Putting Calyx SIM in different hotspot

[m_johnson]

Apologies if this basic but I'm struggling to find answers so thought I'd ask. I'm planning to work remote from my car / in remote areas soon and am piecing together my mobile connectivity setup. Think I'll donate to Calyx to tap into their unlimited data, but am concerned about the low quality and lack of external antennae for the two available hotspot models that come with a donation (LINKZONE 2 or Franklin T9). I came across one post that indicated that an unlocked NightHawk M1100 could be set to tap into TMobile bands and drastically improve speed - curious if anyone has done this.

TLDR: Looking for any/all advice on porting a Calyx SIM into a more powerful hotspot that will help me stay connected in remote areas with better speeds. Thanks in advance!

[Didneywhorl]

I put a Quectel EM12G modem into a WG3526-P router and used my calyx SIM. Works great. No real special changes needed.

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/

Needs an adapter and different pigtails to assemble and make work properly. Super easy to pop together:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/

[Lewnr321]

Hey I’m doing the same thing as you as I already have an unlocked nighthawk. Did you find a solution? I’ve found some that say change the apn and turn on roaming. Other than that I can’t find any easily explained instructions. Let me know if you find anything

[Didneywhorl]

The Nighthawks don't support Sprint bands, even though they do support Tmobile, Calyx is Sprint primary and Tmobile secondary. the Nighthawk isn't approved on the Sprint network, and doesn't seem to have a "Generic" firmware for bypassing the Firmware requirements.

I've never seen it done on a Nighthawk.

[noahberg98]

@Didneywhorl
Was any IMEI rebuilding necessary when using the EM12G modem into a WG3526-P.
Any speed test differences between hotspot and WG3526-P?
Thanks!

[Didneywhorl]

@Didneywhorl
Was any IMEI rebuilding necessary when using the EM12G modem into a WG3526-P.
Any speed test differences between hotspot and WG3526-P?
Thanks!

Nope, most true hotspots do not need it, this one is one of those.

For me yes, because I couldn't get good signal. I needed the outdoor antennas. Add to that ethernet ports and add on WiFi APs and it is WAY better!

[chewspam]

I put a Quectel EM12G modem into a WG3526-P router and used my calyx SIM. Works great. No real special changes needed.

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/

Needs an adapter and different pigtails to assemble and make work properly. Super easy to pop together:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/

To be clear, you used your existing Calyx sim and put it in this setup, and it worked? I'm looking at doing the same thing.

[Didneywhorl]

Yep. 100%. My Calyx SIMs are kinda like gigolos. They get put in routers all over the place.

[d112014]

@Didneywhorl, what firmware are you using in the setup.

I have similar setup,
WG3526 + EM160R-GL (firmware: A07) on minipci to m.2 card using Calyx sim with GlobalOrb firmware dated 5/12

I'm seeing issue that the connection drops every 2 minutes (very precise) and have to power recycle the box. I tried setting TTL values to 65, etc, and the debug ping to 40sec, but of no avail.

Interestingly when I substitute the same SIM in EC25 (that has mini-pci interface) in above setup the connection is solid.

Any advice and pointers is appreciated.
thank you

[Didneywhorl]

I don't run the Calyx SIM full time anymore, but I setup a test yesterday with an EM12 and mine connected fine.

I was using the latest WiFiX firmware. I'm curious if using the openWRT base with modemmanager would work better.

It is super hard to tell though.

When did you get your Calyx account setup? Mine is about 3 years old.

[Nrdslyr]

I don't run the Calyx SIM full time anymore, but I setup a test yesterday with an EM12 and mine connected fine.

I was using the latest WiFiX firmware. I'm curious if using the openWRT base with modemmanager would work better.

It is super hard to tell though.

When did you get your Calyx account setup? Mine is about 3 years old.

I'm so sorry if I'm highjacking this thread but I'm a newb to all of this , trying to learn how all this works, so ...I live in a rural florida area , this question is for didneywhorl . by doing your setup is it forcing the the router to use t-mobile signal instead of sprint? I'm asking because I have really good t-mobile signal but weak sprint signal , im thinking of using calyx , but if i do im told it will prioritize sprint before tmobile even if its weaker ..thanks

[Didneywhorl]

I'm so sorry if I'm highjacking this thread but I'm a newb to all of this , trying to learn how all this works, so ...I live in a rural florida area , this question is for didneywhorl . by doing your setup is it forcing the the router to use t-mobile signal instead of sprint? I'm asking because I have really good t-mobile signal but weak sprint signal , im thinking of using calyx , but if i do im told it will prioritize sprint before tmobile even if its weaker ..thanks

Welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, so far as I've seen if there is any Sprint tower signal at all, or bands, the network will only allow you to use them. The Tmobile bands are available, but it seems to prefer the Sprint stuff.

You MIGHT get to use the Tmobile only, but I've not seen anyone say their modem/hotspot used Tmobile bands when Sprint was present.

at some point it should all be one set of bands, but for now ... :shrug:

[radec]

Welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately, so far as I've seen if there is any Sprint tower signal at all, or bands, the network will only allow you to use them. The Tmobile bands are available, but it seems to prefer the Sprint stuff.

You MIGHT get to use the Tmobile only, but I've not seen anyone say their modem/hotspot used Tmobile bands when Sprint was present.

at some point it should all be one set of bands, but for now ... :shrug:

I wonder if this is changing. I just helped a friend setup an external antenna because he was getting really poor signal and only connecting to band 25 and 26.

The new antenna has improved the signal dramatically and it is now pretty much exclusively connecting to band 2, and 66. I haven't done anything to lock the modem to specific bands or anything. So far it has been a week and band 66 seems the best but I probably wont try locking it unless it starts reverting to band 26 or something.

This is with a different Mobile Citizen reseller but I don't think that would make a difference.

Anyway just something I noticed.

[Full_RV_Time]

I put a Quectel EM12G modem into a WG3526-P router and used my calyx SIM. Works great. No real special changes needed.

https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/lte-routers/wg3526-p/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/

Needs an adapter and different pigtails to assemble and make work properly. Super easy to pop together:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/

Sorry for bringing back a thread from the dead. The two pigtail links are no longer valid in the quoted post above. Can someone direct me to the ones I need for that setup?

[Didneywhorl]

5"
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cable ... ail-cable/

10"
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cable ... ail-cable/

Adapter:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/mini- ... rd-slot-2/

Router:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/route ... t/nexp1go/

Modem:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modem ... m-2-modem/


Or just get the bundle with it all in one click:
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/route ... dle-em12g/

[Cassiel007]

This is awesome news. Thanks for the post. I been using ATT with Raspberry Pi 3b and EM12, but they caught on. I switched to BillA recommendation for USB tether. Same setup but using Note 20 5G instead of the EM12 but after 10gb, I am throttled to 128kb . Due to the recent firmware update, I cannot root the Note 20 to change the ttly.
I am looking at Calyx to use with my Pi and EM12. Are the APN settings the same as T-Mobile?
Also, is Calyx truly unlimited plan? I use up to 900gb.

[Didneywhorl]

...

Are the APN settings the same as T-Mobile?

Depends on the SIM card. I would look at the settings on the hotspot device they send to see what APN it is provisioned to.

Also, is Calyx truly unlimited plan? I use up to 900gb.

Yes, always has been. I've used plenty of data many times in the last 3+ years. It is also truly a hotspot plan, not a repurposed reseller plan or tablet or phone plan.

I wouldn't set it up as a server farm connection or a connection for a file sharing server, but it is perfect for high data use that would be considered "normal" user traffic.

[Cassiel007]

Awesome! Thank you Didneywhorl!!!
We use it for regular stuff like streaming, a bit a gaming, and kids homework. At my current 128kb speed, takes about 2min for google mini to respond which was funny at first.

[kybalion]

@Didneywhorl
Was any IMEI rebuilding necessary when using the EM12G modem into a WG3526-P.
Thanks!

Nope, most true hotspots do not need it, this one is one of those.

Pardon for the necro, but I'm trying to get my head wrapped around all this, and one thing I'm unclear about is when "magic" is and isn't needed. Am I correct that this statement about rebuilding not being needed is about Sprint Calyx sims, and is no longer the case with T-Mobile Calyx sims?

Thanks for the clarification.