5G Routers with sim card slot - ethics/legality

Sono Topolino

I recently purchased a 5G router with a sim card slot from AliExpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002240078798.html). It arrived a few days ago and picked up a 5g sim card from Three for it. Setting the router up was pretty painless, and the speeds I am getting (over 200 Mbps) are superior to Virgin Media for less than half the price.

I'm considering cancelling Virgin Media given this fact, but I'm wondering if Three might eventually cop on to the fact that I'm using their €25 per month sim card for internet browsing exclusively and I make no phone calls. Their Ts&Cs have a vague "fair usage policy" and state that they can charge extra if you break it. They also seem to prohibit tethering and data usage in conjunction with a modem, which beggars belief because surely everyone tethers? This seems to be pretty unenforceable, but leaves me wondering if this is a long term solution for wifi at home.

Thoughts?

Ah-Watch

People have been using this for years and years without issue in the exact way you describe. I cannot see you encountering issues.

Sono Topolino

That is very encouraging to hear. I shall keep yiz updated on how it works out both with the dodgy router from China and 3 Ireland. I suppose if 3 does kick me off, I can switch to Eir and play the pay as you go merry-go-round.

The router I linked to actually cost €190 (the list price takes into account VAT and customs duty), and the declared customs value for the router was €10 🤣 - the vendor really did not give a damn. I ended up paying more to An Post in the way of a processing fee than I paid to Revenue. It did take about a month to arrive, since they use the cheapest parcel service.

Sono Topolino

I've been using it for a month now abd I get download speeds of between 100-200mbps pretty consistently but upload speeds are restricted to about 10% of that. U sing a VPN my upload speeds actually increase ironically enough. I suspect Three is throttling upload speeds to conserve bandwidth.

If you use a Three sim card make sure you set the APN to "3ireland.ie" rather than "3broadband.ie" or "open.internet" or they will throttle your speed. The router automatically chooses one of the latter ones.

Another nice thing about the Unicom router is that it has an SMS function. This is useful for accessing Three customer service.

I'm investigating connecting a phone to it. According to this press-release this may be possible: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-unicom-launches-5g-cpe-121500922.html

"In addition to the high data rate experience, UNISOC V510 also supports VoNR voice calls"

gearoid!

If you're looking for a 5G router that you can tinker with to your heart's delight, then go for an industrial-grade router. Please don't fret yourself when you hear the term "industrial-grade", as it does not mean "complicated". It could just mean that you can have a ton of features, functions, and customisation. For instance, 5G Modem Setting Control via AT Commands.

The Teltonika RUTX50 Dual-SIM 5G Router would be perfect for the enthusiast, and most of all, for industrial applications and workload.

Some of the functions that might interest you are:

1. Auto/Manual APN Setting, and Dual SIM auto failover (also support fail over between 5g mobile and WAN/LAN Internet)

2. Manual Band Locking

3. Carrier Aggregation\

4. Install software packages, similar to that of OpenWrt packages.

5. Various VPN protocol support such as; OpenVPN, ZeroTier, WireGuard, etc.

6. Remote Monitoring, and Management. Very ideal for remote deployment like; Kiosk applications, SenseHUB, Helium Miner.

To shop for this router in Ireland, you can head over to Novatel site - https://www.novatel.ie/teltonika-rutx50-5g-router-industrial

As regards the legality of 5G, Since 2019, several mobile operators have started rolling out 5G networks throughout Ireland. As of October 2020, there are 5G networks available in the major Irish cities and towns (Dublin, Cork, Galway, Wexford, Waterford).

With that said, 5G Mobile Signal Repeaters are legal to use as well. Provided, that they are ComReg approved.

mp3ireland2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260435/5g-routers-with-sim-card-slot-ethics-legality

That router still going ok? What sort of speeds do you get? I get speeds ranging from 20 up to 150mb/s on my lyca sim and wondering if worth the cost of a 5g router....they are fairly pricey aren't they! Especially the industrial grade one above :-D

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780264#Comment_119780264

I'm getting on just fine. I get speeds of between 50 and 200 mbps depending on the time of day and the weather. The routers can be a bit pricey, but the one I got is €234: https://m.aliexpress.com/item/1005001275437173.html

It's nothing fancy, but it will save you money over a 12 month period compared to Virgin Media. You can get a 5G PAYG plan from Three for €25 per month.

I may switch from Three to vodafone as they now have better 5G coverage in my area, and I now get better speeds on my smartphone. However, it is €5 per month more expensive and the speeds I get from Three are fine.

For anyone interested currently 3 has an offer for €15 that includes 5G data

https://www.three.ie/content/3ie-wotf/buy/prepay.html?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Search&utm_campaign=September_Prepay_hero&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqc6aBhC4ARIsAN06NmPkTNjVivzllSFgiqpuB1YLN0XB7fazgCR5xuEV33ig-CoOgFYRH8UaAm2xEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#sim-only

I think it is only available for a short time so don't hang around too long if you want it.

