Was looking around to buy a used one, and found this on Aus Post. Seems like a good deal.
Im already using one since 6 months and it works good.
Vodafone Pocket Wi-Fi Router. Half Price $39.50 (Bonus 3GB Data)
670
vikme on 30/05/2011 - 22:14 catalogue.auspost.com.au (4315 clicks)
Last edited 07/07/2011 - 17:18 by 1 other user
Last edited 07/07/2011 - 17:18 by 1 other user
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Yes, Just like any other Wifi router. You would be amazed to find out all the features on its interface.
Yes that is correct.
Awesome deal, bought the Virgin Mobile WiFi router (older Hawawei model) when it first came out in October 2009, paid $200 for it, this is a bargain, pity its Vodafone though.
It works with 3 as well. Im sure it can be unlocked by doing some googling
would you happen to know the model number so i can have a look?
I couldnt find one on the ad :(
keen to get one, unlock and pop a TPG pre-paid data sim in as their network and pricing seems better
The model is Huawei E585, looks like it can be unlocked free with DC Unlocker.
That DC Unlocker website is asking me to buy credits. Am I missing something?
Ahh, the good old Vodafone. With their reputation, they'll soon have to give away free PS4 just to get ppl to sign up!
You can unlock this device by following this link and paying $25:
https://unlock.vodafone.com.au/voila/handsetunlockAlternatively, you can get it unlocked for $50 from a store.
I bought this device and it's useful for travelling.
However, it cannot be used with Telstra NextG.Even when unlocked, NextG doesn't work?
Device is 900/2100MHz and NextG is 850/2100MHz. When unlocked it should work where there's a 2100MHz NextG signal, but won't where there is a 850Mhz one.
NextG is 850Mhz. Telstra's 2100Mhz 3G network infrastructure shares with Three. Without NextG (850) support, you might as well just use Three.
"Huawei E585 Router Specifications
1 HSPA/HSUPA/HSDPA/UMTS/3G (2100MHz)
2 GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz) "It says 850Mhz … Am I missing something ?
Next G is HSPA/HSUPA/HSDPA/UMTS/3G (850MHz)
Can it work with optus after unlock? It would be nice if I can use with 2 dollars day deal. :)
Yes defiantly check the link freddy put up I made a guide to unlock free :)
Telstra will work too but not on their faster Next G network (doesnt support 850Mhz) So it will be the same speed as optus/voda/3
- Can be unlocked for free - google (but not very straightforward).
- No NextG support (no point using Telstra SIM on these).
- Optus works (after unlock, but you need to setup a profile), Optus reseller networks and Virgin Mobile also work.
Bought one when the price dropped to $79…. now another price drop.
I have unlocked yesterday free of cost by simple manual effort. No need to pay 25 bucks to Vodafone. Simply check for instruction at below link and follow comments from #83.
http://www.talk3g.co.uk/showthread.php?8334-How-To-Unlock-th…
Good if you have signal cover, Huawei E585 900/2100.
Half of the time I only have emergency call on Vodafone in my room, while Telstra has full signal, Optus almost full as well. Outside the room, the speed is also slow for Voda.
Though I have 1.5G data on voda plan, I end up buy some data from Telstra.already using one since 6 months
Are you German by any chance?
HSUPA/HSDPA 2100/900,
Damn! The only decent voda 3G here is 850MHz.
Note 3GB is only valid for 30 days.
http://m0nkeycheese.blogspot.com/2011/04/australian-huawei-e…
Haha beat me too it! This is a seriously awesome deal! Thanks for the love <3
Click on some ads if the unlock works for u but dont tell Google XD
Thanks freddy and m0nkeycheese. Had been looking for this! Works like a charm.
hmm, this certainly sounds like a nice gadget to have. But can anyone actually explain to me why I would need one, in the real world? Does it have any practical use?
Most common use if for people that bought a iPad with no 3G. But I use mine as my main connection as I have no phone line love :( Hell u could unlock it then sell it on ebay they go for $100+ Hmmm… Light bulb!
broden follower!
did he initiate you in person?
