My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Hello everyone

I installed a lot of apps from the extras repository and etc... and yesterday my N900 crashed.. was like.. dead! It was unable to use.

I decided to flash it as explained in wiki page . Everything went ok, the N900 was back. But when i put the SIM card on it, it broke my heart :( The problem is Nokia doesn't detect the SIM card after flashing it... I already tryed diferent SIM cards and notting.
All the other software is fine, but i can't do any calls or send messages because no SIM detected.
It should ask for the PIN number to access the SIM card when i turn the phone on, but after flash it doesn't happen.

Can anybody help me?

btw... I flashed the phone without the SIM card in it.. you think it can be related?
should I flash the mobile again?

thnx

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

The same thing happened to me the 1st time I flashed. All you need to do is update your device ( I used the app manager while on wifi ) and after a couple updates, it should be working like it used to.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Please provide the SIM status by opening the X Terminal and entering:

dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.SIM /com/nokia/phone/SIM Phone.Sim.get_sim_status

And please provide the Network registration status by opening the X Terminal and entering:

dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.net /com/nokia/phone/net Phone.Net.get_registration_status

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

did you flash to an earlier version than was on the phone already? you may have to update to the same or newer than you had previously for it to work.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I updated all the software, and now it works fine =)

thnx a lot for the attention ;)

and sry for the late answer.. i had some internet problems.

btw... Maemo rules!

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I suddenly last week also got this error.
"SIM card registration failed" when N900 boots up.
Still running PR1.2

Before my phone and the SIM card was working fine for 3 months.

SIM-card is not registered. If I manually search GSM networks (it will find 3 where 1 is the one I should get into), and try to connect any of the found networks, it always says "No access".

However, the same SIM card in N95 works without problems.

I even changed to new SIM card from my operator, but same thing, does not allow GSM access in N900, but does in N95.

When I last week tried with a SIM card of my friend, which has a different operator, my N900 worked fine.

Operator's technical help desk couldn't find a problem.

Haven't yet tried the dbus commands Andre Klapper mentioned but I got the system log which has some lines which may explain what is happening:

Maybe the problem goes away when I upgrade to PR1.3, but haven't done that test yet as it would be nice to know what is the problem here. [Edit: The problem didn't go away by flashing both rootfs and eMMC with PR1.3 images.]

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

The above dbus-commands returned this:

# dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.SIM /com/nokia/phone/SIM Phone.Sim.get_sim_status
# dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.net /com/nokia/phone/net Phone.Net.get_registration_status
(Edit: got the meanings of some of the fields from an another discussion thread, and from here.)

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Still no cellular access, although radio seems to be working because it finds networks.

Here is a fresh reboot syslog, system messages from csd and ssc are selected:
In 17:30:26 I try to call the phone answering service.
In 17:32:39 I try manually to search networks, I find 3, and select the one which is my operator -> "no access".

But still no problem with the same SIM card in Nokia N95.

Any ideas what could be wrong?

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Well, rootfs and eMMC flashed, but the problem still exists.

However, flashing rootfs and eMMC does not entirely clean the device, because when it booted, it asked the security code which I have set to be asked always when the device boots up. The security code was not reset to 12345, but was my old one.

So something still is not reset to factory defaults when rootfs and eMMC are flashed?

I guess I try every trick until either I get the phone bricked or get it to work. Maybe flashing Meego next, just for curiousity.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

In this thread quite a few folks have reported success after adding a piece of paper in the SIM holder!

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

OK, thanks, will try the paper trick.

(Just to remind) The SIM card works fine in N95 and also in this N900 two other SIM cards from different operators work, so the SIM-slot itself should not be broken.

And I've also once got a new SIM-card from a operator which does not work either in N900 but does in N95.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

It is this post.
Other posts in that thread suggest it might be worth asking your carrier for a replacement SIM.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I got the problem of communication failure with sim 11 days ago.
Here are what the commands say for one of the two sim cards I tried:
# dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.SIM /c
om/nokia/phone/SIM Phone.Sim.get_sim_status
method return sender=:1.19 -> dest=:1.427 reply_serial=2
uint32 0
int32 0

# dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.net /com/nokia/phone/net Phone.Net.get_registration_status
method return sender=:1.19 -> dest=:1.426 reply_serial=2
byte 0
uint16 0
uint32 0
uint32 0
uint32 0
byte 0
byte 0
int32 2

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I do not know what the Sim.get_sim_status values means, but the Net.get_registration_status you got shows your phone does not seem to try to connect to any network. See the same output from mine log. I can search manually all GSM networks around and try to connect them, but everyone says "no access" with this one SIM-card which works on other phones.

