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Just an old guy looking to fix his phone!

chiquilion

chiquilion

Newbie
Hi Group!

My name is Tom, and I come to you via Auburndale, FL! I spend all my time at home with my wife who suffers from Alzheimer's and Dementia. We spend our days together watching TV and DVD movies, and I surf the Internet and chat on Facebook. We are "homebound", for the most part, only going out when it is absolutely necessary.

Well, I was with Sprint for over 13 years. During that time they always gave me good service, but the cost of connecting and using the Samsung S3 was always a challenge, because of our fixed income. It was like paying for two Internet accounts, and never receiving the full benefit of either one. So, I found a service called "FreedomPOP" that basically gave me two new 4G phones for less than the cost (50% less) than what I was paying Sprint. So, to save some money, I went with the new company, and said goodbye to Sprint.

The new service has been good/acceptable for what we need, and I was able to continue using my S3 as an internet device. And that was fine, until my wife decided to use the S3 for a hockey puck one day, and "spidered" the screen in multiple areas...and then leave it sitting in a puddle of water. Bye-bye S3!

But, I had become accustomed to the way it operated and the beautiful screen, and found myself a rebuilt unit on E-bay for less than $50. It arrived today in beautiful condition, powered up and everything fine, with one small problem: it won't connect to my WiFi internet!

So, that's what brings me here...to pick your minds and hopefully get my "phone" working.

Thanks for reading...contact me anytime. chiquilion@msn.com

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Hey Tom. So can you give us some details about your home WiFi? Do you have cable or DSL?
I'm guessing you'll have either a cable or DSL modem that most likely has its own wireless router built-in, or possibly a third-party brand, external wireless router you added yourself. From what you wrote up it sounds like you had a WiFi network already setup and the issue is just that you need to add your new phone to it.
 
svim said:
Hey Tom. So can you give us some details about your home WiFi? Do you have cable or DSL?
I'm guessing you'll have either a cable or DSL modem that most likely has its own wireless router built-in, or possibly a third-party brand, external wireless router you added yourself. From what you wrote up it sounds like you had a WiFi network already setup and the issue is just that you need to add your new phone to it.
Click to expand...

I have Verizon DSL, and usually all I have to do is provide someone with the password and they can use my internet connection. This phone will not do that. I have given it the password multiple times, and it still claims it's wrong. Then I will see an #67 error code, saying something about the registration. The unit in question is a remanufactured Galaxy S3, with a Sprint start screen, but the back panel says AT&T, and when I select the Sprint Zone App, the phone number takes be to Boost mobile! I'm sure there is something simple I am overlooking here! Thanks for the reply!
 
LizMac said:
Welome!
Obvious thing to check is that you have the WiFi setting on and you're logged in. After that, you should know that the S3 has a few problems with WiFi connectivity on some of the newer updates. Try this link: WiFi connectivity Problem
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Hey, I tried that, but I don't have an "auto-connect" option.
Here's what that screen tells me:

Network Notification: CHECKED
Keep WiFi on during sleep: ALWAYS
Check for internet service: CHECKED
Wifi timer: OFF
MAC address is shown
IP address is UNAVAILABLE
 
Different carriers add their own interfaces so a S3 sold by one company won't necessarily have the same menu selections as a S3 sold by a another company. That 'autoconnect' option is for some other branded S3.

Anyway your S3 does appear to have a multi-phone carrier history. I'm guessing that might even be part of your problem to hooking up with your WiFi network. Looking online for that '#67 error code' ran across this:
https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/108275
It would be odd if just updating your profile would fix this but it's worth a try.
Also, since you appear to have some Sprint cruft still on your phone (I've got a Sprint S3 too BTW), try doing a Force Stop of 'Sprint Connections Optimizer'. It will be buried in Settings >> More >> Application manager and then you need to slide over to the 'All' tab and scroll down.
 
svim said:
Different carriers add their own interfaces so a S3 sold by one company won't necessarily have the same menu selections as a S3 sold by a another company. That 'autoconnect' option is for some other branded S3.

