topic Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards in Get Support

"No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 11:30:21 GMT

I haven't bothered to try porting my number over yet - doesn't make sense until I can get this working first.

The iPhone should be unlocked - I've used an international SIM card in it so I think that proves the point... right?

My account has been created, phone number assigned, auto-pay set up (and I added extra funds after seeing that mentioned in another thread).

I also tried changing the SIM card number (to the same one, again saw that mentioned in another thread).

Also turned off Automatic Network selection and selected Public Mobile.

Still "No Service".

Same in two other iPhones that are unlocked, although on those I got a pop-up message saying that "this iPhone has not been activated". I don't get that message (or any message) on my iPhone 8 Plus.

Mods have suggested a number of things, tried a few things on their end, and asked me to buy another SIM card. Did that, used self-serve to change the SIM, still "No Service". Mod did some kind of 'activation' thing on their end, still no change.

My referrer found this thread that got resolved by having the mods open a support ticket, but is there anything else I should be trying while I await that? (Request was just sent, so another 2 day wait most likely)

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/No-Service-on-iPhone-7/m-p/285286#M21873

Thanks!

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

GinYVR — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:32:35 GMT

@bartoIf you get the message "Your iphone is not activated" you would want to connect via Wifi or if you have a computer connect via USB with iTunes.. to get your phone connected to the internet so it can verify its activation status with Apple.

It sounds like your account was not provisioned properly hence No Service. That you will just need to be patient and get Moderators to fix it for you.

Yes don't port your number until you get everything working.. you don't want to muddle the water any more than it is.

Worst case scenario, you can always walk into an Apple Store and get the Genius to look it over for you.. that's what they are there for.

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

popping — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:34:03 GMT

@CalgaryBen,

You are the iPhone expert here. Please help @barto to solve his iPhone issue.

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:38:04 GMT

@GinYVR wrote:
@bartoIf you get the message "Your iphone is not activated" you would want to connect via Wifi or if you have a computer connect via USB with iTunes.. to get your phone connected to the internet so it can verify its activation status with Apple.

Just to clarify - I only get that message when putting in the Public Mobile SIM on our two other iPhones, and they were both on WiFi at the time. When I swap back to their original SIMs (Speakout) there's no problem, no message.

But I thought it was worth mentioning as it was different from trying the PM SIM in my own iPhone 8 Plus.

Thanks!

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:41:50 GMT

@GinYVR wrote:

It sounds like your account was not provisioned properly hence No Service. That you will just need to be patient and get Moderators to fix it for you.

Yeah, been a week now so it's definitely a challenge to adjust to the 48 hour delay for mods to try or suggest something in-between. Would love to get going on this and save some money from my Zoomer plan, but patience is the key. Was just wondering if there was something else I could be doing on my end while I wait, but it seemed like a long shot...

This must be a rare thing, though, for an account to not be provisioned properly... ("why me??" )

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

popping — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:44:48 GMT

@barto

CalgaryBen last on this forum was in June.

Read his post on Cellular Data Blocked by Network Profile(s)

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/FYI-iOS-and-APNs/m-p/323130/highlight/true#M24565

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:45:53 GMT

@popping wrote:
@barto
CalgaryBen last on this forum was in June.
Read his post on Cellular Data Blocked by Network Profile(s)
https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/FYI-iOS-and-APNs/m-p/323130/highlight/true#M24565

Once I get past the "No Service" thing, I'll definitely be looking at that - thanks!

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

CalgaryBen — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:52:23 GMT

@barto wrote:
Still "No Service".

What do you see for "Carrier" under Settings --> General --> About? Seeing Public Mobile 36.0.1 here would confirm that:

You have latest iOS
iPhone was able to read SIM carrier, and subsequently download configuration profile

Was this recommended/tried? Settings --> General --> Reset --> Reset Network Settings? It gets rid of profiles and some other things that can get in the way of a working network connection. The downside is you'll have to re-establish WiFi credentials, etc.

If you could put in a different (non PM) SIM, and see that Settings --> General --> About --> Carrier changes accordingly, then that's a good indicator that it's truly unlocked.

With answers to the above, that will steer next steps...

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

popping — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:53:10 GMT

@barto wrote:
@popping wrote:
@barto
CalgaryBen last on this forum was in June.
Read his post on Cellular Data Blocked by Network Profile(s)
https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/FYI-iOS-and-APNs/m-p/323130/highlight/true#M24565

Once I get past the "No Service" thing, I'll definitely be looking at that - thanks!

He was talking about how to clear the network profile. You used a local SIM card while you travel. It does not hurt to try it. The following is from the last paragraph of his post:

"Alternatively, you can delete everything in one fell swoop via Settings --> General --> Reset--> Reset Network Settings --> (passcode if prompted) --> Reset Network Settings (to confirm). The phone will clear settings and reboot, and you'll be back to defaults. Sorry, you'll also have to re-enter your WiFi credentials, etc."

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 04:08:34 GMT

@CalgaryBen wrote:
@barto wrote:
Still "No Service".
What do you see for "Carrier" under Settings --> General --> About? Seeing Public Mobile 36.0.1 here would confirm that:
You have latest iOS
iPhone was able to read SIM carrier, and subsequently download configuration profile
Was this recommended/tried? Settings --> General --> Reset --> Reset Network Settings? It gets rid of profiles and some other things that can get in the way of a working network connection. The downside is you'll have to re-establish WiFi credentials, etc.

