Samsung GT-I9000 on Telecom SIM - not picking up Telecom network

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Samsung GT-I9000 on Telecom SIM - not picking up Telecom network

Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#108780 5-Sep-2012 14:35

Hi there, I'm just wondering about something - and I have done some Googling before posting here but really it's confusing the heck out of me what I've read so far.

I have a friend that bought a Samsung Galagy GT-I9000 on TradeMe and to his knowledge this was used previously with a Vodafone SIM. He is trying to use this with his Telecom SIM but in the settings it does not pick up the Telecom network. However it does pick up 2degrees and Vodafone. He reckons it might be SIM-locked.

What are your thoughts on this? I believe myself it's SIM-locked and if it is, how would he go about obtaining an unlock code for it? Where would he be able to obtain an unlock code for it? By giving Telecom a ring?

I was directed to this video not too long ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vJM3Z1PkfU&fb_source=message

Suppose we did obtain an unlock code through that method, I'm not even sure how I would go about putting that code in. When he puts his Telecom SIM in, a window doesn't pop up asking for the unlock code when the phone boots up.

Cheers,
Chris

joutei

308 posts

Ultimate Geek

#681837 5-Sep-2012 14:39

The Galaxy S i9000 is not compatible with Telecom NZ as the frequency on the phone run's on 900/2100 .

Telecom NZ network run's on an 850/2100 MHZ.
They are a 3G network Only, so there is no 2G network.

The Galaxy S i9000T has the 850/2100 MHZ frequency, Telstra AU and Telecom NZ have this variant as it is the main requirement of their network.

Basically your Phone will not work well on telecom's network, coverage will be limited to the main city centres (2100 MHZ) .

Hope this helps :)

Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#681850 5-Sep-2012 15:00

Ah ok thanks for that. That really clears it up. I'm suprised we haven't got the 3G coverage here... We're at Waikato University which is not too far from the city centre. I don't know, maybe if we go closer to the city centre we'll get it?

I'll let him know. Thanks again (such a shame, it's a really good looking phone). :)

Cheers,
Chris

corksta

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#681851 5-Sep-2012 15:01

Hi Chris, your phone is definitely not SIM-locked, as joutei pointed out the phone isn't compatible with Telecom's network. So the phone your mate has will only work on Vodafone and 2degrees.

It's important to note that while Telecom does have some 2100MHz coverage, it's only used as infill, and you need a phone that supports WCDMA850MHz for it to work correctly.

Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#681861 5-Sep-2012 15:14

Cheers Corksta. Regarding WCDMA850Mhz, would this maybe help with getting the 3G?
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/258859-how-enable-850mhz-3g-network-frequency-your-samsung-i9000-galaxy-s.html

Either way it's alright, since it's my friend's phone and not mine. I'll tell him he should sell it and get the Telecom compatible model.

johnr

19282 posts

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Inactive user

#681863 5-Sep-2012 15:18

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/258859-how-enable-850mhz-3g-network-frequency-your-samsung-i9000-galaxy-s.html

joutei

308 posts

Ultimate Geek

#681865 5-Sep-2012 15:21

I wouldnt bet on this, it's a hardware limitation as confirmed by another geekzone member

bradstewart

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#681886 5-Sep-2012 15:57

johnr: http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/258859-how-enable-850mhz-3g-network-frequency-your-samsung-i9000-galaxy-s.html

This works.

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Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#681929 5-Sep-2012 17:10

I'll give this a go later on tonight when I see my friend again.

Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#681967 5-Sep-2012 19:02

Nope it didn't detect the Telecom network.

Cheers btw, I really just wanted to know if the phone actually supported it or not. :)

plambrechtsen

1948 posts

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#681971 5-Sep-2012 19:18

It could also be that your phone is barred since its been registered as stolen. If you email me the IMEI (dial *#06# that will give you the number) to "pl at telecom dot co dot nz" and I will look it up. But as has been said before the phone is most probably not supported on XT. There is a very similar thread just a few messages below with the same issue.

Chrispy645

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#681984 5-Sep-2012 19:51

I had the IMEI but I gave it to him...

Hey he's just txted me and he said he can use it now. I don't know if there was any correlation between that and what I did in that tutorial link above with enabling the 850 band or whatever (even though that's not really supposed to work). Suppose he's getting really good coverage now?

eXDee

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#682563 6-Sep-2012 21:27

Chrispy645: Ah ok thanks for that. That really clears it up. I'm suprised we haven't got the 3G coverage here... We're at Waikato University which is not too far from the city centre. I don't know, maybe if we go closer to the city centre we'll get it?

I'll let him know. Thanks again (such a shame, it's a really good looking phone). :)

Cheers,
Chris

There is 3G coverage. Telecom is a 3G only network. They have 3G primarily on 850mhz and only infill for 2100mhz.

Theres only two sites broadcasting 2100mhz in hamilton, ones in the CBD and the other is chartwell.
If you go up on one of the high floors of the university buildings the CBD one you can actually pick up because you have good line of sight.

I'd be very interested if that mod actually works to make it work on 850mhz.

Publius

276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#682622 7-Sep-2012 00:20

bradstewart:
johnr: http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/258859-how-enable-850mhz-3g-network-frequency-your-samsung-i9000-galaxy-s.html

This works.

No it doesn't. The service menu is common to both Galaxy S variants. You can "activate" the band you don't support but it wont ever work.
Adding to the confusion forums are full of talk about flashing a 850mhz modem. This is actually because when people flash a new android rom they also got flashed a new 900mhz modem as part of the rom which obviously doesn't work, so they need to flash back a 850mhz modem. No magic. You can't suddenly change your hardware.

freitasm

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#682623 7-Sep-2012 00:24

The phone may be getting some Telecom signal now but it will be the 2100 MHz infill. It will be unreliable. Do your friend a favour and tell him it will only work on Vodafone or 2degrees.

If by any chance it does not work on Vodafone then chances are the phone was reported stolen.

Make sure your friend tries a Vodafone SIM before jumping to that conclusion.