Corrupt APN - no 3g data

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Level 1

1 points

Corrupt APN - no 3g data

I got my new iPhone 4s which was working fine with Optus (Australia) which replaced my iPhone 3G.

I got my sim transferred with existing number to new micro sim, all details from provider is correct, checked multiple times.

Before I restore my backed up settings from backup I can use everything on the vanilla standard IOS5, 3g works and everything else. As soon as I restore from backup and open any app that requires internet 3g access I get the following error. So my MMS and tethering is also not working

"Could not activate cellular data network, You are not subscribed to a cellular data service" (please note I have asked optus to push down settings again to my phone, no change, a couple of times)

I used the iPhone configuration utility and try to install custom APN but I receive an error when my phone 3g is not working that there can only be one APN accociated at a time. But if I restore my phone to IOS5 with no backed up data applied, I can add an additional APN and it installs fine.

I tried this solution from Dae - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2494906?answerId=11852469022#11852469022

I got the same problem but solved.

1. Back up your iOS4

2. Restore iPhone via iTunes as if setting up a new phone and disconnect the iphone.

3. Install the unlockit APN changer (go to http://www.unlockit.co.nz from your iPhone) via WIFI connection.

4. Restore again using the backup in Step-1 via iTunes

5. Enjoy! though your data (e.g. app's setting, camera roll) may lost during the restoration.

But for me the APN setting is gone after restore from backup although it did apply when using vanilla IOS5.

I also tried deleting the "8218978e4ab0a48035bb92653145a6be872ea858" from Itunes backup and trying to restore but the restore from just crashes out without any user specific settings from backup being applied from phone, like apple stopped this from working with IOS5 as people used it in ISO4.

Then I opened file "8218978e4ab0a48035bb92653145a6be872ea858" as forums claims it contains my APN settings, used notepad++ and the result below

Please note that I'm now based in Australia and was in South Africa before for a while. When I arrived in South Africa I was with Vodacom and then MTN, WHY would my APN settings for Vodacom that I was with more than 2 years ago be in my current APN settings file that is being pushed to my new phone? i

This must be the reason why I cannot connect to the 3g internet of my provider Optus.

I have tried to edit the details in the file but assume there is some checksum check on it and Itunes just rejects the whole restore from backup when it hits this file.

I then used Reincubate's iPhone backup extractor which is able to view backup files logically, then exported the APN file "com.apple.managedCarrier.plist" which contained the following settings,

So same as before.

Can anyone please assist, I have a open call with Apple which is now with "engineering" but that might take weeks to fix, I know I can restore and start afresh and lose all my user specific data like SMS, app data etc but honestly that was the reason for buying an iPhone is to ensure I don't have to do this!

So any assistance would be great.

Dell, iOS 5, restoring from 4.2.1 with iphone 3G

Posted on Nov 3, 2011 3:37 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

lovehelmet

Level 1

15 points

Nov 4, 2011 7:29 AM in response to aekritzinger

iPhone 4S turned out to be a really bad apple..

I have, as many others, catastrophic reception on my new iPhone 4S. I might add that I also have an iPhone 4 and if I put the same MicroSim in this phone then the reception is flawless.

The problem is essentially the same as the one that many other experiences, five full bars, and (in my case) Tele2 3G. If someone tries to call me they are immediately sent to voicemail. If I try to make a call it fails, then the bars go down one by one until no service is shown, then the SIMsearches for reception and usually succeeds after about 1 minute the bars appear again. Sometimes I then can make a call but nine times out of tenthe procedure will just be repeated again.

I can of course manually get my bars back again via either reboot or by taking out and putting in the SIM again or by activating and then deactivating flight mode, this does not mean that I get actual reception, I just get the bars and operator name back and the phone seems to have reception. That is until I try to make a new call...

One can't turn off 3G in new iOS5, however, one can select operator manually. Carrier settings in iOS5 defautls to "Auto". If I turn off auto and select Tele2's 2G network nothing happens. I can turn off the "auto" but it is just says "Searching...". If I go back to settings and then back again the carrier settings are in "Auto" mode again.

I have made several re-installations, both from backup and as a new phone, turned on and off the PIN code, deactivated and activated Location services, made hard resets, etc. Even after the latest beta, which was released developers today, was installed and all procedures were done all over again with this OS the problem persists. It is simply impossible to either make or receive calls with my new iPhone 4S. It can do lots of fancy stuff but as a phone it is completely useless and I am compelled to to go back to using my iPhone 4 for now.

