iPhone 3G ipsw, redsnow and jailbreak for dummies

Hi. I have an iphone 3G or so it says on the box it came with. I have no idea about the gadgets or technicalities whatsoever.

I recently tried to download an application and it said that I need to upgrade my phone and so I connected it to the itunes and updated. Now the problem is I can't activate it because: I think the antenna is damaged because even before the upgrade I was having 'no service' issues. And itunes is asking me to put in a sim and to activate.

I googled activating the iphone without sim or no service but no luck! And them I came across hactivation via redsnow. Now i have downloaded redsnow and I also have multiple ipsws that i have tried but redsnow is unable to recognize any of them.

iPhone1,2_4.2.1_8C148_Restore
iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore
iphone2,1_4.3.2_8H7_Restore.ipsw

Can you please tell me step by step how and what to do to unlock my iphone?

p.s when redsnowing should i leave iphone connected or disconnected?

What version of redsn0w are you using?

Whats your current firmware & baseband version?

Im guessing it 4.2.1 with 05.15

I am using redsn0w_win_0.9.5b5-5

and I have no idea what my current firmware or baseband version is. my phone is locked and I cant get past the message where it asks to unlock the phone via valid sim :s

I think you need redsn0w version 0.9.6b6,

Im looking for a reliable link for you now back soon :)

OK Use this link & go to the redsn0w folder where you will find all the redsn0w versions listed

ftp://v0h84ya7cnw:h63cer0mr8yvbfmave....iphonefix.de/

You need version 0.9.6b6 & use it with the 4.2.1 ipsw

Please help.... I have a 3G with 4.1 firmware, try using redsnOw to jailbreak using cydia and it's giving me a not allowed

The link posted for the version of redsn0w you stated was needed to install custom ipsw is nolonger working. Is there a newer version that will work, I can't find a download link for that version anywhere.....