How to set Huawei pocket wifi by using TIM sim
 

Hi,

I'm planning to visit Italy soon and will bring along with my Huawei wifi for internet data roaming.

Using pocket wifi, I have to set the APN for it first. May I ask ... will it be simply just changing the APN is ok?...

From TIM official web site, it mention that customers have to insert the TIM sim card into iphone and input "code" for activate the card before starting to work, and will receive a SMS confirmation.... 3-4 hours later.

So, I'm confused about the activation for Huawei pocket wifi. Does anyone using pocket wifi before? Would you mind giving me some advices?...

Many thanks

If you buy a TIM sim card first wait for its activation, then activate a data add-on and wait for its activation again.
Then put the sim-card in the Mifi device and set the APN to ibox.tim.it (web APN). Be sure to activate a data option valid for "PC-surfing" (or tethering).
That's all.

Thanks for your advise.

And, sorry for my very late reply, keep busy this month.

I have sent message to member of this forum, and asking about the setting of Mifi. He taught me how to set the SIM card by using Mifi. Just using Mifi SMS function, send message to the number of TIM, and receive a reply will ok.

Need not to use 3G phone to activate, can only use Mifi will be the same too.

Hi, I have purchased a TIM sim card but still unable to connect via my Huawei Mifi E586. It has been more than 1 day already. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Sorry for late reply, just saw your message... Hope my reply won't be late.

I know the method but have not tried it, seems I have not visit Italy yet.

Insert the SIM Card into Mifi, then use your iPhone, netbook, iPad ... connect your Mifi, using Mifi to send SMS to TIM with the code... then receive reply, it will work.

Let me know if it work... Please correct me if I am wrong.

Hi Kimdo,

As shared, I asked specifically for the TIM 10GB data plan when I purchased the TIM sim. But I have to configure my mifi to classic view in order to manually set the APN to "ibox.tim.it" as a default in my mifi. (note: I login wirelessly to my mifi using my iPhone and not via a computer).

Thereafter, it works fine for me throughout my trip in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan.

Hope it will also work for you.

-Seng

Hi Seng,

Thank you so much!

If the FCO TIM store can help for the 10GB data plan activation, it will be great for me. I just simply change my Mifi's APN.

Many thanks :smile:

What is the best data SIM for MiFi good for 2 weeks in Rome, Florence and Venice? Is Skype allowed. When a plan says noVoIP, does that mean no Skype?

Yes, no VoIP means no Skype too, of course.
The best plan depends on your use:
PrePaidGSM: Prepaid Data in Italy

Thanks for the reply, but I remain totally confused. I want to use the internet mostly for surfing, maps/GPS and Skype. I won't be streaming movies or video much.

My major questions are: Is there a prepaid SIM that will allow these uses?
Which one?
Can I purchase one at the airport in Rome?
Will the dealer at the airport, if there is one, issue a CF when I present my passport?
If I can't get one at the airport in Rome, where is the best place in Florence to do this?
Why is this so difficult?

It's not difficult at all, it's extremely easy, much easier than in the US, it's you the one who's seeing it difficult! ;)

ALL plans listed in the link I gave you are prepaid. On PREPAIDGSM.net we talk about prepaid plans only.

As you can see there's plenty of different data options to choose from.
If you just need mobile surfing (no tethering or usb modems or voip) and maps (on your phone), any offer will suit you.
If you need tethering or VoIP only few of them (the most expensive ones) will work for you.

There's plenty of phone shops in Italy, especially in bigger cities such as Rome and Florence. You will surely find more than one in the centre. There're some at Fiumicino airport, but not for every operator (Wind has not, for example).

You can make your own codice fiscale in 2 minutes, why hope the dealer will make one for you? Better to have one before.

I will visit Italy next month, I afraid that I can't set the TIM Sim easily as I think. So, may I ask for your help please?!

In my Mifi - Huawei e583c setup, the is a "Mobile Network Settings" page.

I can set "Network" - Preferred Mode as follows ~
1. GSM Preferred
2. WCDMA Preferred
3. GSM Only
4. WCDMA Only
My setting is set to "WCDMA Preferred"

I can set "Network" - Band as follows ~
1. All Bands
2. GSM900 / 1800 / WCDMA2100
3. GSM1900
4. GSM850
5. WCDMA900
My setting is set to "All Bands"

I can set "Searching Network" - Mode as follows ~
1. Auto
2. Manual
My setting is set to "Auto"

Would anyone telling me TIM SIM is what kind of information as above? So that, I can set the network correctly. Hopefully... I can do it in the trip!

Many thanks

@kimdo
Leave all those settings mentioned above as they are. Generally there's no need to change these at all, no matter which operator you are using.
However you'll need to create and select a connection profile as described here. For TIM you'll need to use ibox.tim.it as APN.

