Leviton C3 SIM
- Thread starter raymondh
- Start date
drvnbysound
Senior Member
Hopefully someone with experience with the C3 will answer, but I'd bet on a standard sized SIM; there are some pictures in the installation manual.
sda
Active Member
Above is an image copied from wiki. Full, mini, micro, nano.
The full size is the size of a credit card.
The C3 uses the mini.
The C3 uses GSM, so you're stuck with AT&T. T-Mobile might work too.
Last October I charged up the new C3, got a cheap $10 phone at Walmart, and went to the AT&T store.
Told them I wanted a $100/1000 minute/1 year pay as you go plan. They gave me the sim for free.
I stuck the sim in the C3 and tested it by calling my cell phone from the C3 before leaving the store.
While either T-Mobile or AT&T should work (check coverage first) many others use either the AT&T or T-Mobile network, so they work as well. Some of these others (Straight Talk, Net10, TracFone, etc.) offer much better deals than AT&T or T-Mobile directly. The trick will be finding a plan that doesn't charge you for a large 3G or 4G data plan, or a text plan which you won't use.
drvnbysound
Senior Member
A pre-paid minute plan seems to be the most economical solution for cellular monitoring.
drvnbysound
Senior Member
Wow, I didn't realize the full-size was actually considered a SIM and assumed the mini was the standard SIM size. I've got one of those, but for a completely different reason.
I've never seen a full-sized SIM used in a phone...
I've never seen a full-sized SIM used in a phone...
If it was not a valid SIM I would think you would get some sort of recording saying this phone is not valid...etc. What if you dial 611 to try and get customer service (I assume this works on T-Mobile, as it does on other carriers)? What if you call the number on the SIM as a test, just to see what happens?
Without me digging through documentation, just because a phone has a sim does not mean it's universally compatible with every network out there. There's a difference in hardware between GSM, CDMA, etc. etc.
You need to know what service and frequency your provider uses and consider what the unit is able to transmit/receive on.
You need to know what service and frequency your provider uses and consider what the unit is able to transmit/receive on.
As a wireless analyst for 14+ years, I will tell you that you can rule this out as a problem. While this is true when you talk about 3G in a few cases or 4G in many cases, the basic GSM that the C3 supports will work fine with T-Mobile or AT&T anywhere in the US or in Europe. The C3 supports both U.S. GSM frequencies at 850Mhz and 1900Mhz, as well as both European frequencies of 900Mhz and 1800Mhz.DELInstallations said:
AT&T and Verizon origianlly granted the two 850Mhz bands. Verizon went to CDMA that it uses today. VoiceStream was awarded what used to be called the PCS band at 1900Mhz, as was Sprint. Sprint went to CDMA, VoiceStream was GSM, and eventually they were aquired by Deutsche Telekom, a German operator, and they were rebranded as T-Mobile.
Today T-Mobile is still on 1900Mhz for GSM. They do use a newer freq. for 4G, 1700Mhz.
So assuming the C3 not manfunctioning, then it should be 100% compatible with AT&T or T-Mobile anywhere in the U.S., like any 850/1900Mhz phone will in the US. assuming they have a signal, of course. The C3 has a pretty strong transmitter, so it so go at least as far as a phone, if not much further.
drvnbysound
Senior Member
ano said:
It was my impression that Del was saying you wouldn't be able to use a Verizon SIM (CDMA) with the C3 (GSM)...
DELInstallations said:
pete_c
Guru
Here just playing with two boxes which work well. The Nexus is just data; redundant though with two sims.
I've been an AT&T customer now since the early days; 1990's transitioning mobile stuff (GPRS) as it was available and was offered 3G early in the 2000's mostly to play with.
Here transitioned from Illinois Bell to Ameritech then to AT&T (don't remember anymore) and stayed with AT&T.
http://www.nexusisr.com/
The other box uses one sim card.
http://www.fixedwirelessterminal.com/ericsson_w25/index.html
I've been an AT&T customer now since the early days; 1990's transitioning mobile stuff (GPRS) as it was available and was offered 3G early in the 2000's mostly to play with.
Here transitioned from Illinois Bell to Ameritech then to AT&T (don't remember anymore) and stayed with AT&T.
http://www.nexusisr.com/
The other box uses one sim card.
http://www.fixedwirelessterminal.com/ericsson_w25/index.html
If I understand correctly Verizon only got into the SIM game with the introduction of the 4G LTE technology. This technology is shared between the carriers on the newer phones and allows them to be used on the traditionally CDMA Verizon network and GSM AT&T network. So an unlocked 4G phone can jump between the two.drvnbysound said:
The C3 is "old school" and will take a 3G GSM only SIM. The T-mobile SIM should work and I am interested what happens when you try an contact customer service from the C3.
So what you're saying is a GSM will transmit on a CDMA network? Not going to happen, no way, no how, no matter how you analyze it.
Remember, the C3 is NOT data, so 3/4G service is inconsequential. The C3 uses the voice sideband and zero data link.
Look at the C3's specs: GSM/GPRS (NOT CDMA!) the networks are NOT interchangeable. If they were, then Uplink, Telular, Alarmnet and DSC/C24 have quite a racket by supporting one technology or selling different units for the different networks.
Remember, the C3 is NOT data, so 3/4G service is inconsequential. The C3 uses the voice sideband and zero data link.
Look at the C3's specs: GSM/GPRS (NOT CDMA!) the networks are NOT interchangeable. If they were, then Uplink, Telular, Alarmnet and DSC/C24 have quite a racket by supporting one technology or selling different units for the different networks.
