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Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 08-22-2007, 03:02 PM
    sage5735
    Sorry about reposting my story, but I could still use some help with the "akey" (authentication key or code) to reprogram my ESN (electronic serial number)

    I can see that if your cell phone was turned on while it was still sopping wet, that the phone would short circuit. But from what I have read on other sites, if you do not turn the phone on, remove the battery, fully dry the phone, that the phone should work.

    My experience: phone (Samsung SPH-A500) dropped into picnic cooler, sat in water for an hour. Being a moron, I just wiped off the phone & opened the clamshell cover which powered on the phone. Bad idea. Poof ! Started acting wacky. Of course, I shut off my phone. Removed the battery. Completely disassembled phone & dried it out.

    Phone lost all its settings. Not just the phone book, or the call history, or the alarm clock settings, or the memos, or the downloaded ring tones. But the ESN (electronic serial number) necessary to connect to the cell network, the MIN (mobile identifier number, ie your phone number), the SID (service provider identifier number) among other settings.

    My cellphone, Samsung SPH-A500 was purchased locally, here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada from a MTS (manitoba telecom services) dealer about 2002 or 2003. Attempting to get my submarined cellphone back in service, I have learned much about cellphone hardware, software, keypad programming, service providers, etc.

    Interesting history: manufactured in Korea. Sent to USA for Sprint. Sent to Ontario, Canada for Bell Mobility. Sent to Manitoba, Canada to be eventually sold to me by MTS (manitoba telecom services). Well travelled phone !

    Now, when I turn on my cellphone, I see the Samsung logo during bootup, just like the past 4 years. But the MTS logo is replaced by the Bell logo. The software layering done by the MTS dealer 4 yrs. ago is lost. It looks like all the software settings went back to the default. Other than the Bell logo, it looks, feels, smells the same (only cleaner, much cleaner - 4 yrs of pocket lint gone).

    I learned how to access the Service Menu using the keypad (many thanks to the Sprint USA techs & 1-800 number). I learned to reprogram the NAM (resetting the MIN, the SID, the IMSI (international mobile serviceprovider identifier), the Country Code, etc.

    How does the phone work ? Well........so far whenever I make a call, I can only reach my service provider.

    The next step is to find out how to reset my ESN. Appears to need an "akey" (authentication key, or code).

    Almost there.

    Good luck with your submarined phone.
  • 03-31-2007, 07:11 AM
    camstuf
    Sweet post!!!
  • 03-31-2007, 06:05 AM
    ajitv
    If you want to save your wet cell phone, here is the best solution:
    How to save a wet cell phone? :: indiahowto.com
  • 08-28-2006, 08:37 PM
    joethetowman
    Robbs not trying to be a smart a$$ hes just saying he didnt specify what kind of water.
  • 08-28-2006, 08:12 PM
    ARatInABox
    Guess the engineer at Motorola can afford to buy a new RaZR, Q, e815, (fill in your motorola phone here) when the plastic or screen gets damaged. I thought I would add a few pointers to help all the people out there that have dropped their phone in water, beer, mud, toilets, (fill in some liquid your phone has taken a bath in). Did not intend to step on any feet, was just trying to help out the best I can.
  • 08-28-2006, 04:06 PM
    Robb4248
    Didn't say use tap water The engineer at motorola put the entire phone in the over, just fyi
  • 08-28-2006, 01:55 AM
    ARatInABox
    A couple of notes I'd like to add. First, I use distilled water as tap water tends to have impurities. Many people use water softeners, so you are just putting salt water on your phone. City water has clorine and floride, all three of these, at the second step will crystalize on the board causing shorts and false resistors. Second, it is essential to completely disassemble the phone including LCD. The LCD is very heat sensitive and can be damaged if overheated. The bare board can be baked at 150-180 degrees for 2 hours to eliminate water under the chips. IF you have removed the battery immediatly after the "dunk" in fluid, you have a 50% chance of recovery. A lot of factors come into play, but this method does work at times. LCD damaged? Replace it. With no other options but buy a new phone, what have you got to loose?

    I do this in my shop on a daily basis, before going into the circuts to replace parts. This is trick has been around. I heard it from a tech at Motorola, couldn't believe it myself, until I tried it.

    GO FOR IT! What do you have to loose?
  • 07-30-2006, 07:06 PM
    bloodyhoney
    First I thought baking in the oven was crazy but 125 degree isn't bad at all. People in Iraq suffer temperature higher than that (not that I've been there myself). If it's the kind of temparature people could live in, I don't think it would damage cell phone. The problem is that I can't set my oven below 170 degree....
  • 07-16-2006, 09:24 PM
    Robb4248
    Hmm... if you have no other options, go ahead and give it a try! Nothing else to loose on it
  • 07-16-2006, 02:17 PM
    HappyMan
    I sent my nokia 3320 through the washing machine a while back, I set it out to dry for 5 or 6 days and it still didnt work. That was about a month ago do you think that this will still work, or am I stuck with my samsung?
  • 07-15-2006, 12:19 PM
    Robb4248
    It saw the sticky lol. Thanks for the positive comment. Well, mud... I don't think that would kill it unless it was really sloppy... try to do the normal water routine
  • 07-15-2006, 01:24 AM
    peryus88
    Nice chart Robb. At least it will give some other people a solution other than complaining and asking "what should I do?...should I file a complaint to [service provider] because they won't fix my phone?" Hopefully they will see the sticky...

    Also, what about mud? Is it possible to use the salt water guide? Oh well, I'll try it out myself.
  • 07-14-2006, 04:14 PM
    teamneon
    wow...i didnt think i deserved a negative rep for that...ill shutup from now on
  • 07-11-2006, 02:17 AM
    camstuf
    I dropped mine in a toilet on a plane (bluejuice)
    I took the battery out for a few days and it started working (after I bouhgt a new one)
  • 07-10-2006, 06:45 PM
    Robb4248
    I kinda felt that way too, but If you have worked with Silicon boards and electronics as long as I have, it takes a lot of heat to melt it. Soldering is about 400*F, and it doesn't harm the board.
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