Using unlocked 3g on cdma/hspa network

mmcva wrote:
I purchased an unlocked refurbished iphone

I didn't realize that there were "refurbished" iPhones available from Apple. That's beside the point however.

mmcva wrote:
using it on the koodo network in Canada. It is primarily a cdma network, but uses its parent company's hspa network.
I realize that cdma isn't supported on the Iphone 3g, but thought hspa would work. And it did at first, but soon after started losing service and failing calls at every turn. The sim card isn't at fault, as I've since installed it in an Inq phone which works fine.
Here's my question: is there any way of knowing if the phone or the network is at fault? I would hate to switch to a gsm provider only to find the problem remains. The long distance rates on koodo are the lowest anywhere...

As for the rest of your question, Koodo says on their website that they do not support MicroSIM cards or the iPhone 4 & iPad. Not sure if that is because they don't offer microSIMs or if there is some sort of incompatibility. Koodo's network is just Telus who do offer the iPhone (4 & 3GS), using 3G only and on the compatibility website for koodo they do say that the iPhone 3g is supported.
http://koodomobile.com/en/ab/phonecompatibility.shtml

You could always borrow a microSIM card from a somebody with an iPhone 4 or other phone with a MicroSIM and see if that works in your unlocked iPhone. If the iPhone was purchased from Apple a refurbished unit should carry the same warranty as a new unit, so you could always book a genius appointment to have it troubleshooted.

You could also try updating to iOS 4.2 to see if that helps. If the iPhone was not officially unlocked updating will restore it to factory settings and the unofficial unlock will be lost potentially forever.

So Apple does replace iphones under warranty with refurbished units, but they are really for sale.

If the iPhone is a Canadian iPhone then it will be locked to a carrier. In order to get the iPhone to work with Koodo it needs to be unlocked which can only be done officially by the original carrier, which none of the canadian carriers do.

If you received the iPhone and it was "unlocked" then it was hacked to be unlocked. You can search the internet about hacking the iPhone to unlock it but that is not supported by Apple and can not be discussed on this forum. You're on your own then to get the iPhone working on Koodo, and there is no guarantee that it will work, and you may damage the iPhone in doing so. Upgrading the firmware on the iPhone will also restore the iPhone to the original condition and remove the hack and the unlock leaving you with an iPhone that will not work with any other carrier other than the original carrier.