Rather then get data on all our devices I decided to buy a Netgear Aircard 779 hotspot (from ebay or amazon) for a cross Canada trip. It's unlocked and works with 2 different Canadian sim cards (Virgin/Bell and Telus).I recently tried to use it on a US trip initially with Roam Mobility (Canadian company to provide US coverage) and then several different pay as you go providers (Tracfone, Simple, Net10 etc. pretty much any of the $1 sim cards) and for each one of them it said the SIM card was invalid.The hotspot displays a Boost splash on boot but I didn't try boost 'cause they charge more for their card and their rates aren't great.Any clues why an unlocked hotspot would work for Canadian providers but not US ones? (the Roam card worked just fine in my phone and ipad)Thanks,Art.

At first I read the topic as Nuclear hotspot doesn't work and was like wow!Sounds like you have a CDMA hotspot and are trying to use GSM providers, they're not interchangeable. All those providers you listed are "cheapy" and resell service from a major provider. Sprint is the only major carrier still selling CDMA service in the US. Verizon has largely converted to GSM, and ATT and T-Mobile are already there.

mcewena wrote: I decided to buy a Netgear Aircard 779 hotspot Contact Netgear tech support ???

I am inclinded to agree with Gordon.There are at least 3 different cellular standards. GSM and CDMA refer to the audio codecs used. but not all work across all networks A device desigened for ONE codes, say Sprint/No-Te,,er, Nextel, may not work on T-Mobile/AT&T/Verizon towers or with sim cards designed for those towers. Hold on. Yup. Boost uses Sprint.. Sprint advertises their phones have an IN NETWORK reliability that is within 1% of Verizion.. What they FAIL to tell you is the size of their network is not far from 1`% of Verizon or AT&T or T-Mobile.Alas. though I do have a hot spot that WILL work in the USA.. It is a Virgin Mobile.. Likewise it uses sprint, so it's ... collecting dust.(This post brought to you via T-mobile. my OTHER hot spot).

For future reference, instead of a hotspot, check out a carrier agnostic phone. An inexpensive (even used) phone like the Moto G will work with almost any carrier world wide. Just turn on the hotspot app and presto.That's what I'm using in my camper, swapping Verizon and ATT cards as needed.I paid $99 for it brand new years ago.

GordonThree wrote:At first I read the topic as Nuclear hotspot doesn't work and was like wow!Sounds like you have a CDMA hotspot and are trying to use GSM providers, they're not interchangeable. All those providers you listed are "cheapy" and resell service from a major provider. Sprint is the only major carrier still selling CDMA service in the US. Verizon has largely converted to GSM, and ATT and T-Mobile are already there.Tried Total cdma sim, simple rides on t-moble, tracfone and net10 actually include 3 sims in their kit (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon). So GSM and cdma tried.Not so concerned about quality of coverage as I am about getting a valid signal at this point

Netgear hotspot doesn't work in the US | Good Sam Community

GordonThree
Explorer
Mar 22, 2018
At first I read the topic as Nuclear hotspot doesn't work and was like wow!

Sounds like you have a CDMA hotspot and are trying to use GSM providers, they're not interchangeable. All those providers you listed are "cheapy" and resell service from a major provider.

Sprint is the only major carrier still selling CDMA service in the US. Verizon has largely converted to GSM, and ATT and T-Mobile are already there.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Mar 22, 2018
mcewena wrote:
I decided to buy a Netgear Aircard 779 hotspot

Contact Netgear tech support ???
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 22, 2018
I am inclinded to agree with Gordon.
There are at least 3 different cellular standards. GSM and CDMA refer to the audio codecs used. but not all work across all networks A device desigened for ONE codes, say Sprint/No-Te,,er, Nextel, may not work on T-Mobile/AT&T/Verizon towers or with sim cards designed for those towers. Hold on. Yup. Boost uses Sprint..

Sprint advertises their phones have an IN NETWORK reliability that is within 1% of Verizion.. What they FAIL to tell you is the size of their network is not far from 1`% of Verizon or AT&T or T-Mobile.

Alas. though I do have a hot spot that WILL work in the USA.. It is a Virgin Mobile.. Likewise it uses sprint, so it's ... collecting dust.

(This post brought to you via T-mobile. my OTHER hot spot).
GordonThree
Explorer
Mar 22, 2018
For future reference, instead of a hotspot, check out a carrier agnostic phone. An inexpensive (even used) phone like the Moto G will work with almost any carrier world wide. Just turn on the hotspot app and presto.

That's what I'm using in my camper, swapping Verizon and ATT cards as needed.

I paid $99 for it brand new years ago.
mcewena
Explorer
Mar 22, 2018
GordonThree wrote:
At first I read the topic as Nuclear hotspot doesn't work and was like wow!

Sounds like you have a CDMA hotspot and are trying to use GSM providers, they're not interchangeable. All those providers you listed are "cheapy" and resell service from a major provider.

Sprint is the only major carrier still selling CDMA service in the US. Verizon has largely converted to GSM, and ATT and T-Mobile are already there.

Tried Total cdma sim, simple rides on t-moble, tracfone and net10 actually include 3 sims in their kit (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon). So GSM and cdma tried.

Not so concerned about quality of coverage as I am about getting a valid signal at this point
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Mar 22, 2018
If they are correct and it's cdma, along with Verizon you can use straight talk but tell them you specifically need a card for cdma or call total wireless. Their system requires no contract and works off Verizon towers.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 22, 2018
Hi GordonThree,

CDMA no longer exists in Canada.

Verison is still using at least some CDMA.

GordonThree wrote:
At first I read the topic as Nuclear hotspot doesn't work and was like wow!

Sounds like you have a CDMA hotspot and are trying to use GSM providers, they're not interchangeable. All those providers you listed are "cheapy" and resell service from a major provider.

Sprint is the only major carrier still selling CDMA service in the US. Verizon has largely converted to GSM, and ATT and T-Mobile are already there.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 22, 2018
Hi Art,

Telus and Virgin Canada are both GSM.

mcewena wrote:
Rather then get data on all our devices I decided to buy a Netgear Aircard 779 hotspot (from ebay or amazon) for a cross Canada trip. It's unlocked and works with 2 different Canadian sim cards (Virgin/Bell and Telus).
Art.
Yeti_plus
Explorer
Mar 23, 2018
Before we went to Alaska in 2016, I bought a Samsung phone at Costco. It was unlocked for all Canadian carriers. I had to call/email Samsung tech support to get an unlock code for USA carriers. Once I put the SIM card in, I had to punch in the code to make it work. I wonder if this is what the problem is, only unlocked for Canadian carriers.
Check with Netgear tech support.
Just a thought.
Brian
GordonThree
Explorer
Mar 23, 2018
If it's unlocked and a GSM device, one those carriers listed should have worked.

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