SIM card for modem in trunk?

porschie356 · Mar 31, 2018

I know nothing about SIM cards, since I don't use a smartphone, and I assume my dorky little flip-phone doesn't have one.

The manual says there's a modem in the trunk of my 2018 V90, and if I put "a personal SIM card" into it, I'll have Internet access.

1/Does this mean I can sit in the passenger seat while my wife drives and use my laptop wirelessly?

2/Where do I get "a personal SIM card"? Do I go to Verizon (my cellphone provider) and buy one?

3/One size fits all, or do I have to know the exact dimensions of the Volvo modem's SIM-card slot?

Mosca · Apr 1, 2018

1) Yes. But the modem is pretty slow compared to what you probably have at home. I tested mine at 5Mbps.

2) That would work. I’d check with Volvo first, though, because Verizon uses CDMA and ATT (Volvo) uses GSM. The modem might support both, I don’t know.

3) It has to be a mini SIM.

That part of the manual confused me. My S90 came with a SIM card. You can call ATT and connect for $20/mo. Even if you use your own SIM, your carrier will charge you.

WhoaVolvo · Apr 1, 2018

porschie356 said:
I know nothing about SIM cards, since I don't use a smartphone, and I assume my dorky little flip-phone doesn't have one.

The manual says there's a modem in the trunk of my 2018 V90, and if I put "a personal SIM card" into it, I'll have Internet access.

1/Does this mean I can sit in the passenger seat while my wife drives and use my laptop wirelessly?

2/Where do I get "a personal SIM card"? Do I go to Verizon (my cellphone provider) and buy one?

3/One size fits all, or do I have to know the exact dimensions of the Volvo modem's SIM-card slot?

Every car has a PSIM installed in the US. You get the "free" service for all basic apps like weather or Yelp. You can sign up for a data plan through AT&T, to enable the WiFi hotspot (for laptop work) as well as premium media services like Pandora.

Verizon, will not work, only due to them requiring to know hardware ID's ahead of time and it's a hassle.

The car takes a full size SIM, if you ever have the desire to use your own service like a pretty paid SIM.

Fishkill · Apr 3, 2018

I use my own Project Fi sim ( no additional monthly charges for the 2nd SIM, shared data pool with my phone) works well, just make sure to buy a mini-sim adapter pack on amazon for 0.99.

also worth noting that I used it on my OSD too and it worked great in Europe, but they threw my SIM out and swapped it for ATT at the port ... no biggie really.

Its good enough for audio for sure.

one word of caution: the sim holder in the trunk has the sim UPSIDE DOWN in the carriage making it a real PITA to install, and even more of a task if using a mini-sim adapter

S90 · Apr 9, 2018

Mosca said:
1) Yes. But the modem is pretty slow compared to what you probably have at home. I tested mine at 5Mbps.

2) That would work. I'd check with Volvo first, though, because Verizon uses CDMA and ATT (Volvo) uses GSM. The modem might support both, I don't know.

3) It has to be a mini SIM.

That part of the manual confused me. My S90 came with a SIM card. You can call ATT and connect for $20/mo. Even if you use your own SIM, your carrier will charge you.

Modem isn't slow, thats the speed of the data connection. I have a 4G Sim in mine and i get 40Mbps easily

Its a standard SIM

Fishkill · Apr 9, 2018

S90 said:
Its a standard SIM

"mini-sim" is really not used that much at all anymore. Most mobile devices use micro and nano sims now, so it is worth noting that someone will likely need an adapter to use a SIM they get from a 3rd party source.

https://socialcompare.com/en/comparison/sim-card-format-and-size-comparison

Mosca · Apr 9, 2018

S90 said:
Modem isn't slow, thats the speed of the data connection. I have a 4G Sim in mine and i get 40Mbps easily

Its a standard SIM

So, I can replace that SIM card and get a higher data rate?

rentalcar · Apr 10, 2018

Shouldn't be any issues at all swapping it to a better one. I haven't tested the speed on my SIM (yet) but I do know it's 4G (while for example previous gen V60 only has 3G).

SIM card for modem in trunk?

porschie356

Mosca

WhoaVolvo

Fishkill

S90

Fishkill

Mosca

rentalcar

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