Porsche boxster phone and sim card issue

[GSV]Lemming · 8 Apr 2012 at 13:00

I bought a 2002 Porsche Boxster a week ago, it has built in telephone requiring a sim card for use. I have added a sim card (virgin payg)as per the instructions in the manual and the card is recognised, but it still only allows emergency only calls. The card has credit on it and is confirmned as live by virgin.
Roaming and network search are set to on, it only finds BTcellnet and Vodafone networks however. My other phone has no such difficulty in picking up and connecting to virgin (no idea if it uses other networks to connect though).

I know I can talk to a specialist about this on Tuesday but wondering if any other owners have seen the same issue here? Is the car system "locked" to a provider by default, requiring me to get it unlocked to use virgin by any chance? If so where do I get it unlocked :confused:

I hate it when car toys dont work!!

Nomisf · 8 Apr 2012 at 13:10

Not sure it would count on a newer car, but the car phone in a Jag XJ is only GSM 900 - and thus only works on 02 and Vodafone carriers - could be a similar restriction ?

Shimmy · 8 Apr 2012 at 13:14

Nomisf said:
Not sure it would count on a newer car, but the car phone in a Jag XJ is only GSM 900 - and thus only works on 02 and Vodafone carriers - could be a similar restriction ?

99% sure it will be that.

My Omega is the same, will only work on O2 and Vodafone network. I have an O2 sim in mine and it's picked up as BT Cellnet

I utilise my in car sim by diverting phone calls from my phone to the car sim if I haven't answered within 15 seconds.

[GSV]Lemming · 8 Apr 2012 at 13:51

Do you have to pay for the call divert? Is your phone sim the same provider as your car sim?

Looks liek it could the the GSM900 issue, aggravating as all the usual numbers I call are virgin so it would have been free calls.

Shimmy · 8 Apr 2012 at 14:06

[GSV]Lemming;21639347 said:
Do you have to pay for the call divert? Is your phone sim the same provider as your car sim?

Looks liek it could the the GSM900 issue, aggravating as all the usual numbers I call are virgin so it would have been free calls.

Nope, call divert is just an option on the phone.

Different provider on my mobile - Orange.

OllyM · 8 Apr 2012 at 14:11

Shimmy said:
Nope, call divert is just an option on the phone.

Different provider on my mobile - Orange.

You have to pay your per minute charge for the divert - if you're on contract it'll probably come out of your minutes though.

[TW]Fox · 8 Apr 2012 at 14:38

It's not dual band. Virgin use the T Mobile network which is GSM1800 mostly, your phone is 900 only.

You need an o2 or a Vodafone sim, or a virtual network using one of those two.

Spamalot · 8 Apr 2012 at 15:52

Aside from not the not working issue, I've always thought these things are really pointless... you need to take your sim out of your phone every time you want to use your hands free. I wouldn't bother unless I was making a really long journey.

Shimmy · 8 Apr 2012 at 16:29

Spamalot said:
Aside from not the not working issue, I've always thought these things are really pointless... you need to take your sim out of your phone every time you want to use your hands free. I wouldn't bother unless I was making a really long journey.

Can use my method as above.

Even if you don't do that it's useful to use a spare sim to make calls, often used it to call home to cook my dinner

One · 8 Apr 2012 at 16:35

Got nothing to do with me this thread but I'm interested. Would it be possible to clone a sim card and then whichever picks up first, phone or car, takes the call. I imagine the network would probably realise, would they mind or charge you double or instantly see it as fraud and be in contact with you?