Database Users

[Q] Need Expert Answer for Noob Questions

Dear All
I am from UAE & bought Galaxy Tab yesterday. I have inserted my SIM and it is working fine but need to jump into upgrading firmware business
I have read many threads but got confused with the information. Can some expert please answer following :-
1. How can i check that my TAB is Factory Unlocked? I have checked using that *# code and it says all locks are off.
2. If my tab shows me that all locks are off, does this mean it will not get Locked if i upgrade the firmware?
3. I have currently
PDA: P1000JPJJ1
PHONE: P1000JXJJ1
CSC: P1000OJPJJ3
Can you please advice which version from samfirmwares.com i need to take for upgrading it? Currently its Arabic but i dont need Arabic. Can i install Euro version? If yes which one please?
3. Can i root & unlock all available firmwares? Should i root after upgrading firmware or before upgrading?
4. I was an iPhone user. So curious if firmware upgrade will also upgrade baseband and phone can be locked?

zeeshee said:
Dear All
I am from UAE & bought Galaxy Tab yesterday. I have inserted my SIM and it is working fine but need to jump into upgrading firmware business
I have read many threads but got confused with the information. Can some expert please answer following :-
1. How can i check that my TAB is Factory Unlocked? I have checked using that *# code and it says all locks are off.
2. If my tab shows me that all locks are off, does this mean it will not get Locked if i upgrade the firmware?
3. I have currently
PDA: P1000JPJJ1
PHONE: P1000JXJJ1
CSC: P1000OJPJJ3
Can you please advice which version from samfirmwares.com i need to take for upgrading it? Currently its Arabic but i dont need Arabic. Can i install Euro version? If yes which one please?
3. Can i root & unlock all available firmwares? Should i root after upgrading firmware or before upgrading?
4. I was an iPhone user. So curious if firmware upgrade will also upgrade baseband and phone can be locked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont have a tab (I may get one)
1) put a sim card in from another carrier
2) should do
3) use the samsung update utility
4) like iOS updates may block the root exploit but if it is factory unlocked then it shouldn't lock the tab
5) there may be baseband updates (my htc wildfire has had 2) and they didn't lock it

Thanks for your reply but one question is Unasnwered. How to ensure that my Tablet is Factory Unlocked before i upgrade?
Putting another sim will not confirm that it is Factory Unlocked as it can be unlocked using methods in this forum and then any SIM can be inserted. Same concept like iPhone... Right?

zeeshee said:
Thanks for your reply but one question is Unasnwered. How to ensure that my Tablet is Factory Unlocked before i upgrade?
Putting another sim will not confirm that it is Factory Unlocked as it can be unlocked using methods in this forum and then any SIM can be inserted. Same concept like iPhone... Right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By factory unlocked do you mean so you flash stuff on it and do upgrades? If so you ll have to look at a rooting guide, they dont.come unlocked like that.
If its sim unlock puttin an other sim will tell you
Sent from my GT-P1000M using XDA App

I understand that to flash firmware and custom rom, i need to root it.
By factory unlock, i mean network unlock. It works with all SIMs now. I dont know if it is Network unlock from Factory or using methods described in these forums.
So concern is that if i upgrade to new or Euro firmware now, will is become network unlock again? If yes can i unlock it again on latest firmware?

zeeshee said:
I understand that to flash firmware and custom rom, i need to root it.
By factory unlock, i mean network unlock. It works with all SIMs now. I dont know if it is Network unlock from Factory or using methods described in these forums.
So concern is that if i upgrade to new or Euro firmware now, will is become network unlock again? If yes can i unlock it again on latest firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Upgrading firmwares wont lock it if its unlocked. It will be in the same lock condition as it was before the update
Sent from my GT-P1000M using XDA App

Share your SIM/Network Unlock method here...

