Cell Phone Not Working Unappreciation and HPEL Thread

[Latrinsorm]

I have a Samsung SGH-X497 cell phone (on Cingular, if that matters). I've made a number of calls on it before with 0 problems.

Those days have passed.

When I turn the cell phone on, it tells me it is "Searching", presumably for a network. If there is no connection, the phone displays the "no call" icon, mocking me. If there is a connection, the phone instantly hard-shutdowns (on regular powerdowns, the phone displays an insincere "goodbye" message and plays a dopey Cingular sound effect). I can reproduce this many times.

I am 100% positive that the battery is fully charged. HPEL.

[Warriorbird]

You = screwed, unless you have a warranty.

[Moist Happenings]

The flux capacitor is broke.

You forgot to put the crystals in.

Set it to 1982 and then pour mostly empty cans of coke into it.

Shake it around a few times, then accelerate to 88 miles per hour, and it'll be fixed.

Also call Cingular and tell them to send you a new phone. Most people get roped into the extra 1.99 per month to insure your phone against pretty much everything without them having to tell you, so you probably have that.

[DeV]

Your phone is calling it quits, dude. And that phone couldn't have cost you much initially so hopefully you aren't losing out too much by having it replaced. I've been through so many cell phones my carrier requies me to have insurance. Not a bad thing to have either.

[Moist Happenings]

One thing you might consider if you don't have insurance is buying a shell of a phone on the internet and just switching out your SIM card from your old phone. No store these days will sell you the phone without the plan, but you can probably pick up a perfectly good blackberry or somesuch on the net cheaper than you could buy a new one, and just put your card in it.

[xtc]

One thing you might consider if you don't have insurance is buying a shell of a phone on the internet and just switching out your SIM card from your old phone. No store these days will sell you the phone without the plan, but you can probably pick up a perfectly good blackberry or somesuch on the net cheaper than you could buy a new one, and just put your card in it.

*Working on this premise you could just take a phone from someone at a restaurant or movie theate who wasn't paying attention and put your own SIM card in it. If the phone is locked you can get it unlocked cheap at flea markets and some independent cell phone stores.

* not a serious suggestion I would never suggest someone break the law unless there was a bigger moral question involved.

[Drew2]

Except for the fact that the phones still have a serial number thingy that can easily be tracked by someone who calls and says "Hey my phone was stolen".

That's a great idea.

[Back]

If you are still over the pond, I'd suggest T-Mobile as a carrier.

[Drew2]

He's been back for like, 2-3 months. Good work.

[Back]

He's been back for like, 2-3 months. Good work.

I did not know that, my suggestion still stands for those in Europe, and fuck off unless you have something constructive to say.

[Moist Happenings]

Do I have to fuck off too? I rarely have anything constructive to say.

Also wolfman.

As for carriers, Verizon is the best nationwide, I think. Costs a bit extra, and sucks in a few specific states, but overall I think it has the best coverage.

Cingular isn't bad now that they're piggybacking on AT&T's towers. If you're stuck in a contract, i'd say don't bother with buying it out unless you're in Maine or Florida.

If you're unhappy with it, though, a lot of other carriers will buy out your contract for you.

[Back]

Do I have to fuck off too? I rarely have anything constructive to say.

When you start trolling me I'll have just as kind words for you.

And, good call actually... Verizon seems to have the best coverage on the East Coast.

[Latrinsorm]

The coverage is eh, but good enough when the phone doesn't arbitrarily stop working.

I think I was actually using a T-Mobile network or something while I was in the UK, if that makes sense.

Thanks everyone for the advice, except xtc who's a CROOK and a LAWBREAKER.

[AnticorRifling]

Check and make sure your SIM is properly seated.

It wouldn't hurt to take it into the store and see if they can replace the phone. If you start out nice generally they will help. If they won't get real loud tell them to cancel your shit because you're going to go to a company that doesn't treat it's customers like meat puppets. I've done that a few times and it always gets the result I desire.

[xtc]

except xtc who's a CROOK and a LAWBREAKER.

I haven't been a crook or lawbreaker since I left the Republican party.

[Chaddy]

Okay, best solution if your phone is shit and you want to stay with Cingular is to purchase a GO phone either pay as you go, or pick your plan, won't matter. Take your SIM card out of your phone and put it in that, you get a new phone for less than half of what a contract phone would cost you that works the same. The SIM card will carry your plan right over to the prepaid phone so nothing will change. If you want to switch carriers I'd go to Sprint. I've sold them all and truly believe them to be the best being that they can use both Verizon and Cingular towers, if you include Nextel they have the biggest network, plus they have the only all digital service.

[Czeska]

With Verizon I get a new phone every 2 years. Plus, when my last one went to shit, I walked in and told them if they can't make a phone that'd last 2 years, I didnt want to do business with them.

New phone free ftw.