Hello.
I have a network locked S6 that I used it for 2 years by being unlocked with root at a gsm service.
One day I installed a Spotify apk virus not knowing where to look for the real deal and it reset the IMEI to 35000000000006, making the phone stop recognizing any SIM, yet the apk worked as expected providing full non stop play.
I was in the middle of the pandemic with nowhere to go with the phone so I researched and learned how to re-rewrite the original IMEI with z3x, which I successfully managed to do, the phone now seeing when a SIM is inserted. I also installed the latest firmware that was available for this model from this network provider - June 2018, before was April 2018. Trouble is that the initial unlock method have gone and the phone is again network locked.
I have tried to unlock it with z3x with no success, different steps with custom-rom etc so I decided to order the codes online.
I received 2 codes, the unlocking code and PUK code, both valid. Upon reboot if I insert any of them it says that the code is invalid after which at a second attempt it says network unlock successful. The same behavior happens if I try only with the main code or PUK code, but the problem is that the phone remains network locked even after restart, requesting the code again.
I have tried #7465625*638*# and then enter the codes in different order multiple times as advised by the seller yet the same, network unlock successful except that phone is still locked. The phone is in stock mode after a factory reset and I'm out of options google being unhelpful on the matter.
Question is, did I did anything wrong with z3x, damaging something? If so, what and how to repair? Is there any other option to make the phone fit for purpose again, to be used as a phone?
No responses
Today I found out that by typing any code, random numbers, it falsely says 'network unlock successful' at the second attempt so the original codes were of no use so far. I don't know what I'm looking at, what type of files to reset/replace or what to do. ANY advice will be appreciated...
@thegreatfail
Look inside here:
http://www . naldotech . com/how-to-fix-samsung-galaxy-not-registered-on-network-sim-problem/
jwoegerbauer said:
@thegreatfail
Look inside here:
A useless link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you would have not been retarded and had spent a minute to read the detailed behavior or if not at least the title of the thread, you would have known that is a NETWORK UNLOCK problem not NOT REGISTERED ON NETWORK problem. Congrats tho, you made one more useless post. Fvcking retard.
thegreatfail said:
If you would have not been retarded and had spent a minute to read the detailed behavior or if not at least the title of the thread, you would have known that is a NETWORK UNLOCK problem not NOT REGISTERED ON NETWORK problem. Congrats tho, you made one more useless post. Fvcking retard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFL
My knowledge is that a network lock ( also known as SIM lock, simlock, or subsidy lock ), is a technology that wireless communications carriers use to prevent the mobile phones they sell from being used on another network. Cell phones can be locked to a particular country, network, or subscriber identity module (SIM) card.
A network lock has really nothing to do with phone's IMEI, it's SIM-card related, believe it or not.
FYI: On phone's Android exists /EFS partition where among other things the Network Unlock information is stored. If this /EFS gets corrupted or even deleted then you will not be able to make or receive calls, SMS, MMS, etc.pp.
It's not me who is the idiot here: I'm sure of it.
jwoegerbauer said:
It's not me who is the idiot here: I'm sure of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh boy. Where did I said that the IMEI have anything to do with network lock? I just presented the full history of the device, on what type of troubleshooting went thru to learn if the steps taken to solve previous problems somehow interfered with network lock, namely repairing the IMEI with its specific NV data file and flashing the latest firmware, nothing more.
Because the original unlock codes are not positively registered and even more, it says that is unlocked on random codes despite is not, this wasn't a google-able solution. I thought coming to the largest site of android&phones dissection would at least earn me an advice, a method, something...
FYI: As already stated, before the IMEI+firmware intervention the phone was unlocked professionally at a gsm service with root, this is all I know, method that went poof after the intervention. The phone is not blacklisted, works with the original carrier which I have no interest in using so no network data is damaged except that it doesn't unlock by the recommended method that always works - original codes, instead is displaying a false positive.
Related
before i go ahead and unlock my MDA2, is there a way to re-lock it afterwards?
I have a business contract for 2 years with T-Mobile, with replacement option, BUT, that is void when I unlock the phone myself (as stated in the contract).
