Please Help! Chatr SIM On An iPhone 4S "No Service"

**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 12:42 AM

Wondering if any of you can help me here. My wife has an iPhone 4S, factory unlocked, I have a Samsung Galaxy SII, also factory unlocked. The iPhone is currently running on Virgin Mobile, which is of course run by Bell. As we all know, Chatr doesn't offer microSIMs for iPhones. But I have heard that it is possible to cut a conventional SIM such that the iPhone will work on whichever provider offers the microSIM.

So I purchased a Chatr SIM from Ebay and confirmed that it is genuine as it does enable my phone (SGS II) to access the network. So I cut the card, converting it into a microSIM and tried it in the iPhone. I know it is functional as even after cutting, it still works in my phone. Yet when I placed it in the iPhone all I get is "No Service".

The iPhone is able to access the microSIM as I do not get the "SIM card not detected" message.

What's going on here and how do I get this working?

Thanks kindly,
AJW

**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 12:51 AM

Please do keep in mind that while there is no plan attached to the modified SIM (now a microSIM), it does allow my phone to access the Rogers network (i.e., I get full bars of reception). Why not the iPhone?

**nuclearbroccoli** · 05-26-2012, 01:19 AM

You got me curious so I did a search. This is from Chatr:

" Can I use iPhone or iPhone 4 with my chatr data plan?

chatr does not sell or provide Micro SIMs required an iPhone 4, but we can give you the settings required to make data work on a non-chatr device. You will need to configure your iPhone with these settings because we don’t have technical support or trouble shooting information for any iPhone devices. chatr data settings are always available “key data settings FAQ”

FAQs lead to this:

" 9. I have a non-chatr phone and I would like to update my phone settings to use chatr data and MMS. Note: each phone has a different location where these settings are entered or programmed. What key settings do I need?

To use chatr data and MMS, you’ll need to input a few key settings into your phone.

For chatr data:

The data APN <Access Point Name> is chatrweb.apn For chatr MMS settings:

The MMS APN <Access Point Name> is chatrweb.apn The MMS URL is http://mms.chatrwireless.com The MMS IP address is 205.151.11.11 The MMS port is 8080"

Hope that helps. I can't help beyond that as I'm not with Chatr.

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**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 01:52 AM

Thanks for this, although I have seen this already and I believe it applies to data only (correct me if I'm wrong). All my wife cares about is getting the voice to work. Theoretically, this should be possible if the phone is receiving a signal. Mine (SGSII unlocked) seems to work with the modified SIM, but all I get is "No Service" when I insert it into the iPhone 4S and power down/power up.

Any others?

**HC - NO "i"** · 05-26-2012, 02:43 AM

wanjeyin,

Greetings.

Can you please show us a photo your SIM card (the side with all the electrical contacts)?

**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 03:04 AM

Certainly. My wife's functional Virgin Mobile SIM on the left, and the modded Chatr "microSIM" on the right. Fits perfectly in the iPhone 4S microSIM tray and the phone detects it (i.e., does not say "No SIM Card Detected"). The only thing is that the phone fails to find a network (i.e., "No Service").

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**computergeek541** · 05-26-2012, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by wanjeyin

Please do keep in mind that while there is no plan attached to the modified SIM (now a microSIM), it does allow my phone to access the Rogers network (i.e., I get full bars of reception). Why not the iPhone?

It likely says "no service" because your sim card isn't active. This is normal. An iPhone isn't going to give you a signal reading on the homescreen if an inactive/non-provisoned sim card has been inserted. In fact, most phones won't. No Service doesn't neccessarily mean that you aren't connected to a network. It often just means that you can't place non-emergency calls. I have an iPhone 4 beside me and if I put an inactive Rogers simn card in it, it always says "no service". Once I put an active Rogers sim card into it, the phone works fine.

**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 05:44 AM

Thanks for your observations. It is certainly encouraging. But perhaps my phone (SGSII) is one of the few phones that shows reception despite the microSIM being non-activated? There's gotta be others out there that will show reception.

Is there anyone out there who can verify this?

Anybody with an iPhone 4/4S running on Chatr?

Regards,
AJW

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**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by computergeek541

It likely says "no service" because your sim card isn't active. This is normal. An iPhone isn't going to give you a signal reading on the homescreen if an inactive/non-provisoned sim card has been inserted. In fact, most phones won't. No Service doesn't neccessarily mean that you aren't connected to a network. It often just means that you can't place non-emergency calls. I have an iPhone 4 beside me and if I put an inactive Rogers simn card in it, it always says "no service". Once I put an active Rogers sim card into it, the phone works fine.

I do have a spare regular non-activated Virgin SIM that I can cut up and try (I used to be on Virgin). If what you are saying is true, then the iPhone will also display a "No Service" despite it being a working, but non-activated SIM. I'll try this in the morning.

Regards,
AJW

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**theplayground** · 05-26-2012, 08:27 AM

Sorry for my ignorance....
But what is it that u want to do with an inactive Chatr Sim.

**B407** · 05-26-2012, 08:52 AM

iPhones will always say no service if you insert an inactive SIM. Unlike other smartphone platforms that will display SIM not provisioned, or SOS/Emergency calls only, or invalid SIM and still display signal bars with an inactive SIM, iOS devices will display No Service regardless of the actual state.

**wanjeyin** · 05-26-2012, 09:54 AM

From the OP, I'd like to activate this SIM on Chatr and use it in the iPhone 4S to take advantage of those unlimited city plans. But first I'd like to know that the card does enable my wife's iPhone 4S to receive a Rogers signal.

Regards,
AJW

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**Guest 260** · 05-26-2012, 10:13 AM

You need to have the SIM provisioned to access the network. I don't believe Chatr SIMs have any restrictions on device type, althought there is network equipment to check if your device is white or blacklisted when you first attach to the network.

**rockjock** · 05-26-2012, 10:55 AM

I have a cut chatr sim and it is working fine in a unlocked iphone 4. You can also use a Rogers micro sim if you are worried about cutting it. I had used a sim cutter no problem at all

**HC - NO "i"** · 05-26-2012, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by wanjeyin

Certainly. My wife's functional Virgin Mobile SIM on the left, and the modded Chatr "microSIM" on the right. Fits perfectly in the iPhone 4S microSIM tray and the phone detects it (i.e., does not say "No SIM Card Detected"). The only thing is that the phone fails to find a network (i.e., "No Service").

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wanjeyin,

The reason I asked you to post a photo is I want to see if the your Chatr SIM card is being cut out properly or not.