[Soda]

I have an legally unlocked BB which I cannot use even as a phone in Thailand. SIM card is recognized but signal is so weak there is no coverage or it is always searching for network. I have tried other SIM cards. My service provider here won't help because they want to sell me a new BB. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

[--G--]

I have spent time in Bangkok, and I found that mobile phone network coverage is a bit hit or miss.

What network are your trying to attach to?

[Soda]

I'm on AIS. It works quite well with my PDA but now that BB is here and I already have a device I'd like to use it.

I get a signal on the PDA and the same SIM card at the same location on the BB won't pick up anything.

I can't figure out if it's hardware, software or a network problem. Any ideas?

[NJBlackBerry]

What model BB do you have, who is your carrier and what version of the handheld OS are you running?

Thailand/AIS GPRS isn't quite standard. We had to make sure our BBs were at a certain OS level before they would work consistently.

And Bangkok is a problem.

[Soda]

I have a 7230 which was with T-Mobile in the US. I believe the OS is 3.7 (I don't have it with me right now). The SIM card/carrier is AIS. I think it could be an OS problem but how to fix?

[stonent]

Upgrade to 4.0 or download 4.0.2 from another provider like Cingular and remove the vendor.xml file from your hard drive. 4.0.2 adds some nice features like better calculator and I think fixes a few roaming issues.

[toronto traveller]

Does blackberry work in PERU or GALAPAGOS?

[EmJayPrice]

Originally Posted by toronto traveller

Does blackberry work in PERU or GALAPAGOS?

Check with Rogers. They should have this information. If you aren't on Rogers then your BB will not work.

[Soda]

Sorry for the misunderstanding but I am not roaming in Thailand. I have a BB device that simply won't pick up the network with a local SIM card that works well in any other phone.

[NJBlackBerry]

Is your 7230 unlocked?

[Soda]

NJBlackBerry, unlocked by T-Mobile. It's a real mystery I'm very close to throwing it out. Have you ever come across this before - is it possible that the OS won't work in Thailand even just to pick up a GMS signal??

[NJBlackBerry]

Nope. Has it worked with other foreign (non T-Mobile) SIM cards?

[Bunker]

Originally Posted by Soda

NJBlackBerry, unlocked by T-Mobile. It's a real mystery I'm very close to throwing it out. Have you ever come across this before - is it possible that the OS won't work in Thailand even just to pick up a GMS signal??

Well this is maybe an easy one.... The 7230 is a TRI-BAND GSM phone and since it is a USA originated device it has the two USA based GSM/GPRS bands and only one GSM/GPRS band for elsewhere.

Guess what - AIS runs primarily (but not totally) on the band you don't have. This accounts for your light signal in heavily covered areas.

You may want to try to switch to the other carrier in Thailand to see if it works better (True Life I believe they just changed their name to - used to be TA Orange).

You really needed either a non-USA 7230 or a quad band 7290

Bunker.

[NJBlackBerry]

Uh, maybe not so easy. Interesting thought Bunker, but 100% wrong.

The 7230 has ONE US domestic band (1900) and TWO International bands (900/1800). You have it exactly wrong.

http://www.blackberry.com/products/h...erry7230.shtml

I think you are getting confused with the 7280, which has two domestic bands and one International. In any event, that is not the problem here.

[Soda]

I managed to fixed this today thanks in part to NJBlackberry. I reloaded Desktop Manager 4.0 (had no luck with 4.1 earlier) and reloaded the OS also. I used Cingular's and removed the vendor file. Very strong signal now on the GPRS network and all seems fine. Tomorrow I will configure the rest with our server etc... and I don't expect and problems.

By the way, I had this BB in eastern europe for a year and never had a problem like this - it did work with other foreign SIM cards before Thailand.

Amazing no service provider including RIM themselves when I called them were willing to give me any advice.

[NJBlackBerry]

We have had tons of problems with AIS in Thailand. BBs work fine elsewhere, but in Thailand - particularly Bangkok, it's been a constant battle. Extremely happy that you are now up and running and that you got back here to post the resolution!

Good luck!