Help Problem with sim free Desire S

[juxtapozed]

Hi,

I bought a sim free HTC Desire S from Amazon but and inserted a Virgin Mobile sim card. It gave the option of selecting a network through the initial setup and I chose Virgin Mobile.

However, it didn't recognise it as a valid sim showing the 'no service cross' next to the reception bars at the top of the screen. I then tried a Vodafone sim card and a Lycambolie sim with the same results.

Following that I searched for network operators through the settings and it only shows Orange. I inserted an Orange sim which worked perfectly.

I requested a replacement from Amazon but I'm having the same problem.

Am I just unlucky with the phones or is this being caused by the sim cards in some way or another?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[notebook]

Two things...

Did you buy it from Amazon or an Amazon Seller? To unscrupulous sellers who like to play with semantics, 'SIM free' can simply mean 'sold without a SIM'; nothing about being unlocked and available to use with any SIM of your choice. Thus your phone could be locked to Orange.

Or the only signal you have available where you are is Orange, hence why only Orange will work on your phone. To test this, try a SIM (e.g. Vodafone) in a different area, where you know for certain there is a network signal for that carrier.

But before that, try this. Remove battery for 30 seconds > Then put in SIM (e.g. Vodafone) > Switch on phone > Select relevant network.

 

[juxtapozed]

Thanks notebook.

The handsets were bought from Amazon directly.

I gave it another go following your suggestion of selecting network after inserting the sim which worked. Strangely, it was only finding the Orange network previously!

Many thanks for your help.