Help: UltraSn0w "No service" on iphone 3GS, iOS 5.0.1, BB 6.15.00 (please help!)

Hi everyone! :)
I know you guys get this a lot, and I apologize for this long post, but I really need your guys help.
My sis recently got herself a iPhone 4s and would like to give her old 3GS to my mom. So they told me to try and unlock it and here's what happened.

Iphone 3GS specs:

• -Model: MC136LL
  -Original BB: 05.16.05
  -New Bootrom
  -iOS 5.0.1
  -Build on 2010, 3rd week of January
  -Sim cards used: 3, all are AT&T, including one that came with the phone

Day 1: Jailbreak with redsn0w 0.9.10b5, updated to ipad BB 6.15.00, install UltraSn0w 1.2.5 and reboot.
Disable all necessary settings like 3G, location services, cellular data, insert sim card and status comes out to no service
Then install this SAM module, followed their instructions, manually select carrier and viola, I got service! :D
But after a few hours, phone says no service. :(
Uninstall/reinstall UltraSnow, just update BB, revert phone back to stock IPSW and repeated the steps from before and no success.

Days 2-4:
Managed to downgrade the iOS from 5.0.1 to 4.1, Jailbreak with redsn0w 0.9.10 (no BB update), disable necessary settings, reboot
and insert sim card. Status gets stuck on "searching..." After that, installed ultraSnow 1.2.5, reboot, status comes out to no service.
Uninstall UltraSn0w 1.2.5 and it goes back to searching. Reinstall UltraSn0w 1.2.5 and it's no service.
So far it's "searching..." without ultrasn0w 1.2.5 and "no service" with UltraSn0w 1.2.5 :woz:
Btw, I found this commcenterclassic patch which is to fix this "no service", so I applied that manually (not officially supported for iOS 4.1) to give it
a shot and still no service.

Days 5-7:
Ran Sn0wbreeze v2.9.1, downloaded a clean ipsw of iOS 5.0.1 (from link provided within Sn0wbreeze). Then cooked a custom ipsw via Sn0wbreeze v2.9.1 with
the IPSW I've just downloaded. In Sn0wbreeze, I've only selected "hackivate and install ipad based band", and nothing else.
This time instead of using redSn0w to update my custom IPSW, I've ran iREB, enter DFU mode and update to custom IPSW from itunes.
After that, I ran Ultrasn0w 1.2.5, reboot, turned off 3G, etc, and insert sim card...no service.:( :(
Uninstall UltraSn0w 1.2.5 and manually download UltraSn0w 1.2.4 and installed it via iFunBox, then reboot iphone.
Insert sim card and WTH, I got service! :eek: But signal wasn't stable, bars keeps on fluctuating, and after a hour, it's back to no service. :\
Then I've manually ran the commcenterclassic patch via ifunbox and use ifile to change the attributes according to what that site says. reboot, remove/reinstert
sim card and service comes back for a few minutes before it goes out.
This time I've ran the patch automatically via Cydia, reboot and again the same thing. service for a minutes, and... no service.

So after a week, I've been doing a combination of things trying to get this working like running PurpleSn0w, jailbreak with limera1n,re-updated BB, turn on/off air plane mode and try as many methods I found on the web which I haven't tried before. And so far even went to look for paid version of unlock software (most of them are scams) and got desperate, by taping my jailbreak/unlock iphone 2G together with that 3GS, hoping Apple itself will do its magic, sadly it never worked. :P:(

I've tried everything, I researched so far with both my personal and my mom's sim card and so far it's hasn't been a success.
During the time I have service, I was able to make and receive calls with both sim cards.
My mom's sim card works on my unlock iphone 2G and also works on her semi-working regular Samsung cellphone.
I wasn't able to use the original sim card because it was deactivated by AT&T when my sis went to get her new phone.
I even tried that original sim card with my unlock iphone 2G, but it just shows no service.
The only difference I've notice with the original and the other 2 is, the original has a smaller contact footprint (3 rows) than the other two which
takes up more space with 4 rows of contacts. Does that make a difference even though, I don't see any contact markings on the 4th row of contacts with both my personal and my ma's sim cards?
I also went to various unlock places and they can't seem to unlock it either, one of them even said the sim reader on that iphone 3GS is broken?!
Currently I'm at this position where I've restore back that same custom IPSW I created with Sn0wBreeze v2.9.1
Disable required settings, install UltraSn0w 1.2.5 with patch applied and it's still no service.

