Why doesn't my new cell phone have service, its turned on?

Question

I bought a Motorola V3x off ebay from wireless experts, I already had a plan for cingular, and a town over, it worked, had service and everything. Where I live and normally have service, I can't get any at all. Its not the sim card, so what is wrong? We have Cingular towers.

Answer 1

Hi China Doll

The reason your phone is not working is simple, you purchased a European Tr-Band phone. GSM900/1800/1900 Mhz
Cingular is GSM850/1900. This phone does not have GSM850
When your phone worked, you were picking up a cingular 1900GSM tower. Where you live, the Cingular tower is GSM850 tower so you will have no service.
In the wireless_experts listing it says
"Attention Cingular users: Please confirm with Cingular that you are using the 1900 Mhz frequency and NOT THE 850 Mhz. frequency before buying. If you are using the 850 Mhz frequency band, the V3x will not work for you"
Contact wireless_experts and see if you can exchange your phone for a QUAD-BAND Razr
Cheers

Answer 2

Dont know,

Find someone else with a GSM unlocked sim phone, and swap sims. If it works with strong signal, it is probably the phone.

The Ebay seller Wireless Experts appears to be a reputable seller. Discuss the problem with them, be clear to the point and professional. Let them know that you are having trouble. After all, they are the "experts", and may know a lot more than we do about that type of problem.
That will buy you some time, particularly if you have not yet left feedback.

(Never leave negative feedback, and always keep communications professional).

If you have not left feedback, dont.

Wait until the problem is fully resolved. Use email, and contact them by phone before you consider any further action. If you are sure that it is the phone, stick with it, and be persistent asking for replacment phone.
If they are reluctant to swap out your phone, try email line...
" please provide your phone number so that we can resolve this dispute". That usually gets their attention, because no seller wants a buyer to file a dispute.
Filing a dispute should be your last option.
Do not provide negative feedback, this is your Very last resort after expiring all email, phone, and dispute options. Just dont do it, be polite and persistent, and the problem will be worked out.



So you are saying that you have a sim with cingular service that is active, and placed it into the Motorola phone, and get no network service. It does " not " say " insert sim", or " enter subsity code" etc, which would mean that the phone is "not" unlocked. Did your auction list the phone as unlocked ?
If it is not unlocked, you cant get past the above menu messages.

If you live surrounded by trees, they can block the signal. Try to reach higher ground. I had this problem when I lived in the woods, almost in sight of a tower. When I walked up the road a hundred feet, I got signal. My old phone had an extendable antenna, the newer phone had a fixed antenna.

One other thing you can try is to switch service to another provider. Just a thought, if you have the time...

You can order a pre-activated, ready to go sims for T-Mobile.
You get 2 cards with150 minutes each (300 min total) for about $16 from Ebay.

These are ready to go, no activation or anything, just plug them in and talk. Might be a good quick check. The down side is that you need to recharge them, or the minutes will eventually go away. But if you are going to use them up 30 to 60 days, it is a good deal. $10+$6 shipping for 300 minutes.
Thats 5 cents per minute.

They come with a phone number, and instructions for changing the area code if you want,( need to talk to an operator for that), and instructions for recharging if desired. Or just discard them when you have used up the minutes. So the down side is each 150 min sim has a different phone number, which is not local to you, unless you call and change it ( tell them you are relocating).

The auction listed below is one of very many.
www.ebay.com Search for "T-mobile sim"
Or just follow the auction below, and then click on the
"view sellers other items" link.

May the force be with you....

Answer 3

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