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mutluit
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4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Wed Jan 08, 2025 8:45 pm

Hi,
I have the "MikroTik hAP ax lite LTE6" router ( https://mikrotik.com/product/hap_ax_lite_lte6 ).
It has only 1 SIM slot. But I now need to have a solution that does an automatic
failover between 2 mobile providers (ie. 2 SIMs).
And which also allows to use both SIMs at the same time, for example
routing a specific traffic to a selected one (for example traffic to my streaming provider).

While searching on the Web for such an 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM,
I was very surprized to see that RouterOS gets used also in products
by other companies, like in this product model ("LT12") by CUDY:
https://www.amazon.de/Cudy-Cellular-Gig ... B0BN2SY589
It explicitly says "Operating System: RouterOS" (in German "Betriebssystem: RouterOS").
Is it the same RouterOS from MikroTik? Ie. is it a licensed use by them?
(But on the CUDY website for the above "LT12" model at https://www.cudy.com/products/lt12-1-0
there is "RouterOS" not mentioned).
Are there any other companies that use RouterOS in their products?

Btw. I need a budget solution for my above described use-case with 2 SIMs.
Can any of you recommend a product or solution and/or experience?
Thx.
Last edited by mutluit on Thu Jan 09, 2025 2:59 am, edited 2 times in total.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Wed Jan 08, 2025 9:44 pm

Btw, I have some more MikroTik devices, for example the "hAP ac^2" router ( https://mikrotik.com/product/hap_ac2 ).
It unfortunately does not have any SIM slots, but it has a USB port.

If I attach to it a passive USB2 hub and to that hub then attach 2 LTE sticks with SIMs,
would it then be possible to control these 2 LTE devices via RouterOS ?

B/c somewhere I once had read that attaching a single LTE stick directly to the USB port
would make LTE possible in RouterOS, so the question is: what if I need to attach 2 LTE sticks to that single USB port ?
Will it work?
Last edited by mutluit on Thu Jan 09, 2025 2:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Wed Jan 08, 2025 10:23 pm

In general, a USB stick with LTE should work via USB, and multiple via a hub should too. But not all modems are compatible, and some may require issuing AT commands to switch modes. Mikrotik has a list of modem here: https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/spaces/R ... ularmodems. Now just because something is not listed, it still may work & conversely also possible a listed modem may not work because of firmware/etc...

If a modem works with Windows without drivers, it's likely to work on RouterOS.

Two USB stick mean you have two modem, and the be better for redudency, than any "dual SIM" devices. The way dual SIM work is only one SIM is active at a time. Both the LtAP and LtAP mini support dual SIMs. The "bigger" LtAP has both a dual SIM, and ALSO has 2nd slot for another modem inside. Now using the LtAP with two modem take some DIY effort to instal modem and pigtails+antennas.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Wed Jan 08, 2025 11:47 pm

In general, a USB stick with LTE should work via USB, and multiple via a hub should too. But not all modems are compatible, and some may require issuing AT commands to switch modes. Mikrotik has a list of modem here: https://help.mikrotik.com/docs/spaces/R ... ularmodems. Now just because something is not listed, it still may work & conversely also possible a listed modem may not work because of firmware/etc...
If a modem works with Windows without drivers, it's likely to work on RouterOS.
Ok, thanks for the link. I'll try to find LTE sticks from that list.
Two USB stick mean you have two modem, and the be better for redudency, than any "dual SIM" devices.
The way dual SIM work is only one SIM is active at a time.
But some companies do advertise also with "Load balancing" and "Bonding" with their Dual SIM device.
Both the LtAP and LtAP mini support dual SIMs. The "bigger" LtAP has both a dual SIM, and ALSO has 2nd slot for another modem inside.
Now using the LtAP with two modem take some DIY effort to instal modem and pigtails+antennas.
The LtAP is https://mikrotik.com/product/ltap_lte6_kit_2023
I couldn't find the "LtAP mini" in the HW section. Do you have a link?

I think I should stick to the "2 stick solution", as it seems more flexible, and much cheaper, I think.
Some RouterOS programming is surely required, but that's OK.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 1:00 am

 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 2:20 pm

While searching on the Web for such an 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM,
I was very surprized to see that RouterOS gets used also in products
by other companies, like in this product model ("LT12") by CUDY:
https://www.amazon.de/Cudy-Cellular-Gig ... B0BN2SY589
It explicitly says "Operating System: RouterOS" (in German "Betriebssystem: RouterOS").
Is it the same RouterOS from MikroTik? Ie. is it a licensed use by them?
(But on the CUDY website for the above "LT12" model at https://www.cudy.com/products/lt12-1-0
there is "RouterOS" not mentioned).
Are there any other companies that use RouterOS in their products?
I had asked CUDY (the above said company) some questions on their Dual SIM routers etc.
Here their answers:

1) They say that their devices use the OpenWrt operating system, not RouterOS.
But then one wonders why in their advertisements (at amazon.de etc.)
they claim to be using "RouterOS".

