Three SIM in slot 2 of dual-SIM phone: I can receive calls but cannot make calls

Roger1

My Motorola G6 dual-SIM phone has been working well since new, with a Three SIM in slot 2.  I discovered a couple of days ago that although I could receive calls, I could not make calls.

I checked with Three using Chat.  They told me my account was OK and that they could see no reason why I could not make calls.  Their (not very) helpful advice was to swap the SIMs!  They thought that the current slot 1 SIM would be OK in slot 2, though that would seem unlikely to me.

Now, the SIM access in my G6 is fiddly to say the least, and age is not on my side.  Before I try to take that step, can anybody comment on Three's suggestion and advise on how to resolve my problem?  Many thanks.

Neil_Jones

In most dual-sim phones the second sim slot is 2G only.  Three doesn't have a 2G network.  Most other networks still do, so it will be worth swapping over as a trial if the other sim is on another non-3 network.

eDicky

Neil_Jones said:

In most dual-sim phones the second sim slot is 2G only.  Three doesn't have a 2G network.  Most other networks still do, so it will be worth swapping over as a trial if the other sim is on another non-3 network.

If the G6 is such a phone, with the SIM that is not being used for data restricted to 2G network connection, there would be no need to switch the SIMs over to check, but simply switch the phone's data connection to the Three SIM in the settings.

However if this were the problem there would be no service at all on the Three SIM, whereas in this case calls can be received but not made.

Switching the SIM positions would help to determine whether the phone itself is faulty, if the non-Three SIM behaves in the same way when put in the other slot.

Browntoa

Neil_Jones said:

In most dual-sim phones the second sim slot is 2G only.  Three doesn't have a 2G network.  Most other networks still do, so it will be worth swapping over as a trial if the other sim is on another non-3 network.

This is correct , 2nd SIM is only 2g 

More modern Xiaomi phones like the S2 have dual SIM 4g , others probably do 

tehone

You may find this link useful with regard to your phone (and yes only one 3G SIM the other will be 2G). A possible reason why incoming calls might work is that I vaguely recall Three when first launched they had an agreement with Orange(?) that their 2G network could be used for voice - my memory is fuzzy on that point though.

https://allaboutmotog.com/moto-g-how-to-guide/how-to-use-dual-sim-cards-on-moto-g/

d123

Browntoa said:

Neil_Jones said:

In most dual-sim phones the second sim slot is 2G only.  Three doesn't have a 2G network.  Most other networks still do, so it will be worth swapping over as a trial if the other sim is on another non-3 network.

This is correct , 2nd SIM is only 2g 

I don't think that is correct, a quick search shows Sim 1 is 2G/3G/4G and Sim 2 is 2G/3G.

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Moto-G6-Moto-G6-Plus-Moto-G6-Play/Moto-G6-Dual-SIM-XT1925-2-Simultaneous-4G-3G-Capable-Phone/m-p/4172254

https://www.reddit.com/r/MotoG/comments/8za51s/moto_g6_always_dual_sim/

Roger1

Thanks, all!

As I mentioned, I have been happily using my Three SIM in slot 2 since the phone was new.  It was my long-standing SIM moved from another (Motorola) phone when I bought the G6.  I noticed the problem only 3 days or so ago.

I don't think that 2G is the problem.  I guess I do have to swap the SIMs to help identify any fault.

Supatramp

On my Moto G8 Plus, slot 2 takes my Virgin SIM and gives me 4G.