smarty mobile sim with router not phone?

harrys66

Hi,

Have an old tenda router attached to a zte 3g only usb modem, all working well while back using a three sim, happy with 3g speeds going forward  

anyone happily using one of the following data only sims in a router, heard stories about sims only working in phones using hotspot feature not routers?

https://smarty.co.uk/data-sim

thanks

QrizB

As fas as I can see, it should work.

Those Smarty SIMs are sold for "tablets, dongles and mobile broadband" and that's exactly what you will be using it for.

Do bear in mind that Smarty (along with most other UK networks) will be switching off 3G next year, and so you might need to replace your ZTE stick before then.

https://smarty.co.uk/3g-switch-off

harrys66

QrizB said:

As fas as I can see, it should work.

Those Smarty SIMs are sold for "tablets, dongles and mobile broadband" and that's exactly what you will be using it for.

Do bear in mind that Smarty (along with most other UK networks) will be switching off 3G next year, and so you might need to replace your ZTE stick before then.

https://smarty.co.uk/3g-switch-off

cheers thanks for the info, should be ok, nowtv have delayed our broadband order because of openreach so many times now we've just hit £100 in daily auto compensation !

if they continue delaying well into 2024 i'll be a rich man

HaroldWhistler

You should be fine with any network SIM installed into a 4G Wifi device or Router so long as the network specifically doesn't say the SIM isn't for Mobile Broadband (which Tesco Mobile state for instance). 

Just check you have a good signal for the underlying network and you're good to go. If you have a good Vodafone signal, Lebara do Unlimited Data for a better price (than Vodafone or Smarty) and offer 30 day rolling as well. I'd personally be cautious about Smarty. They can be good if they work, but it seems some people have problems with them as well and they have next to no customer service at all unlike Three (who you can actually ring for customer support). Smarty sometimes "pause" people's plans without any reason given. I wrote a post on that in the Mobile section of the forum telling people to be cautious, but for some reason it got removed which is bizarre. The bad reviews on Trustpilot point this out - that many people's SIMs with Smarty just go randomly inactive with no explanation given and no right to recourse. If you need a Three signal, then Three themselves do Data SIMs with or without Mifi devices or Routers if you are happy with their contracts. 



 

harrys66

Anyone thinking of this dont try it

Tried different locations with good three indoor signal, moved dongle to window facing the tranmitter location

Everything works, so cant complain

Its a very "controlled" connection, espeically if you want to use anytihng like teams, remote access etc, even google tv and google mini hiccup all the time

going to try a three sim were you can change the apn to "3internet" so can get a "proper" internet ip.....

ps nowtv delayed till 31st of august from orignal 4th @ £5.89 a day penalty

QrizB

Thanks for reporting back!

It sounds as though it's better than nothing, but (at least for your use case) not a satisfactory alternative to a wired internet connection.

I look forward to hearing if a Three SIM is better than Smarty.

(How is Vodafone's signal? You could try Voxi next?)

harrys66

QrizB said:

Thanks for reporting back!

It sounds as though it's better than nothing, but (at least for your use case) not a satisfactory alternative to a wired internet connection.

I look forward to hearing if a Three SIM is better than Smarty.

(How is Vodafone's signal? You could try Voxi next?)

didnt go for the three sim as tried the smarty sim in a borrowed 4g E3372 modem... very stable so far