Cell phone activation - No Service ?

I got a used Samsung Hue cellphone to replace
my old Motorola cell phone.
I called the 800 number, gave the info, entered *228,
but it shows "activation incomplete" or something like that.
My old phone shows 5 bars for signal strength whatever.
The newer one has NO bars. Shows a tiny antenna and
a red circle with a slash thru it. Icon menu says 'no service'.
I have no manual and am somewhat cell challenged.
Is this a bad phone or is it 'operator error'?
Thanks. Steve

 

If they have SIM cards you need to swap them out. SIM card is often under the battery. It is about the size and thickness of a child's fingernail.

 

Another thing - before you replace the SIM card, download your phonebook and anything else you have saved, to it, so you can upload it to your new phone. It's not stored on there automatically.

 

Check out this website. It has all the information you need.

How To Activate a Used Cell Phone ? Activating Old Phones

 

There's nothing under the battery except for a sticker with all the ID#'s on it. I don't see any little card.
There's a slot for Micro SD but I assume that's for more memory, nothing to do with the actual working of the phone.
As I mentioned, my old phone shows a crude antenna & 5 bars. This newer one has ZERO bars & a circle with a slash thru it. Shouldn't a phone, even one not currently activated such as this one, show 'signal strength'? I can visually see the cell tower.

 

I checked and the phone you bought does not use a SIM cad. Where did you buy the phone? The reason I ask is it must be compatible with your carrier to work or unlocked.

 

Hi. I just happened upon this post as I was trying to get an answer to a heat pump question. I work as a technician, so I might be able to help if you haven't already gotten a fix.

The first thing of importance is which carrier you are on. There are two types of phones you might have: GSM or CDMA. If you are on Verizon or Sprint then you need a CDMA phone. These phones do not use a SIM card as others were describing. Usually you have to call your wireless provider to activate the phone on your account.

If you are on AT&T or T-Mobile, you need a GSM phone. These phones have SIM cards which you can easily swap from one phone to another. You do not have to call your provider to do this.

Also, some phones are "locked" onto a network. This means the phone can only be used on whatever network it was purchased for. They can be unlocked, for a price, through third parties. Sometimes the providers will give you an unlock code if you have an active account with them.

The last thing you have to take into account, is the frequencies on the phone. Every provider has a set of frequencies they operate on. The phone has to include the right frequencies to be of any use. If the phone you have has your company's logo on it, you will be fine. Otherwise, you'll have to research it.