You would think that Apple would ensure that at least the telephone part in both hardware and software are operating properly before releasing them to consumers. It's called "iPhone" - not iPod, iPhone, iGame...iPhone is primarily a phone and customers buying it would at the very least require it to be able to make and recieve calls or maybe it's asking too much?

What is also very strange is that even if a lot of consumers complain about the above bug, not only in Sweden but all over the world, Apple does not mention this anywhere. Not on their support pages, not in their developer community, not to their dealers who certainly had a lot of support calls from unhappy customers who believe that it is an operator error.

Incredibly bad service by Apple to release a phone that can not be used as a phone and even worse to not quickly recognize this error and publish what's causing the error, that they're working on resolving it, and when it will be resolved.

I work myself as telephony manager at a company that uses just the iPhone and there are now quite a few new unhappy iPhone 4S, and where I take a lot of support concerning these bugs and have to get them temporary solutions until the bugs are fixed.

I use to commend both Apple and their products, but my conviction on Apple's excellence has been significantly tarnished. This is BAD Apple, hope you get your acts together a.s.a.p. cause both your phone and your service really ***** in this case.

Only way to get attention is to flood apple with info on this matter: fill in form at: http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html and let them know..

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Answer 2

aekritzinger Author

Level 1

1 points

Nov 9, 2011 3:41 PM in response to aekritzinger

I have fix my 3G data connectivity issue (while still waiting on Apple Engineering to look at the issue)

I compared the settings to my iphone 4s and my wifes iphone 4s, both bought at the same time and both coming from iphone 3G models, hers worked fine with no issues but I didn't have any 3G data.

So I downloaded iBackupBot and compared the backup files from the new phones in iTunes.

The faulty phone had an entry of com.apple.managedCarrier.plist where the working phone didn't, which I found weird.

I then proceeded opening each of the files until I got to SystemConfiguration/Preferences.plist (which you should always export with cheksum info in order to import again into backup folder location)

I compared the settings between the two backups and found what I have been suspecting all this time, I had an old entry for APN settings for a mobile provide Vodacom which I was with 2 years ago while in South Africa. I also had the Optus APN settings in the SystemConfiguration/Preferences.plist of the phone with no 3G but the defunct Vodacom settings was at the top and Optus below it, so assume the phone will just use the first one in the preferences.plist file.

I proceeded to cut the below code out of the file

<dict>

<key>Interface</key>

<dict>

<key>DeviceName</key>

<key>Hardware</key>

<string>com.apple.CommCenter</string>

<string>com.apple.CommCenter</string>

<key>UserDefinedName</key>

<string>com.apple.CommCenter (ip1)</string>

</dict>

<key>UserDefinedName</key>

<string>com.apple.CommCenter (ip1)</string>

<key>com.apple.CommCenter</key>

<dict>

<key>AllowNetworkAccess</key>

<key>Available</key>

<key>Setup</key>

<dict>

<key>AllowNoDNS</key>

<string>iphone.vodacom.za</string>

<key>password</key>

<key>username</key>

</dict>

<key>Version</key>

</dict>

I then saved the file and imported it back into the backup folder location using iBackupBot and then just restored my phone from backup which then completed and updated the SystemConfiguration/Preferences.plist on my phone and 3G data works, personal hotspot works, MMS works, everything.

So use this if you have the same issue at own risk but at least I didn't follow official advise to setup a new vanilla OS and lose all my user data of the last 4 years! Hope this is of use to someone oneday !

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Answer 3

Nov 25, 2011 12:17 AM in response to aekritzinger

I've gone to great length and put lots of hours into this matter trying to figure out what's causing this problem. And as you can see in my earlier posts I've tried everything and have had extensive contact with my operator (Tele2) in this matter.

I finally caved in and returned my iPhone 4S to Tele2 and they sent it to Apple which in return sent me a new phone a week later with iOS 5.0 installed. And TADAAHH!, Everything worx like a charm.

Note, I have the same exakt microSIM, a new phone with supposedly same hardware but iOS 5.0 instead of 5.01 and making and receiving calls and messages now works like a charm.

This is my tip, return phone and get a new one with iOS 5.0 on. This saves you a lot of time and headache.

Conclusion It's not the choice of operator and not the microSIM that's causing this problems. It's either the hardware in the first iPhone 4S that was sent out to customers (like mine), the software, or a combination there of.

