Internatioal roaming - device wont connect to networks

[nathanwulf]

Hi. I bought this Z2 phone about a month ago as my Samsung S3 died just before I was due to go the USA. I have a tmobile UK sim that I always use abroad, and has worked fine in the S3. I put the sim into the Z2, and though it detected loads of networks (including tmobile USA) it would not connect to them. There was a red X next to the signal bar on the top.

I put someone elses local sim into the phone and it worked absolutely fine.

Today I have phoned t-mobile uk and my home operator btmobile to check any call barrings for international use - there was nothing barred. However, I am at home in the UK right now, so I dont know until I am next abroad what the situation actually is.
In the call barring section of the phone it says all barrings are disabled, except for "outgoing international roaming". I have tried to "deactivate all call barring settings" and it asks for a PIN. I've tried 0000 and it says "network or sim card error". I have tried this for both sim cards.

Does this sound like a common problem to anyone, and if so, is there anything I can do about it before I next go abroad? I'd rather **bleep** it in the bud so that I'm not spending my time away on the phone to companies back here (and paying a premium rate in the process).

Thanks, and sorry if this is a similar post to others but I couldnt find anything in the search that matched my problem.

[Qatrium]

You need to get the PIN code from your operator, it's linked to your SIM. Once you get it try to disable the roaming call barring again.

[Thommo]

If you have call barring enabled on anything then that is pre-set by the SIM card so your network provider will have the code which is unique to your SIM card like a PUK code is

[Qatrium]

Most probably you'll find it also printed on your SIM card holder that came with it when purchased, just in case you still keep it.

[Rickard]

The PIN you need is the PIN2 for your SIM card.

It does however seem strange that your operator said that nothing was barred on their end. The settings you see in this menu in your phone are fetched from the network so when it says something is barred here it means it's barred in the network and your subscription.

But one thing i've seen is that is some cases the operators only have roaming agreements for certain networks so you might want to try selecting GSM only or WCDMA only under Settings -> More -> Mobile networks -> Network mode.

[nathanwulf]

Ok many thanks for all your help guys. Well, I found the old PIN for the sim I couldnt get to work in the USA. I try deactivating all call barring settings with the PIN, and it says updating settings, then still "network and sim card error". I guess I dont know if its worked till I am next abroad.

Although to the most recent post, I am using android lollipop on this phone and there is no option for selecting a network mode as far as I can see...?

[Rickard]

That message normally means that your operator doesn't allow you to change the setting. I would recommend that you contact them again to check this.

You can select network mode under Settings -> More -> Mobile networks -> Preferred network type.