Vodafone Pocket Wi-Fi 4G R216 $29.50
Vodafone $50 Data Starter pack $25
Yes.
They are locked, but you can unlock free of charge. Or at least I was able to for mine and my folks one.
Just a phone call?
how u unlock it ? u have to stay with Vodafone for a year right?
Could you please advise how to unlock them?
thank you
@
psych23
Mine works out of the box with Kogan SIM. Haven't tried Telstra or Belong SIM yet
Am I correct in assuming the pocket wifi would work with Kogan sim cards as Kogan uses the Vodafone network?
Not necessarily. I bought a telstra USB modem and an aldi sim didn't work on it even though aldi uses the telstra mobile network. (i think that's correct, if not aldi, it was some other sim that uses telstra)
all Telstra portable wifi are locked likes Telstras tight arse
No. ^
Are you saying no they are not locked? I use Optus Huawei products and they are not locked.
2G Network Band
850/900/1800/1900
3G Network Band
850/900/2100
4G Network Band
800/850/1800/2100/2600 LTE Cat 4
So these essentially is 5gb of data good for tourists etc and once you use it you dispose of the modem?
Dispose of the modem…
Seriously???
Well. Can you top up the data?
What do you do when you run out of calls/sms, dispose of your mobile phone and get a new one?
Many other countries have disposable pocket modems.
So the answer is yes it can be topped up
So are you saying in other countries they have modems that you can't remove the sim cards?
Lol… nothing in this thread makes sense.
you dispose of the modem?
Yes, it makes more sense to buy a new modem because you lose less money. You can sell them if you can be arsed but you don''t get much.
No it doesn't, there are stacks of cheap sim card deals posted on here all the time with data. Some of them lately you even make money. Please hand in your Ozbargain membership.
Any idea on the expiration date/when you need to activate the 180 day packs? I'm good for another ~4.5 months thanks to the 25GB deal back when Shopback started, so this would be for the next 6months after that.
11
PM'd you
when the data runs out are the pocket wifi's able to be taken overseas and used with a foreign simcard?
Only if you unlock it. If it's locked, it's locked to voda.
Does the USB cable provider provide internet or is it just for charging ?
Yes, provides internet.
i went into store. they stated it just provides charging
This thread on WP has someone who is using the R216 over USB only, so it seems to support it. It's not advertised on the product page/manual though.
I have used optus and telstra modems for other providers. I suspect you can try to change modem settings
Pocket balls fryer. Any deals on USB ones?
The unlocked USB ones go for about $40 on eBay. The locked ones such as Telstra semi regularly for for about $20 at the supermarkets
to unlock, without reading the previous suggestion, try this: go to ebay and put the model number followed by the word unlock and see what comes up. it cost me about two dollars a while ago but it worked
"We're sorry. This item is not currently available to purchase online." - none in stock at any stores nearby
Ugh, I really wanted one of these. No stock within a 2000km radius according to their site lol
1 in Epping if that helps
Thanks, I called to confirm and was told no stock. Big W Facebook told me possibly QV but again no luck.
Finally tracked one down to my local store! They got a couple in today and have put one aside for me to pick up tomorrow. That's some good ozbargaining!
The reported stock levels on the web site is unreliable. Said no pocket wifi within 2000km, then I got one up the road
So would I be able to pick up the tablet sim from Woolworths
ive been into 3 bigw stores and they never got stock delivered to them i was there at opening at 2 of them and they don't know when or if it will arrive i totally pissed about this wasting our time chasing the them ive put in a complaint with far trading lets see how they like that for false advertising bate advertising .
Went to Big W Seaford SA tonight to get a couple of the half price $50 sims … young girl at the Home Entertainment counter was incredibly helpful … the only packs they have look like this - https://www.phonebot.com.au/image/cache/catalog/sims/4695_Up… - not what's in the catalogue, but they are the same product SKU. Still scanned at $50 though - and they cannot price override them because it would reduce the credit value. They're raising it with whoever they need to raise it with, so hopefully it'll scan at the right price tomorrow. Not sure if this is all stores, or just the Seaford one.
I went to Big W Broadmeadows and Sunshine, and they have the same product SKU (as mrdevil). they said that the correct SIM card should arrive within couple of days… Not very happy.
Hey guys I bought the SIM card with the packaging from the photo , it showed up as 50 until I was at the checkout process(paying for it). I needed the data so was going to pay 50 but it changed at last second.
I would suggest asking them to proceed to payment stage with the other packaging.
Hope this might help !
When do you need to activate the data sim by? I.e. when is it expired?
I bought the modem for full price online before the sale started, click and collect from my local store and picked it up, returned it then bought it again :)
I knew there wouldn't be any stock once the sale started
I just got the last pocket WiFi at garden city.
The pocket WiFi works with Kogan SIM. No need to unlock
Not necessarily unlocked to all networks though - Kogan mobile still runs on the Vodafone network.
I went to my local BigW and they where sold out.
However they had the Vodafone r207 huwaei dongle for $10 with 5gb included.
Its 3G restricted but for $10 (regular: $39) i couldn't say no.
For 3g it does ok: http://www.speedtest.net/result/7526983631
is it Vodafone restricted?
Has anyone had any luck getting hands on even atleast the Vodafone data Sims?
Bought 5 x $50 @ Big W Macquarie, heaps left in all price ranges on the weekend
Did you just buy it today? Sorry didn't read the weekend.. Plus I'm from vic
What are you planning to do with them? I understand 25GB bonus offer is finishing next week.
Really? I have 2 of those still.
The one I just bought 1/2 price $50 starter pack - might have to return it as I just realised it's not bonus data
Staying on the Gold Coast in an Airbnb apartment that has no wifi and my phone plan has limited data so this looked like a good solution. Big W website says no stores have the pocket wifi unit in stock for 2000 km but I was at the Burleigh Heads Stockland Shopping mall and Big W had two. Works great - I think there are Vodaphone towers on top of my apartment block - but there's only one left at the Burleigh Head store now. It could be other stores have them even if the website says not in stock.
Just bought the SIM in Canberra. Same issue as most. Not scanning at discount but I insisted to the cashier that it will process at 50% off at checkout and it did :)
Thanks OP!
I just grabbed a SIM in Brisbane. My last half-price Vodafone one is about to expire, and I just started looking today for a replacement. Same awesome price, but 3.5x the data!
Grabbed one at BigW at Belmont Forum in WA yesterday. Rang a couple of stores before this one said they had got one in that morning. It's the R216H and is unlocked already like Optus Huawei modems its seems - just need to go to https://unlock.vodafone.com.au/voila/handsetunlock/self-serv… and put in your IMEI number to double check.
They had the $50 recharge at half price so I grabbed one (NB they don't have the bonus 25GB sleeves over them). They weren't listed as on sale but like everyone else - scanned at $25.
Yep, the pocket wifi is unlocked. Tried it with an Optus SIM. You have to login to settings via the Pocket Wifi mobile app (or 192.168.0.1 in a browser on your computer) - password admin. Under Mobile Broadband > Connection > Account type choose Custom. Set the APN to connect and enter the mobile number, then save.
Update. Just to be clear, it's unlocked out of the box, no need to go to any website. Works fine with Telstra sim, too (APN: telstra.internet). You can put *99# for the number. No 700 band on the pocket wifi though, only 1800, so might be a little slow. Faster on Vodafone and Optus where I am.
I guess these devices are locked?