SIM Failure message

[DavidSpeace]

I have been using the UML290 for the last week and a half... when I first got it and brought it to my home... loaded up the software, plugged in the modem (UML290) and clicked on the "Connect WWAN" button on my laptop... I got a SIM Failure message. I took my laptop back to the Verizon store (Wyomissing, PA) and they played around with it... plugged the modem into their own laptop (it worked) but it wouldn't work in mine.... they said that it is my laptop that's causing the problem. I took it home and later that night I got it to work (not sure what I did to make it work)... after using it for about a week and a half it has been working, but yesterday it wouldn't connect at my home location... the SIM Failure message.  Today, I brought the laptop to my office and it is working. So my question.... is it my computer or the Verizon network that is causing the SIM Failure?  What does that message mean? Does anybody know?

Some other comments... the reason I went with this new modem is I trashed the old modem I had (3G).... my ac cable was dangling over the modem sticking out of the side of the laptop and I tripped over the cable and snapped the modem off of the connector!  So, I had received the promotional mailing from Verizon... this just gave me an excuse to buy the 4G modem!  But, in the meantime I have been having this other problem at my home (Bowmansville, PA)... I would be online and the modem (old) would just disconnect from the internet... so I would have to click on the Connect WWAN button again... this was happening fairly freqently for about 3 weeks before I bought the new modem... when I finally got the UML290 to work at home.... it too was disconnecting intermittently! And this... I brought the laptop to my office today (Morgantown, PA) and have had no problem connecting and no SIM Failure at this location. So is this intermittent problem a function of the towers being switched over to 4G, although were I live (about 12 miles south of Reading, PA) the service seems to be 3G! Here at my office it is also 3G, but like I said before the UML290 seems to work here.

Also, when I use my laptop at home, I connect wirelessly to a printer... this connection is done through my computer's built-in wireless capability or Wifi software... Intel PROSET/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection. At times I think that this may be causing a conflict... but I have connected to the internet with this turned on and off.... and the SIM Failure shows up either way.

DaveSp

[DavidSpeace]

No one has responded to this post yet.... am I the only one having this "SIM Failure" experience! I thought that I would add one more thing.... I have a second laptop... that works with the 4G modem at home... this is an Avertec laptop. The laptop that doesn't work at my home is a Dell laptop. So I have 2 laptops sitting side by side and one works and the other doesn't!

[Neander]

I'd like to sympathize with you David but your problem looks like it's pretty unique. 

The Verizon tech's occasionaly scan these forums and they may offer some public relations banter.   Some solutions to many problems have sprung from smart "civilians" on these forums, like the dreaded WM604 Error.  I'd suggest going up the search feature and scan for similar problems.         Also there's the Mobile Broadband  topic thread back at "Community".   

If nothing else, at least you've picked a good place to vent.  Good luck

[Gorp]

i am getting the same problem with 4g USB 551l  i had 3 of them with 'SIM Card Fail the verizon store is oredering me a new Modem LG VL600 i will inform all when it arrives and hopfully works

[dfl1]

What is your laptop make? And secondly, if you are using a 4G Device, keep in mind 4G is very limited, as is 3G coverage areas. When you connect your WWAN, what does your network status say (3G, 1X, 1XEV, 4G)? Check the coverage map, and also check security settings for your device, as sometimes they have to modified to work properly in your area. Unfortunately, I have had the same issues; I have a Fivespot, with a Toshiba laptop; at home I go onto Extended, a distance I am back on 3G. It took some time, but finally had a service rep help me set the security settings to be fully compatable with my laptop (default was WPA, had to switch to WPA-2).

If all else fails, give 4G some time. It's still new, as it was a yr. before 3G was truly setup.

Good luck!

[dfl1]

Forgive me. It could very well be the security settings for the device that is preventing it from working on the Dell. I have also heard of issues with Avertec, as well as Toshiba.

They are known issues, changing the security of the modem should make it compatible.

[njtech]

I have also had the sim failure message. Mine just went away on its own,

but I still have other issues 604 error etc.. I don't use VZaccess to connect at

this point and connect using the dial up workaround. They have some bugs to work

out for sure.

