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Help Use VM LG Optimus V before it's activated

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xmancool

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I looked at the similar topics here but couldn't find an answer, so sorry if this is a repeat topic.

I got a VM LG Optimus V because my plan contract with another cell service provider is going to be up soon and i want to switch to virgin mobile. i wanted to be able to play with the phone, get to know its features, put apps on it, etc in the mean time though. Every thing i read online says that this is possible but i can't get it to work

the phone connects to home wifi network at 54mbps and says excellent connection but it doesn't access sites via web browser, android market, etc. Does it have to be activated with a virgin mobile plan before even the wifi works? No real error messages to explain it, except for when trying to log in to google account for android market - it says it can't get a reliable connection. I've seen many reports of people using them with wifi only but I can't get it.

Linksys wrt54g shows the phone has been assigned an IP address but pinging it from a pc on the network usually times out 25-75% of the time. I've tried turning on airplane mode, no luck. tried turning off wpa personal, no luck. Can you not use un-activated phones on wifi?
 
You should be able to access the Market and the web just through wifi. The router here where I am at the moment isn't mine, so I don't have access to it to go in a check things.. but honestly it sounds to me like your router is blocking that access (blocked ports for the IP perhaps?).

If no one here can help, see if the DSLReports Linksys support forums has any options you can try.
 
Have you tried turning router and phone off at the same time.
Waiting 5min before turning both back on. If that doesn't work try dropping the security of your router to WEP.
 
Sorry, going to respectfully disagree with you here Andy. WEP is not secure, and certainly not worth risking your home network just to hook up a cell phone.

If you have it on WPA/WPA2 it's best to leave it there and try to figure out another way to get the cell working correctly over your wifi. Never risk your home network by dropping your security.

Edit: not my intentions to derail the topic... so if you disagree with me please feel free to begin another thread in the off-topic forums.
 
No, you make a good point about the security. It's just an option to consider if WEP setting doesn't bother them.
I had WEP for a year before I got a new roomate that was bothered with it. I'm still not, nothing worth stealing.
 
Earlier I tried temporarily disabling all security on the router (making the wifi network completely open), removing the device from the dhcp table, then reconnecting to the router with the device and having it assigned a new IP address via DHCP.

The same thing happened: Both the router and the Optimus show it as connected. The optimus shows the assigned IP address, the connection speed, etc. The router DHCP table shows android_(some numbers) for the client name, shows the MAC address and assigned IP address. Still no ability to connect to websites or android market. No MAC filtering on the router (not that it matters here, but I disabled MAC filtering because it didn't seem to play nice with PS3).

Is there another switch that I need to flip in the phone settings somewhere to make it work?

Just to be clear about the situation, I just went to best buy, bought an Optimus V, brought it home and tried getting on wifi. I haven't done anything toward activating it with Virgin or anything like that.

The status bar along the top of the screen shows the clock at far right, to its left is the regular signal strength "meter" and to the left of that is the wifi signal "meter" that shows between 2 and 3 (max) bars of signal.
 
You should be able to connect via wifi and use your phone (minus calls/SMS/MMS/3g) without activating through Virgin. I know people do it with other Virgin phones (and thought some did the same with the V). Did you set up you phone through your Google account and all that? I am not sure if that is required for anything (besides the market app and google sync) to work or not, but maybe that is needed?
 
agentc13 said:
You should be able to connect via wifi and use your phone (minus calls/SMS/MMS/3g) without activating through Virgin. I know people do it with other Virgin phones (and thought some did the same with the V). Did you set up you phone through your Google account and all that? I am not sure if that is required for anything (besides the market app and google sync) to work or not, but maybe that is needed?
Click to expand...


When I click on the android market icon on the phone's home screen, it brings up the thing to create or log in to a google account. I already have a google account so I go to log in, enter user name/password and click continue and it brings up the status bar (and message that says it could take up to 5 minutes) but the status bar never fills up at all and after a couple minutes it comes up with the message about not having a reliable connection.

