FAQ Discussions - please read the sticky FAQ thread first

Also keep in mind that capacity will be upgraded when there is a requirement to do so. Does not make sense to upgrade 'Gat-sonder-whatever' if only one data user connects once a year.
 
Is it true that you need to upgrade your SIM to 64K to use 3G/HSDPA?
 
LittleG said:
Hi
Will the router on "special" from Vodacom work with the new datacard?
Will it still work at old 3G speeds before 1 June?

http://www.vodacom.co.za/packages/3g/datacard_specials.jsp
Click to expand...

It's an interresting situation.

If you buy the router today, you should get the HSDPA card. But the software to make this card work even on 3G will only be available later.

Check with your local Vodashop if the have a canned solution for this. I'll also follow up and revert.
 
Router

Thanks
I am looking at the best wireless and mobile service for 2 laptops with wireless so we can share the internet connection.
At the moment the HSDPA card is free with the 2 year contract which is inviting, but what is the expected nw package offerings?
Only 3G data speeds at lower price?
Or will just the datacards be cheaper than the new ones?

As Speed is not my biggest issue, will it be safer to stick to getting hold of a normal 3G card as then I will soon pay lower rates?
 
LittleG said:
Thanks
I am looking at the best wireless and mobile service for 2 laptops with wireless so we can share the internet connection.
At the moment the HSDPA card is free with the 2 year contract which is inviting, but what is the expected nw package offerings?
Only 3G data speeds at lower price?
Or will just the datacards be cheaper than the new ones?

As Speed is not my biggest issue, will it be safer to stick to getting hold of a normal 3G card as then I will soon pay lower rates?
Click to expand...

Another option is to buy the router outright, buy a 3G card from the forum (see they're being offered @ R450!) get a messenger or other 'cheap' contract and strap a data bundle onto it.

You then own the hardware and can easily switch packages in the future if you so require.
 
Contract

So I buy router, a 3G card and I get data bundles on a 4U contract?
Therefore no monthly contract fee but is still considered a contract?
 
vodacom3g said:
They are on the way, but I don't think we have right now.
Click to expand...

I know it’s only been a couple of days since your last post on this but do you have any further info, as I need one ASAP. Is there any official date when the 3G HSDPA ExpressCard will be available.:confused:
 
hops said:
I know it’s only been a couple of days since your last post on this but do you have any further info, as I need one ASAP. Is there any official date when the 3G HSDPA ExpressCard will be available.:confused:
Click to expand...

Last date I got was around middle of the year, but I'll try and get a better estimate.
 
vodacom3g said:
Last date I got was around middle of the year, but I'll try and get a better estimate.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I appreciate it.
 
vodacom3g said:
Any contract signed after 1 Feb will get a free swap out. Take it up with your (his) SP. Let me know the outcome.
Click to expand...

Hi V3G - I sent you a PM re this - can you please come back to me thanks.
 
Existing 3G Customers wanting HSDPA

jpd said:
Now I got my "old" 3G card on the 23rd January on a contract - at the time i was told that there would be no problem exchanging my card for one of the new HSDPA versions - now I read that only cards bought after 1 Feb 2006 will be swapped out at no cost - seems a little unfair that I will miss this by 7 days.

V3G in practical terms what will be the process be for me to swap my card and how will I have to pay in?
Click to expand...


It seems that there is a lot of confusion regarding how an existing V 3G customer can upgrade to the HSDPA card. There must be some options available to suite everyones needs. But I have not heard about the 1st of Feb being some type of milestone.

V3G, could you please clarify the various options that existing 3G customers have.
 
Hoodwink said:
It seems that there is a lot of confusion regarding how an existing V 3G customer can upgrade to the HSDPA card. There must be some options available to suite everyones needs. But I have not heard about the 1st of Feb being some type of milestone.

V3G, could you please clarify the various options that existing 3G customers have.
Click to expand...

It's all in the first post of the HSDPA FAQ.
 
Anyone know were cards avalible in Dbn (HSDPA) ?
Please dont say pav. those people are frikkin clueless
 
jpd said:
Hi V3G - I sent you a PM re this - can you please come back to me thanks.
Click to expand...

Got your PM.

Upgrades are typically based on age of the original contract, the older the contract, the easier (money-wise) to upgrade. So a 15 month contract (about the oldest 3G contract at the moment) will cost around R900 to upgrade to HSDPA.

A two month contract would be around R2000.

To help people who have very young contracts, it was decided to do free swap-outs for any contract after 1st of Feb. You just missed this cut-off.

Vodacom had to pick some date and whatever the date someone is bound to just miss it. I have asked though.....

Out of the current options, your best bet is probably the R400 trade-in option.
 
vodacom3g said:
Looks like the Novatel U870 HSDPA ExpressCard might be available around June/July timeframe, currently in Alpha.
Click to expand...

Awesome! Thanks… I believe Novatel's Merlin U870 is capable of speeds up to 3.6Mbps. Does this mean that this card will be able to reach these speeds or does it rely on a network upgrade for this? I’m sure it will need the network upgrade but just making sure…
 
hops said:
Awesome! Thanks… I believe Novatel's Merlin U870 is capable of speeds up to 3.6Mbps. Does this mean that this card will be able to reach these speeds or does it rely on a network upgrade for this? I’m sure it will need the network upgrade but just making sure…
Click to expand...

Probably just a software upgrade again, but will check.
 
ic said:
Not exactly, any Vodacom sim card will do - it does not have to be your 3G data card's sim card - if you have an ordinary 2G contract or pre-paid sim in an ordinary cell phone, then use that to find the cellid - it isn't an exact science, but it should do the trick in most cases :).

Your 2G cell phone might be set to not display the cellid, if you have a Nokia cell phone, look for a setting similar to:
"Cell Info Display"
and make sure it is enabled.

Also, when you see "3G Enabled" on a 2G cell phone, it does not mean that your 2G cell phone supports 3G, it does mean that the cell tower your 2G cell phone is seeing, also has 3G equipment installed on the same cell tower / mast / fake palm tree ;).

Hope that explains it a bit better :).
Click to expand...
Speaking of sim cards - do I really need a 64k card for my HSDPA data card? If yes, why?
 
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