Price beat at Officeworks, currently $37.00
Yes as @Proliferation said last post -
Also handy for cheap sim deals to use the data if you don't have a dual sim phone. Not everyone has / wants a home broadband plan. I've got a family member using one with Catch 90 day sims when they're on special for $20. So that's $80 a year for their home internet needs.
Not everyone has / wants a home broadband plan.
Thats concerning… Before I would get 1/2 price optus sims from Coles and use the email hack but eventually signed up for 5G broadband cause of my living situation. Having unlimited 5G internets has been way less of a burden than constantly switching out sims and registering them, and having limited data cap. I don't wanna be stuck in the 90s let alone the 2000s with 56k/adsl(1/2) speeds. Burn the heretic who forsakens me to such a meager internet connection 😂
I seem to remember similar price deals back then too
I remember these coming with 3 months free netflix credit. Ended up buying about 15 of these and years of free netflix.
Cex also bought the new units for a $1 profit
Free netflix with Optus ??
Yep when Netflix first officially landed in Aus
Did the same with Optus phones at Coles years ago.
All in landfill now.
is there any 5G USB Modem recommended?
Looking for one as well
Preferably one that can do bridging and doesn't cost three times more than the router you want to plug it into.
is there any 5G USB Modem recommended?
A 5G phone.
Can this one plug into the laptop straight away so that I can use internet for the laptop?
Yes, just beware it's Optus locked as mentioned in the description but should work with an Optus reseller like Catch & Coles Mobile etc.
How do you unlock it and how much it costs?
Thanks
I had a similar one from ZTE and it costed me around $4 via eBay. Price really depends on modem number.
Don't forget an additional 10% off with code XSEP2024
I bought one these from coles optus locked. I got the unlock code from optus but I cannot find any info on how to unlock for the model I have
Device name E3372h-608
Hardware versionCL2MS2372HM02
Software version10.0.5.1(H195SP2C74)
Web UI versionWEBUI 10.0.5.1(W13SP2C74)
I read through the tutorial here for E8372h-608 but I cannot find the firmware for the device I have on the internet. Can anyone help please.
I would pay $3 on eBay not to go through that ordeal, if there is a $3 eBay deal
Can you explain further
How much it costs for the unlock code??
It was free. I message optus on 9999 with "MENU"
Awesome, thanks.
Tried it many times. Some forum suggest that the problem seems to be the Hilink software. I have to convert it from hilink to stick mode by Fashing the original firmware. i am unable to find it anywhere on the internet for my device.
Also I only have Telstra sim to check.
People who think you've got to flash the firmware in a hilink USB modem back to being a dumb modem don't understand how hilink works. It just talks TCP/IP, like ethernet, but over a USB connection, like a USB tethered phone.
The problem with using these carrier-branded Huawei hilink modems on a different carrier's network is that the carriers get their own model that only operates on their own 4G bands to lock you in. For all the years I used these I never saw one that was locked to a carrier's SIMs. Its easy to reconfigure them to connect to a different carrier network, you just change the login parameters, but you can't reconfigure them for the bands the other carrier uses. Its never been worth the trouble. Its always been cheaper to buy the model for the carrier you intend to use.
I picked up one of these to use with the GL.iNet travel router (GL-A1300) as it's often easier to use a router to share the 4g with multiple devices. The modem worked great overseas, but as pointed out in the description the modem is locked to Optus. I had to do the online chat to get it unlocked. The unlock was free, but it was a pain to find out whilst already travelling.
Yes agree Optus chat staff in general won't have an idea about this and had to escalate to back end staff to get the code. It was painful explaining how to unlock the modem and get the code
whilst overseas travelling
Fair enough, but that's really on you for jot being prepared isn't it? Good on Optus for unlocking it for free
Partially on me yes, though there was no mention of the network lock on the packaging or Big W website. Also a previous Optus USB modem that I purchased was unlocked. So the only way I would have known is if I checked the Optus website specs directly.
Did it come with a prepaid sim card and Optus branding?
Might work OK in some countries, but the band support is very lacking which is going to limit the countries it'll work in. LTE B1/B3/B7/B8/B20/B28
Got similar one from telstra and unlocked after 2 years. Works great. Used it in india for couple of weeks.
Check your local coles ,they may have E3372 for $5 clearance ,offer exp DEC 31
I take it these are Hilink (and hence connecting to a router you'd be double NAT'ed) ?
Would this mean I wouldn’t be able to access my router remotely via WireGuard or TailScale?
