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Lost reception doesn't come back without restart

I've been having a problem lately with my Captivate. At my work there's a complete dead zone where I lose reception completely (the 4 bars are replaced by a circle with a cross through it). However, when I leave work and go back home the reception never comes back - I've waited and waited and waited, but it still stays Xed out.
The phone requires a restart, and after that it picks up reception normally.
has anyone experienced this?

Did you try enabling flight mode, then turning it back off? Same effect as restarting the phone for your signal problem.
But in answer to your question, I've never had that problem. I have had a problem getting my signal back, but I just hold the phone in the open for a bit, and then stick it in my pocket again once I obtain service.

miztaken1312 said:
Did you try enabling flight mode, then turning it back off? Same effect as restarting the phone for your signal problem.
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I have, and it doesn't work. I have to turn the phone off and back on again.

I have the exact same issue.

I was having the same problem. They changed out the SIM card and have not had the problem sense. If your SIM has been through a few phones my not hurt to get a new one.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

thedoodle said:
I was having the same problem. They changed out the SIM card and have not had the problem sense. If your SIM has been through a few phones my not hurt to get a new one.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
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Thanks, I just ordered a new SIM card online. My existing one is 4 years old and scratched up like crazy, that may be it.
On a different note, once I receive my new SIM card does anyone know how to associate it with my plan? The ebay listing for the SIM card said to do it through the following website but I'm not sure which option is correct ("upgrade phone" perhaps?)
https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/

Paladuck said:
Thanks, I just ordered a new SIM card online. My existing one is 4 years old and scratched up like crazy, that may be it.
On a different note, once I receive my new SIM card does anyone know how to associate it with my plan? The ebay listing for the SIM card said to do it through the following website but I'm not sure which option is correct ("upgrade phone" perhaps?)
https://www.wireless.att.com/activations/
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For simplicities sake and for your own safety, take it into at&t and have them do it. At least you know it will be done correctly.
Sent from my Captivate

att gives u free sim card if goto their main stores

If you get a new sim just call at&t and tell them you need to change the sim number.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

ViniD said:
att gives u free sim card if goto their main stores
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I've been through many AT&T stores and they always charge me $25 for a new SIM. How'd you get free ones?

miztaken1312 said:
I've been through many AT&T stores and they always charge me $25 for a new SIM. How'd you get free ones?
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You must be going to private franchises because AT&T charges them for SIMs. If you call 611, they would make a notation to your account that you get a free one and the franchise would get reimbursed by AT&T.
I had to get a new SIM with my phone and it experiences this same issue. Has anybody had any luck with getting rid of the problem?

dennistaylor said:
You must be going to private franchises because AT&T charges them for SIMs. If you call 611, they would make a notation to your account that you get a free one and the franchise would get reimbursed by AT&T.
I had to get a new SIM with my phone and it experiences this same issue. Has anybody had any luck with getting rid of the problem?
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I don't believe they were private. They are regular at&t stores. But next time I'm definitely calling 611 for my similar problems
Sent from my Captivate

i have the same issue. i got a new sim when i got the phone and i rarely touch the sim. I bought the phone on launch day and have only just started seeing the issue. it seems to me that it started after the OTA patch but it is still happening after i flashed Cognition v2.1.7

Sim card not detected

Lately out of the blue when I pull my phone out my pocket I see a pop up saying sim card not detected then I have 2 options. Shutdown or reboot. Is this the phone quality built a little out of place or what? I'm sure someone here has seen this message if not all of ya have.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

Personally I would go to ATT and see if you can get a new sim...because apparently something is not right with the sim card.
or or or
It could be the ROM you are running, If you are running a Rom...

Running android revolution 5.1.6. Crazy how could it be the rom?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

Possibly just a bad installation...
Although it is a reliable ROM they all have glitches, possibly it is the ROM and you should try re flashing it and if the problem is fixed you know it was the ROM, and if it doesnt work Like i said before, your going to have to take a trip to ATT.
It could also be some type of hardware failure in your phone, not sure though.

Have you tried using the SIM in a different phone?
Faulty SIMs aren't unheard of.

Nope just this one. It only pops up every now and then but today it did it twice back to back so now I was like wtf. And decided to ask if anybody else seen this before.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

My sister once had a bad 3G SIM card that would only work on EDGE. We were right by an EDGE/3G border, so we could take 3 steps forward and have a working phone in the EDGE zone, or 3 steps back into 3G and have nothing.
My Tilt phone worked fine in both "zones," so I put in her SIM and had no signal in the 3G area, heh.

