Announcement: Discontinuance of Vodafone Smart SIM Connectivity Services and Its Impacts on Reolink Cellular Cameras

[Reolink Daisy]

Dear Reolinkers,

We understand the importance of SIM card connectivity for our cellular cameras. Vodafone has informed us that, starting August 1, 2024, they will discontinue their Smart SIM connectivity service in the UK and several European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, and the Czech Republic). As a result, Reolink cellular cameras using Vodafone Smart SIMs will no longer connect to cellular networks.

However, your cameras won't become unusable. You can replace the Vodafone Smart SIM with a SIM card from another provider, and your device will function as usual. 

For more info & recommend carriers: https://reolink.club/Vodafone-COM

[joseph_1979]

@reolink-daisy All that is needed is a nano SIM with either data only or data/Voice and having access to the Internet. Some M2M SIMs restrict Internet Access.

[user_830892923408545_830892923408545]

@reolink-daisy - unfortunately having spoken to Voda fone, they haven't offered any viable realistic solution or reasonable alternative for Smart Sim customers, their cheapest 'alternative' is 400% more expensive, per device, per month. Smart SIMs are currently £4 per month, next similar alternative they offer in a different department is £20 per month, per device, for PAYG - obviously unreasonable as an alternative. Their pay monthly sim only deals are more expensive, unless you manage to get a deal with a customer service rep on a case by case if you're lucky, especially for anyone with multiple Reolink sim card based cameras.

E E and O 2 do not offer anything anywhere near the same cost, and therefore the cheapest they offer is either PAYG or sim only deals and significantly more expensive. Their respective IoT departments are aimed towards business customers with even higher tariffs.

It would be great if Reolink could negotiate a deal with any of the suppliers a specific sim deal for a similar or same price of what the Voda Smart Sims were at £4 per month otherwise it could seriously affect Reolink sales through no fault of Reolink or any other supplier for that matter, which voda don't appear to care about sadly.

[joseph_1979]

@user_830892923408545_830892923408545 Forget it. Impossible to reach agreement with all mobile operators. Try a prepaid with both calls and data and every month top it.

[user_831354871251164_831354871251164]

@joseph_1979 so can i just purchase a normal SIM card bundle on a monthly contract and insert into camera. Why do Reolink state it must be a prepaid card. i livestream very seldom and only for short durations so don't think i would need a lot of data but i have no idea what is meant by most of the terms used and worry i wouldn't be able to change the apn etc as stated in some other forums. Reolink help desk just tell you to use a prepaid card and no other information, very poor response

[joseph_1979]

@user_831354871251164_831354871251164 As long as there is data then it should not be an issue. Remove your nano SIM from your smartphone and insert it in the SIM slot of the camera. Then use your Windows client to log onto the camera. Don't forget to get the UID as you need to input it when adding it to the client.

Have a look at this link to get an idea of how much data you need. https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008997773-How-Much-Data-Do-Reolink-4G-Cameras-Need-in-Normal-Usage/

[rsjmail_345653169406140]

@reolink-daisy Reolink need to wake up and respond properly and comprehensively to this problem in the UK. Owners deserve to be given SPECIFIC information about SIM packages that work in the UK, costs and how to change over to them. The current information I have found is very poor. You mention a company called JT for example, but as far as I can see they are in the Channel islands only. Any other deals I have currently been able to find with EE or similar require contracts to get the price to an acceptable level and that is a significant "trial" commitment even for just 1 camera without proof they will work. I have over 10 cameras and expect Reolink to make more effort. The Vodafone deal was almost too good to be true so I am expecting to pay more.... that is not a problem. Twice as much I could live with but if more than that I think the cameras might need to go and I will not be a happy bunny! So please Wake up, do the research and give your users useful, non technical, straightforward, understandable answers.

[joseph_1979]

@rsjmail_345653169406140 But this mainly depends on the mobile operator tariff and I do not think that this concerns any of the cameras suppliers. Try to opt for a 4G router and WIFI cameras. In this way all you need is one SIM.

[jspwebb_346060713521356]

@reolink-daisy I have two Reolink cameras and I certainly won’t buy anymore until they sort out the sim and make it easy for non tech people!

[s.stoessler_71959255531]

@reolink-daisy Hi there,
I’ve just got the new Reolink Go PT Ultra. For that, I needed another sim card. As my other three LTE cameras had Vodafone’s V-Sim, I thought I wouldn’t have a problem connecting. But as soon as I tried to get another V-Sim card, I found they were no longer selling them. Now the panic mode kicked in. Fortunately, I had a brilliant response from Joseph and he pointed me in the right direction. I tried to find out the actual data use I had with V-Sim. When I contacted their help line, I found out that V-Sim cards were all for 40 Gb. Knowing how much we use the cameras, I realised I would need more data allowance. I spent the weekend searching the web for all companies and the data sims. After the weekend, I went to my mobile phone service (three) and asked them for help. The guys were superb. They came up going through different scenarios and finally they offered me excellent conditions. My wife and I had our data volume increased for a little money. Then, instead of getting data sims, they gave me 4 phone sim cards. I am now paying just 120% more, which is a lot better than the 400% offered by the big guys in the business.The setup was easy, and it worked right from the start. Anyone needing a new sim card, talk to your company. They can do a lot more than they advertise. As for my PT Go Ultra. Superb. I write a report about that next, as it does not belong in this mail.

[joseph_1979]

@s-stoessler_71959255531 Good Steve you are happy. Keep it up and enjoy every second as time passes quickly.

[jspwebb_346060713521356]

@s-stoessler_71959255531 not much help when your operators is Vodafone, does anybody know if a Smarty sim would work as they do cheap sims?

[joseph_1979]

@jspwebb_346060713521356 As long as there is packet data and able to connect to 4G network it shouldn't be an issue. As I test, remove your nano SIM from your smartphone and insert it in the 4G camera. From the desktop check that you are able to connect. Ensure you have its UID.
Which 4G model?

[user_709481001332895_709481001332895]

Why not get a Labara 1GB SIM for 49p/month? (for first 3 months then £3.99)
or do you need masses of Data?
I can't include a link but it's on the Labara site