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Vodafone $3/Day Internet for 2GB

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AssociatedLloopious on 08/01/2016 - 00:07 vodafone.com.au (1123 clicks)
Last edited 08/01/2016 - 00:38
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So a friend who is an ex-Vodafone employee knew the cheapest way to get internet via mobile.

To setup you need a 4G/3G compatible phone or mobile modem. Then purchase a $1 prepaid sim card and recharge with credit. The cheapest option for credit is the $20 Starter pack. After that, all you need to do is purchase $3 for 2GB Data add-on whenever you need data. If you want to use it with a mobile modem you just purchase the modem separately from any plan and use it with the pre-paid sim card.

This is not a deal but is part of Vodafone's prepaid service and is essentially the cheapest way I know of to get large amounts data on a mobile device.

There could possibly be cheaper options by other providers, so please say if there is something cheaper or has better value.

Important Information
The drawback of this is that Data expires after 24hrs and you forfeit whatever you don't use in that time frame. Also, when I went to add-data for the first time, there was no option for the $3 add-on. I spoke to a Vodafone manager over the phone and they just added in the option because of an error of it not appearing for the $20 recharge. If you contact over phone you have to ask for the manager because a regular employee does not know about why the $3 option does not appear. Basically the reason is that no one knows about this, not even many Vodafone employees and since it's not part of Vodafone's mobile broadband offers they don't expect anyone to use large amounts of data on a different plan.

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closed Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 00:12
    +8

    Awww c'mon now, is this a deal?

    • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 09:23

      yes, its a deal. There are plenty of situations where this is your best option (generally those situations exclude doing the $20 top-up)

    • user27 on 08/01/2016 - 14:00
      +1

      it's quite a good deal because it expires after 24hrs. In comparison, the $2/day 500mb Optus deal expires at 23:59:59 local time regardless whether you started using your $2/day at 5am or 11pm.

  • seb on 08/01/2016 - 00:32
    +11

    $3 for 2GB. Ace.

    For 24 hrs only. Not so great.

    Just call it Vodafone's $3/day internet deal.

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 08/01/2016 - 00:37

      Good Suggestion

  • syousef on 08/01/2016 - 00:49

    How hard is it to pay and how long does it take to become active? Sounds like a real PITA paying every day.

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 08/01/2016 - 01:11

      Activation takes up to 1 day normally and you can pay via credit card or paypal. Already mentioned that paying everyday is a drawback.

  • MasterNoob on 08/01/2016 - 00:57
    +1

    $90/month

    • seb on 08/01/2016 - 01:13
      +3

      For 60GB.

      $1.50/GB is by far the cheapest mobile broadband price. Pity it has the short time restriction. Some days it might end up $3/GB (if you only use 1GB). Other days it will be $6/GB (if you only use 500MB). These prices are still cheaper than the norm which seems to be $10/GB for mobile broadband in Australia.

      • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 09:26

        yes, $10/GB is typical of how we get ripped off in Oz. The actual all-up cost to deliver data would be less than 1% of that. Hence why there are so many deals offered for the non-suckers.

        Pisses me off that often the cheapest way to buy data is to buy yet another device. I can't find my old voda sim that came with my Huawei R208 (d'oh!), but I have found an un-opened voda usb modem that I think comes with 1 or 2GB and I paid $10 or at most $20 for.

        • whats up skip on 08/01/2016 - 14:21
          +4

          The actual all-up cost to deliver data would be less than 1% of that.

          You would know this how?

          Clearly you have a no idea how much it costs. Sure it might be 1% if you ignore the capital cost for the towers, fiber, power and the spectrum.

        • Binchicken22 on 08/01/2016 - 15:07
          +2

          @not a bargain:

          Exactly, all these people who claim data is sooo cheap to provide seem to think the telcos just get handed a fully functional, latest spec, maintained network to use.

        • chipstss on 08/01/2016 - 17:46

          @not a bargain: Yea I guess all those companies overseas who offer large amounts of data(in comparison to Aus) to their customers are going broke…

        • nikey2k27 on 08/01/2016 - 19:34

          @chipstss: US company few did unlimited data deals I think in 2012 it sent them broke people call oversea for free well walking around town. cut them gave customer limit.

