HAI C3 and GSM SIM cards

[gf5300]

What SIM card do you all think is the best for use strictly for the C3?
I found this website http://www.simplecallingservice.com/index.html. They seem to have plans that fit the C3 pretty well.
Looks like you must make a call one time every nine months and recharge every 15 months (can be done online) to keep the card activated. The first minute charge is steep (59 cents for the initial and then 9 cents per minute) but again if it is used strictly for the alarm the actual calls made should be very few.
Is anybody using this card?

 

[JonW]

I saw the below info on their page at http://www.simplecallingservice.com/siminfo.html . This could affect your outbound ability.

Please note: * Your ability to make outbound calls in the US and Canada is hibernated 7 days after your last call in the US or Canada, however the +1 number remains active and will receive calls and text messages for up to four months after the last use of the service. You can reactivate the ability to make calls in the United States and Canada in three ways: online at www.simplecalling.com, over the phone using our self-service menu, or over the phone with a Customer service representative.

* You can retain your US number indefinitely by paying 50c per month by signing into your account online, clicking on "Account Details" under "My account", and then clicking on the option to extend the life of the US number (otherwise after 4 months of inactivity your US number may be changed when you go to use it again; you will receive the new US number via text message).

 

[Desert_AIP]

I thought I read another thread about this subject around here which talked about using a TracFone SIM card.

I believe this is the thread I was thinking of.
http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php...amp;hl=cellular

 

[apostolakisl]

I have the c3 and just added it to my ATT plan for $10/mo. I have also hooked that up to my whole house phone system so I no longer have any other phone line so it is really pretty cheap at that price (we don't make many calls from home phone, mostly use our cells). $10/mo would be a lot I suppose if only your alarm called for the once/mo checkup and periodic real or accidental alarms. I don't know how long the alarm system calls are but I doubt more than one minute.

That .59/.09 price sounds good provided you only have a few calls/mo. I would expect that you wouldn't spend more than a $2/mo. I would find out what network they work on and if they have any minimum usage.

 

[sic0048]

I have also hooked that up to my whole house phone system so I no longer have any other phone line so it is really pretty cheap at that price (we don't make many calls from home phone, mostly use our cells).

What hardware are you using for this? I'm seriously considering doing the same thing.

 

[gf5300]

Yep, I didn't read the fine print.
I guess you can set up the OPII to do a test every seven days to keep the card from "hibernating."
The T- Mobil pay as you go SIM (10 bucks/30 minutes/3 months) looks good too.
Thanks guys.
Jeff, Are you still flying P-3s?

 

[apostolakisl]

I have also hooked that up to my whole house phone system so I no longer have any other phone line so it is really pretty cheap at that price (we don't make many calls from home phone, mostly use our cells).

What hardware are you using for this? I'm seriously considering doing the same thing.

No hardware necessary. Just plug the C3 phone jack into a home phone jack and it will distribute. Of course you have to unhook from mabell or whatever provider you are currently wired to. The c3 will drive I think 4 phone ringers. If you currently have your alarm system accept the main phone line, you need to hook the c3 up at that point. Otherwise the c3 won't be able to seize the line.

In other words, line goes from c3 to alarm board, out of alarm board, into home phone wired network.

The dial tone is unique when on GSM and you need to hit pound after dialing unless you are very patient and willing to wait the 5 or so seconds before the c3 assumes you have finished dialing. Hitting the pound is like hitting the send button on your cell phone.

One quick note about c3, it doesn't do caller id.

 

[xlurkr]

Yep, I didn't read the fine print.
I guess you can set up the OPII to do a test every seven days to keep the card from "hibernating."
The T- Mobil pay as you go SIM (10 bucks/30 minutes/3 months) looks good too.

I'm doing the T-Mobile thing. $40/yr. You don't have to do anything except renew online quarterly.

Once you exceed $100, the minutes no longer expire. We'll see what other restrictions will kick in. And let's face it, we're talking about cell service, where nothing stays the same for long.

As for your other option, a call every 7 days at $0.59 is already >$30. And I'd shy away from any plan that required me to use the phone in any way at any minimum interval. Sounds like a trap.

-Tom

 

[Desert_AIP]

Jeff, Are you still flying P-3s?

Got a little too long in the tooth, darn it.
Currently CDC Officer on the Lincoln.
Trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up.