Did he make you cut your hand and seal the blood on a PS3? So many questions?
Also what does he look like? Post in off topic forums for the other to know ;)WTF??
Better option is an entry level smart phones which sports wifi hotspot or blu-tooth tethering. When only one device needs wifi, even the simplest of 3G mobiles will tether for a good internet connection. Using a mobile in these scenarios keeps accounts simple and will be better value, however if it is for a home coonection for multiple users then a dedicated 3G router is better suited.
So basically, it is a bit like owning one of those pre-paid 3g broadband usb sticks. Except you don't need to plug it in to your laptop / device?
Yep! I did a lame review if u wanna watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiH4tInDDyY
Super lame but gets the point across :P
that was a good video. which video editing program did you use? I really like the overlays that were used (whatever they're called) :P
iMovie. It comes with OSX (mac) so I tried it out :) Pretty easy to use.
A big positive for the time and effort for that video :)
Great video, review and blogspot.
Nearly want to turn to the dark side and buy a Mac after seeing how you did that video :)Nice work on the video =]
Thanks, will watch it this evening.
Nice vid. Thanks
iMovie hey. Guess you'll be doin that on the iPad now. Even though you have to BUY it.yep nice review !!
is this device like those MIFI devices??
yep
Just unlocked, optus sim works now. Thanx to m0nkeycheese and freddy
woah, monekycheese website is brilliant. thumbs up
I'm travelling to Europe soon and was considering how i could get wireless internet while i was there… if i bought this (and unlocked it) could i use it with a SIM bought in Europe? does anyone know what frequency they use?
U would need the APN settings for that network but Google will help u with that
If you stay in hostels often you will get free WiFi. Hotels will also have Internet but you may have to pay for it. Unless you must have Internet on the go, I wouldn't worry about getting one of these.
Your Europe plan sounds difficult. I wouldn't do it this way.
There is a sneaky little way you can get 3g in europe without getting a sim. Kindle provides 3G for free all over europe and you can google on how to teether to a laptop. The ad supported version is around 160US.
That said, you most likely don't need it as most hostels have wifi and if not, net cafes are everywhere and cheap. If you were going to get an ebook reader paying the extra 50 for lifetime unlimited 3g all over the world is a pretty good deal.
many thanks for the advice and suggestions. i guess i'll do my usual trick and just search for the free wifi spots (that are much more abundant in Europe than here). i was thinking that it would be handy to have internet while on the go… but sounds more complicated than I thought. Do you have any suggestions muzzamo? Would it just be simpler to just buy a 3G usb dongle in Europe? Thanks also fungi79 but i dont need an ereader.
Mmm, just enjoy your holiday and see the sights instead of looking at your netbook? Except in the evening when you want to post to your blog to make relis jealous.
Open wireless hotspots are everywhere in Europe, just don't access your bank account or anything like that. I couchsurfed in europe and wardrove to use skype to contact my hosts and it worked well.
just don't access your bank account
banks use encryption, so you are safe using your own trusted device with public wifi.
Just make sure you have the Verisign authentication as normal.Public terminals such as internet cafes are a risk, even if you trust the operators.
Has anyone used it with a MacBook before? When I've used a Voda 3G USB stick, it was fine when plugged into the Mac, but plugged into a USB wireless router, the signal constantly drops in and out via the Mac's Airport. Same when I use my HTC Desire HD as a wireless hotspot.
My Voda USB stick just died one month out of warranty (convenient?), so looking for new option.
I do but I do use it a lil different to most people. I have my Pocket WiFi setup as a wireless repeater to an old Dlink router flashed with DDWRT custom firmware. Basically the Dlink picks up the Pocket WiFi signal and rebroadcasts it as well as anything plugged into the router (Dlink) gets internet connection too. In my Dlink router I Have wired Xbox 360, NAS, Sonos, Pc, PVR, WDTV Live. Wirelessly I run an iPhone, Macbook Pro, Galaxy s phone. All works great I may make a guide how to do that later on :)
Ive heard different things on dropouts, I think its more to do with how good your signal is..
monkeycheese PLEASE DO A GUIDE ON THIS
That can still happen but is usually an issue with the wifi channel that is selected. The default channel for many devices is 11, hence it ends up being overloaded and you get frequent dropouts. I use the Telstra version and just have to change the channel to get a more reliable signal.
