Samsung Captivate SGH-I897 'Sim network unlock PIN' required?

Forums › Android › Samsung Captivate SGH-I897 'Sim network unlock PIN' required?

telm

15 posts

Geek

#69397 7-Oct-2010 12:22

Hi there, new to Geekzone
I have the I897 running on XT network for a week, all good.
Firmware Version 2.1-update1
Baseband version I897UCJH7
Kernal 2.6.29 jetaek.lee@sep-11 #2

For unknown reasons the following message shows up on sartup ""Sim network unlock PIN"
This is locking me out from any telecom network
I have tried the default PIN #, the PUK number to unlock; it dod not work,
I replaced the SIM card and still get the same message
But the new SIM card works in a standard cheapy 3G phone

I did a factory restore, but still no change

Any ideas? TIA
Tel

boby55

1539 posts

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+1 received by user: 38

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#389142 7-Oct-2010 12:55

Where did you buy the phone from?

Sounds as if it has been network locked

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#389154 7-Oct-2010 13:16

Agreed, sounds like it was a US Purchased AT&T one?

Meaning to unlock it, you'll need a Samsung USB cable and the unlocking codes

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

telm

15 posts

Geek

#389169 7-Oct-2010 13:37

it came from Mobicity,
I had nil problems with it for about a week. It is/was a good phone. I have not bothered to do any unoffical upgrades to it as knowledge in this area is very low

tel

telm

15 posts

Geek

#389174 7-Oct-2010 13:40

vinnieg: Agreed, sounds like it was a US Purchased AT&T one?

Meaning to unlock it, you'll need a Samsung USB cable and the unlocking codes

Where would I find the Samsung unlock codes from?
cheers, Tel

NzBeagle

971 posts

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#389176 7-Oct-2010 13:46

Could follow the method here, http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/22/confirmed-galaxy-s-unlock-codes-are-stored-in-your-phone-vibra/ Heard they found it relatively easily with the right software, in fact stored on the phone. Hope this helps.

Linuxluver

5833 posts

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#389181 7-Oct-2010 13:57

NzBeagle: Could follow the method here, http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/22/confirmed-galaxy-s-unlock-codes-are-stored-in-your-phone-vibra/ Heard they found it relatively easily with the right software, in fact stored on the phone. Hope this helps.

Interesting. So Mobicity probably did this and it was somehow un-done about a week after the OP started using his phone.

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telm

15 posts

Geek

#389570 8-Oct-2010 13:56

OK, I eventually had some luck with unlocking the Captivate but each step introduced new hurdles and things to understand. For an expereinced user like many in this forum, it would be a walk in the park, but for me it was the basics getting right. The following is a list of actions that I am posting if others get stuck. XDA-developers and androidforums were useful. A number of solutions that have been posted by others would not work.
It could be due to how I was using them (SGS Unlock application, Galaxy S Unlocker scripts) but also the internet traffic is suggesting the UCJH7 upgrade issued late Sep.10 and stopped them working

The unlock code is stored on the phone handset inside a file in hexdecimal code. the various options work on gaining a copy of the file, searching for a particular string of characters and the unlock access numbers are there.

I eventually went the adb shell method because the other simpler ones above would not work for me

See http://androidforums.com/samsung-captivate/155056-possible-unlock-captivate-free.html

This link reads simple but everything needs to be right. I got stuck on gaining su=superuser via adb for a while but now ALL GOOD
cheers
tel

telm

15 posts

Geek

#389571 8-Oct-2010 14:00

last question for the group out there
What would cause your phone to go from "unlocked" status to locked?

I challenged telecom on this but are saying "not me" and "your problem" because the phone was imported and is not supported by telecom

tel