When will prosumer netgate router have sim card slot
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One of the feature I would like to see is a sim card slot (or better eSIM) in the prosumer routers from netgate (configfuration using netgate web panel). Does netgate have plans for one?
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The 2100 has one for WAN but it’s the older sim I think
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@JonathanLee It does not come iwth the wifi radio.....I would like to see one with wifi radio and sim card slot - BTW I have the netgate 2100 max
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@netboy I installed the WiFi card a compex card.
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The wan one is a sierra wireless or something. If i remember right
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@JonathanLee I understand....I prefer the router came with a compatible wifi radio pre-installled. This will make it more attractive product
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@netboy I have been using the compex wifi card for years now. It works good with 802.11a but you can’t get anything past 54mbps with that, it doesn’t support AC. It’s easier to use a external AP
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@JonathanLee I am not sure why you are talking about AP when sim card IMHO is used a fail over backkup!
As a fail over I use a travel router which is connected to my phone (which has hotspot feature) using USB. The travel router is then connected to my network switch. This is not blazing speed but you can now connect to the internet. It works flawlessly
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@netboy said in When will prosumer netgate router have sim card slot:
One of the feature I would like to see is a sim card slot (or better eSIM) in the prosumer routers
A sim card is easy.
But you probably also want a radio device that can send/receive 3G/4G/5G radio signals.
And that's close to impossible for a device like these.Let me name some issues :
Companies : most routers/firewalls are placed in metal cases .... deep below underground, nearby the point where the fiber comes into the building. So forget about any 3/4/5G signals.
Ok, you've said it, for the pro consumer. Maybe the router can be placed in a place where the main internet access is available, and where some 3G, maybe 4G but certainly not 5G can be received - and transmitted (5G in hous is ... forget it - except if you live in Japon where the houses are all from paper and wood ?). So people will live very close to a 4G/5G transmitter, and it won't be like your phone that sends a packet ones in awhile, no, this one will send a lot.
Even if you believe that these radio signals won't harm you, there are many counties where this is simply 'not done'/'forbidden'.Also : "Wifi", the frequencies it used, the max emission power used etc, is somewhat tolerated.
4G/5G transmitters have to be certified or each country, and this procedure is way more difficult as a classic Wifi setup.
Making a router device with 4G/5G transmitter that can be sold in every country, where a user can put in the SIM card of his choice ..... that's hard.Exposing antennas, which send out 'huge' energy waves, and nearby 'way to cheap' Ethernet cables will create a huge electrical mess. Every electric device nearby that isn't probably shielded will start to be have strangely - and then fail.
The router, the computer part, has to be shielded to protect itself from the radio and antennas. So, the device has already a build in radio wave blocker ... Like turn the box : no more 5G, tilt is somewhat : 5G works .. etc. Go explain that to an end user.
Because the devices will have to be shielded, it more difficult to service.
And 3G/4G/5G radio transmitters have good FreeBSD support ? No way, FreeBSD isn't even brilliant with the most common Wifi chip sets.
When I look at a device like this I know its closed-source firmware. The constructor can not allow that some one else (open source) changes the firmware and starts to mess with 3/4/5 G radio device, as this would break the agreement to use that device.
If you really need 3/4/5G access, you need to have an extra box, like the Archer shown (I showed that device as an example as I have a friend that uses one in France - his version is 'locked' to the operator, he can't put a SIM card of another operator in it - That's how things work in France).
Mai advantage : connect it with a long Ethernet cable to pfsense and place it under the roof of your house, there where 3/4/5G reception/emission is optimal with having it to fry your brains all day long ^^Btw : I'm just thinking out loud here.
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@netboy said in When will prosumer netgate router have sim card slot:
It does not come iwth the wifi radio.....I would like to see one with wifi radio and sim card slot
Do you mean WiFI or cellular radio (modem?)
It doesn't make sense for us to supply devices with cellular modems inside because there are so many different modems you might want/need.
The 2100, 4200, 6100 and 8200 all have SIM card slots allowing modems to be fitted and used though.But the support for cellular modems in FreeBSD, and hence pfSense, is limited. Modems can only run in ppp mode which limits throughput to ~100Mbps.
Steve
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@stephenw10 said in When will prosumer netgate router have sim card slot:
@netboy said in When will prosumer netgate router have sim card slot:
It does not come iwth the wifi radio.....I would like to see one with wifi radio and sim card slot
Do you mean WiFI or cellular radio (modem?)
It doesn't make sense for us to supply devices with cellular modems inside because there are so many different modems you might want/need.
The 2100, 4200, 6100 and 8200 all have SIM card slots allowing modems to be fitted and used though.But the support for cellular modems in FreeBSD, and hence pfSense, is limited. Modems can only run in ppp mode which limits throughput to ~100Mbps.
Steve
Hi Steve, I have an 8200 and my internet is flaky. I would like a backup connection to backdoor in and reset things remotely. I have an option but would prefer something cellular. Can you give a specific recommendation for the hardware to fill that SIM slot that BSD / PFsense compatible?
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You've cited the answer in your question.
I'll add to that :
A SIM card does ... nothing, it's more like a small chip with 'access codes'. Nothing more.
The 2 Watt sender / receiver 3G/4G/5G isn't there. This part should be heavily shielded as it will 'fry' (interference) the rest of the system.Btw : the 8200 is the top end of a Soho router, and is 'normally' placed in a metal shielded rack so GSM signals can't come in, neither go out.
For the 8200 the work well with, you would have to place it on the roof ...Every country has its own list with devices that are allowed to work in that frequency range. A 8200 isn't build for a typical country, neither to work with every 3G/4G/5G carrier on the planet (support would be come hell)
The only real solution is : get a GSM 3G/4G/5G modem router.
My only question is : why is there a SIM card slot ?
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The 8200 has 4 SIM slots. It can hold two cellular modems and have each use dual SIMs.
The only modems I know work are the older Sierra devices: EM7305/7355/7455. Those are easily available used but many (most even) are rebranded OEM that may require a firmware reflash or at least re-configuring in a Windows device.
The Huawei ME906s-158 will also work and that works with the cellular package to give you additional data. I use that here in a 6100. That's the euro spec version.Steve