I had a Vodaphone USB Stick a couple of months ago when i had ISP problems.
Was the most frustrating thing ever!
Slow speeds and constant drop offs on my Mac. They don't call it Vodafail for nothing.Just FYI. - If you value reliability and speed, look elsewhere.
Prob good deal if you want to test of vodaphone and get the router (to unlock later on)
Most people buying this on OzB will probably be unlocking this for free and using it on an Optus or an Optus reseller.
I had the same issues with mine…gave up and Got a Telstra one for $120 and its fantastic. That said, if Voda is solid where you are then it is a good deal.
Nice price, but I just use my HT Desire as a Wifi hotspot. Effectively the same kind of deal.
But as a dedicated router I'm sure it has greater potential.
What is the battery life on this like?
On my telstra one, I get about 3-4 hours. It depends if you are constantly transferring data or just browsing.
Would it last all day (8-9hrs) if I throw it in my backpack and only access data occasionally?
Should do
Going to buy one and unlock it so that I can use it when I am travelling. Just need to get a prepaid data sim card from where ever I travel to.
Exactly how I'm using mine for.
Vodafone is just trying to off load these 900/2100 devices before their 850 network is fully rolled out. If you buy these now, you will only be able to use half of Vodafone's network. i.e. only the 2100 in metro rather than 2100 and 850. This might just be the difference between a working and not working connection.
Dumb question - if you have a phone with a plan (of say 1.5GB data), then all you'd need to do is remove the sim card and put it in this device and then go for gold? Or could/would there be extra charges involved?
Yeh you can do that but you will just have to put the APN settings for that network in :) The network just sees it as data.
Yes you can do that, but depending on the terms of use you agreed to from your provider it may be technically not allowed. If the provider finds out that you're using the data from a dedicated router they may cancel your service. Not sure how strictly it is enforced though.
just bought and now unlocked free! :-) now i can use my TPG sim data plan..
@kuripot would you mind sharing the process of unlocking for free?
thankscheck freddy's comment above.. blogspot link.. very easy to follow
I will need at least 12 months to use that much data on VF network in my area.
Shame the data only lasts a month, would be a much hotter deal if you can use it over 3-6 mths.
In the St Kilda area, is vodafone coverage/speed ok? Looking to move there soon.
I work out of a St Kilda rd office and the connection is fine here. Actually, I just bought this thing in the morning and have been using it to connect my laptop and phone to it. Everything works fine. Actually the speed is quite decent.
Use the 3gb and then unlock from vodafone with this:-
Free…
http://m0nkeycheese.blogspot.com/2011/04/australian-huawei-e…I'm happy to buy the 3gb sim card off people to make it a slicker deal for some. I'll let all of you ozbargainers set the price. Remember, this site is called ozbargain for a reason so name your price accordingly.
Does anyone know the card expiry?
contact me vis OzBargain and we can work something out?
Just name your price here mate.
Man checks with wife out back: okay, ah, for yew bes price, $34.50!
Russell Peters approves this message :)
How does $20 sound?
move this buying/selling or general discussions and link that forum here. That will allow more people to take advantage of the deal than just people browsing this particular post.
Just a suggestion :D
Selling SIMs may not be a good idea. You provide ID to purchase the SIM card for purposes of Government crime/fraud prevention, if you sell your SIM, this maybe like handing over your credit card details on the internet, or bank account details to a Nigerian. I strongly advise not to sell SIM's.
Don't know what you're getting at. Someone buys this pack with cash at the post office, they rip open the package, take the sim card out and send it. Where in that process involve credit cards and IDs? You're sure you're not being overly paranoid?
