Tracfone adds LG 420G
April 28, 2010/
Sticking with their cheap, simple handsets, Tracfone has added the LG 420G. It’s a basic flip phone, featuring a small LCD internal display, external display, Bluetooth, and a VGA camera. Even still, at $20 this phone has value. You can check it out at Tracfone’s website. Also, as The Sweeper at HoFo notes, Wal-Mart could certainly pick this one up, packaging it with a Double Minutes for Life card. ]]>
Posted in Tracfone
Looks nice. Im all for simple. I moved from my contract to Net10 prepaid and was surprised at how nice the phone was. Also simple and easy to use but Net10 is such a saver that it is definitely worth it. Net10 is the only provider I know of that offers the first two months subscription free.
Can the LG 420G link to a bluetooth laptop to transfer photos and contact lists?
Does anyone know where I can fine a complete user’s manual for the LG 420g?
You can go to Tracfone’s website and download the Lg420G manual from there.
Anyone else have problems with the bluetooth-car connections? Out bound calls route the inbound voice through the phone itself rather than through the car speakers.
The “manual” at Tracfone’s website (and any where else) is just a simple quick-start pamphlet. The closest I can find to a real “manual” is for the LG410G. Not the same but close.
Can anyone tell me where I can find this supposed “flashlight” on this phone? It’s shown in the specs but the info that came with the phone says nothing about it and I don’t see anything like it on the phone itself.
Finally, a Tracfone that allows importing/exporting contacts (.vcf format) and allows importing/exporting of pictures via Bluetooth. I was able to import my contacts from my Nokia N900 to the LG 420G and also a jpeg file that I used for a background. All this for $15 + tax. It also connects to my Ubuntu 10.04 laptop. You just turn Bluetooth on, pair it with the device and then you can send the contacts to the other device. To import, just send from the other device.
A better match is here … do not worry about spanish … the PDF is in English and Spanish. I had a tough time finding !!
http://www.spanish.net10.com/Common/Spanish/Digital_Assets/31626.pdf
I got this fone for like $20 at walmart and I use it like every day. The lg420g is super reliable and i get great service and no dropped calls. The tracfone service is really good for the cheap money that it costs. if I need more minutes i just buy them online and thats all there is to it. super simple and no contract, gotta love it
why Oh why doesnt someone in authority realize that a proper manual would cut the phone calls to wherever and save time and add to customer satisfaction.
I have been on the phone to customer service for a number of minuts trying to get help in using the speakerphone to no avail. It does not amplify at all. A definite hindrence to hearing aid wearers.
Just bought this phone for my Dad. He’s a little hard of hearing, but I can’t find any way to adjust the ringtone volume to a highter level.
Any tips, anyone?
I have just spoke with customer service (and I use that term loosely) and have discovered printed hard copy manuels for the LG420g are not available for customers. Imagine that! I will go to the suggested locations and try to print off a similar manuel.Thank you Bob and JinnyK. BTW, customer service (and did I say I use this term loosely?)did email the manuel to me. However, when I printed the manuel to hard copy, the print was too small to read (37%). So, customer service will email the owner’s manuel for the LG420g and you can read it from the computer in 100% print size.(you just can’t print it off in readable print, at least I couldn’t) Maybe this information will help someone…
The ringtone volume of the LG420g can easily be turned up by hitting the up arrow on the button on the side opposite the charger button.
I think you have it wrong. You can get a limited version of the LG 420G manual on Trackphones website. The full manual is not available. Actually, I have been searching the net non stop looking for the manual and cannot find it.
LG claims it is not responsible for providing pdf to user guide also. Outrageous. Meantime 410G userguide seems helpful.
You can also turn up the ringtone volume by changing the sound setting to “outdoor” mode
The 420G works well and is clear. Does anyone know how to turn off the ‘bubble’ sound effect when navigating around?
We like the 420G. Can pictures be dowloaded with a transfer wire? I have not been able to find a driver.
or
Do we need to buy a Bluetooth device for the camera and still look for a driver?
To #3, girlpaint:
I found an 18 page manual for the lg 420g at: mediafire.com/file/umd26c1wfh h1xr/lg420g-manual-for-02.pdf.
Hope this will work for you and others since tracfone doesn’t seem to have a clue that a manual for the 420g exists.
I have a tracfone LG 420G phone, and sometimes, when I try to send a photo to someone else’s cell phone, it will take 1.5 units off and then say “Cannot send/retrieve messages” I dont get the units back either. Can anyone tell me why this error comes up. I am only able to send about 60% of the photos I take on the phone.
For $20! There’s gotta be a catch. The most I would expect from a $20 phone is good talk , and text, and maybe if you’re lucky a crappy camera. But this phone comes with a browser, and blue tooth. That’s pretty good. In fact, I’ve been looking for an upgrade, and all the other options as far as upgrading is concerned costs at least $40, for pretty much the same features, and software. This tracfone makes sense.
I would also like to know how to turn off or chance that annoying bubble sound when navagating around the phone. Does any know how to do this? Thanks
I meant Change the sound not chance. Thanks
Tip for receiving free text messages – When you receive a text message on your Tracfone LG 420G do not open the phone, instead hit the down volume button. The message will be visible on the external screen. Continue pushing the down button until it has opened all the pending messages and the time/date reappears on the external screen. Now you have opened all the pending messages, pulled them onto your phone, and it doesn’t deduct the .3 units per message. After the time/date reappears on the external screen you can open the phone, go to messages and open them from there. Since they’ve already been pulled onto the phone and opened you won’t get charged to reopen them. My phone was purchased around July 2010 so if yours doesn’t work like this, giving you free messages, it means they must have found the software glitch and fixed it.
