Can you use ANY of the various Three Pay Monthly SIMs in a Mifi device for Broadband? 22 June 2022 at 6:33PM in Broadband & internet access 9 replies 187 views

HaroldWren5

Not sure whether this is for the Mobiles thread, or Broadband.

Can anyone clarify the answer to below please?

On the "Three" website, they list deals for "Pay Monthly SIM Only Deals" and it says on the page that the benefits include "Personal Hotspot" in the UK. Currently doing Unlimited Data on a 24 month contract for £22 with 6 months half price on their website. (Whilst the MSE comparison tool showed a cheaper deal via a reseller.) They also offer you £100 credit for switching to them.

There is a separate "Data SIM" for the same contract length for £22. No credit offered. 
And then finally the Mobile Broadband section shows an offer for £22 a month with 6 months half price which includes their own Mifi device. And no credit offered. 

My question is Are all of these SIMs effectively the same? As in can you take one of them and put them in an unlocked Mifi device and use it for Internet access for your Tablets/Laptops/TV etc?

Do you specifically have to buy the Data SIM, or can you put in any Pay Monthly SIM? The reason being, that the Pay Monthly one seems to be the best "deal" if it provides exactly the same end user experience of Unlimited Data. Thanks in advance!

Peter999_2

Hi, I have a pay monthly SIM only from three and it does work in a MiFi with no problems.   However, I did once have a SIM card from another network that would not work on MiFi devices.

I just used a really old iPhone 5 and setup a WiFi hotspot and it worked fine for me - couldn't tell the difference between it and the MiFi I had (4 people connected to the hotspot).   So, if three suddenly stop it working in a MiFi you could just use an old phone.

QrizB

HaroldWren5 said:

My question is Are all of these SIMs effectively the same? As in can you take one of them and put them in an unlocked Mifi device and use it for Internet access for your Tablets/Laptops/TV etc?

Once upona time providers would block phone SIMs if they were used in non-phone devices.

But in 2018 Ofcom decided that was illegal:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78687521/#Comment_78687521

Since Ofgem's ruling was based on a bit of EU law, I guess there's a chance it might get reversed at some time.

HaroldWren5

Peter999_2 said:

Hi, I have a pay monthly SIM only from three and it does work in a MiFi with no problems.   However, I did once have a SIM card from another network that would not work on MiFi devices.

I just used a really old iPhone 5 and setup a WiFi hotspot and it worked fine for me - couldn't tell the difference between it and the MiFi I had (4 people connected to the hotspot).   So, if three suddenly stop it working in a MiFi you could just use an old phone.

Thank you. So it should work. Yes, I heard that Tesco Mobile SIMs cannot be placed in a Mifi (Mobile Broadband) device though the O2 SIMs can. 

Glad to know the ones from Three do work in Mifi. Since on their own website, they actually offer the best deal (currently) for the Phone SIM. 

Spies

Curveball here, go with Smarty, literally the same network (they're owned by three) but 1month rolling contract and unlimited data for £20 a month. You can also get a free month if you get a referral from someone.

My dad uses Smarty in a router and it works well. 

HaroldWren5

Spies said:

Curveball here, go with Smarty, literally the same network (they're owned by three) but 1month rolling contract and unlimited data for £20 a month. You can also get a free month if you get a referral from someone.

My dad uses Smarty in a router and it works well. 

That's a good tip. Works out cheaper and rolling contract. Trying to work out if there is a good Three signal for where I need it right now. Thanks!

flashg67

If 3 isn't a good signal but Vodafone is, Lebara might work for you - been  using a Lebara sim  as my only broadband in a 4g router for 12months +

HaroldWren5

flashg67 said:

If 3 isn't a good signal but Vodafone is, Lebara might work for you - been  using a Lebara sim  as my only broadband in a 4g router for 12months +

Yes, that 3 price is hard to beat. Signal is the issue in some places. That's a good point about Lebara who uses Vodafone. Has their customer service and pricing been good? I can see that Lebara are cheaper than Vodafone and offer rolling contracts too.

HaroldWren5

flashg67 said:

If 3 isn't a good signal but Vodafone is, Lebara might work for you - been  using a Lebara sim  as my only broadband in a 4g router for 12months +

@flashg67
Regarding Lebara, if you sign up for a 30 day rolling plan with 3 months half price, and you cancel, can you actually re-sign up again later on (i.e. from month 4 onward) to get 3 months half price again (whether you choose rolling or 12 month contract at a later date)? 

Can you port your number away to a different PAYG SIM and then re-sign up again at a later date basically and still get the offer if it is still there?

Reason being they may offer a better Black Friday deal to sign up for the 12 month contract around November time. 

james_smitha

I recently renewed my 3 mobile contract.  Because the sim is used in a mobile router they have since May '22 that I know of blocked in comeing calls to the attached phone