Getting Your Scooter Online
SIM replacement, Radio Gaga installation, and what to expect.
Contents
Overview
Two things need to happen before your scooter can talk to Sunshine:
- Replace the SIM card. The original one is dead. This is a hardware job.
- Install Radio Gaga. A small service that connects the scooter to Sunshine. One command over SSH.
The SIM replacement is the hard part. Once your scooter has internet, the software side takes about five minutes.
The SIM replacement involves soldering on the MDB (Middle Driver Board). If you're not comfortable with that, skip to professional services.
The SIM situation
The unu Scooter Pro has a SIM7100E 4G modem on its MDB. The SIM is an MFF2 module (a tiny chip, about 5x6mm) soldered directly onto the board. unu provided these SIMs as part of their cloud subscription.
When unu went insolvent, the SIMs were deactivated. They won't come back on.
To get your scooter online, you need to replace this SIM with one that has an active data plan. The scooter uses about 50 MB/month. Any cheap IoT or prepaid data SIM will do. No fixed IP needed, just cellular coverage where you ride.
DIY SIM replacement
Option A: New MFF2 SIM
Desolder the old MFF2, solder in a new one. Cleanest result, but MFF2 SIMs are hard to source as an individual. ThingsMobile is one option.
Needs: hot air station, fine soldering tools, magnification. Not a beginner job.
Option B: Nano SIM adapter board
Desolder the MFF2 and solder in a small adapter board with a nano SIM slot. After that, you can swap SIMs without soldering. This is what most people go with.
Needs: soldering equipment (hot air preferred), adapter board, any nano SIM with a data plan.
Before you start
Both options require opening the scooter, removing the MDB, and soldering near other components. If you haven't done SMD work before, this isn't the place to learn. Mistakes can kill the modem or worse. Consider the professional options below.
Professional services
Don't want to solder? These are your options.
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In-person (Berlin)
Bring your scooter to Fa. Wilhelm Zweiradtechnik. They do the SIM swap while you wait (or leave it there).
Contact: e.rollerberlin@gmail.com
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Mail-in
Remove the MDB yourself (it's a few screws, no soldering) and mail it to Fa. Wilhelm Zweiradtechnik or Starsong GmbH. Cheaper than shipping the whole scooter, and you can do it from anywhere.
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Pre-modified MDB
Buy an MDB with the nano SIM adapter already installed (from Starsong GmbH or Fa. Wilhelm), swap it into your scooter, trade in your old MDB for a discount. Easiest option if you're comfortable pulling out and reconnecting the board.
Installing Radio Gaga
Your scooter has a working SIM and internet connection. Now for the easy part.
1. Create a Sunshine account
Sign up at sunshine.rescoot.org. You'll need an invitation code (ask on Discord, #cloud channel).
2. Register your scooter
Add your scooter with its VIN (17 characters, starts with WUN, stamped on a riveted plaque on the left rear of the frame). Pick a name and color.
3. Generate a token and run the installer
On your scooter's page, hit "Generate New Token". You'll get a command like this:
curl -kLSs https://sunshine.rescoot.org/install/<OTP> | bash
SSH into your scooter and paste it. The installer handles everything: platform detection, binary download, checksum verification, config, systemd service setup. Takes about 30 seconds.
The link expires after 5 minutes. If it does, generate a new token. This is intentional, the token gives full access to your scooter.
4. Check it worked
systemctl status radio-gaga
Should show active (running). Your scooter will appear as online in Sunshine within a minute or so. Battery levels, location, and state start updating immediately.
After installation
Once Radio Gaga is running, you can:
- See your scooter's status, battery levels, and location in real time
- Lock, unlock, open the seatbox, and honk remotely
- Track trips automatically (start when you ride, end when you park)
- Share your scooter with other Sunshine users
- Get alerts if your scooter moves while parked
Radio Gaga checks for updates automatically. You can also trigger an update from the scooter page, or re-run the installer.