Replacing a Cingular Phone

Hope someone can help with this question.

My wife was using an older Nokia 5165 phone on Cingular, which had worked well.
Unfortunately, the phone fell out of her jacket, and got run over by a car.

So, over to the Cingular store I go, and guess what. They don't use that phone
anymore, and would really like me to sign a new 2 year agreement, and get into
a new GSM phone. If I want the 5165 phone, it will set me back $150!

Now, I'm on a month to month plan, and don't really want to sign up for another
2 years. And my wife was happy with this phone, which is really built well.....
the newer Nokia phones seem to be built real chincey.

So, I went on ebay, and found a new 5165 for under $10. Probably one that
someone had from a plan like TracPhone, and then returned. I called up Cingular
to change the ESN number, and it seemed to work ok, but now the phone comes up
with "US Cingular".

The lady at Cingular said that while the phone works, it may "confuse" the
system, and not register correctly. In fact, it may go into roam mode when it
shouldn't. She suggested not using it.

Question: Why does it say US Cingular ? Is there a chance of roaming
incorrectly ? Is there an internal code to set, which will convince this phone
that it's a Cingular phone ?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

"W874" <w874@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040112160720.10770.00001572@mb-m24.aol.com...
> Hope someone can help with this question.
>
> My wife was using an older Nokia 5165 phone on Cingular, which had worked
well.
> Unfortunately, the phone fell out of her jacket, and got run over by a
car.
>
> So, over to the Cingular store I go, and guess what. They don't use that
phone
> anymore, and would really like me to sign a new 2 year agreement, and get
into
> a new GSM phone. If I want the 5165 phone, it will set me back $150!
>
> Now, I'm on a month to month plan, and don't really want to sign up for
another
> 2 years. And my wife was happy with this phone, which is really built
well.....
> the newer Nokia phones seem to be built real chincey.
>
> So, I went on ebay, and found a new 5165 for under $10. Probably one that
> someone had from a plan like TracPhone, and then returned. I called up
Cingular
> to change the ESN number, and it seemed to work ok, but now the phone
comes up
> with "US Cingular".
>
> The lady at Cingular said that while the phone works, it may "confuse" the
> system, and not register correctly. In fact, it may go into roam mode when
it
> shouldn't. She suggested not using it.
>
> Question: Why does it say US Cingular ? Is there a chance of roaming
> incorrectly ? Is there an internal code to set, which will convince this
phone
> that it's a Cingular phone ?
>
> Many thanks in advance for your help.
>
>

You need a IRDB update, should be able to get this over the air.
*3001#12345#
select NAM 1
Home system ID (depends on your city)
Home SOC (this is what you need to change try 3)

after the SOC is corrected wait over nite for an update
if you don't get an update list your settings but not your phone number and
I will try to find the correct ones.
not sure the 3 is correct for cingular where you are at.

Stanley

<snip>
> > So, I went on ebay, and found a new 5165 for under $10. Probably one
that
> > someone had from a plan like TracPhone, and then returned. I called up
<snip>
Hope it's not a TracPhone, I think they need all new firmware "full flash".
If you can change the SOC then unless the band order is is wrong you should
be ok.

Stanley,

Thanks for your advice. I went through the procedure, and will see what
happens. Incidentally, I am in the Detroit area.

Many thanks !

Irv

w874@aol.com (W874) wrote in message news:<20040113122339.01860.00002941@mb-m18.aol.com>...
> Stanley,
>
> Thanks for your advice. I went through the procedure, and will see what
> happens. Incidentally, I am in the Detroit area.
>
> Many thanks !
>
> Irv

Unlike many cell companies, Cingular is very lax about sending updates
over the air. I've even had trouble getting Customer Service to do it
when I've called and requested an over-the-air update.

Going to a Cingular-owned company store (rather than an independant
dealer) and asking one of the reps there to initiate the OAP update
works the best.

Good luck!

(PS: are you sure it says "US Cingular" and not "US Cellular"?)