Cell C - Not Registered on Network error?!

[Sm00thSm0k3]

Lately, every so often an alert (triangle with an exclamation mark) will pop up in the notification bar of my S3 with an error message "(Cell C) Not Registered on Network" or something to that affect. When this happens my S3 becomes a virtual paperweight and there is no comms whatsoever between the device and the network.

It seems that I then have to manually select my network provider but even when I go to the settings menu and try this it doesn't work. Generally I have to restart my phone to try to get it working again but this is also rather hit or miss.

Now before I drag Cell C's name through the mud again, can anyone tell me why I get his error message? Is it a problem with my S3 or is it a network provider/coverage related issue. My wife also has an S3 on Vodacom and she's never had this error message. This weekend it happened to me again at a friends house and I almost ended up throwing my phone against the wall.

 

[Cell_C]

Lately, every so often an alert (triangle with an exclamation mark) will pop up in the notification bar of my S3 with an error message "(Cell C) Not Registered on Network" or something to that affect. When this happens my S3 becomes a virtual paperweight and there is no comms whatsoever between the device and the network.

It seems that I then have to manually select my network provider but even when I go to the settings menu and try this it doesn't work. Generally I have to restart my phone to try to get it working again but this is also rather hit or miss.

Now before I drag Cell C's name through the mud again, can anyone tell me why I get his error message? Is it a problem with my S3 or is it a network provider/coverage related issue. My wife also has an S3 on Vodacom and she's never had this error message. This weekend it happened to me again at a friends house and I almost ended up throwing my phone against the wall.

Hi HiToKiRi, have you tested the sim in another handset by any chance. Just to make sure the sim is not faulty. Please PM me your number, will check if the sim is correctly provisioned on the network. *DM*

 

[Sm00thSm0k3]

I don't have this problem at home or at work. It seems to happen while traveling around and in certain area's (happens each time while I'm at my brother in-laws house in Blairgowrie for instance) so I doubt it's the sim.

PM sent.

 

[zizo911]

It happens with my BB torch ocaasioanly as well.

 

[sajunky]

Try to turn off roaming. Do Manual network search, select Cell C. Other options: select CS (circuit switch) instead of PS for voice. I don't know how these options are located on your phone.

 

[FlashSA]

I have had this on my S4 a few times........... hitting flight mode and then deactivating 30 seconds later gets the sim reconnected to Cell C....

I think it may be the handshaking between Voda and Cell C not happening when coming out/going into roaming but that is just a mild guess...

 

[reactor_sa]

On my s4, sometimes I try make a call only to get told 'not active on the network' (or something like such). I then restart my phone, get about 20 sms, 10 of which are new voice messages from calls I missed that day because I didn't realise the phone wasn't actually on the stupid network.
Data (whatsapp) still works when this happens though.

 

[Anonymous™]

Try to turn off roaming. Do Manual network search, select Cell C.

Try this. But instead of selecting Cell-C. Select Vodacom. You'll have uninterrupted service but restricted to Edge data.

Sounds like you're not being seamlessly switched between Vodacom & Cell C

 

[skippydox]

On my s4, sometimes I try make a call only to get told 'not active on the network' (or something like such). I then restart my phone, get about 20 sms, 10 of which are new voice messages from calls I missed that day because I didn't realise the phone wasn't actually on the stupid network.
Data (whatsapp) still works when this happens though.

Same with my S4...
Getting that a lot around Fairlands area. I can hardly finish a call without it dropping.

 

[Furbz]

Try this. But instead of selecting Cell-C. Select Vodacom. You'll have uninterrupted service but restricted to Edge data.

Sounds like you're not being seamlessly switched between Vodacom & Cell C

err wrong..
you'll have far superior voice quality, no dropped calls etc.
however, occasionally i get the not registered to network issue when i force my phone to roam on vodacom alone.
still its better than being on the cell c network.

the edge data is ok, works well for whatsapp messages etc.
but dont even try to surf the net or even download a 60kb pic on whatsapp. it'll bomb out.