[DavidSpeace]

Thanks, for the replies so far.... I have a Dell Inspiron... I will check the security settings. Also, I am in a 3G area and have a strong consisten signal... 3g and 1xev, etc. I did have the Dell working and then it stopped. The Avertec that I have works fine.  My Dell laptop worked with the old 3g modem I had... the one that I broke by tripping over the power cord that was slung over the device sticking out from the computer! I will check the WPA setting and change it to WPA2 and see what that does.

[larry7834]

I had the same thing happen to me. Their tech support could not figure it out after 2 hours of trying. I finally figured out my computer had new updates on it that would not allow the SIM card to work. I reloaded Vista and it works great. I'm scared to do any window updates now though. Hope this helps.

[willzzz99]

Again with the above comments it looks like a computer/software problem with Windows and not anything related to VZW. If you could authenticate at least once then yes your SIM works fine. The SIM Failure error message is probably a programming else statement because it couldn't find any other error condition.

[mario1233445]

I KNOW THE SOLUTION FOR 4G SIM FAILURE

IT IS YOUR PC OR LAPTOP FAULT NOT THE SIM CARD

I TRIED ON MANY PC AND WORKS FINE ON OTHERS, BUT NOT ON  MINE.

AFTER MANY HOURS OF TRYING IT WORKS ON MINE TOO.

I TURN ON MY LAPTOP THEN AFTER 5 SECONDS I CLIK THE SHUT DOWN BUTTON,{ BUT ONLY CLICK THE STAND BY OR HIBERNATE BUTTON(NOT SHUT DOWN)} 

THEN I LET IT HIBERNATE/STANDBY ABOUT 5 SECONDS THEN TOUCH TURN ON BUTTON THEN OPEN VZ ACCESS MGR AND CLICK DETECT DEVICE BUTTON THEN CLICK CONNECT

[DavidSpeace]

Thanks, I tried your suggestion... for me it works when I put the laptop into "hibernate" (it did not work in the standby mode)... as you say for 5 seconds and then bring the computer out of hibernation mode...wait 5 seconds, go to vzaccess and then click the connect wwan button and it works... I can connect to the web. However, I would NOT call this a "solution", but only a work-around....! This seems to be a weird step in order to get the modem to work... sans the sim failure message!

[mario1233445]

h i DAVID  I'm happy to hear works for u too after u put the pc  in standby or hibenation mode for 5 second // I don't know how to delete my second suggestion about logging off and then on  ,cause I realized later that way doesn't work, but it works after putting in stand by or hibernation mode a few seconds then on again then open vz mgr then detect device

[jmiller_42]

Mario you are a genius!  My air card is finally working on my laptop!  My only question is, does this fix the problem permanently or will I have to do this from time to time?  Also, will this fix problems with the device disconnecting itself at random ( I have this problem when I use it on my pc)? 

[mario1233445]

I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA WORK BY SWITCHING TO HIBERNATE AND ON AGAIN, I WAS JUST LUCKY TO FOUND THAT METHOD ; AFTER MANY MANY ATTEMPTS TO CONNECT THE 4G MODEM  I GAVE UP AND WENT AWAY FROM THE PC . WHEN I CAME BACK WAS HIBERNATING SO I TURNED IT ON AND REALIZED THAT ,,COONECT BUTTON,, IT'S AVAIL . MINE IT IS DISCONNECTING ABOUT ONCE EVERY HOUR --I DON'T KNOW WHY

[kodak235]

After reading the entire thread I decided I needed to look further into the issue when I had time.... and when the modem decided to connect my computer to the net.   I just happen to see if there were any updates and found there was a waiting update.    I started the process and the update ended up replacing the desk top link and took several minutes and some babysitting of the process to finally finish.  

When I tried to use the modem I got a message that my computer did not recognize the modem.   After several tries and asking the computer to 'recognize' the modem nothing worked.   Then I shut the computer down, not restarting, but shutting the computer down and letting it sit for a few minutes.   Restarted the my HP Pavilion and clicked the VZ Manager to start the modem and it worked.   Didn't solve the connection problem, but the Sim card notation is gone.  

I have to agree that some of the network may be spotty in areas and it will take time to 'fill in the gaps'.   I'm using the modem in Florida due to a lack of internet access.   I do notice that if the weather is heavily cloudy the connection is spotty and of all things when it's windy.  Hmm???  

For $10 less a month then I was paying for my other satellite modem I will put up with the inconvenience for 3 months.   When I get back to Massachusetts I will be visitng the local Verizon store if the issue continues.  

