New Telecom Datacard....the T-Stick!

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › New Telecom Datacard....the T-Stick!

undecided

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#23839 9-Jul-2008 22:47

Kinda lame name, but looks really good.

'The T-Stick is an easy to use plug and play USB Mobile Broadband device that features EVDO speeds, has a built-in memory slot (including a 1GB microSD card), works on both a PC and Mac and is an ultra small design. Measuring only 114 x 66 x 14mm and weighing only 132 grams, the T-Stick truly is Mobile Broadband in your pocket'

FINALLY!! A Datacard for Telecom that supports Mac without heaps of work..... And is much more competitivly priced at $149 on a 24 month 1GB+ Term. Certainly makes it more competitive with the Vodem, although of course the superior EVDO REV 0/A Coverage should make the decision easy anyways

http://www.telecom.co.nz/tstick?nv=sd

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#145823 9-Jul-2008 23:15

"t-stick" sound like something rather, err, for another purpose.

Nice looking small dongle though, much better than the previous usb model.

Questions though,

"EVDO speeds"
is this Rev-0 or Rev-A? i'm assuming rev-a as it's stating rev-a speeds further up.

"Weight 132g"
man that's a heavy data dongle! it must be made of lead.

And an "outright" price would be nice to know.

bbman

646 posts

Ultimate Geek

#145834 9-Jul-2008 23:40

EVDO Rev A/0 and 1xRTT etc etc.

Been on the sierra wireless website - and Telecom site

http://telecom.co.nz/tstick
http://www.sierrawireless.com/resources/product/Compass_597_Datasheet_web.pdf

It also has external antenna capability which is great as the USB 595u was an awesome performer with and with out a YAGI high gain and a wilson direct connect booster.

From all accounts its coverage performance may not be as good as it's predecessor but is almost half the size so thats to be expected.

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nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#145865 10-Jul-2008 02:20

$149?

According to the Telecom media release it will be $49 on a 24 month 1GB+ plan, with the first 6 months at half price.

http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/releases_detail.asp?id=3555&page=1&pagesize=10

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bbman

646 posts

Ultimate Geek

#145888 10-Jul-2008 07:39

thats what i heard as well!

I think the open term price is $399 + GST or something like that, not bad and you get a storage device.

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digitaldivide

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#145931 10-Jul-2008 09:15

Re: FINALLY!! A Datacard for Telecom that supports Mac without heaps of work.....

From January 2008 Telecom NZ extended their datacard range support, to include Apple Mac.

Apple Mac owners can download "Sierra Wireless Watcher Lite 1.1.7" - then they can use any of the following datacards:

AC597E (Express)
AC595U (USB)
AC595 (PCMCIA)

Apple Mac owners wanting to use Sierra Wireless datacards should:

1/ Pop over to: http://www.sierrawireless.com/support/
2/ Select your datacard - e.g: the 597E ExpressCard
3/ Select your carrier (Telecom NZ is a good choice..), select your language (English is helpful..)
4/ Select Windows or Mac
5/ Click NEXT

The Apple Mac "Watcher Lite" software is a cut-down version of the PC software - the only features missing are the data dormancy indicator and support of Telecom NZ "Office Anywhere" VPNing.

... and of course the T-Stick the software TruInstalls from the T-Stick onto your Apple Mac.

undecided

44 posts

Geek

#145987 10-Jul-2008 10:29

yeah you're right nzbw.
I got the 149 from the pricing matrix at work....which is current

* Offer available from July 13, 2008 until August 31, 2008 on the 24 month 1GB+ plan, after that, customers can pay less than $2 a day or $56.19 a month for monthly plan charges. Once customers have used their 1GB monthly allowance they can get an additional 1GB for $11.25. Beyond this, overage charges of $0.57 per MB apply.

Great news though!

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek

#145996 10-Jul-2008 10:36

I tried searching the telecom site but could not find it... does anyone know what the disconnection fee would be after say 6 months?

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undecided

44 posts

Geek

#146015 10-Jul-2008 11:22

the 1GB+ plan is a tier 2 contract, so (off the top of my head) it would be $500 to disocnnect in first 3 months, $350 to disconnect in first year, or $185 in the last year.....or if you want to save money, after the first year just change it right down to the $10/month mobile broadband flexi at no cost.

undecided

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Geek

#146019 10-Jul-2008 11:32

Oh, and there are several links on this page that point to the Telecom site :)

nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#146054 10-Jul-2008 12:19

I think they are $349 (not sure if they that is incl or excl GST) open term, so not too bad at all.

1GB Plus Tier 2 - Disconnection Fees are as stated above.

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nzbnw

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Spark NZ

#146056 10-Jul-2008 12:21

friedCrumpet: I tried searching the telecom site but could not find it... does anyone know what the disconnection fee would be after say 6 months?

Here you go: http://www.telecom.co.nz/broadband/mobilebroadband/datacards

nzbnw

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#146058 10-Jul-2008 12:25

Just received one now...

It comes in a square box, with a 1 GB microSD card, wrist strap and a small pouch. Not bad looking, and with the USB cable attahed (included in the box) you can have it out of the way instead of plugged directly on your notebook.

Installation was fast and easy - and it updated my current Watcher to a new version 7 - I hope it doesn't break my existing USB connection to the old modem.

It also comes with a built-in GPS. Still trying to use it but need to go outside to try.

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#146060 10-Jul-2008 12:28

This is the new Watcher look:

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#146076 10-Jul-2008 12:57

The new Watcher is cool - but it freezes on Windows Vista.

I am currently posting from a T-Stick connection, all works fine, but as soon as the Watcher reports the connection it won't respond to any mouse clicks or keyboard actions. The only way out is to force close the application.

bbman

646 posts

Ultimate Geek

#146105 10-Jul-2008 13:47

Have you tried the old USB card with it Mauricio?? Also let me know how you get on with the GPS?

I am waiting for my new T Stick when i get back from leave. I have spoken to my antenna and booster supplier and they are testing speeds and adaptors to a booster and Yagi etc. Also testing an induction pad connection and booster to see what speed out come we get.

SHould be good especially at $49 + GST on a 24 month 1Gb plan - I think my rural broadband solution just got back on track with this device at that price.

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Delivering better broadband services

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