If you could put in a different (non PM) SIM, and see that Settings --> General --> About --> Carrier changes accordingly, then that's a good indicator that it's truly unlocked.

With answers to the above, that will steer next steps...

YES, I do see "Public Mobile 36.01" immediately when I pop the SIM in.

I had seen in other threads the mention of Resetting the Network Settings, but I was thinking of that as a last resort so I don't lose all my WiFi credentials and such.

Are we at that as a last resort?

Thanks!

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 04:11:17 GMT

@popping wrote:
@barto wrote:
@popping wrote:
@barto
CalgaryBen last on this forum was in June.
Read his post on Cellular Data Blocked by Network Profile(s)
https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Phones-Hardware/FYI-iOS-and-APNs/m-p/323130/highlight/true#M24565

Once I get past the "No Service" thing, I'll definitely be looking at that - thanks!
He was talking about how to clear the network profile. You used a local SIM card while you travel. It does not hurt to try it. The following is from the last paragraph of his post:
"Alternatively, you can delete everything in one fell swoop via Settings --> General --> Reset--> Reset Network Settings --> (passcode if prompted) --> Reset Network Settings (to confirm). The phone will clear settings and reboot, and you'll be back to defaults. Sorry, you'll also have to re-enter your WiFi credentials, etc."

Oops - I only looked at the title of that thread, which was talking about Cellular Data, but I (perhaps mistakenly) assumed that the info there wouldn't apply to the "No Service" thing that I'm experiencing. Can't make a call so I wasn't worried about data yet.

But if this Network Settings reset deal is the only other thing to try (while waiting for the moderators to reply) then I guess I have to grin and bear it...

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 04:38:30 GMT

FWIW, when I check settings-general and scroll to the end, I don’t see “Profiles” there.

Do I still need to reset network settings?

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

CalgaryBen — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 12:35:12 GMT

@barto wrote:
FWIW, when I check settings-general and scroll to the end, I don’t see “Profiles” there.
Do I still need to reset network settings?

I've heard of the Reset Network Settings resolving issues even if there are no profiles installed, particularly for users who have used international/foreign SIM cards. Best case scenario -- things start working. Worst case, you have to re-enter WiFi credentials...

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:35:36 GMT

The bad news is I now can't find the second SIM to give that a try.

I thought I would be able to do a "change SIM" to go back to the first SIM, but it won't let me ("that SIM is already registered").

The only good news is that I haven't heard from the Moderators yet so I have more time to find the second SIM...

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

GinYVR — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:37:58 GMT

@bartoPublic Mobile SIMs are once use item, once they have been registered, it can't be reused.

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

Master2001 — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:46:43 GMT

As soon as you activated the second SIM on the same account, the first one was unusable for ever (you can throw it in the garbage).

All cellphone providers work that way.

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 01:56:14 GMT

Thanks for the clarification - will dispose of the old one now.

I did find the new one - it was still in a spare iPhone 6. I tried resetting the network settings on that first, restarted, but same thing. This one I wasn't positive was ever unlocked (unlike the other two iPhones I had been trying in addition) so I tried it in my iPhone 8 Plus. When I swapped SIMs to the new one, I initially got asked to enter a phone number for MMS messages, but I ignored that (partly since I couldn't remember it and couldn't find it in My Account) and just did the reset of network settings, with the automatic restart of the phone.

No difference.

So... back to waiting on the Moderators.

Something unusual I noticed in My Account is that yesterday or the day before it showed $40 in my account but today only $30... Looking at Payment History, it shows a $10 charge yesterday for "Phone Repair". Is that usual?

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

GinYVR — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:02:23 GMT

@bartoPhone Repair is definitely unusual.. take a screen shot and ask the Moderators what's up with that when they contact you.

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

CalgaryBen — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 03:04:33 GMT

@barto wrote:
I did find the new one - it was still in a spare iPhone 6. I tried resetting the network settings on that first, restarted, but same thing. This one I wasn't positive was ever unlocked (unlike the other two iPhones I had been trying in addition)

If it's locked you should see "SIM Not Valid" or more likely "SIM Not Supported", and then info about the phone not being supported under the activation policy. But you're just seeing "No Service"? How about the Carrier profile (Settings --> General --> About --> Carrier)?

@barto wrote:
so I tried it in my iPhone 8 Plus. When I swapped SIMs to the new one, I initially got asked to enter a phone number for MMS messages, but I ignored that (partly since I couldn't remember it and couldn't find it in My Account) and just did the reset of network settings, with the automatic restart of the phone.

The part you mentioned about being prompted for a phone number is intriguing here, since the iPhone should be able to query the active SIM card (after OTA activation of it) and derive this information, and automatically register the number for iMessage. The fact that it prompted you, compounded by you seeing "No Service", suggests to me that the SIM card may not be properly provisioned for some reason.

Generally speaking, if I insert an old inactive SIM card into an iPhone, I'd expect to see "No Service", even if other things properly show up (e.g. Carrier profile Public Mobile 36.0.1, or whatever corresponds to the SIM being tested).

Re: "No Service" on iPhone 8 Plus, tried two different SIM cards

barto — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 03:07:42 GMT

Carrier profile comes up with Public Mobile as before.

Incorrect/incomplete provisioning seems to be the prevailing thought here, especially now that I've tried "everything else"... lol

This is my second SIM to show this behavior, though, so that sucks. Especially the 'waiting for mods' part to really drag it out.

Thanks - will try whatever else people come up with in the meantime!