Hi all,
I just recently unlocked my phone and was having a hard time to find related information for my specific model when I was doing research. I believed the blame goes to different S4 model; huge variety of stock&custom firmware; carrier/ location differences; unlock method and various success rate. Therefore, I would like to create a thread and let all user who has unlocked their GS4 to share their experience (in a very brief form) by filling up the following survey. Your accurate information will definitely help future GS4 user who needs their phone unlock.
*** Please copy and paste the following and fill in your information ***
My Info:
GS4 Model: e.g. i9505
Phone Carrier: e.g. Voda
"Original" Baseband: Type *#1234# to find, put the last 3 letters/#s here. Example: I337MVLUFNC1, only NC1 here. (Rooted?)
"Current" Firmware: Are you on custom firmware? If so which one? Also put which firmware it based on like above.
Unlock Method:
Successfully unlock with Free Method: Yes/ No. (Unlock your phone without paying is consider free; so anything from secret code UTMS way to Chainfire Regionlock Away is consider free). Put down what you use/ try and if that method is successful.
Successfully unlock with Paid Method: Yes/ No. (Unlock your phone by paying; feel free to put down which website you use and how much you paid)
Do you need to "ROLL-BACK" from custom rom to stock rom: Yes/ No.
Did you test your "unlocked" phone after: Yes/No. How?
:good::good::good: Hit "Thanks" if this mini survey helps you :good::good::good:

My Info:
GS4 Model:i337m
Phone Carrier:Rogers Wireless (Canada)
"Original" Baseband:NC1 (Rooted with CF-Auto)
"Current" Firmware:Maple Leaf (Based on NC1)
Unlock Method:
Successfully unlock with Free Method: No. Tried the secret menu code method (UTMS) and also Chainfire RegionLock Away. Both doesn't work.
Successfully unlock with Paid Method: Yes. Pick cellunlocker.net because the price is reasonable ($15USD), and also the only website that did not request you to roll back to stock rom/ unrooted.
Do you need to "ROLL-BACK" from custom rom to stock rom: No. Even though I see many users has failed to unlock until they roll-back to stock; I was able to unlock my phone on custom rom.
Did you test your "unlocked" phone after: Yes. I put in a HK sim card before unlock, and my phone asked for "Network Unlock Code". After unlock I put in the same HK sim, and my phone did not ask for the NUC, and has a Roaming signal icon on status bar, and display the correct carrier name in setting.

[Q] How can i find for what carrier my phone is?

Hello guys,
How can i find for what carrier my phone is or if is factory unlocked or not?
For the moment i use a sim card and everything works ok, but i'm afraid that i woul make an software update and my phone will be locked or relocked.
Thanxs!

You can use this app to see your phone's details
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo

THANX!
I used this app and show me Austria!
But the carrier no!

"Mobile Operator Name" is the carrier.

Dear Jopat
Now show me RO VODAFONE RO...
Is the carrier of my sim...
I don't know if the phone is factory unlocked or not...

sergiuhusca said:
Dear Jopat
Now show me RO VODAFONE RO...
Is the carrier of my sim...
I don't know if the phone is factory unlocked or not...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats the model number of your phone?

sergiuhusca said:
Dear Jopat
Now show me RO VODAFONE RO...
Is the carrier of my sim...
I don't know if the phone is factory unlocked or not...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check your phone's active CSC, they usually have the same lock status for every phone.
Easiest method is to use another carrier sim card and test it on your unit.

gridflash i have the smg900f model
jopat...now i use my carrier...but i'm afraid if i make an update the phone will be locked,relocked...

sergiuhusca said:
gridflash i have the smg900f model
jopat...now i use my carrier...but i'm afraid if i make an update the phone will be locked,relocked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, updating the software doesn't change the carrier lock status. If it was previously locked and was unlocked, it will stay unlocked. If you will update through flashing, just be sure that you are flashing the correct software intended for your unit to avoid problems. If you flash your phone with a different firmware with locked csc, your phone will be locked.

Thx Jopat...
In the past i have a Samsung Galaxy s3 and after one update the phone relocked himself...

]Thx Jopat...
In the past i have a Samsung Galaxy s3 and after one update the phone relocked himself...
How do i know if my csc is unlocked?

sergiuhusca said:
gridflash i have the smg900f model
jopat...now i use my carrier...but i'm afraid if i make an update the phone will be locked,relocked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This appears to be an unlocked International version for the EU. But the Forum Moderators checking into the update issue.
You can check http://samfirmware.com/ to find what country your CSC code was built for. This is the CSC for Austria (A1) : G900FVFG1ANE1
This senior member says the towelroot works for the G900F
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53424837&highlight=g900f#post53424837

sergiuhusca said:
]Thx Jopat...
In the past i have a Samsung Galaxy s3 and after one update the phone relocked himself...
How do i know if my csc is unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what you have to know yourself. If the network you are using has a history of locking the sim, then it's almost 100% sure that your S5 is locked. S5 was well-prepared for its distribution so the CSC of the network is surely fully configured. Look around here on XDA and take note of the firmwares they are using for modding their custom roms, that'll give you a good idea which firmware is easy to configure. You can start reading with gridflash's suggestion.

