Apple

[Antisober552]

I wanted an iPhone 3GS so I brought one from a mate I done a check using cheakmend before buying and cheakmend told me that it has no record off being blocked so I brought the iPhone put a Vodafone sim on the phone and get no reception is there a fix for this ?

[Dave]

Hi Antisober552, welcome to the eForum!

Do you get any specific message when you try to connect with the handset which may help to identify the cause of the issue?

Also, was your friend also using a Vodafone SIM? If he was using another provider and it still works for him, this suggests the handset may be network locked, in which case he'll need to contact his provider - being the original owner - to arrange the unlock by them as we could not arrange this.

Next, does your SIM card work in any other Vodafone handset? If you don't have one to check, pop into your nearest Vodafone store and they'll be happy to test this for you.

Finally for now, can you go to Settings on the handset and confirm that carrier shows as "Vodafone UK"?

If it does, Select Settings > Carrier, set automatic to "off", and once the phone has searched, select any other carrier. Once this has completed, repeat the steps and select "Vodafone UK" to force the handset to reconnect to the network.

If the network does not show "Vodafone UK", then go to Settings > Carrier, set Automatic to "No" and select "Vodafone UK".

Let us know how you get on.

Dave

[Antisober552]

Hi
Ok this iPhone is locked to Vodafone it shows Vodafone uk it the top left corner with the 3G by it but have no reception I did a Check with Checkmend to find out if the handset was blocked before buying and as I seid in my last post there's it told me that the phones is not blocked or anything

[Antisober552]

I forgt to tell you that when the sim goes in it tell me sim invalided it sim failed but the searches for Vodafone

[Simon]

Hi Antisober552

The handset clearly is IMEI barred or blocked otherwise you wouldn't be able to see the network operator and 3G logos in the corner. 

I would suggest trying a complete factory restore if you have done this already. You can back up your phone in iTunes and then once backed up on your phone go to General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

Once the phone has restored to it's original state plug the phone back into iTunes and you'll be presented with two options, 'Set up as new iPhone' or 'Restore from ....... iPhone'. If you click the restore option all of your data will be put back onto the iPhone with the updated network settings.

Just to check, have you tried your SIM card in a alternative phone and do you encounter the same error? This is just to rule out whether this could be a phone or SIM card error.

Thanks

Simon

[Antisober552]

I've tried in another phone and it works fine could you do an imei check because I've done two checks with and it tells me the phone is not blocked and what should I do with the iPhone now what would be best to do

[jeffkinn]

Surely it sounds more like the phone is locked to another network and not blocked doesnit it? That's what the invalid sim message means. 

What network was your friend using it on?

[Antisober552]

Hi
I've done 2 checks using checkmend and say the phone is not blocked
I just want to check with you guys the phone is locked to Vodafone and no other carrier
If blocked what would be the best thing to do ?

[jeffkinn]

Let's take a step back

Blocked means that the phone cannot be used on any network at all as it has been reported as stolen.

Locked means that it can only be used with one network. That network should be able to unlock the phone under the right circumstances and then it can be used with any network.

They are not the same thing. If your phone is locked, which seems likely, you need to ask your friend who sold you the phone what network he was using the phone with.

[Antisober552]

Hi
Let me explain the phone is locked to Vodafone and no other carrier
I've done 2 checks with checkmend to make sure the phone is not stolon ,lost and blocked now checkmend tells me the phone is not block or stolen or lost.
But I can not get any reception but have Vodafone on the top left corner

Vodafone could you verify if the imei is blocked ?

And if the iPhone is blocked what the best thing to do with the iPhone ?

[Antisober552]

No solution has been found I clicked it by mistake sorry

[Lee]

Hi there Antisober552,

Thanks for your post.

Having read through the thread I can only assume the iPhone is locked to another network. The checkmend service will check across the database to see if the device has been reported as lost/stolen. If the service reports no block then the device is not blocked.

My advice would be to ask your friend to contact the service provider that the phone was purchased from in order for them to unlock the handset. Unfortunately we can only divulge blocking information to the original owner so if they we're on Vodafone, they would need to contact us directly. If they we're with one of our competitors, then they will need to contact them directly.

Cheers,

Lee