Virgin UK Data Connection Refused
 

Virgin UK now have a flat rate charge of 30p/day for Internet access on PAYG. I have an unlocked 7230 which I use on Virgin PAYG and I would like to add this facility.

Virgin UK do not support Blackberry devices, but it appears that this might be possible without their help. If you Google "techno Cambridge blog blackberry" you will see Robert Stanford succeeded in this with his 8800.

My 7230 was bought second hand on eBay and is Vodaphone branded. Following Robert's advice I successfully removed the IT policy using the FAQ on this site and I upgraded the device software to 4.0.2.35. I am now able to to select Options/TCP and enter APN (goto.virginmobile.uk) and Username (user) and Password ().

Unfortunately the end result is still "Data Connection Refused" and I have "gprs" when I need to see "GPRS". The installed Opera browser works through its tests but of course cannot get a connection.

When I examine more conventional mobiles working on Virgin PAYG I notice there are sometimes other settings that cannot be entered into the 7230 which just allows the above.

I wonder if my problem concerns the device software. I obtained the 4.0.2.35 from RIM/Blackberry but following through from the FAQ on this site I obtained software for Vodaphone (as my device is branded such). It seems that you have to pick a Carrier or choose the 'generic' software on offer latest being 2.7a which sounds too old.

I will be grateful for any ideas?

Not relevant but I like the bb over a phone even without web access. Currently I sync my 7230 PIM data with Google using Companionlink. I would find web access useful for webmail.

On Virgin, you will always get data connection refused, and yo uwill always get gprs in lowercase.
The reason for this is that Virgin do not have a Blackberry dataplan, so your Blackberry can't connect to RIM, hench why the dataconnection has been refused, nothing to do with your APN settings, if you have programmed in your APN settings, you'll be able to use opera, but not any of the BlackBerry apps such as messenger or browser.

At the moment Opera does not work for me. It runs through a test sequence but concludes with the message "Failed to connect to the Internet".

Virgin Mobile (uk) Wap Issue
 

I have the same problem. I have a Blackberry 8310 that was on the O2 Network. I have had the phone unlocked and I now use the Virgin Mobile UK network on PAYG and it works great for calls and text messages.

I understand that because I am not paying for RIM I will not be able to use emails or the Blackberry browser, but I would have thought that I could use the 3rd party Opera browser. I have entered the Virgin Mobile APN settings which are:
APN: goto.virginmobile.ukxxx8232;
Username for APN: userxxx8232;
Password for APN: <Leave Blank>

But when Opera connected I get Data Connection Error!

Has anyone managed to get the Opera browser to work with Virgin Mobile (UK)?

At the moment my Blackberry PIN is still locked to the original O2 Network, I haven't bothered to have that released as I will not be using the RIM service, but could that be causing the problem? The other thing is I can't seem to be able to send MMS messages? Same issue or another problem altogether?

Thanks
Jason

WEB now working on Virgin Mobile UK
 

Okay After hours of trying I have now got web access working on my unlocked Blackberry 8310 on the Virgin Mobile UK PAYG !!

In the end I updated the Blackberry OS from 4.2 to 4.5 and now with the APN settings I mentioned above it all seems to be working!!!

APN: goto.virginmobile.ukxxx8232;
Username for APN: userxxx8232;
Password for APN: <Leave Blank>

I can now access the web via Opera Mini Browser for 30p a day!!!!

So far I can:
1. Make/Receive calls
2 Make/Receive SMS text messages
3. Surf the Web Unlimited access (Via Opera 3rd party App) for 30p day
4. Use the Maps (via Google Maps 3rd party App)
5. Access my Google emails (via GMail 3rd Party App)

The only thing I can't do at the moment for some reason is send MMS messages?

Hope this helps others!
Any questions, please ask
Jason

Bluefusion - I can't thank you enough for your post!

I too have now manged to connect an 8310 to virgin. After being told it couldn't be done I was inspired by your post and removed IT policy, upgrade OS in order to try and get it working and now it has, if I hadn't seen your post then I would have been unlikly to try as I dont' think it could be done.

Still have the same problem as you in that I can't picture message, still hunting for a solution to that one.

Your welcome sarah,
glad I could help. I still can't send MMS messages though, but I hope to find a solution too, will post back here if I find it out.
Best wishes Jason.

You will not be able to send MMS as that requires a service book, and you will only receive service books with a BlackBerry plan.

I Have the same problem
 

I have a blackberry 8800 and I get the Data Connection Refused status on my screen and I see the gprs in lowercase signal on the top rigt hand corner of the screen. What do I do to get it working?:? please help

are you on Virgin Uk or T-mobile as your profile says?

Please answer this question.

If you are in fact on T-Mobile, then you need to add a BlackBerry data plan.

can you use your blacberry messenger tho ?