Are Free Routers ISP Locked???

Z

ZimboNick

New Member
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Looking at Cybersmart and Telkom Do broadband, they both offer wireless routers (free in Telkom's case with self-install, a modest R260 odd for a Billion 7300G from Cybersmart) without a contract.

However, what I want to know is do they lock these routers to one ISP ie. themselves? Is this possible? So if I was to change ISP, the router would be useless?

If anybody knows for sure, please let me know. Thanks!
 
the telkom one aint but im not sure of the Cybersmart one. Mweb's one is locked to their domains.
 
Not sure if cybersmart is locked but they do state in their contract that if you use anyone other than themselves for connectivity that you are in breach of contract and your connection will be terminated... hence i presume that their dsl modems would be locked. It's cheap because you have to use them as a backup.

J
 
jsheed_sa said:
Not sure if cybersmart is locked but they do state in their contract that if you use anyone other than themselves for connectivity that you are in breach of contract and your connection will be terminated... hence i presume that their dsl modems would be locked. It's cheap because you have to use them as a backup.

J
Click to expand...

Mweb mentions on their site that their routers are locked, Cybersmart doesn't mention anything though. So if I were to pay Cybersmart R260 for a Billion 7300G wireless router, and they don't mention it is locked, isn't that illegal?
 
ZimboNick said:
Mweb mentions on their site that their routers are locked, Cybersmart doesn't mention anything though. So if I were to pay Cybersmart R260 for a Billion 7300G wireless router, and they don't mention it is locked, isn't that illegal?
Click to expand...

Ask them, Cybersmart's T&C's are weird.
 
I did the "Installation" of my friend's Cybersmart One-Price ADSL option. The modem IS NOT locked in any way. He is using another account on that line as we speak. I ignored their T&C - Just as long as you dont bug them with questions/support on other ISP's account/username setups, they are happy.

That modem though...Dont like it that much. That thing is screaming for some new Stock firmware.
 
Not sure what make the free router is, but you can upgrade the free router to a wireless Billion 7300G for a fee of R260.

I don't really have a problem with Cybersmart's T&Cs, they do seem mostly logical. However, there is no point me paying money for a router which is ISP locked, as if I go abroad in the next year or so, or change ISP, I can't use it. Might as well spend a bit more and get one from a shop, or go for the Telkom offer.
 
I asked Cybersmart. They said it was a Cybersmart 'manufactured' and 'branded' router... Whatever that means. So you can upgrade to a Billion router... Is this worth it? Maybe I should do that. Do I send this one back, then they send me another one? R70 delivery again?
 
The Billion 7300G (wifi router) that Cybersmart supplies is NOT network locked. I phoned them before I ordered their one-price option for my mother, and they confirmed that it is not locked and can (in the future) be used with any other ADSL offering out there.
 
McFly said:
The Billion 7300G (wifi router) that Cybersmart supplies is NOT network locked. I phoned them before I ordered their one-price option for my mother, and they confirmed that it is not locked and can (in the future) be used with any other ADSL offering out there.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming :)
 
There are 3 from cybersmart, a crap no-name brand, a normal 4port billion (7300 I think) and the wireless billion(7300G I think). The wireless one is R260 extra.

The no-name brand is cybersmart branded and is not network locked. The billions are not branded in any way and are not network locked.

Just ask for the Billion over the no-name brand one. ;)

Mweb says their routers are network locked, I even remember someone having a network locked 56k Duxberry modem from mweb back in the day.

Dan
 
DanH said:
There are 3 from cybersmart, a crap no-name brand, a normal 4port billion (7300 I think) and the wireless billion(7300G I think). The wireless one is R260 extra.
The no-name brand is cybersmart branded and is not network locked. The billions are not branded in any way and are not network locked.
Just ask for the Billion over the no-name brand one. ;)
Dan
Click to expand...

I already have a Cybersmart one. Should I upgrade with Cybersmart to Billion wireless one? Is it worth it?
 
kris860911 said:
Is it worth it?
Click to expand...

Well that depend if you are going to use the wireless.

My parents got adsl at their place and they got the no-name brand router. It had disconnecting issues so Cybersmart swaped it out with the free billion one. It works fine as far as I can see.

I personally would swap it as I have no love for no-name brand products ;) but if its working fine there isnt a need really.

Dan
 
Cybersmart headache

I am a oneprice customer and have been issued with a Tenda Duxbury. Which I basically need to reset every morning. Tech support guys keep telling me that the router is NOT locked,but i cannot seem to load my telkom acc
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X