Why won't my phone EVER pick up a 3g signal?

[Tree13]

Vodafone sim on a 12 month contract, sim-only deal with 750mb inclusive wifi data;
HTC Desire Z handset, originally a T-mobile but unlocked to all networks;
Picks up 2g reliably;
Works fine on wifi;
Makes / receives calls and texts no problem.

Been into vodafone and one of the sloths said it was due to the sim card being old. Put a new sim card in, no change.

Any ideas people? Will repay any helpful advice with pm's identifying criminal waterways on matchday.

 

[bluejock]

• Get yourself some timber. Good solid stuff, no rubbish.
• Set up a work area where both ends of the timber are supported
• Take a good wood saw, something with nice sharp teeth
• Saw up the timber into as many pieces as possible
• Throw away the imber and gather up the sawdust that has been created
• Put your phone into a large container and cover fully with the sawdust
• Leave overnight

If this doesn't solve your problem, consult Vodafone customer services at http://help.vodafone.co.uk/system/selfservice.controller/3g.connection.issues/queries

 

[noharmdone]

Have you took the back off and blown on it ?

 

[Moomin]

You need to sacrifice a goat to the 3G gods.

 

[maddison]

Your phone doesn't like you

 

[Pat's Van]

someone told me if you leave it in a bag of rice then this usually draws out the moisture and after a couple of hours it will be completely dry

 

[noharmdone]

someone told me if you leave it in a bag of rice then this usually draws out the moisture and after a couple of hours it will be completely dry

Or put it in the freezer, it breaks the lock.. Like those old Ford stereos..

 

[maddison]

On a practical note, where was the phone sourced from? And does your area have 3G cell coverage.

 

[Tree13]

Oh Jock you wag. I did it, I clicked the link at work. Ten points to you, you devious haggis-juggler.

 

[Tree13]

On a practical note, where was the phone sourced from? And does your area have 3G cell coverage.

Handset came from the US. Plenty of 3g cell coverage here, workmates have 3g signals on their vodafones in the office, the mrs gets 3g at home on her vodafone.... London presumably has 3g coverage for vodafone - I can never get a 3g signal anywhere. Bizarrely, I usually get a 4g signal whenever I'm in a vodafone store. Happened today in Brighton, for instance.

 

[bluejock]

Oh Jock you wag. I did it, I clicked the link at work. Ten points to you, you devious haggis-juggler.

 

[maddison]

Handset came from the US. Plenty of 3g cell coverage here, workmates have 3g signals on their vodafones in the office, the mrs gets 3g at home on her vodafone.... London presumably has 3g coverage for vodafone - I can never get a 3g signal anywhere. Bizarrely, I usually get a 4g signal whenever I'm in a vodafone store. Happened today in Brighton, for instance.

It's likely your phone doesn't have the correct chip in it to work with the Vodafone 3G network in the UK. Voda work on the 900 and 2100 mhz bands in the UK for 3G. In the States you're looking at 3G 850/1900, 3G 1700/2100. So it's most likely that your phone isn't compatible with Voda's 3G network in the UK, hence no coverage.

What network was the handset originally on in the States?

 

[Moomin]

A phone is like a lady, it needs to be wined and dined before it gets dirty with you.

I would take it to the pictures for a first date or the Zoo.

 

[Tree13]

It's likely your phone doesn't have the correct chip in it to work with the Vodafone 3G network in the UK. Voda work on the 900 and 2100 mhz bands in the UK for 3G. In the States you're looking at 3G 850/1900, 3G 1700/2100. So it's most likely that your phone isn't compatible with Voda's 3G network in the UK, hence no coverage.

What network was the handset originally on in the States?

As far as I know it was on T-Mobile.

 

[BlueLlama]

Sounds like it is dirty mate - stick it in the washing machine at no more than 40 degrees.