I was going to take my iPad on a trip to the Kruger Park as most of the camps have 3G coverage. At home and at work I use wi-fi as it’s far cheaper, so I hadn’t played around with the 3G features yet.
I whipped out the SIM card from my modem and tried to insert it into the iPad. EPIC FAILURE, it didn’t fit, the iPad requires the new, smaller micro-SIM card format. What now?
You have two choices:
- Buy a separate micro-SIM card, which may require a new account and data bundle.
or
- Turn your normal SIM card into a micro-SIM.
NB! Disclaimer: This is not for the steady-hand-challenged and non-DIY’s. You do it at your own peril. I take no responsibility if you mess up your card.
Once again, Google is your friend. These articles show you how it's done and provide a template for you to cut out.
All the methods I came across show you how to cut the card down to size. You then require a micro-SIM adapter in order to use the card in your other devices that require the normal SIM card size.
I looked in shops all over PE, unsuccessfully. The response was either “We don’t have that in stock” or “Duh, wot’s a microsim adapta?” Apparently these things are quite common overseas, but in PE: NOT!
So I decided to become a micro-SIM surgeon ninja and I drew the outline on the old card and carefully cored it with a paper knife, so that I could use the frame as the adapter. Works like a bomb for me now.
Tools you'll need
It does not matter if you cut slightly into the metal edges of the chip.
It's the central bits that count.
However, to support the micro-SIM in its adapter frame, it helps to put some sticky tape behind it. Remember to trim it carefully so that nothing can be caught when inserting or removing the adapter from your modem thingy.
I found that with the K3765-Z modem, where the tray does not come out completely, and it does not support the card in the centre, I had to slide a very thin piece of metal under the adapter because the micro-SIM got hooked on something inside on the way out (I used a feeler gauge. I have these things because I’m a handyman, OK?)
I didn’t have that problem with the Huawei 220 or the K4510-Z modems where there is solid support beneath the SIM card.
Now I can use the same SIM card in the modems as well as the iPad.
How to set it up on the iPad?
- Tap on Settings
- Tap on Cellular Data
- Turn Cellular Data on
- Tap on APN
Type in internet, that should work for most 3G providers, leave out username & password.
If it doesn’t work, you can try guest for username and password. These seem to be the most common settings referred to on various sites.
If you still have no luck, try iphone.vodacom.za for Vodacom, or for MTN: myMTN, username: MTN, Password: MTN
You may also need to phone your provider and make sure that they have activated the APN feature on your account.
You should now be able to connect to the Internet via 3G on your iPad.
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