FONA 3G

Adafruit cellular platform - SMS and IoT over celluar

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PalS
 
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FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Hello Team,

Recently purchased FONA 3G and got a ting sim card and the International Mobile Equipment Identity number is not compatible. Is there any other SIM that would work with this?

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

It's been awhile (4-6 months?) since I tested it, but my FONA 3G would work using a T-Mobile sim, but that's probably because T-Mobile still has their 2G system up (see 4th line under "Key Dates"):

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/covera ... -evolution

Back then I used the "Query Network Mode" command (AT*CNTI=0) and the SIM5320 would reply "EDGE", so it was using their 2G EDGE to work since 3G was gone by that time (yes, the SIM5320 also does 2G).

Of course T-Mobile's 2G could be gone by now also and they simply haven't updated the above webpage, so buying a new sim is a little bit of a gamble.

I use their cheap pre-paid "Connect" plan as my hobby sim (currently in a 4g board). Also, back when I ordered the "Connect" sim, it had the option to bypass the ID check mentioned above, so I did.

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PalS
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Thanks, tried with t-mobile. not compatible

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hi PalS,

If you don't mind me asking, when you say "not compatible", do you mean you put in a T-Mobile sim and it didn't work...or do you mean T-Mobile didn't like your FONA 3G ID number?

The reason I ask is because I just put my T-Mobile sim back into my FONA 3G after seeing your post, and was able to make/receive calls, and send/receive texts with it without any problems.

Using the AT*CNTI=0 command again and it's still using 2G EDGE like I found late last year.

As I mentioned above, when I bought the T-Mobile "Connect" sim online, I had the option to skip the ID check and still get the sim, so that's what I did.

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Looks like T-Mobile's webpage above has been updated recently, they are now stating their 2G GSM network will be shut down April 2nd, 2024 (see first line under "Key Dates"). Don't know what this means for 2G EDGE though.

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PalS
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Thank you again, I just got the t-mobile sim card and tried the activate the $10 plan, and it won't allow me to activate it. I chatted with the customer representative, and they gave me the same response. Attached the chat

So far, I have tried Ting, Mint, Boost & t-mobile. None is compatible
Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 8.17.27 PM.png
Screenshot 2023-02-14 at 8.17.27 PM.png (114.29 KiB) Viewed 816 times

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Shoot, sorry about that. Maybe my old T-Mobile sim still works because it's "grandfathered in" or something like that. Only other thing I can think of is if you have a family member or friend with an "old" T-Mobile sim that is going to switch to some other carrier and you could take over their account. Going back over my notes I bought the above sim in November of 2021, so it would seem any sim before then should (hopefully) work.

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hey PalS,

Just ran across this reddit/dumbphones post today (posted yesterday) where the guy got a 2G phone running (more or less, depending on location) with a US Mobile sim:

https://www.reddit.com/r/dumbphones/com ... the_us_my/

And on this US Mobile webpage the sim is described as a "GSM & Super LTE" sim:

https://www.usmobile.com/shop/product/Starter-Kit

I don't know what the "Super" LTE means, but at least it does say GSM, so maybe there's a chance it will work.

Anyways, I bought it to test it out, getting curious now about how long a FONA3G can keep working!

Oddly, only got charged $0.54, not the $3.99.

Ok, will let you know how it goes.

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PalS
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Thank you!

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PalS
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Hi rskup,

Can you tell me what value you used for the APN for t-mobile?

fona.setGPRSNetworkSettings(F("your APN");

fast.t-mobile.com or epc.tmobile.com

thank you

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hi PalS,

Well, I'm confused, I tried both in the FONA3G and then downloaded a simple webpage, ie, Adafruit's wifi test webpage:

http://wifitest.adafruit.com/testwifi/index.html

And both worked!?

I see from T-Mobile's web page epc.tmobile.com is for non-LTE devices (the FONA3G), and fast.t-mobile.com is for LTE devices:

https://www.t-mobile.com/support/device ... n-settings

I don't get why the LTE APN setting also works...sigh...my head hurts. Ok, well, I will probably do some more testing here and there, but for now it looks like either will work for the FONA3G.

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hey PalS, good news!

The US Mobile sim worked in my FONA3G!

Just make sure you use the sim on the white card (not the black card), it's good for GSM.

And when you sign up to activate the sim, make sure you choose the "GSM LTE Network" signup tab (which never asked for the FONA3G's ID number), otherwise it defaults to their "Warp 5G Network" signup.

I signed up for their cheapest plan for this test, $5/month, but it added a $2 service fee and a $1.57 recovery fee, which kinda sucks. Maybe their more expensive plans don't do that, don't know.

Anyways, I made/received calls and texts without a problem, so that's cool!

Checking the network mode (at*cnti=0) and it's in EDGE, like the T-Mobile sim.

However, so far I haven't been able to do any http stuff, can't figure out why just yet, but wanted to let you know at least the talk/text works fine.

Here's what I ordered again:
https://www.usmobile.com/shop/product/Starter-Kit

Ok, hope this helps!

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hey PalS, the http stuff is working now with the US Mobile sim, was able to download Adafruit's wifi test page like before with the T-Mobile sim. Long story short -- it was my fault.

Ok, looks like a US Mobile sim will keep the FONA3G working! Long live FONA3G!!

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PalS
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by PalS »

Thanks for the help, ordered it. Fifth carrier, Hope it works

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rskup
 
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Re: FONA 3G

Post by rskup »

Hi PalS, yes, should work fine, have been playing around the last hour or two with the FONA3G and the new sim, making calls, sending texts, even FTP'ing small test files from the 5320's on-board memory (the 5320 is such a cool chip). Anyways, all going well!

I'm thinking about making a new post summarizing this US Mobile sim test, just in case others are looking for new sims for their FONA3G.

Ok, hope all goes well!

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