Solved What does it require for a mobile phone to be usable in 2017?

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Nick

Nick

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Sep 2, 2016
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Because I'm a retro tech nerd, I want to try to get my old Nokia 5190 working on the cellular bands again. I still need to unlock it with a code that I'll have to buy, as it's currently locked to VoiceStream Wireless (now T-Mobile). But I was wondering if once I unlock it and put a SIM card in, will i be able to place calls/send messages? I'm asking because some people have reported not being able to use their retro phones because of GSM bands that are no longer supported in their area, etc. So here's the info I got: "The North American variant of this handset is the Nokia 5190 which is a 1900 MHz only GSM handset." How can I find out if the GSM 1900 band is still being used in my area by my carrier?
*Please don't judge me for wanting to do this, we all have weird things that we want to do...
Info Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_5110
http://nokiamuseum.info/nokia-5190/
 
I recommend that we determine the answer to a different question first.
Does any carrier in your area still provide a 16k or 32k SIM card?
Phone reported to dysfunction with 64k SIM.
or
Does any carrier in your area still provide a 2G network?
2G is at sunset and many carriers no longer operate a 2G network. Look for blue results in this map.
 
re: *Please don't judge me for wanting to do this, we all have weird things that we want to do...

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Antman said:
I recommend that we determine the answer to a different question first.
Does any carrier in your area still provide a 16k or 32k SIM card?
Phone reported to dysfunction with 64k SIM.
or
Does any carrier in your area still provide a 2G network?
2G is at sunset and many carriers no longer operate a 2G network. Look for blue results in this map.
Click to expand...
Yeeahhh I figured as much. I don't know about the old SIM card types but my carrier definitely does not operate a 2G network anymore. I actually haven't even ever seen the "3G" logo on my cell phone, it just goes down from 4G LTE to 4G to E to No Service. Thanks for you help though!
 
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