[MunkyMofo]

I just recently bought a 7290 from ebay, and I can't use my blackberry for anything. I put my cingular sim card in, and it won't find my network, it searches for a minute or so and says No signal. I tried resetting it, I tried changing every setting I could find, with no luck. This sim card will work just fine when put in any other phone, and I tried another sim and it won't work in the blackberry. Any ideas on how to get it to work? This is really bugging me, I hope I didnt buy a dud..

Thanks in advance.

[John Clark]

I'm guessing your eBay purchased Blackberry is locked. See one of the many 3rd party unlocking services out there.

You can check for sure by going to Options >Sim Card and typing mepd a new list will pop up. Look at what it says next to Network. If it says "active" or "enabled" it is locked. If it says "inactive" or "disabled" it's unlocked.

[MunkyMofo]

Sorry, I don't see "SIM Card" as an option under the options menu..Just "Screen/Keyboard" "Security Options" " SMS" and "Status"

[John Clark]

Sorry, try >Options >Advanced Options >Sim Card

[MunkyMofo]

Ok, I found that, but it just gives me this:

ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone Number: xxxxxxxx

[MunkyMofo]

What did you mean by "typing mepd"?

[John Clark]

After going into Sim Card just type the letters m e p d

The new list will pop up.

[MunkyMofo]

SIM:Disabled
Network:Active
Network Subset:Disabled
Service Provider:Disabled
Corporate:Disabled

[John Clark]

Network: Active = Locked Blackberry. Sorry. However, there are lots of unlocking services. GSMPhonesource.com is a good one. Check the sponsor section of the Forums for more info on unlocking services.

[MunkyMofo]

Okay, it's locked, but it's a cingular phone with a cingular sim card. Why wouldn't that work?

[John Clark]

Sorry, the most common problem on eBay phones is that they are advertised as unlocked when they really aren't. I may have jumped to conclusions on yours.

It sounds like you may, indeed, have a bad device. I reread your first post and you said it gives "no signal?" That actually doesn't sound like a locking problem, sorry. Does it give any other messages like "insert sim card" or "invalid sim card?" I think you should probably get in touch with your eBay seller.

At least you know how to tell if a BB is locked or not....

[MunkyMofo]

Ok, My Network status now says "Inactive" after struggling for what seemed liek forever to unlock it. Is there anything else I might have to do to get it to work with my carrier?

[John Clark]

If it's a Cingular BB and you are using a Cingular sim card it should work, locked or unlocked. I think you have other problems.

BTW, how did you unlock it? Did you go pay to unlock it, hoping that would help?

[MunkyMofo]

Yeah, I was about willing to try anything to get it to work...Its still telling me no signal, though.

[John Clark]

Did you not see my post about it probably not being a lock/unlock issue? I didn't know you were using a Cingular sim in a Cingular BB until you posted it later. I think you have a bad device. eBay--Buyer beware!

[MunkyMofo]

This is ****ing unreal. 100 dollars and a 3 hour headache later and it still won't work.

[MunkyMofo]

Anyways, I'm going to go argue with cingular. I appreciate your help.