So, I need to it is possible to relock (and how ofcourse) before I unlock.
TIA,
-M
HageM said:
before i go ahead and unlock my MDA2, is there a way to re-lock it afterwards?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is. There are two possibilities:
1. lock it with a new code.
2. lock it with the original code.
For both you need to get an AT command prompt. You can get this by using the 'Wireless Modem' feature and connecting to it with a terminal program. In the terminal program you give the following command:
AT%HTCLOCK=1,12345678,1
This will lock your phone with the given code. Here the lock code is 12345678.
To get the original lock code you need to use the 'old' method of unlocking with the bootloader mode. As this will give you the actual lock code. If you use the 'new' method, the lock is overwritten without knowing what it was.
Hello, I am trying to relock my XDA2 after someone tried to lock it. I had it stolen then returned to me in fair but working condition, no SIM, and someone must have tried to unlock it.
The problem is, NO SIM works in my XDA2 for dialling, so I am clutching at straws here. Is there any way of dialling up in Hyperterminal and Wireless Modem with out needing the actually dial?
Some problems...
VODAPHONE Pay and Go SIM
----------------------------------
Can perform network operations
Cannot dail other phones
O2 UK CONTRACT SIM (My main service provider)
--------------------------
Reads "No Service" and can do nothing :evil:
VIRGIN/T-MOBILE UK SIM
------------------------------
Same as O2
If relocking is not the way, could someone point me in the right directing here. THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!
I am hoping you guys can help!
Cheers
Glenno
If you reported it stolen you will find that when you dial you will not get ringing tone and the phone will drop connection almost immediately. The reason for this is the service provider has added the imei to the stolen/lost list which all providers access, it will be blocked from all networks in UK. The phone will still work outside of UK though. If you havent reported it then I have no idea what the problem might be.
Thanks for your reply, everything is unblocked, IMEI and SIM, but it's strange how different sims work differently, like on vodafone I get signal and can perforom *#1345# for balance and things like that. Cannont make voice calls though. O2 SIM comes up 'No Service' and I cann't do a thing!. O2 are convinced the handset is faulty. But many thanks for your reply, I'll find out how to sort this..
Cheers
Glenno
I understand that this has been posted several times but I feel my question is a different in the reason that this phone will be used in a lab environment only.
I've been digging for ways to unlock the thunderbolt and I've come across many websites claiming they can unlock with a SIM unlock code if given the IMEI.
Here is my situation. We have here in our lab a LTE network in the same frequency range acceptable to the HTC thunderbolt. We've seen the Thunderbolt try to attach but of course we fail because we can't use our own SIM with all the parameters to pass Authentication.
From what I've read on other HTC phones when you put in a new SIM I should get a screen asking for an unlock code. This never pops up we just get an invalid SIM error. So is there a manual way to get this screen to pop up? Are there any other ways anyone could think of to allow me to use my own SIM for our network? The phone is rooted if that helps at all.
Thanks!
Call Verizon - They can unlock it for free - just explain your going on vacation overseas only thing i can tell you...
your allowed 1 free unlock per device then if you decide on another device wait past 6 months so you have another
chance to unlock the next device you get...
Have you been able to unlock the SIM on the thunderbolt yet - have same config in lab and want to use alternate SIM card for testing
I'd be interested in knowing how this went too....
Right when I got my TB and before I rooted, I was messing around with the privacy settings and I locked the SIM to see if I liked that feature. Something happened and it kept asking me for the IMEI, even though all I had set was a PIN. I called Verizon, quickly got tier 2'd, and the woman there gave me the IMEI without any problems. So if all you need is the IMEI, then all you really need is a good story
MattBeyers said:
Right when I got my TB and before I rooted, I was messing around with the privacy settings and I locked the SIM to see if I liked that feature. Something happened and it kept asking me for the IMEI, even though all I had set was a PIN. I called Verizon, quickly got tier 2'd, and the woman there gave me the IMEI without any problems. So if all you need is the IMEI, then all you really need is a good story
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahahaha, sounds good!
