vB Easy Archive - S55 not working with Fido...?!?

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S55 not working with Fido...?!?
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Posted by: NTILZA

Greetings all.

I hope my issue was not covered previously - the search feature appears to be disabled, and a scan of topics doesn't seem to cover my 'issue'.

I just got an S55 through eXpansys, but it won't work with my Fido SIM. Calls cannot be made or received. But I do get a text message when a voicemail message is left. When I try to place a call, I get a brief fast busy signal and "No connection" on the display (but I have good signal, GPRS on and off, etc., etc.).

Settings are set to automatic. Various firmware updates have had no effect (4>5>11>5>8). Fido blames Siemens, and Siemens blames Fido's SIM programming.

If I put a global prepaid SIM into the phone and force it onto Rogers, the phone will work. So at least I know it's not the hardware. FWIW, evidence suggests that the phone was an unlocked O2 mobile in a previous life.

Clearly others have had success with this phone on Fido, otherwise I would not have purchased it.

I hope someone might have some ideas on this. I would like to use the phone on Fido - not Rogers.

Here is some info from the Status screen:

P.-Date: 2003-02-03
SW-Version: 08.
SW-Date: 2003-01-24
Variant: A 156
Std-Map/SW: 1/4
D-Map/Prov.: 79/144

Thanks in advance for the input. It's appreciated.

Posted by: Synncere

I have been successfully been able to use my s55 on Fido & Rogers but with Fido I am guessing it depends on your location...
reason I say is becuase there are some places where the s55 won't work on Fido just like the s55 doesn't work in a majority of AT&T spots in the U.S. Apparently the s55 isn't compatible with the Ericsson equiptment used by providers but works on the Nortel equiptment. Many people in the U.S. have not been able to use the s55 on AT&T and have switched to another carrier or will wait until the s56 is released but there are many cities where the s55 didn't work on AT&T and now it does... hopefully that will happen with Fido aswell. Unfortunately if they are using Ericsson equiptment where you are you may have to use Rogers

Posted by: NTILZA

That was the impression I was getting from all the various posts I have been reading. I was hoping the firmware would have fixed the compatibility issue between Nortel & Ericsson by now.

So much for the GSM 'standard' and my new 'world' phone.

I heard about the S56, but my info indicated it was only a dual-band phone - better to opt for the tri-band S55 I figured.

Fido's all-you-can-eat GPRS is tempting - and I've heard too many negative things about the T68i - the S55 fit the bill and wasn't too hard on the wallet and it beat the SE on features.

Thanks for the input!

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally posted by NTILZA
That was the impression I was getting from all the various posts I have been reading. I was hoping the firmware would have fixed the compatibility issue between Nortel & Ericsson by now.

So much for the GSM 'standard' and my new 'world' phone.

I heard about the S56, but my info indicated it was only a dual-band phone - better to opt for the tri-band S55 I figured.

Fido's all-you-can-eat GPRS is tempting - and I've heard too many negative things about the T68i - the S55 fit the bill and wasn't too hard on the wallet and it beat the SE on features.

Thanks for the input!

Yeah data is very expensive and the all you use is tempting! I agree that s55 is decently priced and railroads the T68i in every category. If you do go with Rogers you will thoroughly enjoy the fone! Thanks for going through the posts and reading and doing some research! I know there is no search right now but I commend you for taking an effort before asking questions and not being lazy not too sound rude but just my 2 cents

Posted by: mantis5

I think that the Ericsson base station equipt is what has to get the software/firmware update.

I say this because in SF Bay Area the S55 used to have the issue you are experiencing and it was resolved not by updating the phone's firmware or SIM but apparently a change in the base station.

With any luck they will get around to updating the base stations in your area.

If anyone knows more about this please post!

Posted by: Synncere

First their fones now the equip... when does it ever end? LOLZ I'm kiddin

:laughs:

Posted by: mantis5

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
First their fones now the equip... when does it ever end? LOLZ I'm kiddin :laughs:

Just don't kid about it in the SE forums, they're touchy over there... LOL I'm kidding too! Don't kill me Ericsson peeps!

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally posted by mantis5
Just don't kid about it in the SE forums, they're touchy over there... LOL I'm kidding too! Don't kill me Ericsson peeps!

that should say it all Mantis... lol.
Okay enuf talk on this now... let's get back to other business...

or.....

MAYBE NOT!!

Ha Ha kiddin... See ya in the forums!

shame on you... us.. no you... yah you!! Okay me too Mantis!! LOLZ

Posted by: steveng

my s55 works well with Fido in BC. full reception almost every where. where u locate?

Posted by: NTILZA

You sick little monkeys! :evileye:

Synn - Thx fer the compliment. I've been lurking around various forums for months watching the developments. I know what it's like to see a post from somebody that was answered by someone else a few threads earlier...then they wonder why nobody is helping them out.