Anyway your S3 does appear to have a multi-phone carrier history. I'm guessing that might even be part of your problem to hooking up with your WiFi network. Looking online for that '#67 error code' ran across this:
https://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/108275
It would be odd if just updating your profile would fix this but it's worth a try.
Also, since you appear to have some Sprint cruft still on your phone (I've got a Sprint S3 too BTW), try doing a Force Stop of 'Sprint Connections Optimizer'. It will be buried in Settings >> More >> Application manager and then you need to slide over to the 'All' tab and scroll down.
Click to expand...
i FOUND to option for the connections optimizer, and it is not checked...mobile data IS!
Would this have anything to do with the network mode?
 
The 'mobile data' and 'network mode' refer more to your S3's cellular connectivity, not the wireless (WiFi).

Since it sounds like you're going to be relying on your home WiFi network, as opposed to traveling around using various public WiFi networks like at McDonald's, Panera, etc. something like that Sprint Connections Optimizer doesn't add anything really useful to your phone.
 
Unrelated trivia factoid -- you mentioned you were a long time Sprint customer before switching to FreedomPop. There are a number of independent phone carriers, such as FreedomPop, that are too small to have their own phone lines or cellular towers so they contract with one of the Big Four cellular companies (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile). FreedomPop uses Sprint's network so indirectly you're still using Sprint, with the benefit of paying less because of FreedomPop's lower rates.
 
First Tom let me say that I am really happy that you got your problem solved, sounds like you already have enough on your plate to deal with already without having to worry about internet too. And secondly, since nobody else said it I just have to do it myself, lol. You totally bear a striking resemblance to good old Kris Kringle, lol!! Maybe it's just because Christmas is only a few days away! Feliz Navidad to everyone from Spain, Vin.
 
hiredgun said:
First Tom let me say that I am really happy that you got your problem solved, sounds like you already have enough on your plate to deal with already without having to worry about internet too. And secondly, since nobody else said it I just have to do it myself, lol. You totally bear a striking resemblance to good old Kris Kringle, lol!! Maybe it's just because Christmas is only a few days away! Feliz Navidad to everyone from Spain, Vin.
Click to expand...

Happy Christmas to all, and to ALL a good night!

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Welcome Tom, and I know of what you are dealing with.
My wife's father drifted off into Alzheimer land, and lived with us for a number of years.
then one day, he tried to kill us physically, and I had to restrain him physically.....
that brought up a hard decision, and he went to a care home with locked doors....
very sad.... all the way around.

My wife lost her leg 5 years ago to Diabetes..... she should have known about that crap, as she was a Dialysis Unit Supervisor for 15 years :confused:, and you would think that she would test her own blood once in a while....
nope, medical people are impervious to all human ailments..... until they drop dead.

wishing you well with your situation, and a Merry Christmas and a good upcoming New Year.
 
zixxorb said:
Hello and Welcome to the site :)
Glad to hear you got your issue fixed.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Zix! One issue down...and, as it always seems, one more to go! I've been working in the computer and data fields since 1980, so my patience runs pretty deep when it comes down to dealing with glitchy-flakey acting technology. So, it's going to take a little more than a mashed screen and a drink of water to keep ME from my ultimate goal in this matter! LOL!!

Seriously, you folks on this site have been VERY helpful and supportive! THANK YOU!!
 
LizMac said:
Welome!
Obvious thing to check is that you have the WiFi setting on and you're logged in. After that, you should know that the S3 has a few problems with WiFi connectivity on some of the newer updates. Try this link: WiFi connectivity Problem
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
You know...now that you mention it...I have had about a half-dozen updates on this refurbished S3 since I was finally able to successfully connect to the Internet! No issues have broken out, so far...but, I'll be keeping an eye out for any quirky changes in the near future! THANKS!!
 
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