SIM restrictions on unlocked European Note3

Search This thread

flygaren

Member
Oct 9, 2007
7
11
Can you tell us the CSC file name for your phone? You could find it by dialling *#1234# into your stock telephone dialler.

First to recap on what I have done, First I used a swedish sim, then a thai sim didn't work (I was still in Sweden at that time), Used a swedish Sim some more. Then tried Thai sim again, didnt work. Got the code from the russian site, Thai sim seemed to work fine.
Realised that I wanted Root also, so flashed with a rooted Rom I found on this site. I don't know if this will affect the CSC or not.
Arrived in Thailand, tested the Thai sim and all is working fine.

Mine CSC is currently reading, N90050XXBMI14
 
  • Like
Reactions: SublimingSun

dxzh

Senior Member
Sep 16, 2010
136
134
First to recap on what I have done, First I used a swedish sim, then a thai sim didn't work (I was still in Sweden at that time), Used a swedish Sim some more. Then tried Thai sim again, didnt work. Got the code from the russian site, Thai sim seemed to work fine.
Realised that I wanted Root also, so flashed with a rooted Rom I found on this site. I don't know if this will affect the CSC or not.
Arrived in Thailand, tested the Thai sim and all is working fine.

Mine CSC is currently reading, N90050XXBMI14

That CSC file name could be broken down (source: http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f200...guage-1621171/) as follows:

* OXX - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom
* B - [I am not sure what this signifies - though "Blocked" is an unsupportable guess.]
* M - 2013
* I - September
* 14 - version 14

Slight chance that OXXB might be some variation on OXB (=Denmark, Norway, Sweden) given you bought the phone in Sweden, but for current purposes I am going to assume that you changed CSC at time of installing rooted ROM - in which case possibly:

- the CSC might be one which allows Thailand anyway; or
- perhaps the effect of the code is stored within the EFS folder and survived flashing of the rooted ROM.
 

bp328i

Senior Member
May 22, 2010
2,154
1,196
Tampa Bay
Don't get excited. He unlocked his phone using the Russian site.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317

I should be receiving my US T-Mobile Note III within the next two days or so. I'm doing quite a bit of traveling within a month. Does the Russian site provide unlock codes that will allow me to use different SIM cards?

T-Mobile will unlock the phone for me but it has to active on their network for least 40 days first and I'm leaving prior to that.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
 

s2kdriver80

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2012
70
10
Long Island, New York
Dumb question - if the file being referenced here listing all of the networks serves as the blacklist, can't root access enable you to edit that file and thus remove all of the entries on the list?
 

dimcus

Senior Member
Jul 12, 2010
228
51
St.Petersburg
I've been loyal Samsung customer since the first Samsung Galaxy Tab was issued. It was a great experience, but with this regional lock story I should say "Samsung goodbye!" and move to HTC, Sony or LG.
 

Kawaisa

Senior Member
Oct 31, 2011
1,851
432
I'd move to HTC or Sony if they actually offered handsets with removable batteries/accepted microSD.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: musa3d

mingkee

Senior Member
I'd move to HTC or Sony if they actually offered handsets with removable batteries/accepted microSD.

Sony is OK because it takes memory card though I don't know whether the latest models (Z, ZL, Z Ultra, Z1) supports FAT64 (required for 64GB or higher), but HTC is really f'ing itself up!
I really hope LG G Pro had AWS HSPA support because the phone is really amazing for the price.
 

DaOldMan

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2010
3,781
6,031
Sony is OK because it takes memory card though I don't know whether the latest models (Z, ZL, Z Ultra, Z1) supports FAT64 (required for 64GB or higher), but HTC is really f'ing itself up!
I really hope LG G Pro had AWS HSPA support because the phone is really amazing for the price.

Nobody cares that the bootloader on LG is totaly locked ? For me this is a showstoper unless I am missing something (yeah there are some third party bootloader unlockers but that's not coming from LG).

Thomas
 

kh_abdallah

New member
Feb 7, 2006
3
1
Hi,
I bought my Note 3 in UK and activate it normally with one of UK operators. I then travelled to Cairo, Egypt and when try to use a local sim card it didn't work and keep say the you need to enter unlocked key.
What Samsung say about first activate with local EU sim and then lock will gone is not true and it is rubbish to force me to keep using the very expensive roaming service.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app
 
  • Like
Reactions: beat.kitano

DaOldMan

Senior Member
Oct 6, 2010
3,781
6,031
Hi,
I bought my Note 3 in UK and activate it normally with one of UK operators. I then travelled to Cairo, Egypt and when try to use a local sim card it didn't work and keep say the you need to enter unlocked key.
What Samsung say about first activate with local EU sim and then lock will gone is not true and it is rubbish to force me to keep using the very expensive roaming service.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using xda app-developers app

Just use the Russian unlock service until now it seems it has 100% success.