Oh.. well if the problem is persistant ill just get then to make me another similar
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

Uh oh...
Same problem for me here as well. Running CM7, was working fine until later in the evening when suddenly the network "died", and after several reboots noticed the little SIM problem icon next to the signal meter. I had the card locked, but went into settings and unlocked it. Now, logically if the phone couldn't read the card then technically I shouldn't have been able to change the PIN, so...
Confused over here. Is there a known fix to this? Or worse - how do I broach the subject with ATT if I have to go in?

nathisme said:
Confused over here. Is there a known fix to this? Or worse - how do I broach the subject with ATT if I have to go in?
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I don't know about the fix about it, but concerning talking with AT&T, I'd recommend calling Warranty exchange first. They'll let you go through some hoops like getting your imei and possibly cleaning out your sim card with a rubber eraser. They'll also run some network tests on your phone to see if there are any "down towers" in your area. In the end, just request for a replacement sim card from them and have them note on your account that you want to get it free. Ask for confirmation if it's in your account, then head for the nearest AT&T corporate store. They'll tell you you'll have to pay $25 to get a replacement sim card or something, but just say that warranty sent you and it's noted on the account: should get you your sim for free, if possible.

I have never had a problem getting a new sim card for free from a corporate store. Just go in and ask for one.

Problems

So, I got a SGS2 Skyrocket a few days ago from a guy on craigslist for $400. Great deal, or so I thought. The phone worked well until today, I'm not receiving text messages or phone calls and I cannot send text messages. I first though, "great, I bought a stolen phone and and now it's been disabled." I googled it and it seems that I wouldn't be able to make calls if it had indeed been reported stolen. Any ideas? I restored the device and it didn't help. Thought it was interesting when I went to software update under settings it says "DM initialization is not ready. Check network or sim card." Could I just have a signal problem or something? I have full bars...

Did you get a new 4G LTE sim card for the phone?

No, I didn't. But it was sending texts just fine yesterday and now I'm trying to use the sim on my old phone and it wont send texts either.

Sounds like a sim issue. You might need to head to your ATT store and upgrade your sim card. This should solve your problems. Older sims won't work on the newer 4G phones. I had this issues with my 1st skyrocket and my old sim. It worked for a bit then stopped working, we replaced the old sim with a new one and all was good....

iLiberate said:
So, I got a SGS2 Skyrocket a few days ago from a guy on craigslist for $400. Great deal, or so I thought. The phone worked well until today, I'm not receiving text messages or phone calls and I cannot send text messages. I first though, "great, I bought a stolen phone and and now it's been disabled." I googled it and it seems that I wouldn't be able to make calls if it had indeed been reported stolen. Any ideas? I restored the device and it didn't help. Thought it was interesting when I went to software update under settings it says "DM initialization is not ready. Check network or sim card." Could I just have a signal problem or something? I have full bars...
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Click to collapse
"Guy......Craigslist"..... = problem?
Sent from my SGH-I727R using xda premium

I bought mine off Craig's List and experienced the same thing. Your sim from your Captivate will only work briefly for phone/SMS, but not at all for data.
You MUST get a 4G LTE sim card for the Skyrocket and AT&T will change your data plan "type" (same data and price per month, but different line item on the billing).
5 minutes in AT&T and I was good to go.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

Grut said:
Sounds like a sim issue. You might need to head to your ATT store and upgrade your sim card. This should solve your problems. Older sims won't work on the newer 4G phones. I had this issues with my 1st skyrocket and my old sim. It worked for a bit then stopped working, we replaced the old sim with a new one and all was good....
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Dont listen to people like this when they tell u older sims will work for a min then stop. Complete and utter bull****. Me and my friend have the skyrocket and he uses and older version sim and has no problems. The new sim only matters cuz it gives u the lte data plan. Its not gonna stop text from going thru. Such misinformation going on. This is y people are so screwed up
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Justinfedor said:
Dont listen to people like this when they tell u older sims will work for a min then stop. Complete and utter bull****. Me and my friend have the skyrocket and he uses and older version sim and has no problems. The new sim only matters cuz it gives u the lte data plan. Its not gonna stop text from going thru. Such misinformation going on. This is y people are so screwed up
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
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Really? So if your information is correct, and you are all knowing, then why not help him fix the problem.

