Internet over USB on labtop, change SIM card to other provider

Submitted: Monday, Mar 30, 2009 at 21:02
ThreadID: 67348 Views:4188 Replies:10 FollowUps:11
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hi folks

I am with telstra, paid 150$ for that prepaid solution.
Now that USB stick has a simple slot for SIM cards, and I got of course one for the telstra network in it, right away.

I like to switch to a cheaper provider (virgine maybe, I heared, they offer thouse solution, too).

Here is the question:
Would it work, just to get a SIM card by another provider, to go with him prepaid into the internet ?

thanks

Chris
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Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Mar 30, 2009 at 21:44

Monday, Mar 30, 2009 at 21:44
Probably not as they are locked to the providor and the other providors use a different frequency for their "Next"G.

The coverage would be crap in comparison as well as I am having enough trouble with coverage with a Telstra one.



AnswerID: 357129

Reply By: Member - Ian F (WA) - Monday, Mar 30, 2009 at 21:47

Monday, Mar 30, 2009 at 21:47
Why are you using prepaid which I presume is with the wireless network? I am on the 5Gb plan for $89.95. I know it is expensive but it it covers more area than any other SP. Further I find it very difficult to use the maximum 5Gb. 1Gb is roughly $56
Hope this helps.
Ian
AnswerID: 357131

Reply By: Skippy In The GU - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 08:26

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 08:26
I know with other providers once you brought the usb dongle you need to at least buy an extra $80 of prepaid before it unlocks the sim.
Not sure how Telstra works
AnswerID: 357199

Follow Up By: Chris & Sue (Briz Vegas) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 09:25

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 09:25
G'day Skippy,

I'm just in the middle of trialing the Telstra USB dongle.

Out of the box, it came with $10 credit, and I've stuck another $20 on it. So far so good. There was no requirement to put any more $$$ on it to make it work.

Disclaimer: I don't like Telstra as a company, but the device works as advertisedand coverage seems OK.

Cheers,
Chris
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FollowupID: 625304

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:04

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:04
I have the TELSTRA blue ZTE MF636 USB modem and am having trouble with it maintaining the connection in out of city areas.

Bought it in Brisbane and it was fine worked my way down the coast to Sydney. It keeps dropping the connection at various time intervals and has to be removed from the lappy and restarted to get it to reconnect.


In Sydney it worked perfectly.

Next stop Nowra and points south and off it goes again, drops out.

Am now in Canberra and its still doing it.

Have bought a Home wireless modem which is supposed to have better reception properties.

Read my post regarding Telstra 7 series modem problems

Thread no 67257

AnswerID: 357217

Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:27

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 10:27
Short answer is No!!

Its designed to operate on the Telstra Next G Frequency 850 MHz so its not compatible with other service providers.

Cheers

VKS737 - Mobile 6352 (Selcall 6352)

Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 357225

Reply By: Rossc0 - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 11:14

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 11:14
Is this a Huawei e169 modem (should be on the back of the modem).

If so then it is usable on 900MHz and 2100MHz Optus rollouts across Australia. Also compatible with 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM/EDGE bands.

Which theoretically means that it can be used with any provider.

However if it's like the dodo one then they are locked to the provider and it needs to be unlocked (wish I knew how to unlock mine so that I could use other prepaid services)

Cheers
Ross
AnswerID: 357236

Follow Up By: Member - Paul M (VIC) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 14:05

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 14:05
Coupla links here

Unlock?
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FollowupID: 625338

Follow Up By: Rossc0 - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 17:40

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 17:40
Thanks Paul.
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FollowupID: 625383

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:45

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:45
Ross,

Does Dodo WBB work up here? Where is the nearest tower for access (Mt Lucas, Cannonvale?)

Andrew
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FollowupID: 625400

Follow Up By: Rossc0 - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:25

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:25
Andrew,

Cannonvale as far as I can tell, on Translator Hill.


Cheers
Ross
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FollowupID: 625447

Follow Up By: Rossc0 - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:26

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:26
I have no problem from Proserpine Strathdickie Road to the east and on the islands but out here behind Tawvale Heights theres no reception.

Cheers
Ross
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FollowupID: 625449

Reply By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:42

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:42
If it is the latest USB device then it is more than likely the ZTE MF626 which supports other networks/frequencies. However it will need to be unlocked first.....Telstra do this for a hefty fee IIRC ($100 within 6 months, <$30 thereafter IIRC).

Hope that link helps

Andrew
AnswerID: 357306

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:49

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 18:49
or possibly the MF636 from here.

Andrew
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FollowupID: 625401

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 20:08

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 20:08
prepaid is the 626

my bought outright casual data plan uses the 636




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FollowupID: 625426

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 20:19

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 20:19
Thanks for that Graham.

Andrew
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FollowupID: 625428

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:05

Tuesday, Mar 31, 2009 at 21:05
I think they are the same hardware

Different firmware as I rang ZTE this morning and they said the new firmware for the 626 is no good for a 636.


I have to ring them again tomorrow.


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FollowupID: 625438

Reply By: Chris@forum - Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:41

Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:41
guys

a bit late, thanks a lot for the info !
Its a MF626 ,

Chris
AnswerID: 357653

Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:53

Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:53
Dont like telstra much either , thing is its still the only one with coverage once you leave the main population areas
AnswerID: 357654

Reply By: Chris@forum - Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 16:20

Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 16:20
found "dc unlocker" program, which seemt to unlock quite a few of those cards for 15$, online through a seperate internet connection.

Telstra charges 20$ for 150mb, and I read the ISP “ 3 “ would charge 15$ for 500MB.
I will use it mostly in Brisbane where I assume to have good coverage, so that will be a big change.
AnswerID: 357686

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 18:45

Thursday, Apr 02, 2009 at 18:45
Dont go north of Murrumba Downs then or it probably wont work..,.





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