topic Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work in Mobile Broadband

Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:00:39 GMT

I purchased mobile broadband and antenna. Catch 22, the engineer can not come out till I get a working sim card. We get internet via phone sim card, data sim card is different, trying to chase it up, but high number of calls and tech help messenger service is turned off.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

Chris_B — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 18:48:09 GMT

@1745Yes If a sim works in your phone then a sim will work in a mobile router, the only difference is your allowances your get on your account to use with that sim. A sim is a sim after that it’s all account based. Can you try that sim in your phone ?

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:07:11 GMT

Correct my phone sim card does work in the router, a data sim card is different from a phone card. The serving mast in my area works on a different frequency, a data sim card will not work. I have no technical knowledge but I have observed issues over the years and gradually I talk to someone who can explain what maybe or is happening.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

Chris_B — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:27:27 GMT

@1745Yes Can you put the router sim in your phone ?

Just to point out you could have receive this sim with a phone.

The only difference is the account allowances and if it’s included or you pay for call/texts with that sim. The sim connects the same way as any other sim there is no difference.

Is this router/sim on contract or PAYG? as this can have a different bandwidth connection.

EE operates 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G radio access technologies on a range of bands. 2G uses 1800MHz (Band 3), 3G 2100MHz (Band 1), 4G 800MHz (Band 20), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) while 5G is on 700MHz (Band 28), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) and 3500MHz, 3600MHz (NR Band 78).

your sim connection is to some/all of those bandwidths. That’s all SIM cards eSims be it for a phone, tablet or router and even a cellular watch.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 19:53:52 GMT

Yes I have put the router sim in my phone, it did not work, but I drove out of the glen and picked up a signal from a different mast and it registered, back home it did not work. In the past I found this to be a solution to activate a new sim card to make it become active and then it would work at home.

In the past a PAYG sim card would not work in the glen that's why I got a contract, that links to "can have a different bandwidth connection". Saying that my daughters PAYG sim card works when she visits, it's on a different network.

Some time ago new sim card did not work, "Level 2" did something and it worked.

I have a 18 month contract on the router and sim card.

I think the mast is "810" bandwidth, we can go for days without an issue and then mobile internet becomes very erratic. I do get text messages sometime saying there is a fault at the mast, but I never see someone at the mast fixing it, is it a software issue?

Thank you for your input, technically I do not know but I do observe issues from the mast which use.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 20:27:01 GMT

"EE operates 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G radio access technologies on a range of bands. 2G uses 1800MHz (Band 3), 3G 2100MHz (Band 1), 4G 800MHz (Band 20), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) while 5G is on 700MHz (Band 28), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) and 3500MHz, 3600MHz (NR Band 78).

your sim connection is to some/all of those bandwidths. That’s all SIM cards eSims be it for a phone, tablet or router and even a cellular watch."

Never read this bit when I did my last reply, so my bit about "810" bandwidth should be "800MHz (Band 20)"

Just shows I do not know the explanation, just know the data sim card does not work, EE knows this, engineer to fit the antenna will not attend till there is a working sim card. Past 14 days to return product as I was waiting for the engineer, who is now waiting for a working sim card.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

bristolian — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 20:50:40 GMT

There is no difference between "data" SIMs & "phone" SIMs save for perhaps whether voice calls are allowed or how they're charged on the associated data plan.

In terms of what coverage layers you can access, a pay-monthly SIM in a VoLTE device allows access to the same service as a data-plan SIM.

Band 20-800MHz coverage requires a VoLTE-device & SIM combination to work, or a data-only device where VoLTE is not a consideration. That restriction doesn't apply to any other bands.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 21:05:04 GMT

I am confused

Router works with my phone sim card on site.

Data sim card does not work in my phone on site.

Data sim card does work in my phone off site using a different mast.

Will a data sim card work where I live? This is probably the answer I am looking for.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

bristolian — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 22:36:22 GMT

So the issue is specific to your router SIM in what sounds like a B20-only area, which is odd but consistent.

