Locked mobiles

[MikeT]

Obviously, it does involve a learning curve.
Other option maybe?... I'm always seeing phone sellers at markets offering to unlock phones for a few quid.

[Gibbo2286]

Obviously, it does involve a learning curve.
Other option maybe?... I'm always seeing phone sellers at markets offering to unlock phones for a few quid.

Yes Mike I've asked the market guys but they all say they can't do this one.

[MikeT]

I asked google

[Gibbo2286]

I asked google

Had a wander through all that this morning, it appears that phones with sim cards can't be re-flashed CDMA phones can, GSM phones can't.

But then it's all over my head.

[MikeT]

Sometimes you have to accept the built-in obselence and just ditch perfectly good products in the bin.

[MikeT]

Gibbo, are you wanting a cheap spare phone?

I ask because I came across a pair of Nokia 6230i's I'd squirrelled away over 7 years ago as they'd both gone faulty on me and originally intended to make one good one out of the pair.

I thought the screen had gone on one but it just needed factory resetting and amazingly the batterys still got a good charge in it! The other phone I know works but the on/off button broke - I can solder a new one on if you're interested.

[myglaren]

Think of the Gorillas!

[MikeT]

Think of the Gorillas!

You don't need to guilt-trip me Steve, I despair at the old tech I'd happily donate but can't find anywhere that will take it for free and any that that will are a long (costly) drive away.
Even the charitys levy a charge for perfectly functional white goods and used furniture (unless it's top-shelf).

[Hell Razor5543]

Think of the Gorillaz!

[Gibbo2286]

Thanks for the offer Mike but I'm well fixed for mobiles, I, like you, hate to dump good stuff, the only thing wrong with the LG 306G is tie to TracFone.

Some of the charity shops will take old mobiles and our council recycle bins will take any small electronic stuff, you just have to pop it on top of the regular black bin in a separate bag.

[myglaren]

I'm fortunate in that our local recycling centre is only about three miles away and on route to my youngest daughter.
Remembering to chuck stuff in the car is another matter.

[Hell Razor5543]

Some of the phone shops will also take in old phones, and any monies earned from these will go to any charities they support.

At the current rate of production/material usage it is likely that touch screens (of the current design) will stop being available in the next 10 - 20 years or so. They use a compound of indium/tin oxide (admittedly in tiny amounts), and (according to a program I saw on the BBC several months ago) there is enough indium for that period of time. As there is less that 1gm indium per phone screen, it is not (yet, at least) worth trying to recover it.

https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleId=9634

[MikeT]

We get a shame-label on our bins if it contains anything they deem inappropriate and they will leave the item in the bin.
What's worse, if anyone fly-tips in our communal bin area (which they do regularly), we (tenants) get billed for it's removal by the housing association as a "service charge".

I also resent taking anything to the tip as the workers are allowed to sell it on to anyone who wants it with no accountability whatsoever.

All the charity shops round here refuse any electrical goods, citing PATS costs. They're even often quoted in the local paper as being fly-tipped on by donors if the donated goods aren't as top-notch as they like.

[Gibbo2286]

In the shopping mall in Gloucester there's a machine similar to this, not as sophisticated I'd guess and probably choosy about what it will accept.
See the video, interesting.

https://toolsmust.com/tech-news/ecoatm ... ash/5320/

[MikeT]

I'm going to upcycle the other Nokia if no-one else wants it.
And I'm stunned both batterys are still capable of holding a good charge.