        • chipstss on 08/01/2016 - 20:59

          @nikey2k27: So they reverted to 2-10 GB plans right?… yea noooo

        • effgee on 09/01/2016 - 07:05

          @not a bargain:

          Fair point, it was a thoughtless post.

          How much do you reckon it costs ?
          Most Telco's have an each-way bet, that once you've used your quota they'll charge punative rates, which pushes people to under-utilise that which they've paid for.

      • NWLikeShopping on 08/01/2016 - 11:10

        I'm on a voda post-paid plan for $90/month that gets me 22gb. It's not rocket science to see that 60gb > 22gb, with the inconvenience of having to top up daily, and not being able to use more than 2gb in one day.

  • aim54x on 08/01/2016 - 01:53
    +1

    I was reliant on this for awhile. I was able to use the Vodafone app to keep buying the 3gb/day add on. I just thought everyone knew about this.

    • jenkemjunkie on 08/01/2016 - 09:03

      Same… I had to do this on the days my Optus adsl went to shit probably because they oversell their network. Usually started at 3PM till about 11PM. Now on Telstra cable. Sweet, sweeet cable.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 02:15

    $1.50/GB is average for inconvenient data, not overly a deal imo.

    Edit:
    Telstra data glitch - $0.5/GB
    Telstra $5 for 7.6GB - $0.65/GB
    Optus Woolworths mobile method (a while ago, no longer accessible) - ~$3/GB (+call credit)

    It'd be alright in the sole scenario where you're away from home and for whatever reason need to up/download a large file (say a video or something) as a once off, then $3 for that is cheap - though even then the $20 minimum recharge comes into play and that isn't even viable.

    Then there's the idea of using it as a main source of internet, that'd be inconvient and cost $90/mo..

    I just personally don't see any valid uses for this "deal".

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 08/01/2016 - 04:25
      +5

      You recharge with $20 for 365 days so it means you only recharge once a year

    • daver on 08/01/2016 - 09:28

      This deal replaced unlimited weekend. Booo…
      So have got onto (3 x $50) data-glitch.

      • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 09:32

        (3 x $50) data-glitch.

        I'm interested. Wanna pm me ?

      • daver on 08/01/2016 - 09:44

        nicois' expired deal got some 270 gb so then recharged x3
        Yet to try more shady deal of (>50.00) refund by Play store.

    • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 09:31

      don't see any valid uses for this "deal"

      yet

      It'd be alright in the sole scenario where you're away from home and for whatever reason need to up/download a large file

      C'mon, there's lots of ways this would help, just use your imagination outside your own personal needs
      + "you're away from home and you've blown your included data allowance on your mobile plan"
      + "it's school holidays and your adsl is down" (thanks again TPG/Telstra)
      + "you're a small business and your adsl goes down" then the cost is nothing compared to the convenience

      • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 17:22

        1. Yeah but $20/year extra ontop of existing data costs is unpractical imo, unless it's happening a lot. Also still stands, unless you're gonna use the full 2GB you're better off getting long expiry.

        2. In this case it'd be okay, you could call up your provider and get a percentile back off your bill while only paying $3/day to replace the connection. That been said, I'm personally on Dodo (bad rep) and only ever had one outage for about 10 minutes. Dunno if TPG is worse, but if it is (and you're not being compensated) you're better off switching internet providers and paying $5-10 extra a month, rather than $3/day for outages.

        3. Are you implying a small business should use 3G internet from an unreliable company (rep wise) to back up their unreliable ADSL? I'm all for a little cost cutting as a business, but like you said, reliability > costs when it comes to businesses. Go for the expensive ADSL option, not cheap ADSL with 3G backup.

        • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 20:22
          1. teenage kids
          2. teenage kids
          3. any adsl is <100% reliable, regardless of how much you pay. This is an economic backup for a small business.
      • chipstss on 08/01/2016 - 17:48
        +1

        +You need a faster upload than 800 Kbps

        • [Deactivated] on 09/01/2016 - 01:09

          This is a fair point.. Gotta love outdated ADSL.

    • whats up skip on 08/01/2016 - 14:27

      dyl 12 hours 12 min ago new ¶
      $1.50/GB is average for inconvenient data, not overly a deal imo.

