MTN Prepaid Data

[hotdog]

I'm not sure if this has been covered before, but I have a question about using data on a prepaid card and would appreciate it if those in the know could fill the missing blanks:

1) I understand one can convert Voice minutes into data on prepaid by dialing 555 or something like that. What rate will that data be charged at? R2/Mb? or can one ask for a 100Mb bundle given that you have R100 loaded to your prepaid card?
2) Are there restrictions imposed on when one accesses data via prepaid vs via contract? i.e. is there port shaping that is done to prevent prepaid users from accessing certain ports that contract subscribers will be able to access? e.g. will one be able to use VPN with prepaid data?
3) Is there an ability to find out your data usage / current balance when using prepaid data?

Secondly I would like to clarify the MyCall Extend contract:

For R67/month one gets a Novatel 3G card for R149. You can then bolt on a 1Gb contract for R499/month i.e. you get a card and 1Gb data for R566/month or R572.21 if you want to factor ine the R149 up-front investment for the card. But if you go the 1Gb + Data card route it costs you R649. Surely MTN needs to rethink the 1Gb + card contract offering. What data cards are available on the R649 option?

 

[hotdog]

555 Menu option 3 - add data bundle?????

I went out and purchased a Pay as you go Sim card and dialed 555 to try to add my airtime and convert it to data. Option 3 on the IVR menu says that one can add airtime or load a data bundle. However when selecting option 3 there is no further option to add a data bundle, only entering your airtime voucher number. MTNBB / MTNH, why is this? Why does the menu option even mention data bundle when it isn't available? Is this in the pipeline? If so, when?

I tried to browse with the R30 airtime I loaded and couldn't get a connection.

Anyone got this to work yet?

 

[Dolby]

I bought a prepaid MTN SIM card just for GPRS.

The system doesn't differentiate between voice or data airtime : airtime is airtime and you're charged at R2/meg. Charge the SIM with the R30 and you'll get 15MB.

Works for me - because I only chat on IRC I don't even manage to use R10 a month.

The only thing is my normal IRC server (zanet) k-lines me every now and again- and won't let me reconnect again saying 'connection limit has been reached'. Apparantly it's because we all use the same IP address, and the server assumes we're cloning when there's a few on (I think).

 

[hotdog]

I bought a prepaid MTN SIM card just for GPRS.

That's what I'm trying to achieve too.

The system doesn't differentiate between voice or data airtime : airtime is airtime and you're charged at R2/meg. Charge the SIM with the R30 and you'll get 15MB.

Works for me - because I only chat on IRC I don't even manage to use R10 a month.

How do I get it going then? I put my sim into a phone (6310i) that is already setup for GPRS browsing with another MTN contract sim card and then try to browse and it tells me that no connection is possible. (GPRS connection not available) But yet I can put my contract sim back in the phone and it works immediately. Have I left out a step? To be honest I can't remember how I setup the other contract Sim to do GPRS browsing, it was such a long time ago....

 

[Dolby]

If I remember, you had to phone MTN to activate your new SIM card for GPRS/WAP/data (whatever it is called). It can then take up to 24hrs - so do it NOW NOW NOW!

 

[hotdog]

Thanks Dolby, I contacted the "Customer Confuser" and had the settings sent to my phone. Now I have to wait a while to see if it works. I was advised to wait about 5 hours.....

 

[Dolby]

Working now?

I get around 50kbps on GPRS ... which is quicker than my modem.

 

[hotdog]

Working now?

I get around 50kbps on GPRS ... which is quicker than my modem.

Yes it works great! Thanks for your help.
I'm using the sim in a USB Modem so don't have the luxury of being able to dial 555 to find out my outstanding balance. Is there a web interface that I can use to get the current balance of my Pay as you go card? I hear that Vo**com allows one to do this.

 

[MTNHandsets]

Yes it works great! Thanks for your help.
I'm using the sim in a USB Modem so don't have the luxury of being able to dial 555 to find out my outstanding balance. Is there a web interface that I can use to get the current balance of my Pay as you go card? I hear that Vo**com allows one to do this.

Sorry for the late reply to this thread, but if your USB modem supports USSD, and has a dial pad of some sort in software, you can punch in *555# and you should get a response with your current balance. This works on any GSM product that supports USSD.

 

[hotdog]

Sorry for the late reply to this thread, but if your USB modem supports USSD, and has a dial pad of some sort in software, you can punch in *555# and you should get a response with your current balance. This works on any GSM product that supports USSD.

Thanks MTNH - I'll have to find out if the modem supports USSD. There is also no softwre keypad with this modem. In the mean time I tried it on my 6310i and I got a "Request not completed" error message. Does this mean the 6310i does not support USSD?

 

[MTNBroadband]

If the 6310i was purchase *from MTN* it will support USSD. Perhaps try again. Possibly also put your SIM into another handset to try.

 

[hotdog]

If the 6310i was purchase *from MTN* it will support USSD. Perhaps try again. Possibly also put your SIM into another handset to try.

Yes I got the 6310i on an upgrade to my Procall 120 in March 04. I've tried it on a D500 and 3310 (regrettably both Vo**com phones) and it doesn't work either. What gives..... I'm starting to think it's perhaps the sim
Going to hunt for another MTNZanian in the office to test on their phone....

 

[hotdog]

USSD problem with *555#

MTNBB and MTNH, I've tried the Prepaid sim in two "MTN" phones, a 5140 and 6230 and still no luck. In fact I tried *555# on my 6310i with my ProCall 120 sim and it gave me the "This service is only available to Pay...." message. So it seems the phone works..... Is it a sim card problem?

 

[MTNHandsets]

MTNBB and MTNH, I've tried the Prepaid sim in two "MTN" phones, a 5140 and 6230 and still no luck. In fact I tried *555# on my 6310i with my ProCall 120 sim and it gave me the "This service is only available to Pay...." message. So it seems the phone works..... Is it a sim card problem?

Thats possible - it should return a result. If you would like me to follow up, PM the number of that SIM and I will get it checked out for you.