how to load databundle on Android phone, but from Windows over Wifi?

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SilverNodashi

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Hi all,

Does anyone know of an Android application that I can use to load Vodacom (or MTN) databundle onto an Android phone?

Let me explain: My in laws live on a farm 70Km from Rusternburg (i.e no ADSL or phone lines, and poor 3G signal) and he used to use a Nokiad cellphone to connect to the internet but the speeds were slower than dialup. So I got him a cheap Vodafone Android cellphone, to use as a 3G wireless AP and we could put the phone elsewhere where the signal was better and he connects over Wifi to the Phone to get onto the internet.

But, the phone is "too technical" for him and he can't load a 3G data bundle onto the phone. He has to take the SIM card out, put it in his other phone, load airtime, and then convert to data bundle. And since it's too much of a hassle for him, he never does it.


So now I'm looking for something, which works similar to Nokia PC Suite on the laptop which will allow him to load a databundle onto the SIM card, but remotely from his laptop over Wifi. I tried AirDroid, and Remote Desktop for Android, but neither has an option to make a phone call - which is needed to convert airtime to data bundle.

Has anyone done something like this before?
 
Buy airtime using internet banking and then use the Vodacom web site to buy a data bundle.
 
First of all, why not just get a 3G router - it's designed for that purpose?

But to answer your question, use the web portal to load bundels on the SIM card. Just login with the appropriate details using any connection - you could even load the bundles for them if you wanted.
 
or if you bank with FNB, you can recharge data directly from your internet banking.
 
To add to Speedster, with a 3G router you can add an external antenna which will improve the signal substantially.
 
biometrics said:
Buy airtime using internet banking and then use the Vodacom web site to buy a data bundle.
Click to expand...

By the time he runs out, he doesn't have an active data bundle to login to internet banking.

Speedster said:
First of all, why not just get a 3G router - it's designed for that purpose?

But to answer your question, use the web portal to load bundels on the SIM card. Just login with the appropriate details using any connection - you could even load the bundles for them if you wanted.
Click to expand...

Simple: The phone was cheaper, and have other purposes as well. And the outdated dongle he has didn't work with the newer routers I tried (Netgear & something else - but can't remember) and we don't go there often enough at times where I could take back the routers after 7days, without sitting with it afterwards. The 3G dongle worked fine for a while it doesn't allow him to load a data bundle without taking out the SIM card and putting it into a cellphone first.

BUT, even with a router he'll still have the same problems. And, he doesn't have a contract phone, only a pay-as-you-go so he can't evn subscribe to a monthly data bundle.

Madman88 said:
or if you bank with FNB, you can recharge data directly from your internet banking.
Click to expand...
He banks with ABSA, and ABSA only allows him to load airtime, which he still needs to convert to data bundle
 
Leave enough airtime in the account. You can access the VC site when you run out afaik.

Get an integrated router modem not those you plug a usb device in. E.g. Hauwei B660 or the older B970 etc.
 
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biometrics said:
Leave enough airtime in the account. You can access the VC site when you run out afaik.

Get an integrated router modem not those you plug a usb device in. E.g. Hauwei B660 or the older B970 etc.
Click to expand...

Ok, so what I'm asking can't actually be done. FIY, you can't do it with a router either. You still need to load airtime, take out the SIM card,put it in t a cellphone and convert to data.
 
SoftDux-Rudi said:
Ok, so what I'm asking can't actually be done. FIY, you can't do it with a router either. You still need to load airtime, take out the SIM card,put it in t a cellphone and convert to data.
Click to expand...

I don't understand.

I do it all the time: sim is in router and has run out. Go to VC site and buy bundle. Router+sim+internet works again.
 
biometrics said:
I don't understand.

I do it all the time: sim is in router and has run out. Go to VC site and buy bundle. Router+sim+internet works again.
Click to expand...


As I said, he can't do it. It's a Pay-as-you-go SIM card, and he normally notices too late that his bundle is used up. For some odd reason he doesn't get the SMS saying he's only got 3MB left.

I was hoping there's an Android App which would allow him to "make a phone call", i.e. send through the *111# commands over Wifi, from his Windows lapto
 
biometrics said:
Leave enough airtime in the account.
Click to expand...
That will get eaten at the OOB rate.
SoftDux-Rudi said:
As I said, he can't do it. It's a Pay-as-you-go SIM card, and he normally notices too late that his bundle is used up. For some odd reason he doesn't get the SMS saying he's only got 3MB left.
Click to expand...
My father was on Vodacom pre-paid for several months after (unpleasantly) finishing an MTN data contract.
We found the procedure to load airtime and then convert to data incredibly tedious.
He gave me his internet banking details so I could log in and purchase airtime, but not without him having to give me the OTP that he received from the bank by SMS confirming the airtime purchase. Then I had to talk him through the *111# procedure to convert the airtime to a data bundle. One month, he was still online when we did this and as soon as the airtime came through Vodacom grabbed R2, preventing him from converting to the bundle he wanted!

We were both very relieved when Cell-C came along with their 12 month prepaid bundles.
 
ginggs said:
That will get eaten at the OOB rate.

My father was on Vodacom pre-paid for several months after (unpleasantly) finishing an MTN data contract.
We found the procedure to load airtime and then convert to data incredibly tedious.
He gave me his internet banking details so I could log in and purchase airtime, but not without him having to give me the OTP that he received from the bank by SMS confirming the airtime purchase. Then I had to talk him through the *111# procedure to convert the airtime to a data bundle. One month, he was still online when we did this and as soon as the airtime came through Vodacom grabbed R2, preventing him from converting to the bundle he wanted!

We were both very relieved when Cell-C came along with their 12 month prepaid bundles.
Click to expand...

I'm sitting in the same boat right now. He used to have a contract, but we doon realized that it cost too much on OOB if he forgot to activate a data bundle, or subscribe to one.

And more often than not he'd used R150 at OOB rates since he forgot to convert to data bundle, or didn't complete the 7 step procedure. The big problem is, the Android phone is touch screen only and with 2.3inch, its a bit small to see everything in one go.
 
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Speedster said:
If you aren't able to access the VC portal when airtime is depleted, have you tried data transfer? You can "donate" data from your account to his. Simply go USSD menu (*111#), option 3.

See here: http://www.vodacom.co.za/personal/m...roadband/databundletransfertermsandconditions

Also, to safeguard from OOB rates - use Advanced bundles, they're more expensive but provide insurance against OOB.
Click to expand...

Thank you for repeating what I already know..........

I'm looking for an Android application that will make the whole process a bit easier.
 
biometrics said:
Why would an Android app get free data?
Click to expand...

If I'm understanding the OP correctly, he's looking for an app that will allow him to send USSD commands from his laptop when connected to the Wifi hotspot created by the Android. Don't think that's going to work though.
 
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But seriously, how hard is it for your in-laws to pick up the phone and enter a couple of USSD commands to buy the bundle?

Just FYI, there are a couple of 3G routers that allow for USSD commands to be sent via the settings interface.
 
Speedster said:
If I'm understanding the OP correctly, he's looking for an app that will allow him to send USSD commands from his laptop when connected to the Wifi hotspot created by the Android. Don't think that's going to work though.
Click to expand...

Ah I see. Won't be hard to write such an app but how to access it. Vnc?
 
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