I may end up going down The same route as the OP as for some reason despite living in a major town, my two options for internet are either Virgin Media or internet through a copper cable and I know from previous experience how terrible the speeds on that were 5G will most definitely be faster.

Sono Topolino

I just swapped out the three sim card for my Vodafone mobile simcard and I'm getting excellent speeds. My speeds from Three have been pretty bad since the storm a few days ago - I wonder if their masts got damaged or something.

Grab All Association

I’m using a EE SIM card in my Dell Precision. 15GB data for €14 and access to BBC/ITV players as it’s routed through the U.K. the Sierra WWAN card doesn’t tell you what network you’re roaming on, I suspect Eircom mobile. Good 4G coverage. Handy for those that pay for a VPN to access U.K. streaming/On Demand

ReturnOfThe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119780761#Comment_119780761

Thats a great price for unlimited calls/texts/data with 5g..had to read it a few times to see what was the catch and ..doesnt seem to be any...so ordered !

Another great deal that I saw in an add.

Virgin Media mobile unlimited €10 for 8 months.

If I read the T&C's correctly there could be a limit of 500GB monthly or I could be wrong anyway that cap if it applies should be plenty for the vast majority.

https://www.virginmedia.ie/mobile/sim-only?CMP=pse_PaidSearch_AlwaysOn_Discovery__2022-10-13&gclid=CjwKCAjw79iaBhAJEiwAPYwoCGjluDl-3QZ8-wSilpR36PomlU4uJ_33kXwNKlXke7AtX0KXn2uMIBoCHI4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

lstroe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119524014#Comment_119524014

When do you have to declare customs value ? when the parcel is in Ireland. Did you contact the seller for this before you put the order ?

Sono Topolino

The seller prepares a customs declaration and you have to pay the tax. In this case, the seller declared a customs value of €10 even though it cost €190 before tax. I think that this seller just slaps the same customs declaration on every unit they sell and doesn't care - because why would they? They're based in China and don't give a damn about EU customs rules.

innocent_lover

Hi, slightly off topic but I have a question. I have eir mobile router but my laptop doesn’t show that in available network however if i make hotspot on my phone i can see that as available network. Is there any settings I have to do on mobile router so that laptop can scan mobile router network? Thank you

mp3ireland2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058260435/5g-routers-with-sim-card-slot-ethics-legality

Is it SIM still working? What plan are you on? My lyca mobile SIM is on a go slow...I suspect I was identified as breaking their fair use policy..... Have asked customer care what's going on.

Speeds were great (lyca uses three network), 350Mb/s if I had it in attic. Now it's 0.06 Mb/s. No Irish providers seem to offer a SIM only 5G meant for a router. So I fear I've wasted my money on 5G router...I already had 2 4G ones for 48 sims

I don't use Lyca mobile but my parents have a three sim in a 4g router although in their area 3g is actually faster, anyway they have never had a problem apart from the coverage being **** due to their location. Last time I tested it I got a reading of around 7Mbtis so not that bad.

Charles Babbage

5G routers are still fairly new. If only a few use them then they have access to the full capacity of the network, if a lot of people start using them then speeds may well fall. I doubt if a large number of people can use this to get speeds comparable to Virgin Mobile or even DSL near a cabinet in urban area.

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119836768#Comment_119836768

True, but I live in an urban area (Dublin City) and the speeds I can get are usually between 200-300mbps. See my current speeds:

If every tom dick and harry starts doing it and the speeds drop massively, then I may reconsider. But right now I'm happy with my investment.

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119834599#Comment_119834599

I'm using Vodafone which is more expensive (€30 for 28 days) but has superior coverage in my area. Three worked out fine for about a month but it often dropped to 4g speeds due to the location of the mast (and in fairness, I live in a basement). It's worth trying different ISPs and seeing which works best for you.

I could have made do with Three for casual use, but as I regularly work form home I need reliable internet. Three just didn't provide that.

mp3ireland2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119857034#Comment_119857034

The three netowork works very well for me on 4G (48.ie - 20 - 150 mb/s) and 5G (lyca 100- 350 mb/s). The issue I have is that lyca's "unlimited" deal has a fair use policy of 60GB per month...which was very well hidden in their terms. I missed out on the three 5G deal for €15 a month unlimited 5G data but hoping something will turn up for black Friday. Until then it's hard to justify paying €25 for 28 days for three 5G when the 4G speeds i get for €7.99 per 100GB with 48.ie are actually enough, if i switch sims every 3 weeks. It does mean that I wasted the investment on the 5G router but hopefully a decent deal appears soon! When my dad visited i should have checked his sim as he's on GOMO, all sims in the house are on three network in some manner!

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119857230#Comment_119857230

Fair enough. I'm going based on the fact that Virgin Media are charging €45 per month for their cheapest broadband deal with speeds of "up to" 250 mbps. Honestly, the speeds I was getting were rarely more than 100 mbps and they throttled torrenting (I got faster speeds with a VPN).

mp3ireland2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119857826#Comment_119857826

Yeah that's a decent saving

Sono Topolino

It seems that the Vodafone network has gotten even faster in my area - speeds today have been in excess of 300 Mbps:

Fast.com also corroborates (330 Mbps).

homer911

Wow!

