I snapped this photo of Red in a tree. I’m happy with it, especially the background, which I have no clue how it turned out this way!
I have noticed now I’m driving myself to Physical Therapy, that the maps app on my phone doesn’t work. Yes, I know the way there, but I like to check for traffic and the best route.
Then I turned on my Hallow App for the drive — and guess what? It didn’t work either!
My phone kept trying to connect with the car. Too much tech for me. So I turned off WiFi on my phone and thought it would use cellular data — and I’d get maps and Hallow. No luck. My phone is a brick when I leave the comforts of home.
Yesterday morning I left the house for a walk, listening to a podcast and the phone went dead once I was out of home WiFi range. I went through settings a million times and finally noticed my SIM was turned off. I entered what I thought was my SIM code. Next message said SIM locked. Enter PUK. What? What’s a PUK?
I called the customer service carrier number and my call failed. My phone was worthless.
What’s a PUK?
A PUK code, or Personal Unblocking Key, is an eight-digit security code that unlocks a SIM card when the PIN has been entered incorrectly too many times.
When you set up a PIN for your SIM card, it acts as a password to protect your phone’s cellular services (calls, texts, data). If you enter the wrong PIN too many times (usually three), your SIM card will lock, and you’ll need the PUK code to unlock it. From AI Overview
I used my husband’s home office phone and got a PUK from the carrier. I reset my SIM code. So far so good. I’ll find out when I’m out and about if my phone is more than a brick. At least the camera works!
What tech issues have you had lately? Do they make you crazy too?
Chipmunks like the birdseed, too. They especially like corn.
All tech issues drive me crazy. I’m forgiving when people do wrong things, but when it comes to machines I have higher expectations— which my husband reminds me is unrealistic. Still… stupid gadgets bug me.
Exactly. I spent the better part of yesterday morning trying to get my phone to work. When I’m out and about today, I’ll see if it’s still working!
How frustrating! When you pay a ton of money for a device I think the expectation is that it should work, especially for basic functions like navigation apps.
Seriously, what’s the point in having a smart phone if you don’t have access to maps! I absolutely have an expectation for it to work.
Mine was fairly easy to set up. The most recent problem was disposing of old cell phones-finding someone to take them, removing the SIM card, and taking away access to a few apps. On the other side, I entertained myself by reading old chats from a friend, the 82 year old teacher who continued until a few months ago. Very interesting.
This phone had an eSIM card and it said it transferred fine to the new phone. I swear it worked in the beginning and somehow stopped. It wasn’t until I started driving my self to PT that I realized it wasn’t working anymore. How nice you had no problems and enjoyed reading old chats.
Well, the best advice is to take it to the store and they helped with the insertion of the new card. Mike is also pretty good and we worked as a team to find a place to accept the old phones as it was not easy to find. It took some googling and driving to a couple of stores.
So far so good. I went for a walk and it’s working!
I have diagnosed your phone problem: It is an I-phone. Do not despair, the fix is easy: Android. It is not about the apps, they can be downloaded on any smart phone. The problem is the I-phone and its overhyped technological superiority.
And to answer your question, the only techie issues we have experienced is having to change the lightbulb in the refrigerator.
I’ve used Mac computers since the early 1990s and am a huge Apple fan. However, I honestly will say they have not kept up with how easy and good they used to be.
They are trying to put too much junk into a tiny space. Something has to give.
True!
That sounds beyond annoying! When we were at our old house, my phone was useless from the driveway to about a mile away from the house. Inevitably this was when I was always needing to use my map and I’d get NOTHING. This was more cell service than anything, but I get your frustration.
I don’t even know what Hallow is!
Hallow is the most popular religious app. I’m listening to a Bible in a Year podcast on it. It’s a nice thing to do to start my day and listen to on a walk. I thought at first my phone was due to poor cell service, but it wouldn’t work when I was down town for Physical Therapy either.
Ugh. You’ve described “hell” to me. One bad step after another. And your phone being a brick. Ugh. Hope you’re able to figure everything out.
It’s working today! I couldn’t believe it when it wouldn’t even make a phone call. Beyond frustrating.
Oooh, that’s so frustrating. I think tech issues are particularly frustrating because they come with such cryptic messages. Nice work pushing through!
Love the Red photo.
I got the cryptic PUK message and then my phone wouldn’t make a call. I was going nuts!
Tech issues do make me crazy which is why I try to avoid passwords and pins when I can. Who can remember them all?
Glad you got your phone unlocked. And that’s a lovely photo of Mr. Red.
I’m glad you liked the photo of Red. I use the same code for my SIM throughout the years, but it didn’t work. Then I found out after it locked that it was a factory SIM code — 1111. Please!
🤣
I’ve had WiFi issues at home this summer. Not a problem from September through May, but suddenly when I have two months off, it keeps going down. I don’t care to waste my time on the phone with the provider. 🫤
How frustrating. I hate being on the phone with the provider too. For my phone, there was no other way to get it to work. I tried a chat bot on their website, but got the message that I had to call to get a PUK.
I laughed at the comment that said the real problem was that it’s an iPhone.
Our chipmunks love birdseed too.
If there is a cure, android, I agree.
👍🏼
Unfortunately it seems to be true.
My husband and I were just discussing how tech can be overwhelming, especially for those of us “of a certain age.” We decided that we needed about six or seven grandchildren, all with different areas of tech expertise (cars, phones, computers, TVs, etc.).
That’s a great idea! I’m hoping for one someday.
Oh I hate these tech problems. Makes me stressed out and anxious. Hope your phone keeps on working now.
I hope so too! I have been mostly at home with WiFi, so it took me being on my own driving to find out it wasn’t working!
I hope the problem is solved
It appears to be. But I have no idea why it happened in the first place. That means it could happen again!
Hope not 🫶🏼
👍🏼
Love the photos, and I’m not familiar with a PUK code, so now I know. Sheesh! Tech stuff stresses me out! But glad your phone is working so far. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for enjoying my photos. I was going to make a title for this post “What the PUK?” I wonder how it happened in the first place?
That title would’ve been hilarious!
I chickened out using that title. Oh well.