Weird iPhone 3GS unlock behaviour

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Weird iPhone 3GS unlock behaviour

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#71829 17-Nov-2010 21:27

Not sure if this is the right place to ask but I thought I'd try my luck :)

I have been having some strange issues with my recently purchased 3GS 16GB off Trademe, I am happy with the phone itself and it is in perfect physical condition but it has a strange issue when it comes to being used on a cellular network.

I jailbroke the phone using the Jailbreakme.com site via mobile Safari and the unlocked via ultrasn0w. The phone however refuses to work with either 2 Degrees or Vodafone simcards unless the are first inserted into another phone and a number dialed (say customer service). If the SIM card is then inserted into the iPhone it works perfectly and calling, SMS and EDGE data but upon switching on 3G via the menu the network is lost and a "Restricted Network" message is displayed.

If the phone is left on just the EDGE network (which works fine for me anyway) the phone works fine however overnight it appears to loose the network and a "No service" message greets me in the morning. This happens no matter whether the unlock (ultrasn0w) is installed or not.

It appears to me that by dialing a number in another phone the SIM authenticates itself somehow with the GSM network but when inserted into the iPhone times out (looses signal overnight). Is this a software issue that can currently be fixed or do I have to wait for some patch to come out?

Technical phone details:

Iphone 3GS 16GB black model MC131X
iOS version: 4.0 - Cydia says SHSH blobs 4.1? (perhaps previous owner downgraded to 4.0?)
Baseband (modem firmware) 05.13.04
New bootrom
Vodafone Supa Prepay SIM

Hope one of you guys will be able to help me somehow :)

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19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#406090 17-Nov-2010 21:29

Looks like the unlock has made something go screwy on the handset

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406091 17-Nov-2010 21:31

what would you suggest to fix it? Complete restore and rejailbreak?

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#406093 17-Nov-2010 21:36

Halfpulse: what would you suggest to fix it? Complete restore and rejailbreak?

For sure

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#406112 17-Nov-2010 22:31

Are you sure the phone is even locked? If it is deffo. locked then why not call the network its locked too (except for AT&T because they refuse to unlock them no matter what) and see if they will unlock for you? They send the IMEI over an app they have and when you connect to iTunes you receive a carrier update which unlocks the phone for good. That is assuming they give it to you. Research about other unlock methods too. Find someone who has an iphone as well and has it unlocked and working and do the same thing they did. Best of luck

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406156 18-Nov-2010 07:58

ok I've done I bit of research and apparently the iPhone MC131X (my model) is the Australian version (I assume this includes NZ as well because we are too small to warrant a seperate model) and according to this page :http://www.emiratesmac.com/forums/iphone/8596-identifying-factory-unlocked-iphones-carrier-locked-ip...

My model is factory unlocked. COuld someone please confirm this? So if it is factory unlocked is it possible that messing around with a software unlock could cause this problem or does it point towards a faultly SIM or phone?

thanks

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#406167 18-Nov-2010 08:45

Try SIM in another handset

Any issues?

clicknz

467 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#406182 18-Nov-2010 09:22

Hi - unless you have reason to believe otherwise, I would think that your phone has probably been bought new in NZ & unlocked (always good to confirm these things before purchase when possible).
There is a check box in the Pwnage Jailbreak that activates the phone for use on 'unsupported carriers' that would have to be checked for Tcom & 2D use - sorry not sure about the Jailbreakme one.... but this could be an issue.
Either way you could restore as a new device & try a VF sim. You should get a carrier update at some stage in the process. To use other carrier sims you should visit iPhonewzealand (link at top of page) and read over their pages dealing with carrier updates, etc. Good luck, have fun.

Cheers,
Mike

Photographer/Videographer clickmedia.nz

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406184 18-Nov-2010 09:23

yep I've tried a 2 Degrees and a Vodafone NZ SIM cards in it, pretty sure it's a software issue.

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#406233 18-Nov-2010 11:45

Halfpulse: ok I've done I bit of research and apparently the iPhone MC131X (my model) is the Australian version (I assume this includes NZ as well because we are too small to warrant a seperate model) and according to this page :http://www.emiratesmac.com/forums/iphone/8596-identifying-factory-unlocked-iphones-carrier-locked-ip...

My model is factory unlocked. COuld someone please confirm this? So if it is factory unlocked is it possible that messing around with a software unlock could cause this problem or does it point towards a faultly SIM or phone?

thanks

If the phone is factory unlocked then I assume the problem is related to you 'reunlocking' it. Do a restore and put the sim in without doing any jailbreak at all.

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406236 18-Nov-2010 11:49

Ok I'll try a restore to stock iOS 4.0 only problem is Apple doesn't sign the 4.0 firmware anymore so how do I restore to stock iOS 4.0? I have the IPSW file on my PC but not the SHSH blobs for 4.0.

what can I do?

Also would selecting the "Erase all contents and settings" option in the Settings app work in the same way (i.e have the same effect) as restoring to the stock firmware?

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#406287 18-Nov-2010 15:15

Halfpulse: Ok I'll try a restore to stock iOS 4.0 only problem is Apple doesn't sign the 4.0 firmware anymore so how do I restore to stock iOS 4.0? I have the IPSW file on my PC but not the SHSH blobs for 4.0.

what can I do?

Also would selecting the "Erase all contents and settings" option in the Settings app work in the same way (i.e have the same effect) as restoring to the stock firmware?

Nah the "erase all contents and settings" option only gets rid of user data. The unlock and Jailbreak is stored on the system files part. You should be able to restore to 4.0 by pressing the [shift] key on your keyboard while clicking "restore" in iTunes. This brings up a dialogue box which you use to find and select the .ipsw file. That should work.

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406303 18-Nov-2010 15:42

This is I suspected. When i try to restore I get error 3194 when the IPSW is being verified with Apple, this happens in both in a normal restore attempt and when in DFU mode, again I suspect this is related to a SHSH blobs issue?

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#406316 18-Nov-2010 15:56

Halfpulse: This is I suspected. When i try to restore I get error 3194 when the IPSW is being verified with Apple, this happens in both in a normal restore attempt and when in DFU mode, again I suspect this is related to a SHSH blobs issue?

Hmm... http://www.redmondpie.com/unlock-ios-4.1-with-ultrasn0w-how-to-guide/ try that. When you update to 4.1 just see if you can use the sim first without jailbreaking/unlocking.

tardtasticx

3075 posts

Uber Geek

#406317 18-Nov-2010 15:56

Halfpulse: This is I suspected. When i try to restore I get error 3194 when the IPSW is being verified with Apple, this happens in both in a normal restore attempt and when in DFU mode, again I suspect this is related to a SHSH blobs issue?

Hmm... http://www.redmondpie.com/unlock-ios-4.1-with-ultrasn0w-how-to-guide/ try that. When you update to 4.1 just see if you can use the sim first without jailbreaking/unlocking.

Halfpulse

13 posts

Geek

#406329 18-Nov-2010 16:16

I followed the ultrasn0w unlock guide exactly but it didn't seem to effect my phone, only dialing a number in another phone before inserting it into the iPhone allows it to work, regardless of whether ultrasn0w is intalled or not.

I am considering just upgrading to iOS 4.1 but if my iPhone is factory locked then apparently it could be impossible to unlock so I would rather stay on 4.0 unless I am certain my model is factory unlocked.

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