Level 1

1 points

Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)

Seems to be a widespread problem, from what I'm seeing in the discussions:

I have an unlocked iPhone 4S (bought in France) and use it with Vodafone in Portugal. I was using the same SIM card that worked perfectly fine for over a year on my previous iPhone 4, and it also worked just fine in the 4S... until I updated to iOS 5.0.1.

The very next day I started having connections issues and invalid SIM card errors - requiring a reboot to temporarily fix it for a few minutes, until it lost connection again - the iPhone would still show it had a few bars strength, but was actually unable to make calls or use data. After a while it would go back to invalid sim message.

I replaced my old SIM card, and I though that was it... It was working fine.. until after 3 or 4 days, I find once again that I had a Invalid SIM message.

I've read reports suggesting that this might actually have to do with using other chargers than the official Apple 4S one - it sound kind of crazy, but just in case, I was also using a 3rd party charger when those issues arised for the first time. Anyway, I was now using my previous official iPhone 4 charger when I got the new error with the new SIM card.

Also, although the iPhone recommends using a non-locked SIM Card, mine has always had a PIN, and always worked through activations without a problem.

Other than being a real hardware problem with my new iPhone 4S (crossing my fingers it isn't!) my guess is that this is a software related incident - as this has just popped up after upgrading to iOS 5.0.1, and it would have been an amazing coincidence for SIM cards to go bust, or for the iPhone 4S to suddenly malfunction, afterwards.

Hope you guys can fix it soon, as well as the phone numbers not showing up the callers name in the contacts (that was a problem I was having from the very beginning, with iOS 5.0.0).

Posted on Nov 16, 2011 2:18 AM

366 replies

Jan 10, 2012 2:15 PM in response to guru_g

Hi guru_g,

at least Boiling Ice and me have the same problem.

Good luck!

Jan 10, 2012 11:42 PM in response to ptnik

Just to give you an update...

I'm still waiting for the Engineer to contact me as they need 2 working days to do detailed investigation before they talk to me.

One thing has happened and it might add value. I usually loose voice/data connection within an hour or so in the past few days. This morning and for some reason, my iPhone 4S is connected only via EDGE, it's not going to 3G, and it's been 3 hours so far and didn't loose data connection. I guess the issue is with the 3G, and it makes more sense because when I was in USA, T-Mobile network can't connect iPhones via 3G, only EDGE and that might explain why I never got invalid sim with T-Mobile, while here with Batelco, the 3G coverage is very strong in all areas. But I don't know why my iPhone is running on EDGE, it could be the Engineer is experimenting, not sure.

I will update you later as the engineer should call me today.

Jan 11, 2012 12:14 AM in response to igaritano

Hi!

just to give you an update, yesterday at 9 am I changed the SIM card to Spanish Simyo microSIM and in 24 hours no error.

Now I've changed again to vodafone IT cutted SIM card to see if something happen.

See you!

Jan 11, 2012 9:49 AM in response to Boiling Ice

Hi guys!

I'll appreciate if someone can confirm what I'm going to explain.

Today at 9 in the morning I put it back the original vodafone IT's cutted SIM card. But before inserting, I tried to flatten it because it was like curved.

Since then no "Invalid SIM" problem.

Anyway, you know that in this 4s version, Apple has put it two antennas to offer better signal quality.

I have noticed that sometimes it tries to change the antenna so I have two different scenarios in my workplace.

Very good signal quality, GPRS cellular data.
Poor signal quality, 3G cellular data.

In the first scenario everything goes ok. But suddenly, it changes to second scenario and then I have several problems. The first one is that I can't even make or receive calls. The second problem is that it starts searching for a good signal and after some time it goes to "No Service" state.

Usually it starts searching again and it finds the first signal scenario. But also, I have had to restart it because it went crazy and lost the signal, going to "No Service" state permanently.

So I think that it has both, hardware with the SIM cards and software with these two antennas, problems.

Good luck!

ptnik Author

Level 1

1 points

Jan 11, 2012 10:00 AM in response to igaritano

I've also noticed that the issue with dropped signal and fake signal indication indeed seems to get worse when in poor reception areas.

