I've had, that HAS the pins for a sim card, I'm not taking it apart, but since it has a 865+ it would be insanely easy if there's a teardown to tell if it has the hardware, since the modem is now a separate chip with this snapdragon, granted you would need to decan the motherboard to do so,
Samsung used the same SIM/SD Card combo tray for all S7/S7 + models.
You'll notice the filler piece on the opposite side of the SD Card side is shaped like a Nano SIM..
The filler is removable and is marked under the black sticker as a SIM slot.
That said, I doubt Samsung is going to include the radio package in a disabled state on a Wi-Fi only model.
The one teardown video I could find of a Wi-Fi only model S7 did not show any cellular radio antennas. I can only see Wi-Fi leads. Definitely do not see any 5G antennas.
I just bought tab s7+ wifi (T970). While i was trying to insert microsd card into the tray i realized it also has space to insert sim card in it. First i thought it might just be it so that Samsung doesn't have to make another tray for wifi models. Then i saw sim connectors inside the slot. I tried searching it online,what other people had to say. Most of the people said that there is no modem for it,some said it might be a software limitation. As far as i know the snapdragon 865+ has an inbuilt 4g modem.If there is no modem in it, then why add connectors for it on the first place.
It would be great if anyone with a rooted device can try flashing firmware from carrier,or just check if it was possible to get sim working.
My T870 has the same thing. Instead of producing two different trays, Samsung put a blank where the SIM would go on the WiFi only models (T870 and T970). Just because you can pull that blank out and insert a SIM card doesn't mean it will work in your T970.
You can try of course, but it won't work. Nor will it likely hurt anything.
Yes, the Snapdragon 865+ has a built in 4G modem, but unless it is enabled in the firmware, it won't work. By firmware, I am not talking ROM/OS level. I am talking chip level firmware.
And even then I'd assume there are no 4g antennas in the WiFi model!
This has been discussed before.
The SIM tray is simply plugged with a blank on WiFi only units.
The SIM/SD Card slot is there (most likely to keep parts and manufacturing costs down), but it lacks a 4G modem and does not have any cell antennas.