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Answer 4

Alzoo

Level 1

9 points

Feb 19, 2012 9:50 AM in response to aekritzinger

Firstly a big thank you to aekritzinger for being one of the first pioneers to resolve this type of problem, you are a legend! (hope you get to read this)

Second, to Orange FR, I just pwned your "experts" big time, as their only response was restore its original settings and forget about your backup, start from scratch.

& Maybe third, to you Apple Engineers, I assume you know all about this as you created the product,so shame on you for not helping out...

I have an iPhone 4S iOS 5.0.1 & I encountered this error from an update Orange did to their APN Carrier Settings, when I tried to access the internet I received the following error.

I was not able access the profile section in the general settings as specified in their instructions

http://assistance.orange.fr/mise-a-jour-des-parametres-internet-de-votre-mobile- 4801.php

Orange's support was limited and only offered basic resolutions. Thanks to aekritzinger and the following tools

Ibackupbot for iTunes & plist editor Pro I was able to find the solution.

How my problem differred from aekritzinger's is that I had not changed mobile operators, so when comparing the differences between my SystemConfiguration_preferences.plist and the default one, it was difficult to see what entries needed to be modified/removed.

(SystemConfiguration_preferences.plist=8218978e4ab0a48035bb92653145a6be872ea858)

I did a comparison of the two files and listed the differences which I have sumarised below.

Interesting to note is the two additional line entries for each DeviceName entry. IP1, IP2, IP3 IP4 in my plist.

<key>SettingsHaveBeenAlteredByPreferences</key>

<true/>

(plus I somehow had an additional network device en1)

Original SystemConfiguration_preferences.plist

<key>48199B4E-F60A-47E4-8E50-FE0E5B0DDA0F
DeviceName
IP3
com.apple.CommCenter
apn
orange
<key>signature</key>
<data>
cmCPSN46omFZK+kBdARvqqWwpXKcw1+iBL8U
pn0T4Fmau8DzXa2Olv3gA9iUYY573a5BBhbp
bGkdcG4H9y87FAedvgyuiR9wr1PERUnp4hhr
ZcrSYtuvsPv7l5ZoYEQDM+ZKtwTR/2BKn+qA
VVjJbnimS/XLIuVKvr6McOWRKoo=
.
<key>4CB46FBF-C31D-4060-9C8D-13C6BF92FD83
DeviceName
en0
Hardware
airport
UserDefinedName
wifi
.
<key>5971828F-1CAE-413E-824B-BF5ECDAE4066
DeviceName
IP2
com.apple.CommCenter
apn
orangenew.fr
<key>signature</key>
<data>
Bo9BJC7JiNVKItxO4lx9oX7OCEAvRYtZplIA
L0h21j4CeE4JvDQw4B6Nq3a6bfLwkTzghiO5
r3A+cCTj64bmmrle9U4cIthhT+TBK6cC4uCJ
OW+CfEDVoq/JfDAvYUPqMbvI7lrjKtUiwDZP
UJNHkMhGF8NZbhT/ja5zqBRRoDM=
.
<key>819C72CE-8D78-4313-9051-7D5915C043FA
DeviceName
IP1
com.apple.CommCenter
apn
orange
<key>signature</key>
<data>
DdteRF2053PIbTc+MEvTaORTB+6eX0+SHhbX
o169wK8j+sklhfkJoGMT7KDozGESyhW8WwvY
4Jp7kU4wWLbYAjD7M+K/+ci9yjzg/LNveaZ9
qbu7Dtd1US/tk+vtCq17qAJB2pbY5Qi39y2W
/pA+kE4H5vPRdlZOjht+O+M0xd0=
<key>type-mask</key>
<integer>7</integer>
.
<key>FEE70C90-D75A-484E-9669-FDDDF90E508D
DeviceName
IP4
com.apple.CommCenter

Written order
IP3 48199B4E-F60A-47E4-8E50-FE0E5B0DDA0F
en0 4CB46FBF-C31D-4060-9C8D-13C6BF92FD83
IP2 5971828F-1CAE-413E-824B-BF5ECDAE4066
IP1 819C72CE-8D78-4313-9051-7D5915C043FA
IP4 FEE70C90-D75A-484E-9669-FDDDF90E508D