Getting rid of the bubble sound – The bubble sound is the key tone sound. To turn it off hit the “Menu” button (left soft key) then hit “9” then hit “1” to get to the sound profiles. Make sure the sound profile with the check mark next to it is highlighted, hit the “Options” key (left soft key) and select edit. This is the sound profile you’re using (hence the check mark you saw earlier), go down the menu until you see “Key tone.” When you have box right below “Key tone” highlighted hit the right side of the black toggle wheel to change the settings from “sound 1” to “sound 2” and finally to “no sound.” When you have “no sound” showing hit the “Done” button (right soft key) to save it. Then just hit the “End” key to exit out of everything and the bubble sound shouldn’t bother you anymore. You could try “Sound 2” to see how that sounds but I just wasn’t interested in having any tweaks and beeps coming out of my phone besides the ringtones and message notifications.
Got mine last Thursday. Bought the 1 Year Card the next day(at WalMart)& entered it w/bonus 200 minutes code on my phone and it worked without a hitch. Loaded 400 + 600 bonus minutes, for 428 days. Reception is great along with voice clarity. Very happy so far with this phone. Haven’t tried any of the ‘special’ features because I only got the phone to use as ‘voice’ phone and I don’t talk on the phone very often. TracFone is perfect for me. Obviously, if you talk a lot on the phone, TracFone is not for you.
I would like to know if anyone with software version LG420GHL_v10f on their LG420G can receive text messages free with the procedure I gave in #25? I know I can but I have the software version LG420GHL_v10e. I would really like to know before I activate another phone for my wife. To check the software version go Menu, Tools (or 9), scroll down to Phone Information, and hit select. Thank you very much.
Tried LG website, followed instructions for downloading manuals for Mobile site, etc. says I have an invalid IMEI. Called LG, they said they are only responsible for the hardware, and Tracfone is for the software, and they only have the 2pp .pdf that Tracfone puts out to e-mail to me, no real manual, nothing else. Cannot enlarge the .pdf, and cannot READ it even if I copy the screen to paint file and print it. I asked LG what if I did not have a computer. Said he would have to refer me to Tracfone. Thanks for nothing, LG and Tracfone! Why have a phone with all of these features, when you cannot even tell us how to use them correctly?? BTW, the file is no longer available on mediafire.com.
This is for Rob regarding free text on external screen with SW version _V10f. The answer is no it does not work for this version of the software :(. I just recently bought the 420G and am very happy with it, and was excited Coming from the LG Chocolate Touch from Verizon. … Can I down grade the software on my phone ..ha.. j/k.
To Rich,
I appreciate the information that version “f” doesn’t get the free texts. As far as I know there is no way to downgrade the software on your phone. I guess if you really wanted the free text capability you could shop around for an earlier version like the ones that don’t include the double minutes. If anyone still has them they’re probably putting them on sale to get rid of them. And then there is eBay. I’ll probably try to do that for my wife and then get a double minute card for her. Again, thanks for letting me know.
Rob.. I sit corrected.. that feature does work with the software version I have. I just needed to change the “message alert” to every minute vs “once”.. Happy camper here.
Rich, referring to post #31, thanks you were right. The “f” software version does get the free text messages. After I read #31 I ran out and got another one and now I’m set. Thanks again.
Any ideas on how to transfer pics to a computer? It mentions Bluetooth but I have no idea what that means, is Bluetooth a wire that goes from the phone to the computer? BTW the Tracfone rep told me before I bought the phone that you could send pics via e-mail, found out today you can’t. If someone can please tell me what I have to purchase to transfer pics it would be appreciated. Thanks
Would like to know how to turn off the external display. It would give me the date/time when I pushed the volume keys, on the side of the phone, but now my time stays on continually draining the battery. Help please!!
Yvette,
Try removing your battery for a few minutes and then put it in and start it up. If you still have the problem after that I would suspect your button is sticking.
Will the 420G transfer It’s phonebook to a paired Bluetooth component?
mmm.. can the phone be set to get Facebook or twitter updates??
i can’t believe i’m asking this, but, how in the heck do you access the speakerphone on the LG420?
Rich, How do I change the “message alert” to every minute? Thanks
Gary, the middle button (the OK or enter button) just press that when the call connects and you’ll be on speakerphone.
Is it possible to set up voicemail using a landline? Have a tracfone LG420G.
> 37. “Will the 420G transfer It’s phonebook to a paired Bluetooth component?”
Yes it will.
12/22/2010 I just paired my Tracfone’s LG 420g with my car’s hands free BlueTooth system (2010 Nissan cube SL / SLP). I have only done a few test calls, but so far it works great.
And the car uses the LG 420g’s phone book! (My old Motorola W376g phone book did not work). So now I can use the car’s voice activated phone interface and say “call… name” to call a name listed in my LG420g’s phone book.
I did nothing special to make this work – just a simple normal pairing.
“Upgraded” from a Tracfone Motorola W370 to a Tracfone LG420G. The Motorola always gave me a strong signal at home, the LG420G either gives me 1 bar or “no service.” (Usually it’s “no service.”) Trying to get Tracfone to sort this out is difficult – noticed that at Tracfone’s forum, other people have similar problems.
