Best 4G/5G-router with eSIM support and Ethernet?

[Turbolego]

Hi!

 

I have tried to google and i also asked both Bing, Bard and ChatGPT but i cannot seem to find any 4G/5G routers with eSIM support and Ethernet -port(s)?

 

And that is made to be powered with AC-power, not a rechargeable battery?

 

I also searched this forum for "4g router esim" but it gave 0 results...

 

I found one router on Amazon that _could_ work (Zbtlink WE2805-B) but it looks like i can only use eSIM data plans from their own store.... 

 

Is eSIM too new?

[Lurick]

eSIM isn't even on all new phones afaik let alone routers which have much longer cycles between new things rolling out.

If you want a 4G/5G router just get one with a physical sim slot is about your only option.

[NobleGamer]

I have Tmobile's Arcadyan KVD21 Gateway which has LAN ports via 2x ethernet and even USB C, and even that only has typical SIM slot support: https://community.t-mobile.com/troubleshooting-38/t-mobile-5g-router-47994

[.0x]

From what I have seen, I think you can use a service like esim.me card, you will get a physical sim card and then you install the esim on their app, after that you can remove the physical sim card, and put it in a 4g or 5g router, this is the only way I found. 

 

it's a bit late, but I posted this in case some people wanted to know.

[birdflyer]

On 7/15/2023 at 4:31 AM, Turbolego said:

Is eSIM too new?

This is a great explaination by mkx on MikroTik forums: https://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?t=177898
 

Quote

Any SIM card (including eSIM) is pretty much hard coded from factory. It is manufactured for a particular MNO - IMSI (that's SIM's serial number) includes MCC (Mobile Country Code) and MNC (Mobile Network Code). With eSIM that's different, IMSI includes manufacturer's identity, but then MNO needs to enter that particular IMSI in their subscriber database. SIM card includes also other things, such as set of encryption and identity identifiers, algorithms etc., which makes it possible for device having SIM to communicate with MNO's core network. Those settings are usually MNO's trade secret (if they were not, it would be easy to construct a fake network making user believe they're connected to legitimate network). So it's not really possible to change (e)SIM card settings OTA.

Meaning that if device includes eSIM, one doesn't need a physical SIM card in order to provision device into some mobile network (if MNO accepts eSIMs, I guess all of them do since Apple started to use eSIM quite a while ago). But that doesn't mean that subscriber can change IMSI to change to another subscription plan or to another MNO just like that. Actually to change plan or operator, it's much easier to use traditional SIMs. In cotext of eSIM OTA means that it is possible to change network operator without changing SIM card ... but that's only possible because most (if not all) operators agreed to accept eSIM producer's set of SIM settings and they need to provision particular eSIM in their subscribers database. Which is essentially the same process as when MNO receives a batch of traditional SIM cards ... they are useless until they are provisioned in MNOs databases.

        -mkx: https://forum.mikrotik.com/viewtopic.php?t=177898

 

In other words, you probably need to find a carrier (which is really just a super proprietary wireless ISP) that can give you a physical sim.

If you need still need a router with support for LTE, I would suggest the Chateau LTE6 ax. It will offer everything you need and more. Alternatively, the hAP ax lite LTE6 is a great budget-friendly option.

You can buy the Chateau here: https://multilink.us/mikrotik-chateau-lte18-ax/

You can buy the hAP ax lite here: (should be available to buy soon through multilink and other retailers)


NOTE: If you need something carrier certified, MikroTik also has you covered with the Chateau LTE6-US - I would recommend browsing the other products they have available if you don't find these recommendations satisfactory: https://mikrotik.com/products/group/lte-5g-products