Thomas
 
Last edited:

Chiron43

Member
Sep 29, 2013
6
1
Hey guys!
What do you think about creating a separated thread where Note 3 buyers could describe in very clear and accurate words what have been their experience with the activation/unlocking processes ?
This thread would be just for real customers/users reporting and with guidelines.

We would then have a detailed listing of the different situations encountered, because with more than 70 pages it starts to be a bit messy now, don't you think ?

About the guidelines it could be something like this:

---
Hello,

This thread is for collecting real and accurate information from Note 3 customers ONLY and share with the community their own experience of activating/unlocking processes.

Please fill-in the different parts below in clear, short but detailed way.
For analysis purpose by the Senior members / advanced users, it is IMPORTANT that you provide the CSC file name (Customer Sales Code)
You can get it by dialling *#1234# into your stock telephone dialer.

1) CSC file name :
Country of purchase for your Note 3:
Country of origin of the SIM Card used to activate the phone:
Did you have the warning sticker on the packing box about the region lock feature (Yes or No):
What countries where listed on the sticker:

2) Describe how went the activation process:

3) Share your experience about the unlocking process when replacing the SIM Card used to activate the phone with SIM Cards from countries out of the region of purchase:

4) In case your phone has still been locked after doing what Samsung claims to be the regular process to waive the locking feature, share your experience if you have been in contact with any Samsung Service Center or any Samsung representative/customer service/PR/marketing:

5) Additional information you want to share:

---

What do you think of that? Anything to add or to say differently?
I'm not sure if i can open such a thread as i am a new user.
Any mod to comment/approve the idea?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: midnite_blue

htc6500uk

Senior Member
Apr 23, 2009
373
118
West Midlands - UK
Hi Chiron43 - people always wander off topic and whilst a long thread can be a pain to read through it is often better to have all the info in one place. This thread seems to have pretty comprehensive info.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk 4
 

bubblesmoney

Senior Member
Jun 1, 2010
554
139
i have contacted trusted reviews article author saying that his article was wrong to have only written what samsung told them http://www.trustedreviews.com/opini...plained-what-it-means-and-how-it-affects-you? without verfying whether it actually worked like they said.

I have given him the links to many posts here that confirm that samsung is lying about the unlock procedure and also have linked my amazon review where i have put direct links to all posts here confirming phones are locked even after activating it in region where it is bought and cant use foreign sims

Trusted reviews author has said he is writing further updated article after seeing the links i have provided and he has asked samsung for further clarification and waiting for reply from them. Think the updated article is coming today.

here is what i had written in response to their inaccurate article

quote...
One would expect trusted reviews to actually do some research themselves rather than just print what Samsung tells. Have they even verified whether the unlock works as claimed by Samsung. This could very well have been a paid advertisement by Samsung as there isn't much journalism here. Had this tech author even bothered to cast a cursory eye on XDA forums where many people have confirmed unlock procedure does not work as claimed by Samsung. Official Samsung Mobile twitter channel have replied to me that other Sims will not work. Look for the reply on my twitter channel c called bubblesmoney. Also see loads more reports and links on my amazon reviews which show that the unlock does not work as claimed by Samsung. http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1JZ...E3U29EEI1A45&store=electronics#wasThisHelpful

and quoting my second post to him giving him the links....
i will keep updating the links in my amazon review comments for more evidence of the region lock blocking people using their phone during international travel for local sim forcing them to use costly roaming charges.

here are some more links in case you plan on writing an updated article. looks like that are planning on blocking all old phones sold already with the kitkat update (many models including s4, s3, note 3, note3, mini models etc), see links

EU model activated with german sim does not work with thai card http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46046417&postcount=647

EU model activated with netherland sim later does not work with thai sim http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46047526&postcount=653

forthcoming kikat update will block all existing samsung phones sold already for many models!!!! http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46059380&postcount=678

EU model activated with swedish sim does not work with thai sim but later russian unlocking site sells unlock code for 25$ supposedly and it works and later flashed with rooted rom and it works in thailand http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46065306&postcount=701

EU model bought and activated in UK later does not work with egypt sim during vacation forcing costly roaming charges http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46070325&postcount=711

EU model bought and activated in germany does not work with thai sim in thailand during travel http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46039728&postcount=626

reasons for concerns for users why it will be very costly in futurer for any samsung customer that travels on holidays abroad http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=46043956&postcount=637

please use the direct links to posts here confirming 'activation in region specified' does not 'unlock' the phone for global use with any sim as suggested by samsung via anonymous statements to various websites. hopefully all those websites will publish retractions after being given these links.
 

