Sim

[bizzard]

3G is ending soon and I have to change to 4G. I use a 3 mobile broadband dongle, contract, which uses the standard biggish Sim card. I have a new 4G Dongle which needs the smaller Sim card. If I cut the side off the big Sim card it would fit the new 4G dongle. BUT would it work in 4G mode, in other words is it the Sim card or the dongle that decides or both to get 4G.  Cos 3 are trying to flog me a new more expensive plan. Thanks in advance if anyone knows. Bizzard.

[Tonka]

Can't you just ask for a micro sim

[bizzard]

1 minute ago, Tonka said:

Can't you just ask for a micro sim

Could do, I only need about 20 Gorillabites of data.

[Lily Rose]

AFAIK all sims have been 3 in 1 for years now. Standard, mini and macro, you just break out the size required for your device.

[MtB]

Yes tell them the dog ate your sim and could you have another one, but a different size this time that fits your new router.

 

 

 

[bizzard]

Just now, Lily Rose said:

AFAIK all sims have been 3 in 1 for years now. Standard, mini and macro, you just break out the size required for your device.

Yes but if I trim the 3G Sim to fit the 4G dongle will it work in 4G mode, thanks.

5 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

AFAIK all sims have been 3 in 1 for years now. Standard, mini and macro, you just break out the size required for your device.

I think it's mini for the 4G dongle.

5 minutes ago, MtB said:

Yes tell them the dog ate your sim and could you have another one, but a different size this time that fits your new router.

 

 

 

I aint go no dawg.

[MtB]

3 minutes ago, bizzard said:

 

I aint go no dawg.

 

Don't tell'em Pi......... Oh forget it!

[bizzard]

2 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Don't tell'em Pi......... Oh forget it!

And my Gorilla won't bite it either.

[IanD]

7 minutes ago, bizzard said:

Yes but if I trim the 3G Sim to fit the 4G dongle will it work in 4G mode, thanks.

I think it's mini for the 4G dongle.

I aint go no dawg.

A 3G-only SIM won't work in 4G mode, trimmed or not. Both SIM and dongle need to be 4G-capable.

 

If you need a new SIM then don't go on a contract with Three, even on their network there are much better deals.

[bizzard]

I need to keep with 3 cos the signal is very strong here the mast is in our back lane. EE useless here.

1 minute ago, IanD said:

A 3G-only SIM won't work in 4G mode, trimmed or not. Both SIM and dongle need to be 4G-capable.

 

If you need a new SIM then don't go on a contract with Three, even on their network there are much better deals.

I thought as much, thank you Ian.  My nephew is an IT expert but I don't like bothering him with this stuff. I might go to the 3 Shop with all the tackle and tackle em. I take cakes in there which helps.

[IanD]

4 minutes ago, bizzard said:

I need to keep with 3 cos the signal is very strong here the mast is in our back lane. EE useless here.

I thought as much, thank you Ian.  My nephew is an IT expert but I don't like bothering him with this stuff. I might go to the 3 Shop with all the tackle and tackle em. I take cakes in there which helps.

You'll get a cheaper and more flexible deals on the Three network by not going directly to Three, and certainly not to the Three shop... 😉 

[bizzard]

1 minute ago, IanD said:

You'll get a cheaper and more flexible deals on the Three network by not going directly to Three, and certainly not to the Three shop... 😉 

My 3 contract renews automatically every month 26th, tomorrow.

[Lily Rose]

41 minutes ago, bizzard said:

Yes but if I trim the 3G Sim to fit the 4G dongle will it work in 4G mode, thanks.

 

AFAIK all the circuitry is on the nano SIM (the smallest bit) so it shouldn't make any difference. Mine have always worked fine on 4G.

 

If you want to stick with Three (as do I) then a monthly contract with Smarty is probably the best bet. They often do really good deals. Several months ago I got 50GB for £8 per month, a deal which lasts 18 months before it reverts to the usual 16GB.

I just checked MSE and the same deal is running again, it ends on Wednesday 28/8/24, 11.59pm

 

I use MSE when I'm looking for a new deal, you can set a filter for, amongst other things, one or more individual networks so you don't have to trawl through deals you won't want.

 

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

 

[bizzard]

43 minutes ago, Lily Rose said:

 

AFAIK all the circuitry is on the nano SIM (the smallest bit) so it shouldn't make any difference. Mine have always worked fine on 4G.

 

If you want to stick with Three (as do I) then a monthly contract with Smarty is probably the best bet. They often do really good deals. Several months ago I got 50GB for £8 per month, a deal which lasts 18 months before it reverts to the usual 16GB.

I just checked MSE and the same deal is running again, it ends on Wednesday 28/8/24, 11.59pm

 

I use MSE when I'm looking for a new deal, you can set a filter for, amongst other things, one or more individual networks so you don't have to trawl through deals you won't want.

 

 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/

 

Thanks. You mean a 3G sim worked as 4G in a 4G dongle?

[Ray T]

Slightly off topic. I worked for GPO / Post Office Telephones / BT / Openreach all my career.

I find with all the technology only lasting a few years it is difficult to keep up with.

Life was a lot simpler when we had these:

 

[MtB]

Just now, Ray T said:

Slightly off topic. I worked for GPO / Post Office Telephones / BT / Openreach all my career.

I find with all the technology only lasting a few years it is difficult to keep up with.

Life was a lot simpler when we had these:

 

 

YES!!! 

 

And the best thing about those was the little drawer in the base for all the phone numbers you needed.

 

Must say I had a soft spot for the Trimphone too though...

 

[Ray T]

One trouble  found with the dial Trim phones you needed 3 hands to operate the thing. One to hold the handset, two to dial with and a third to stop the thing from shooting across the room when trying to dial. The push button ones were better.

 

[GUMPY]

The joys of pulse dialing.

My dad used to put a lock on the dial not realising that I had the skill to tap the number out and get connected that way. He also removed the dial for a while to try and stop me, I had my own dial😉

Finally when plug in phones arrived he locked the phone away, still didn't stop me making calls🤭

[Lily Rose]

3 hours ago, bizzard said:

Thanks. You mean a 3G sim worked as 4G in a 4G dongle?

 

The SIM has to be capable of 4G but I'm sure they all are these days anyway. I have two different Huawei devices, one of those (which I don't use anymore) is only 3G regardless of what SIM is in it. The other is 4G and I have used numerous SIMs from Three in it over a number of years, all of which have given me 4G.

[Paul C]

You can get a tool which cuts down a normal sized SIM to a nanoSIM size:

 

BUT you don't need to (and it probably wouldn't work anyway - not electrically, but because the old SIM isn't 4G capable). You can simply ask your network provider to send you a new, 3-in-1 SIM which you can snap off the excess to make it into a nanoSIM, and it will be 4G capable (because pretty much every network is now 4G capable).

[Jen-in-Wellies]

14 minutes ago, Paul C said:

BUT you don't need to (and it probably wouldn't work anyway - not electrically, but because the old SIM isn't 4G capable). You can simply ask your network provider to send you a new, 3-in-1 SIM which you can snap off the excess to make it into a nanoSIM, and it will be 4G capable (because pretty much every network is now 4G capable).

I recently got a replacement SIM from Three and that is how it came. Full size, but with snap outs to easily trim it all the way down to nano size. I replaced the 3G calling only phone with a 4G one and the new SIM worked fine, so I'd suggest @bizzard asks Three for a new SIM regardless.