Your sim card does not allow a connection to this network - HTC 10

[Muzzla]

Hi there,

I recently purchased a secondhand HTC 10, which was locked to EE. I had it unlocked by a third party shop, and it's been working fine for 2 weeks, until yesterday the signal started playing up. I only get signal outside, and even then it is poor. Inside, I get no signal, and when I try to join the vodafone network from the settings manually I get the message 'Your sim card does not allow a connection to this network.

I've googled this and tried every fix possible, and the only thing I can think of is either

A) It hasn't been properly unlocked, and it's causing issues

B) There is a problem with the actual handset itself.

I tried checking the IMEI number incase it had been blacklisted but it hasn't.

Can anyone shed any light, any similar problems?

Cheers.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi

I have come across people who have experienced issues when a phobe has been unlocked by a shop and not the manufacturer or network it was locked to. They can typically force unlock it.

Can you perhaps test your Sim Card in another phone as a process of elimination to rule out wether the phone or sim card maybe at fault.

Also if possible try another Sim Card in your phone. If necessary any Vodafone Shop can replace the Sim Card via a Sim Swap. 

[Muzzla]

Hi there, I have tested my SIM card in another phone and it worked fine, I also took the SIM card out of that phone and placed it in mine, and I received the same problems.

I also went yesterday to my local vodafone shop and they swapped my SIM card for me for more elimination. It gave me great 4G signal for about 5 minutes before becoming terrible again.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi

I'm confused as to why a sim swap which is a process to move your mobile number and tariff from a sim card to a new one was warranted as by your own process of elimination your original sim worked in another phone. 

To note a sim swap can take occasionally 24 hours to fully settle. 

So if your sim worked fine in another phone and the sim from the other phone wouldn't work properly in your HTC  this points to the phone which is possibly at issue. Possibly as it's been forced unlocked by the shop you mention. 

I would say your options are to approach the shop and raise your concerns and or speak with the manufacturer direct on their UK online site if the phone is still under warranty. 

[AnnS]

Hi @Muzzla

If you are receiving that message, it can mean two things.  The phone has been IMEI blocked or the SIM card reader is faulty.

The first thing to try is doing a factory reset of the phone and try the SIM again.

If you still have issues, it will either mean a repair of the SIM card reader or going back to the seller.

You can try checking the IMEI number against Checkmend, but if it is blocked, it doesn't always show but doesn't mean the phone has not been blocked.

To add.  You may well find the phone will be locked to EE after the reset and it may be an idea to get the phone officially unlocked through EE.  

If you contact the manufacturer, they will be able to advise on the repair process.

[Muzzla]

Thanks @Anns

I did think about the phone being locked after the reset, but surely I wouldn't be able to get any signal at all on vodafone, even when outside? Or is that why it's maybe suffering?

I checked the blacklist again, it definitely hasn't been blacklisted, nor is there any reason for it to be.

If all else fails, it's going back to HTC for a repair.

[hrym]

Before you send it off, it might be worth going back to the unlocker.  Also, if you have access to an EE shop, it might be worth seeing if they have an active SIM they can put in it, just to test.   If it works with that, it would rule out a problem with the card slot and point to the unlock.