Apple Watch Series 3 Activation Issues (WS300, WS504)
I wanted to detail my issues today, for anyone else who has been having issues getting their Apple Watch activated.
This may or may not apply to a Series 4 watch, but they occurred on my S3.
WS300 - If you're getting this error message, its related to the 911 address fields. It's most likely related to the postal code. This system uses the Canada post postal code reference lookup algorithm. Your street address will have a specific postal code that this service is trying to reference, and if you enter the wrong one - it wont work. To compound issues, RURAL customers have a completely different set of problems, as you don't have a straight forward address.
If you live in a rural area, (in my case Rural Alberta), you more than likely have 2 addresses for your house. One is your mailing address, which may have Site, Box, RR or something like that in it. And you more than likely have a Civil 911 address. This is the physical location of your home, so that emergency responders know how to locate you. And there is a good chance that because Canada Post does NOT deliver mail to your house - it won't have your actual address in their lookup system. (SOME DO! ... Some don't!). If you try to use either one of these (you SHOULD be trying to use the Civil 911 address), the system PROBABLY might not recognize the postal code associated to it. After many failed attempts it locked me out completely and wouldn't work. After a 57 minute phone call with tech support it was figured out that there were 2 reasons I was locked out. First was the issue of the postal code. We tried forever to find an address associated with where I physically live that could make the system happy. This was not possible. THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS IS TO GIVE IT A 911 ADDRESS THAT EXISTS IN CANADA POST'S SYSTEM - WHETHER YOU LIVE THERE OR NOT. The tech support agent escalated this issue, and this was the only resolution they could give me - reluctantly. If i make a 911 phone call from my watch, and I am not able to communicate - the emergency responder may elect to go to the address registered on the device (IF THE GPS ISN'T AVAILABLE). He made sure I was aware that Rogers does not condone this as an option - but ... to the end of trying to get this resolved, its the only way to do it. I elected to use my work address which has a postal code Canada Post recognizes.
To exacerbate issues further was Error WS504 I experienced shortly after WS300 came up. The rogers tech didn't even HAVE WS504 in his notes as a possible error. So after escalating this, he figured out that for whatever reason - my rogers account is pre-authorized to activate up to 7 lines under my account. They are hidden, but if i bring other devices, the system is authorized to give me up to 7 additional numbers should i need them. I have my phone, and one other data only device under my account. Which means I'm authorized up to 5 other devices remaining. EACH TIME I TRIED TO ACTIVATE MY APPLE WATCH (UNSUCCESSFULLY), it pre-authorized an additional activation for it. You do the math - after 5 unsuccessful attempts to activate my watch, it gave this error code, as no more lines were authorized on my account.
SO - If you have experienced WS504 - it might be because you have already failed the system out - whatever number of pre-authed accts you might have, maybe you have 7, maybe you have NONE. Either way, it appears at first glance this error is related to NOT being authorized to activate an additional line.
In closing - use an acceptable canada post address and matching postal code - whether its yours or not (notwithstanding its your own problem if 911 can't find you), and when you get WS504 - you gotta call in and have tech support release all the failed pre-auths.
My Apple Watch S3 is successfully activated - but still doesn't actually receive a network signal yet ... which no one knows why, and has escalated that ... unresolved.
Hope that helps SOME people..