Try in Setup/Phone/Manual-select-network if you can see any GSM networks.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

zimon look here as I have worked out some of the registration status values. 11 means network registration has failed, but you already know that.

ljo, your SIM doesn't appear to be in the phone as far as the phone is concerned.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Jon, yes, communication failure make other parts of your software believe that sometimes. Zimon's problem is not related to the subject of this thread from what i can tell.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

guys its easy and simple.
if you flash to a older version or if you flash with the wrong firmware version for your country you will get problems with your sim.
flash to the right and newest firmware and everything is ok.
THATS IT

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

No luck with the paper trick previously mentioned.
I guess I once again phone my operator's technical support and ask them to look from the log files what actually is failing. But it is kind of hard work to convince them I already in my end have tried everything else but replacing the device.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

My SIM-card in the N900 stopped working out of the blue with PR1.2 Before then it had worked for 3 months and in this time I never flashed the device. Flashing was not the cause of the problem, because I never flashed when it stopped working.

(Edit: btw, the problem seems to be started at the same time when phone noticed there would be maemo upgrade available, 2010-10-27. I didn't allow it to upgrade OTA then.)

I even waited two weeks by not upgrading to PR1.3 just to see if there would be new bug to be found from my non working system.
The SIM card worked still fine with N95, but I still got a new SIM-card from an operator. This new SIM card didn't work either with N900, but works in N95. I've tried two other SIM-cards from different network operators, and they work fine, so device's hardware seem not to be broken.

Upgrading to PR1.3 (flashed both rootfs and eMMC) didn't fix the problem.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Sorry atilla, but that can't be the full truth as you put it. There is no more right and later firmware. it worked fine for about a week with the latest and greatest.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Does your SIM-card work in some other phone, have you tried?
I guess you cannot see any GSM networks either if you go to Setup/Phone/Manual_networks?

Yes, seems like my problem is not exactly "SIM card not recognized", but rather "SIM card registration failed".

I would understand, if my phone's IMEI would be black-listed with this one and only operator, and not with the other two different GSM network operators. But technical support said it is not black listed and usually black listing in my country goes to all 3 GSM-operators.

Neither it could be operator locked, as it works with other two GSM operators which are competitors with each others and with the third my own operator as well.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Use the menu in the Settings application. There you will find options to "Restore original settings" and "Clear device".

I very much doubt your carrier will be able to help you debug this issue as it is evident this is a local problem with your handset or SIM: "resp_sim_get_parameters(): sim parameters could not be read rc:-1"

In your position (having re-flashed, etc) I would:

1) Thoroughly clean the contacts of the SIM and SIM holder with isopropyl alcohol (or a similar solvent that evaporates leaving no residue).

2) Request a new SIM from the carrier.

3) Return the phone to Nokia for repair.

Good luck!

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I have done both those. No help.

And phone can read the SIM card, because it asks the PIN code and also syslog gets the correct IMSI-number:
Nov 14 22:45:49 Nokia-N900 osso_startup_wizard[1036]: GLIB DEBUG default - Replied IMSI: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Wouldn't the PIN code request, reply and confirmation fail also if there would be a problem with contacts?

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I don't know enough about SIM's electrical interface to say for sure, but it's possible that a different communication speed / protocol / voltage is negotiated after the PIN is verified.
The error message in your logs is very clear about communication failing with the SIM.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

The syslogs before are from PR1.2

Since then I flashed rootfs and eMMC with PR1.3 images (using Linux flasher). The syslog errors and notes are somewhat different, so the new syslog after somewhat clear state are attached.

After the firmware upgrade, I installing syslogd, and ssh deb-packages and set up USB networking so I can debug easily.

There is now everything what has been in syslog, except I have changed IMEI and IMSI codes to "MYIMEIMYIMEI" and "MYCURRENTIMSI".

The system has been booted 8 times after syslogd package was installed (used bluetooth to get it in):
In the first boot there was no SIM card yet in the device. The time was set to be correct in the first boot seen in syslog.
09:13 -> 21:14

In the second boot, one sees there has not been any SIM in the device before that:
Then the device asks SIM PIN, gets it right every time and tries to connect to the GSM network, fails.

Also in the couple of the boot sessions and in the last, I try manually to seach GSM networks and try to connect to my own, which fails with a note: "no access".

I even tried to fiddle with call forwarding settings and SIM phone book with another phone (N95), but still N900 complains about those:
(And I remind, two different SIM cards with different operators than mine works with this N900, just last week. So it is only with this one operator when SIM card support somehow got broken out of the blue two weeks ago after working fine 3 months.)

So if someone sees in this new fresh (PR1.3) log file something
revealing, I'd love to hear/read.

