No Network Connection (Searching)

[Android Question]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S, the first (S1?) and it has served me well. It was originally purchased from T Mobile. I have since changed service providers to SIMple Mobile by switching out the Sim card. That was well over a year ago, and the phone performed fine.

The problem I am having now is that when it is turned on, in the upper right hand corner, below the battery and time display, the word 'Searching' appears. To the left of the battery symbol is a circle with a line through it. When I attempt to make a phone call, send a text or go online, I receive an error message that no networks are available. I have been told (by one salesman at a mall kiosk selling used phones) that the antenna was no longer functioning. This made sense, but I have no way to verify this.

Is it probable that this may be the cause, and if so, is it possible to fix this? My phone is no longer under warranty, and was wondering how much it might cost more to fix. Thanks!

Rick

 

[Rukbat]

The antenna is some copper on the motherboard. In order for it to be not functioning it would have had to vaporize. I suspect that something went bad - probably on the motherboard. Take it to a T-Mobile company store that has a service department and see if they can give you an idea of what's wrong, and - if it's fixable - how much it would cost to fix. Then think about what you want to do - fix or replace. (A used working motherboard should cost around $50, but the labor can be enough to make it not worth doing.)

(The people at the mall kiosks know about as much about cell phones as you do - they're given price lists and told to sell service plans.)