Best option for connectivity?

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leondejager

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Hi,

I am currently in the UK and will be traveling to South Africa in about two months time for a short visit (3 Weeks) to my friends and family.

Unfortunately I need to be able to get online where ever I am at any given time due to the nature of my work.

What would be the best solution for me? I have looked at both MTN and Vodacom sites but to me it looks as if I would need a contract of 24 months to use HSDPA/GPRS/EDGE services?

ANY information much appreciated and thanks in advance.
 
Nope, you don't need a contract.

Prepaid data bundles retail at ~R389 for 2GB, but they expire after 1 month.

Smaller bundles are also available, but the cost/MB is a bit higher for those...
 
Stick to prepaid, its the best way to monitor your usage and NOT pay a huge bill to Vodacom each month :)
 
Hi,

Thanks for the information guys.

Do you perhaps know how much the datacard costs from Vodacom?
 
As far as i know from between R1800 to R2200. Depending on the Outlet you purchase it from.
 
Hi,

Yes, posted it in the MTN section as well... hehe sorry! :) I wanted to be 100% sure of what would be the best option... but I am still not sure. I am checking both MTN and Vodacom's coverage maps of where I will be during my 3 week stay, hopefully I should get an idea of what would be the best solution.

To confirm, I can purchase a datacard from any Vodacom shop (R1800 - R2200) and also the prepaid data bundle (R389 for 2GB) and that would be all I need?

Again, thank you very much for the information :)
 
That would be all you need :) Just dont forget to call customer care to activate the services for you!
 
Yep sure will do!

I have checked on the coverage map, and one one place I will be for the first week there are no HSDPA or EDGE only GPRS/GSM. If I get the datacard will the GPRS/GSM be any good?

Also, does it absolutely have to be a Vodacom/Vodafone datacard? What about cards like the Globetrotter HSDPA / 3G / EDGE / GPRS / GSM or Merlin XU870 3G HSDPA 3.6/7.2 Mbps ExpressCard? Will they work on the Vodacom network and say where HSDPA is available use it, and where it's not available fall back to EDGE or GRPS services?

Many thanks in advance :)
 
leondejager said:
Hi,

To confirm, I can purchase a datacard from any Vodacom shop (R1800 - R2200) and also the prepaid data bundle (R389 for 2GB) and that would be all I need?
Click to expand...

Yes, that and a R1.99 SIM card at Pick n Pay.

Get the HSDPA data card, the cheap R1.99 Prepaid SIM from Pick n Pay, and enough airtime vouchers also from PnP to cover the data bundle, then load the vouchers, then dial *111# and use R389 of the airtime to buy the 2G data bundle.
This took me about 30 mins and I was on-line.
 
leondejager said:
Yep sure will do!

I have checked on the coverage map, and one one place I will be for the first week there are no HSDPA or EDGE only GPRS/GSM. If I get the datacard will the GPRS/GSM be any good?

Also, does it absolutely have to be a Vodacom/Vodafone datacard? What about cards like the Globetrotter HSDPA / 3G / EDGE / GPRS / GSM or Merlin XU870 3G HSDPA 3.6/7.2 Mbps ExpressCard? Will they work on the Vodacom network and say where HSDPA is available use it, and where it's not available fall back to EDGE or GRPS services?

Many thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

It will auto switch to the service available.

Any non-network locked card will work - I use an Express Card bought abroad and it works fine on MTN and VC.
 
leondejager said:
Yep sure will do!

I have checked on the coverage map, and one one place I will be for the first week there are no HSDPA or EDGE only GPRS/GSM. If I get the datacard will the GPRS/GSM be any good?

Also, does it absolutely have to be a Vodacom/Vodafone datacard? What about cards like the Globetrotter HSDPA / 3G / EDGE / GPRS / GSM or Merlin XU870 3G HSDPA 3.6/7.2 Mbps ExpressCard? Will they work on the Vodacom network and say where HSDPA is available use it, and where it's not available fall back to EDGE or GRPS services?

Many thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

The cards you mention are the actual 'Vodacom' cards.

As Frankie says any unlocked card will work, but a lot of the UK/European operators still lock their cards.

You can also rent a card while in SA.

If you want, PM me the areas you're worried about and I can get more detailed info on coverage for you.
 
And you'll get better support with VC - thanks to fellows like V3G and i.c. here.
 
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