2) He says that their router software does not support SSH and Telnet login. This is unbelievable!

3+5) And that in all their Dual SIM devices only 1 SIM can be active at the same time, not both.

4) Says one can download their Quick Start Manual from their website. I've not seen this yet.


EMail exchange was in German language (sanitized):
"
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 2025 17:09:59 +0800
From: "support@cudy.com" <support@cudy.com>
To: XXXXX
Subject: Re: Fragen zu Cudy LT700

Hallo (höflich)

Vielen Dank, dass Sie sich an das technische Team von Cudy wenden.

Bezüglich Ihrer Frage.
1, die Firmware des Routers wird auf der Basis von Openwrt mit einigen Cudy-Funktionen entwickelt.
2、Die offizielle Firmware unterstützt keine SSH- und Telnet-Anmeldung;
3, unterstützt nicht die Verwendung von zwei SIM-Karten zur gleichen Zeit. Der Router schaltet nur dann auf die zweite SIM-Karte um, wenn eine der beiden nicht auf das Internet zugreifen kann.
4, Sie können die einfache Bedienungsanleitung von der offiziellen Website von Cudy herunterladen;
5, Die Router von Cudy unterstützen zwei SIM-Karten, aber keine von ihnen unterstützt zwei SIM-Karten für den gleichzeitigen Internetzugang.

Best regards,
Cudy Team
Technical Support website: https://www.cudy.com
You may get answers quickly here: https://www.cudy.com/support

From: XXXXX
Date: 2025-01-09 02:02
To: sales
CC: XXXXX; support
Subject: Fragen zu Cudy LT700
Hallo,

einige Fragen zu Ihrem Produkt "Cudy LT700":

1) Welches Betriebssystem ? (RouterOS, OpenWrt)

2) Ist SSH-Login für Kommandozeilenbetrieb (CLI) möglich ?

3) Können beide SIMs gleichzeitig aktiv sein (für Load Balancing usw.) ?

4) Kann man das Handbuch (User Manual) downloaden ?

5) Haben Sie noch andere Modelle mit Dual SIM ?


Danke & Mit freundlichen Grüssen

XXXXX

In Deutschland
"
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM  [SOLVED]

Thu Jan 09, 2025 7:01 pm

While I mainly use Mikrotik router as LTE devices, I do have one site with an inherited Cudy LT something. Amazon is wrong, it's not RouterOS. It has decent web UI, but all the features are pretty fixed in how they work and there aren't a lot of customizations. Small example, Cudy's do support ZeroTier but they don't let you customize anything about it which then makes it hard to more granular route selection. Now, RouterOS offers way more flexibility, at the expense of complexity.

My point about "dual SIM" does not tell the whole story, while the number of modems does... basically a product that offers "dual sim" does not mean it run both at same time, unless it had two modems.

Personally, two LTE sticks to an RB5009/hAPax3/hAPac2/etc is an entirely reasonable approach. Mikrotik's modems are pretty dated, and using LTE USB modems known to work in your country/carrier has some advantages over the generic modems Mikrotik uses since presumable they were tested by the local carrier. And since RouterOS uses the Microsoft's MBIM modem protocol, most recent USB modem support. As noted, RouterOS should look for all modems on the USB bus, even through a hub. And RouterOS will act exactly the same in configuration as if it was a LTE-enabled RouterBoard, or just a router with USB modem attached.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 9:11 pm

Help!
How can I post an image here at all? :oops:
Is only an external link possible?
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 9:18 pm

Help!
How can I post an image here at all? :oops:
Is only an external link possible?
When you do a reply, below the text box/button there a tab that says "Attachments", you can add a graphic as a file, then use "Place inline".
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 9:42 pm

While searching on the Web for such an 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM,
I was very surprized to see that RouterOS gets used also in products
by other companies, like in this product model ("LT12") by CUDY:
https://www.amazon.de/Cudy-Cellular-Gig ... B0BN2SY589
It explicitly says "Operating System: RouterOS" (in German "Betriebssystem: RouterOS").
Is it the same RouterOS from MikroTik? Ie. is it a licensed use by them?
(But on the CUDY website for the above "LT12" model at https://www.cudy.com/products/lt12-1-0
there is "RouterOS" not mentioned).
Are there any other companies that use RouterOS in their products?
I had asked CUDY (the above said company) some questions on their Dual SIM routers etc.
Here their answers:

1) They say that their devices use the OpenWrt operating system, not RouterOS.
But then one wonders why in their advertisements (at amazon.de etc.)
they claim to be using "RouterOS".
Just for the record, before it gets "fixed":
here's proof that the said CUDY company advertises unlawfully
by wrongly claiming that their own products are using RouterOS.
Below is just 1 example, there are many such product pages of them at amazon.de (see link above;
and maybe also at other sites, I haven't checked) :
CUDY_wrongly_claims_RouterOS_in_their_products.png
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 9:49 pm

Help!
How can I post an image here at all? :oops:
Is only an external link possible?
When you do a reply, below the text box/button there a tab that says "Attachments", you can add a graphic as a file, then use "Place inline".
Thx! :-)
 
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mutluit
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 10:13 pm

While I mainly use Mikrotik router as LTE devices, I do have one site with an inherited Cudy LT something. Amazon is wrong, it's not RouterOS. It has decent web UI, but all the features are pretty fixed in how they work and there aren't a lot of customizations. Small example, Cudy's do support ZeroTier but they don't let you customize anything about it which then makes it hard to more granular route selection. Now, RouterOS offers way more flexibility, at the expense of complexity.
I always need CLI access (ie. login via ssh) for every network device. Otherwise it's useless for me.
The HW specs of the products of CUDY and ZBT look not bad, but it seems they lack at the software and documentation side.
It's not even possible for interested potential customers to RTFM :-)
My point about "dual SIM" does not tell the whole story, while the number of modems does... basically a product that offers "dual sim" does not mean it run both at same time, unless it had two modems.

Personally, two LTE sticks to an RB5009/hAPax3/hAPac2/etc is an entirely reasonable approach. Mikrotik's modems are pretty dated, and using LTE USB modems known to work in your country/carrier has some advantages over the generic modems Mikrotik uses since presumable they were tested by the local carrier. And since RouterOS uses the Microsoft's MBIM modem protocol, most recent USB modem support. As noted, RouterOS should look for all modems on the USB bus, even through a hub. And RouterOS will act exactly the same in configuration as if it was a LTE-enabled RouterBoard, or just a router with USB modem attached.
Yes, I too am going that very path :-) I just have ordered 2 LTE sticks, and will first test a solution on the PC (Linux),
and later move it to a dedicated small router device...
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 10:29 pm

Yes, I too am going that very path :-) I just have ordered 2 LTE sticks, and will first test a solution on the PC (Linux),
and later move it to a dedicated small router device...
On Linux, if mbimcli works (assuming ModemManager is installed) then it should work on "real" RouterOS.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Thu Jan 09, 2025 11:40 pm

To be fair on the posted image, also Huawei claims the same.
It seems more likely that it is something lost in translation (or whatever) connected with amazon than originating from the manufacturers.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 4:48 am

To be fair on the posted image, also Huawei claims the same.
It seems more likely that it is something lost in translation (or whatever) connected with amazon than originating from the manufacturers.
RouterOS do sounds generic, it is a router and has an OS ;).

I believe you can report them to Amazon, since it could also be a strategy to not look like another OpenWRT thing with a web interface.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:49 am

Already filed a ticket to support to report the issue?

:lol: 8) :D
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:00 pm

Already filed a ticket to support to report the issue?
No time atm.
Feel free to do it yourself.
Maybe MT can reward us :D
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:03 pm

To be fair on the posted image, also Huawei claims the same.
It seems more likely that it is something lost in translation (or whatever) connected with amazon than originating from the manufacturers.
RouterOS do sounds generic, it is a router and has an OS ;).
I believe you can report them to Amazon, since it could also be a strategy to not look like another OpenWRT thing with a web interface.
If I were MT I would register a Trade Mark (TM) for it...
Last edited by mutluit on Fri Jan 10, 2025 4:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 3:27 pm

Just for the sake of completeness: during my (re)search I came up also over this professional/industrial device:
Multi SIM 4G Router for Wireless M2M / IoT
https://www.e-lins.com/DE/H750-4G-Router.html
I think it has 2 modems as it's capable to do all these things:
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 6:33 pm

Yeah that one says TWO modems, and TWO SIM. But none going to run RouterOS™.
 
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Re: 4G/LTE router with Dual SIM

Fri Jan 10, 2025 8:05 pm

Well, also the Teltonika RUTX12:
https://teltonika-networks.com/products/routers/rutx12
nice thingy, not exactly cheap.