@Crownanchor is correct - note that he says that when you buy the modem you have to provide ID. That ID is then registered against the SIM card so if there is any fraud or funny business the police/feds can trace it back to the purchaser.
Yep, last thing you want is to be shipped off to Guantanamo Bay because someone used "your" SIM for something.
^ what stumo said. remember the doctor who gave his sim card to his naughty cousin in London? Well sure he got a few million in compensation last year but it wasn't without a good few years of pain and suffering.
More seriously though, I can confirm ID required and recorded at point of sale - source: personal experience in various shops for starter sims, prepaid mobiles and usb modems.
The requirement is a watered down version of what was originally proposed here: http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/plan-for-identity-checks-…
I've never been asked for ID buying mobiles before. Is this new? Has anyone been asked for ID?
Yes, isn't the ID asked for at activation or recharge, not at purchase?
That used to be the case until maybe 2 years ago. Last 3 I've bought within that time I've had to produce ID at purchase of the SIM and the cashier fills out a form.
I bought a $2 amaysim starter pack the other day from Big W. I was asked for my ID and they recorded all my details from the ID. That is even before I activated the SIM online.
WTF I just bought an optus prepaid sim from Coles the other day and wasn't asked anything? He checked my DL but didn't write anything down.
I have to keep buying prepaid SIM for people visiting from Overseas quite a few times a month and never have they recorded my details anywhere. Might be different t&c with amaysim( but I bought mine online)
Any law students/lawyers provide some documentation to back this up?
Some places might get lazy in recording details, even though they are supposed to.
The "security checks" are a complete joke anyway. It's so easy to get a fake driver's licence or proof of identification card (18+ card) these days.
@spawnpoint: Why cant you just accept because I said so (above) :P Ok fine, without getting too heavy on the details, under s99(1) of the Telecommunications Act 1997 the federal government gives power to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to make certain determinations which mobile service providers must follow. One such determination made by ACMA was the Telecommunications (Service Provider- Identity Checks for Pre-paid Public Mobile Telecommunications Services) Determination 2000 the title of which is self explanatory - check and collect ID information at POS as required by Part 3 of that determination. The main purpose of the determination at the time was to curb criminal activity but would now also extend to the reason of national security to justify its existence.
Having said all that, wording within the determination, combined with the fact that it isnt direct "statutory" law, lax enforcement and poorly trained retail staff who forget/cbf to do this often leads to people buying sim cards without the ID recorded. Telcos reason that people need to call up to activate anyway so we'll just get their details then, but despite joint commission after joint commission finding that the telcos reasoning is inadequate and open to fraud - yet here we are!
One last point, in the guidelines provided to retailers, if the person is purchasing less than 5 prepaid sims and paying by cc or bank card, then them using that card is sufficient ID. If paying by cash, then ID needs to be recorded. This is even though the determination itself has preference for full ID to always be recorded. An example of the above being fail? Well, today I bought the optus mytab paying cash at australia post and walked out without giving ID - yes the rep was clueless, she was more interested in asking me what the mytab was. Yes, the mytab contained a prepaid sim card pack :|
How's that spawnpoint? Can I go back to my bargain hunting now :P and yes Im a lawyer as per your initial requirement.
Some reading:
Guidelines given to retailers: www.amta.org.au/files/Pre-paid.ID.Check.Guidelines.pdf
s99(1): http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/ta1997214/…
The determination: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F2005C00313
Explanatory statement to the determination - easier for those who dont speak legalese: http://www.acma.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=P…@ccrap
Nice!
m0nkeycheese one is better. It was written later - after DCUnlocker starts to support it. The reason you want to use the InfoReader/DCUnlocker first (just to diagnose) is that it ensures the modem is properly connected to your PC, with the appropriate drivers installed. It is important for the next step to work - otherwise you could be troubleshooting for ages.
officeworks is selling it at the same price if post office has sold out! but goes to show how much profit retailers make selling this stuff….
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Hang on, it says "Portable 3G WiFi router". Does that mean all the devices connected to it can see each other on its wifi network? That would be kinda neat.