Now did I do something wrong, missed a step or what?
If anyone could please list the proper order, I will greatly appreciate it.
Please help!
Thanks! :)

edit: I was able to jailbreak/unlock the iphone 2G and it's been working great ever since.
Before I ran this jailbreak, I did try out the both my personal and my mom's AT&T sim card on this
iphone 3GS and it didn't work.

Here's a step by step for making T-Mobile work on an iPhone 3GS on iOS 5.0.1. You didn't specify the carrier, but since you said you disabled 3G, I assumed. I also don't know why you're disabling cellular data, unless your mom doesn't have a data plan it's not necessary to do so.

http://www.hackint0sh.org/f203/375623.htm#post937003

If this doesn't work, I hate to say I don't know what to tell you. Restore the phone from scratch and try again. You should not be using limera1n/blackra1n/any of the jailbreak tools except for redsn0w 0.9.10b5 or newer, and you shouldn't be using any of the old unlock tools, you should be using ultrasn0w 1.2.5 -- that's the only supported and suggested way to jailbreak and unlock iOS 5.0.1 on a 3GS.

You only need the CommCenter patch if your carrier REQUIRES a .IPCC in order to gain network service. This is NOT most carriers. I could help more if I knew what carrier you were trying to move the phone to.

Thanks for the reply, my current carrier is AT&T.
I've disable cellular data because all she want to do is just use it as a regular cellphone. So no cellular data is needed.
I download this "patch", but all I get is CommCenterClassic not CommCenter
Now is the patch CommCenter or CommCenterclassic?

I think I'm missing something -- why are you trying to unlock if your carrier is AT&T? You should only need to hacktivate at worst if your SIM won't activate normally. You don't need ultrasn0w even if you're on the 06.15.00 baseband, your phone will activate against an AT&T SIM (or should) with no problems.

Understood about the cellular data. You may have activation issues, in which case you will need to use redsn0w or SAM to hacktivate the phone, then use something to blank the APN settings for your cellular data. I don't believe it's enough to just disable it in the toggle, but that's secondary to getting the phone activated and working on the AT&T sim anyways.

What happens if you just restore iOS 5.0.1 with no baseband (use redsn0w to create custom firmware, restore to phone in 'Pwned DFU' mode) and just stick the SIM card in? It really should just activate, you don't need to be jailbroken or unlocked to use an AT&T SIM in an AT&T phone.

I did try that with both AT&T sim cards before I ran the jailbreak/unlock, and all it say was no service.

So this what I did right now is
1. Cooked up another custom 5.0.1 IPSW via Sn0wBreeze v2.9.1
2. In it, I've only select hackivate without updating to ipad base band (6.15.00) since I've already have it.
3. Using Sn0wBreeze, I've enter DFU mode and restore to that custom IPSW via iTunes
4. After restoring is complete, I disable 3G, Cellular data, location services, and diagnostic usage, then launch Cydia and it said to upgrade "Corona 5.0.1 Untether" so I did and reboot (turning the phone off and then back on). While it was rebooting, I've went online and downloaded the CommCenterClassic patch for iphone 3GS.
5. When rebooting is complete, I ran Cydia again and install OpenSSH on the phone and WinSCP on my computer.
6. Logging in to iPhone via WinSCP and replace the CommCenterClassic patch that I've downloaded, and reboot (turn off/on)
7. When rebooted, I went back to Cydia and install Ultrasn0w 1.2.5, return to home screen and turned off the phone
8. Insert sim card in and turn phone back on. Phone status says searching and now I got service! :D
So far it's been working for the last 6 hours, so I hope it will last.
Looks like my order of installation was incorrect and methods used was different when applying the patch.
My previous order was install Ultrasn0w then apply patch, while the correct way was to
apply patch first and then install UltraSn0w.


edit: Great after been using for almost a whole day, the phone out to no service. I've turn off then back on and service came back.
Signal bars is always fluctuating (even during the time it was working). After another hour or so, now it's back to No Service.
I've uninstall UltraSn0w 1.2.5 and reinstall, but that didn't help.
I've even reapply that same patch and it doesn't work either nor is the one from Cydia.
Did I miss any steps or is my order of install wrong again?

