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Smarty, data only sim or standard one?

MACHINE

Pro Member
Hello all, I should be receiving my Zyxel NR5103EV2 router tomorrow that I've purchased off ebay.

I'm after an unlimited data sim package and I see I can get unlimited calls, text and data for £15 or just unlimited data sim for £20.

So it's a no brainer I go for the £15?

Just not sure if Smarty allows you to use a sim intended for a mobile phone in a router?

Thanks.
 
Ofcom regs stops providers from restricting :)
So you will be fine
 
Hello all, I should be receiving my Zyxel NR5103EV2 router tomorrow that I've purchased off ebay.

I'm after an unlimited data sim package and I see I can get unlimited calls, text and data for £15 or just unlimited data sim for £20.

So it's a no brainer I go for the £15?

Just not sure if Smarty allows you to use a sim intended for a mobile phone in a router?

Thanks.
I used an unlimited everything Smarty SIM in a router for over a year way back with no problems MACHINE.:)
 
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You can absolutely use Smarty's regular SIMs in a broadband device.

Only thing to note is that Smarty will put you behind CGNAT Whereas using the Three network directly will get a unique (but dynamic) IP address rather than sharing.

If this bothers you, then it may be worth going with Three themselves for their special APN designed for broadband use.

Three business have unlimited data SIMs from £6 per month if you're happy to sign a contract. Or Scancom have prepaid ones if you're happy to pay upfront for your service. These are your two cheapest ways onto the main network.
 
You can absolutely use Smarty's regular SIMs in a broadband device.

Only thing to note is that Smarty will put you behind CGNAT Whereas using the Three network directly will get a unique (but dynamic) IP address rather than sharing.

If this bothers you, then it may be worth going with Three themselves for their special APN designed for broadband use.

Three business have unlimited data SIMs from £6 per month if you're happy to sign a contract. Or Scancom have prepaid ones if you're happy to pay upfront for your service. These are your two cheapest ways onto the main network.
Smarty moves me to NAT2 on PlayStation whereby other networks are always NAT3 so their routing must be set pretty well.
 
You can absolutely use Smarty's regular SIMs in a broadband device.

Only thing to note is that Smarty will put you behind CGNAT Whereas using the Three network directly will get a unique (but dynamic) IP address rather than sharing.

If this bothers you, then it may be worth going with Three themselves for their special APN designed for broadband use.

Three business have unlimited data SIMs from £6 per month if you're happy to sign a contract. Or Scancom have prepaid ones if you're happy to pay upfront for your service. These are your two cheapest ways onto the main network.

You can absolutely use Smarty's regular SIMs in a broadband device.

Only thing to note is that Smarty will put you behind CGNAT Whereas using the Three network directly will get a unique (but dynamic) IP address rather than sharing.

If this bothers you, then it may be worth going with Three themselves for their special APN designed for broadband use.

Three business have unlimited data SIMs from £6 per month if you're happy to sign a contract. Or Scancom have prepaid ones if you're happy to pay upfront for your service. These are your two cheapest ways onto the main network.
Does it matter if I'm put behind a CGNAT? I don't play games at all online. Is their a downside to not having a unique ip address?

I was actually looking at some of those business sims. Do they actually check if you own a business or not? I was looking at Scancoms £99 for 500 gig on Amazon until 8th August 25. Thanks.
 
Does it matter if I'm put behind a CGNAT? I don't play games at all online. Is their a downside to not having a unique ip address?

I was actually looking at some of those business sims. Do they actually check if you own a business or not? I was looking at Scancoms £99 for 500 gig on Amazon until 8th August 25. Thanks.
If you buy the Scancom ones there is absolutely zero checks. You order on Amazon and receive a pre-activated card that's ready to go. If you sign up with Three Business for their £6 per month contract then they will ask but you can always put yourself down as a sole trader I suppose.

CGNAT isn't a huge deal. Lots of providers, even fixed line make use of this. It's one of them things that's probably best avoided if you can, but for the most part isn't likely to affect your ability to use the internet unless you're doing things like self hosting, and possibly gaming. It's just something I feel is worth mentioning so people know. But if they haven't heard of CGNAT the chances are it won't really affect them.
 
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T
If you buy the Scancom ones there is absolutely zero checks. You order on Amazon and receive a pre-activated card that's ready to go. If you sign up with Three Business for their £6 per month contract then they will ask but you can always put yourself down as a sole trader I suppose.

CGNAT isn't a huge deal. Lots of providers, even fixed line make use of this. It's one of them things that's probably best avoided if you can, but for the most part isn't likely to affect your ability to use the internet unless you're doing things like self hosting, and possibly gaming. It's just something I feel is worth mentioning so people know. But if they haven't heard of CGNAT the chances are it won't really affect them.
Thanks I've never heard of it either. 🤣

Do you use Scancom yourself? If so what package you on mate? Cheers.
 
Smarty moves me to NAT2 on PlayStation whereby other networks are always NAT3 so their routing must be set pretty well.
I'm generally NAT2 on O2 when doing stuff on my Switch


Just not sure if Smarty allows you to use a sim intended for a mobile phone in a router?
Smarty has no restrictions on what their SIMs are used in, same with Three iirc.

Other networks can and will restrict your usage, which in most cases will probably end up meaning being unable to access data through your router.
 
