Sierra Aircard (3G,EDGE,HSDPA) 850/860 is here

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chop

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The Sierra Aircard (3G,EDGE,HSDPA) 850/860 is here, or so I've been told by MTN SP data division. I've signed my contract, just waiting for stock sometime this week or start of next.

Thanks for the MTN representitive [insert sarcasm here] for letting us know.
 
So when is mTn deploying HSDPA?
 
MTN Rep is k@k treurig!!!
Light a rocket under your @rse & get involved here!!!!
 
Reallllllllllllllly interesting card! download the PDF datasheet from the site...
UMTS with HSDPA: 1.8Mbps down 384Kbps up
Edge 216 down 108 up
Superior radio for fringe coverage use and has a removable external antenna

Simulatanious Voice and Data ( voice available Q1/06 ) ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
3G video support ( WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ??? via your pc/laptop? how?)
 
Mams said:
Simulatanious Voice and Data ( voice available Q1/06 ) ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
3G video support ( WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ??? via your pc/laptop? how?)
Click to expand...

I was also wondering about that. I see they say it comes with "watcher" software, maybe that allows you to emulate a cell and use your pc camera to make a call.

I'm still waiting, will let you know when I get it (if I get it).
 
chop said:
I was also wondering about that. I see they say it comes with "watcher" software, maybe that allows you to emulate a cell and use your pc camera to make a call.

I'm still waiting, will let you know when I get it (if I get it).
Click to expand...

Please let us know as soon as u receive yours..Nashua told me that they dont know when they will get it
 
I enquired at an MTN shop. This is what I was told:-
1) No knowledge of any Sierra card.
2) You can get a free 3G/GPRS card with a R75 Mychoice contract giving 100MB data. (?)
3) To get a 3G/EDGE/GPRS card instead you must pay R500 but is a 'Novell' card (!)

Can anybody make any sense of this?
 
sun said:
I enquired at an MTN shop. This is what I was told:-
1) No knowledge of any Sierra card.
2) You can get a free 3G/GPRS card with a R75 Mychoice contract giving 100MB data. (?)
3) To get a 3G/EDGE/GPRS card instead you must pay R500 but is a 'Novell' card (!)

Can anybody make any sense of this?
Click to expand...

I phoned the data division (phone 1555) and they told me that the Sierra card is available. When I went to MTN SP they didn't really know what I was talking about but I insisted I want the 3G/Edge card and they found the deal. I'm still waiting though as they don't have stock yet.

2 - The Sierra card is free on the Mychoice contract. I don't know about the giving 100MB. As far as I understand you can use the R75 for data (like prepaid) but the standard rate is R2 which means you would only get about 32MB free. You would have to add a data subscription.

Hope this helps.
 
Hi Chop

With my Choice 75, you add R145 to the account, and then you can buy a 350MB bundle for example, which lasts for a month. (Obviously you can top up to R500 and buy a gig as well). If you can get the card free with this package, it's the way to go. If you go on holiday, you don't buy data. I've been experimenting with a pay as you go SIM, with a GPRS phone and whatever you buy only lasts a calendar month and then its gone, like your 'free' minutes.

lol 'free' like you don't pay for it! But I'm surprised how long the 350MB has lasted - I do suspect that I've gone over the limit - but that ain't my problem, is it?

If the card is free with this package, I'm there! Very low risk venture IMO.
 
fergus said:
About how much will this card cost cash and will it be compatible with MTN / Vodacom / X Network?
Click to expand...

I saw their list when signing the contract and I think it was between R1000 and R1500 but I might be wrong.

AK65, I don't know if you can load the data bundle on the mychoice contract every month. The guys at MTN sp didn't seem to know so you might have to do it like a contract user (pay upfront for one month etc.).
 
AK65 said:
With my Choice 75, you add R145 to the account, and then you can buy a 350MB bundle for example, which lasts for a month.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the R75 cannot be used towards any bundles ... they are in addition to the subscription.
 
Just to clarify, this is what I was told:-

- On a 'normal' MyChoice75 you cannot easily add a data bundle by dialling 555 as with pre-paid. It is 'between you and your sevice provider', which effectively means you cannot purchase bundles with the R75.

- There is apparantly a special MyChoice 75 that gives you 100MB instead of R75. Unfortunately I have not yet got any proof of this. The guy at the shop seemed quite sure, but the contract he wanted me to sign didn't mention it.
 
Update to last post-
When asked to put it in writing, the dealer admitted there is no 100MB MyChoice75.
 
chop said:
I think it was between R1000 and R1500 but I might be wrong.

AK65, I don't know if you can load the data bundle on the mychoice contract every month. The guys at MTN sp didn't seem to know so you might have to do it like a contract user (pay upfront for one month etc.).
Click to expand...

Hi Chop

What I was told is that it is a 'top up' contract. So the 75 bucks can be spent on whatever you want. In effect, every month you would top your 75 bucks up as a pay-as-you go customer and then use the 555? number to buy a data bundle of your choice. The sad thing is most SP's know next to zip about this (they only sell cell phones on voice contracts), so what I've been told may be wrong, and most of the time I'm educating the 'consultant' on their own products.

Aready what you have been told (by MTNSP) and what I've been told (by iTalk) is different. I tend to believe the iTalk version - it was explained at length. On the nashua website, the card (they call it a imate?? sierra wireless data card (wtf?) - still waiting for confirmation if it is the 850) is free on the mychoice 150 contract (I'm still wanting to know why the 150 bucks airtime / whatever costs R190.......) My data needs will most certainly be upwards of 500MB, so a free Sierra on this contract looks good to me. You may want to investigate this option, and save some cash!

MTNSP Broadband, what happened to you? Got burned? Here is an issue that you could help us with. Explain just how this will all work. There, go chase your KPA's.......
 
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the one on Nashuas site is the old 775 Edge card.
took me many "please hold on for another consultant" to confirm that they dont even have a 850 on their stock list and dont know anything regarding when theyll see it!
 
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