Ipad + New Micro SIM = 'No Service'

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insane

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#73566 15-Dec-2010 23:53

Bought the Mrs an 16GB 3G iPad from apple directly for Christmas and am trying to set it all up. Today went to DSE and bought a Vodafone "Micro SIM card for iPad" and stuck it in, however the iPad cannot't get any service.

If the iPad tries to search for a network automatically it never finds one, however if I manually try choose a network it detects Vodafone, 2degrees and Telecom. When I select Vodafone it tells me "Restricted Network".

The Sim Pack says I shouldn't need to do anything more than turn off Wifi to get connected and the helpline 0800456 021 doesn't operate after 8pm.

I see a number of 2degrees folk had similar problems which were resolved by replacing the Micro SIM cards, do I actually have to do the same.

Starting to think I made a mistake going with Vodafone when XT would probably be faster anyway.

Any ideas?

tardtasticx

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#417894 15-Dec-2010 23:57

Go to a vodafone store tomorrow and see if they have a spare Micro-Sim card you can put in the iPad to try (take the iPad with you, I doubt they'd let you take the Sim) just to see if its the iPad or the Sim.

insane

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#417911 16-Dec-2010 00:57

Not sure if I'm supposed to do this, but I put the micro sim into an old Sony Ericsson k750i I had lying around, got the pins to line up however the simcard showed up as 'inactive sim' and gave me a warning about the IMEI number not matching. Sounds like these Micro SIM cards are rather locked down to apple products by the looks of it, or in my case so locked down it doesn't work.

I'll give VF a call during their hours to see if its as simple as needing to get this micro SIM card activated. Also really annoying that I cannot add this sim to my vodafone account as the validation for this is to receive a txt message which obviously I cannot do.

insane

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#417915 16-Dec-2010 01:47

Bit of an update:

Power cycled the iPad again, this time I get a clear message saying "Wrong IMEI number!" right after boot.

Under settings -> general -> about , it lists the carrier as Voda NZ 9.0. If I click on 'network' it tells me 'Sim not Allowed".

johnr

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#417935 16-Dec-2010 07:53

The SIM does not have the TAC loaded for your ipad. Go and swap the ipad SIM for a normal micro SIM on supa prepay.

insane

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#418002 16-Dec-2010 10:25

johnr: The SIM does not have the TAC loaded for your ipad. Go and swap the ipad SIM for a normal micro SIM on supa prepay.

Right thaks John will do, so I should ignore the whole 'MicroSIM for iPad" written all over the packaging and the phone number it comes with? Seems odd, or are those strictly only for iPad data plans? I suspect DSE staff may need some training on how these work.

I cut a prepaid SIM I had around to Micro SIM dimensions and it works sweet. But how am I supposed to top it up or purchase data bundles as I can't call 777 or receive the text needed to validate linking the number to my vodafone account / login.

jpanwala

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#418073 16-Dec-2010 12:34

Hi there,

Go to settings > WiFi > Turn off,

then Use the Safari web browser to go to www.vodafone.co.nz/ipad from your ipad.

The MicroSIM will auto-authenticate once the connection has been made to the website. You can then topup your SIM using a credit card and purchase data addons (alpha/extreme) on to your microSIM

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

johnr

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#418077 16-Dec-2010 12:43

insane:
johnr: The SIM does not have the TAC loaded for your ipad. Go and swap the ipad SIM for a normal micro SIM on supa prepay.

Right thaks John will do, so I should ignore the whole 'MicroSIM for iPad" written all over the?packaging and the phone number it comes with? Seems odd, or are those?strictly?only for iPad data plans? I suspect DSE staff may need some training on how these work.

I cut a prepaid SIM I had around to Micro SIM?dimensions?and it works sweet. But how am I supposed to top it up or purchase data bundles as I can't call 777 or receive the text needed to validate linking the number to my vodafone account / login.

I can link them all together easy enough for online access

PM me some details

Tradepub

Free professional, reference and technical white papers (affiliate link).

insane

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#418224 16-Dec-2010 19:15

jpanwala: Hi there,

Go to settings > WiFi > Turn off,

then Use the Safari web browser to go to www.vodafone.co.nz/ipad from your ipad.