First off sounds like a SIM issue. Sim is usually the problem when it comes to network connectivity issues. Did you check the litmus sticker for water exposure?
Call ATT and have them check the IMEI #. You should have done that before you bought the phone.
@Justinfedor: That kind of response is not needed. If you can't say what's on your mind kindly please go somewhere else.

When I got my Skyrocket (moving from Captivate) the sales person said directly I would get a new SIM because the 4G LTE needed a new (assumably different) one. I'm sure you just need to get a new SIM which ATT should do no problem.

X10D3 said:
First off sounds like a SIM issue. Sim is usually the problem when it comes to network connectivity issues. Did you check the litmus sticker for water exposure?
Call ATT and have them check the IMEI #. You should have done that before you bought the phone.
@Justinfedor: That kind of response is not needed. If you can't say what's on your mind kindly please go somewhere else.
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4g lte sims are for data. Like i said my friend doesnt have one in his phone. We dont live in an lte area so hes not getting a new one. U all say people need a new sim for a 4g device. Thats a complete lie. Sims can cause the issue but its not always the answer. Oh and i will go somewhere else cuz you all obvisously think you know everything. No need to be in here with a bunch of low life.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Justinfedor said:
4g lte sims are for data. Like i said my friend doesnt have one in his phone. We dont live in an lte area so hes not getting a new one. U all say people need a new sim for a 4g device. Thats a complete lie. Sims can cause the issue but its not always the answer. Oh and i will go somewhere else cuz you all obvisously think you know everything. No need to be in here with a bunch of low life.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
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WOW! Holy childish over-reaction batman!

Can't you just get a new Sim? Worst case, is that your carrier might charge you something like $10.00......
Sent from my SGH-I727R using xda premium

If that's the way you're going to act, then please leave. I used to work for ATT a while back. What I don't think you get is... You're right and you're wrong. No you don't need a LTE sim. If the sim is bad it can cause connectivity issues, and weird stuff all together. That last statement is what you're completely ignoring.

Justin and X10D3 are correct. I used my sim from my Atrix in my phone since I got it. You'll need to be set up on the LTE plan through att. All that happened is their system doesn't have your account provisioned for LTE and it took a day or so for them to catch it. Login to your account and see if you're on an LTE plan. If not, then call them, but I know my sim is the same one from my Atrix and I've hit LTE areas the whole month in December with no issues. It shouldn't change your rate plan just need it provisioned for your account to register properly with their LTE network.

NO SERvICE?

wondering if i can get any help around here. One day my sidekick suddenly stopped working. Meaning no signal or service of any. I can log onto wifi and still use the internet but i cant make text messages, calls, ect. I rooted it and flashed Glorious Overdose, but the problem is still there. I'm with tmobile and idk why this doesnt work. It reads the SIM card. because when i take it out it has that sign at the top of the screen saying "insert SIM". anyone know what i can do? i know its not my SIM card because it works with other phones. its something with this phone.
ok.. so the problem is.... i bought the phone off someone on craigslist. and the phone worked for 5 months. then it finallly locked up. ^^^^ so i called tmobile and they said that the person that i bought the phone off of did not pay for their first month's service so they blocked the phone from tmobile use. so i'm wondering is there anything i can do to make it work for tmobile.... if not. just unlock it and use it for tmobile?

xaznxb0ix said:
wondering if i can get any help around here. One day my sidekick suddenly stopped working. Meaning no signal or service of any. I can log onto wifi and still use the internet but i cant make text messages, calls, ect. I rooted it and flashed Glorious Overdose, but the problem is still there. I'm with tmobile and idk why this doesnt work. It reads the SIM card. because when i take it out it has that sign at the top of the screen saying "insert SIM". anyone know what i can do? i know its not my SIM card because it works with other phones. its something with this phone.
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Your sim may be outdated. What other devices do you have? Is it a 4G Sim card?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

AndroidBotx said:
Your sim may be outdated. What other devices do you have? Is it a 4G Sim card?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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the other phone i was switching over to was a 3g vibrant. And it was working with this SIM a few weeks ago. thats strange