And you asked 'When does it end?' It doesn't. And I have a decent collection of tri-mode CDMA & now GSM devices to prove it (and a Blackberry, but I won't count that...or my Iridium...)

Ericsson must have given Microcell one heck of a deal to NOT go with native Nortel, but I guess that's just business. Kinda funny though - European phone not working with European infrastructure equipment...

Now I have to decide whether to hold onto the S55 for a while and see if the sites get upgraded (unlikely given Microcell's difficulties), wait for the Motorola V600 (or similarly equipped), or bite the bullet and downgrade to a T68i...

Decisions, decisions...

Posted by: Synncere

NTILZA you totally see where I am coming from

I don't know why it won't work in your area... I have friends in Toronto who have the s55 and have been able to use it on Fido there aswell as in Guelph, Kitchner/Waterloo.

If I were you I would keep the s55... the T68i and I will be totally blunt there... sucks! The s55 outdoes it on every level.
You can wait for the V600 and tho is nicely equipped it is an option but I am not a fan of it. Here's a thought (ready all... many will see this coming ahead of time lol

) Sell them all and just buy an SX1 when it comes out and work it on Rogers if not on Fido!! LOLZ. I am such a fan of that fone.

Okay but seriously now... I am hoping they upgrade the equip...
apparently they are doing tests on the a Siemens handset now (Siemens A56 if I am not mistaken) a possible fone in their line up but that is just a rumor I don't know how true that is. Just try not to downgrade to the T68i... if you have a s55 already it'll just end up dissapointing you in time. My 2 cents on it anyways... I ha ve used the T68i and it's not the same at all... major noticable differences

Posted by: NTILZA

I guess I'll have to go for a drive to see if the phone works outside the local area. It'll give me ammunition against Fido if the S55 works in/around the GTA.

As a soon to be ex-smartphone user (bye-bye trusty Palm-based QCP-6035 & Bell!), I considered the SE P800 and the forthcoming SX1, but the screens are too small to be useful, and the P800 has Memory Stick and I'm no fan of those (too many flash formats and new ones like xD and now miniSD on the way to add to the mess). While I liked the idea of having my PDA & cell phone in one, the practicality has been carrying a device that is larger than it needs to be and not a lot of added benefit (to me - YMMV). I thought I'd be better served with a central connectivity device: the smallest high-speed data & Bluetooth product I could find to use in combination with my Linux PDA (or any Bluetooth device as req'd) - upgrade the PDA if necessary thereby extending the longevity of the phone. The PDA I use now, a Sharp Zaurus SL-5500 (it's sucessor is on the horizon), has an integrated browser (Opera - same as on my desktop) and renders pages on the small screen as they would be viewed on a typical PC browser. Something no smartphone would do. This would enable me to do a good bit of work on the PDA without lugging around my notebook if browser-based orders and stuff were all I needed to do. Since it's Linux-based, open-source and commercial software abounds.

I did come across a Samsung GPRS Watchphone (seen at CeBIT) with an OLED display (and Bluetooth!) that had some real potential. However, it's not exactly svelte - one needs a big wrist to carry it off properly. But, as usual, Europe gets all the cool phones first...

The rumour about that new Siemens Fido phone is gaining more ground - I've heard talk of it on both sides of the screen.

Posted by: halfempty

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
NTILZA you totally see where I am coming from I don't know why it won't work in your area... I have friends in Toronto who have the s55 and have been able to use it on Fido there aswell as in Guelph, Kitchner/Waterloo.

That's interesting. I live in Guelph and my S55 doesn't work on FIDO here.

The only places in the GTA it works is in TO / Etobicoke area. That is where the Ericsson switches have been replaced with Nortel. Anywhere west of Brampton (and I've tried through to London) will not work on FIDO.

What firmware version are your friends on? I'm still on 4.

Posted by: Synncere

They're on 08 and one of them is on 11. I don't think the f/w of the fone makes a difference tho

Posted by: halfempty

Quote:

Originally posted by Synncere
They're on 08 and one of them is on 11. I don't think the f/w of the fone makes a difference tho

I didn't think so either, yet theirs works on FIDO in Guelph and mine doesn't.

Wierd, no?

Posted by: Synncere

They're from the Tdot and when I asked them if they tried Fodo elsewhere they said in Guelph and K/W and they were able to recieve calls when they were there playin against the other universities

Posted by: NTILZA

All this talk makes me wonder about the origins of everyones' phone... Mine came unlocked, but as I said at the beginning of the thread, I think mine came from O2 originally; unlocked and sold by eXpansys (USA).

What about everyone else?

