Skinny Sim in third party modem

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maffey

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#284026 25-Mar-2021 23:37

Hi there

I have signed up for Skinny's wireless broadband to use as a backup in case fibre goes down.

I would like to use the Skinny Sim card in my modem (Fritz 6890), rather than the basic modem Skinny provide.

So far, it appears the Skinny Broadband Sim will only work in their own device. I can use Skinny mobile Sims in my modem, but not the broadband Sim.

Can anyone confirm the Sims are locked to a device, or is there a way to get the Sim working in another modem.

Cheers

Chris...

Jiriteach

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#2680837 26-Mar-2021 06:07

I have found that they are locked to the device as well so no you cannot use the broadband sim in another device.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

sbiddle

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#2680858 26-Mar-2021 07:29

They are locked.

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#2680865 26-Mar-2021 07:54

The SIM cards are TAC locked

maffey

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#2680952 26-Mar-2021 10:52

Thank you all

phantomdb

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#2681325 27-Mar-2021 11:07

New Zealand RBI broadband service TAC lock

In New Zealand with the rollout of the government subizidised rural broadband innovative a way was required to prevent users inserting the rural broadband SIM cards in an unauthorised devices to get subsidized data rates.

The use of a TAC lock was devised by the use of a customised SIM card with imbedded TAC codes was devised, Several Type allocation codes can be stored in the Sim cards of the device to allow a group of provider supplied huawei branded 4G modems and block the use of unauthorised and third party devices on the network.

A company wishing to resell vodafone RBI is required to supply a device for approval process and certification and supply vodafone with the TAC details of this device to embed into the SIM cards at the point of manufacture, a minimum order of 500 SIM cards is required.

There has been controversy around this decision as Huawei is the sole provider of the rural 4g broad band devices and a bulletin was released by the NZ GSSB to block the 5g rollout with Huawei hardware but users are forced to use Huawei devices on the 4G RBI network, security concerns have been raised, as the devices are capable of over the air updates.

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nztim

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#2681331 27-Mar-2021 11:20

As others have said the SIM is locked to the IEMI range of the B618

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phantomdb

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#2682351 29-Mar-2021 10:15

sounds like take the "SIM" to a local store and perform a "SIM SWAP" oh this one must be faulty........

new sim will not have TAC judging from what TAC is.....

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maffey

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#2682355 29-Mar-2021 10:19

I should try taking it to the store. Any idea with Skinny, do they have a store as such?

phantomdb

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#2682687 29-Mar-2021 17:53

maffey:

I should try taking it to the store. Any idea with Skinny, do they have a store as such?

My bad, i forget skinny actually don't have stores.

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cokemaster

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#2682764 29-Mar-2021 20:37

They'll just replace it with another Wireless Broadband enabled SIM. I doubt that they'll allow you to switch to a regular SIM and even if they do, expect it to deactivated at some point in the future.

Putting the SIM into another device will also stick out like a sore thumb - keep in mind that the networks can definitely see the IMEI numbers of the devices used with that SIM as well.

Would suggest implementing a routing solution instead.

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jjnz1

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#2854580 21-Jan-2022 13:26

Some Mirotik 4G routers have the ability to change the EMEI and therefore the TAC, using /interface lte at-chat lte input="AT*PROD=2" and /interface lte at-chat lte input="AT*MRD_IMEI=D" similar type commands.

If someone clones a Skinny B618 IMEI number and set it into the Mikrotik 4G router, should they expect Skinny 4G broadband service to work with a Skinny BB sim card?

I am looking at upgrading my B525 (old vodafone 4G BB modem) and mikrotik routing/vpn gear with a LTE Cat12 Mikrotik modem that will allow me to move to true unlimited 4G (via Skinny) (not just unlimited at reduced speeds). I can get unlimited Skinny 4G service, but a router with greater functionality (routing/vpn/etc) would be highly beneficial.

Thinking of the idea of purchasing a Skinny 12 month 300GB/unlimited BB plan (free B618 modem), a Mikrotik 4G router, clone IMEI, then dispose of B618 and my old routing/vpn mirotik gear).

I understand it may be against T&Cs - I assume it would be difficult to tell the difference between the real B618 and the Mirotik?

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nztim

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#2854965 22-Jan-2022 18:58

jjnz1:

I understand it may be against T&Cs - I assume it would be difficult to tell the difference between the real B618 and the Mirotik?

I would guess (if this did work) they would not see the modem reporting in with TR-069 however it been online and they may question it

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lucky015

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#2854966 22-Jan-2022 19:27

nztim:

jjnz1:

I understand it may be against T&Cs - I assume it would be difficult to tell the difference between the real B618 and the Mirotik?

I would guess (if this did work) they would not see the modem reporting in with TR-069 however it been online and they may question it

Probably fit right in with the other 10-50k devices not reporting in properly for most providers.

BarTender

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#2854995 22-Jan-2022 22:59

Having personal experience of this when I worked at Spark. This is locked to the IMEI prefix ranges of the Huawei B315 and B618 4G routers and checked when the router authenticates to the GGSN to establish a data session.

Unless you can clone the IMEI into the desired data stick of choice and good luck with that then there is no way to do it with off the shelf devices, perhaps if you find a knock off stick on Aliexpress one may support programming the IMEI, but 3GPP certified devices won't support doing that. Unless OpenBTS has come sufficiently along the way to SDR a handset and provide the IP stack.

Otherwise DMZ mode and forwarding all traffic to your internal router is your best option.

nztim

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#2856050 25-Jan-2022 11:53

BarTender:

Otherwise DMZ mode and forwarding all traffic to your internal router is your best option.

Anything other than that is against the T&Cs even if it does work

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.