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does 5g pay as u go sim from lycamobile work in 5g routers? + router recommendations?

drcdrcdrc

Member
Hi, my new flat has zero broadband availability so we're looking into 5g routers. EE is the only network that services my area in 5g and lyca runs on EE network with cheap 5g pay as you go prices, unlike EE themsevles. We're hoping for a router which is around the £150 mark, the cheaper the better. Any recommendations or experience or knowledge that can be given would be super useful as I'm not really sure what to pick or even what I'm looking at to be honest. Thanks!
 
Hi, my new flat has zero broadband availability so we're looking into 5g routers. EE is the only network that services my area in 5g and lyca runs on EE network with cheap 5g pay as you go prices, unlike EE themsevles. We're hoping for a router which is around the £150 mark, the cheaper the better. Any recommendations or experience or knowledge that can be given would be super useful as I'm not really sure what to pick or even what I'm looking at to be honest. Thanks!
Hi drcdrcdrc, welcome along to the forums. (y)

Thread 'New Three 5G Hub (NR5103E)' https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/new-three-5g-hub-nr5103e.38663/

The Zyxel NR5103E is a popular 4G/5G router, you can read about it and it's newer version in the above thread.

You can purchase it from CEX for around £140, it's also widely available on ebay too.

It's Three branded, but it's unlocked for use on any network.:)

I'm sure a Lyca SIM will work in the router just fine.


Thread 'Lyca Mobile: Suspicious Card Transactions' https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/lyca-mobile-suspicious-card-transactions.41837/

Don't forget 1p mobile is another EE PAYG piggybacker, Lyca isn't a favourite around here due to a lot of attempted fraudulent payments being taken from users payment cards, see the above thread. :(

UK Mobile Network Specs

For a full list of EE piggybackers, you might like to check the above comprehensive network list created by @Bubbles121 :)
 
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Lyca will bum the sim out if detected in a router - Also Lyca have been subject of a payment details breach for sometime. Lots of cards that have been used to pay for the service have been compromised. They wont admit it but there is something going on with their payment gateway or their database.

dont bother with them.
Go with 1p mobile - More secure etc
 
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is that a new things then, as I used to use 2 different Lyca SIMs in a router and it was all ok around say Jan 2024?
I think they've always stated they don't permit their SIM to be used in a router raiden, but I used my Lyca SIM in my router too without any problems.
Not any more though, no thank you Lyca, you can keep your SIM's. 😁
 
is that a new thing then, as I used to use 2 different Lyca SIMs in a router and it was all ok around say Jan 2024?
Even before that it's been a thing but it seems to only affect certain people/routers.

It worked for about 24 hours for me when I tried last year and then would keep flipping between 2G and no signal. Put the SIM in a phone and it would work fine again. But the IMEI was presumably blocked by Lyca as even a new SIM from them had the same behaviour after that - Even though all other network's SIMs would work just fine in the same router.

I've watched this happen with both a ZyXEL and ZTE Router now.
 
Even before that it's been a thing but it seems to only affect certain people/routers.

It worked for about 24 hours for me when I tried last year and then would keep flipping between 2G and no signal. Put the SIM in a phone and it would work fine again. But the IMEI was presumably blocked by Lyca as even a new SIM from them had the same behaviour after that - Even though all other network's SIMs would work just fine in the same router.

I've watched this happen with both a ZyXEL and ZTE Router now.
I was lucky then, as I had bought 2 of those unlimited data Lyca SIMS on ebay for £2.50 each and used them in my router for 2 consecutive months with no problems :)
 
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I was lucky then, as I had bought 2 of those unlimited data Lyca SIMS on ebay for £2.50 each and used them in my router for 2 consecutive months with no problems :)

I bought one (£3). Finding that worked I bought 12 more. I was going to use them in my 4G router as EE gave much better speeds than Three (once my Three Broadband contract expired).

But soon after I discovered I could get a 5G signal from Three that they weren't telling me about so I got a 5G router, then a Scancom SIM.

Resold the remaining Lyca SIMs for around £12 each and that seemed to be below the going rate.

No reported blocks. SIMs worked fine in routers, I assume we never pushed them anywhere near a FUP?
 
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