So, am I right in saying that VZW is the only one with LTE right now? Pretty much makes SIM unlock worthless (for now) except for those of you who are lab testing and such?
I'm doing Lab work with an Interphase LTE testrig at the moment.
Anyone succeeded with this unlock yet?
Sorry for the very late feedback.
So unfortunately we've had no luck finding ways to unlock the TB. We put a few weeks worth of work into it, and decided we had higher priorities to work on.
MattBeyers said:
Right when I got my TB and before I rooted, I was messing around with the privacy settings and I locked the SIM to see if I liked that feature. Something happened and it kept asking me for the IMEI, even though all I had set was a PIN. I called Verizon, quickly got tier 2'd, and the woman there gave me the IMEI without any problems. So if all you need is the IMEI, then all you really need is a good story
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The IMEI code can be obtained on any TB by just looking behind the battery. The way these unlock services work, as I understand, is they use your IMEI code to run through some algorithm that will give you an unlock code. A lot of phone vendors use these special algorithms to lock their phones and they take in the IMEI code as input.
Now we did try one of these services but when we put in our SIMs according to other sites I've seen the phone should ask us for an unlock code. This unlock code is what you get from either you're service provider or someone selling the service to unlock devices. Unfortunately we never see any screen to even attempt to input this code.
So that's where we are with this.. Maybe we'll look into it again in the future.
Verizon doesn't lock them. It will only ask for an unlock code if you first lock your SIM (menu/settings/security/set up sim card lock) You'll want to call VZW to get the PIN, you might want to ask for the PUK at the same time. They gave me both, no questions asked.
mike.s said:
Verizon doesn't lock them. It will only ask for an unlock code if you first lock your SIM (menu/settings/security/set up sim card lock) You'll want to call VZW to get the PIN, you might want to ask for the PUK at the same time. They gave me both, no questions asked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I say "unlock" I mean unlock the phone to allow for multiple SIM card use of different carriers... And like I said in the first post, we have an LTE network here in our lab, that is completely compatible with the HTC phone. We see messages being exchanged between the phone and our network.
We need to be able to use our own SIMs so that we can pass all authentication necessary to attach to our network. Unfortunately the Thunderbolt gives a "invalid SIM" error when we pop in our own SIM. So verizon must have some kind of special sauce that needs to be broken.
kylec8032 said:
So verizon must have some kind of special sauce that needs to be broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do your UICCs have both USIM and CSIM applications on them? The TB is a special case phone, since it uses both CDMA and LTE networks to communicate. It may also be looking for an ISIM app. Finally, unless you also have CDMA running in your lab, the phone may still not come up on the network.
Any updates on this?
HTC Thunderbolt SIM CARD issue
You know after dealing with over three people I have spoken with I have told them that I need talk, text, web, mms and apps the whole nine yards now, I am dealing with some real issues I am giving in and I need someone who can flash my phone or program it to something I really don't care what even if it's a new activation.
I am currently using PagePlus Cellular so if you know anyone out there please let me know, I am ready to do this ASAP!
If you can beat the price of $50 dollars I am willing to listen.
If you put in the SIM card from another provider, you will get a "SIM CARD UNRECOGNIZED" error on boot. To fix this, go to settings -> wireless and network -> mobile networks -> and APN settings. In the menu there should be a locked APN listing. To unlock it, simply press the menu key and choose to revert to default settings, and then refresh. It should now allow you to modify the APN settings. Just insert them with ones from the old phone that you pulled the SIM from, and reboot. I was able to switch this phone to T-Mobile no problem
So, your thunderbolt works fully with a t-mobile sim in it?
You can get the unlock code from My Verizon off their website.
coolsilver said:
You can get the unlock code from My Verizon off their website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gotta link?
---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 PM ----------
Fawxy said:
If you put in the SIM card from another provider, you will get a "SIM CARD UNRECOGNIZED" error on boot. To fix this, go to settings -> wireless and network -> mobile networks -> and APN settings. In the menu there should be a locked APN listing. To unlock it, simply press the menu key and choose to revert to default settings, and then refresh. It should now allow you to modify the APN settings. Just insert them with ones from the old phone that you pulled the SIM from, and reboot. I was able to switch this phone to T-Mobile no problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it was like that , taint no mo
Hi all. Just after a little help if possible.