      Edit:
      Telstra data glitch - $0.5/GB
      Telstra $5 for 7.6GB - $0.65/GB
      Optus Woolworths mobile method (a while ago, no longer accessible) - ~$3/GB (+call credit)

      You are quoting three examples and none of these are currently available.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/01/2016 - 17:15

        All are currently available in certain situations to those who know how to and/or are already on respected plans.

        • whats up skip on 08/01/2016 - 21:04

          The $5 starter packs have finished for one!

    • realfancyman on 09/01/2016 - 21:43

      @dyl none of those methods work any more. Data Glitch - Closed. $5 Starter Kits - No longer for sale. Old Woolies Mobile - Grandfathered.

  • cowping on 08/01/2016 - 05:06
    +3

    Or your ISP sucks and you're left high and dry for three weeks with no certain timeframe for resolution!

    • aim54x on 08/01/2016 - 08:10

      Or you simply can't get ADSL/Cable/NBN….finally caved and got the Optus Home Wireless

      • jenkemjunkie on 08/01/2016 - 09:04

        I had Optus ADSL. It was the worst, congested and slow. From about 3PM till 11PM it would be slower than dial up. I chose to do this on my phone to cope. Until I got cable with Telstra.

        • aim54x on 08/01/2016 - 09:15

          I would be cheering if I was able to get Cable…. Or even dodgy adsl

        • jenkemjunkie on 08/01/2016 - 09:24
          +2

          @aim54x:

          I finally found a house that fitted my criteria. Good water pressure and cable internet. Your Optus home wireless will be way better than Optus ADSL(Go look for the massive thread on whirlpool that stretches for years regarding their ADSL being horrendous).

          I kid you not, the ADSL was worse than dial up. I wake up with a smile now…Watching a speed test is my pump up routine for the day haha

  • twocsies on 08/01/2016 - 08:41

    Optus $2 days has some advantages. $2 gets you 500MB/day plus unlimited calls and texts. Really depends on how much data is needed, and whether talk and text are important.

  • effgee on 08/01/2016 - 09:16

    will this work on my vodafone Huawei R208 wifi, that expired about 11 months ago ? With just the $3/day top-up?
    If so, its a good deal, although 24hr expiry really sucks.

    [edit] anyone got more details on this that shows at the bottom of the top-up page "Get up to 1GB free data every time you recharge your Combo online with a credit card, PayPal or recharge by TXT" ?

  • zan5hin on 08/01/2016 - 10:12
    +3

    Dyl say:
    Telstra data glitch - $0.5/GB
    Telstra $5 for 7.6GB - $0.65/GB
    Optus Woolworths mobile method (a while ago, no longer accessible) - ~$3/GB (+call credit)

    So two solutions that are no longer accesible (data glitch and woolworths) and the Telstra for $5 is also no longer on sale for that price, and the 7.6GB is only for January.

    So this is definitely a deal!

    For my use case in 2016, doing mobile sales, I will be needing a chunk of data every day, so daily reloads like this on Vodafone is actually a great deal for me.

    I need 2GB of data each weekday, so about 20 days each month or $60 for 40GB. I have plenty of $5 telstra starter SIMs now to cover voice and texting.

    So let's compare that to other solutions:
    Telstra 4GX Hotspot "Wifi 4G Advanced III" with 16.5GB for $105 - total minimum $2520
    https://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/mobile-broadband/plans

    Optus BYO Plan $35/Month for 6 Months 10GB Unlimited National & Intl Calls and Texts
    From https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/219674

    Vodafone BYOD Red SIM $60 Plan on 24 Month Contract with 20GB of Data - Total minimum $1440
    From https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/222346

    Telstra - $70 BYO and Casual Plan Now Gives 10GB Data Per Month - and just $60 a month if BYO phone on 12 month contract
    From https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/222930

    Optus $40 SIM Plan 12 MTH Contract 10GB Data, Unlimited Text/MMS & Unlimited Calls
    From https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/223011

    telstra biz 2 year contract $45 a month 7gb data $1200 calls
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/228608

    and finally, Telstra has some huge 4G plans - 60GB for $260 a month, 80GB for $480 and 120GB for $600 - however the downside is that it isn't as flexible - I would rather just spend $3 a day than a whole $260 a month!