Hank. Having same trouble with signal in house. Was on with Tracfone Tech Support for 2 hours getting cut off twice. Their solution was for me to stand next to a window. This is not satisfactory to me as I don’t usually leave my phone next to a window in order to receive calls. Had a Nokia 1100 for 6 years and had no trouble with signal inside house. Just “upgraded” to LG420g and am not happy with the signal thing. Everything else works great. But the signal is most important.
Does anyone mknow how to set the correct time and date on this thing?
Also, how long does it take for it to actually be activated?
just got the LG420 and thank you for all the tips, but I can’t seem to find voicemail… I need to set it up, thank you
thanks anyways… got it :}
The phone won’t keep an antenna connection, anywhere. It is embarrassing because I bought this for a gift and now I am spending hours on the phone with customer service trying to fix the problem – SIM card is in the mail. Don’t buy directly from TracFone – go to Target or somewhere that might be able to help you quickly and I would think twice before buying this phone.
I just found out the phone does NOT allow SMS to a Contact Group. I created a Contact Group, added 5 phone numbers to the Group and tried to SMS to the group. Failed, but 1.5 minutes deducted (0.3×5=1.5). Tried again, failed. Hmmm … Tried SMS individual Contacts, and all 5 sent correctly. Called TracFone and the agent spoke with a supervisor who said that some models allowed it (my old TracFone did!) but not some other. Sigh. Asked about returning the 3 minutes to me and got denied because they cannot confirm I tried sending! Double sigh.
To change the message alert to Once a Minute and to turn the Key Tone off, hit “Menu”, “9”, “Sound Profiles”, “Options”, “Edit”. Scroll down to “Message alert” and “Key tone” respectively to change to something you like.
VERY Slippery phone! Just got mine from tracfhone, it’s pain to pull it out of my pocket and really bad trying to open it! I’ll guarantee you’ll drop this phone more than once a day! Am going to try putting some rubber tape on it so I can open it and retrieve it from my pocket without dropping it.
Rob, thanks for the texting tip(#25). I have software version LG420GHL_v10f on my phone, and it works great. My daughter texts me a LOT, so this is a great little tool. For the price, this phone is fine. I actually got it on sale (or special promo, or something) at Walmart for $14.88, and it came with a bonus car charger, ear piece, and a case for the phone. Can’t beat that!!
I just bought a 2009 ES350 Lexus with a nav system with bluetooth capibilities. To register my phone (LG420G), it wants the “Device Name”, a 4 digit “Passkey”, and a “Bluetooth Device Address”. Do you know where I can find that info? My cars’ owners manual says to check the phone manual. Ha, ha, ha…
Thanks!
I’ve been using my LG420 for months now but notice that I haven’t received any text messages since the middle of December. I tried sending text messages from other phones to my LG420 – they are sent but never show up on the LG420. I’ve rebooted the phone and deleted all messages but still no go. Any idea on what is wrong?
I have had problems with my landline. Tried to use this phone to call the Phone Co. I can’t connect with their auto menus. Push the button, but it doesn’t connect. My fault, or this phone doesn’t work that way? Or do I need to do something else to make the buttons work?
Just got the LG420g and experiencing many of the same problems. I also came from a TF Motorola to LG. The reception problem is related to the carrier. LG is using T-Mobile and Motorola used AT&T! It was by internet research that I found this and not by TF admittance.
Claire, glad the tip for receiving texts for free worked for you too! It cuts your text charges down a bit!
Rick, try sending an e-mail to your phone to see if you can receive anything. Your phone’s email address is probably as follows:
##########@txt.att.net
Replace the “##########” with your 10-digit phone number. If you can’t receive an e-mail sent to your phone you might want to complain to Tracfone and see if they can help. I had that problem on a previous phone and after talking with them for a long time and entering a bunch of codes it finally worked. Good luck!
John, if your phone is too slippery check out SKINIT.com for a phone skin. I used my Coke rewards points and got it for free (575 points used). It adds a lot of grip to your phone like a rubber cover. If you don’t have Coke reward points to get it for free then it will cost you about $14.
Pete, just because you went to an LG phone doesn’t mean you’re automatically on T-Mobile, it has to do with the SIM card and what network Tracfone hooked you up with and that varies on where and how you purchased your phone. Check the SIM card number and if it starts with 890126 then it is on T-Mobile’s network, if the SIM card number starts with 890141 like my LG 420s then they’re on AT&T’s network, the better of the two networks at least in my area. If you have a T-Mobile SIM and are having problems complain to Tracfone that T-Mobile has terrible voice and data coverage in your area and demand they send you a SIM card to get you on the AT&T network. If they give you a hard time keep pushing, demand to talk to a manager, and keep calling back until they give in. I think T-Mobile charges Tracfone less to use their networks so they try to avoid AT&T if they can on all their GSM phones. Verizon charges Tracfone more than both and that is why Tracfone won’t offer you a Verizon CDMA phone (like the LG 220C, LG 290C, LG 100C, …) UNLESS YOU CLAIM THE PHONE WILL BE USED IN A ZIP CODE WHERE VERIZON IS THE ONLY NETWORK with coverage like 59601.
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO SEND PICTURES TO YOUR EMAIL?