Bought a 2nd hand S2 and was told it was locked to Virgin, before I bought it I made sure I saw the buyer make a call with the Virgin SIM on the phone.
I downgraded from ICS to 2.3.5, rooted the phone and used unlock tool from Market to unlock the phone. Tried several SIM cards in the phone, but I cannot connect to any mobile networks. In Phone Status, it shows phone number, signal strength etc but when I try and make a call is shows ‘Not Registered on Network’
I went out and bought a PAYG Virgin SIM card as I thought the unlock may not have worked correctly and exact same thing happens. Put the Virgin SIM in my unlocked HTC Desire and works fine. So, its deffo the phone that has the problem. I checked the IMEI number online to see if it had been blocked but it looks ok.
Any thoughts??
Thanks in advance.
Hi
A few things to check/try -
Does the IMEI number displayed by typing *#06# into the dialer match the IMEI number on the back of the phone (Under the battery)?
When you put a sim card in (other than Virgin) do you get a message from the phone asking for a network unlock code?
Does the network name of the Sim card appear in the status bar?
Which app did you use to unlock the phone? I've used Galaxy_S unlocker several times without any issue. (I install a ginger bread rom first, then insecure kernel, then root, then run Galaxy_S Unlock)
SMORG00 said:
Hi all. Just after a little help if possible.
Bought a 2nd hand S2 and was told it was locked to Virgin, before I bought it I made sure I saw the buyer make a call with the Virgin SIM on the phone.
I downgraded from ICS to 2.3.5, rooted the phone and used unlock tool from Market to unlock the phone. Tried several SIM cards in the phone, but I cannot connect to any mobile networks. In Phone Status, it shows phone number, signal strength etc but when I try and make a call is shows ‘Not Registered on Network’
I went out and bought a PAYG Virgin SIM card as I thought the unlock may not have worked correctly and exact same thing happens. Put the Virgin SIM in my unlocked HTC Desire and works fine. So, its deffo the phone that has the problem. I checked the IMEI number online to see if it had been blocked but it looks ok.
Any thoughts??
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check ur imei no dial *#06#
verify that imei no with the one beneath ur battery
if it same then try flashing the stock rom again and root it and try unlocking again using the unlock soft from play store
Yes, the IMEI number matches so no problem there. Have been onto several free IMEI check sites to see if the IMEI number is blocked and it shows as not being blocked. How reliable these sites are I do not know...
No, no unlock message comes on. However, I locked the phone again when rooted and put the Virgin SIM in, which it should be locked to so should work, and I got a SIM unlock message? So, when the phone is locked, it does ask for unlock code, when unlocked using the app, lock code doesn't appear.
I do not get the name of the network in the status bar. When I look at the phones status, it does show a signal strength, and I do sometimes get signal bars but when I try and use the phone I get 'Not registered on network'
I used Galaxy_S app and did everything that you have done!
Have tried flashing stock rom, rooting and unlocking and nothing seems to work.
Worried that I may have bought a nice, expensive media player...
If your IMEI matches up with the one under the battery then I really don't know why you can't get a signal. Maybe someone else on here will give you some better advise. It sounds to me like you did everything right. The obvious thing would be if the phone is on the blacklist (stolen phone, or reported as stolen, 2 different things!). I wasn't aware of any sites that can tell you if the phone is reported as stolen so can't comment on how accurate they are.
