[Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Questions & Answers] orsonwells456:
Hi. I am a complete noob when it comes to rooting Android.

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THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN SOLVED. PLEASE SCROLL TO POST #89 ON PAGE 9 TO SEE THE SOLUTION.

https://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=77950935&postcount=89

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I bought an *unlocked* Samsung Note 9 N960F/DS (Exynos 9810) international phone from a seller on ebay brand new and sealed. Received the phone yesterday (10/19/2018) and popped my working existing sim card from my iphone 6 with T-mobile into the new phone and it *worked*.........except no wifi calling.

Since my house has terrible reception I really do need wifi calling in order to receive calls (I use Skype for outbound). I decided to root and install Detonator (tekhd) even though I've never done this before. Somewhere along the line I messed up and installed the latest LUX ROM because I misred Tekhd's guide on Detonator (my fault).

Here's where I stand now: I found a stock ROM for this model (N960F/DS) and reinstalled it using Odin3 v3.13.1.

After a successful flash when I insert my working T-mobile sim I get "SIM network PIN blocked. Enter SIM network PUK."

Here the Service Provider SW shows XEU/XEU,XEU/MYM

I get the *same* message when I insert a spare T-mobile sim I happened to have that was confirmed as available with T-mobile customer service. If I take the working sim out and put it back into the other phone it works without a problem. I think that rules out the sim cards having issues.

Earlier when I had the phone rooted and Detonator installed (and working), I got a different message when I inserted the SIM:

Network Lock: This device can be remotely unlocked if eligible.

Please use the "Device Unlock" application to unlock the device.

Make sure the device has an internet connectivity to use the "Device Unlock application".
​

Here the Service Provider SW showed TMB/TMB/MYM.

I tried looking for a T-mobile Unlock App apk to download but could not find a recent one. I would get a "Device not supported" error. It seems T-mobile has taken it off the Playstore.

Now, I can't install a stock USA ROM from T-mobile because those ROMS are only for the Snapdragon versions and I have the Exynos chip. I was given two unlock codes over the phone with T-mobile customer service to try and unlock the Pin lock but they both did not work.

Do you think an unlock service will be able to provide me with a valid "Sim Network PUK" code? I'm happy to pay for the service if I can just get the damn phone working. I've spent almost $770 on this phone and in hindsight should just have gotten the T-mobile branded phone for $100 more. I'm really at a loss as to what I can do to rectify this situation.

Also in hindsight I should have done more research before purchasing the phone and also should have backed up my partition in TWRP........You live and you learn.

The irony here is that I had an unlocked phone.....and now it has somehow gotten locked.........by the carrier whose SIM card is working perfectly fine......in a different phone. The device was paid in full btw.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.