Having a Blonde Moment (SIM cards and PINs)

[Wonky]

My car alarm uses 2G to communicate back and forwards with my mobile. I can arm/disarm/statuscheck etc by SMS and if someone attempts to hits the car in a car park or tries to break in I will receive an SMS. All was going well until Telstra dropped 2G so I had to get an Optus SIM (Optus 2G ends April 1) and my auto elec put it in for me as he has done quite a few times before, but I cannot get it to respond in any way at all. :(

One thing I just discovered is that the pre-paid Optus SIMS all come with a PIN code (0000) so I suspect that's the problem now. After an initial problem many years ago with a new Telstra SIM I have always asked Telstra to disable the SIM card PIN code before they give it to me as the alarm won't work with a PIN code. If I now put that Optus SIM in my phone and tell my phone not to expect a PIN code will that also remove the requirement for any device with that SIM in it to expect a PIN? I don't think it will now............ :(

What is confusing me is before I put the SIM in the alarm I put it in my phone (S7) and received an SMS I'd sent to it from my original phone SIM and then sent an SMS back from the Optus SIM to the original phone SIM which I duly received when I put the original SIM back in. Hence I concluded all was working as expected so got my auto elec to put it in the alarm next time I saw him. The alarm is obviously well hidden and given my disabilities I can't do it myself. I Googled how to remove the PIN request which then explained why I never received one when I put the Optus SIM in - my phone had the requirement to ask for a SIM PIN turned off. I still have to enter my own personal PIN (or fingerprint) every time I turn the phone on, so that's at a different level to the SIM PIN.

Thus it appears to me that the SIM PIN request is controllable at the individual device level (phone/alarm whatever) only, so whilst you can turn off the requirement for it or not on each individual device and even change the PIN to whatever you like it appears the SIM itself always has a PIN. Does that mean I have to contact Optus to get them to disable the SIM PIN at the network level so I can use it in my alarm successfully? :confused:

[QIKMIK]

Wouldn't hurt to give them a call. Worst they can do is say no.

In the meantime, you can park the Senny at my place. I'll keep an eye on it ;)

Mick

[QIKMIK]

On chat with Optus now. Will PM when done.

[Wonky]

On chat with Optus now. Will PM when done.

Thanks very much Mick. :thumbsup: I tried a few times to get onto Optus online chat, but gave up after waiting forever. Unfortunately even when I do get onto something like that it takes me forever to explain and clarify things so they (hopefully) understand due to my lack of speech. Let me know via Messenger please. :)

[QIKMIK]

Let me know via Messenger please. :)Does no one send PMs anymore??

[Devil CV8]

All SIM cards have a PIN, however Telstra do provide what they call Pinless sims but they still have a pin, just not active.
What you will need to do is disable SIM security on the SIM by placing it in an unlocked phone and finding the SIM security section and disable the PIN. Note you will need te existing PIN which for Optus is 0000. get it wrong 3 times and you need a PUK which is 8 digits long. Get that wrong 10 times and get a new sim.
Hope this helps.

[Devil CV8]

after rereading your post Id say the SIM security is disabled. 2G is 900Mhz across all carriers, however have you confirmed that Optus have enabled 2G on that service. I know they don't activate 4G by default so maybe the same applies to 2G.

[C4B]

Might be time to upgrade to a 3G/LTE device. Even Vodafone are switching off later this year.

[Wonky]

Does no one send PMs anymore??

Yeah, just that I was logging off my pc and heading back downstairs. :)

[Wonky]

Put the SIM in which had had the SIM PIN disabled and all working again (for a while till 2G goes altogether........ :bawl:). Thanks everyone for your help, especially Mick! :thumbsup:

[Wonky]

Might be time to upgrade to a 3G/LTE device. Even Vodafone are switching off later this year.

I'm trying to - see http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?170393 Have also emailed various alarm places asking if they have or know of a 3G or 4G car alarm but have not had one reply........ :nutkick:

There are software converters for phones (from years ago I assume when 3G was new) to allow data access on 2G phones at (supposedly) 3G speeds, but I would need something to sit outside my alarm and convert the 3G/4G input signal back to 2G so the alarm understands it, then convert the outcoming 2G signal back to 3G/4G so I receive it back. Sounds straightforward enough in theory (speed of conversion is not an issue) but I assume no such beast exists? :confused:

[Devil CV8]

There are software converters for phones (from years ago I assume when 3G was new) to allow data access on 2G phones at (supposedly) 3G speeds, but I would need something to sit outside my alarm and convert the 3G/4G input signal back to 2G so the alarm understands it, then convert the outcoming 2G signal back to 3G/4G so I receive it back. Sounds straightforward enough in theory (speed of conversion is not an issue) but I assume no such beast exists? :confused:
Thinking outside the box, but the existing module may be made up of a 2G PCB and a controller PCB. Depending on how they communicate you may be able to find a 3G or 4G PCB that may be able to replace the 2G one. a long shot for sure. Theres plenty of 3G and 4G routers that run off 12V.

Surely there must be a 3G version out there.

[Wonky]

Surely there must be a 3G version out there.

If you mean the alarm itself then no. :( I've been in touch with both the manufacturer (in NSW) and the guy who originally played a big part putting it together (was a member on here, no longer works for the same company) and not at the moment. The manufacturer is talking about upgrading a GPS tracker they have to work on 3G but that's not the same thing. I'd be pretty confident guru JezzaB could make something up to do the job, but he has much more exciting things to do with his time. :)

[Devil CV8]

I've been in touch with both the manufacturer (in NSW) and the guy who originally played a big part putting it together (was a member on here, no longer works for the same company) and not at the moment.
Once the unit no longer functions, I'd open the case up and see if it is made up of 2 separate modules/pcbs. If so then locating a 3G module may be possible.
For example...
http://www.m2mconnectivity.com.au/technologies/3g-umts-hspa/3g-module

this would have been similar to what was used for 2G

[Wonky]

Once the unit no longer functions, I'd open the case up and see if it is made up of 2 separate modules/pcbs. If so then locating a 3G module may be possible.
For example...
http://www.m2mconnectivity.com.au/technologies/3g-umts-hspa/3g-module

this would have been similar to what was used for 2G

Thanks! I actually have a second unit which was in my previous ute when I sold it but it annoyed the sh*t out of the new owner so he pulled it out and sent it back to me (from Bribie Island). :)