You could use the phone-SIM in your router to allow the install of the antenna, but only EE C/S will be able to further investigate the 800Mhz access restriction that one of your SIMs evidently has. When it's used offsite in a phone, does that device display VoLTE/4G-calling (Android/iOS)?

This is likely to need escalating within C/S, I would be surprised if a frontline agent is able to rectify this immediately.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

EssexBoyEE — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 23:15:40 GMT

@1745Yes What is the make and model number of both the Router and Antenna?

@bristolian A lot of the earlier EE mini and Home Broadband Routers never had B20, only 1, 3 and 7. A lot of Chinese 4G Router or Asian Market 4G Routers do not have B20.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

EssexBoyEE — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 00:21:42 GMT

Just to add, a long shot here, but if you take the Sim and the Router into a different Area, ie really good EE Coverage (that support multible bands) , and eave it there for a few hours, it may (may) log on to another Band other than B20 and if the Device and Firmware supports B20 within its secondary Carrier Agregation look up table within the Firmware, this may allow you to register onto a B20 Mast afterwards (it sometimes gets around the B20 VoLTE issue)

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:13:44 GMT

Thank you, going to phone EE on my next day off.

"When it's used offsite in a phone, does that device display VoLTE/4G-calling (Android/iOS)?" I can not remember, it did register on the network, I think I got a text message.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:22:12 GMT

"What is the make and model number of both the Router and Antenna? "

The antenna is not installed.

The Router is a BT one, supplied by EE, TYPE HH70BT-2ABTGB3

Thank you, going to phone EE on my next day off.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:25:42 GMT

Thank you

Taken note, always good to have a try to resolve issue.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

bristolian — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 22:33:07 GMT

You don't receive a text message when a phone registers on VoLTE/4G-calling, you just get the indicator next to your signal bars, and remain on 4G when you make or receive a call.

I do recall some early data-only devices having issues with B20, but this was also because of the VoLTE-requirement. Many of these modems weren't whitelisted for 800Mhz access until later on.

I can't immediately find an online spec for the HH70BT-2ABTGB3 model.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 23:05:14 GMT

Went through my text messages, Saturday, 1 Oct 11:23 "Hello and welcome to EE. Its great to have you on board. Just turn your phone off and on again then you're good to go. And for any help: ee.co.uk/getstarted" Despatch date 28-SEP-2022 of BT 4G Home Hub, so I reckon that message was sent to my phone with the data sim card when I tried it outside the glen, could be wrong.

The mast which I use was part of "the next generation emergency service network"?

Some trivia, many people objected on it being installed, know for a fact it's been used a few times by people to be rescued, funny old world.

Model: 4G Home Hub

TYPE HH70BT-2ABTGB3

Colour: Black

Made in China

WCDMA B1/3/8

FDD LTE B3/7/20

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

bristolian — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 23:14:38 GMT

@1745Yes wrote:

The mast which I use was part of "the next generation emergency service network"?

Out of interest, where did you see this statement? Most new site builds in remote areas in recent years have either been 2G/4G1800, 4G800 or a combination of the two. There are some specific sites that are for ESN-users only, but many are open for commercial users.

Do you have a site, cell or eNB reference?

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 23:45:40 GMT

CELL ID 15188316

LAC 1169

Data via Opensignal app

Originally 3 poles where going to be installed in area, total carnage on social media.

Ended up 1 pole and one large mast, worst option in my opinion .

Was done by the "Home Office"?

Was told at the time if they were not installed then the window of opportunity would be lost, limited budget, this was not scaremongering, came from a credible and reliable source.

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

Christopher_G — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 07:31:08 GMT

Hi @1745Yes

What does our coverage checker say the service should be like in the area?

Chris

Re: Data sim card will never work where I live, phone sim card will work

1745Yes — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 19:14:58 GMT

"You'll get good coverage outdoors and varying levels of coverage indoors"