@MACHINE

I have an EE unlimited and 2 three 40 GB Scancom SIMS, they have all worked perfectly from day one.

I'll be renewing them again in March / April when they expire.

They really do offer tremendous value for money for your data needs in my opinion. (y)
 
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@MACHINE

I have an EE unlimited and 2 three 40 GB Scancom SIMS, they have all worked perfectly from day one.

I'll be renewing them again in March / April when they expire.

They really do offer tremendous value for money for your data needs in my opinion. (y)
Is the ee one truly unlimited? I see the Three ones are a 1000 GB. I do get very good Three 5G where I am though, on my phone it's usually around 500 mbps and upload around 80 mbps. Did you buy them direct from Scancom or off Amazon? Thanks.
 
Is the ee one truly unlimited? I see the Three ones are a 1000 GB. I do get very good Three 5G where I am though, on my phone it's usually around 500 mbps and upload around 80 mbps. Did you buy them direct from Scancom or off Amazon? Thanks.
Hi MACHINE,

No the only truly unlimited network is directly from three themselves, they have no FUP.

The Scancom EE unlimited data SIM has a FUP of 600 GB.

I purchased them all from Amazon, they are the cheapest, any prices on the Scancom website are exclusive of VAT.
 
Hi MACHINE,

No the only truly unlimited network is directly from three themselves, they have no FUP.

The Scancom EE unlimited data SIM has a FUP of 600 GB.

I purchased them all from Amazon, they are the cheapest, any prices on the Scancom website are exclusive of VAT.
I'm just thinking about getting the 500 gig Three one last until 8th August 25.

Did yours work out of the box? I presume they didn't ask for any proof you own a business? Thanks.
 
I'm just thinking about getting the 500 gig Three one last until 8th August 25.

Did yours work out of the box? I presume they didn't ask for any proof you own a business? Thanks.
No they are all pre activated MACHINE, they just work as soon as inserted, and no questions were asked about a business, it was just like any other normal Amazon purchase. :)
 
Is the ee one truly unlimited?
It's worth noting that while Three and Vodafone don't really have any download limits, the EE and O2 offerings DO have fair usage policies attached to them BUT are rarely enforced.

You'll see a number of people here talking about how they have gone over the FUP limits of their 'unlimited' data and haven't been cut off or even slowed down. Even my own experience confirms this too.

Do you use Scancom yourself? If so what package you on mate? Cheers.
I got a 500GB Three one to try out when they were discounted over black Friday. I was going to use it as my backup connection but the Three network is just getting worse where I live and even with the SIM in my outdoor router I just couldn't get it to reliably hold on to a weaker 5G signal, and 4G here is borderline unusable. Ultimately gave the SIM away to someone else living somewhere with better coverage and am using an O2 Unlimited data SIM now instead.
 
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It's worth noting that while Three and Vodafone don't really have any download limits, the EE and O2 offerings DO have fair usage policies attached to them BUT are rarely enforced.

You'll see a number of people here talking about how they have gone over the FUP limits of their 'unlimited' data and haven't been cut off or even slowed down. Even my own experience confirms this too.


I got a 500GB Three one to try out when they were discounted over black Friday. I was going to use it as my backup connection but the Three network is just getting worse where I live and even with the SIM in my outdoor router I just couldn't get it to reliably hold on to a weaker 5G signal, and 4G here is borderline unusable. Ultimately gave the SIM away to someone else living somewhere with better coverage and am using an O2 Unlimited data SIM now instead.
Thanks mate. Just out of interest, how much were they on black Friday? Good to know they don't cut people off who've gone over their limits.

What deal did you get on the o2 sim? I take it you've ditched fixed broadband completely.
 
Thanks mate. Just out of interest, how much were they on black Friday? Good to know they don't cut people off who've gone over their limits.

What deal did you get on the o2 sim? I take it you've ditched fixed broadband completely.
You missed out big time MACHINE, all the Scancom unlimited SIM'S were down to 50p. 🤥
Never mind, there's always next year.😉
 
I take it you've ditched fixed broadband completely
Not at all. I have 3 Connections on the go. O2 5G, CityFibre FTTP, and Openreach FTTC. I needed a backup connection and got carried away and ended up with 2 backups. On the plus side there should NEVER be any point where I am left with no internet now!

how much were they on black Friday?
They were down to £95 plus a £10 Amazon voucher on the item to bring it down to a total of £85.

Amazon SIM.webp


What deal did you get on the o2 sim?
I got this from O2 Directly. Not Scancom. 30 Day rolling contract with unlimited data for £22 per month after discounts. For me it made sense as I am in one of the very rare few places where O2's network has the best 5G.
 
Not at all. I have 3 Connections on the go. O2 5G, CityFibre FTTP, and Openreach FTTC. I needed a backup connection and got carried away and ended up with 2 backups. On the plus side there should NEVER be any point where I am left with no internet now!


They were down to £95 plus a £10 Amazon voucher on the item to bring it down to a total of £85.

View attachment 9865


I got this from O2 Directly. Not Scancom. 30 Day rolling contract with unlimited data for £22 per month after discounts. For me it made sense as I am in one of the very rare few places where O2's network has the best 5G.
You've got to go with the best network in your area. 👍 That was a real good deal.
 
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