I hate this phone. You can’tdelete messages to clean up. They have to be deleted manually. When sim is fullyou can’t receive messages. I can;t retreive pictures sent to me after deleting 1.5 units. I’ve called to get help from Tracfone many times. For one thing their customer service people are very hard to understand. I have been a user since 2003 but I am done. I send many texts and need to resend 50% of the time. That certainly eats up my double min. feature in no time. HATE this phone!
I can identify with the person that said the LG420G was slippery. It’s like trying to hold on to a fish. I took an xacto knife and cut tiny slits all around the sides of my phone which helps get a grip. I also bought a data cable from Radio Shack and it doesn’t work with my phone and computer. Their tech rep said I may have to BUY the software from RS. I paid $10 for the phone and $26 for the little data cable and now I still need to BUY the software?? That’s like buying a camera for $20 and then pay $100 for a roll of film. Someone here said they downloaded an 18 page manual for the LG 420 which I did also. BUT the manual has a lot more features listed than my tracfone has. I hear that tracfone strips a lot of the good stuff from the phone before they sell it. It’s even supposed to do video but mine doesn’t.
Dooes anyone know how to use T9 mode for messages? It guesses the word wanted. Also need to know a simple way to get out of the T9 mode. How does it work with going to contacts and using option – send message to contact. The so-called services guide is badly limited in good instructions.
Anybody know – are you charged more units to send message in T9 than regular abc?
TracFone LG420 Interactive Tutorials. This is for their Straight Talk brand. This shows step-by-step instructions, including a photo with blinking buttons to make it clear which one to press next.
http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/straighttalk/home.seam;jsessionid=D80FE06A3E7EFBAB30760160170BE6DC?locale=en_US&deviceId=686&cid=2236754I
Similar to LG420G: LGAX310. Resources/Download pdf Specifications. First 40 pages are safety info! This isn’t a complete solution, but you can choose a LG420 function, and look it up in this manual.
119 page manual: http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/LG-AX310-Red.jsp
LG420 Manual
Here is an 18 page guide on MediaFire. There’s not much more than the Quick Start, but it is in a vertical format and easier to read:
http://www.mediafire.com/?umd26c21wfhh1xr
Joe, Post #64: The link on post #67; pages 8,9 cover T9 functions. It may not cover everything you need.
ALERT: This manual includes some functions that TracFone stripped out, such as a Music Player.
You are definitely not charged more for sending text messages in T9 rather than regular abc. Typically texting charges are measured by the number of texts you send, not the content. If you’re worried about texting charges try Straight Talk, a company part of the TracFone family. They have $45/month unlimited plans (i.e. unlimited talk, text, and web). Just trying to help.
Screen is blank (dark). Removed battery overnight, reinstalled and recharged but still no lighted screen. Time screen no longer has a backlight.Keyboard backlights work. When I press key to turn unit on, I have to wait a good 60 seconds before it responds. Cuts off normally. Any clues or is it toast?
Thank you so much Rob!!! That free text message thing works on my phone too!! I have software version LG20Ghl_v10f. This is going to be SO helpful!!! Thanks again. I was wondering, how did you find that out??
Post 70. Apparently the backlight of the phone died. Trashed it a bought new phone.
The LG420 does alert you when you receive a text message but it’s barly audible. Does anyone know how to increase the volumn for text messaging alerts? The volumn button on the outside of the phone does not have an effect on the text messaging alert volumn.
Ana, I ran across the free text tip somewhere else on the web. I didn’t figure it out but I’ve been doing my best to get the word out. I’m glad you can use it to get free texts too. I’m waiting to see what version of software they get to before they fix that little glitch. Enjoy.
how do i take pics and diwn load them?!
Mike,
Volume for your text messages can be changed under whatever sound profile you are using. Press ‘Menu’ then ‘9’ then ‘1’. The sound profile you are using should be highlited with a check mark beside it. Select ‘Options’ then ‘Edit’, there on that page are all your volume settings for that sound profile. Hope that helps!
When texting in T9 mode and it guesses wrong word is there a way to change word or letter? I don’t see options like my old phone had.
I figured out texting in T9. The word choices are not listed but if you press # key it changes to other words. Not as easy as showing options but it works.
On Tracfone: Activated the LG420G, weak if any signal strength. My Motorola C155 sitting right next to it gets a solid signal, 5 bars. Called Tracfone; after 90 minutes, they decided to send me another LG420G. Will see if this one is any better. Could it have anything to do with the internal settings or the SIM card? Thanks.
GeneL,
You might have one phone that has an ATT SIM card while the other has a T-Mobile card. Here is a blurp I posted earlier that might help you find out:
Check the SIM card number and if it starts with 890126 then it is on T-Mobile’s network, if the SIM card number starts with 890141 like my LG 420s then they’re on AT&T’s network, the better of the two networks at least in my area.
If they’re both using the same network SIM card then it could be the difference in their designs. I’m betting the SIM cards are on different networks. Hope this helps!
If anyone is interested in putting Opera Mini 5.1 on your phone you can get the tips on how to tweak it and get it to work at this forum link (http://s1.zetaboards.com/Turk/topic/3258667/1/). Poster KLM gives the instructions in his post of Aug 23,10 2:02pm about midway down the page. It’s really cool having a GOOD web browser on my phone to surf the web. If you like surfing the web it’s better than Tracfone’s browser. I’m not sure how you’re charged for minutes using this application but it definitely works out a lot cheaper than using Tracfone’s web browser. Give it a try, if you don’t like it you can uninstall it.
