[Galaxy Note 3 General] dxzh:
Checking what lock is on your phone (if any)

Some people have a MCC block list in the CSC of their Note 3 (or GSIV) but are not finding their phone is blocked. Others are finding the CSC contains a MCC block list AND that the MCC block list is being applied. The information on lock status is typically stored in the EFS file with IMEI and other key details, separate from the CSC and other firmware, and may also be relevant to solving this apparent inconsistency in the operation of the region lock.

To check the status of the locks on your phone, I suggest you try dialling [***UPDATE THIS DIALLER CODE WORKS ON SGS3 AND N7000 BUT NOT NOTE 3 OR GSIV - ANYONE KNOW CORRECT DIALLER?] *#7465625# into your Note 3's stock telephone dialler: it should produce a lock status box on the screen which reads something like this (or at least it does on my SGS3):

Personalisation Status

Network Lock

[OFF]/[ON]

Network Subset Lock

[OFF]/[ON]

SP Lock

[OFF]/[ON]

CP Lock

[OFF]/[ON]

It might be that:

1. If when you buy the phone all of the locks are marked OFF, then perhaps (and I am not sure about this) there is less to worry about if your CSC has inserted into it a MCC block list.

2. If when you upgrade your phone to a CSC with a MCC block list within it but all the locks are marked [OFF] before you upgrade then the inclusion of the MCC block list in the CSC upon upgrade will not have a practical impact.

If 1 and 2 above turned out to be correct, a key thing would be to check the lock status of all the locks as marked [OFF] before either buying or upgrading the firmware.

It may also be possible to rewrite permanently the lock status held in the EFS folder by:

- paying someone to give you an unlock code for each Lock which is [ON] (the seemingly very clever people at puman.ru or other places might be able to do so); or

- begging Samsung to provide the relevant unlock code for each of your phones.

I am not clear if paying for the unlock codes is as robust a route as having the phone completely unlocked with no MCC list in the first place. Can the unlock code fail subsequently or need to be reapplied in any stiuation? In any event, I would be concerned if there is any truth in the worrying assertion that the EFS locks can be rewritten simply on insertion of a certain type of SIM card.

Even if points 1 and 2 above turn out to be a correct guess, I am not sure I follow how insertion of a particular SIM can lead to the rewriting of the lock settings in the EFS folder. This change in status is being claimed by some as the method by which Samsung customers can be certain that their phone will be able to be used with all foreign region SIMs after initial "activation". Another explanation might be that some phones are being sold with all locks turned off out of the box and others are not within particular regions - and if the relevant lock is on, then any MCC block list in the CSC might then stop use of the foreign SIM even if the phone is first used with a local region SIM.

In summary, it might be wise to:

- check the lock status is [OFF] for all locks by dialling [[***UPDATE THIS DIALLER CODE WORKS ON SGS3 AND N7000 BUT NOT NOTE 3 OR GS!V - ANYONE KNOW CORRECT DIALLER?] *#7465625# before buying. Still suspect this may be the answer if can find correct code to bring up lock status for the phone's locks.

- check the CSC file name and MCC block list (as posted earlier).

- report back to see if can find any pattern between those who can and those who cannot use foreign SIMs even after setting up with home region SIM.

PS: Samsung UK email team still not responding to email questions sent by me last week (and reminders sent since then).