Check for updates and maybe your issue will be solved.

Sam 

[vwereskisr]

hey bud i have the same issues, what i do to resolve it is shut down vz acess manager and restart and usually it connects...i also notice cannot play any online games...my old 3g modem works perfectly with the same games but this new service as far as online games or this modem apparently has issues...i have had nothing but problems, high ping rates and packet loss as well as jitter and no one with the exception of 1 service tech apparently cares...they only care that you can connect and brows web to a degree....i have spoke to 8 techs only one cares and states their is a problem....i have tested this on speedtest.com upload and download speed is fast remarkably fast but inconsistant, the ping is terible and jitter and packet loss is even worse...i am going to try to replace the modem as last form of troubleshoooting, if that doesnt work then 4g can go in the trash until they resolve the problem....they advertise online gameing and video streaming for 4g...i cannot do online gaming will not even connect to game host due to high pings and data loss...and yet the new service wich is supposed to be much better and support online gaming doesnt work and my 3g device works without a problem, can play games all day long without i hitch and no one from tech can explain why....sounds like a problem..i have spoke with several people on forums they have all said the same thing....release tech and dontr know how to fix the problems....the response you will get is all we care about is that you can connect and view the web!!! wow so when i buy a car i guess all they care about is the car moves, they dont care if the ac worrks or anything else does to...thats the way its been explained to me time and time again...except for 1 tech..so my suggestion to you is try a new modem, possably new sim card if still doesnt work go back to 3g device because i m not sure 4g is ready for complete service!!  but thtas my opinion as of now...

[toughbook]

Hey Guys, Go into the Services.exe and check what your settings are at under your WLAN, WWAN, etc. I would make them Auto. If youhave them at Manual you will have problems. If you can make a screen shot before you plug in the modem, then after you get VZ running with a connection take another scren shot. Whatever Service is different, make sure it is set to Auto.

Good Luck!

[MBlover99]

Picked up the new 4G modem (the LG one) in Yuma last week.  took it home and would't  work.  Went back to the store in Yuma AZ and spent 2 1/2 hours while 2 or 3 rep's tried to figure out the "no sim communication" message.  They tried (3) different sims to no avail.  finally it started to work so i went across the street to a Starbucks and refused to work.

Called VZN and got with a Tech guy that was familiar with them.  We spent another hour and 1/2 trying everything; setup the WWAN so it would connect automatically; the only difference is that upon opening the application i don't have to ciick on it.  (you go into "options, preferences, set to automatically open".  OK that is swell but doesn't have anything to do with the application running.  I am on it right now, but it is soooooooooo slow I swear dialup would be faster.  The VZN salesman must have been a Kirby vacuum salesman in his previous life cause he touted all the wonderful benefits of 4-G.  I told him i had already done my research and that 4g coverage is EXTREMELY spotty at best in big cities (he finally admitted that there is NO 4g in Yuma) and i told him I had read on ZDnet that the coverage is only 4g in major airports (I think the PDX was eliminated off the list?) and some pricey hotels that I don't frequent, etc.  Anyway i consistently get the "sim card not recognized" message even tho they tried (3) sims and it still doesn't work..  The Online Tech guy said that it was a problem on their end and he didn't have a solution.I am driving back to Tucson tomorrow to a VZN store and returning it

[MBlover99]

Now tonight it is running fast enough to watch U~Tube videos without buffering, and that is all i care about as far as speed goes, so i think we will just have to be patient and the bugs will get worked out.  Hopefully over the next few months the 4G coverage will improve, just as Verizon's Wireless Service has become the best 

[vzchuck]

I'm glad I found this discussion.  My VL600 modem started acting up on my PC with XP Pro, but worked fine on my Sony laptop with Vista.  I believe the SIM failure is related to the ARP Cache in XP--does not clear properly.  This solved the problem for me.  I found the instructions for clearing the ARP Cache on Google:

Use the NetShell (netsh) command to clear, delete or refresh the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) cache by following the following steps.

1. Click on Start button.
2. Click on Run command and type Cmd into the Run text box, and then press Enter. For Windows Vista, type Cmd in Start Search, and then press Ctrl-Shift-Enter keyboard shortcut to force Administrator privileges. Enter Administrator user ID and password and allow any permission request when prompted.
3. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command then press Enter.

   netsh interface ip delete arpcache

The command works in Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2003.