I guess all those csd system messages should show "rc:0" and not "rc:-1" or "rc:3" ?

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

OK, I've read through the logs of your first three boots (up until 22:46). I'm really not sure what the problem might be.

You're still getting errors about communication with the SIM, but I don't think these are the root cause but merely a symptom. Likewise I don't think cleaning your SIM will help; the problem seems to be elsewhere.

I recant my earlier statement about your carrier not being able to help. Perhaps you should consult them to see what they can add. I too could believe your N900's IMEI has been banned on their network. It's worth asking them again; perhaps their customer services database isn't yet in synch with the production database.

It would be nice to know exactly what rc:4 indicates in this message: "cellular: csd[758]: ISI_SMS .790557> ind_reg_status(): Net registration (ind) status:0 rc:4". I'm having trouble finding that message in the various sources I've consulted on maemo.gitorious.org. I can't find anything on bugs.maemo.org that seems relevant.

I'm not sure, but conventionally negative return codes are rarely a good sign. It's late and I must sleep. If I have time tomorrow I'll install syslog to see what results I get.

As the SIM works in your N95 you might try deleting all stored contacts and SMSs. This is just grasping at straws though, based on where the majority of your errors are reported.

One other thing to try would be forcing a 2G connection, rather than dual or 3G mode.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I got status code 6 today, when I manually tried to connect to my own GSM operator's network. I wonder what 6 means?

Is there dbus-commands (CLI) which can be used to make the same as with Setup application/Phone, manually search GSM networks, list them, and then try to connect one of them?

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

The lack of output from dbus-monitor whilst performing those actions suggests there aren't.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

FYI, when I register to my SIM's home network I get:
​cellular: csd[803]: ISI_SMS .584106> ind_reg_status(): Net registration (ind) status:1 rc:0

However when I try to register to a network to which I'm not allowed to roam I get what you were seeing yesterday:
cellular: csd[803]: ISI_SMS .670837> ind_reg_status(): Net registration (ind) status:0 rc:4

I think you should take this up with your carrier again.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

OT: A Moderator could transfer all my messages and replys to them to this thread instead:
SIM card registration failed
My problem is not that N900 does not recognize SIM card, but fails to register it to the GSM network. Sorry to be in this thread in the first place, but Addre Klapper here suggested those dbus-commands which I think could had helped abit.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

You could try in XTerm sending a dbus-send message to switch on the cell modem:
I used old dead SIM cards to determine the different registration status codes, I also included going online and offline to get the Cell modem states. If you look at the status codes in binary format could 6 be the Cell modem powering up? :confused:
Guessing there.

I could never catch the modem powering up, but I didn't try very hard as modem changing its powered state is only for a very short time and didn't matter to me, I was only interested in the SIM regiatration status.

OK, have been playing arround with the phone registration status by doing a dbus-monitor command, going from online to offline, status 6 never shows for me. So could it be a Cell modem error?
If you try the above code, I get these results being thrown up when going from online to offline:
and offline to online
EDIT: I don't know if you know about Cellular Modem Control Buttons

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

This is what I got, when I manually searched GSM networks, found 3, and selected the one which is my operator's network, after it tried and then said "no access".

And when I go to offline (flight) mode I get this:
And back to online (trying):

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Oh well, "went" back to my operator, but I think they just are so selfconvinced the problem is not theirs, so they do not even investigate. Must be really weird bug/failure, that two otherwise working SIM-cards from the same network-operatorA do "not register", but with a network-operatorB's SIM-card and network-operatorC's SIM-card the device works normally and fine.

I guess I just change operator soon to get the problem fixed.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

I'm sorry in advance.

But this has not abated. Specifically it is not a SIM registration error, but the cellular modem powers down inexplicably. And unpredictably. Physical pressure on the phone back often causes the phone to restore the cellular connection (related to the remedy in the following quote)...

I've put as much paper in the battery compartment as it will hold, and the phone often keeps a signal. But when it loses it, it stays gone, sometimes for days. No amount of pressure, or rebooting, or switching to offline mode and back again will restore it more than just momentarily. Until, suddenly, it comes back again on its own. And then it will stay connected for a day or two.

Honestly, I think the N900 is failing at times to properly authenticate with my cellular provider, and when it does this too many times in a short period, the provider blocks my phone temporarily. I just don't know how to find out if that is actually what is happening.