Onweel2

Member
Sep 28, 2013
25
25
My crazy idea is. Samsung told all the website spread the news about the problem is solved. By a little statement in the email but not Official Statement. You can see that all website spread this news almost same time and none of them prove it first. I think they do this for let people see about the problem is solved easy. So they would not stop buying the phone.

Then when the time come later Samsung will have official statement that you can not unlock the phone. Then they will say You see the Sticker.but you still open the box. That mean you accept it. Then you refer to Unofficial Statement. Then they would say that is just a misunderstand or that is just mistranslation.
Now it too late for you. Because it more than 7 days. you can not change the phone.

it is just crazy idea. no one have to believe me.

Sometime it feed sad about what we talking here it would can not change anything. All the website seem do not care then move on. Even not try to prove that I'm wrong. I have no connection to any important person.

and what i deeply fear is. This topic shall gone. And it would never come again till 2-3 years from now when many people realise the problem.
 

Netskyliner

Senior Member
Sep 28, 2011
806
119
Paris
Just got my SM-9005 this morning from Bouygues telecom in Paris France. All phones they sell are full unlocked with or without contract, with no blue sticker.
Activated with european simcard then tetsted Tunisian one (North Africa sim). All was working.
Can feel lucky I think :)
 

Top Liked Posts

  • There are no posts matching your filters.
  • 21
    give me a N3 and we will see...

    i don't get what all the fuss is about, people in israel keep getting USA phones that are locked and just unlock them to sim free
    no one ever said a thing about it, USA cellphone is locked to a single operator is OK for every one
    now samsung made it locked to all EU operators but did the mistake and called it "unlocked" and not "eu unlocked" or "eu locked" big deal

    i unlocked USA phones and will unlock EU phones, the earth still goes on.... no one died


    why?

    The reason people are nervous is straightforward:

    1) The phones claim to be "Unlocked' - they are not.

    2) There is no evidence that traditional unlock methods will work -
    a) I have discussed this with my source for unlocking phones by code - he unlocks about 100,000 phones a year, and has access to all the databases. He has never heard of such a thing, and is not confident that codes will be available.
    b) Software solutions may or may not be available. Even so, not everybody is technical enough (or wants) to start butchering their phones. Further, we have customers who need these phones unlocked for network-testing purposes. They are aware of the software-unlock methods and do not want that as they claim it messes with the phone's firmware.

    3) No one was informed of this before they purchased the device. Even the largest distributors (10s of thousands of phones - not retailers) only found out about it today.and have no answers

    This is totally different than just purchasing an AT&T phone from the USA and getting it unlocked in Israel. Everybody knows how to do it and where to get it done. However, nobody knows how to do this phone, or if it even can be unlocked as this is a new type of lock that nobody yet understands or has successfully unlocked.

    We also have these phone on our website, and we had to call each one of our customers that pre-ordered and explain the situation. Some didn't mind, and some were really pissed off and cancelled the orders.

    I hope you are correct, and we can all pay our $20.00 and get the code. However, that remains to be seen.

    And, on an OEM, carrier-unbranded device that can cost $900, and claims to be "factory unlocked" but is not, it is just bad business IMHO.


    Dovid Feldman
    On The Go Solutions, Inc
    16
    From my Twitter ...

    Aaaaand.... I just region unlocked my Note 3. FU Samsung.

    ( I locked out my current carrier, tested I could no longer make phone calls, then unlocked it again, et voila )

    I need a tester (with root) who has a SIM card that isn't working in his or her Note3. For verification. Then, app incoming.

    'nuff said !
    15
    There'll be an app release soon enough.

    If you don't want root for other reasons, it is indeed unfortunate you currently need it for this. Rooting (via CF-Auto-Root) does void KNOX warranty (irreversable), however, if you use the unroot option in SuperSU, and flash back a stock kernel and recovery, OTAs will work again. Note that it is possible to root without tripping KNOX warranty using a customized system partition, I'm sure someone has made or will make one sooner or later.

    It is theoretically feasable to do this without root, but a lot tougher to make and maintain, with the information I currently have. I'm certain there is a way to improve this, I just haven't found it yet - and as I'm a full on root user, I doubt I will spend more time looking for it.
    14
    Latest News - Oct 9th 2013 - Clove, who specialise in sim-free/unlocked phones have suggested
    that the Russian unlocking service at:
    http://puman.ru/?selectlanguage=English
    may be a solution for those concerned about the regional lock.
    More info in the Clove blog at:
    http://blog.clove.co.uk/2013/09/25/samsung-galaxy-note-3-sim-limitations/


    Whether or not the Note 3 Verizon (US) "Developer Edition" will be regionally locked remains to be seen,
    At least the bootloader will, according to reports, be unlocked.
    More skimpy details at the Samsung/Verizon page at: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SM-N900VMKEVZW

    More Recent News - Oct 6th 2013 - Chainfire appears to have created an app to
    get round region locking for the Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 (MI7 firmware) and rooted
    You can buy Chainfire a beer (£1.99) by downloading the app from the Play Store at:
    http://pkg.to/eu.chainfire.regionlockaway

    There is also a thread started by Chainfire at: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=46187852 where meanies(!) can download it free.


