• Off Topic
  • Using cellular service without needing to have a SIM card in my phone

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  • Edited

I am surprised you are asking such thing. Without a sim card that is like an ID which registers you with relevant cellular network all you will be able to do is use wifi and bluetooth for the things that otherwise having sim card allows you to do but it will definitely not be the same experience.

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    [deleted] I don't want a SIM card in my phone, but that doesn't mean that it can't be in something like a portable router.

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      [deleted] if you want to access internet, by all means you can do it. But unless you formulate your questions properly for your use case, I for example have no idea what you want to achieve. Be more specific.

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        [deleted] I want to have cellular data everywhere I go without needing to have my SIM card in my phone. One way to do it is to have a portable router that I could put my SIM card in and connect to via Ethernet or WiFi. I'm interested in any other solutions, if there are any, or in recommendations on portable routers.

          [deleted] The only way would be having a portable router as others have already mentioned or a second phone with a SIM where you turn your hotspot on.

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          Hathaway_Noa As of right now, eSIM is even worse than a physical SIM.

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            Could you guys recommend some portable routers that are supported by OpenWRT?

            [deleted]
            That’s pretty much it.
            You still have a SIM card in the portable router with an IMEI in your possession, all that most likely registered or at least linked to you.

            I don’t see a huge advantage but you have your reasons.

              Chalko I can posit a few: no cams, body sensors, calendar, call logs, contacts, mic, etc on a wifi hotspot to hack. texts to and from the data sim are possible and may be exploitable but there is an extra layer of separation between actual phone and internet. yes, you may have a sim registered to you, but attack vectors are severely curtailed. proper care with vpns and ip number/more anon messaging can make it significantly harder to identify or intercept. prepaid options also exist, for another layer of anonymity, if properly maintained by usage habits.
              But yes, one has to keep up with two devices. OTOH, the hotspot can be left some distance from the phone an still provide signal.