When I try to load web pages in the browser, it sits there and the little icon next to the URL spins for a while then it goes to the "page unavailable" page and suggests checking the connection or viewing a google cache of the page.


You're right, though, I've read about people using unactivated VM phones, even the LG Optimus V...that's part of why this is driving me up a wall!
 
Set up a gmail account then set a google account if you don't already have one. Go back to market app on phone and sign into your google account. EDIT: you beat my post.
Try going to McDonald's and see if you can connect to their WiFi.
 
AndyOpie150 said:
Try going to McDonald's and see if you can connect to their WiFi.
Click to expand...

If I don't figure out anything tonight I'll give that a shot in the AM (or if I get too frustrated tonight ! :eek: )

Lots of neighbors with wifi, but they're all locked up tight :p


Does the optimus use the usual ports to access the web through the router (e.g. 80 for html)? Any strange stuff that would get hung up in the NAT part of the router? No problems connecting to it with PSP, laptop, PS3, etc. and the optimus says it's connected.
 
Grrrr. It seems to be working now.

I reset the router and all that earlier today with no luck.

I just unplugged the router for the duration of a game of spider solitaire and left the phone off during that time. Turned on the router, turned on the phone...it works. Kind of a PITA and I wish I knew why it did this, but c'est la vie, I guess.

Thank you all for your help in here :)
 
xmancool said:
Grrrr. It seems to be working now.

I reset the router and all that earlier today with no luck.

I just unplugged the router for the duration of a game of spider solitaire and left the phone off during that time. Turned on the router, turned on the phone...it works. Kind of a PITA and I wish I knew why it did this, but c'est la vie, I guess.

Thank you all for your help in here :)
Click to expand...

A trick I use is to go into the wireless settings and change the channel it broadcasts on. I use WiFi Analyzer to find a channel that isn't used, and set it to that one. I don't like unplugging and replugging when I don't have to.
BTW, I never have set up my OV to work with Virgin. I just use it as a wifi phone. Groove IP is excellent, everything else works on regular wifi. Phone companies, who needs 'em?
 
How about carrying a prepaid Tracfone as a backup? The simple Samsung T105g handset costs about $10, and you can load it with 60 days of service for $9.99 at the Tracfone website.

Eric
 
True, that would work as well. It really comes down to your needs. For my uses and my budget VM's 300 minute plan is ideal. To each their own.
 
Thanks for the tip on groove IP. Will check it out. we plan on activating our phones once our other contract is up, but we'll have the 300 minute plan also. And if it doesn't work out, hey wtf we'll only be out $5
 
Well, yeah! But for the record I'm a skinny, disabled vet from Texas living in Michigan, with government installed titanium in my foot . When it gets cold, I stay put.
 
Snagged a $65 Optimus V from Target for one of our college students (actually had to get a raincheck). We haven't activated it. We set up a google voice number, installed Google Voice (remembered to check that chat box to enable text messaging) and Groove IP. Added App2SD to maximize memory usage. Student has been texting and calling without issues when in wifi range.

They'll spend most of their days on campus, at home or in the libraries and coffee shops where wifi is freely available. We're keeping the Virgin pay as you go for emergency calls when they're out of wifi range. No additional costs for having that handy smart phone with all it's practical features and fun. That's certainly college budget friendly at about $150/year for this year. Back down to $80/year until the Optimus V needs replacing or they decide to move to a monthly plan.
 
brotherswing said:
I do that at home, but what do you do when you are driving along and your car poops out on you?
Click to expand...
Strangely enough, I have an old Motorola Razr V3 (AT&T) that I use for that stuff. I use my Optimus V for everything else; and can use it as a wifi phone if I start getting close to my minutes limit. Since I have a cheap plan on AT&T (no data plan, minimal texting) it doesn't cost any more than Virgin. Where I usually work, I get no signal on my Optimus, but AT&T has a tower. If I dropped the Razr and just used the Optimus, I would be out of touch on my phone all day. Can't afford that. Too bad, really. I would rather drop the stupid contract with AT&T and just go with VM.
 
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