Just the other day, it happened not just in my 4S but also with another one from a friend: showing that there are indeed software problems when handling certain network conditions.

In the past couple of days I've had 2 Invalid Sim incidents... was thinking it would be gone by now, but its still there.

And in regards to the signal indicator; when in that poor reception area and when trying to make it come back online by toggling the airtplane mode off/on, I got to a new state that I had not seen before:

The bar indicator showed zero bars, but I had regular 3G data connection and was able to make and receive calls.

The signal indicator never changed, even as I went home... no change at all; and the next day, while still having data and voice calls, the signal was still showing as no bars at all. I finally gave up and rebooted it, and it went back to normal.

I'm really tired of all this, and sincerely hope the 5.1 update does fix these invalid sim and network fake indicators/dropouts once and for all... and SOON!

Jan 11, 2012 10:17 AM in response to ptnik

I have no technical knowledge, so dont take my word for it, but i think it might have something to do with the fact that the phone is always trying to find a 3G signal, thats when it goes wrong for me, when i have a low 3G signal.

this is because you cant turn 3G off any more, cellular data off, does not mean 3G is off.

but it looks like the switch could be coming back http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2012/01/latest-ios-51-beta-brings-back-3g-togg le-and-more.ars

i mean the phone is supposed to switch to EDGE when 3G is not available, but clearly something is going wrong.

This may also solve battery issues, i turned on airplane mode today.

100% at 9am,

97% at 4pm with 2 hours of usage and 5 hours standby.

It appears to be the antenna causing the battery issues as well, maybe because of constantly trying to find a 3G signal.

I know even finding a EDGE signal uses battery, but edge is generally a stronger signal so less power is used.

Jan 11, 2012 10:14 AM in response to ptnik

Hi!

I'm really interested to see if the solution proposed by captain groz (thanks!) really works.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3396554?start=720&tstart=0

Good luck!

Jan 11, 2012 6:29 PM in response to igaritano

Hi igaritano,

Captain Groz solution did work for me :)

Greetings,

Francisco

guru_g

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2012 12:54 AM in response to ptnik

hi guys

plz tell me that is its is possible to again restore at 5.0.1 after upgrading to 5.1 beta 3

Jan 12, 2012 1:04 AM in response to guru_g

as far as I know, you can since it's beta, also those who are using 5.1B3.. it has an expiry date -I don't know when- when that date comes, you won't be able to use the beta and must restore to the latest public firmware

Jan 12, 2012 5:25 AM in response to Boiling Ice

After updating to 5.1B3, Batelco sim card gives "No Service" immidiatly... I've switched providers and took "VIVA" it worked perfectly.

I restored my iPhone back to 5.0.1, Batelco had the same issues, but Viva worked perfectly without any issues. But FYI, Viva is an approved Apple provider, so no manual APN settings, I don't know if this adds to the solution.

so guru_g, you can go back from 5.1B3 to 5.0.1 by doing 'Restore' your iPhone

Jan 12, 2012 5:57 AM in response to Boiling Ice

Hi Boiling Ice!

perhaps you should wait to the official 5.1 release and see what happens.

In my case since I installed 5.1B3 I haven't got any problem. The worst part is that I notice that the battery consuption is higher now. Let's see what happens with the next release.

See you guys and good luck!

Jan 12, 2012 6:21 AM in response to igaritano

Hi igaritano,

I tried 5.1B3 just to check the new baseband and see how it acts with my sim from 'Batelco'... It was a disaster, so went back to 5.0.1. Having the official iPhone provider sim 'Viva' now and it's been 6 hours without any interruption, compared to 'invalid sim' within an hour with Batelco. So, will wait for the official release of 5.1

guru_g

Level 1

0 points

Jan 12, 2012 7:38 AM in response to ptnik

Hi everyone,

I am now on 5.1B3 with Warid Telecom sim, the sim which give lot of errors while i was on 5.0.1 its almost 2 hours since i was on 5.1B3 still no error, i think the issue is resolve. going to update u guys time by time lets watch what happen

Jan 12, 2012 9:39 AM in response to guru_g

lucky you!! i have sent my iphone back to apple!! and now it is working fine with warid:/

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Invalid SIM Card on iPhone 4S (5.0.1)