Reference my Opera Mini posting above: Whoops, I shouldn’t have said halfway down the page. It’s in the top fifth so don’t go by that. Just page down until you get to the post dated Aug 23, 2010 2:02 AM (not PM like I previously posted). I already modified the file per the instructions so if you can’t do it I might be able to send the jar and jad files via email.
I have the LG420G…How can I block an incoming call or block a number from calling me again? Anyfeedback will be greatly appreciated.
Tony,
I don’t know of anyway to block a specific number but you can store the number as a contact and then assign it it’s own ringtone. I recorded 15 seconds of silence via the voice recorder and use that as the ringtone for spam callers. It will still say you had a missed call but it won’t be ringing. I list all the spammers as XXXSpam1, XXXSpam2, etc.. just to put them at the end of my contact list. Actually, I have group I call SPAM and assigned the group the silent ringtone. Anytime I get one of these calls I store them as a contact and assign them to that group so it uses that silent ringtone. Hope that helps!
Thanks for your input. I will try that.
Tony
Rob, how do I assign a ringtone to an individual or group?
Kim,
1. To assign a ringtone to an individual go to your contacts and highlight the individual’s name, select View to open it up, then select Options and pick Edit to open it into the editing mode. Now, select Options and this time there will be a selection called Add Detail, select that and it gives you choices for all sorts of extra fields you can add to your contact’s record including Ringtone. You should be able to do the rest, they just hid that selection pretty good and I everybody has trouble finding it!
2. To assign a ringtone to a group you go Menu, Contacts, Groups, and highlight the group you want to assign the ringtone to. Then pick Options and on the list that opens select Group Details, that is where you can change the group ringtone.
3. If you need to assign any of your contacts to a group you can do the same as procedure #1 but instead of selecting Ringtone select Groups. Once that field is added you can assign that contact to an existing group. Hope that helps, if not post again.
This cell phone is supposed to be an upgrade from the LG600G that just died on me. So I bought the UPgrade. NO such luck. The LG420 is not any better in any regard as far as I can tell. I have been on and off the Tracfone help phone lines about 6 times, each time you wait for 5 – 10 minutes, then get someone who always needs to ask a supervisor who is always too busy to help the person helping you, so you sit and wait. Right this second I am 41 minutes and 33 seconds into my SIXTH call to TracFone. I have only had this damn phone two weeks. This is the last time I will ever use TracFone OR LG – and I have been using them for just over FIVE YEARS. They lost a loyal customer.
Back to the phone – there just is no real user manual…they will send you what they think is one, but it is just a quick guide that is 12 pages long and mostly useless. The graphics are supposed to be better, but really not – AND – the font size is actually SMALLER. Not everyone has the eyes of a 20 yr old! How stupid of LG. They also killed the setting option to put phone on Vibrate THEN ring. Everyone I know uses this setting. I could with the old phone, but the so-called upgrade does not have the option. Also, the ringtones that come with it are just a dozen really crap ones you won’t want to use. I wish the old LG 600 did not die – this upgrade has just only served to up my blood pressure.
LMFAO the help person just gave me my third ticket number … I did not even bother to write it down. Total call time 47 minutes 2 seconds.
Also research problem with using the Alarm feature. It works, but will kill your battery in under one day. You actually have to fully turn the phone on and off after each alarm goes off. Otherwise the phone will be dead and you think you still have several days of battery left.
DON’T BUY THIS PHONE.
Thanks for the information on texting in T9 and reading text messages before opening the message – saving time and units.
Is it possible to get voicemail messages via using a landline, i.e home number? We could on our previous tracfones but so far can’t on these. Thanks again for all the earlier posts.
Joey,
You should be able to dial your cell phone number from your home phone and WHILE the message is saying leave a message hit the star “*” key to interrupt it. When you hit the “*” key it should ask for your PIN, after you enter your PIN you should be able to retrieve your messages and delete them. Hope that helps, if not post again.
i loved my phone but one day i was cleaning and my phone dropped in the mop water, i put it in rice and i turned it on and the screen was white….help!:(
Re: LG420g. Can I download photos from the 420 to my computer? No cable was included and Tracfone expert recommended buying one. Has anybody been able to find the correct size USB cable? None of mine fit the phone.
Ken,
Your ‘Tracfone expert’ is wrong, the only way to get photos from your phone to your computer is to send them to your email account and save them on your computer. There is no access to your photos with any cable so save your money and don’t buy one, the only thing you can use the data port on this phone for is to charge it. Tracfone blocked all the other functions this port would normally be used for. You can transfer photos TO your phone via bluetooth as well as ringtones but not from your phone to your computer. Hope that helps.
Rob,
You need to try bluetooth again. At least on my phone I can send pictures,mp3’s and everything else both To and From my phone to my PC. Just go to the pictures folder, highlight the picture you want, select “options”, then “send”, then “bluetooth”. Goes right to my PC(winXP) and ends up in My Documents\Bluetooth Exchange Folder. No message charges.
I really depend on you to solve my problems or questions.
Is there a way to delete a group of text message instead of one at a time? My old tracfone I could delete all text messages at one time. It’s a pain to have to do each message separately.
Thanks again.
