Help "Unknown" and "Mobile Network Not Avaliable" Errors

[Slimjim2424]

Hello, I am new here but have intermediate experience with devices.


Alright time to throw everyone for a loop lol, hopefully someone can help me out.



Here is my problem:

My phone is not connected to a network.


Here is what I have:

Samsung Galaxy S III with Metro PCS (NOT rooted, and with latest PRL and software updates)


What happened:

I woke up yesterday to find my phone not on Metros network, and not on a partner network. My 4G still works though, I can access internet but just can not call/txt or receive either.


In Settings > About Device > Status, here are some of the satus'...

Network: Searching for Service
Signal Strength: -93dBm 47asu
Mobile Network Type: LTE:14
Service State: Out of Service
Roaming: Not Roaming
My Phone Number: Unknown
Min: Unknown
PRL Version: 0


Things I've Done So Far:

Contacted Metro through phone support and Facebook support, neither could help fix the problem.

Took my phone into a Metro store and they wont honor a repair since my screen has a hairline crack in the screen. (which I will also say, they noted that already on my account...)




I've already went to *#22745927 and enabled the hidden menu multiple times (cause it disables with each restart) and I've went to **772 to view my MDN and MSID (MIN) and the MDN shows nothing and MSID has a 10 digit number (that's not the right number for my account), so I tried to edit them to the numbers that I know are correct and after I hit done, the phone restarts but then when it comes back on, nothings changed, and when viewing **772 again, the numbers don't save in the fields.


I know *#197328640# lets you access the service menu, but I don't really feel like touching any of that and making things worse (unless someone knows how to fix this issue through the service menu then ill do it)



Now that my long winded speech is done, its your turn to try and solve this dilemma and help me out please

I would of posted this in the "Metro PCS" forum but this is more of a hardware issue, directed toward the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Thanks in advance to any help ^^ if anyone's got any other questions, ill try to answer them best as I can.

 

[palmtree5]

If it was working before, it's quite possible they're doing work on the towers in your area

 

[Slimjim2424]

If it was working before, it's quite possible they're doing work on the towers in your area

When I talked to the guy at the Metro store, he did say sprint towers are being worked on south of me, which apparently Metro uses for its "extended home area/roaming" network.

But I am in the home area, running on their towers.

Also, in my settings, it should still show my number and the MIN even if the towers are down.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

Ok you say you are all up to date . Can i ask when was the last update cause samsung has a update to many services Since june or july . If you done the update try this app worked for a few friends that have had this problem even if you are rooted or not rooted.this is in the playstore

Com.bosscellular.curtis.apk

 

[Slimjim2424]

Ok you say you are all up to date . Can i ask when was the last update cause samsung has a update to many services Since june or july . If you done the update try this app worked for a few friends that have had this problem even if you are rooted or not rooted.this is in the playstore

Com.bosscellular.curtis.apk

Here is a quick update:

I have now got my MIN and Phone number to appear correctly In my settings after a bit of tinkering around.


PRL Version still shows 0 and I still am unable to connect to the network (I can access data though)



I don't fully remember when the last update was, maybe a month or so ago, it didn't change much except a few things In Gallery and it added Multi-Window.


and your apk you wanted me to try is a signal booster right? usually all those do is throw your phone into airplane mode for a brief minute or less then back out of airplane mode. Ill try it though.

 

[Slimjim2424]

not to post back to back so quickly

but I tired the booster as you suggested, and I was right.

All it did was put my phone to airplane mode, then back out of it.


Most people see that to work because if you are physically moving, your phone will stay connected to the tower you were nearest last until you are far enough away that it can no longer connect, then it switches to the next nearest tower.

by putting it into airplane mode, you force the phone to disconnect from the signal, then when you take it back off it connects to the nearest tower.


But when your not receiving a signal to begin with from your network as I am, where I can not send/receive calls or texts, that doesn't really help.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

O ok are you rooted if you are and sounds like you pretty much know about the device and since you said metro pcs i wll take it this is the cdma . So why dont you just write the prl to the device since you have the min and mdn . You can perform this action using a dfs cdma tool can be found at


Www.CDMATOOL.Com

 

[Slimjim2424]

O ok are you rooted if you are and sounds like you pretty much know about the device and since you said metro pcs i wll take it this is the cdma . So why dont you just write the prl to the device since you have the min and mdn . You can perform this action using a dfs cdma tool can be found at


Www.CDMATOOL.Com

Not Rooted

I have a lot of experience messing with phone settings though to change things lol. I have never rooted a phone yet though.

Also if I write the PRL to the phone, is there any chance I could mess anything up? I don't need to make anything worse on myself.

 

[BRAINZ2013]

That would only happen if you dont follow the directions . Well cant help .i think you may want to factory reset or take to corporate store for repair BUT ROOT ISN'T NEEDED FOR THIS CDMA TOOL if you would try out or read about you would no . And remember you posted this on the LG ESTEEM . Just help you out .

 

[Slimjim2424]

That would only happen if you dont follow the directions . Well cant help .i think you may want to factory reset or take to corporate store for repair

Already tried a factory reset.

Ive got Metro support somewhat helping, I have a few tickets opened about my case.


Funny enough the metro stores wont touch it because of the hairline crack in the screen.

So as of right now, until I can get help from any forums, im stuck with a $500 paper weight.


Which isint a HUGE issue, since I buy a new phone every year and my warranty for this phone expires in about a month.

 

[Slimjim2424]

actually I Posted this in the Samsung Galaxy S3 forum, where we are talking now...

I replied to a thread IN the LG Esteem forum because that's where I seen a similar issue.

 

[Slimjim2424]

bump