diff --git a/pySim/esim/saip/param_source.py b/pySim/esim/saip/param_source.py
index 77f2e1cc..01a8cb00 100644
--- a/pySim/esim/saip/param_source.py
+++ b/pySim/esim/saip/param_source.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 # along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 import random
+import re
 
 class ParamSourceExn(Exception):
     pass
@@ -59,7 +60,28 @@ class ConstantSource(ParamSource):
     def get_next(self, csv_row:dict=None):
         return self.val
 
-class DecimalRangeSource(ParamSource):
+class InputExpandingParamSource(ParamSource):
+
+    @classmethod
+    def expand_str(cls, s:str):
+        # user convenience syntax '0*32' becomes '00000000000000000000000000000000'
+        if "*" not in s:
+            return s
+        tokens = re.split(r"([^ \t]+)[ \t]*\*[ \t]*([0-9]+)", s)
+        if len(tokens) < 3:
+            return s
+        parts = []
+        for unchanged, snippet, repeat_str in zip(tokens[0::3], tokens[1::3], tokens[2::3]):
+            parts.append(unchanged)
+            repeat = int(repeat_str)
+            parts.append(snippet * repeat)
+        return "".join(parts)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_str(cls, s:str):
+        return cls(cls.expand_str(s))
+
+class DecimalRangeSource(InputExpandingParamSource):
     """abstract: decimal numbers with a value range"""
 
     def __init__(self, num_digits, first_value, last_value):
@@ -83,8 +105,10 @@ class DecimalRangeSource(ParamSource):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_str(cls, s:str):
+        s = cls.expand_str(s)
+
         if ".." in s:
-            first_str, last_str = s.split("..")
+            first_str, last_str = s.split('..')
             first_str = first_str.strip()
             last_str = last_str.strip()
         else:
@@ -103,7 +127,7 @@ class RandomDigitSource(DecimalRangeSource):
         val = random.randint(*self.val_first_last) # TODO secure random source?
         return self.val_to_digit(val)
 
-class RandomHexDigitSource(ParamSource):
+class RandomHexDigitSource(InputExpandingParamSource):
     """return a different sequence of random hexadecimal digits each"""
     name = "random hexadecimal digits"
 
@@ -123,6 +147,7 @@ class RandomHexDigitSource(ParamSource):
 
     @classmethod
     def from_str(cls, s:str):
+        s = cls.expand_str(s)
         return cls(num_digits=len(s.strip()))
 
 class IncDigitSource(DecimalRangeSource):
diff --git a/pySim/esim/saip/personalization.py b/pySim/esim/saip/personalization.py
index 0c91f49f..75d619b4 100644
--- a/pySim/esim/saip/personalization.py
+++ b/pySim/esim/saip/personalization.py
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ class Puk(DecimalHexParam):
     allow_len = 8
     rpad = 16
     keyReference = None
-    example_input = '0' * allow_len
+    example_input = f'0*{allow_len}'
     default_source = param_source.RandomDigitSource
 
     @classmethod
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ class Pin(DecimalHexParam):
     rpad = 16
     min_len = 4
     max_len = 8
-    example_input = '0' * max_len
+    example_input = f'0*{max_len}'
     default_source = param_source.RandomDigitSource
     keyReference = None
 
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ class Pin(DecimalHexParam):
 
 class Pin1(Pin):
     name = 'PIN1'
-    example_input = '0' * 4  # PIN are usually 4 digits
+    example_input = '0*4'  # PIN are usually 4 digits
     keyReference = 0x01
 
 class Pin2(Pin1):
@@ -881,7 +881,7 @@ class K(BinaryParam, AlgoConfig):
     name = 'K'
     algo_config_key = 'key'
     allow_len = (128 // 8, 256 // 8) # length in bytes (from BinaryParam); TUAK also allows 256 bit
-    example_input = '00' * allow_len[0]
+    example_input = f'00*{allow_len[0]}'
 
 class Opc(K):
     name = 'OPc'