Problem with phone change

I gave my fiance's brother my old T-Mobile Phone (Samsung S-105)

The phone is unlocked. We took it to the store today and he got a SIM card for his account, the guy inputted the IMEI number in the computer and let us go.

Now, with the card in, I get full signal bars, but the phone is stuck on "Searching".

I've manually selected the 1900 freq band.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Where are you located? It's possible you're in a market that Cingular doesn't have 1900 coverage, and doesn't have a roaming agreement. I know some markets like New Orleans and Arkansas don't have 1900 roaming agreements. It's possible the rep at the store didn't understand that the device didn't support 850.

Just an idea... Try shutting the phone off. Put a SIM card you know works in the phone. Put the SIM card from the Samsung phone in a phone you know works.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply.

First of all, the phone is a Tri-Band.

Second, I'm in Alabama and I've been told that it will work on the 1900 band but not the 850.

If I select the 850, it goes straight to "NO SERVICE"

Once again, I get full bars for reception. It seems like that his account is just not authenticating through Cingular.

The Samsung S-105 is a triband phone - those bands are 900/1800/1900 - T-Mobile keeps their costs low by limiting their roaming charges. They have only two devices I'm aware of that support 850 - the Nokia 3595 and the Blackberry 7100t.

From Samsung's website - here are the spects on the S-105:

With standard battery
Dimensions: 4.3" x 1.8" x .9"
Weight: 3.4 oz.
Continuous digitial talk Time: Up to 4 hours*
Standby Time: Up to 100 hours*
Color: Silver
Display: 128 x 160 pixel, full-color STN display; external LCD
Mode: Tri-band (GSM 900 MHz; GSM 1800 MHz; GSM 1900 MHz)
Wireless Protocol: GSM
Service Provider: T-Mobile

In Alabama, Bellsouth's old Analog network (850) is pervasive throughout the state. Are you possibly confusing 850 and 900? - They are unique, and the S-105 does not support 850. I know in Montgomery (where my wife is from), Cingular has 1900 mhz along I-85. If the phone works there, you may have your answer... If you can tell me what county you're in, I'll check the FCC site to see who owns the 1900 spectrum there.

I'm in Tuscaloosa County.

The funny thing is that he gets reception. There are 5 or 6 bars, but it just says it is searching.

So we're getting a signal

Here is the information from the FCC's website about Tuscaloosa county in terms of spectrum ownership:

Cellular Providers "CL" licenses - 850 mHz
1 KNKA343 Cellco Partnership [Verizon - CDMA/AMPS]
2 KNKA609 BellSouth Mobility LLC [Cingular - GSM/TDMA/AMPS]
3 KNKA783 Tuscaloosa Cellular Partnership [Verizon - CDMA/AMPS]

PCS Providers "CW" - 1900 mHz
4 KNLF257 WIRELESSCO, L.P. [Sprint CDMA]
5 KNLF258 POWERTEL BIRMINGHAM LICENSES, INC. [T-Mobile GSM]
6 KNLG350 Tritel A/B Holding Corp. [AT&T GSM/TDMA]
7 KNLG904 Louisiana Unwired, LLC [Sprint CDMA]

As I suspected, Cingular doesn't own any 1900 spectrum in Tuscaloosa. If they don't have a roaming agreement with either of the two carriers that do offer 1900 service there (in this case AT&T and T-Mobile), you're phone may show strong signal, but will not register on the network. This was the same problem I had with my 1900 (900 and 1800 are for roaming outside of the Americas) only device when I went to New Orleans a few months back. The roaming agreements are market by market (actually can be tower by tower if they want).

I'm in Minneapolis for business now; Cingular has roaming agreements with both AT&T and T-Mobile here (as Cingular doesn't operate here, whereas they do operate in your neck of the woods; albeit on a frequency your device doesn't support) - my phone will pick AT&T, but will fallover to T-Mobile if unable to get a AT&T signal.

Once the AT&T/Cingular merger is complete you'll be fine (though the 850 footprint is much larger than 1900 alone; I would recommend getting a device that supports both). I would buy an unlocked 850/1900 phone from ebay until the merger is complete - should be able to get one v. cheaply.

Hope this helps!

my phone says searching too. i am in lafayette, la and i have a samsung e715. i dont know now to change the frequency or any of that can someone please help me.

You need a phone that supports 850mhz - its a hardware thing, so apart for waiting for the merger (that will work if AT&T has 1900 spectrum in your market), you don't have any other options.

ok now since the merger has gone through should my phone work?

Integration of the networks will take a while ... Check out www.newcingular.com. It seems that November 10th will have them posting more information on the merger.

There was also some information in the press release indicating new SIM cards will be available shortly that will dynamically determine which of the legacy networks will has less traffic on it, and will dynamically select that one to place your call.

As for the definitions of "awhile" and "shortly" - I have no idea.

Problem with phone change

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