Hi inquisitor,
Thanks for your information and advises.
Then, about the "Mobile Network Settings" I just keep it as default?...

My experience is ~
I was successfully set the Huawei e583c in London and Bangkok, as you say... just change the right APN is ok for network.
However, I can't connect the Huawei in Macau when input the APN. I purchased a Macau local "3" Data SIM, the apn is "ipc.three.com.mo", but I failed to setup the connection, and had shown "45505" instead of "3". On the other hand, I insert this Macau's sim into Mobile for testing, it was worked. So, I was confused... the SIM card is ok, the apn is correct, but can't worked in the Huawei. That's why I think that I make a wrong settings...

Inquisitor, have you ever met this issue?

Yes, with the current settings your device will always select the best network available wherever you use it. If you change any of these settings you would limit the range of possible networks. Actually changing these settings wouldn't make sense for most users.

Your device has shown"455 05" because the list of network names in your device is obviously outdated and doesn't contain this particular network. That's why it showed the Mobile Country Code (MCC) for Macau "455" and the Mobile Network Code (MNC) for Three's UMTS network "05" (see Mobile Network Code - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) instead of an alphanumeric name. But this is just a cosmetic issue and doesn't affect operation at all. The fact your device has displayed "45505" proves that it was definitley registered on Three's UMTS network.

I think you've either had a configuration issue or the SIM was limited to handset use and so the network refused connections from a data device like your's.
Please be aware that besides creating a new connection profile for your particular operator you additionally need to set this connection profile as the default one to be used (please refer to the tutorial linked above). Further these Huawei Mifis can also be set to operate in manual mode (which is indicated by a "M" on the bottom of the display) in which you need to press the "connect" button for a moment in order to establish a connection. In automatic mode it shows an "A" instead. Once the Internet connection has been established this will be indicated by a small world icon on the top of the display.

Hi inquisitor,

Thanks again for your detail explanation :)

Your device has shown"455 05" because the list of network names in your device is obviously outdated and doesn't contain this particular network. ...... But this is just a cosmetic issue and doesn't affect operation at all. The fact your device has displayed "45505" proves that it was definitley registered on Three's UMTS network.

It means my Huawei e583c is a outdated device, so it can't detect the network? Although it can't find the network name, but still can operate for browsering? Besides, what is UMTS? In Huawei settings, there is WCDMA preferred but no UMTS option?

To me, Manual setting is complicated...

Besides, I know that under the Dial-up > Mobile Connection, there is a Connection Modes (Auto/Manual), next to it is a click box "Automatically connect even when roaming". Should I need to click it? It is a 3G roaming selction? Someone told me it will be hepled when travelling in other countries.

Hi inquisitor,

I think ... I have used a SIM card which was limited to mobile. I have purchased a 3 broadband SIM card for testing. Hopefully, it will be ok for Huawei e583c Mifi... and using TIM unlimited sim will be no problem.

Thanks again for your kindly help... !

No, the E583C is still a perfect device. Just the network list of its firmware lacks an entry for that particular network in Macau. As I wrote above operation is not affected - your device can work flawlessly on this network and actually it was registered to the Three network in Macau. It just won't display the proper network name.

Yes.

UMTS/HSPA = WCDMA = 3G. It's all the same and it's the fastest network technology which your device supports.

Usually you should better not activate this option as otherwise your device may connect while roaming abroad which would involve prohibitively expensive rates that will quickly eat up your credit. However your question hinted me on another possible explanation for your issues in Macau:
This list shows different network codes for Three's 2G (455-03) and 3G network (455-05) which is rather unusal. Every SIM card has a serial number called IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia), which starts with the MCC/MNC-code. Now if your Macanese SIM card has an IMSI from Three's 2G network (starting with 455-03) and your device was registered on their 3G network (which has a different network code) your device would have considered the 3G network as being a roaming network, which your Huawei E583C would have inidcated by an "R" in its display and which would have resulted in it not connecting automatically. In this case you would have needed to connect manually by pressing the "connect" button despite your E583C presumably was in automatic connection mode.

Hi inquisitor,
Thanks again, I learn a lot form all your replies... honestly, you are so kind for helping me to solve almost all my questions.
About the IMSI, it is new to me and don't know how to find it. In the Macau SIM card, there are numbers. However, it is not as your mentioned format, as follow~

898530
331000
934584
GP6503

May I know how to check the IMSI? I have surfed some website... it indicated that "#60# " can check it, but my mobile is not supported.

