2degrees SIM problems in new Samsung Dual Sim phone, GT-B7722

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drdjb123

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71182 5-Nov-2010 22:57

Dear felllow geekzone users, I have often lurked on this site but today I am joining.
I excitedly received a couriered samsung dual sim mobile phone, one of the first 3G ones.

I have a Pay Monthly 2 degrees SIM and a prepay vodafone sim, and two other prepay 2 degrees sim cards.The phone was advertised as a device able to be used on all 3 of the NZ networks.

My problem is that non of the three 2 degrees cards work when installed singly on the handset.The pay monthly one makes the unit freeze in SOS only mode when used alone.
The other two 2 prepay 2degrees sim cards log in singly but there is no reception at all.The Pay Monthly 2 degrees SIM will work when the vodafone prepay is inserted in either sim slot and the pay monthly is in the adjacet slot, eithe slot 1 or 2 respectively. However whichever slot the vodafone sim is in has to be registered as a default sim, the phone goes into SOS mode with the 2 degrees pay monthly sim as its default set sim.

The 2degrees sim ( pay monthly) can receive text and voice calls but I am unable to dial out on this sim.
the vodafone sim works in either sim slot , even when it is the only sim.

I am unable to get the prepay 2degree sims to work either.

I can conclude that the phone may be set up to actually be a vodafone receiver.This is unlikely as the phone had been set up by the vendor to be unblocked.
The second issue is that there is a fault with my pay monthly sim, or that there is a network fault.

i have swapped chopped changed the sims all afternoon and evening and have not managed to get the 2degrees sim to be the default sim.

ADvice and help much appreciated.

richms

28198 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#401143 6-Nov-2010 13:54

Have you checked that you are not manually set on vodafone for network selection?

Richard rich.ms

drdjb123

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#401202 6-Nov-2010 17:39

Hi ,
thanks for your thought!
I have checked the manual settings.
For some reason it just will not accept 2 of my 2degrees sims , the pay monthly sim is accepted as long as it is not the default one.Telecom XT and Vodafone work well together though.
I went to the service agent affiliated with the importer- who are an australain outfit, the service man said the phone was still locked and he was not opening it and breakig the seal.Rather he said I should mail the whole lot back.......
Thanks agin for your inpp
ut

b0untypure1

1426 posts

Uber Geek

#401252 6-Nov-2010 22:31

if vodafone sim works, 2 degrees should also work no hassle.

drdjb123

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#401262 6-Nov-2010 23:10

well thats what i would think, it is weird, i think it may be an issue with something in the 2degrees simcards not fully registering in the slots, next time i get a phone, it will be purchsed in person from a shop!

b0untypure1

1426 posts

Uber Geek

#401287 7-Nov-2010 07:33

fair enough man, ecommerce is cheaper, but no one is there when something goes wrong. or its at your own shipping expense

Toiletduck

119 posts

Master Geek

#401962 9-Nov-2010 09:23

What could be worth trying is whether the VF (as primary SIM?) works with one of the 2degrees SIMs. Its possible that the phone is locked to VF U.K or where ever - hence the VF and XT sim combo working.
Is the phone active-active in the way it handles sims?
How annoying - a new phone that doesn't work the way you want it to.

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#401966 9-Nov-2010 09:29

If the phone was SIM locked to Vodafone UK then it wouldn't accept a VF NZ SIM (or anything other than a VF UK SIM).

So it's not that.

I have a colleague with a "made in china to look like an iphone" dual SIM phone and he has a similar problem. It will only work with the VF SIM in the first slot and the 2 Degrees SIM in the second slot.

Sharesies

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

Toiletduck

119 posts

Master Geek

#401970 9-Nov-2010 09:39

yeah thats right, I have found that sometimes this is the case.
ie: a phone SIM locked to VF UK sometimes works OK with VF NZ as primary SIM.

I think it it depends on the phone/firmware etc

graemeh

2078 posts

Uber Geek

#402005 9-Nov-2010 10:56

Toiletduck: yeah thats right, I have found that sometimes this is the case.
ie: a phone SIM locked to VF UK sometimes works OK with VF NZ as primary SIM.

I think it it depends on the phone/firmware etc

Oh. SIM locking must have changed since I last had to deal with it. It always used to be based on the IMSI which has a unique prefix for each country and network.

2degreesCare

1537 posts

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2degrees

#402037 9-Nov-2010 11:58

graemeh:
Toiletduck: yeah thats right, I have found that sometimes this is the case.
ie: a phone SIM locked to VF UK sometimes works OK with VF NZ as primary SIM.

I think it it depends on the phone/firmware etc

Oh. SIM locking must have changed since I last had to deal with it. It always used to be based on the IMSI which has a unique prefix for each country and network.

This is true, we have found some phones seemingly locked by VF UK will work with VF NZ SIMs where a 2D SIM will not.

To clarify all 2D SIMs work in other, unlocked phones OK and the Pay Monthly SIM receives calls and SMS but can't send?

Possible solution would be to try a SIM swap. Get a free blank SIM from a Warehouse Stationery, call us on 0800 022022 and we'll swap the number over. A similar issue is happening with the Motorola Milestone where the older and blank SIMs work and newer ones don't.

Worth a go with one of the Pre Pay SIMs. Other than that all I could advise is if you're in desperate need for a dual SIM phone we have the Nokia C1-00 - http://bit.ly/9MtEFM.

Cheers
^POB

ehrobb

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#412168 2-Dec-2010 17:02

Sympathize with your problem. I use a Vodafone card in Portugal, now in slot 1, and an AT&T card in the U.S., now in slot 2. Both cards are "on." BUT only the default card gets the signal. The other one shows no signal and "no service" even when I press the side button and move the green backgroud at the top left. When I switch the default card (say from AT&T, my U.S. card to the Vodafone card) the default card once again shows a strong signal and the other card "no service." It is amusing that the Vodafone card in the Annapolis, Maryland area of the U.S. uses the AT&T network!!

In sum, I do not have the ability to switch between the two cards by pressing the button, one of the selling points of the phone. I have had a terrible time with Samsung product support in Portugal - slow reaction, no help, mainly because I do not think that they have used the phone themselves. I had a bad time getting the KIES software to download and run, and then sync. Used the Net to get answers and clues. Does Samsung, NZ tell you anything? Samsung USA doesn't sell the handset, and, therefore, is unable to answer. FRUSTRATING, and not good for Samsung. Any help you have generated would be welcome.

Athlonite

1828 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#412263 2-Dec-2010 21:00

Can I just ask one question... Why do you need an duel SIM phone

richms

28198 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#412286 2-Dec-2010 22:19

One for the bro's, one for the ho's ;)

Or one for the wife and one for the mistress.

Or one for work and one for selling a car on trademe

Or one for each business so that they can be given to other people to look after.

many valid reasons beyond the "im an idiot teenager who will only text on network with vodafone" type of people.

Richard rich.ms

ehrobb

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#412544 3-Dec-2010 16:16

Thanks, richms! many reasons indeed. Main one, I live in Portugal, where I have a contract with Vodafone, but visit the States two or three times a year. Roaming is prohibitively expensive, so I use a separate chip in the US for US commo. Samsung promised me that I wouldn't have to shut the phone down every time I did need to check in with Europe. Sadly, they haven't lived up to their billing. Stand tall! ehrobb