No that shouldn't affect WireGuard or TailScale. In fact they are both good solutions to overcome some of the limitations presented by CGNAT, etc.
Thanks mate
Can these be pluged at the back of ASUS router to act as 4G backup?
Thanks
https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1047044/
Not in the list but you could give it a go if you think you need it. Can use your phone though I'm pretty sure.
I have plugged this in the back of Asus ac55u and it works
Also can use amaysim sim card as it's Optus network
I have done it before, it was fine.
Great and cheap device to use as backup.
Ah! I remember back in 2009 buying one from marketplace for 10 buck. It was a vodafone (labelled 3). I think it was a ZTE modem. I spent couple of nights finding/trying unlock codes. What a breeze when it eventually worked with other sim providers.
Anyone know if this would work with an Amaysim SIM card installed? I know in theory it should but just would like to be sure before I buy one.
Read 3 comments above
My bad! Thanks
I have plugged this in the back of Asus ac55u and it works
Also can use amaysim sim card as it's Optus network
Does anyone know if this would work directly in an Android tablet? And if so, does it require drivers or is it just plug and play?
Not sure, but you could buy a ~$40 mango, plug this is and share wirelessly with tablet and everything else via WiFi or LAN
Yes get something more useful (those GL.inet GL-MT3000 Beryl AX are good for $115 on special, don't know if they have a sim card slot but surely some do!!).
I have a Beryl, but the reason I ask is because I have a specific use case in my car, I want to be able to add a permanent internet connection for it, and the only way I can think of getting it is either a permanant 4g wifi router, or maybe instead using a device like this
@Jackson: yeah that's cool, something with wifi and can stay permanently powered would be good, unless you only want to connect your one device in the car then these may work.
@G-rig: we have our own handheld devices with their own data, up until now we just used hotspots, but it's a pain to put it on every time you are in the car, I started down the track of using IFTTT to turn on the hotspot when the bluetooth connects to the car, but then to get that working I am pretty sure it told me I had to subscribe to some higher level of service, as such I'm looking at alternatives. This might just work if they data connection when plugged into android is automatic, if not I have to sideload to this tablet because it's part of the car and not an everyday tablet
I have a specific use case in my car, I want to be able to add a permanent internet connection for it, and the only way I can think of getting it is either a permanant 4g wifi router, or maybe instead using a device like this
A phone.
It has a 4G/5G modem in it, and a router, and wifi.
I have a 5G phone USB tethered to a Slate. The only obstacle to me dispensing with the Slate is that I can't find a USB to gigabit ethernet adapter for Android that charges the phone at the same time. The Slate is just acting as a USB to ethernet adapter that can charge the phone.
Didn’t realize this is still around. Not sure if it is really a deal, a typical 4G phone anyone might already have is probably better than this saving you the cost of buying…?
Good to plug it at the back of your modem as 4g backup
Hmm… maybe.
Anyway, I still think it is waste of money, got to have a separate sim for it to work as backup. Could have straight away tether an existing phone with an existing mobile plan when needed during such emergency.
Exactly, sounds good in theory but who is actually going to maintain a spare sim 12 months a year 'in case'. If the NBN down the mobile service could be down as well (ie zombie apocalypse).
People should just go outside (or to the pub) for an hour or two and the NBN would be back online anyway.
Dumb question- the description says this has no wifi, but if I plugged a power bank into it would there be enough to broadcast a wifi signal?
This doesn't have WiFi.
Just hotspot your phone.
No
Searched 4 coles store, couldn't find any
Cheers, just bought 13
Greedy and expensive way to buy 56GB and disposable devices.
Could have got a good travel router above and boost 365 sim cheaper.
Why you need that many? More landfill items
Don't be so quick to judge. Completely different purpose. They are used for livestreaming to support community sport, where each streaming unit has two of these for bonding to ensure a reliable stream. Each and every unit will be used multiple times a week for many years to come.
Good. They won't go to landfill just to get the data.
I'm sure they have a specific use case. Just sounded like old mate stock piling them for a few free gigs and Netflix for a month. Sounds like some people can't get any, these things can be a run around.
Can you still use this with a mobile sim after the 3G shutdown?
Just try it.
4g would be fine.
I have a 3G shutdown affected SIM card tested on this MF833N, it works at the moment.
The tested SIM card from Optus is not supported 3G anymore on 8th Oct instead of 28 Oct and it can not connect internet with the phone with 4G band but no VoLTE feature, and it works on this MF833N with LTE Band 28 (that phone has LTE band 28 too, but blocked).
These things are still used? This is a flashback of 10 years ago