How to stop Android deleting APNs when SIM changed

[gwuk]

Does anyone know how to stop Android deleting APNs when a new SIM is inserted?

I use a MVNO SIM so have to setup the APN manually. On inserting the SIM the phone automatically adds the APN for the parent network (O2 UK). I have to manually enter the correct settings for my provider (giffgaff).

This is fine until I take out my giffgaff SIM and use a different SIM in my Galaxy S3. Then the manually entered giffgaff APN is deleted and replaced with the APNs for the new SIM (T-Mobile). When I reinsert my giffgaff SIM it automatically creates APNs for O2 and I have to manually enter the giffgaff APN again.

Surely it doesn't need to delete existing APNs, why can't it just add new ones to the list, then I can choose the one I want.

 

[funkylogik]

Hmm, when you change the APN from o2 to GG, are you just editing the o2 one or creating a new APN (so you end up with one for gg and one for o2)?

 

[gwuk]

I'm creating a new one. It doesn't seem possible to edit or delete the o2 APN.

It seems that the phone creates APNs based on the SIM that is inserted and deletes all others. So with the giffgaff SIM there are APNs for O2 and Tesco, with the T-Mobile SIM there are APNs for T-Mobile and Virgin.

I don't know if this is a Samsung thing or a an Android thing

 

[funkylogik]

I dont think its an android thing because i used to be on gg and swapped the sim around for a while with no problem but ive never tried it on my s3. It must be because the s3 has common APN stored in it and gg isnt one of them Thats a bummer man. Why do u have to swap it anyway? Have you asked on the gg forum?
Lol do shopkeepers still give a strange look when you ask for a giffgaff top up?

 

[mikedt]

Yeh the shopkeeper gave me a puzzled look when I asked for a

 

[funkylogik]

GG in PRC????

Lol ive had to physicly show shop keepers how to find GG on the menu on their paypal machine after them swearing blind it isnt on there

Ps Giffgaff is an ancient Scottish word meaning "to give and recieve"
I used to earn a fortune in GG payback on the forums. Like 3times what i actually payed for my service

 

[mikedt]

Yeh, that was the problem here, poor lady couldn't find Giffgaff on the voucher machine. It's not good enough.

 

[funkylogik]

Lol i know n the o2 ones seem to take longer to activate. Gg is on every paypal machine in the UK so i had a hissyfit at some crabbit faced cow in RS McCalls for saying it doesnt exist n lookin at me like im simple

 

[Slug]

I don't know if this is a Samsung thing or a an Android thing

It's a GiffGaff thing.

When a SIM is inserted, the APNs offered are dependant on the parent network detected. O2 and Tesco Mobile are in the APN database on your device, while GiffGaff is not. Thus GG isn't automatically offered but must be configured manually.

Incidentally, there can be only one APN of each type configured on a handset. You could have one for O2 as "default" and another for GG as "MMS", for example, but two "internet" APNs for differing networks would conflict and prevent correct data routing.

 

[funkylogik]

Shame. Wonder if theres a clever workaround. Id ask in the GG forums but NOT in the help forum, its full of idiotic kudos chasers.
There are a lot of clever cookies in the Social/Off Topic forum. Say funkylogik sent ya lol incase any of the hardcore troops remember me