HELP - Casual Mobile Data Options

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xlinknz

1127 posts

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#72648 30-Nov-2010 14:01

I'm confused as to the options for mobile data

Currently I'm on VFNZ on account and my wife VFNZ prepaid but we also have a 2degrees prepaid SIM too

I want to be able to use the Internet from my new shiny netbook when I am away. This is only occasionally usage and needs to be outside CBDs i.e. rural

My options seem to be

VFNZ have a casual on account rate of $1 a day for 10Mb and then $1 per Mb after that
VFNZ prepaid broadband lite $10 for 100Mb for a month [$79 for stick including 2GB]
2degrees prepaid Nationwide $6 for 50Mb for a month $69 for a stick including 3GG]

But do I need to buy a stick or can I use a handset and if so does it need to ne Android 2.2 to support so called tethering ?

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2563 posts

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#411224 30-Nov-2010 14:52

Note that the included data on the 2degree's USB sticks ONLY applies in the four main centres/on 2degree's towers. The only data options you have with 2degrees nationwide is the $6 for 50mb.

You can use a handset if it does tethering. You can tether with android 2.1 via USB, but if you want wifi tethering you either need an app for android <2.2 or to get a phone that has 2.2. :)

(Some other phone OS's will let you tether via usb/bluetooth/etc.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#411262 30-Nov-2010 16:15

unless your netbook has a slot for a SIM (unlikely) then you will need to either buy a dongle or tether your handset.

As kyhwana2 said the 2D plans are only for urban areas, so not good to you at all unless you want to pay huge rates.

that leaves either Telecom or Vodafone.

Vodafone have two options for prepaid. either $30 for 500MB or $10 for 100MB, or $1 a day for 10MB (but more than that is $1/Mb I think)

Telecom have several plans, but the best by far, no matter how much you use, is the 500MB option. you pay 10c/MB for the first 300MB then you get the next 200 for free. so if you use 500MB it works out the same as the vodafone plan, but if you use less than 300 MB then it is definitely cheaper.

graemeh

2078 posts

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#411272 30-Nov-2010 16:29

+1 on the Telecom suggestion although it does mean buying more hardware (which is never a bad thing

)

matisyahu

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#411309 30-Nov-2010 18:14

xlinknz: I'm confused as to the options for mobile data

Currently I'm on VFNZ on account and my wife VFNZ prepaid but we also have a 2degrees prepaid SIM too

I want to be able to use the Internet from my new shiny netbook when I am away. This is only occasionally usage and needs to be outside CBDs i.e. rural

My options seem to be

VFNZ have a casual on account rate of $1 a day for 10Mb and then $1 per Mb after that
VFNZ prepaid broadband lite $10 for 100Mb for a month [$79 for stick including 2GB]
2degrees prepaid Nationwide $6 for 50Mb for a month $69 for a stick including 3GG]

But do I need to buy a stick or can I use a handset and if so does it need to ne Android 2.2 to support so called tethering ?

Personally I think you're better off getting a 3G thumb device from Telecom and use the XT Network because quite frankly the coverage of the Vodafone 3G network (2 Degree's hops on the Vodafone network) is horrible at best. As I've noted in the past when travelling into Wellington on a train it continuously drops back to 2G whilst going to through major cities like Lower Hutt. When there are continuous drop backs to 2G then you know the Vodafone haven't got their act together - god help you if you're out in a remote place if they can't even support the large cities properly!

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

xlinknz

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#411564 1-Dec-2010 11:52

All thank you for your replies :)

NonprayingMantis: unless your netbook has a slot for a SIM (unlikely) then you will need to either buy a dongle or tether your handset.

As kyhwana2 said the 2D plans are only for urban areas, so not good to you at all unless you want to pay huge rates.

that leaves either Telecom or Vodafone.

Vodafone have two options for prepaid. either $30 for 500MB or $10 for 100MB, or $1 a day for 10MB (but more than that is $1/Mb I think)

Telecom have several plans, but the best by far, no matter how much you use, is the 500MB option. you pay 10c/MB for the first 300MB then you get the next 200 for free. so if you use 500MB it works out the same as the vodafone plan, but if you use less than 300 MB then it is definitely cheaper.

The impression I get is that with both TCNZ and VFNZ you pay $30 regardless of how much you use as long as it is under 500MB ?

In regards to VFNZ is there an add-on for on account to use data like there is for prepaid ?

What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

kyhwana2

2563 posts

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#411581 1-Dec-2010 12:18

xlinknz:
What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

That comment doesn't make any sense? You can't use VFNZ for voice/data with a TCNZ SIM..

Or did you mean that you were planning on swapping SIMs? XT runs primarily on 850Mhz UMTS. VF runs on 900/2100mhz (900 for 3g out of the cities) UMTS.

xlinknz

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#411589 1-Dec-2010 12:34

kyhwana2:
xlinknz:
What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

That comment doesn't make any sense? You can't use VFNZ for voice/data with a TCNZ SIM..

Or did you mean that you were planning on swapping SIMs? XT runs primarily on 850Mhz UMTS. VF runs on 900/2100mhz (900 for 3g out of the cities) UMTS.

