Woolies prepaid mobile - tethering via iPhone

Geewhizz on 22/11/2011 - 19:29
Last edited 22/11/2011 - 19:30

Has anyone managed to get this working? My daughter has an iphone4, through Optus.

Due to insufficient ports in her area she cannot get broadband for at least another 18 months, so relies on tethering for internet. Woolies' 6gb data for $15.50 seemed to her like a good buy, but she can't get the tethering to work. Optus told her tethering is not possible on a prepaid service.

If it actually can't be done via iphone, does anyone know of half price special current on the vodafone wifi? We know it will work via that.

General Discussion

Comments

  • blackrider89 on 23/11/2011 - 04:09

    Can be tethered via any phones but with the iPhone you will have to go to Cydia to download and install an app.

    • Geewhizz on 23/11/2011 - 09:02

      Thanks, will pass that info on. Can it be used without jailbreaking the phone? She's on her 3rd replacement phone in less than 12 months, so I doubt she'd be keen to void any warranty.

  • Jules66 on 23/11/2011 - 10:04

    No you will need MyWi (or similar) from Cydia. To get Cydia, the iphone needs to be Jailbroken. However the Pocket WiFi 2 can still be had for $35.50 from Vodafone using the coupon OZBARGAIN. I just tested it :) Mine arrived in under 24 hours and was free to unlock. Once I unlocked it, I just changed the APN to Optus Internet and off I went.

    • ozshaz on 24/11/2011 - 20:08

      Its good to see that you got it unlocked for free !! how did you manage it..i bought it last month and was planning to unlock it for free..any help is appreciated !!

  • a10203040 on 23/11/2011 - 10:50

    Can you try editing your internet tethering APN to the same as your celluar data APN as shown in the website below and see if it works?
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2283

    I believe the APN settings for Woolworth is:
    APN = internet

    http://www.austech.info/australian-internet-nbn/61751-woolwo…

    The reason is because an iphone routes tethered data through APN settings typed into Internet Tethering and internet coming from your iPhone through APN settings typed into Celluar Data.

    If you already have internet on your iPhone, I'm guessing using the same settings in Internet Tethering might get it to work.

    • Geewhizz on 24/11/2011 - 14:49

      She's apparently already tried that. Thanks for your help though.

    • llama on 25/11/2011 - 00:11
      +1

      You cannot edit the APN, as the Carrier "hides it". The menus that you see in that Apple article simply are not there. Doesn't matter anyway, it's not an APN issue.

      The IOS actually blocks access to the screen where you switch on the tethering. So, you cannot "link" the internet to Bluetooth, Wifi or USB cable. The "switch" is not there.

      I've just swapped over from Prepaid to get around this "restriction" that Optus chooses to apply. It only happens on iPhones because the iPhone has menus that the Carrier can use to disable the APN settings and the Tethering too. Android phones don't allow carriers to do that kind of stuff.

  • phobaphobic on 24/11/2011 - 10:03

    Optus doesn't allow tethering on Prepaid.

    • blackrider89 on 24/11/2011 - 13:06

      They say so technically. But in fact…

      • snappy1234 on 24/11/2011 - 15:03
        +1

        So true- so true…says he posting with this very scenario :)

        • llama on 25/11/2011 - 00:11

          But not on a non-JB iPhone, correct?

  • [Deactivated] on 30/11/2011 - 01:57

    There is a new program that may suit

    Called itether.

    Details found here

    http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/11/29/apple_approved…

    although the article says that this may be pulled, so get in quick.

  • Geewhizz on 30/11/2011 - 13:20

    Voda pocket wifi ordered (Thanks Jules) and thanks OZBARGAIN for the being there for a hefty discount code. :)

    • [Deactivated] on 30/11/2011 - 13:38

      Let us know how the pocket wifi goes with the woolies sim.

      • Geewhizz on 30/11/2011 - 13:47
        +2

        It will work fine. Hubby has already had it working on ours. (unlocked, of course)

        • ozshaz on 01/12/2011 - 06:12

          Hey was it unlocked for free or you hsd to psy for the fees to voda..i am looking a way to unlock mine wifi modem too

  • Geewhizz on 01/12/2011 - 08:41
    +1

    Hey was it unlocked for free or you hsd to psy for the fees to voda..i am looking a way to unlock mine wifi modem too

    No, Vodafone wanted $75. Some people have reported success unlocking on the voda website, while others have been unsuccessful. You have nothing to lose by trying though. If, after a couple of attempts (maybe a couple of days apart) you still have no luck, there's some unlocking info in this thread:

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/54223

    • ozshaz on 03/12/2011 - 08:09

      thanks for the info…i have sent an email to voda for the unlock code but i think they will charge me back as its just couple of months old modem…fingers crossed..

      • Geewhizz on 03/12/2011 - 12:50

        If they want to charge you, don't pay it. I can personally vouch for the effectiveness of the $15 code provided by the person referred to in that link.

  • Geewhizz on 06/12/2011 - 13:10

    Sigh! Modem arrived and attempted the unlock procedure - Handset IMEI not found ……. grumble grumble.

    It seems to be a real lottery as to whether free unlocking works or not.

    Back to plan B

    • ozshaz on 06/12/2011 - 20:33

      Even i tried with voda support and they were charging 75$..any other way to get it unlocked..

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