    Recent News (01:30 Oct 3rd 2013)
    Android Authority: Galaxy Note 3 region lock is an issue after all, Android 4.4 update may lock older Galaxy handsets http://goo.gl/KjgVwc


    Previous news (1st Oct 2013)

    A significant number of users still claim they can't use "out of region" sims despite having first used a sim for the region the Note 3 was intended for which is the way Samsung have said is the way to 'unlock' the regional sim lock.

    A number of users in this thread who found their Note3 was still region locked despite following the Samsung advice have successfully unlocked their Note3 regional lock using a Russian unlocking web site at http://puman.ru/ Although I am the OP of this thread, I do not have an out of region Sim to test this out myself - so no guarantees but read the posts!

    Pics say it all. The Note 3 "unlocked" models are still locked to regions like DVD's and thus not very attractive to globetrotters or international purchasers who are being asked to pay £600 or so for a crippled device.
    u5abydaz.jpg

    qe3atyge.jpg
    9uja6y5e.jpg
    13
    Health warning: the message below is worrying.

    I spoke yet again to the Samsung UK customer service team (+44 330 726 7864) this afternoon (at 5:40pm GMT) as I had not received the email I had been promised this morning with a statement on the region lock. A different rep spoke to me and had the following news to report to me:

    - the Samsung UK telephone staff have had problems sending out emails today and therefore have not sent out the statement to me - which was fine by me as these things happen.

    - the SIM limitation sticker really is meant to mean what it says - the N9005 is not meant to be compatible with SIMs issued by operators outside the European region - I believe at least some owners are using the Note 3 with SIMs issued by operators outside the EU but the rep was adamant that the Note 3 was not intended by Samsung to be used with SIMs issued by operators outside of the European region, even following first activation.

    - the European region Note 3s are only meant to be compatible with SIMs issued by operators from the European region, and this applies equally after activation - I asked repeatedly her to confirm this which she did each time. I tried practical examples too and it got worse: So if I go to Australia I must use a European region SIM in my Note 3 even if I buy the Note 3 SIM-free for £620? Yes according to the rep. So I asked if I go to Florida on vacation, I have no choice but to use a European region SIM in my Note 3? Yes again according to rep.

    - it makes no difference if here in the UK I buy the Note 3 from Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U, EE or Clove.

    - I could buy another phone if I wanted to use a SIM from an operator outside the EU in my mobile - the rep volunteered this to me as it never occurred to me that they might seriously suggest such a policy.

    - the rollout of Kitkat is to extend the regional lock to existing SGS3s and Note 2s - I asked if my existing unlocked SGS3 bought unlocked over a year ago is to be subject to the same regional lock if I upgrade. Yes according to rep. So I would not be able to use a SIM from outside the European region in it when travelling? Yes according to the rep.

    - no statement can be sent in an email to me by the Samsung UK telephone team to confirm this in writing.

    - I can email uk.help@samsung.com with any questions but it might take up to 24 hours to respond. When I pointed out to the rep that I had already done just this, emailing uk.help@samsung.com on Friday evening (27th) and not had a response in over 50 hours (including after checking my spam folder), I was told that sometimes the email team are very busy and she could not say for sure when I would receive a response to any question.

    I have asked to get a call back from the Tier 2 rep who I spoke to on Friday (27th) but in the meanwhile I can only stand gobsmacked by the apparent madness of this corporate policy. For example:

    - Samsung cannot even implement a draconian region lock policy (if that is what they really intend) properly and consistently - given that some European Note 3s with the European regional lock sticker are reported to be being activated and then successfully used outside the home region with SIMs issued by operators outside the home region - while others are able to activate with home region SIM but not then able to use out of region SIMs when travelling.

    - Samsung (whether through its local offices, PR companies or employees) can brief against itself so that some Samsung offices will say one thing and others possibly within the same office, something completely different, on the same day, and day after day.

    - the utter, utter lack of leadership from Samsung Global (Electronics) to coordinate and communicate their own policy (whether that policy is good or bad is almost irrelevant) clearly, consistently and transparently - or to communicate it at all.

    - complete confusion among retailers, and among Samsung reps talking to retailers, here in the UK as to Samsung's region lock policy, to the extent they are even aware in the first place of the region lock policy and how it operates - which, from first hand exerience, I can say many are not.