No...the s3 initialy was locked on VODAFONE UK!i UNLOCKED AND THEN,WHEN I MADE FIRST UPDATE THE PHONE RELOCKED HIMSELF.
THE S5 I BUY FROM A GUY...AND HE TELL ME THAT THE PHONE IS NEVERLOCK.
I LOOCK FOR THE CSC AND FOR THE AUSTRIA IS THE SAME FOR TELERING AND T MOBILE...
AND THE SAME CSC IS FOR AN UNKNOWN COUNTRY...

Try this website. Enter your IMEI number there.
http://iphoneimei.info/

jopat said:
Try this website. Enter your IMEI number there.
http://iphoneimei.info/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iS FOR IPHONE...

CSC IS TTR
WHAT COUNTRY IS TTR?

^Someone told me it works for others too. Anyway, just ignore it, there's a fee for the query when I tried it just now.
Anyway, why not just borrow or buy another carrier's sim card and try it on?

I use it with a romanian sim card VODAFONE RO!
i DON'T KNOW THE ORIGINAL CARRIER...THAT'S ALL!

sergiuhusca said:
I use it with a romanian sim card VODAFONE RO!
i DON'T KNOW THE ORIGINAL CARRIER...THAT'S ALL!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm getting very confused which info you really want to know. If you want to know the original and/or current carrier, Phone Info will give you that info as previously stated. Every other details, Phone Info will provide, only exception is the network/carrier lock status.

[Q] any easy way to SIM unlock a GT-I9500 ?

Hi guys,
I read a couple of threads and tried a couple of things and didn't work... Im trying to sim unlock my Galaxy S4 GT I9500 on stock android 4.3 not rooted and is not working.
I read about a code using *#0011# code and didn't work.. Post was not specific about using no sim, original carrier sim or desire carrier sim.. anyway I tried all and was a failure.
I read another thread about flashing a modem and downgrading the firmware but wasnt specific enough about how to do it and the requirements (android version, rooted?, how to do it, etc)
I try one of those "code pages" and even they couldnt help me. My carrier is Movistar in Nicaragua.
Is there is any easy way to SIM unlock my phone? maybe by just installing a pre-rooted, pre-unlocked rom? or is there is a page/guide/video with specific instruction on how to do it?
thanks in advance.

I think the step by step instructions on SIM unlocking in the main thread on the topic are pretty specific. They don't mention downgrading the device modem through Odin however because they were written before Samsung patched the exploits that allowed the SIM unlock to work.
Downgrading the modem to an Android 4.2.2 version in the AP/PDA slot in Odin is necessary to run either unlock metbod. However, you can really mess things up trying to unlock if you aren't careful, especially with the service menu exploit.

network unlock or modem swap i337m on 5.0.1

Hey people, I have an issue going on here.
I was going to unlock, but decided to reflash firmware and change the csc from rogers over to bell.
Kies recognizes the phone now as being a 'bell' phone, and have done an update just to confirm it but it still will not accept a bell sim. Every time I have inserted a bell sim it requests the 4 digit unlock code. The sim works just fine in my S3 and another bell S4, so that is not the problem.
All settings in the phone also show it to be 'bell', home screen and all, so the csc did take.
All the modems/firmware on sammobile are multi-csc, as i have tried to just flash the modem alone after I extracted it.
I could care less about being truly carrier free, as I am locked into a bell agreement through work.
Any suggestions on this, or do i have to purchase a code? I assume its locked now so I cannot downgrade to my understanding to a lower modem to use the service menu to unlock.
Thanks for the input.

I've flashed from a Bell 4.4.2 to Telus 5.01 without issue and the phone will remain sim-locked. The only difference I have seen between the Bell, Telus, and Rogers ROM are the carrier apps included with each ROM.
The sim unlock code is 8 digits long.
You should be able to downgrade the i337m's 5.01 stock ROM to a i337m 4.4.2 stock ROM. Then install the 4.2.2 modem, root the phone, run region unlock app, re-flash stock 5.01, and the phone will be sim unlocked. Doing this will trip the knox counter to 1 and void any remaining warranty.

I tried to downgrade, but it didnt take. I will try again. I know there was a discussion on booting the phone and not signing into google then reflash again. Is this needed?
Thanks for the reply.

Well, I got it to work this time. Much appreciated

You tried to flash a stock 4.4.2 rom from sammobile.com? Were there errors in Odin?