Telstra USB Modem/Dongle - Unlock???

SaberX on 11/12/2014 - 16:11

Hi guys,

I bought this prepaid modem outright back in june/july as it was being phased out:

http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/unlocked-telstra-e8278-…

I believe it is a rebaded huawei e8278:

http://help.spark.co.nz/app/answers/detail/a_id/34371/~/huaw…

Just wondering - as the internet is so bloody expensive, i use it for offsite (mine site) access, and would like something affordable for when im back in perth… i thought amaysim's would work well for $10 a month.. only 3G i know, but until I can find a provider that does cheaper 4G access then amaysim will have to do for now! The downside is 1gb a month, would be more comfortable with 1.5-2 gb - any alternatives?

Anyway, if I go with the amaysim route(becuase I already have an old amaysim sim card that is about to deactivate tomorrow unless i recharge it), am I able to just swap the sim into my telstra usb ?

My understanding is telco usb modems are locked? Can you get them unlocked for free, just as how mobile phones are done (e.g. vodafone unlocked my samsung s3 once i was with them over 12 months).

If not what is the reprecussions of unlocking using something like that DCunlocker website?? Does unlocking get sensed by the network (Telstra) and could it result in my losing my account? I bought a $200 recharge for the year so I don't want to risk that.

Alternativfe is I could buy an optus 3g only usb stick for $39 (per google) - if so would an amaysim sim work on that given it is also optus network? Or would it be blocked as it's not 'optus' per se?

Thanks guys.

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Comments

  • No on 12/12/2014 - 02:53

    I have the 3g usb + wifi dongle and used dcunlocker, I'm fairly certain that even if they could sense you have unlocked it they wouldn't do anything about it. I am running a vodafone sim in it at the moment but plan to go to the telstra sim it came with in Jan.

    • SaberX on 13/12/2014 - 03:20

      oh ok, so same device bar the 3g cousin. HOw hard is it to use DC unlocker ? i'm not sure about how the unlocking process works on a usb modem, is it like mobile phones - it prompts you for a code once it detects a foreign sim? Or do you require some sort of downloaded software process from DC Unlocker?

      Mind if i ask you how much?

      Do you then plug in the new sim or you require a rewrite of the dongles settings? Becuase ideally woudl like to plug back in the telstra sim more often than not, so would I have to keep editing settings to get an amaysim sim card to work? I believe amaysim connects up via optus netowrk.

      THe other suggestion i got was the coles 3g optus ones go for $19…. so i assume amaysim would work?

      • No on 13/12/2014 - 09:15

        I can't remember how much the dc unlocker was. It was in euros, I think $10-$12.

        DC unlocker wasn't hard just confusing and took me a few goes. I had to manually install drivers, but your model may be different.

        Someone else would be able to better answer this but I think everytime you change carriers you would need to go into the dongle settings and change the settings.

        I just looked it up, DC unlocker was 7 euro ($10.50) this is only enough credit to unlock one device. Do you need the 4g & wifi? If not grab the coles one it will be easier.

        • SaberX on 14/12/2014 - 22:19

          Thanks for that. I went to coles as i dont need the 4g and wifi usb dongle as i was going to use my amaysim card which i believe only offer the 3g internet anyway.

          I went to Coles and couldnt find a single usb dongle for optus let alone find the 19 dollar one on sale. Supposedly coles was getting rid of them due to no floor space.

          Thanka for the info but i assume that like you said you would need to change the internet settings each time a sims changed.

          I rang telstra and they're trying to action an unlock so i might have got away with a nice lady perhaps.

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