Maybe. Somene esle is using another of ur sim cards becuase tmobile deactivaes the old ones
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA

xtrem88 said:
Maybe. Somene esle is using another of ur sim cards becuase tmobile deactivaes the old ones
Sent from my SGH-T839 using XDA
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i was using this phone the whole time with a 3g SIM. And i never had a problem until now. it happened randomly

SIMs also tend to burn out/stop working, visit your local tmo store and ask them to take a look at your SIM, they should be able to tell, and if it's burnt out they'll give you a new one. Have you tried this SIM in another phone since it stopped working in this phone?

sduvick said:
SIMs also tend to burn out/stop working, visit your local tmo store and ask them to take a look at your SIM, they should be able to tell, and if it's burnt out they'll give you a new one. Have you tried this SIM in another phone since it stopped working in this phone?
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Click to collapse
yeah. ive used my sim on another phone and it works fine. I tried using my sisters sim card and her husband's and the sidekick still says no service. but on their phone it works fine as well. so its the phone. If i show them the phone wll they say anything though since its rooted.

Go or call tmob they will send a sim free
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

bump/ was not a SIM issue.

hmm, when T-mobile told you that they blocked the phone from use because of the person's non-paid bill, did they say there was anything you could do to reinstate the phone on their network?

yogi2010 said:
hmm, when T-mobile told you that they blocked the phone from use because of the person's non-paid bill, did they say there was anything you could do to reinstate the phone on their network?
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they said it was blocked from tmobile use until that first month bill is paid.
so that pretty much means wont be able to use ever huh?
i guess when the sk4 was a free phone they got it and resold it, but ended up not paying that bill.

xaznxb0ix said:
they said it was blocked from tmobile use until that first month bill is paid.
so that pretty much means wont be able to use ever huh?
i guess when the sk4 was a free phone they got it and resold it, but ended up not paying that bill.
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Click to collapse
yeah,that sucks, the person might have agreed to a contract just to get the phone for free, then turn around and sell it. whatever happened, it sounds like maybe the only way to use it on Tmobile is to pay the person's outstanding bill
do you have a contract with Tmo? the only other thing i can think of at the moment is unlocking the phone to work with another carrier, like Simple Mobile, or whatever carriers would activate it.
i am definitely not an expert on how these things work, just trying to throw out ideas. i had never really thought about this, i just knew that when a phone is reported stolen, the carrier can block the phone so it can't be used on their network. i bought a Sprint phone off CL once, and i made sure to call Sprint and check the esn # to make the sure the phone was valid or whatever.

yogi2010 said:
yeah,that sucks, the person might have agreed to a contract just to get the phone for free, then turn around and sell it. whatever happened, it sounds like maybe the only way to use it on Tmobile is to pay the person's outstanding bill
do you have a contract with Tmo? the only other thing i can think of at the moment is unlocking the phone to work with another carrier, like Simple Mobile, or whatever carriers would activate it.
i am definitely not an expert on how these things work, just trying to throw out ideas. i had never really thought about this, i just knew that when a phone is reported stolen, the carrier can block the phone so it can't be used on their network. i bought a Sprint phone off CL once, and i made sure to call Sprint and check the esn # to make the sure the phone was valid or whatever.
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yeah but seeing that the phone is a SIM use, and the phone was working for 5 months till now, i didnt see it as an issue buying off craigslist at the point. I didnt know tmobile was able to block a phone. I mean i can see a reason to them blocking the sim card. But i guess i pretty much have a paper weight since i have a 2 year contract wiht tmobile.

xaznxb0ix said:
yeah but seeing that the phone is a SIM use, and the phone was working for 5 months till now, i didnt see it as an issue buying off craigslist at the point. I didnt know tmobile was able to block a phone. I mean i can see a reason to them blocking the sim card. But i guess i pretty much have a paper weight since i have a 2 year contract wiht tmobile.
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Click to collapse
i was thinking the same thing, that the block should be against the SIM, not the phone. i guess i would call Tmobile and try to reason with them, and see if they can let you use the damn thing!
hope you figure something out!

[Q] Losing signal and message saying "Preparing SIM card..."

I've been getting this message for a while, possibly since I first got the phone. It is hard to pinpoint when exactly it started because I only see it when I use the phone for a long time. What exactly happens is at seemingly random times when using the phone, the connection is lost (0 bars with an x in the top right) and a card icon appears for a short amount of time in the notification bar. A second or two later a message pops up saying Preparing SIM card... and then everything is back to normal. I am using the leaked radio but I'm pretty sure it has happened on every radio I've used. I only have a few days left to return it so I am wondering if this problem is happening to anyone else?

