Droid3 cannot find network in Portugal

[BT46]

I just arrived in Portugal, planning to use my Droid3 for texting and a few calls, not data. Turned off data roaming. Mobile network mode is set to global. Phone cannot connect to any network. Works fine on WiFi.

What am I missing?

Thanks for any suggestions!

BT

[silver6056]

To use the phone, you need an active Sim.  If you are using the Verizon(Vodafone) SIM, did you get Verizon to activate before leaving?  Or are you using a third-party SIM?

[BT46]

Ummm... good question, I think. I am using the native SIM that came with the phone. It connected in the UK a year ago. And, I did call Verizon before I left for this trip and they said I was good to go.

Do I need to contact Verizon again?

Thanks!

[silver6056]

Switch to GSM mode (shouldn't really change anything but worth a try).  Is the phone seeing any networks and you cannot connect or are no networks visible?

Yes, I would call Verizon (collect), +1-908-559-4899 to see.    There have been cases where the SIM wasn't activated correctly.  If they cannot activate (some posts say this can only be done with the phone in the US) then ask for an unlock code, so you can use a local third-party SIM, which will be much cheaper anyway!

[BT46]

Thanks!

I have, indeed, tried switching to GSM mode, and the phone can see networks. But, when I try to connect, it says Unavailable.

Will try to call Verizon when I can. May not be able to until tomorrow. Will report results.

[demmo86rt]

Have you tried it with data rising turned off?

[demmo86rt]

*on, sorry.

[Unhappy-Verizon-Custo]

Hey BT46, I just got back from Portugal, and I also had problems.  I contacted Verizon and after about an hour of troubleshooting, they reset something (mystery) and that allowed my phone to work.  I'm sorry my friend, but Verizon international is lame.  So, you HAVE to call them.  And once they get it up and running, you will then get a series of warning messages, that you are exceeding your data usage, and that you have over $1,000 in roaming charges.  So, I had to call them 4 times while I was on vacation.

[silver6056]

Unhappy-Verizon-Customer wrote:

Hey BT46, I just got back from Portugal, and I also had problems.  I contacted Verizon and after about an hour of troubleshooting, they reset something (mystery) and that allowed my phone to work.

Probably they activated the SIM (correctly this time).

For international travel, I suggest that you always get the phone unlocked, even if you plan to use the Verizon SIM.  This simply gives you more options when you are abroad and things don't work with Verizon.

[Unhappy-Verizon-Custo]

Yeah, did that - still didn't work.  I initiated multiple calls to Verizon before I left, and yet it still didn't work.  Finding their number for people who are roaming in Europe, took one hour.  Verizon is failing in this area.  My friend who has AT&T and an Iphone had zero problems or issues.  I was on his phone calling Verizon.  Thank you AT&T for connecting me to Verizon when I was in trouble.