Locked mobiles

This section is for information and posts relating to Audio Head Units, and Navigation Systems

Moderator: GiveMeABreak

Post Reply
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

I know...…….right off topic. :)

The last time I was in the States, four years ago, where did that time go? :( . I picked up a cheap LG phone for use out there.

It's locked to a US carrier and they won't let it be unlocked because it hasn't been used for a whole year, not even when offered a payment.

It's been sitting here unused, the chances of me returning there again are pretty remote but it seems like a damned waste to just bin it..

I was chatting to a guy yesterday about it and he said that a good electronics man could get into it and programme out the lock file.

Is he right or was that just bull.....?
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
User avatar
Stickyfinger
(Donor 2016)
Posts: 10411
Joined: 28 Mar 2013, 21:05
Location: Somset my lovleee
My Cars: Xantia V6 ACTIVA 3ltr 24v Manual p1
Xm 2.1TD Ph2 Exclusive
AX, little Daffodil
SAXO White Mk1. Sally
x 1280
Contact:

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Stickyfinger »

The "Lads" can do it.
Alasdair
Activa, the Moose Rider
3x C5x7 Steering racks and counting
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by GiveMeABreak »

You also need to ensure that the phone uses the same GSM frequencies as the UK Gibbo - back in the years they were different in the USA, so really depends how old it is. iPhones and the like are ok, and most smart phones are 'world use' phones now. So although you say you bought it 4 years ago, how old was it at the time (model wise) that you bought it? If you have the model number I can check.

Just a thought as you wouldn't want to pay for an unlock to find it isn't compatible with UK networks.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Stickyfinger wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 10:30 The "Lads" can do it.


:-D I'm a long way from being a 'lad' :-D
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

It was brand new Marc but linked to the US carrier and possibly made by LG for them an LG 306 G something between an old fashioned mobile and a smart phone, I think the users call them feature phones.
Attachments
IMGP1770.JPG
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by GiveMeABreak »

Ok, so this is a 2G phone Gibbo, so will really be limited in terms of functionality - it will support calls, SMS text messaging and very slow data rates (narrowband) which means partial browsing and very slow.

However, 2G networks are likely to be phased out at some point - Vodafone is dropping it by 2025, so consider the benefits of getting it unlocked - but you'll also have to find a UK carrier that can still supply a 2G SIM card for UK use.

I've listed the popular UK carriers that currently still have 2G services:
In terms of 2G, 3G and 4G (LTE) for UK
  • Vodafone - 2G only
  • 3 Network - Zilch
  • BT - 2G
  • EE (Orange) - 2G
  • GiffGaff - 2G
  • O2 - 2G
  • Virgin - 2G
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

Thanks Marc, finding someone who can unlock it is the big problem, none of the online unlock sites can do it, that's why I asked about electronic experts.

It must be a year since I switched it on but when I found it behind the bookshelf this morning and pressed to 'on' button it came on immediately and the battery indicator shows it's still fully charged.
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by MikeT »

Have a look here, Gibbo. You might be lucky.
https://www.giffgaff.com/unlock/lg-phones
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I don't see that model on the list and I'm thinking it was a model specifically for the US market.
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

MikeT wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 15:37 Have a look here, Gibbo. You might be lucky.
https://www.giffgaff.com/unlock/lg-phones


I did all those some time ago Mike, they all say the carrier involved (TracFone) is tough to get past.

Marc, I think it's a model made specifically for TracFone rather than the US.

Back behind the bookshelf for another year. :-D
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
User avatar
GiveMeABreak
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 36996
Joined: 15 Sep 2015, 19:38
Location: West Wales
My Cars: C3 Aircross SUV HDi Flair Peperoncino Red (The Chili Hornet)
C5 X7 2.0 HDi Exclusive Mativoire Beige (The Golden Hornet)
C3 1.6 HDi Exclusive Aluminium Grey (The Silver Hornet)
C5 MK II 2.0 HDi Exclusive Obsidian Black
C5 MK I 2.0 HDi SX Wicked Red
Xantia S2 2.0 HDi SX Hermes Red
C15 Romahome White
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Emerald Green Pearlescent
XM 2.0 Turbo Prestige Polar White
XM 2.0 SX Polar White
CX 20 Polar White
GS 1220 Geranium Red
CX 2.4 Prestige C-Matic Nevada Beige
GS 1000 Cedreat Yellow
x 5644

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by GiveMeABreak »

I still have my old Nokia Communicator Gibbo that I cannot bear to part with! An excellent book stop:
Nokia Communicator.PNG
Please Don't PM Me For Technical Help

Marc
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by MikeT »

About 10 years ago I bought a used locked HTC Desire HD and learnt how to reflash the kernel back to stock which might be an option for you Gibbo though as Marc says, it won't help if the hardware doesn't support the frequencies. I'm still using that same phone having upgraded the OS and replaced the battery a few times.
User avatar
Paul-R
Donor 2023
Posts: 6916
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
Location: Wirral, NW England; Vaucluse 84, France
Lexia Available: Yes
My Cars: 2015 1.6 Blue HDi 120 Peugeot 308 Active SW
2013 2.0 HDi 163 C5 Exclusive Tourer
2003 2.0 HDi 110 C5 Exclusive Estate (Gone)
2001 2.0 HDi 90 Xsara Estate (Gone)
x 1369

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Paul-R »

MikeT wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 19:56About 10 years ago I bought a used locked HTC Desire HD and learnt how to reflash the kernel back to stock...
Was that to vanilla Android or with the extras that HTC add in?
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson​
MikeT
Posts: 4809
Joined: 11 Jun 2007, 16:17
Location: Christchurch, Dorset. UK
My Cars: 2005 C5restyle 1.6HDI 16v 110hp VTR Estate
2008 C5 X7 1.6HDI VTR+ Saloon
x 231

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by MikeT »

Paul-R wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 22:25
MikeT wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 19:56About 10 years ago I bought a used locked HTC Desire HD and learnt how to reflash the kernel back to stock...
Was that to vanilla Android or with the extras that HTC add in?


AFAIR, it was with the HTC "sense" something or another but have tried many custom roms as well to the point the phone ran too slow and settled on a custom (android 4.4.4 I think) rom.
Gibbo2286
(Donor 2020)
Posts: 7170
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:04
Location: GL15***
My Cars: 2006 C5 2.0 Litre HDI VTR Automatic Estate.(now sold on)
Currently Renault Zoe 2014 ZE
x 2500

Re: Locked mobiles

Post by Gibbo2286 »

MikeT wrote: 30 Nov 2018, 19:56 About 10 years ago I bought a used locked HTC Desire HD and learnt how to reflash the kernel back to stock which might be an option for you Gibbo though as Marc says, it won't help if the hardware doesn't support the frequencies. I'm still using that same phone having upgraded the OS and replaced the battery a few times.


It's the 'how to re-flash' I'm interested in Mike but not being an electronics whizz it might be beyond me. :)
Man is, by nature, a lazy beast, he does not need twice encouraging to do nothing.
Post Reply