The number you have posted is not an IMSI but probably some internal serial number of your operator.
I haven't seen any handset that would reveal your IMSI by default so it depends on your device if and how you can see the IMSI. If you own an Android handset there are apps available on the market (now called "Google Play") that show your IMSI.
But anyway if my theory about your SIM card's IMSI starting with a different network code than Three's Macanese 3G network you should see this by an "R" in the display and you would be able to connect anyway by pressing the "connect" button on your E583C. So you don't necessarily need to find out your SIM card's IMSI but just cast an eye on your display during your next trip to Macau in order to prove or disprove my theory.

It should say: "But anyway if my theory about your SIM card's IMSI starting with a different network code than Three's Macanese 3G network is right..."

I have checked another 3 SIM's IMSI which I had also tried it in Macau. As you said, I downloaded a IMSI checking app. This SIM's IMSI is 454030040664394, it was 2G which I have used in Hong Kong. I havn't checked the Macanese Micro SIM yet, because I left it at home and it was expired. I will check it later.

May I ask... If the SIM is a Mobile broadband, it will be fully compatible with Huawei e583c?

So, TIM "Internet Senza Limiti" is absolutely matched Huawei e583c device? Just simply set the apn "ibox.tim.it" will be connected automatically, no need to connect manually, right?

This SIM obviously has an IMSI from Three's Hong Kong 3G network (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_..._China.29_-_HK) but I assume that this SIM can also register on Three's Hong Kong 2G network. However if this particular SIM with an identity from the 3G network registers on the 2G network (which has a different network code), your device assumes it is roaming on a foreign network (because of the differing network codes) and so it probably wouldn't automatically establish a data connection in order to protect you from potentially high charges (which usually apply if you use another network than your home network). But in this particular case I assume that there wouldn't be extraordinary charges as you would use the same operator despite this technical difference so you would just need to manually connect by pressing the "connect" button.

I can't tell you. Only your operator can say if your SIM is beind admitted to his 3G network and if it is eligible for data tariffs.
But you should know Three's configuration in Hong Kong and Macau (different network codes for their 2G and 3G network) is rather unusual. At least in Europe operators use the same network code for their 2G and 3G network, so our devices don't "think" they are using a foreign network once they switch from 2G to 3G or vice versa. With a TIM SIM card your device will consider TIM's 2G and 3G network as its home network and will automatically establish a data session.

Yes. Your E583C should work flawlessly on the TIM network and it will automatically connect unless you have disabled automatical connection (in this case you would just need to press the "connect" button). TIM uses GSM900 and GSM1800 for its 2G network and UMTS2100 for its 3G network - all supported by your E583C.

Thank you so much :) All my worries are gone.

The Mobile Network Code for TIM Italy is ~
222 01 (GSM900 / GSM1800 / UMTS 2100), as you say... same MNC code.

I am now more clear and understand about their different, thanks a lot :thumbup:

I have checked the IMSI of Macauese SIM, 455033100934584. It is 2G, GSM900 / 1800.
Huawei e583c can support these. However, as said before... it showed "45505"

Should I need to change the WCDMA Prefered to GSM Only mode in the "Mobile Network Settings"?

If you chose "GSM only" your device will register to 2G networks which means terribly slow Internet speed.
You simply need to manually connect while being registered to Three's Macanese 3G network (455-05) by pressing the "connect" button because your E583C won't connect automatically as it considers this network being a roaming network and in consequence disables auto connection in order to protect you from roaming rates.
Alternatively you can enable "Automatically connect even when roaming" in the E583C's settings but you should be careful with this option because it may cause extremly high costs if you forget it one day.

Thanks again.

May I ask... using TIM in Italy, need not to enable "Automatically connect even when roaming" ? ... coz TIM is local SIM for Internet and browsering?

I have read a tread here, member stated that not all SIM will support skype. Then, will TIM support?

No, because you won't be roaming with a TIM SIM in Italy as TIM have assigned the same network code to both, their 2G and their 3G network.
As explained above in Europe network operators use the same network code for their 2G and 3G networks so your device does not consider one of them as a roaming network.

Unfortunately I don't know.

Hi inquisitor,

Thank you so much for your detail explanation and all information, I learn a lot.

May I ask one more question?

What is the different bewteen GSM 900 & UMTS900?

I've explained that recently in another context here.

Thanks for your sharing

Will go to Italy next week, hoping that everything are ok

In Rome now, the TIM sim is worked properly. It's really great

Need help!

I send SMS “SALDO INTERNETSENZALIMITI” by Huawei mifi to check data usage, but do not get the data used message. Just other meaningless information.

The “SALDO INTERNETSENZALIMITI” is a correct code for checking data usage?

Hi Inquisitor,

My Italy trip have just ended. I have to say.... thank you for your great help.
All your information did a great help during in my Italy trip.

Kimdo

it's correct but probably you get a flash SMS which you cannot see on the mifi, but only on phones.

Thanks, it might be the reason.