Hope you get it sorted, it's the best phone out there at the moment so would be a shame if you can't make calls on it.
have you tried with diferent modem? or diferent rom?? or both at the same time?
for the modem try KI3 or KI4, seems to work pretty fine for almost everyone..
have you tried
hi have you tried going to
settings>wireless and network>mobile network>network operators
and checking the settings in there are set to autoselect network.
if this does'nt work +1 for all posts below.
hope it does.
also not sure but i think sim lock is set in security settings and the pasword for unlocking is stored on the sim that password was put on. anyone feel free to correct if this statement is wrong. many thanks
I'm getting a bit frustrated... I have unlocked and rooted the phone and now I"m trying to unlock the SIM so that I can give it to my wife to use with a European Sim Card. I've googled, read and read and so far I've done the following:
1. Placed the European SIM into the phone (that I used in my old TMobile phone to date)
2. Was presented with "Enter sim network unlock pin"
3. Called AT&T and obtained the "unlock code".
I tried that code 3 times so far. After spending a fair amount of time with ATT support on the phone they believe that the "pin" is different from the "code". Btw, the unlock number was confirmed to me by ATT support folks twice... I rechecked the IMEI number twice... and I"m stuck... what do I do? Is there a difference?
Btw, I tried it under CM7 and AOKP
Thanks
SIM vs Carrier Unlock
There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.
I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!
tobnddl said:
There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.
I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, unfortunately they keep sticking by their guns and claiming that the code they're providing me with is the proper one.....
Don't try too many times, after maybe 5, not sure, you can permanently lock your phone. It is a security measure.
You nay already know, but hate for you to mess up your phone.
I'm still convinced that there's no way AT&T or anyone else would be able to tell you remotely what the code is.
When you buy new SIMs, they come inside a credit card-shaped piece of plastic. On that card itself (not the sim), there's two spots: one for a PIN and one for a PUK. The PIN is needed because the new SIM defaults to being locked as a security feature. Every time you turn off the phone, the SIM locks itself. Once unlocked, however, you can go into a phone's SIM settings and leave it unlocked permanently for any phone.
You need to find the card that originally came with the SIM.
Chrism suggested not to attempt the wrong pin too many times. It won't lock your phone, it will lock the sim and then require you to enter the PUK code.
I still wonder if it is the phone. When you enter the code, then you can use any sim card. He wants to unlock the phone to work with a different carriers sim I believe.
His problem is with the phone, not with the sim, is it?
Could be wrong.
tobnddl said:
There is definitely a difference between Carrier unlocking and SIM unlocking. I was steered wrong by AT&T the first time I asked. Essentially, they gave me a code that would allow me to override being locked out of my SIM card (to access phone numbers, etc) as a result of entering the SIM password wrong. This was NOT what I wanted.
I called back, and specifically requested a Carrier Unlock (for using other companies' SIMs), and they then made good on this request. You will need an active SIM from another carrier to get the job done, but if you specify your request to them, hopefully they will get it together. Another option is to buy a code at the numerous online re-sellers, but like I said, AT&T gave me mine for no cost. Good luck to you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe this is correct. Also, if you are entering the carrier code, and enter it wrong a specified number of times,i'm pretty sure it can lock your phone. I have unlocked well over a dozen, and have always been warned about it....
chrism.brunner said:
I still wonder if it is the phone. When you enter the code, then you can use any sim card. He wants to unlock the phone to work with a different carriers sim I believe.
His problem is with the phone, not with the sim, is it?
Could be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reread the OP. The phone is already unlocked and rooted. That means that technically yes, he can use any sim card on his phone.
However, not all sims are sold unlocked. As I mentioned before, it's not uncommon to buy a prepaid sim outside of the US (like the OP's Euro sim) and be asked to enter the sim pin upon start up.
If you reread the OP, you'll see that he's describing exactly what I'm talking about. I've had to do this a handful of times on a handful of unlocked phones.
Regarding locking the device, again, the OP phone is already unlocked so locking the actual phone due to entering the incorrect pin is impossible. It would be the sim that would be locked (since the phone is asking for the sim pin) and could only be restored by entering the PUK. I've had to do this a couple of times myself for people who had forgotten their sim pin but still had their original card info at home. Once you enter the PUK, it works again.
i would Spend the 20 or 30 buck online and get a diifferent code
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Regarding post #8
I agree with post #9 as well.
Maybe so, not my experience though. He has unlocked the bootloader and rooted. He has not carrier unlocked. I don't think that they are the same, but you could very well be right. Thanks. At least we are all trying to help him out.
That sim seems to already be unlocked if he has been using it in a T-Mobile phone to date. His ATRIX is still network locked.
