topic Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs in Get Support

Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 17:48:01 GMT

Hi, my Samsung died on me and I was given a working, unlocked iPhone 3 gs. I'd used it with various providers while travelling in Europe and South America and it worked just fine. But I get a "No Service" notice from Public. The phone returns my IMEI number and shows my PM phone number, so it is reading the SIM card, but not connecting to the network. I tried changing cellular settings but still no go. Any idea what I can do tto make it work? Thank you!

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:42:16 GMT

@Kikanada Can you please give us the specific model number from the back cover?

Also, please let us know if this device was ever used in North America before. If so, with what carrier?

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:46:13 GMT

Model number is A1303. It was used with Rogers but then unlocked before travelling abroad.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

youbme — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:48:39 GMT

That is a peculiar situation. I'm assuming you've tried to power off/on the phone a few times? It might be worth doing a reset of the phone as well. If you are certain that the SIM card is functional (as it worked with your previous phone), then it is probably a hardware issue. What exactly is showing up when you attempt to search for cell networks?

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:50:15 GMT

@Kikanada Okay, so that model does support both 850 and 1900 MHz - Telus' 3G network frequencies (but 4G is not supported).

Have you checked to make sure the IMEI is not blocked on the PM network for some reason? You can do so here: http://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-started

Once you make sure it's not blocked, the next step would be to run a manual network search on your phone and try to connect to the "Public Mobile" network. Post the result here and we'll take it from there.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:57:18 GMT

Thank you @youbme . I powered it off and on twice and reset factory settings. When I go to Settings / Carrier / Network Selection, the Automatic function returns no results. In the Manual mode, it just keeps on searching, nothing pops up.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:55:05 GMT

And my IMEI is not blocked, I checked on the Public website.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:56:49 GMT

@Kikanada wrote:
I powered it off and on twice and reset factory settings. When I go to Settings / Carrier / Network Selection, the Automatic function returns no results. In the Manual mode, it just keeps on searching, nothing pops up.

This is most definitely a phone (likely hardware) issue, since the problem is not just with latching on to the PM network - but the phone not seeing ANY wireless network in your area. I would take it to a nearby mobile phone repair facility to see what they have to say.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:58:05 GMT

@7789849803 Ok Thank you!

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

youbme — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:59:16 GMT

Unfortunately, I agree with @7789849803. It looks like something is wrong with the hardware (again, assuming the SIM card works fine in other phones). Hopefully it's an easy (and cheap) fix.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:59:32 GMT

@Kikanada You're very welcome - though I wish I had better news for you.

Please come back and let us know what you find out in the end.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:08:10 GMT

I think the issue might be with my iOS version (6.1.6). This thing might just be getting too old.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:09:39 GMT

Possibly...but a hard reset usually takes care of any software issues. My money is on this being hardware-related. Hopefully it'll be a cheap fix...

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Luddite — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:31:49 GMT

In addition to @7789849803's thoughts, double check the phone did not set itself to 2G cellular service. If your phone is going to work it must be set for 3G. Rogers still operates a 2G network.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:34:57 GMT

@Luddite It`s 3G allright. I found some jailbreaking tutorials but would rather not do it. WIll try downgrading to a previous iOS maybe. I really just need it to call & text.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Luddite — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:51:35 GMT

Just to be clear that 3G is found under Voice & Data in Cellular settings (in iOS 9 anyway)? Jailbreaking should not be required.

Also, send an email to PM describing the problem and check out this post: iPhone 4/3GS/3G. They take up to 2 days to respond so you can also keep checking this forum for ideas.

BTW: How long can you survive without service?

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

7789849803 — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:50:57 GMT

I respectfully disagree with @Luddite about the need to email PM support. Such contact would only create confusion and take away from PM's precious few support resources.

It is quite clear that no one at PM can do anything about this situation since it is decidedly related to one particular device which was not purchased from PM.

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

makkahn28 — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 00:17:36 GMT

Hi. I should point out this: Older iphones will not have data access, unless you have latest os working

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

DK — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 15:42:49 GMT

@Kikanada, is the phone already jailbroken or was it in the past? Sounds like the baseband maybe be screwed up as if it's running iPad baseband which a lot of 3gs jailbroken devices did it will have issues getting network service.

I had an old i3gs with network issues, no service and I had to downgrade the iOS and baseband. There are tutorials online for it.

Cheers

Re: Switching from Samsung to iPhone 3gs

Kikanada — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 22:36:59 GMT

@DK Nope, phone was never jailbroken, but legally unlocked for a hefty fee, some 4 years ago.