The MicroSIM will auto-authenticate once the connection has been made to the website. You can then topup your SIM using a credit card and purchase data addons (alpha/extreme) on to your microSIM

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

No that only works after the SIM is accepted. The MicroSIM is being blocked well before it even picks up the network. My super Prepay SIM card which I cut with a pair of scissors worked 100%.

johnr:
insane:
johnr: The SIM does not have the TAC loaded for your ipad. Go and swap the ipad SIM for a normal micro SIM on supa prepay.

Right thaks John will do, so I should ignore the whole 'MicroSIM for iPad" written all over the?packaging and the phone number it comes with? Seems odd, or are those?strictly?only for iPad data plans? I suspect DSE staff may need some training on how these work.

I cut a prepaid SIM I had around to Micro SIM?dimensions?and it works sweet. But how am I supposed to top it up or purchase data bundles as I can't call 777 or receive the text needed to validate linking the number to my vodafone account / login.

I can link them all together easy enough for online access

PM me some details

Thanks john, I'll flick you a PM :)

krcnz

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#418910 18-Dec-2010 21:34

Hello Guys

I have been pulling my hair out over this error - and there are very very few posts anywhere about it.

I have been through 3 x MicroSim for iPad, and Apple has even replaced an iPad for me because of this error. After 3 hours on the phone to them in the states and a new Sim they gave in. My iPad is personalised so it wasnt like swapping it over at a store......

I had found one tech guy at Vodafone who was willing to look into it a bit further and suggested the Sims supplied into NZ from Apple werent registered and on the Vodafone NZ system. So today I bought a 'MicroSim for iPad' from Dick Smith thinking it was separate enough from Apple. I almost jumped on the iPad when it came up again with the same error and no service.

So could you guys explain to me in layman terms what I need to do - which MicroSim should I go and get to make this b***dy thing go? Is there any special plan that gives something along the lines of what the iPad plans are? And lastly do I loose anything by not using an iPad specific plan?

Your replies would be more than greatly appreciated.

Regards

Kim

PS I love the ltop line on the back of the pack "Activation is quick and easy" :-) (chringe)

Ragnor

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#419270 20-Dec-2010 00:48

Basically you need a normal/standard super prepay micro sim directly from Vodafone, I would go to vodafone store, I can't see on their website where in their checkout process (mobile > prepay > super prepay) it lets you indicate you want a micro sim.

DSE and Apple probably shouldn't be selling those micro sim for ipads when they don't actually work on vodafone, return them for refund imo.

If you want to go with Telecom XT instead of Vodafone, same thing... go to a Telecom store and get a micro sim or one order online

Telecom have a great clear page for ordering sim's online (unlike Vodafone imo)
http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/ournetwork/simcards

Given you've had so much hassle I would be tempted go into a Vodafone or Teleocm store and get them to help you set it up so you're happy and it's working before you leave.

RonHuston

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Wannabe Geek

#419388 20-Dec-2010 12:44

Hi All,
Same as all above -Mid Dec - Ipad from Apple online, together with Vodafone 3g card. - WRONG IMEI. After a WHOLE DAY on the telephone and getting wonky advice from all and sundry, finally located a tech at Vodafone who said the problem was the card was TOO OLD. Mine manufactured June 2010 - said it had to be Oct/Nov 2010 to work, and that Apple had been told off this. Trying to find a modern card - hard yards. Going to go with their ordinary card!!!. As a matter of interest mt friends Iphone 4 Microsim connected immediatley in the ipad!!!

krcnz

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#421621 26-Dec-2010 12:30

Hi Guys

Interesting - I had a phone call from Vodafone just before Xmas saying they had solved the problem. And it is the fact the Apple repleased a new iPAD that had IMEI information and didnt tell Vodafone and their old SIMs will not work. So as mentioned above it has to be October or later to work.

I went through 2 iPads and 4 SIMs to get to this point - now I cant find a SIM to suit in my location and Vodafone cant send me one. at least we know what the problem is.

Thanks for your help

KRCNZ