Yes I mean a handset I could use both SIMs in, that said my understanding is that I would require a handset that does both 850/2100 and 900/2100 which don't exist if I could do that I wouldn't need a USB stick and just use a tethered handset

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wongtop

563 posts

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#411591 1-Dec-2010 12:41

There are a few high end handsets that will do 3G on all networks. Iphone4 and Nokia N8 come to mind. The other option is to buy any XT handset. This will give you XT, while on the 2 degrees and vodafone networks you will likely have 3G in the main centres and 2G elsewhere. (Most XT phones are capable of 2100 UTMS[3G] + 900/1800 GSM [2G]).

graemeh

2078 posts

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#411626 1-Dec-2010 14:30

xlinknz: All thank you for your replies :)

NonprayingMantis: Telecom have several plans, but the best by far, no matter how much you use, is the 500MB option. you pay 10c/MB for the first 300MB then you get the next 200 for free. so if you use 500MB it works out the same as the vodafone plan, but if you use less than 300 MB then it is definitely cheaper.

The impression I get is that with both TCNZ and VFNZ you pay $30 regardless of how much you use as long as it is under 500MB ?

In regards to VFNZ is there an add-on for on account to use data like there is for prepaid ?

What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

No, no, no, read the quote above, I've put the bit in bold that you need to read. With Telecom you pay per mb until you hit $30 or 300mb and then it's free until 500mb. So if you use 150mb you only pay $15 (actually more like $10 if you topup $60 and get a bonus topup)

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#411754 1-Dec-2010 20:39

xlinknz:
kyhwana2:
xlinknz:
What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

That comment doesn't make any sense? You can't use VFNZ for voice/data with a TCNZ SIM..

Or did you mean that you were planning on swapping SIMs? XT runs primarily on 850Mhz UMTS. VF runs on 900/2100mhz (900 for 3g out of the cities) UMTS.

Yes I mean a handset I could use both SIMs in, that said my understanding is that I would require a handset that does both 850/2100 and 900/2100 which don't exist if I could do that I wouldn't need a USB stick and just use a tethered handset

Tethering is a pain, and performance is almost never as good as a USB stick anyway

An XT stick is only going to set you back $99, and you get 1.5GB of data included anyway, so you aren't spending much more to get a stick than you would be to use tethering. Well worth it for the better performance and convenience IMO.

kyhwana2

2563 posts

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#411762 1-Dec-2010 21:04

NonprayingMantis:
Tethering is a pain, and performance is almost never as good as a USB stick anyway

An XT stick is only going to set you back $99, and you get 1.5GB of data included anyway, so you aren't spending much more to get a stick than you would be to use tethering. Well worth it for the better performance and convenience IMO.

How is tethering a pain? I just turn on wifi tethering, enter in the WPA key im using and boom, it just works.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#411767 1-Dec-2010 21:16

kyhwana2:
NonprayingMantis:
Tethering is a pain, and performance is almost never as good as a USB stick anyway

An XT stick is only going to set you back $99, and you get 1.5GB of data included anyway, so you aren't spending much more to get a stick than you would be to use tethering. Well worth it for the better performance and convenience IMO.

How is tethering a pain? I just turn on wifi tethering, enter in the WPA key im using and boom, it just works.

well with the phones I have had you needed to keep it plugged into the laptop the whole time, so if you wanted to take a call you had to either stop tethering or be right by your laptop. A separate dongle is much more convenient.

(come to think of it, I'm pretty sure calling was even disabled during tethering on one of the phones I had, I forget which)

kyhwana2

2563 posts

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#411782 1-Dec-2010 21:36

NonprayingMantis:
well with the phones I have had you needed to keep it plugged into the laptop the whole time, so if you wanted to take a call you had to either stop tethering or be right by your laptop. A separate dongle is much more convenient.

(come to think of it, I'm pretty sure calling was even disabled during tethering on one of the phones I had, I forget which)

Oh, had no problems like that doing tethering (usb or wifi) on my android phones.

scottr

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#411815 1-Dec-2010 22:25

Yup no problems here either with calls, tether by cable, bluetooth or use my phone as a wireless access point..

Find it better than having a usb stick as it's easier to carry than a phone and I can use data on it when I'm not around a computer or or can't be naffed pulling out a laptop.

Only one plan to pay for too :)

xlinknz

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#411896 2-Dec-2010 08:00

graemeh:
xlinknz: All thank you for your replies :)

NonprayingMantis: Telecom have several plans, but the best by far, no matter how much you use, is the 500MB option. you pay 10c/MB for the first 300MB then you get the next 200 for free. so if you use 500MB it works out the same as the vodafone plan, but if you use less than 300 MB then it is definitely cheaper.

The impression I get is that with both TCNZ and VFNZ you pay $30 regardless of how much you use as long as it is under 500MB ?

In regards to VFNZ is there an add-on for on account to use data like there is for prepaid ?

What frequencies would a handset requires to allow me to use VFNZ for voice and data but insert a TCNZ prepaid SIM ?

No, no, no, read the quote above, I've put the bit in bold that you need to read. With Telecom you pay per mb until you hit $30 or 300mb and then it's free until 500mb. So if you use 150mb you only pay $15 (actually more like $10 if you topup $60 and get a bonus topup)

Thank you for that clarification

that I cannot find where this is documented on the TCNZ web site http://www.telecom.co.nz/mobile/mobilebroadband/plansandpricing/prepaid

I assumed this expires at the end of the month does anyone have a plan where I can buy 500Mb and I only top up once I have used the 500Mb ?

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