Who has unlocked Hero locked Orange (UK)? - Hero, G2 Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
some of us who have bought a Hero locked to Orange can't seem to get it unlocked (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=555424).
For those have you who have managed to successfully unlock an Hero on Orange please can you advise on your experience- did you have to do something differently? And who you used to get the code? I have used Unlock Now (www.unlock-now.com) but the code they have supplied didn't work (they refunded me).
I have never had a problem unlocking a HTC phone until now and I find it hard to believe that Orange Heros can't be unlocked.
Please help if you can.
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[Update 16/10/09]
I am glad this thread has been of use to people.
I thought I would add and update to the first page so people don't have to wade through the whole thread.
If you are experiencing this issue you have two choices:
1)CID unlock your Hero (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=559806).
2)Use a Rebel II Sim.
OK there are three choices.
3) Use your Hero on an Orange contract for about three months then ring up Orange and ask them for a unlock code. They will charge about £20 for it and you may have to wait up to two weeks for em to send it.
C'est tout.
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[Update 24/10/09]
OK, after discussions and PM's on this thread I was advised to use the code I had previously bought with a different rom (when I first got my Hero tried it I was using the Orange stock rom then Modacos 2.3).
I just tested it now, took out my rebel sim put in the code and it works! I am currently using Modaco's 2.8.
Hope this helps.

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I used http://hero.unlock-now.com/sim-unlock-HTC-Hero/ and the code worked for me. I did get my Hero within a few days of release. My work collegue also did the same with no problems.

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What network do you use your hero on now?

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hi i bought one locked to orange uk and unlocked it here
http://www.simunlock-htchero.com/buy.html
i received the code in 2 minutes and it worked, i use now Optimus in Portugal

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Got my second one (for the wife) off eBay a week or two back. Poster claimed it was days old. Unlocked through htcunlock fine. Three sim seems to work better with Orange radio than the tmobile hero I purchased earlier.
Zuber

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RetroFlux: I'm now on o2 after my unlock.

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i'm getting the same thing with my orange locked hero, I have even tried a foreign sim as suggested. But does not seem to unlock with the correct unlock code. Is there a cable method for unlocking?

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I have the same problem.
First case:
Turn on the phone with orange SIM card - everything works fine.
Turn on the phone with any other SIM card (I actually tried 3 other SIM card from 3 different providers). It asks unlock code. Enter unlock code I bought (actually any code containing 8 digits) it says "Network unlock successful." But after that it allow only emergency calls and if I try to make a call I see "Not registered in network" message. After reboot it asks unlock code again.
Second case:
If I do "restore to factory defaults" and turn it on the first time with my (no orange) SIM card, it asks unlock code I enter correct unlock code (salesman gave me one, and after that I also bought the same code in the Internet )
it hangs with phrase "Unlocking SIM card...". (Actually "turn off menu" works, I even can make an emergency call, but that is all I can get from it)
Also I noticed that in the first case there is strange line on the bottom of the screen (of the size of the notification bar).
I have tried different ROMS (original, rooted, latest, modacos) all the same. I also tried to downgrade radio firmware. I even tried all SIM cards I can obtain, the problem is obviously doesn't caused by SIM/Network incompatibility. Btw, my SIM card works OK in another HTC Hero (which was bought with my one).
I think it is problem with unlock procedure itself, not with code correctness. If wrong code entered it must say something like "wrong code", but for any 8 digit code it says "Network unlock successful". Is is the symptom! )
I do not know what to do further

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I got a (UK) Orange Hero about 3 weeks ago from dial-a-phone. Unlocked it without a problem about a week later from:
http://hero.unlock-now.com/sim-unlock-HTC-Hero/
Took about 20 mins and worked 1st time. Now running with an UK O2 sim. Sorry!