Looks like you did everything correct, though I still recommend redsn0w vs. sn0wbreeze.

I started again from the top and the only way for me to get service was to install SAM and use manual selection.
But the signal is unstable such as if I put the phone in my pocket, signal is lost immediately and can't receive calls when I test it out by using my other phone.
It lasted a bit longer than before, but again no service after that.
The reason I use Sn0wBreeze is because of hackivation, how do I hackivate with RedSn0w? I've read by selecting deactivate, it's the same as hackivate?
The problem is, I'm not sure if my idea of how the procedure is suppose to be is correct or not.

1. Restore Apple's 5.0.1 IPSW
2. Setup the iPhone just like when you first got it.
3. Activate the phone < This is the part I got stuck as it always tries to activate, but never goes through. Can't use original sim because it's already deactivated by AT&T
4. Since I'm stuck at that activation screen, I power off the phone, run redSn0w, enter DFU mode and select deactivate?
5. If deactivate (hackivate) is successful, then I proceed to jailbreak follow by update ipad BB?
6. Finally install UltraSn0w?

redsn0w hacktivates by default if there's a SIM card inserted that does not match the carrier the phone is locked to, so you should be able to use it. Deactivate is NOT the same as hacktivate -- it's an option for people who don't want redsn0w to attempt to hacktivate, or for people who want redsn0w to deactivate their existing hacktivated phone to allow for legitimate activation through SAM or other methods.

The procedure should be:

1) Restore iOS 5.0.1
2) Set up the iPhone
3) Run redsn0w to flash the iPad baseband
4) Run redsn0w to jailbreak (which also hacktivates)
5) Run Cydia to install ultrasn0w, SAM & SAM Prefs
6) Set up SAM Prefs and manually select the SIM and Country info.
7) Tell SAM Prefs to revert lockdownd to stock and deactivate -- this removes hacktivation, then deactivates the phone. ALTERNATELY you can run redsn0w and choose 'deactivate', you still need to complete steps 5 and 6 -- the activation in step 8 will not work without SAM and SAM Prefs!
8) Plug the phone into iTunes and it should activate.

All that said, I've *never* heard of anyone having to do this to gain service on an AT&T SIM with an AT&T locked device on baseband 06.15.00 -- it's very possible there's another issue at work here causing your signal drops. Sure, initial activation the first time out of the box wants to be done with the SIM card that is associated with the phone, but I've switched phones with my wife before, etc., and have never had any issues where I actually had to unlock the phone in order to gain service. Are you 100% certain that the phone and data plan associated with the SIM card is compatible with what you're trying to do with it? If it's a pay as you go SIM, it's worth mention that I think you have to make APN changes in order to achieve reliable and consistent voice and data...

Hi All, I need help with my phone as well.
Do I start a new thread or use this one as it's the same subject.
IPhone-3gs
new bootrom
BB firmware-06.15.00
OS-5.0.1
Network- Bell, sim card-bell (same sim that came with phone)
SIN# XX946XXXXX

Problem- I installed the bb firmware to unlock for a annual trip i take in the summer, but since doing so, I have intermittent network service. I drop calls, get no service errors, text messages fail to send from time to time. Regardless of the below steps that I have done, the problem seems to persist. all in all, all i want is to use my cell phone again and not worry about getting my messages and dropping calls.

I have used redsn0w to jb (using downloaded IOS5), then used redsnow again to install bb firmware, then installed ultrasnow to unlock (sim card is not in phone during above steps). Using these steps over and over gave me the same problem.
I then reinstalled the mobile substrate, and even installed corona.....which still gave me same problems, ie, intermittent network connection.

After reading this thread, i tried rejailbreaking with sim card installed and just installing cydia. Did not install ultrasnow, and this gave me a more consistent connection, barely, but still unreliable.

Please help, I would like to have use of my phone again.

Thanks
Chris

Any help with the matter would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.