Does anyone know of a Mobile Phone that still uses a Full Size SIM Card, and able to work on the 4G Network? Modifying or replacing the existing SIMs is unfortunately not an option.
Must work on Telstra 4G Network as a Minimum, Unlocked would be a bonus. Doesn't have to be brand new.
Cheers all.
Avoid Nokia 8210 4G at all costs. If it was free it would be way over priced
Modifying or replacing the existing SIMs is unfortunately not an option.
How come?
I need the phone for testing of existing SIM Cards that are currently being used Cellular gateways all over Sydney. The Gateway only has a slot that utilises a Full Size SIM, and converting them to Nano SIM would be ideal in the long run, unforntutely it is currently not an option.
https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006646407769.html
Try this SIM extender / adaptor thing. Basically it converts / adapts the nano sim interface into a larger SIM slot, and you just stick it out the side of your mobile phone.
Looks goofy but won't cost much either. But I'd only do this to a cheap sacrificial phone, not your daily driver.
You can cut down a full size Sim with a cutter that is a bit like a hole punch, and you can get an adaptor tray to make smaller Sims fit in the full size slot.
Many telcos still send out Sims that are multi fit, so you break off the bits you don't need. Try a $5 Sim from aldi and you will know what I mean.
FYI, "full sized SIM" means the size of a credit card. As in 2G in the 1990s.
Most likely, OP means a mini-SIM.
Yes, I remember them, though some had a punchout for the smaller style sim, for use in Newer Phones.
"remember"?! Lots of them are still sold today as full credit-card size, even though no phones have used it since early 2G.
those are the best full size Sim card phones ever
As this is for testing purposes, you may be able to get away with using something like this: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/146300242519
Might be clearer if you specifically said what size "full size SIM card" means. If you actually mean "full size SIM" from the early 1990's the size of a credit card 85.6 x 53.98 mm, then good luck…
Are you sure that the provider of the multiple sim cards for the gateways doesn't have an option to offer a smaller SIM? If they don't provide the typical 3 size one that you can pop out the right size, you could use the cheap adapters to go back to the size needed. I thought the current providers for bulk gateway type plans offered the choice of standard, micro or nano. eg https://m2mone.com.au/sims/
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/156015603746
gsmarena lets you search for phones by SIM card size https://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?sSIMTypes=1
Have a look on Marketplace/eBay/Gumtree for old pocket modems? Huawei e5372t was sold by Telstra, 4G and takes standard/mini SIM
Yes there were initially "full sized" SIMs that were credit card sized. But no-one supplies or uses them any longer.
So what is NOW referred to as a "full size" or "standard" SIM is what was initially called a "mini" SIM, 25mm x 15mm.
A "micro" SIM is 15mm x 12mm.
A "nano" SIM is 12mm x 9mm.
Standard dual SIM card trays for phones usually take one micro SIM and one nano SIM.
The thing about the multi-sized SIMs that carriers supply is that you can not only pop out the smaller size, but you can usually pop it back in again. So you can test a SIM by popping out the micro SIM, then pop it back in and have a full sized SIM again.
It's not the size that counts, it's how you use it. At least that's what I've been told.
Mini/micro sim punch… punch the SIM out. try it in the phone. take SIM out, put it back into the piece you punched it out of and reinstall it in the older hardware. (add a piece of tape to the back of the punched out SIM if you are worried of moving.)
I am guessing op is dealing with back to base alarm systems or elevator phones that were installed long ago, so it isn't as simple as "just use something current" when you potentially have to deal with hundreds of devices in hundreds of locations.
There are adaptors and Sim cutters to change the form factor of Sim cards.
I think the multi fit Sims today that come on a full size credit card would actually still fit a device from 1994 that to the original big Sim.
Worth testing against a couple in any case.
The lift phones I've converted were running on analog phone lines, and not on 1990's era mobile devices using credit card size SIMs. Just a straight analog phone line wired into the lift phone. So when NBN came through and took away the analog phone lines, replaced them with something similar to this https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/122254490565 Gives a dial tone then rings out over the mobile network. Need to put it somewhere that can get signal.
Could have used a VoIP ATA as well.
I have a few options:
Huawei E8372 4G Dongle, not a mobile phone but can send / receive SMS and use mobile data.
Vodafone V One, but there's a chance it might be locked to Vodafone and you will have to unlock it.
edit: just looked on GSM arena and it appears that there isn't any 4g device made in the last 5 years that use a full size SIM slot. It would be easier to contact your telco and have the sim swapped to the more modern nano-sim format.