Purpose of SIM card and cellular connectivity

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Benjamin Hendler

• February 23, 2021 15:46

Hi! 

Just curious, what benefit does it to use the Karoo 2 with a SIM-card? Can I make calls? Send texts? Maybe even get live weather? 

Sincerely

Benjamin 

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  Colin Vincent

  • February 23, 2021 16:37

  I think the intended purpose from HH point of view was to enable access to its full routing nfo when away from WiFi . With no data connection there are limitations to offline routing currently. Or if your planned route crosses a border into an area you don’t have an offline map for it can download it. If your after weather updates you could side load a weather app. I have third a third party mapping app side loaded and Spotify also just to see if it worked ( it did).

  You could do all of the above using your phone as a hotspot instead if you preferred, which is what I did for my side load test.

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  Nick Yanakiev

  • March 01, 2021 21:23

  Unfortunately mobile hotspots disconnect after a while. It is a missed opportunity to only have a sim card with mobile data to sync routes. I am glad that they are already thinking about an app store with weather alerts and other bits and bobs to actually make use of that data connection. 

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  Brent Meulenberg

  • May 04, 2021 07:42

  So if you side loaded Whatsapp or Signal app to the Karoo 2, you'd be able to call through VoIP?

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  Stephen Craske

  • May 04, 2021 07:48

  no, there's no mic

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  Brent Meulenberg

  • May 04, 2021 08:05
  • Edited

  And if I connect my Bluetooth headphones with mic?

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  Jan Klaverstijn

  • September 24, 2021 12:14

  I noticed too late that the SIM card had to be a cellular one. I ordered a data SIM thinking making phone calls would not be a sensible use case for me. Much to my detriment it didn't work and only then I found out about the requirement. Luckily my Android tablet accepts the SIM without issue so I do have a purpose for it. I don't think I would buy a cellular one for the sole purpose of having a mobile data connection in my Karoo 2. My main purpose would be live tracking and maybe a data connection for side loaded apps.

  Is this a software or a hardware limitation? If software, would an update request ever make a chance?

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  Michael Sanzone

  • June 03, 2024 19:59

  Do you need a separate phone number for this I’d like to leave my phone at home. I would like to have someone track me and play music without having a phone with. Are there any other real advantages to the sim?

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  Fernando

  • June 04, 2024 01:38

  Hi. I think the main purpose of the SIM card is the live tracking, for friends and family, and the secondary, synchronise the routes/rides.

  But, K2 is still an android, with no mic or speakers, but with a pair of bluetooth headphones (or loudspeaker with hands free), you can have a phone.

  I tested it a year ago as a proof of concept with a sideloaded Telegram and then real phone calls in 4G network. It worked. The only thing you need is to install a dialer to answer receiving calls and for calling anyone dialing the phone number:

  

  The dialers I tried were: Simple Dialer for receiving (not good for making calls because the small screen of K2, set it as default dialer) and Emerald Dialer (for making calls). Both from F-Droid.

  In this post about K3, this SIM subject was commented... In my opinion it's a pity that HH didn't maintain the SIM slot in K3, or changed it for an smaller eSIM. It is a differential feature from the rest of bike computers, and had its users.

  Regards.

   

  PS: Do not use headphones when riding, it's dangerous (and generally forbidden).

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