    So like I said, I think this is a great deal. Vodafone network is pretty good these days, just behind Telstra in the city areas, and if I am rural I still have Telstra pre-paid as my fallback for data as well as the pink phone booths.

    I am just wondering, if you go over the 2GB does it start sucking down your $20 recharge at $10 a GB or even worse?

    Also wondering if you can do it twice in a day?

    This will go really well with my future Samsung Tabpro S with 4G (fingers crossed 700mhz Band 28?): http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2016/01/the-samsung-tabpro-s-is-a-…

    • daver on 08/01/2016 - 10:28

      If you're not careful with $20 365 days recharge, I believe it can be $20 for 10 MB >from memory AYG $2 applies.

    • lovbargain on 08/01/2016 - 16:01

      $2 per MB for 365 days plan, or 2 cents per MB for PAYG plan

  • edfoo on 08/01/2016 - 13:02
    +1

    24 hours only duration kills the deal :-<

    • daver on 08/01/2016 - 20:11

      =30 expiries throughout the month with, of course, their best friend 'Mr $2MB' wanting to happen, sooner than later. Otherwise ordinary, $15/2GB.

  • whats up skip on 08/01/2016 - 14:29

    Can you use this more than once per day?

    For example you need to upload 10GB in a hurry.

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 09/01/2016 - 00:10

      unlimited add on

    • daver on 09/01/2016 - 04:21

      V-Air® hotspots.
      oh wait..:[ $15]
      doh!

  • wildstone on 08/01/2016 - 14:34

    Can this be used with $30 starter pack?

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 09/01/2016 - 00:10

      yes

    • daver on 09/01/2016 - 05:46

      Add on 500MB $5 28d first thing though i.e patch that terrible 0MB to keep starter value from being wiped out when not on session days \ streaming.

      Should at least return 16.5 GB from $29 or data $1.75 (or even $0.58/g for SIM on discount) inline with conventional usage/budget.

      • wildstone on 09/01/2016 - 08:24

        Hi daver, sorry couldn't understand a word you said:) can you please further explain?

      • daver on 09/01/2016 - 09:43
        +1

        Ok. although Vodafone plans are needlessly complex imo, I believe the way to DIY is to "Send a TXT to 1264 with the code for the add-on you’re after" according to their prepay 365days instruction page>
        http://vodafone.intelliresponse.com/index.jsp?requestType=No…

        So, DATA5 (0.5GB), then DATADAY (2GB, as needed) codes to 1264, for what I hadn't communicated earlier, would get you started there.
        I have yet to check it out, but looks ~equal to VF 2013 add-ons FWIW.

        I've never seen 365 days $30 pack anywhere but imagine they must changeover the regular Combo if not already available for selection.

  • Recessiontime on 08/01/2016 - 17:35

    on the link provided it says

    "included data is for use on handsets only"

    Can I still put this into a modem so I can boost my reception?

    Also it doesn't specify on the website how much data you get for $3. It just gives you an option for data add-ons that come in $3 (1 day expiry), $7 (7 day expiry), $5/$10/$15 add-ons(28 day expiry).

  • Recessiontime on 08/01/2016 - 17:52

    what would be the best modem to use with this sim for reception?

  • skboss on 09/01/2016 - 02:18

    awesome find, so to clarify if its a $20 recharge we need to call to activate the add on if its a $30 recharge the option is available immediately?
    also silly question i know its prepaid just want to clarify if usage goes over; does that mean it just deducts from the $30 until $0 it wont go into negative

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 09/01/2016 - 02:51

      Prepaid you can only use what you already paid for. Just check if you have the $3 option, otherwise just call in and ask them to fix it.

  • peter on 09/01/2016 - 11:01
    -1

    It's a negative from me for starting your sentence with the word "so". "So a friend who is an …"

  • Nezuji on 09/01/2016 - 12:43
    +1

    I've had to move back in with my parents temporarily (had to give up my ADSL sniff), and I've been using this as my main Internet service for the last few months. Just a quick note about the duration: it's not actually 24 hours, it's really until midnight the following day, to make sure that you do get at least 24 hours. So if you recharge early in the morning on Monday, your time won't run out until a little after midnight on Wednesday morning. I wouldn't go trying to game the system by recharging just minutes after midnight, because it seems like Vodafone do daily maintenance around then which causes their accounting systems to react unpredictably to some actions.

