Hi everyone,

I’m in a bit of a unique and challenging situation regarding internet access and would really appreciate some insights from this community.

I live in an area with limited internet options – no fiber and subpar 5G connectivity. The only available wired internet is via an outdated telephone line, offering a mere 2mb download speed, which is far from sufficient for my needs. My job involves sending and downloading large files regularly, often exceeding 100GB, so a fast and reliable internet connection is crucial.

Currently, I’m using T-Mobile’s Mobile Unlimited plan on my phone, which gives me about 50mb download speed. It is called „L Nielimitowana” (I’m from Poland). It’s manageable but not ideal, especially since I need to keep my phone constantly connected to my PC. This setup is far from ideal for my work.

I approached T-Mobile about a 5G router plan, but they informed me that they don’t offer 5G router plans in areas with suboptimal connections to avoid providing unsatisfactory service. However, they did propose an alternative: getting a second SIM card with unlimited 5G internet at half the price of my current plan. But here’s the catch – the representative and the contract clearly state that this SIM card will not work in a mobile router, only in phones.

This brings me to my main questions for you knowledgeable folks:

Is it true that T-Mobile (or other carriers) can distinguish if a SIM card is being used in a router instead of a phone? If so, how do they do it?

Are there any workarounds or specific types of routers that might bypass this limitation?

Having a router with this type of internet would be a game-changer for me, so any advice, insights, or experiences you can share would be immensely helpful.
Thanks in advance!

  • Better_Original_3220OPBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Hi again,

    I understand that it might not be feasible to know the specifics of every router model, so I won’t list various options. Instead, I’m wondering if it’s possible at all for a commercial 5G router, like the Netgear MR5200, to bypass IMEI detection issues. If there’s a chance, what specifications or features should I look for in a router to increase the likelihood of it working with the SIM card without detection? If this approach is too uncertain, I’ll use a cheap 5g capable phone as a modem instead.