From syslog (with comments)
And output of "dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.SIM /com/nokia/phone/SIM Phone.Sim.get_sim_status":
And "dbus-send --system --print-reply --dest=com.nokia.phone.net /com/nokia/phone/net Phone.Net.get_registration_status" returns:
I know this issue has descended into oblivion, and maybe (hopefully) no one else has this problem anymore. And maybe Android has taken over the world. But, other than this issue, the N900 is perfect, and when something is this close to perfect, I will never give up on it.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

This is why i dont even bother installing apps if they dont come from the ovi store itself, which by the way ovi store hardly has any apps for the N900 as it is.
I really wanted the snes app, aircracker app, flashlight app but hearing of stories like this i dont think i'll ever chance it.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

The problem has not descended into oblivion. I have a variation of it, with the difference that on loss my modem resets (didn't use to, I used to have a no sim icon).

It happens randomly but once it starts there is no return. The syslog is filled with CMT modem resets, from one every 5 minutes to 5 or more per minute until, at some poit, it just gives up and shuts down. Only removing the battery allows powerup.

Mine happens with infuriating regularity once I drive to and from home. Very odd.Still digging.

SIM_IND - default case, cause: 36

Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 cellular: ssc[1064]: Unexpected modem reset, waiting for modem reboot
Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 cellular: ssc[1064]: Starting cmt restart timeout
Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 bluetoothd[1273]: get_operator_name failed with code 2
Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 cellular: csd[1108]: com.nokia.csd.GPRS: Phonet up - activating
Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 cellular: csd[1108]: com.nokia.phone.net: net_phonet_link_status: link UP
Jan 19 10:34:34 Nokia-N900 cellular: csd[1108]: com.nokia.phone.SIM: phonebook_phonet_link_status: link UP


then, after a while,

Jan 19 10:34:35 Nokia-N900 cellular: ssc[1064]: change to normal mode, ape ready, sim ready
Jan 19 10:34:35 Nokia-N900 cellular: ssc[1064]: change mode to MTC_NORMAL
Jan 1 00:00:03 Nokia-N900 syslogd 1.5.0#5maemo7+0m5: restart.

Sigh.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

Sorry for the double post.

Does anyone know how to reflash the GSM modem firmware only? I saw a post somewhere where a modem could be reflashed alone via CLI, but it was the wifi I think.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

i think the solution to this problem is better battery contact. I had the same thing, and also sometimes phone would not boot all the way.

the paper thing seemed to help sometimes. What I finally ended up doing is taking a very slender flat screwdriver and bending all three of the battery receptacles in towards each other. nor more problem, for me at least

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

@ndi: I looked for a way to reflash just the modem firmware a while back, and I couldn't find any way to do it alone. Reflashing the OS does it. Done it several times, no change. Recently reflashed both OS and eMMC. No improvement.

Re: My N900 doesn't recognize SIM card
 

SOLVED

Thank you all. The issue was mechanical in nature, but it wasn't the battery, but either the board or the SIM that went odd.

After backtracking the issue a lot, I noticed it started happening virtually the same day I got my new car (thank you, it's a beawt-she is). Main difference being, the old one was a high range executive, and the new one is way more sportier. The chairs are very different, and, when I was sitting and driving I probably pressed the phone and (or) bent it a little. As a result, the CMT signal was logged and from that point on, regardless of length or restoring the shape of the phone.

Once triggered, the GSM modem would keep resetting from once every 5 minutes to 4-5 a minute until giving up and crashing.

I have moved the phone to the other pocket and this is my second consecutive day (6th consecutive trip) with no issues, no reboots, no shutdowns and syslog is clean as a whistle.

I live on the first floor, so my wifi extends aaaaalllmost to my car. Also, at work, we have several wifis, all of which end in the parking lot (after Police looked us up for tracking people who sat in cars at night doing illegal stuff on our wifi). In both cases, sitting in the car triggered the bug within seconds of wifi end-of-range.`

Thanks again to everyone I have dragged in this silly quest of mine to debug a hardware problem through software. And I would (and have) dug deep to find a software error code for "you bent the board".

In addition to moving the phone, I also did the following (for posterity)

* Spread apart the battery connectors, tighten the on-battery connectors (No effect, it was already firm)

* Cleaned the SIM with a specialized isopropyl (sp?) alcohol, along with the contacts on the phone side.

* Raised the on-phone contacts for the SIM a little. I now feels like the springs keep the SIM pinned to the back of the clamp

* Tighten the two springs that hold the battery in place. Seemed firm, but couldn't hurt. Except my fingers when I pull the battery out. Oh well.

Other than the first, all of these were done before the first successful trip, so I don't know which helped. Battery seemed non corroded, non loose and clean. I doubt it's that.

However, after handling for years, the SIM was most likely greasy and dusty (even if invisible) and the contacts that are used to connect SIM to phone were quite weak. My money is on that one. And the pressure.

I'll drive again tomorrow with it in my old pocket. If it survives, the SIM/holder was loose.