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 21/01/2016 - 15:03

      Wrong. I confirmed with Vodafone already and they count 24hrs from the moment you purchase the add-on

  • robb2002 on 09/01/2016 - 13:39
    +2

    I've been using this for a long time. It last way longer than 24 hours. It just ends at midnight the following day. I added some on Friday and it ended at midnight on Saturday (Sunday morning). I just assumed that everyone knew this? Good deal by Vodafone!

    • Recessiontime on 16/01/2016 - 16:26

      I just noticed that this works too. It's not very clear when you are on the vodafone site…I recharged 4gb on a Thursday evening and I still have all the data and it's Saturday now. I imagine it goes away at midnight today (Sat)

    • Associatedloopious @ Vodafone on 21/01/2016 - 15:05

      That's normal. It's just the server takes time to update to real-time.

    • daver on 21/01/2016 - 17:22

      Yep will echo that review. Very fine delays baked into the vfone system.
      Recharged first ever 'dataday' 20/01 5am_yesterday; still going strong today_(tonight 12mn).

      Took some few hours for "Success! Your 2GB Data Add-on for $3 is ready.,." to boomerang back by 10am. .. small beer.. add-on show up in balance effective IMMEDIATELY w HARDLY a minute to waste. I will think that toggle of airplane mode 'on-off' would be the main crucial here..Lol, googness sakes! yeah yeah.

  • skboss on 09/01/2016 - 16:31

    http://shop.vodafone.com.au/broadband-details/pocket-wifi-4g…

    Purchased this mobile modem from vodafone today, it comes with a mobile sim; tried to recharge but the option is not available on the website

    So i called and was advised this is a mobile data sim which is different from a regular sim and cant do this,

    Does it mean i have to go into vodafone purchase another sim which does mobile calls as well and plug it into this modem and recharge? is it compatible

    Apologies noob question

    • zan5hin on 09/01/2016 - 17:00
      +1

      Yes you need a normal SIM not a data SIM.

      Have not tried this with Vodafone so would like to know if anyone has put it into a modem and whether Vodafone detects that and kicks you off for contravening the AUP, or if it works.

      Also, can you activate the next 2GB/$3 a day without pulling out the SIM and putting it into a phone to send a text message? Is there a Vodafone app with all your accounts listed, or some other method?

      • daver on 09/01/2016 - 21:41

        Would definitely be handy to have this, as probably you are aware SMS buddy with Telstra enable remote SMS sending from PCs .. it's what I use to Me2U credit between few data SIMs effectively for 90 gb per account, last year, but importantly, kept SIMs in data.

        Using old VF, to this day I use a OnePlus One tethered by WiFi to run shortcut that activates gethome.do script for add ons ordered on connected huawei Y550 — at $2/gb < 16gb anytime 28-58 days useful.

        Would be useful to have a smartphone app which does the same for remote texting codes - push bullet springs to mind - perhaps someone will share whether that works here too.

      • Nezuji on 10/01/2016 - 16:03

        I've been using this in a 3G Pocket Wi-Fi unit without any problems, and I buy my recharges through the "My Vodafone" section of their website; no SMS necessary. But the few 3G modems I've used all allowed SMS sending and receiving in one way or another, anyway.

      • PAEz on 11/01/2016 - 01:54

        What are you using to connect to the net with?
        Most devices come with a way to send sms's.

  • PAEz on 11/01/2016 - 01:55

    This is AWESOME!! thanks so much for telling us about this, cant wait to get on it.
    To anyone that doesnt see this as a deal, your nuts, or working for another telco.

    Whats the $7 addon?

    • Recessiontime on 16/01/2016 - 16:23
      +1

      you get more time to use the 2GB. I think a week instead of 1 day. Not worth it

      • PAEz on 17/01/2016 - 02:55

        Thanks for that.
        And it is actually worth it to me, so thanks again.

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