OP. Let us know please. Now I am curious.
Thanks.
chrism.brunner said:
He has unlocked the bootloader and rooted. He has not carrier unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still haven't read where the OP stated he unlocked the bootloader. Rooted, yes. When I read "unlocked," I take that as "Carrier unlocked" the way that googling "unlocked cell phone" would bring up unrestricted/debranded/etc. cell phones, not necessarily having anything to do with the status of the bootloader.
That said, the bit about him using the sim on his older tmobile phone made me assume one of two things: he either forgot the code he used for that phone or it's a bad sim.
Granted, not every carrier unlock code works but given that he was getting it directly from AT&T (and it was on their servers), it should work. My Atrix, for example, required a code off Motorola's servers and even then the first code worked perfectly.
Trust me, if the OP has gone through all this trouble and the only thing left is to try the SIM pin then... 1+1=?
With the ATRIX you usually unlock the bootloader first, but that would explain some confusion.
Hey, I'm not trying to argue or anything.
OP, what unlock did you perform?
This thread is seriously non reality based.
Neither rooting nor unlocking has anything to do with getting the subsidy unlock code that allows non-ATT sims to be used.
ATT can cerrtainly provide the vaild code, and has always done so for me (albeit after possibly a await time).
3rd parties MIGHT be able to provide the same code. YMWV.
There have been some reports (search) that with the wrong radio the unlock code does not take. So ithat might be a way to go.
Wow, we are going round and round. Good luck.
Use search!!
r.Huzar said:
I'm getting a bit frustrated... I have unlocked and rooted the phone and now I"m trying to unlock the SIM so that I can give it to my wife to use with a European Sim Card. I've googled, read and read and so far I've done the following:
1. Placed the European SIM into the phone (that I used in my old TMobile phone to date)
2. Was presented with "Enter sim network unlock pin"
3. Called AT&T and obtained the "unlock code".
I tried that code 3 times so far. After spending a fair amount of time with ATT support on the phone they believe that the "pin" is different from the "code". Btw, the unlock number was confirmed to me by ATT support folks twice... I rechecked the IMEI number twice... and I"m stuck... what do I do? Is there a difference?
Btw, I tried it under CM7 and AOKP
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try THIS Thread---->Solved: Sim Unlock Fails With Valid Code
Sorry for taking so long to reply but for whatever reason I missed the email saying that there are replies. Anyways, lets recap
Phone is rooted and unlocked. I can run any ROM that I want and bootloader is unlocked.
The sim cards I am testing on (yes, plural) are not locked (as in they do not require a code).
I am trying to use a non ATT sim card (specifically I am trying TMobile EU) so that when I go traveling to EU again I can use the ATRIX with my local number that I keep rather then the ancient HTC windows phone that I have used to date....
I have made 4 attempts at unlocking so that means I am down to last one.....
New to this, but I'll try to explain the best I can.
I've talked to tech support from my old carrier, my new carrier, and Samsung for about 15 hours total. I'm getting absolutely no where.
I purchased a Samsung Galaxy A20 from Spectrum mobile 3 months ago. I ended my service with them and switched to Red Pocket mobile when they had their black friday / cyber monday sim kit deal.
When I activated and ported my number over to Red Pocket I thought there was an issue with the number port.
But going back and forth with customer service they couldn't figure out what was wrong, as my account was activated and they confirmed that they now owned my phone number.
Eventually I realized my device was still locked with Spectrum. They provided me with an unlock code which did not work. They suggested using the unfreeze code which worked, my device said accepted/unlocked.
Phone works, can make calls and send text messages. However,I cannot access data.
My network operator still says Spectrum, and my Access Point name says charter (Spectrum's APN).
I cannot select the Add button, or the Reset to Default button in Access Point Names.
I took this to mean that my device was still locked since the unlock code did not work.
I thought the unfreeze code was specifically for if you attempt too many unlock codes and it locks you out of making more attempts.
That was my understanding, that the purpose of the unfreeze code is to enable you to make more attempts with the unlock code.
Again, I'm not really sure.
