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Using without a SIM

This is NOTHING to do with activation or anything to do with the cellular network.


For over a year now I've been using a couple of older iPhones just making use of their WiFi connection to my local network and hence the Internet. The other day I noticed the 3Gs could not make use of the network. It sees the correct WiFi network and apparently connects fine (no complaints), but then nothing else works over the network. At its most basic, Safari cannot even access the local web server, so it's nothing to do with any Internet connection (or lack of).


I've tried with Airplane Mode on and off, with SIM and without, turned WiFi on and off, restarted the entire phone, everything I can think of, but I just cannot get the network to do anything other than connect.


It's not the iPhone that's faulty in some way as I tried the other iPhone (4) in the same situation and lo and behold, that now doesn't work either, although an iPhone 5 with working SIM functions perfectly on the same network. So from this I deduce it's an iOS thing rather than hardware. Did it start with iOS 6.1.3? No idea since that's some time ago and I cannot determine exactly when this problem originally surfaced.


This is a new problem as these iPhones have been doing this perfectly for a long time, now suddenly, both cannot use the network. Has anyone else seen this and/or got any suggestions?

MacPro, MacBook Pro, Mini Server, TVs, iPad, iPhone 4, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 30" HD display,

Posted on May 2, 2013 7:49 AM

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31 replies

May 2, 2013 11:39 AM in response to UKenGB

Provide some worthwhile information, then.


No one gets 'kudos' based on the number of posts they make. If you bothered to look up how the points system here works, you would know that.


If may believe you know what you're doing, or what you're talking about, but your posts indicate otherwise.


You have a network problem. Continuing to insist that the problem is not your network, and refusing to troubleshoot your network, even as a means of eliminating it as the cause of the issue, is assinine.

Jul 26, 2017 12:41 AM in response to UKenGB

came here with similar problem.
phone was working fine to access internet when sim card was in phone AND cellular data turned off.

ie: phone accessing internet via local wifi.


took sim card out of phone, phone stops working to access internet.


obviously an apple problem, nothing to do with local wifi network.

I really can't see myself every purchasing an apple product ever again.


So much angst caused by apple software policies.

May 2, 2013 7:53 AM in response to UKenGB

If none of these devices are working with the wifi, I would think that it has something to do with your network, not the devices, since it is multiple devices that are not functioning. Have you tried anything else on this wifi network? Do they work? Try power cycling your router.


Also, if you updated these devices to iOS 6.1.3,did you complete the activation process?

May 2, 2013 8:41 AM in response to UKenGB

As originally stated, this is NOTHING to do with activation (i.e. they've been fully activated the entire time, through several software updates and I think I'd notice if they needed activation). Also, since one specific failure I mentioned was inability to browse a local web server, i.e. on the same network, we can rule out router problems.


In any case, since every other device (including other iPhones with working SIM cards) and in fact the entire network is functioning perfectly, I would suggest the problem is nothing to do with my LAN.


This problem has only appeared on the 2 iPhones which have no functioning SIM, i.e. no cellular connection. However, iPods and iPads are fine.


Since Apple have been frigging with directing network data packets in recent updates (in order to better arbitrate between multiple network connections, i.e. WiFi or Cellular) it seems entirely possible they may have introduced this problem in a recent update, but would that be by design or in error? Hopefully the latter and it's a simple bug that will get fixed, but I worry that it might be the former and they have made a specific decision to NOT let iPhones be used without a functioning SIM. Years ago I would have scoffed at such an idea. The thought of Apple being so mean minded would have been preposterous, but now I'm not so sure.


Hopefully I'm worng, but has anyone else come across this problem?

May 2, 2013 9:56 AM in response to KiltedTim

Sorry, what troubleshooting steps? All you've suggested is re-start the router which since it is clearly NOT an Internet related problem is a worthless exercise. You might as well suggest I stand on my head and whistle Dixie. However amusing you may think that would be (or not:-) it won't have any effect on an iPhone connecting to my LAN.


Do you even know what a router is?


In truth, no I'm not interested in any 'troubleshooting' recommendations since I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself. What I want to know (and asked) is if anyone had come across this problem before and if so, what might be causing it as I am most definitely interested in solving it.

May 2, 2013 10:18 AM in response to UKenGB

UKenGB wrote:


All you've suggested is re-start the router which since it is clearly NOT an Internet related problem is a worthless exercise.

No. It's not a worthless exercise since it also controls your local network.



Do you even know what a router is?

Yes. Apparently, you do not.



In truth, no I'm not interested in any 'troubleshooting' recommendations since I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself. What I want to know (and asked) is if anyone had come across this problem before and if so, what might be causing it as I am most definitely interested in solving it.

Then your post constitutes a poll, which is clearly prohibited by the TOS.

May 2, 2013 10:56 AM in response to KiltedTim

KiltedTim wrote:


UKenGB wrote:


All you've suggested is re-start the router which since it is clearly NOT an Internet related problem is a worthless exercise.

No. It's not a worthless exercise since it also controls your local network.



Do you even know what a router is?

Yes. Apparently, you do not.



