4G Dash Cam SIM Card Not Working? How to Get the Camera Online
Charles Alexis
A 4G dash cam is only useful when it is online. If the SIM is not working, you have an expensive camera that behaves like a cheap one.
Symptom 1: “No SIM” or SIM not detected
The camera cannot see the SIM at all.
- Check it is in the right way. SIM slots are fiddly. Check the orientation against the diagram on the camera.
- Check the size. Nano, micro and standard SIMs are different. A nano SIM in a micro adapter can slip and lose contact.
- Clean the contacts. Gently wipe the gold contacts with a dry cloth.
- Power cycle with the SIM in. Many cameras only check for a SIM on start up. Insert the SIM with the power off, then power on.
- Try a different SIM. If a known working SIM is detected, the original is faulty.
Symptom 2: SIM detected but no network
The camera sees the SIM but cannot register on a network.
- SIM PIN lock. Many SIMs come with a PIN enabled. Dash cams usually cannot enter one. Put the SIM in a phone, disable the PIN, then put it back.
- SIM not activated. New SIMs can take time to activate. Check with the provider.
- No coverage. Check coverage where the vehicle is parked. Basements and some industrial estates have poor signal.
- Wrong network type. Some older cameras depend on 3G, which has now been switched off in the UK. See our guide to the 2G and 3G switch-off.
Symptom 3: network but no data
The signal bars are there, but the camera cannot reach its platform.
- APN settings. This is the most common cause. The APN tells the camera how to connect to the mobile network’s data service. If it is wrong or blank, there is no data. Get the correct APN from your SIM provider and enter it in the camera settings.
- No data allowance. Check the SIM has a data plan and has not hit its limit. Live view and video uploads use far more data than tracking.
- Data blocked. Some consumer SIMs block certain types of traffic or have restrictions. M2M or IoT SIMs designed for devices are more reliable.
- Wrong server settings. If the camera has been reset, it may have lost the address of the platform it reports to.
Symptom 4: works sometimes, drops often
- Weak signal in the vehicle. Metal bodywork and coated windscreens reduce signal. An external antenna may help.
- Single network SIM. If the vehicle travels through areas where that network is weak, it drops. Multi network roaming SIMs switch between networks for better coverage.
- Data usage spikes. Live streaming uses a lot of data and can hit limits fast.
A quick checklist
- SIM in correctly, power on after inserting.
- PIN disabled.
- SIM active with a data plan.
- Correct APN entered.
- Coverage checked where the vehicle lives.
- Server settings correct.
If you have done all that
See our wider guide to a 4G dash cam that will not connect, and if the camera is online but you cannot see video, live footage not loading.
The fleet way to handle SIMs
Managing SIMs one by one across a fleet is a pain. Different providers, different APNs, different renewal dates. It only takes one expired SIM to lose footage you needed.
We supply cameras with managed SIMs already set up, so they come online when fitted and you can see every camera’s connection status on one dashboard. You can see how it works on our connected dash cameras page.
Summary
Work from the SIM outwards: detected, registered, then data. Most problems are the PIN lock or the APN. Use device SIMs, not phone SIMs, for anything you rely on.