Joey,
To delete multiple text messages go select Messages, then Inbox, and it should list all your messages. Now, select Options on that page (lower left so hit the left soft key) and go down the list until you are highlighting Mark/Unmark and hit the select key to choose that. It should give you the choice to Mark or Mark All, select Mark All and the list of texts will reappear with a check mark next to all your texts. Now hit options again and this time select delete and they will all go bit heaven. If there are some you want to keep and some you don’t you would have selected Mark instead of Mark all and then you could have gone down the list and put a check mark next to all the ones you wanted to delete. Hope that helps, if not post again.
Jeff,
Whoops, sorry about that, wish I could go back and delete that post! I had a brain fart and confused my phones, I was talking about my LG 231C which you can’t send stuff via bluetooth. Your right about the LG 420G, you can send pictures and ringtones via bluetooth but not via any cable. So, Ken should take the money he was planning to use for a cable and buy a bluetooth dongle. Good catch Jeff and sorry Ken!
I just bought the reconditioned lg420g. When I try to message a picture to someone, it tries and fails but still takes away one and a half units. The customer service person said its because of the area where I live. He also said I won’t be able to download ringtones. The phone texts but won’t send pictures. Could this be related to theSIM card/network thing of which Rob spoke?
Everyday I threaten to throw mine in the creek. Today maybe that day. I need a phone I can depend on. This one is not it! I’ve had it about 4 months and I’ve had it with it!
This is an update to posting #98. The last tracfone person I spoke to said that I wasn’t going to be able to send pictures and access the web because of the network where I live. I thought this was pretty ridiculous since the lg420g was one of the selections for my zip code on the tracphone website. So, today I called again. I repeated my issue to the new tech. He had me reset settings, still could not send picture. Then he said they would send me a new phone with a new SIM card and issued me a ticket number. He said if I had the same problem with new phone, they would have me select another model. PS Maybe since I bought a “reconditioned” phone and John in posting #21 had the same problem, I got his old phone. Hah!
Much thanks for the help. The bluetooth dongle works most of the time, although I do have to unplug and replug it almost every day. I’ve even un-installed it and re-installed it several times.
ive been messin with att and tracfone for 3 days on those freakin sim cards..well in those days i forgot to activate my phone and pin number got thrown out even got the sims all straighten out so now i cant get on cause no airtime i dont have a pin
tracfone LG420G how can i get my pin when i lost it before i even had a chance to activate it
please make it simple cause i am not the greates with the working of cell phone
Rich,
Just wondering, what are the first six numbers of your SIM card? It should start with 896 then the next three tell you if you’re on ATT (141) or T-Mobile (126). Hopefully the phone they send you will be on the carrier your old phone wasn’t. I’m guessing your old phone is on T-Mobile since they suck in my opinion. If it is on T-Mobile and they send you another T-Mobile SIM card I would complain to get an ATT SIM card and vice versa if you have an ATT SIM in your old phone. Having problems sending pictures/texts and getting charged also seems to happen when you’re on the edge of your area with only one or no bars showing. Also, if you need to call Tracfone again about this make sure you call them at 800-876-5763, that’s the office in Miami which is much more responsive and competent than the standard number. They’re also less irritating because they don’t seem to be reading scripts from a book like the normal number. I’m interested in what happens so please post what happens.
Just got replacement phone. Looks like new SIM card is T-mobile, same as old SIM card as both have 126 designation. I’ll let you know and thanks for 800 number.
Rich,
Funny they sent you another T-mobile card, you’re probably on the fringe of a T-mobile service area. Did it make any difference? I guess I’ll have to wait for the rest of the story.
Rob, Here’s an update. The new “reconditioned” lg420g came with SIM card that had 126 after 896, same as old phone and SIM card. It does send pictures. The 800 number you gave would not work for me. Have not connected to web yet.
Rich,
Sorry about the phone number mistake, I put it in my address book wrong. For future reference the correct number should have been 800-876-5753 NOT 800-876-5763. I double checked by calling it and actually have a customer service PERSON answering the phone, not recording H%LL like the normal number.
Rob, Thanks!
Measa, what PIN are you referring to? When you say you threw it out are you referring to the activation card because all that has on it is the serial number of your phone which can also be found on your phone. If you are referring to the serial number so you can activate your phone go into the Menu, press 1, then press 6. You should see a long number about 15-digits, write that number down so you have it handy when you activate your phone. I hope that is what you are calling the PIN. Hope that helps, if that’s not the PIN you were talking about post on here again.
My husband has an LG420g. It has been shutting off by itself even when it shows that is fully charged. The only way to get it to come on is to take the battery and SIM card out and put them back in, then it will turn on. The last time it did it after turning it back on it showed the battery was down to 1 bar, then after charging for just 10 minutes it showed as fully charged.
Is there a way to turn off text message, so I do not receive any?
Deb, sounds like a defective phone OR defective battery. I’d replace both if I were you since this model goes on sale all the time for $9.99. I haven’t heard of anyone else describing a problem like that. The closest problem I’ve heard is an issue with using calendar/reminder alarms can deplete the battery.
Gene, Nope you can’t turn off text messages. However, you can receive text messages for free (refer to post # 25 for instructions) and then delete them. You can also let them collect in your inbox and then delete them in bulk at the same time (refer to post #96). You can also set the volume of the text message ringtone/notification to zero so it won’t bother you (refer to post # 76). Hope some of this helps.