ServiceOrder
en0 <string>4CB46FBF-C31D-4060-9C8D-13C6BF92FD83</string>
IP1 <string>819C72CE-8D78-4313-9051-7D5915C043FA</string>
IP2 <string>5971828F-1CAE-413E-824B-BF5ECDAE4066</string>
IP3 <string>48199B4E-F60A-47E4-8E50-FE0E5B0DDA0F</string>
IP4 <string>FEE70C90-D75A-484E-9669-FDDDF90E508D</string>

My SystemConfiguration_preferences.plist

<key>44011E09-6FD2-4EF0-94F6-58882222AD9D
DeviceName
IP2
com.apple.CommCenter
<key>SettingsHaveBeenAlteredByPreferences</key>
<true/>
apn
orangenew.fr
<key>signature</key>
<data>
Bo9BJC7JiNVKItxO4lx9oX7OCEAvRYtZplIA
L0h21j4CeE4JvDQw4B6Nq3a6bfLwkTzghiO5
r3A+cCTj64bmmrle9U4cIthhT+TBK6cC4uCJ
OW+CfEDVoq/JfDAvYUPqMbvI7lrjKtUiwDZP
UJNHkMhGF8NZbhT/ja5zqBRRoDM=
.
<key>70EC40BB-E78A-4222-8936-126DD8FB6FF9
DeviceName
IP1
com.apple.CommCenter
<key>SettingsHaveBeenAlteredByPreferences</key>
<true/>
<key>AllowNoDNS</key>
<integer>1</integer>
apn (different)
orange.fr
NO SIGNATURE!
<key>type-mask</key>
<integer>-2</integer>
.
<key>8103E949-7C7A-4DEB-B4AC-4C21B1F01E72
DeviceName
en1
Hardware
Ethernet
UserDefinedName
Ethernet Adaptor (en1)
.
<key>855F0E71-7D04-4F77-9FD6-A7318BC9745B
DeviceName
en0
Hardware
airport
UserDefinedName
wifi
.
<key>B64A981A-C163-4621-A812-020B1F876C9B
DeviceName

IP4
com.apple.CommCenter
<key>SettingsHaveBeenAlteredByPreferences</key>
<true/>
.
<key>C1D07924-248B-4695-A8C5-247A9447C9B4
DeviceName
IP3
com.apple.CommCenter
<key>SettingsHaveBeenAlteredByPreferences</key>
<true/>
apn
Orange
<key>signature</key>
<data>
cmCPSN46omFZK+kBdARvqqWwpXKcw1+iBL8U
pn0T4Fmau8DzXa2Olv3gA9iUYY573a5BBhbp
bGkdcG4H9y87FAedvgyuiR9wr1PERUnp4hhr
ZcrSYtuvsPv7l5ZoYEQDM+ZKtwTR/2BKn+qA
VVjJbnimS/XLIuVKvr6McOWRKoo=

Written order
IP2 44011E09-6FD2-4EF0-94F6-58882222AD9D
IP1 70EC40BB-E78A-4222-8936-126DD8FB6FF9
en1 8103E949-7C7A-4DEB-B4AC-4C21B1F01E72
en0 855F0E71-7D04-4F77-9FD6-A7318BC9745B
IP4 B64A981A-C163-4621-A812-020B1F876C9B
IP3 C1D07924-248B-4695-A8C5-247A9447C9B4

ServiceOrder
en1 <string>8103E949-7C7A-4DEB-B4AC-4C21B1F01E72</string>
en0 <string>855F0E71-7D04-4F77-9FD6-A7318BC9745B</string>
IP1 <string>70EC40BB-E78A-4222-8936-126DD8FB6FF9</string>
IP2 <string>44011E09-6FD2-4EF0-94F6-58882222AD9D</string>
IP3 <string>C1D07924-248B-4695-A8C5-247A9447C9B4</string>
IP4 <string>B64A981A-C163-4621-A812-020B1F876C9B</string>

Initally I modified/removed only the lines which I thought needed to be changed so I could keep the <key>s the same, as I don't know if they are referenced elsewhere in other files. After reimporting this back into the backup and restoring from backup, I still had the issue.

For my second attempt, I copied the entire contents of the orginal SystemConfiguration_preferences.plist and replaced the contents of my plist file with it. After reimporting this file back into the backup and performing a restore, my iphone 4S was working again for 3G/VVM/MMS.

I hope this helps others out there who might have a similar APN issue on iOS 5.0.1

A+

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