I would try a different SIM and if the problem persists, exchange the phone

I exchanged one of my HOXs for this exact reason.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

tcl16 said:
I've been getting this message for a while, possibly since I first got the phone. It is hard to pinpoint when exactly it started because I only see it when I use the phone for a long time. What exactly happens is at seemingly random times when using the phone, the connection is lost (0 bars with an x in the top right) and a card icon appears for a short amount of time in the notification bar. A second or two later a message pops up saying Preparing SIM card... and then everything is back to normal. I am using the leaked radio but I'm pretty sure it has happened on every radio I've used. I only have a few days left to return it so I am wondering if this problem is happening to anyone else?
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Click to collapse
i have this issue ... losses connection for 2 sec and comes back again .. happens maybe 2times a day or so... dint happen in stock ( dint use stock for much long either).. so i am not sure whats the issue..
how often does it happen for u ?

I took out and re-seated my SIM card and it seemed to fix the issue.

I've exchanged the HOX twice for this same reason. It bugs the crap out of me.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

I say it's normal and nothing to exchange your HOX for. It happens to me some.

Irish Enigma said:
I say it's normal and nothing to exchange your HOX for. It happens to me some.
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The HT24 and HT25 build of the HOX, use a different manufacture SIM card reader. Motorola instead of Toshiba. (I will post up the email from HTC about that I can't access it from my phone). The Motorola card reader tray part is 0.02mm deeper. Aperently that's enough for one of the contacts to lift off SIM card. The email also referred to getting AT&T to send a new SIM card (new version of it is a touch thicker) model type 'Q' I think. But when I asked AT&T about it they had no idea what I was talking but they call the sim card issue a manufacturing defect. But, according to HTC the change was made to increase cell signal strength and reliability.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

dkirchik said:
The HT24 and HT25 build of the HOX, use a different manufacture SIM card reader. Motorola instead of Toshiba. (I will post up the email from HTC about that I can't access it from my phone). The Motorola card reader tray part is 0.02mm deeper. Aperently that's enough for one of the contacts to lift off SIM card. The email also referred to getting AT&T to send a new SIM card (new version of it is a touch thicker) model type 'Q' I think. But when I asked AT&T about it they had no idea what I was talking but they call the sim card issue a manufacturing defect. But, according to HTC the change was made to increase cell signal strength and reliability.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Very interesting. I've had minor issues with my connection getting a little out of whack from time to time, so I switch airplane mode on and off to 'reset' the connection. Each time I do this, the get the preparing SIM message, but ONLY after going in and out of airport mode, not randomly on it's own. In any event, I have an HT24 model so maybe this is the same thing I'm experiencing. My SIM tray has never been quite flush with the phone surface. It's effectively flush, but I can tell it doesn't sit perfectly. Anyone else with the SIM issue notice this about their tray?

fitchpuckman said:
Very interesting. I've had minor issues with my connection getting a little out of whack from time to time, so I switch airplane mode on and off to 'reset' the connection. Each time I do this, the get the preparing SIM message, but ONLY after going in and out of airport mode, not randomly on it's own. In any event, I have an HT24 model so maybe this is the same thing I'm experiencing. My SIM tray has never been quite flush with the phone surface. It's effectively flush, but I can tell it doesn't sit perfectly. Anyone else with the SIM issue notice this about their tray?
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Click to collapse
Actually, the one that I exchanged for this issue was the only one I had with a perfectly flush sim tray.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

_MetalHead_ said:
Actually, the one that I exchanged for this issue was the only one I had with a perfectly flush sim tray.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
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Good to know, thanks.

Does anyone know what this issue looks like in logcat? I have the issue but wanted to see how often it was happening.
What should I be searching for?

dave- said:
Does anyone know what this issue looks like in logcat? I have the issue but wanted to see how often it was happening.
What should I be searching for?
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Click to collapse
i have a feeling its software issue.. i am not getting any reboot after switching to at&t ruu with their baseband ..
i am still going to give 1 more day ..to make it sure.. by the way i installed
http://www.appbrain.com/app/no-signal-alert/com.smartandroidapps.missedcall
to make sure i miss none of the drop
Edit:dropped the signal twice already...