Would the MAP files used to unlock the phone(s) have had any bearing on interoperability?? (I don't hack/crack cell phones, so this is a tad beyond me...)

Posted by: Synncere

I think it has more to do with the ericsson equip... but at times I am boggled by it and the reason I say that is when I took my s55 to BC I used it on Rogers and Fido and had no problems but when I met people using a Samsung unlocked V205 they had told me they got rid of their s55 as they weren't able to use it on Rogers it wouldn't work and it was unlocked which I had no comment on besides here try mine it works. All I could think of was theirs may have been a locked fone that they brought over from overseas...so not sure. As for the origin of mine... it is an o2. The majority of people I have spoke with in the forum have said that their s55 fone is an o2. I have talked to one person in the forum that told me his s55 was not an o2, it had no o2 start up or shut down menus and no preset o2 csd and gprs settings.

Posted by: NTILZA

Very odd that some work and some don't...I wish I could poll the software & map rev's from everyone's phones...

My phone has swimming fish animations at startup & shutdown. "Be inspired" appears at startup and "www.my-siemens.com" at shutdown.

I wrote a note to Siemens to register my dissatisfaction (I figured it couldn't hurt), but got the expected reply. Odd that it came from N.American Siemens as opposed to European HQ (where I thought I was filling out the web form for)...:

"The S55 and S56 model phones are not supported units in North America. These phones have just been released on the global market, and they will take time to be accepted by North American providers. The phones have the proper frequencies to operate on networks in North America (1900 Mhz). The functions and features of those phones will not be available on all areas or on all GSM networks. Network compatibility will vary and you should always verify with the service provider prior to account activation.

"functions and features...will not be available...on all GSM networks" - uh, I know it's a complex piece of technology designed to work on a particular system, but at it's core, it's just a PHONE!!!

Posted by: Synncere

I am hoping that Canadians that purchase the s56 unlocked will be able to use on Fido successfully. It's always a chance you take when you use an over seas fone here. I have used plenty and have had the odd problem here and there between Rogers and Fido but have had none with the s55 so for that I am thankful

Posted by: MaxR

"it is an o2"

what does that mean? how can I check if mine is o2?

"The S55 and S56 model phones are not supported units in North America. "

that's just BS... what's the point of calling it a World Phone then?

Posted by: Synncere

If your s55 came with o2 preset wap settings, o2 startup/shutdown logos and an o2 screensaver.... then it's probably an o2

Most are... I have only talked to one person who said their s55 isn't an o2 model.

The s56 will be the north american unit of the s55 and supported... the s55 is not that is why you can't guarantee it to work on a provider. Not just with the s55 but with any overseas fone you choose to use... you run the risk of it not working... doesn't happen very often but it does happen.

Posted by: NTILZA

Well, I pretty much gave up. As much as I want to stick it out with Fido and their decent plans and narrow coverage, I've been forced to join the Dark Side...

I activated a SIM on Rogers.

Now I'm working on killing (conditioning) the battery - on all the time w/BT activated.

Now all I have to do is make up my mind on what plan(s) to stick with that won't break the bank!!

Synn - where did you get your HBH-60 (and $$)? I read a post stating your satisfaction with it versus the Freespeak...

Posted by: Synncere

The dark side

LOLZ

Rogers isn't all that bad...
I still have my old fido plan that they have long since killed off that's why I keep my plan with them never gonna let it go lol.
There's some new decent plans on Rogers... maybe look into the new max air plan or the Promo $40/monthly plan... talk to some of the people in the Rogers forum and if there's a rep in your area in there maybe you can score a good deal.

As for the HBH 60... I don't own it

I borrowed my buddies Jabra and HBH 60. I own the HBH 30. I got mine thru Rogers. In my area Fido or Rogers will order you the headset. Takes about 4-7 days. You're in Hamilton right? You can ask Rogers or Fido if they can order you one in... or check out any specialty mobile store in your area. I know in Toronto there are stores that sell them. If you want a good deal on one buy online... sometimes online you can score a really great deal on a various items.

Posted by: fido8290

I wish there was a definitive answer as to if the newest FW, (11 I think) for the S55 fixes any of the problems with the Fido network. it will suck if I buy the phone, and it doesn't work

I guess I could BUMP this thread.

Posted by: Synncere

Quote:

Originally posted by fido8290
I wish there was a definitive answer as to if the newest FW, (11 I think) for the S55 fixes any of the problems with the Fido network. it will suck if I buy the phone, and it doesn't work

I guess I could BUMP this thread.

There is NO need to bump the thread

Firmware upgrade has NOTHING to do with's it functioning on Fido. It has to deal with Fido in Canada and AT&T in the U.S. using Ericsson equipment in their base stations and not the Nortel equpiment. Please read the posts before you post as this has been covered many many times