Strange problem with Internet Access over 3G/GPRS

**filjedi** · 01-04-2009, 05:53 PM

Hi! I'm currently experiencing a very strange problem with my iPhone 3G. FYI, it's never been "jailbroken." It started last December 26. I switched off my phone upon boarding the plane from Manila to Iloilo. I checked my e-mail from the airport before boarding, so I know that internet access was working at that time.

Upon arriving in Iloilo, I switched on my phone and there is no icon on the right side of "Globe" on the information bar. Hmm, that's strange... For the next few days, nope, no icon at all. I tried resetting the phone several times, nada, nothing. I reset the network settings, no effect. Meanwhile, my wife's Nokia (also on Globe) has great 3G access, so I use that for the next few days.

Today, I finally give up and go to Globe in SM City. The demo iPhone unit clearly has 3G/EDGE access. The very helpful Globe personnel takes my phone and does his troubleshooting routine. It's clear that he's been trained to service the unit, so I'm quite confident that the problem will be resolved.

After around 30 minutes, he lends me back the unit and shows me that data access is working on another SIM card. So, he advises me to buy a new SIM. I honestly had a feeling that this was the problem, since my SIM card is 12 years old. Besides, if data is working using another SIM card, then my iPhone isn't broken, right?

He puts in my new SIM & tells me to wait 1 hour before I get a signal. So, I tell myself, "Thank God I went to Globe, I'll finally have access!" 1 hour later, I turn on my phone &, guess what, still no icon, still no internet. WTH?!?

Okay, this is not good. New SIM, check. Globe troubleshooting, check. Now it's my turn. I plug in my phone, bring up iTunes & press "Restore." After a relatively short wait, the iPhone is reactivated & I have a freshly restored iPhone, with no 3rd party apps & content. BUT, still no icon, still no Internet. Huh?

As I write this post, I'm re-syncing my iPhone to get back all my apps & content into the unit. I'm really running out of ideas. Is it possible that Globe may have inadvertently deactivated my Internet access starting last December 26? Also, do I have to reactivate my Internet access with a new SIM? I'm very open to your suggestions. Thanks!

**Sponsor** · 01-04-2009 05:53 PM

**bacchus_3** · 01-04-2009, 06:14 PM

Call CSR and verify. They can answer your question since they can check it with their system.

**filjedi** · 01-05-2009, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by bacchus_3

Call CSR and verify. They can answer your question since they can check it with their system.

Thanks for the suggestion. The CSR said that they will reset my internet access, so I should check again after 24 hours. Hope it finally works.

In the meantime, I checked out the Console of the iPhone through the iPhone Configuration Utility; Xcode also works for this purpose. I noticed that there were a couple of recurring errors by "lockdownd". Google pointed me to a Google Code article which mentioned that lockdownd controls activation, as well as a few other functions.

Based on the Console, my activation state is "WildcardActivated." Also, there is a "No ICCID in the activation record." error, as well as "No record for the SIM. Taking whatever we can get" and "SIM is not in a operator locked state." errors. There is no "WildcardActivated" state in the article, but there is a "MismatchedICCID" state. In this state, there is full access to the GUI but the modem is disabled. Hmm, sounds familiar..

Since my phone has never been jailbroken, I'm not sure about the implications of my "findings". I really hope my phone goes back to normal within the next 24 hours

**bacchus_3** · 01-05-2009, 10:45 AM

^^ your findings may just be confusing you. you did some tests with globe already and it seems you are led to your SIM or account being faulty. Can you borrow an iPhone (or go to the Business Center again) and try your SIM if it is device specific issue?

**filjedi** · 01-06-2009, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by bacchus_3

^^ your findings may just be confusing you. you did some tests with globe already and it seems you are led to your SIM or account being faulty. Can you borrow an iPhone (or go to the Business Center again) and try your SIM if it is device specific issue?

Hmm, it's already been more than 24 hours, and still no internet. Unfortunately, I don't have another iPhone (and I don't know anyone who can lend me one). I guess I'll just bring my phone to Globe when I'm back in Manila. Grrrrr

**filjedi** · 01-06-2009, 05:37 PM

Originally Posted by filjedi

Hmm, it's already been more than 24 hours, and still no internet. Unfortunately, I don't have another iPhone (and I don't know anyone who can lend me one). I guess I'll just bring my phone to Globe when I'm back in Manila. Grrrrr

It seems that my account really is the problem, even though Globe says my account is perfectly fine. I inserted my SIM card in my wife's Nokia phone and I also can't access the internet. At the same time, I put my wife's SIM in the iPhone and, yes, there is internet access.

In fairness, Globe has been very courteous throughout this entire affair, though my account is still problematic. I just called 211 (for the nth time) and a network complaint has finally been lodged. According to them, tech support will contact me within 24-48 hours.

Hopefully, this will be resolved soon.. :slanted:

**loko__loko** · 01-06-2009, 06:15 PM

postpaid or prepaid? internet problem only?

postpaid.. over credit limit?
prepaid.. no load?

ask them to reactivate your gprs

**filjedi** · 01-06-2009, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by loko__loko

postpaid or prepaid? internet problem only?

postpaid.. over credit limit?
prepaid.. no load?

ask them to reactivate your gprs

Yup, postpaid, still below credit limit. Based on Globe's records, I have Internet access enabled. Besides, the CSR requested a reactivation of my internet 2 days ago and told me to wait 24 hours. Still no access..

It could really be a network glitch, although I wouldn't really know for sure..

**jaytrixz** · 01-07-2009, 12:10 AM

Do you have any signal at all at Globe?

If yes, then I think you have to go to a Globe Business Center instead and reactivate your internet access. 211 is kinda unrealiable at times. Since your sim is very old, your APN maybe also configured in the old address instead of the usual internet.globe.com.ph that most newer sims use.

If no, then you can't really access the internet even if Globe will reactivate and configure your internet access. If you go to settings, carrier and you see all three carriers including Globe Telecom, your sim is definitely working and your internet access should really need reactivation.

**filjedi** · 01-07-2009, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by jAyTriXz

Do you have any signal at all at Globe?

If yes, then I think you have to go to a Globe Business Center instead and reactivate your internet access. 211 is kinda unrealiable at times. Since your sim is very old, your APN maybe also configured in the old address instead of the usual internet.globe.com.ph that most newer sims use.

If no, then you can't really access the internet even if Globe will reactivate and configure your internet access. If you go to settings, carrier and you see all three carriers including Globe Telecom, your sim is definitely working and your internet access should really need reactivation.

Yup, I definitely have signal, it's even full at this moment. As I mentioned above, I already went to the Globe Business Center in SM City Iloilo and they checked both my phone & internet access. Because of this, they said that it could be my old SIM. So, I bought a new SIM and that's what I'm using right now.

The funny thing is that it only stopped working when I arrived here in Iloilo, while my wife's Nokia phone continues to have internet access. Weird, really :slanted: