I have a 4G subscription, and the SIM card works only in the router that the operator provided. It seems to be working in LHG as well, but I can’t access the Internet, and it’s going to a page with an error message, asking me to contact operator support. I did, and turns out they don’t allow using the subscription with another equipment. I had no idea they don’t allow that, but I wouldn’t bother to even read the contract now, as I am sure this is hidden somewhere in the fine print. I bought the LHG specifically to use it with this subscription, tested before with a PrePay card from the same operator, so I was sure it is going to work. Their router works, but I don’t get anywhere near the speeds I am getting with the antenna.
My question is… how does this SIM lock works? And is there a way to bypass? Thanks.. any hints will be greatly appreciated.
See if the mikrotik device reports any errors. Maybe you did not insert the SIM correctly. Sometimes putting a layer of scotch tape on the other side of SIM helps it to fit better.
If error is “sim not detected”, it means it’s not fitted, not blocked.
If you’re getting redirected to some web site… That could be that it’s using the wrong APN – since it has to connect to some network to proxies the error message for all web requests, instead of allowing routing. It likely not “SIM locked” if it’s connecting.
Did you set an APN for the carrier? The default “internet” APN may not work, or “Use Network APN” being check may not be right for your carrier. If you google “APN” with your carrier-name, it will likely have some suggestion on the APN to set on the Mikrotik.
Your carrier may have a white-list of known IMEI (essentially the modem MAC address for LTE) for modems carrier has registered, in which case the the APN won’t help.