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3G SIM from Kaiser in a 2G handset?


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Guest hotphil
Posted

Not specifically a Kaiser question, but I'm sure someone in here will know the answer...

I've got a Vodafone-branded Kaiser (Vodafone v1615) and it's a work phone. I'm thinking of getting a cheap secondhand handset for those drink-centric nights out when all I need is voice and text and won't have to worry too much about replacing a lost/damaged handset. Probably a very basic question, but will my Vodafone 3G SIM work in a 2G handset? A quick Google search seems to suggest so, but could do with being sure....

Guest fredflintstone007
Posted (edited)

Yes, that will normally work.

The SIM (or USIM as the 3G SIMs are called) do not determine the network access technology.

A SIM must work in a 2G phone as well as a 3G phone and a USIM must work in a 2G phone as well as a 3G phone.

Above I wrote "normally" due to the fact that a network operator could for example decide to barr 2G subscribers from a 3G network for marketing differentiation reasons.

However, to my knowledge, this is never done the other way around.

The easiest way to find out for sure is to try your SIM in a friends or colleagues 2G phone to see if it works.

What you need to ensure though, is that the other alternative phone is not SIM-locked.

(SIM-locked means it will only allow using a SIM from one specific network operator - and this may not be your operator)

Cheers

Fred

Edited by fredflintstone007
Guest Mysterious Stranger
Posted
Yes, that will normally work.

The SIM (or USIM as the 3G SIMs are called) do not determine the network access technology.

A SIM must work in a 2G phone as well as a 3G phone and a USIM must work in a 2G phone as well as a 3G phone.

Above I wrote "normally" due to the fact that a network operator could for example decide to barr 2G subscribers from a 3G network for marketing differentiation reasons.

However, to my knowledge, this is never done the other way around.

Orange UK '2G' sims cannot access their 3G network. Hutchinson 3 UK 3G sims cannot be used in a '2G' handset as Hutchinson has no '2G' infrastructure of their own and leases 'time' from others' networks ( used to be BTCellnet, I believe it's now Orange) which obviously they're not keen on you using unless you really have to eg: your 3G phone is out of range of a 3G signal

M.S

Guest hotphil
Posted (edited)

That's kinda what I figured. I read that I should be OK with my Vodafone SIM. I'll have to find someone with a 2G handset to test it in (might be a challenge!). I'm thinking of going oldschool for my 'pubphone' - something like an old StarTac 130 or Nokia 8210 - I quite fancy the retro-ness and £40-not-bothered-if-drop-it-in-a-pint-ness :D. I went into my local stolen (allegedly) goods shop (CEX) at lunchtime (you know the kind of place - where there's a guy in the queue wanting to flog them 3 iPods that he doesn't have the manuals, leads or boxes for) and couldn't find anything quite so oldfashioned. I thought there would be many! Made me feel quite old I can tell you! Found a good few online places though, so I think I'll give them a whirl.

Edited by hotphil
Guest woogal
Posted

I'm pretty sure it should work, but if you ask over at vodafone's forum there will be some staff there that will be able to let you know for certain.

Guest Mysterious Stranger
Posted
That's kinda what I figured. I read that I should be OK with my Vodafone SIM. I'll have to find someone with a 2G handset to test it in (might be a challenge!). I'm thinking of going oldschool for my 'pubphone' - something like an old StarTac 130 or Nokia 8210 - I quite fancy the retro-ness and £40-not-bothered-if-drop-it-in-a-pint-ness :D. I went into my local stolen (allegedly) goods shop (CEX) at lunchtime (you know the kind of place - where there's a guy in the queue wanting to flog them 3 iPods that he doesn't have the manuals, leads or boxes for) and couldn't find anything quite so oldfashioned. I thought there would be many! Made me feel quite old I can tell you! Found a good few online places though, so I think I'll give them a whirl.

Mmmm Startac 130.... I had the JAGtac which was a Startac 130 with Jaguar software to allow it to work with the built in carkit on my XK8 giving steering wheel button control of the phone. Still have it somewhere.

Used to love the 8210 as well. Had an 8250 for a while ( a pukka one not just a fascia) - these can be bought on fleabay 'remanufactered' in China for about £20 - all new parts just reusing an old IMEI. Got an 8850 myself recently (£25 inc postage) but also checkout the 8855.

M.S

Guest WearTheFoxHat
Posted (edited)

Phil, might also be worthwhile informing you that I think Vodafone is the only network to offer a second sim on the same line. So you can have a second sim in your drinking phone, and one in your kaiser. Then turn off the kaiser, turn on "pub phone" and hit the beer!

Oh it is £8 a month though ... just depends how wild your weekends get!

Edited by WearTheFoxHat

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