My R13000 Data Bill

[vodacom3g]

Im using my data card in a linksys router..also no sms`s or any way to get Vodacom notifications....

Are you using the ALTNUM function?

 

[Keeper]

Im a bit off topic I know, just wanted to say something..
At the price of OOB rates, i can't see Internet Piracy a threat in South Africa, as 700MB a movie would cost you R1400 - I would much rather but the DVD, LOL

 

[vodacom3g]

Indeed, however none of those are available to the customer to customize and expand [even at a fee]. I.e. one SMS at 90%,95%..not enough really, you'd want an SMS once the bundle is depleted , say every R100-R400 ALSO. Or you'd like a cap [i.e. R1000] which you can set yourself without your account be suspended , without needing to phone Vodacom helpdesk [we know how much fun that is].

There are a number of SMS that get sent, I think it's 3, 2 before the bundle depletes and 1 at 100%.

You can set a hard-cap at any value you choose. Last time I looked, it was possible to do it via 4me. Not sure if the page is still there.

 

[pkid]

Im a bit off topic I know, just wanted to say something..
At the price of OOB rates, i can't see Internet Piracy a threat in South Africa, as 700MB a movie would cost you R1400 - I would much rather but the DVD, LOL

Lol. True.

I think that prepaid is the way to go. Used to add the bundle to my contract but then ended up spending way more than I wanted. A R5 Vodacom prepaid SIM and I am a very happy user!

 

[CyraxHB]

It takes less than an hour to crack the password on a wireless router so i wouldnt be surprised if someone did that.

 

[pkid]

It takes less than an hour to crack the password on a wireless router so i wouldnt be surprised if someone did that.

With a 62 character, random, strong password and WPA2-AES I doubt it will take an hour...

 

[CyraxHB]

With a 62 character, random, strong password and WPA2-AES I doubt it will take an hour...

With WPA it will take longer but it can be done. Ive twice detected another PC connected to my network. Im in london and luckily the broadband is uncapped so no harm done.

 

[pkid]

With WPA it will take longer but it can be done. Ive twice detected another PC connected to my network. Im in london and luckily the broadband is uncapped so no harm done.

Do you have MAC filtering on so that only authorised MACS can connect?

 

[CyraxHB]

Do you have MAC filtering on so that only authorised MACS can connect?

Since the incident I have turned it on. But with most networks I have tested its off which I think is the manufacturers default.

 

[AK65]

Just a last word on the subject. Both Vodacom and MTN have, as their business model, the 'keep feeding rope' concept. Sign up a customer for a contract, and then happily let them overrun their monthly quota. That's how you make money, out of the OOB data and the OOC calls.

So, please can we have a hard cap, Vodacom? Even if I overrun by a few hundred rand, I would rather find that internet is not working than receive the bill for R13000!

Oh I did have MAC filtering on but the feature was broken on the WAP (stopped accepting new addresses) so I had to turn it off...

 

[Maelly]

So, how did it go?

 

[vodacom3g]

Just a last word on the subject. Both Vodacom and MTN have, as their business model, the 'keep feeding rope' concept. Sign up a customer for a contract, and then happily let them overrun their monthly quota. That's how you make money, out of the OOB data and the OOC calls.

So, please can we have a hard cap, Vodacom? Even if I overrun by a few hundred rand, I would rather find that internet is not working than receive the bill for R13000!

Oh I did have MAC filtering on but the feature was broken on the WAP (stopped accepting new addresses) so I had to turn it off...

We've had a hardcap facility from day 1.

 

[Roman4604]

So, please can we have a hard cap, Vodacom? Even if I overrun by a few hundred rand, I would rather find that internet is not working than receive the bill for R13000!

Just as a sanity check, did some calculations to see what kind of bills could be run up (@ R2/MB for OOB traffic) if ones connection was left up while some type of malicious (virus/trojan), unforseen (backround update) or other accidental traffic was being generated.

