Correct Programs to Use to Jailbreak and Unlock a 3G and a 3GS

[AnnD]

I'm working on 2 iPhones, both purchased new, but now finished with the AT&T contracts and out of warranty. I want to jailbreak and unlock both of them for the first time in order to load new apps and use prepaid sim cards. And for now, we're just going to use them with MyWi as WiFi hotspots. I've done a lot of reading and watching YouTube videos, but still have questions.

The first phone is a 3G, running ver. 4.2.1, and with baseband 05.15.04. The second is a 3GS, but no matter what I do, I just get the message that no sim card is installed, so I don't know any of the stats for that one yet other than it's using the older bootrom, judging from the production date.

I want to do an untethered jailbreak, and preserve the baseband during the unlock on each of them. I thought I'd settled on using Redsn0w to jailbreak and UltraSn0w for the unlock, but then I read in the Dev Team blog that you can't use them together. Green Pois0n with Sn0wBreeze looked promising, too, until I read that both of them are buggy when used on a 3G.

So here are my questions:
1. What two programs (if any) will work for both phones and play nice with them without updating the baseband to the iPad's? Would Redsn0w used with Quickpwn be an option? (If I need to use 4 different options to achieve the desired result, I will, but I'm just trying to simplify things.) Please include version numbers to use, too. (I'm totally confused about what version of Redsn0w I'll need...0.9.6b5, 0.9.6.b6, 0.9.6rc8 are three I noted so far that seem like they'll work.)

2. What do I have to do to get the 3GS to open properly so that I can see what softare and firmware are installed?

3. Do you foresee any problems with using prepaid sim cards and MyWi for SMS texts and internet access?

I really appreciate any help!

[sprackleor]

For the 3g to jailbreak all you need is redsn0w, use 0.9.6 rc8. You use sn0wbreeze when you need to preserve your baseband, which you dont. 5.15.04 is only software unlockable by using the ipad bb which kills gps but does the job. If you dont use gps very much (most apps can still find your location without it) then the ipad bb unlock is perfectly fine. And it really doesn't look like your bb is going to be hacked imo.
To update to the ipad bb you check a box during the redsn0w jb. If you dont want it, leave the box unchecked, thats it. If you do use it, after jailbreaking install ultrasn0w in cydia and reboot. Youre now unlocked.

Jailbreaking and restoring to stock 4.2.1 will prob take your baseband to 5.16.02 which is not unlockable as well, so no real concern for trying to preserve 5.15.04.

Your best option for unlocking this phone other than ipad bb is selling it on ebay and buying one with a older bb.

For the 3gs, you need to fire an active ATT sim in it to activate in itunes. Just borrow a friends SIM for 5 mins to get past the no SIM. Once you get access to the iOS, go to About and pray the bb is 5.13.04 or lower.
If bb is not unlockable (5.15, 5.16, etc): use latest version of redsnow and stock 4.3.3. .ispw to jailbreak, no need to worry about preserving the bb.
If bb is unlockable (5.13.04, etc): Dont use redsn0w ever. Use snowbreeze to create a custom 4.3.3 firmware which will preserve your bb and jailbreak your phone. Once you have restored to custom 4.3.3 in itunes, install ultrasnow 1.2.3 in cydia and reboot. Youre now unlocked. Always restore this phone from custom sw or you will lose the unlock.

There are other options to unlocking, ie H2O wireless and other ATT piggyback carriers. You can also just use ATT pay as you go, it will work straight away just put the SIM in (outrageous data $$ makes it pretty worthless on an iphone tho.) Or you can see this thread for a better option than even a factory unlock.

[AnnD]

...For the 3gs, you need to fire an active ATT sim in it to activate in itunes. Just borrow a friends SIM for 5 mins to get past the no SIM. Once you get access to the iOS, go to About and pray the bb is 5.13.04 or lower...

There are other options to unlocking, ie H2O wireless and other ATT piggyback carriers. You can also just use ATT pay as you go, it will work straight away just put the SIM in (outrageous data $$ makes it pretty worthless on an iphone tho.) Or you can see this thread for a better option than even a factory unlock.

Thanks for the input, Sprakleor!

First, I did put an AT&T sim card into the 3GS, but I didn't re-activate it in iTunes yet. I'll try that next.

I want to preserve the baseband because I've read posts that many people are having issues with the unlock that uses Redsn0w/Ultrasn0w, and its irreversible once upgraded to 06.15.00. I've heard mostly about the lack of GPS and a monstrously fast battery drain. I want to retain as much functionality as possible.

Last, a big part of the reason for the jailbreaking/unlocking is to get away from AT&T's prices. Thus the MyWi for SMS and internet access, and we'll be using Google Voice for routing calls. (Hopefully, anyway...) Will I be needing a data plan, too?

[Amadomon]

I think you're a little confused about mywi. This app enables another device to use your phone's data plan to access the Internet, not the other way around.


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[AnnD]

@Amadomon: You're right. I am thinking that it will give me internet access via WiFi away from other hotspots. That's not the case, then?

[sprackleor]

Thanks for the input, Sprakleor!

First, I did put an AT&T sim card into the 3GS, but I didn't re-activate it in iTunes yet. I'll try that next.

I want to preserve the baseband because I've read posts that many people are having issues with the unlock that uses Redsn0w/Ultrasn0w, and its irreversible once upgraded to 06.15.00. I've heard mostly about the lack of GPS and a monstrously fast battery drain. I want to retain as much functionality as possible.

Last, a big part of the reason for the jailbreaking/unlocking is to get away from AT&T's prices. Thus the MyWi for SMS and internet access, and we'll be using Google Voice for routing calls. (Hopefully, anyway...) Will I be needing a data plan, too?

Sounds like there are 2 issues with the baseband depending on whether you unlock (w/ 6.15.00) or not. If you decide not to use the ipad bb, then preserving your non-unlockable baseband is pointless as you would go from 5.15.04 to 5.16.02 which are basically equal to each other. And if you do decide to use the ipad bb then theres really no need to preserve it because your not going any higher than that on the 3g.

As for 6.15.00, you lose GPS for sure, either a big deal or no deal, up to you. The battery drain I'm not sure about, mightve been an issue with one of the ultrasnow versions or just random occurences. but for me, after putting 6.15.00 on my old 3g, once I got everything set up, it seemed like my battery improved and at the least was as good as pre-6.15.00. The ipad bb is quirky though so basically the biggest reason you would consider it is if you are on t-mobile or simple and are not going anywhere. Or if you are overseas alot. Otherwise an unlock, at least an unstable one is pretty unnecessary.

The 3GS is a different story as you dont know the versions yet.

[Amadomon]

@AnnD: if all you want is to be able to hop on wifi at hotspots, you don't need an app, a data plan, or even a SIM. Just connect and go.


Sent from my iPhone using ModMyi

[AnnD]

I got the 3GS info now. It has iOS 4.1 and firmware 05.14.02. I checked the Device Instance Path, and it's using [iBoot-359.3.2], which is the new bootrom.

I'm a little clearer-headed about what I'd want from these 2 phones now, too. I had been trying to figure a work-around to avoid contracts and high data plan fees (until I get another job, anyway). I was going to use Google Voice over WiFi since I usually have access to local hotspots, and a free SMS app would cover texts. If I found that I needed better phone access, I'd jb/unlock to use prepaid SIM cards. BUT, I also use the GPS feature regularly, and don't want to risk fast battery drainage. Since this is the case, would I be better off just leaving them as they are and getting prepaid AT&T SIMs?

Thanks for any input! (This is all new to me over the past few days...)