Cellular data
Cellular Service Only
Cellular Service Only is a HiveCatcher Cellular Connection for hardware you already own: the managed SIM and cellular line, supplied and billed by HiveCatcher, without a HiveCatcher box or agent. Use it when your equipment can use a data SIM but cannot run our agent, or when you only need cellular data.
Why use it
- You have a router, camera, controller, PLC, sensor or other device that accepts a data SIM but cannot run a HiveCatcher agent.
- You want a managed line with coverage across AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile without ordering and supporting a carrier account yourself.
- You want a lower-cost cellular plan than a full HiveCatcher Cellular device, and you do not need the VPN or browser terminal on that equipment.
What is included
- A HiveCatcher-managed SIM and cellular line on the multi-carrier network. HiveCatcher supplies and bills the line.
- A 1 GB or 2 GB monthly data plan. The dashboard shows the line, carrier state and month-to-date usage.
- Normal paid-line data controls: an 80% warning and the standard overage or suspension policy at 100%.
- Suspend, restore and deactivate controls on the dashboard. The line can be moved between your personal account and an organization.
What is not included
- No HiveCatcher agent, WireGuard VPN, browser terminal, device health or remote access to the hardware.
- No hardware, antenna, modem or driver support. The equipment must be carrier-unlocked and support the bands and data service.
- No free pilot. Pilots are per HiveCatcher device, not for SIM-only lines.
How to activate it
- Get a HiveCatcher SIM. Order a physical card if you do not have one. The card carries a short code, and the ICCID is printed on it.
- Claim the line. Sign in, open the dashboard's Device Onboarding, choose Cellular Service Only, and enter the ICCID or card code. Choose the 1 GB or 2 GB plan and the owner (personal or an organization you administer).
- Start billing. Add a payment method if the account does not have one. The line bills to the owner like any other paid line. This is not a device pilot and does not use the pilot grant.
- Put the SIM in your hardware. Set the APN to
cbc135(and username/password if your hardware requires it). Check that the equipment supports the carrier bands and is not SIM-locked. The dashboard will show the line state and usage; your equipment is responsible for its own data connection.
If the line was provisioned outside HiveCatcher and you have an active HiveCatcher line already, contact support with the ICCID. A super admin can verify and adopt it using the same SIM-only guardrails.
What it costs
Cellular Service Only starts at $19 per month for the 1 GB plan; a 2 GB plan is available. The order or activation screen shows the current price and data allowance before you confirm. Usage over the included allowance follows the normal paid-line policy, not the pilot cap.
Which path is right?
| You have | You want | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Your own hardware, no agent | A managed data line | Cellular Service Only |
| A supported HiveCatcher box and modem | Managed cellular plus VPN and terminal | HiveCatcher Cellular |
| Your own SIM and carrier plan | HiveCatcher services over your carrier | Connect with your own SIM |
| No modem yet | Install the box before the cellular hardware arrives | HiveCatcher Cellular (not billable until a modem reports) |
Need help choosing? Contact HiveCatcher. For a device install instead, start with Connect or Cellular.