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How I activated my LTE Modem on Verizon
I am sharing this in case it is helpful to someone else who wants to use one of the NETGEAR LTE Modems (LB1120, LB1121, LB2120) on Verizon. Using the online ordering system, Verizon will not recognize the NETGEAR device ids (IMEI #s) as valid devices. From other posts I found on the internet, many people suggested activating the SIM card in another device and then moving the SIM to the LTE Modem. I did not have any unregistered devices handy, so I needed to find another solution. Knowing just enough to be dangerous, I realized that the IMEI contains manufacturer, model and serial number data that Verizon must be validating, and they have not added the NETGEAR LTE Modems for some reason. I found an IMEI online for a supported LTE device and mangled the serial number portion until it worked for me. Verizon allowed me to complete the order process, assigned me a number and accepted the connection from the LTE Modem. (I am still having an SMS issue, reported in another post, that may or may not be related to how I activated the SIM.) I found an IMEI for a Verizon MiFi device online that was: 99000329xxxxxxy Using the website IMEI.INFO this serial number breaks down as: Model: MIFI 4510L Brand: NOVATEL IMEI: TAC (Type Allocation Code)........: 990003 FAC (Final Assembly Code, aka Mfg): 29 SNR (Serial NumbeR)...............: xxxxxx CD (calculated Luhn CheckDigit)..: y I replaced the xxxxxx with more or less random digits and then figured out the checkdigit. You can use math or a tool to calculate the checkdigit, but the tool at IMEI.INFO uses Javascript validation for the checkdigit, so it is maybe faster to try the digits 0..9 to find the one that passes validation. Btw, my local Verizon store gave me a few SIM cards no questions asked. As part of the online order process, you have to enter the SIM card number after you get past the device id validation. Hopefully this information and approach will be helpful for some of you.