My 2 week old lg420 turns itself off after not being used for an hour or so. The only way to get it back on is to remove the battery, reinsert and restart the phone. Drives me nuts. Guess I’ll be getting a new phone.
How do you extend the ring time???
Hello, I bought the LG 420g a few weeks ago, and I used to be able to use the browser so I can receive free ringtones via text messages but for some reason, I’ve been getting connection failure. I cleared all cookies and cache on the phone but still no connection even though I still have airtime. How can I fix this situation? I would love to change my ringtone haha.
Sam, IF you are on the ATT network and you want to extend the ring time to 30 secs (that’s the max) go to the following web site: http://geckobeach.com/cellular/secrets/gsmcodes.php
The information they provide does work but you need to read it and follow the directions. Trying to explain it here would take up a lot of space and time. You might want to print the table halfway down that web page for future reference too.
Purchased my LG420g about 4 months ago on HSN. It wouldn’t hold a charge for more than two days. It looked like the battery wasn’t “seated” in the phone well enough for a tight connection to the terminals. Tried putting a piece of cardboard in the space. Works until the cardboard wears and becomes too thin. Called TracPhone and got a new battery on May 4. Hasn’t fixed the problem. Anyone else having this problem? Thinking, next I get a replacement phone?
Does anyone know how many text messages you can store on this phone? If you reach the limit will it tell you? Or will it stop receiving texts, or start deleting old ones?
THUMBS DOWN !!!! My LG420 turns off by itself. I have to remove the battery, re-insert it, and turn the phone back on. Sometimes it does it twice a day, sometimes not for a week or so. Tracfone says it is LG’s problem; LG says it’s Tracfone’s. Customer service for both companies is terrible. I’m switching my minutes back to my ancient Motorola; I am so thankful i did not toss it.
Had the same problem. Bought a new one, same model, for $20.
I just wanted to say how helpful this website has been. I’ve had my LG420 for 9 months and have been very pleased with the low cost, reliability and features, except for a couple I couldn’t figure how to access (LG needs to be a lot better about instructions, IMHO). Thanks to this forum and the links to the manual, my phone is now perfect. Too cool!
Does anyone know what the “Free Call Timer” is on the LG420G or how to use it? When I select it on the menu, it asks me to enter a number of minutes. Thank you.
heyy im about to be getting the Lg 420g and i was wondering after reading all these post, is it a good phone to use or not. this phone is really the only option i have right now cause it cheap and im gonna get the $45 unlimited everything.
Jessica,
If it is your only option, it’s an OK phone you can text with and you can surf the web some. If you’re texting a lot or surfing the web a bit there are better phones that cost a bit more. Depends what you want to do with it, style (flip or candybar) you like, etc. If you want just a phone to make voice calls and some texting it should do. My wife uses it strictly for voice calls and the occasional text and she has no complaints.
I cant take pics with the camera..keeps saying that there is insufficient memory..any help would be appreciated
VERY awsome
I just got my lg420g in August the 2 of 2011 and already I got no signal bar on my phone I can’t or recieve calls at all!!
Can anyone tell me whether I can text the UK with this LG420G tracfone phone? I read in the T&Cs that the phone could be barred if it’s used to text internationally, but some websites state that on some phones they are able to text the UK and other countries absolutely fine. I’m english and visiting for 10 months and just purchased this phone to contact people in the US, but would also like to be able to contact my partner back in the UK by text message! Thanks
I had on Net10 and loved the LG600g but it would constantly involuntarily mute during a call. Was very annoying. BUT I LOVE the LG420g! (on Tracfone) It truly IS an upgrade from the 600g. I get atleast 3 bars in my house. Where with Samsung and Motorola GSM phones, I am lucky to get 1 or 2 bars. I plan to buy two more of these, at $15 with DMFL(Tracfone), it’s WELL WORTH the price.
Anyone know how to delete “all” voice messages at once without hearing all messages, one by one to delete?
Please email me with answer. Thank you!
Where can I get a free download users manual for my new LG420G tracfone?Certainly your company supplies a download for this manual.
Julie,
You have to delete them one at a time, there’s no way around that. You might want to do it from a landline phone so you don’t use your minutes.
Louis,
Sorry, there is NO users manual for the LG420G. The closest thing available is the Straight Talk tutorial site which is pretty good. http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/straighttalk/home.seam?custId=STLG420GP&locale=en_US
Tracfone had LG make the phones for them but they didn’t pay for a manual, you’ll have to pickup the information from the many forums covering Tracfone phones on the web.
The key board response for texting… The numerical pad … Does not respond normally for text message… Yet it did for entering the contacts… I do not get “pad” for example when touching 7-2-3 once each.
How do I disable the increasing ringtone? I want it to be loud from the beginning, not gradually get louder.
Not only does TracFone/Net10 not have a real user manual for this phone, but it has no drivers or software to get the pics from your phone to your PC.
It will not access Photobucket’s, FaceBook’s, or GMail’s mobile sites. So the only way you can get pics off your phone is to send them to another phone.
You can’t even e-mail them to yourself… There’s also a known issue with battery life and the phone constantly dying, even when not in use. It won’t hold a charge for more than 48hrs.
DON’T BUY THIS PHONE.
Sorry, second post. If you’re wondering about the driver issue, BlueTooth adapters on your PC will not work to download pictures.