In truth, no I'm not interested in any 'troubleshooting' recommendations since I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself. What I want to know (and asked) is if anyone had come across this problem before and if so, what might be causing it as I am most definitely interested in solving it.

Then your post constitutes a poll, which is clearly prohibited by the TOS.


First of all, a router plays NO part in my local LAN. If you understand what a router is, then you will know that.


As for my question being a POLL, what utter nonsense. It was a simple question that you did not address.

May 2, 2013 11:09 AM in response to UKenGB

First of all, a router plays NO part in my local LAN. If you understand what a router is, then you will know that.

Then re-set your wireless access point, as clearly you must be using discreet devices for router, switch, and wireless access points.



As for my question being a POLL, what utter nonsense.

You stated:

I'm not interested in any 'troubleshooting' recommendations since I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself. What I want to know (and asked) is if anyone had come across this problem before and if so, what might be causing it as I am most definitely interested in solving it.

Find. You are not interested in troubleshooting, but you want to know what might be causing the problem...


Since it is unlikely that multiple iPhones would fail in exactly the same way at exactly the same time, logic dictates that the problem is your network.

May 2, 2013 11:19 AM in response to AKRBTN

You know what makes these discussion forums frustrating, it's receiving answers by those too keen to post without actually reading and understanding the point in question. Yes, you may be right, those who cannot see the reason for such frustration may well be irritated by my response, but it in no way comes close to how irritated I am by simplistic responses to my serious question. I try to make it plain that I am not a novice at this, but no-one knows everything and even I need to ask questions sometimes. However, when I ask if anyone has come across this specific problem and whether anyone knows anything about it, it is irritating in the extreme to receive useless responses such as "re-start your router" which IS a worthless suggestion.


It has long been apparent there are those who frequent these forums seeking to post often and gain kudos from the number of posts they make, even when the posts are of no value whatsoever. So yes, that irritated me.


Now, if anyone has anything worthwhile to suggest, I promise I won't be irritated. 😉

May 2, 2013 11:47 AM in response to KiltedTim

KiltedTim wrote:


First of all, a router plays NO part in my local LAN. If you understand what a router is, then you will know that.

Then re-set your wireless access point, as clearly you must be using discreet devices for router, switch, and wireless access points.


Since it is unlikely that multiple iPhones would fail in exactly the same way at exactly the same time, logic dictates that the problem is your network.


So when you said "router" you actually meant wireless base station (access point). I find it always helps to use the correct word. 🙂


However, yes, my broadband 'modem' (not really a modem though is it) is in the same box as the router, but I then have several dual band AirPort BaseStations. I currently have 3 iPhones on my desk, each about 1m from the nearest AirPort. The 3Gs and the 4 have inactive SIMS, the 5 is my working phone. When all 3 are on the same WiFi network (i.e. same SSID, same frequency, same b, g and n compatibility mode) only the iPhone 5 can use the network which it does - perfectly.


Not only that, but the 3Gs and the 4 (and 5 of course) all see the WiFi network and connect and obtain the correct DHCP info from my server. Therefore I think it is safe to assume it is not a problem with my LAN.


But I agree, it is highly unlikely that 2 iPhones have failed in the same way so as I said, it is unlikely to be hardware.


In any case, everything did work, but there have been iOS updates and it is possible things stopped working at the time of the last update and no, they don't require activation. No update has ever caused that and there've been many during the time using this setup.


I am fairly sure this IS an iOS thing and hence I am most interested in anyone else who has experienced this same problem, when it occurred and if they have found a cure or any other information about it.


BTW, I am not making up stuff about Apple. iMessage now won't work on Macs that are not 'supposed' to be using Mountain Lion (e.g. early Mac Pro). One day it worked, then it didn't. Nothing obviously changed, but no-one using such a ML install (i.e. on an unsupported Mac) can now use iMessage.


In iOS 5 you can use CardDAV to access Contacts in an iCloud account. In iOS 6 you cannot make it work.


The only conclusion from this is that Apple have been including code that prevents anyone doing the above, so the concept of Apple now preventing anyone using an old iPhone just for its networking capabilities is not so far fetched.


So it is of extreme interest to me if anyone is still using a SIMless iPhone to access a network using iOS 6.1.3. If they are and it's just me with the problem, THEN I need to troubleshoot further, but if everyone is suffering the same issues, it's obviously iOS and a waste of my time trying to fix it.

May 2, 2013 11:57 AM in response to KiltedTim

KiltedTim wrote:


If may believe you know what you're doing, or what you're talking about, but your posts indicate otherwise.


Just when I thought we were getting on so well. Where precisely have my posts indicated I don't know what I'm talking about. I seem to recall it was you who used the incorrect term and confused the issue.


As for refusing basic troubleshooting of my network, I have tried to explain I do NOT need to do that. I am fully aware of what my network can and cannot do, is and is not doing. It's one of the first things I would check. I tried to avoid explaining all this by stating that other devices are working on it perfectly and that I already "deduce' that the problem is with iOS and hence my specific questions about anyone else experiencing the same thing.


We're way past basic network troubleshooting, please stop going on about it. I realise we've both irritated each other, but perhaps if we can get past that...?

Using without a SIM

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