<div dir="auto">Yeah, I'm aware all these are possible solutions but I like the idea of getting the SIM into the machine, configuring it once and then never having to deal with Wi-Fi hot-spot connection or similar faff again.<div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I'll dive deeply into some forums and see what reputable advice. Thanks again</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Rhys</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, 25 Feb 2024, 07:18 Daniel Morris via Swlug, <<a href="mailto:swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk">swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto">Not sure about the SIM slot on the laptop, but another short-term workaround might be a hotspot. <div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">The standalone Mi-Fi type devices are portable, or you may have/be able to borrow an old Android handset for a month. For mains/fixed location there are dedicated routers, like the Huawei B535 I use. Any of these would need to be Three native, or unlocked. Fibre rollout will have left 4G routers redundant, so perhaps worth asking around?</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> Daniel</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, 24 Feb 2024, 23:07 Rhys Jones via Swlug, <<a href="mailto:swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">I did do my homework and checked that bit before posting here... </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">...I only want it for the next month, while I still have an unlimited data SIM on Three. They're switching off their 3G network, yes, but only from April onwards, starting in the East Midlands and the Welsh Marches. <a href="https://www.three.co.uk/support/network-and-coverage/our-plans-to-switch-off-3g/3g-switch-off-map" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.three.co.uk/support/network-and-coverage/our-plans-to-switch-off-3g/3g-switch-off-map</a><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">So I'm extremely certain indeed, barring apocalypse, that their 3G network in my neck of the woods will outlast me finishing my contract with them at the end of March. <div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Right, that tangent's done. Anyone with any advice on actually getting the thing working? </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Hwyl</div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, 24 Feb 2024, 21:31 Jonathan Marsden via Swlug, <<a href="mailto:swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">swlug@mailman.lug.org.uk</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Rhys,<br>
<br>
You are correct. See <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/3g-switch-off" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/3g-switch-off</a> . Basically 3G in the UK is disappearing in 2024 or 2025 depending on which carrier you use.<br>
<br>
Jonathan<br>
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On Sat, 24 Feb 2024, at 15:36, Rhys Sage via Swlug wrote:<br>
> Before getting too hung up on getting the SIM operational, check <br>
> whether the frequency used by the mobile phone system is still in use. <br>
> I don't know the origin of your computer but if it originated from <br>
> somewhere other than the EU market then it might use an incompatible <br>
> set of frequencies. For example, the 2nd generation of UK phone is on <br>
> wildly different frequencies from the 2nd generation of US phones. Not <br>
> only that but in 2013 we were still using 2G and moving into 3G. Now <br>
> we're on 4G and moving into 5G. 2G was switched off a few years ago and <br>
> 3G is probably in the process of being shut down.<br>
><br>
> Rhys Sage<br>
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