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As I mentioned above, while first boot with my local SIM card it hangs with "Unlocking SIM card..." message. At this time I see the following processes running.
Code:
# ps wwwwwww
PID USER VSZ STAT COMMAND
1 0 292 S /init
2 0 0 SW< [kthreadd]
3 0 0 SW< [ksoftirqd/0]
4 0 0 SW< [watchdog/0]
5 0 0 SW< [events/0]
6 0 0 SW< [khelper]
7 0 0 SW< [suspend]
8 0 0 SW< [early_suspend]
9 0 0 SW< [kblockd/0]
10 0 0 SW< [kmmcd]
11 0 0 SW< [btaddconn]
12 0 0 SW< [btdelconn]
13 0 0 SW< [kondemand/0]
14 0 0 SW< [qmi]
15 0 0 DW< [rpcrouter]
16 0 0 SW< [detection/0]
17 0 0 SW< [krpcserversd]
18 0 0 SW [pdflush]
19 0 0 SW [pdflush]
20 0 0 SW< [kswapd0]
21 0 0 SW< [aio/0]
22 0 0 SW< [panel_on/0]
23 0 0 SW< [cabc_work_q]
24 0 0 SW< [mtdblockd]
25 0 0 SW< [kadspd]
26 0 0 SW< [USB mass_storag]
27 0 0 SW< [synaptics_wq]
29 0 0 SW< [kstriped]
30 0 0 SW< [krfcommd]
31 0 0 SW< [mmcqd]
33 0 3328 S /sbin/adbd
50 1000 808 S /system/bin/servicemanager
51 0 852 S /system/bin/vold
52 0 668 S /system/bin/debuggerd
53 1001 11064 S /system/bin/rild
54 0 73504 S zygote /bin/app_process -Xzygote /system/bin --zygote --start-system-server
55 1013 30172 S /system/bin/mediaserver
57 1002 1180 S /system/bin/dbus-daemon --system --nofork
59 0 800 S /system/bin/installd
61 1008 1196 S /system/bin/akm8973
73 0 0 DW< [snd_rpc]
77 1000 173m S system_server
140 9998 159m S android.process.acore
142 1001 132m S com.android.phone
144 1000 96660 S com.htc.android.htcsetupwizard
166 10002 111m S com.google.process.gapps
179 0 0 DW< [ksdiorqd]
180 0 0 SW< [tiwlan_wifi_wq]
186 10004 96600 S com.htc.android.worldclock
193 10005 101m S com.htc.provider
207 1010 3160 S /system/bin/wpa_supplicant -Dtiwlan0 -itiwlan0 -c/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf
237 10031 121m S com.htc.android.htcime
244 9999 140m S com.htc.launcher
253 10016 98640 S com.htc.android.psclient
265 10017 107m S com.android.mms
285 10019 97736 S android.process.media
296 10020 106m S com.google.android.apps.maps:FriendService
307 10022 99016 S com.esmertec.android.jbed
322 10036 97.6m S com.google.android.partnersetup
332 10042 100m S com.htc.calendar
346 1000 100m S com.android.settings
356 10029 98612 S com.htc.android.footprints
366 10013 98012 S com.android.setupwizard
430 0 740 S /system/bin/sh -
468 0 2072 R ps wwwwwww

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Im having the same issue, I got a new HTC Hero on Orange today, and it wont unlock. I used Unlock-now, so I have sent them a message asking for my money back, will that suffice. Has anyone been able to get there Orange UK, branded and locked phones unlocked.

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nintendolinky, what is your ROM version ? There may be a possibility you have the latest firmware build... maybe...

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i'm in the same boat! bought the code but no joy. it say's unlocked but could not register my voda sim. Anyone?

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I tried to contact Orange today to buy an unlock code from them directly, after been passed about I eventually got through to someone bureaucratic wench who was completely unhelpful and I ended up telling them to F off and hung up. Kind of shot myself in the foot there.
I know this doesn't help our situation but I am still looking into it.

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joemax said:
nintendolinky, what is your ROM version ? There may be a possibility you have the latest firmware build... maybe...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So are you saying there is an issue with the new firmware? When you say firmware do you mean ROM? As I have already flashed Modacos latest ROM and my Three/Vodafone/O2 sim still won't work.
I don't have my Hero with me at the moment but will post back my firmware number later, if other people (who are having the same issue) can post theirs maybe we can find a common firmware at fault.

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nintendolinky said:
I used Unlock-now, so I have sent them a message asking for my money back, will that suffice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Unlock-Now, they did refund me after your usual basic diagnostics.

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joemax said:
nintendolinky, what is your ROM version ? There may be a possibility you have the latest firmware build... maybe...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, here are my firmware details:
Firmware version: 1.5
Baseband Version: 63.18.55.06EU_6.35.06.18
Kernel Version: 2.6.27-8dd6deee [email protected]
Build Number: 2.73.405.5 146733 CL#61267 MCR2.2c release keys
Software Version: 1.0.0.A6288
Someone out there must be able to help fix this, pros/cooks/anyone can you shed anylight on this?

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I've tried oldest/newes/custom ROMs, it looks like unlocking procedure doesn't depend on ROM at all.

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is there a way to unlock this via cable? what about flashing the rom?
my build number is
Build Number: 1.76.61.3 whats the difference with this and Build Number: 2.73.405.5?

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Here is my info:
Firmware version: 1.5
Baseband Version: 63.18.55.06EU_6.35.06.18
Kernel Version: 2.6.27-8dd6deee [email protected]
Build Number: 2.73.405.5 146733 CL#61267 MCR2.2e release keys
Software Version: 1.0.0.A6288
My build number is different, to the one listed here.