Keeping Data only Sim on Backup Router

[philtrick123]

Hi,

I've got a 12 month EE Data Only Sim https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09BFXRM4C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which I uses as backup for my internet service. It's installed into a Huawei 4G router.

Fortunately my main internet feed has been reliable recently so the SIM Data has been unused for a period of time (could be months). I tried to test it today and found the SIM had been deactivated. There seemed to be no way to get it activated while in the 4G router. I removed the SIM, and put it into my phone, then made a test call, which then prompted me to reactivate the SIM by pressing 1. After a few minutes started working for data.

My questions are- 1)how do I keep this backup SIM active. Do I just need to 'ping' the internet once a month through the SIM to keep it active?  

2) if it deactivates again how do I reenable it while its in the 4G router.

Regards Phil

[XRaySpeX]

@philtrick123 : EE PAYG SIMs are deactivated after 6 months of non-chargeable use. You then have a further 3 months to call EE to reactivate it before it is lost completely.

You need to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from your pack or add-on.

See also the Question: Does it really lasts for 12 months? from where you bought it.

[Chris_B]

@philtrick123  as it’s a preloaded data Sim that is meant for a tablet or router as in your case you obviously cannot make calls or texts.  
Just using the allowance will keep it activated.   It’s 120Gb pre loaded and with that you get 10Gb per month to use over the 12 month period from activating it.   I’ve had one of these myself and you just need to use it.    No topping up no calling or texting is required.    It’s not a PAYG it’s a pre loaded data sim if it’s like the one you’ve linked too.

[XRaySpeX]

See Pay as you go Connected Data SIM T&Cs :

If you don’t use data top up every 180 days, you will be disconnected
and you’ll lose any unused allowances on your account.

[Chris_B]

It’s a pre loaded data sim with a set allowance for 12 months.  It’s not sold as a PAYG sim so you shouldn’t have to top up to use it otherwise how can it be a pre loaded sim for 12 month usage.   That would be a clear case of being miss sold a product as it’s not as described.  

[philtrick123]

It sounds like I need to setup something to just occasional use the SIM. Probably a ping would be enough to keep it active. It sounds like there is no way to reactive it without removing it from the 4G router- unless I can send a text message while in the router. I saw it had received SMS in the router.

Needs further investigation.

It also appears I can't renew for another 12months. I can top up for a month, but I can't just pay £60 per another 12 months. Shame- looks like I need to buy another SIM in December.

[EssexBoyEE]

As @XRaySpeX suggests, you do need to make a Chargeable Cost outside of your Plans Allowance, although the 180 Day Rule is recommended Ive also seen some of these Preloaded Data Sims go into Hibernation after 90 Days of no Data Activity.

I've Installed some of these Sims in the past for remote location Resilience Fullback before finding out about the 90 / 180 day issue. Because it wasn't practical for someone to go to the Location to keep making a Chargeable Cost every know and then, I set up a Text to get around the issue, along these lines, the method below assumes that the Plan does not have any included Mins or Texts which your Sim shouldn't, but double check as some of the earlier Plans had a bundled 100 Texts thrown in.

Top up the Preloaded Data Sim with the min amount, do not buy any available Plans or Add On's. Go to the Routers Admin UI and go to SMS Settings, SMS Auto Forwarding, insert your mobile No. to forward all Incoming Router Sim SMS to your Number (Not all Routers allow you to do this).

So now to make a Chargeable Cost on the Routers Sim Plan, say once a month or so, just send the Router a simple Text Message, the Text will be forwarded back to your Number and incur a Chargeable Cost of the Text that is forwarded, cannot remember now think its 10p or 12p per text.

Using the above method, will also confirms that the Router is Powered on and connected to the EE Network and that the SIM has not gone into Hibernation, which is really handy if the Router is in a remote location.

[philtrick123]

Thanks for the SMS option. I think I'll try to setup a regular ping from within my router (OpenWRT). That will use a minimal amount of data and it can also email me if the ping fails.

Thanks.

[XRaySpeX]

A ping isn't a data top-up. It won't be sufficient to keep it alive.

When the 12 months are up look at http://add-on.ee.co.uk/purchase from a device connected to your mobile router by WiFi to see what data-add-ons are available.

[philtrick123]

A ping is data usage, so I expect the SIM to stay active with use. At the moment it's going inactive because it's completely unused.

As a side note- you only seem to be able to buy these 60GB for 12 month Data SIMs on Amazon. EE don't sell them directly.