Hi All, I'm new to the BB world. I just purchased a used 7230 on eBay. In the auction, the seller states he was able to make a call using his SIM card. The bb is unlocked, but I am unable to get any signal strength. I contacted AT-T, they were helpful but in the end suggested it was a phone issue, not a service issue. I've tried 3 different SIMs and I'm getting nothing. I even drove around town trying to find a signal with no luck.

Am I missing something? Should I return it?

Thanks,

Adam

Well, yes it could just be a bad BlackBerry, that is entirely possible.

But, meanwhile, make sure you are inserting the SIM correctly. Do you get any kind of service refused message on the homescreen.

Likewise, at Options > Network, have it check the signal manually and see what carriers are available.

I'm almost 100% sure I have the card inserted correctly. I tried to start it without a card and received a "No SIM card" message. I can read the SIM number and it loads my number into the phone. When I manually check for networks, AT-T flashes briefly, then nothing. My signal strength hovers around -100dBm. We have several cell towers around and I can usually get reception even in the darkest corner of my basement.

I do get the "Data Connection Refused" message also, but I'm pretty sure that has something to do with the BB provisions from my carrier.

Thanks again,

Adam

Adam, yes the Data Connection Refused message has to do with no BlackBerry Data Plan.

may be your BB has been locked.
you should get an unlock code from the last user.

I to just recently purchased a 7230 from ebay and am having same problem. Have tried sim card in other phone and know it is fine. My signal too is around 100, and t-mobile said it was a phone problem to. Hav tried the firmware update with no luch. Any help woul dbe great, was told the phone was unloced but t-mobile said that has nothing to do with a signal

I have a blackberry 7230, and I have a unlock code..what do I do next. Please help as I cant get a signal

I'm in a similar situation and need advice. I bought an 7230 on Ebay and am using Cellular One as my carrier. The Sim card is good and it reads it but it just continues to Search for Network. I tried manually changing the network but it wont let me, it just says "extended area" and then once in awhile it'll swap to *none*. I thought maybe reloading the OS would help but I'm not finding any info on that. And would I download the t-mobile software (the original carrier and on the phone) or the Dobson/Cellular One because that is what I'll use with it?

The ebay seller hasn't responded to me yet and I'm getting highly frustrated. Any help is greatly appreciated!

If the signal is good in your area as verified with another phone with the same sim card then I'd say something is wrong with the device. Reloading the OS doesn't usually fix this problem. It's likely a bad device.

To answer you question you can load software from any carrier to the device. All the OS's for the 7230 will work. Generally, the higher the version number the newer the release of the OS and usually more bugs have been fixed.

Thank you, I'll keep trying to get a hold of the ebayer to get a refund. Ugh! I noticed someone else complained in thier feedback of a similar issue, wonder if its an ongoing problem ....

Check out our Buy/Sell/Trade section here. There are lots of good newer BB's going though right now with a couple of brand new models coming out this week.

Make sure your wireless radio is turned on the blackberry. Scroll down your list of icons from the home screen and look for wireless radio. If it says "turn wireless off" upon highlighting the icon, it means it's already on. If it says "turn wireless on" upon highlighting the icon, it means the wireless radio if off and you will not receive any signal at all. Hope this helps.

Thanks for your help. With the wireless radio off you won't get "searching for network"

The OP stated that his BB displays "Data Connection Refused". He HAS to have the wireless turned on for that message to display.

Great. Now JC beat me to this one.

I just wanted to update. My phone must have been faulty. I took it to the mall kiosk and they fiddled with it with no luck. I bought a new one (upgraded to 7290 vs 7230) and it worked fine.

No I just have to fight the ebay seller to exchange the original or get my money back.

Wow. Another problem with a BB bought off of eBay. Shocking.

Damn, i just bought a 7230 from ebay, i hope i won't have that problem. :(

I know this subject seems to have been beaten in to the ground, but my wife bought me an unlocked 7290 on ebay and it has been working fine. I didn't use it for a while because I couldn't figure out how to make it louder (I had a hard time hearing the ring), but recently started using it again. Since I started using it again I have been having a hard time getting a signal. Reading the preceding posts, is it possible that my phone is faulty even though it has worked fine the rest of the time I have owned it? I am not the most technologically savvy guy, so I would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks.

Lou