Galaxy S3 (fake) has no service

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benno74

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#132178 11-Oct-2013 13:15

Hi all - my first post so go easy :)

Ok - I bought what I thought was a Galaxy S3, but now Im pretty certain its a rather good fake/clone. That part Im not that bothered about as the phone itself looks/feels/responds like an S3

The problem I have is that no matter what Sim card i try (I have a few lying around that can still be used if needed), I get no service.

I have checked the IMEI number (there are actually 2 Ive checked - 1 that is on the back under where the battery is, and a different 1 pops up when I type in the *#06#) and it comes back as unblocked.

I am not very tech minded with phones so now I am struggling with what things to try to determine the cause of this no service and what if anything I can do to help solve it.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Inphinity

2780 posts

Uber Geek

#913608 11-Oct-2013 13:21

What cell provider(s) have you tried? It's possible if it is a fake that the phone doesn't support the necessary band for the provider you're using in the area you're in. Otherwise, could be a hardware fault.

Do you get any results at all when you let it search for network operators?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79316 posts

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Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#913660 11-Oct-2013 13:57

also some fake devices share the same IMEI and if it's blocked... That's gone.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#913663 11-Oct-2013 13:57

Did it stop working this week?

benno74

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#913667 11-Oct-2013 14:03

I have only just realised this is a NZ site - Im in the UK, so my apologies.

Its a dual sim phone so I have currently got a 3 sim and an O2 sim in there. the phone recognises both sims and also the phone numbers for each of them. No signal for both. I can search for network and it finds a network but when i click on it to connect it always says "Unable to connect to this network at this time. Try again later"

As for what band it uses - i wouldnt know what that is or how to find it in the phone.

Thanks

benno74

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#913673 11-Oct-2013 14:08

Ive had it about 2 or 3 weeks now (bought from a car boot sale) and keep going back to it every so often to try and see if i can get a signal on it, but it hasnt done since i got it

wellygary

8345 posts

Uber Geek

#913705 11-Oct-2013 15:16

benno74: Ive had it about 2 or 3 weeks now (bought from a car boot sale) and keep going back to it every so often to try and see if i can get a signal on it, but it hasnt done since i got it

I'm beginning to think you might have been sold a lemon, that has either died, or never went properly in the first place,

If you don't mind me asking what did you pay for it?

Predated

177 posts

Master Geek

#913710 11-Oct-2013 15:35

johnr: Did it stop working this week?

whats happened this week? I've had some people traveling from china with an unknown brand phone start to show invalid imei with their vodafone sim.
the sim works in any other phone execpt theirs, was working fine at least last month.

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benno74

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#913735 11-Oct-2013 16:02

I paid £100 for it, and I know alarm bells were ringing at the time i bought it, but i was shown it working - well, working without a sim in it as i didnt have one and it all seemed fine, and looked like a new one too.

But, like I say, i can accept its a clone phone but just want or hope I can get past this no service issue so i can actually use it

coffeebaron

6236 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#913740 11-Oct-2013 16:15

Predated:
johnr: Did it stop working this week?

whats happened this week? I've had some people traveling from china with an unknown brand phone start to show invalid imei with their vodafone sim.
the sim works in any other phone execpt theirs, was working fine at least last month.

Black listed IMEI info shared between mobile providers now???

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RunningMan

8965 posts

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#913741 11-Oct-2013 16:15

Could be stolen and blacklisted.

old3eyes

9120 posts

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Subscriber

#913746 11-Oct-2013 16:21

coffeebaron:
Predated:
johnr: Did it stop working this week?

whats happened this week? I've had some people traveling from china with an unknown brand phone start to show invalid imei with their vodafone sim.
the sim works in any other phone execpt theirs, was working fine at least last month.

Black listed IMEI info shared between mobile providers now???

The OP is from the UK and they do share stolen info..

Regards,

Old3eyes