lost or deleted imei number

guru

@flohack said in lost or deleted imei number:

@danieltheman Apparently you deleted the IMEI with the sp_flash tool. Happened to a few users already. Hopefully BQ can help you, there is no other way to get it back...

BR

Flohack, could you please shed a bit light on this issue. Would it help to write down the IMEI before and re-flash this?

gnu-mobile

One way deletion happens is, if you overwrite/format all partitions with the BQ flash tool (which somehow seems to be the default setting???) instead only upgrading the os.

andromeda

This may come late, but deleted imeis can be restored quite simply in Android, hopefully in UB too in near future. I formatted them from my bq 4.5 an this is how i got them back. Should work with other phones too.

Open dialer and type: * #* #13646633#* #* (NO SPACE between * and #, This forum makes them italic if written together)
Click: Connectivity
Click: CDS Information
Click: Radio Information
Click: Phone 1
Type: AT +EGMR=1,7,"NEW IMEI1 HERE"
Click: SEND AT COMMAND
If OK was was reported, then go back and choose Phone 2 (If you have 2 sim phone)
Type: AT +EGMR=1,10,"NEW IMEI2 HERE"

After that reboot phone and sim should now work.

IMEI numbers can be checked with dialler command: *#06#

IMEI numbers can be found from sticker in phone or box or even from old phone. If imei from other phone is being used, then that phone should not be used at same time.

guru

Since nearly the "epoch time" of UNIX (1970) there are tools, like cu, or other more sophisticated like kermit or hyperterminal which in principle do all the same: they connect your terminal application (i.e. keyboard and screen) with the serial port of some device, like /dev/cua00, and all you type is sent with the correct baudrate, parity, etc. to the RX line of the device's chip and what it responds on TX line is displayed in your terminal's screen. In the GOD I worked a lot with such apps to let dial a modem some number and login into the system.

Do we have, or can we have, such application to connect to the modem of our UT devices and send down AT commands directly from, for example the terminal-app?

This would allow us to save such issues in a few seconds and without further apps.

(GOD = Good Old Days)

arubislander

@guru
cu is in the package repository

guru

@arubislander said in lost or deleted imei number:

@guru
cu is in the package repository

Interesting. How do I install this into my BQ E4.5 OTA3 and how do I connect this to the modem?

arubislander

I can help you with the first part, but not with the second part, because I've never used it.

# mount the root filesystem writable
$ sudo mount -o remount,rw /
# update the package list and install cu
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt install cu
# clear the package cache to free up space
$ sudo apt-get clean
# remount the root filesystem read-only
$ sudo mount -o remount,ro /

You should still be able to apply OTA updates, but you would have to repeat the above after each update.

guru

I think, mounting the root device writable, is the most wrong idea. If there is no real app for this 'cu' it would be better to install it into a chroot'ed system.

The access to the modem with 'cu' remains to solve.

arubislander

@guru said in lost or deleted imei number:

I think, mounting the root device writable, is the most wrong idea. If there is no real app for this 'cu' it would be better to install it into a chroot'ed system.

To each their own. I like to be able to have the commands I need immediately at my fingertips after starting the terminal app.

But there is also the possibility of wrapping them in an app. I think someone did this for htop and some other commands in the OpenStore.

The access to the modem with 'cu' remains to solve.

Yeah... Anyone?

MichaelNino

@danieltheman I know this topic is old but still relevant. Anyways, most IMEI numbers are printed on the SIM card tray of mobile phones.

AppLee

@michaelnino
I think the problem was more that it is not possible for a customer to flash the IMEI back again.
This is a regulatory constraint to avoid stolen phone to change IMEI easily.

Of course some thiefs have access to tools to change it but it's harder then just downloading a simple software...