Satellite Phone Forum

[Peter]

I have an Ericsson R290 Satellite Phone. It is displaying Phone Disabled but
the SIM card is not an issue as this card works in other phones. My guess is I
need the Master reset codes for the phone - not the SIM.

Is there anybody on satellite phone forum who is able to help or direct me to
someone in Australia that could help. I am in Brisbane QLD.

Regards
Peter - VK4FSD

[acomdata]

Did you try to follow a factory reset procedure you can find in user the user manual for this Ericsson satellite phone:

Phone Lock (PIN)
The phone lock protects the phone against unauthorized use of the phone if there is a theft. The phone lock is not activated when you buy the phone. Upon purchase the phone Personal Identification Number (PIN) will be set to 0000. If the phone PIN is enabled, when you switch on the phone, the message
‘Phone PIN Enabled’ will be displayed. It is strongly recommended that you enable the Phone PIN. If you do not like the original number we recommend that you change it to one you find easy to remember.

Enter your PIN carefully If you enter the PIN incorrectly, you will be notified of this and asked to re-enter it. If you enter your PIN incorrectly three times in succession, the SIM card will be blocked and the phone will be disabled for all foreign SIMs and the message ‘Phone Disabled’ will be shown on the display If this happens you can unlock it by using a Personal Unblocking Key (PUK) code. Contact your operator to obtain this code. See “Unblocking with Personal Unblocking Key (PUK)” below.

The phone PIN can ONLY be changed when the MASTER SIM is inserted, (the SIM fitted when the phone PIN was first enabled). If a different SIM is used, the message ‘Request Rejected’ will be given.

Unblocking with Personal Unblocking Key (PUK):

When you buy your SIM Card, you obtain a 4- to 8- digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a Personal Unblocking Key (PUK). The PIN is the code that you enter to get access to and activate your subscription. PIN 2 is used with special functions, such as price. The PUK (and PUK 2) is a code that helps you unlock your phone when you have forgotten the PIN (PIN 2). If you have entered the PIN incorrectly three times in a row enter the following from stand-by:

<* <* 0 5 <* SIM PIN1 Unblocking Key
Then enter the new number.
<* New SIM PIN1
Enter the new number again to confirm.
<* New SIM PIN1 #>

It is important to know that new PUK code given to you by your provider or Erricsson will be rejected if the MASTER SIM is not present in R290 handset.

It is the phone that is locked, not the card (the same SIM should work fine in other handsets), and to be unlocked you need to go through PUK unblocking procedure using the same SIM card that was in the phone when device was disabled. The phone, generally speaking, should work and it should have a signal and satellite service. You should be able even to make 000 calls. It is just that device has been locked due to three wrong PIN entries.

Not having a master SIM (the SIM you first put in phone), means you have to get the phone reset by somebody who has the right software and knowledge how to do it. I know facilities in USA, Canada and UK (cost £10 - £15) which can clear it by doing a master reset of R290 satellite phone, but the shipping costs from your location could be prohibitive factor in this case.

[Peter]

It's always good replying to your own question

I found an online help desk for phones and all sorts of things, paid the money and chatted to a guy on line. Turns out my phone needs a Modem cable and some software that I downloaded last night, apparently once I connect the phone up and run this software the phone will be enabled/reset, so currently looking around for a cable locally before I go out purchasing one. Sad thing is there are possibly hundreds of these cables sitting in the bottom of peoples junk boxes, most phones now utilise USB cables not Serial.

If you by chance you are interested the cable I am looking for is a Sony Ericsson DRS-11 Serial cable. I downloaded software from mobiles-free.com website.

Regards
Peter - VK4FSD

[Peter]

Did you try to follow a factory reset procedure you can find in user the user manual for this Ericsson satellite phone:

The phone PIN can ONLY be changed when the MASTER SIM is inserted, (the SIM fitted when the phone PIN was first enabled). If a different SIM is used, the message ‘Request Rejected’ will be given.

Unblocking with Personal Unblocking Key (PUK):

When you buy your SIM Card, you obtain a 4- to 8- digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) and a Personal Unblocking Key (PUK). The PIN is the code that you enter to get access to and activate your subscription. PIN 2 is used with special functions, such as price. The PUK (and PUK 2) is a code that helps you unlock your phone when you have forgotten the PIN (PIN 2). If you have entered the PIN incorrectly three times in a row enter the following from stand-by:

It is important to know that new PUK code given to you by your provider or Erricsson will be rejected if the MASTER SIM is not present in R290 handset.

It is the phone that is locked, not the card (the same SIM should work fine in other handsets), and to be unlocked you need to go through PUK unblocking procedure using the same SIM card that was in the phone when device was disabled. The phone, generally speaking, should work and it should have a signal and satellite service. You should be able even to make 000 calls. It is just that device has been locked due to three wrong PIN entries.

Not having a master SIM (the SIM you first put in phone), means you have to get the phone reset by somebody who has the right software and knowledge how to do it. I know facilities in USA, Canada and UK (cost £10 - £15) which can clear it by doing a master reset of R290 satellite phone, but the shipping costs from your location could be prohibitive factor in this case.

Basically hit the nail on the head and unfortunately the original owner cannot find the old sim card.

As stated in my last post I have the software and know how to use it but I lack the Serial cable for this phone, the supplier will only send to the US and as I am in Australia this is a problem, also I need the phone in under 4 weeks so my window is closing fast!

If someone has the cable and is willing to loan or sell it to me please let me know or if anyone has the pin out of the plug under the phone so I can make up a cable this would be appreciated - I am getting desperate. I do have several people in town looking for me so hopefully someone will have some success.

Regards
Peter

[admin]

Ericsson DRS-11 Serial Data Cables available on eBay at the moment:

[padley2]

Hi I have an R290 that works for voice calls but I have never tired it for data. I have what looks like the right cable but I have no software. Can you tell me where to get hold of the modem software.

I have tried mobiles-free.com and could not find what I was looking for. Maybe it’s not there anymore? Or could you tell me where to look?

I have also tried Ericsson R290 Modem Setup file, but you have to pay for that.

Could you email it to me at padley@talk21.com

Neil – G7PWA