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119664699#Comment_119664699

Sorry to be dragging up an old post, but what did you enter as username and password on the router settings for the 3ireland.ie APN? Just enter 'not set' is it?

Messing around with my settings here to get the most out of the available speeds.

Thanks.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276807#Comment_120276807

none, no need

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276837#Comment_120276837

Testing the Three prepay 5g sim (3 Prepay 20) evening vs the 4g standard broadband only sim (€29.99) and the 4g Sim is getting 4 or 5 times better download speeds, 80-120mbps vs 10-30mbps. Any reason for this? Would using a 5g sim in a 4g Huawei router be the issue? Both reading 4g or 4g+ on the router login page. Or a throttle on the 5g prepay sim maybe?

Testing was over 1 - 2 hour periods with router in same place for both and swapping sims in and out.

I'm in a dead zone for fibre or even old DSL lines (fibre expected June 2024) so testing my available options for the next year or more. 5km away from three mast across on the hill, nothing in line of sight.

smuggler.ie

this is not about 4G SIM vs 5G SIM, this is about signal you get/device you use.

Huawei model? Other device in the test make/model?

Swap SIM's and you get ~~same.

To my extensive experience with them, three do not throttle . If signal is not an issue, you might get hammered by congestion in the evenings.

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277577#Comment_120277577

Huawei Router as supplied by Three - B535 4g+ LTE router.

Both sims are in the same device; insert one sim - complete 10 speed tests over a period / swap sims / restart router - repeat test. The pattern was that the 4g broadband only sim was higher speeds and breaking 80mbps on 7/10 tests while the 5g sim was steady either side of the 20mbps (+/-5mbps) mark. Full signal on router - 5 bars. The 5g Sim I presumed would be getting same 4g speeds as the 4g sim in a 4g router.

I'll do same test tomorrow mid morning when networks will naturally be quieter.

Thanks for the feedback.

smuggler.ie

get LTE H-Monitor , compare cell-ID and band on both SIM

Lock to band that gives better speed

tiegan

I also use a B535 router with a 3 sim card. Great 4G speeds as I live below a 3 mast. Decided to splash out on a 5G phone and 5G router to go with my new 3 5G sim (hero plan) - couldn't work out why my 5G speeds were way slower. I should have checked the mast beside me first to see if it has 5G. IT doesn't and the nearest 5G mast is too far away and out of line of sight. Rural Tip - so resold the router!!

vectra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119759572#Comment_119759572

Old post I know, but I have been with vodafone broadband with years, service has been ok but prices creeping up.

I was considering something like this for some time. Is it easy enough to set up for a Joe Soap like myself?

Thanks

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120304841#Comment_120304841

The cheap and cheerful one I bought from AliExpress required minimal work to get set up. Not sure about the ones that @gearoid! is talking about (and I’m certain that industrial grade = expensive).

vectra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120308126#Comment_120308126

Your one was €236

The one @gearoid! suggested is only €138.

😉

oops!

Nevermind. The link supplied took me to a different product.

The one he suggested is over 700 sterling.

The Cush

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120310993#Comment_120310993

This is the one I believe he was referring to

https://www.novatel.ie/teltonika-rutx50-5g-dual-sim-router-industrial-vpn-bridge-mode

Sono Topolino

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311085#Comment_120311085

It’s nice but probably overkill for what most people need. I might get one in the future to experiment on.

vectra

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120311085#Comment_120311085

Yeah,

Too much for my needs.

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277610#Comment_120277610

Just a follow up on this if anyone else is having issues with speeds.

I ended up changing the APN to 3broadband.ie and speeds are now back to where they were on the Three Broadband Only Sim, now using a 3 PrePay 20 sim in a B535 4g+ Router. Testing over a number of periods, speeds have doubled at most points during the day.

Again, I'm not sure if it's luck but when I changed APN from 3ireland.ie to 3broadband.ie it it just giving me a faster and more reliable speed. 20-40mbps vs 50-80mbps. Tested over different times of the day over a period.

vectra

Quick one.

I have an iphone 13, ( as far as I am aware this is 5g )

I am with 48 mobile on the 7.99 month for life.

If I moved to gomo or someone offering 5G Couldn't I tether off the iphone for a while instead of my Vodafone broadband FTTC?

Apparently Siro is coming later this year.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120382501#Comment_120382501

Does your router actually register 4G+ or just 4G ?

shmeee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120413479#Comment_120413479

Majority of the time it shows 4G+ on the router, 5 bars connection.

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120415748#Comment_120415748

Reason i asked is latelly discovered weird behaviour on one of my routers - there was no 4G+(no CA), see here. I managed to fully recover, the OP there just partially.

Not sure if APN would have any influence on speed, can't recall i have expirienced that it would.

Kiesol

ok