And the only drivers out there are for China.
http://www.lgforum.com/forum/boards/carriers/prepaid-mnvo-rsa-others/topics/looking-for-tracfone-lg420-drivers
Sorry to hear of your problems Rilriaa. I have been uploading and downloading photos and address books via Bluetooth for a year without problems. No special driver needed. A full charge gets me two weeks of phone use. I don’t use it on the internet so I can’t comment on all your other problems. Works for me!
GB mich,
Your text entering mode is probably set to T9 predictive text mode, change it to Abc and then 7-2-3 should give you “Pad”. In T9 it probably wants to give you “Sad”.
Rilriia,
Nice rant but YOU ARE WRONG, you can email pictures to yourself IF YOU KNEW HOW. You could also Bluetooth them to your PC IF YOU KNEW HOW. Yes, there is a known battery problem with this phone caused by using alarms and it’s even mentioned here in posts 88, 111, and 113 along with the work around. After reading your posts on the LG forum it’s obvious that your problem is you think you have an LG_LG420G when you actually have a Tracfone_LG420G, not the same phone. Different OS, different resolution camera, no camcorder on the Trac, no memory card for the Trac, no media player for the Trac, NO DRIVERS OR SOFTWARE for the Trac, no working data-port for the Trac, and NO LG SUPPORT for the Trac. The drivers in China you mention are for the LG_LG420G, they don’t sell the Tracfone_LG420G in China. Posting on the LG forum like you did will get you answers about the LG_LG420G which don’t work on the Trac version. Also, threatening LG about false advertising and business practices will get you nowhere because they never advertised the Tracfone_LG420G, all they did is manufacture the phone for Tracfone according to Tracfone’s specs and install Tracfone’s OS. Tracfone advertised and distributed it. Since there weren’t any questions anywhere in your rant … good luck with those pictures!
Actually Tony yes, you can block a number from calling your LG 420G. It’s an involved process, but I just did it to mine. For some reason none of this is covered in the manual I have or the Quick Start Guide I downloaded.
You have to add the number(s) to your contact list in one of the Groups or create a new Group list for these numbers. I just added a number to my recently created Spam Calls group folder and started blocking it today.
To create a Spam Calls group press: Menu, Contacts, Groups, Options, Add new group. Type what ever you want to type as your Group title. You can then select a ringtone for this group. Some record a few seconds of silence on the voice recorder and use it as the ringtone. This way they don’t hear anything when the calls come in.
To access Call Reject press: Menu, Settings, Call, scroll down to and press Call Reject. Turn the feature on, select Groups then select what ever group you saved that contact in.
Rilriia, if you would read a little before buying you would have read the disclaimers about not all features working on or included with certain service providers. Which is why you’re *****ing about a TracFone LG 420G on LG’s site.
Rob, since you’ve already created the Spam folder you should be able to block the entire folder/group using the Call Reject option described above.
Eric,
I don’t think you meant to address your last comment to me. I know how to block and reject calls on this phone.
thanks Eric! couldnt figure out that call blocking thing….wasn’t very obvious based on the menus. cheers
I would like to text my contact list all at one time, is this possible and if so, how do I do this.?
I want to know if you can block text messages on the lg420gp, my sister in law is handicapped and she is getting alot of text messages that are eating up her tracfone minutes. Thanks for your help.
Sue,
If the phone has an AT&T SIM card (number starts with 89141…) you can register it at http://mymessages.wireless.att.com/ and change the settings to control a lot of the telemarketer messages sent to our phones (you can not block text messages sent from other cell phones but you can block the messages sent to the cell phones email address). The AT&T system I gave the link for is not the main AT&T site and isn’t connected to their normal account system but it does control the messages sent to our phones email address which is how a lot of marketers bulk send crap. If you have a T-mobile SIM, I haven’t a clue. Hope that helps.
Is there a way to access voicemail or text messages using the Tracfone website like like Verizon and Century Link do? I really hate being charged to retrieve voicemail and am away from home phone but have access to free internet.
Joey,
Nope, sorry, not via Tracfone’s web site. If you have internet access, a computer and GMail you could call your cell phone via the GMail call option (or Google Voice) to retrieve your voice messages. What you’re looking for, accessing texts and voice mail via your computer, can be done if you integrate your phone with Google Voice and have everyone call and send texts (not MMS at this time) through the Google Voice number. If there aren’t any local Google Voice available for your area keep checking back, they add more numbers on a pretty regular basis that get snapped up quickly. Hope that helps a little.
does anyone know how to include time, date and senders number when emailing a text message to my email? you can email a text message from the tracfone, but only the text is sent. i need to have the time and senders number with that text.
I transferred my old contact list via bluetooth from my old phone and the LG420G said the names were going to “other” but I can’t find them. Where are they?
Can anyone tell me how to access the “shortcuts” once they have been entered?
Aha, I found the contacts in “other files. Now when I try to “save to contacts” it tells me “restore failed”. What gives?
default display on my screen is 01/2004 calendar! Im using LG420G. Anybody can help me how to reset this date and time please??? its already 2012!
Anybody still here ?. . the phone froze on me–removi ng then replacing the battery gave it life again. I decided it was timely to export my contacts, to the computer.
. . .However, reception by the computer failed and now I have the export file stuck in the phone, with an icon next to the battery icon. .. and drawing battery power.
Can anyone tell me where to locate the export file in the phone to delete it ? Looked everywhere.