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nicmair

244 posts

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#179106 26-Aug-2015 14:52
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I have an interesting situation...

I have a Samsung i9505 phone in which the motherboard failed, so I jumped on trademe, garbed a broken i9505 (broken screen), ripped out the motherboard and swapped it with the failed one.

On booting it displayed it was a Spark branded phone, so as I wonted it generic I grabbed the latest generic stock firmware (I9505XXUHOE4) and promptly flashed it and all good, phone booted and Spark branding gone, so far so good.

So I inserted the 2degrees SIM (known to be working as it was in the old S4), but got a error message that there was no sim installed.... confused and thinking oh crap maybe the replacement boards SIM slot was faulty I took the one of the failed board and swapped it over, still not good, So I through I'll try a Spark SIM (well actually a Skinny one as its all I had) and well.... it worked, so I then thought how strange Spark have restricted the IMEI of the replacement board to their network, so after a few web hits and then calls the Spark they advised that IMEI is not locked.

Now I know Spark and 2degree networks use different frequencies, but as the international S4 works on all NZ networks, I can't think why it not working.  I even tired flashing new modems, still not good.

Any ideas.  I could simply leave the Skinny sim in it, but as everyone else is on 2degree we would have an orphan.... 

please no flaming if I am missing the blindingly obvious.... 

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michaelmurfy
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  #1374677 26-Aug-2015 15:02
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Sounds like a dodgy sim to me. Maybe give another sim a go?




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graemeh
2078 posts

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  #1374701 26-Aug-2015 15:15
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michaelmurfy: Sounds like a dodgy sim to me. Maybe give another sim a go?


That was my thought too, ideally it should be re-tested using a new 2 Degrees SIM as it may also be a SIM compatibility issue.

It is definitely not a problem with radio frequencies as that would have different symptoms.

nicmair

244 posts

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  #1374712 26-Aug-2015 15:36
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Thanks, I have tired 2 different 2degree sims, both exhibit the same issue... botht these sim work fine on other phones (apple 4S, oneplus one...)





Inphinity
2780 posts

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  #1374714 26-Aug-2015 15:37
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Did you try checking the IMEI somewhere like here

nicmair

244 posts

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  #1374716 26-Aug-2015 15:43
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yep that was one of the first places I went, also after explaining the situation several times to a Spark call centre rep, they also confirmed it was not not to be locked....

Inphinity
2780 posts

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  #1374719 26-Aug-2015 15:54
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Have you checked with 2degrees if its blocked, though? That's the network you can't connect to, right?

nicmair

244 posts

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  #1374720 26-Aug-2015 15:56
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yes that is the network I am trying to connect to, will try, but wouldn't have thought they would have blocked it, but stranger thinks have happened....

 
 
 

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graemeh
2078 posts

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  #1374738 26-Aug-2015 16:41
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If it is blocked you won't be getting the message "no SIM installed".  If it is the wrong frequencies you'll still get 2G service from 2 Degrees and also you won't get that "no SIM installed" message.

How old are the other 2 Degrees SIMs you tried with?  SIM standards have changed over the years although I'd expect any SIM that came out as a micro SIM would be modern enough.

nicmair

244 posts

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  #1374748 26-Aug-2015 16:53
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one of the SIMs in only a few months old.

1eStar
1604 posts

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  #1374886 26-Aug-2015 21:23
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Are you in 2degrees coverage or roaming on Vodafone? Roaming switched on?

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