But regardless, Spectrum insists that despite it saying that my device is still locked according to their information, that the only way for it to say unlocked on their end is if i actually connect to my new provider, but that they have done everything on their end and that my device is unlocked and I should be able to connect to my new provider.
FUNNY right... in their records it says my device is still locked, but that that's not really accurate, and that it should be unlocked.
However, I have Red Pocket's SIM in my phone. And I can place and receive calls/texts. Spectrum and Red Pocket both use CDMA, so that makes sense to me. But since I am routing through Spectrum still, and I am unable to Add Red Pocket's Access Point Name in my phone, I cannot connect to Data / LTE.
From what I've explained here, do you all feel like my device is truly unlocked?
What is the best way for me to bypass this? How do I get my phone to switch from Spectrum's Access Point Name to Red Pocket's Access Point Name so that I can access Data/LTE ??
Thank you for taking the time to read my plight, and I appreciate any assistance anyone can give me with this.
I am not sure if attempting to root my phone or messing around with those kinds of settings will fix anything. I am not familiar with how to do that, but I will try anything at this point.
I have the A20 under MetroPCS still locked to their network. I can add APN's to it. So not sure why you are having this problem.
Medfordite said:
I have the A20 under MetroPCS still locked to their network. I can add APN's to it. So not sure why you are having this problem.
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My thoughts exactly. Very strange why I am not able to add APNs.
I talked to a Samsung representative who suggested that it is probably either a software issue or the firmware installed by Spectrum.
When I told the Samsung representative that they assured me that my phone is unlocked (although I don't believe they even know what they're talking about since it is listed as locked in their system), he even went as far as to say that my device may be SIM unlocked, but they may have installed some sort of firmware on their phone that locks the Access Point Name to their server forcing the user to stay with them. Thus the phone will be able to take a new SIM, but it won't do the user any good since the firmware installed on the phone will not allow the user to connect to any other provider's Access Point.
I asked the Samsung representative if it was even legal for them to do that? He said it wouldn't surprise him as corporate giants such as Charter try to monopolize markets. He then went on to tell me that Charter took over as the internet provider in his area about a year ago and no longer has any other internet service providers in his area to choose from.
But again, I don't know if this is actually the case. But does anyone have any thoughts about what is going on or any suggestions as to what other things I can try to do to get connected to my new provider?
A quick update in case anyone in the future is wondering about my issue.
So after talking with another Spectrum customer service representative I have discovered that although my device was SIM unlocked over 2 weeks ago, my device is still carrier locked. They put an initial request for a carrier unlock over 2 weeks ago. Then after calling technical support a few days after that they had put in another request for the carrier unlock. A couple of days ago the representative I talked to went through all of the previous activity logs with my phone and discovered that the carrier unlock kept getting stuck on the end process of unlocking. He opened up another case for me (this will be the fifth ticket created for my account), but I expressed my concerns and doubts with him that it will accomplish anything.
I explained to him that if the issue can not be resolved on their end that I am pretty much out of luck. Since I have discovered on several forums that the Samsung A20 US version cannot be rooted, so there is no way to unlock the bootloader and install Samsung factory firmware to bypass the carrier locked APN on my own. I explained to him that if there was a way for me to do it I wouldn't even be calling, and I would have fixed the issue myself. However, since I am pretty much out of ideas to get my phone to work with my new carrier on my own and Spectrum can't seem to figure out how to carrier unlock my device even though they are LEGALLY REQUIRED to do so, that I am pretty much just about to give up and sell this device as a carrier locked phone on Swappa. He said yeah that's probably what I would do too at this point..
I said LOL, yeah but the problem there is I spent over $200 on this phone that I was only able to use for 2 months, and if I go that route I will likely only be able to get $50 for it.
He said yeah I can understand that that's frustrating, but I really don't see any other options you really have.
They also refuse to provide me with any sort of compensation even though clearly the mistake is on their end.
Bottom line.
NEVER BUY A PHONE FROM CHARTER / SPECTRUM.
Considering their business practices I would never buy phone service / internet service / any service they offer in the future, and would highly advise everyone else from ever purchasing anything from them in the future.