E220 & Top-Up Query

[gpe]

Hi, Currently on 2gig 24month contract with MTN ... I want to get a E220 for my mom with 1gig or 500meg package but pay as you go. Just want to confirm a few things.

I can buy the modem upfront for R1590 (I went to Century City and the three different MTN stores told me all different prices .. R2000 R1800 R1590 ..so I'm going to go with cheapest one Don't know why the stores prices are different there).

Then basically I buy a SIM for R10 or whatever.. Activate it? (R240)?
Then do I buy R189 worth of airtime ..dial 141 ..choose data bundle ..enter number and viola!? ie: My mom now has 500mb to use every thirty days???

Am I understanding this all correctly???

So once the 500mb is used up, the internet stops working?!?!?

(I refuse to put her on any contract since I've just had so many problems with my own out of bundle data rates, and don't want to put her through that)

btw: I also queried a Vodacom shop ..they said their modems are R2000 also ((which I'm suspect of since don't see why they would be more)).

And corrections or feedback appreciated
{Still at thinking about whether I should do same thing via VC but both MTN and VC offer basically same services and features with this setup}

 

[ginggs]

I would hold on a few weeks for the new E270 or E272 devices to become available, then get one of the newer ones, or get the E220 cheaper.

Then basically I buy a SIM for R10 or whatever.. Activate it? (R240)?

You can get the SIM cards for R1 if you shop around, there is no activation fee for pre-paid.

Then do I buy R189 worth of airtime ..dial 141 ..choose data bundle ..enter number and viola!? ie: My mom now has 500mb to use every thirty days???

I think you'll need to buy the bundle every month, but it can now be done using USSD commands with the SIM in the data card instead of putting the SIM into a phone and calling.

So once the 500mb is used up, the internet stops working?!?!?

Correct.

It doesn't matter whether you get the modem from MTN or Vodacom, you can use either SIM card in both devices.
Buy both SIM cards and see which works best for you.

 

[gpe]

Thanks for info + confirming.

Hmmm, yeah I see theres a E272 .. worth the wait then (depending on cost)

 

[Bikerza]

Cost aside, the current E220 modems can do up to 3.6Mb.
Just wondering whether MTN will invest in upgrading all towers first to 3.6 and then again to 7.2? How long do you reckon it will take to get to 7.2 on most towers?
Also, if I understood it correctly, MTN is not the bottle neck here, but rather our beloved Telscum?
So ... there is your Ferrari, but the "LAW" (read telkom) says: Hello! We do not like your fast car, so please stop every 100m!