3G/HSDPA with Vodacom

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mercutio1285

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Hi,

I'm from Germany and I'll be in South Africa for the next two months. Right now I have serious problems to get access to the internet via the hotspots in my apartment building. One of my colleagues told me about 3G/HSDPA. I think it would be even cheaper than via the hotspots, since I'm paying 30c/MB.

I need the internet connection merely for Skype. I live in the City Bowl of Cape Town. Is the speed sufficient for my needs? And what are my options? I think Vodacom is the most reliable provider, right? I need roughly 2GB/month. But until now, I don't have any contract, etc. with Vodacom. I would be a totally new client for them. Is that a problem? My notebook is a Lenovo Thinkpad X200s. So I would only have to put the new SIM card into it.

Thank you so much for your help! :)

David
 
Buy a prepaid Vodacom SIM card and load R389 on it.

Send "Mygig 2" to 100. The two gigs will last until the end of the month after the month that you activated it, or until you have used up 2GB.

Once you have used up the 2GB, start again by loading R389 onto the SIM card, etc.

See here.
 
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Hello David. You can buy a prepaid sim @ a Vodashop or Pick & Pay even. For 2Gig data bundle you looking @ R389.00. You must remember that you need to RICA the prepaid sim before you can activate it. Proof of physical address and passport will be required for this. Before you buy the Data Bundle though, please check with a 3G phone or signal monitor on your laptop what your signal is like.

Regards:
OC
 
Hey. Thanks for the answers! :) So I have to pay R389 for 2Gig, which means I pay roughly 19c/MB. I think that's a good deal. But what does RICA mean? And can I take my laptop with me to a Vodacom shop and test the connection right there? Can somebody also tell me, where I can find a Vodacom store in CT? I think there is one at the Waterfront, right? And is the connection via 3G really stable so that I won't get disconnected from Skype every two to five minutes?

Thank again for your help! :)

David
 
mercutio1285 said:
Hey. Thanks for the answers! :) So I have to pay R389 for 2Gig, which means I pay roughly 19c/MB. I think that's a good deal. But what does RICA mean? And can I take my laptop with me to a Vodacom shop and test the connection right there? Can somebody also tell me, where I can find a Vodacom store in CT? I think there is one at the Waterfront, right? And is the connection via 3G really stable so that I won't get disconnected from Skype every two to five minutes?

Thank again for your help! :)

David
Click to expand...

Yes, there is a Vodashop in the Waterfron (+27214218507) and there is also one in Greenpoint (+27214218228). RICA is a new law that was passed here requiring you to provide proof of physical address before your sim may be activated. Without it, your prepaid sim will not be allowed to go active on the Vodacom network. (this applies to all networks here now, not just Vodacom).

I have been using Skype with my 3G for the last week as I am not @ home where I can use wifi....and I easily talk for 2 - 3 hours without getting disconnected once. But, that is with a good signal and it can also be influenced if the tower you are logged onto gets or is very busy.

Also, just because you get good signal @ the store, does not mean you will get good signal @ your appartment as 3G on the 2100mhz band is much more prone to interference due to tall buildings etc etc.
 
Thanks again for the support! :) Can you also tell me how such a proof of physical address look like? Is it just the contract that I've rented my apartment?

I live on the 14th floor of my apartment house... is that an advantage or a disadvantage?
 
You are welcome. Yes, a lease agreement should be sufficient.

Depends...are there any more flats above yours? I would say the 14th floor would have good reception, but once again, I can not promise cause I dont know what the surrounding tall buildings etc there might be.
 
Yes, there are still four floors above my apartment. But at least our building is the tallest in the area. So I might be lucky. But I think I will try it anyway with a 3G Card because yesterday was already the second day in two weeks that I couldn't connect to the internet via the hotspots in our building. A very disappointing experience when your girlfriend is sitting at home and waiting for you... Thanks for all the help! :)
 
If you have a 3G phone then it should show whether you have 3G reception. Or you can test the modem with SIM card before you load the airtime on the SIM, it should show you the quality of reception even before it is connected.

Good luck, hopefully you can spend an hour or two chatting to the GF tonight !
 
Ok, good to know. So first, I can get the SIM and then I'm going see if the reception is good? And afterwards I buy the airtime? That would be perfect! But how much ist the SIM without any airtime? I hope it is not that expensive...
 
You can get a Vodacom SIM card for between R0.99 and R1.99, just about anywhere !!! Shouldn't bankrupt you. But you have to get it RICA'd before it will work.

Maybe load a R29 voucher on it to test everything. Then you can load a 2GB data bundle if you are happy !

BTW, I don't know what software you are using (Huawei Mobile Partner ? ), but you have to set up an ISP as follows :

1) APN = internet
2) Number = *99#

The rest doesn't matter, leave blank.
 
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No, such a SIM card is really affordable! ;) Now that I know what RICA is, that shouldn't be a problem, too. And I will buy such a voucher just in case. Thanks for the recommendation.

But the question concerning the software is confusing me again. Until now I don't need any software because I was connected via Wireless Lan. Do I have to buy a special software to connect via 3G? I thought Windows7 and my Lenovo Tools would be enough...
 
mercutio1285 said:
Do I have to buy a special software to connect via 3G? I thought Windows7 and my Lenovo Tools would be enough...
Click to expand...

Windows 7 is not enough, you need some HSPA software.

BTW, does your notebook have a 3G modem built-in ? Otherwise you may need to get one.

If your notebook does have a 3G modem built-in, then there should be some software to allow HSPA.

But you will still have to set up the ISP information for Vodacom SA (as mentioned before).
 
Yes, my laptop has a 3G modem built-in. I just haven't used it until now. So, I'm pretty sure that Lenovo has installed some software which allows HSPA.

But thank you for the ISP information. I will tell you how everything worked. Otherwise I will have to give you a message anyway. ;)
 
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