I've used a sustained average transfer rate of either 512Kbps or 1 Mbps for illustration (note these are conservative as both up & down bytes are counted). The time delay is the lapse between when your data bundle runs out and the monetary call limit has been physically applied on the network (i.e. disconnected) ...

Time            Cost          Cost
Delay           @512Kbps      @1Mbps
-----           --------      --------
1/2 hr          R225          R450
1 hr            R450          R900
3hr             R1,350        R2,700
6hr             R2,700        R5,400
12hr            R5,400        R10,800
24hr            R10,800       R21,600
36hr            R16,200       R32,400
48hr            R21,600       R43,200

If my calcs are right (think so?), then be careful out there!

 

[ic]

Just as a sanity check, did some calculations to see what kind of bills could be run up (@ R2/MB for OOB traffic) if ones connection was left up while some type of malicious (virus/trojan), unforseen (backround update) or other accidental traffic was being generated.

I've used a sustained average transfer rate of either 512Kbps or 1 Mbps for illustration (note these are conservative as both up & down bytes are counted). The time delay is the lapse between when your data bundle runs out and the monetary call limit has been physically applied on the network (i.e. disconnected) ...

Time            Cost          Cost
Delay           @512Kbps      @1Mbps
-----           --------      --------
1/2 hr          R225          R450
1 hr            R450          R900
3hr             R1,350        R2,700
6hr             R2,700        R5,400
12hr            R5,400        R10,800
24hr            R10,800       R21,600
36hr            R16,200       R32,400
48hr            R21,600       R43,200

If my calcs are right (think so?), then be careful out there!

Not completely accurate , since we are discussing Contract Data Bundles here, the OOBR of ZAR2.00/MB does not apply to all CDBs, have a look at the following OOBR info for CDBs:
http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/mobile_data/vodacom_what_cost.jsp
specifically:

• the OOBR for CDBs <= 150MB in size, is ZAR2.00/MB;
• the OOBR for the 250MB CDB is ZAR1.50/MB;
• the OOBR for the 500MB, 1GB, and 2GB CDBs is ZAR1.20/MB; and
• the OOBR for the 3GB, 5GB, and 10GB CDBs is ZAR1.00/MB

one should also take into account the current maximum upload limit of 384kbits/s where malware is concerned and transferring data on the uplink - this would further limit the amount of data that can be transferred at an OOBR, whereas the downlink is far more dangerous - as was the case with AK65 where someone had hijacked the wifi sharing of the connection to download data.

When this started, I was under my 2GB bundle. When this stream eventually stopped, R11000 of bandwidth had been used.

In AK65's case, the OOBR of ZAR1.20/MB would be applicable.

What AK65 should do ASAP, if AK65 intends to continue using CDBs [as opposed to switching to PPDBs], is to enable [searchforum]"Call Limit"[/searchforum], however enabling "Call Limit" is not a substitute for continually monitoring the amount of data being transferred.

 

[shadow_man]

Do you have MAC filtering on so that only authorised MACS can connect?

/fakemac - yeah like thats not hard to do pfffft. open aircrack look at macs connected spoof one - wow oh so hard - its worthless i dont bother.

J

 

[Roman4604]

the OOBR of ZAR2.00/MB does not apply to all CDBs

OK then @ R1 just half the costs in the table, they're still scary numbers.

one should also take into account the current maximum upload limit of 384kbits/s where malware is concerned and transferring data on the uplink

Thing is its still happening at greater rates than 384Kbps, taking into account that up & down are both counted.

however enabling "Call Limit" is not a substitute for continually monitoring the amount of data being transferred.

The reason for my 'be careful' warning.

 

[AK65]

We've had a hardcap facility from day 1.

How? I'm being lazy

BTW update:

I have accepted Vodacom's offer of goodwill and am being passed a credit of R6223, which means the whole escapade has cost me R6000 - odd.

Hopefully my misfortune can be used as a lesson to others. I will be upgrading squid, iptables, WiFi security etc. to make sure this doesn't happen to me again.....

 

[Snowolf]

reminds me on when I forgot to log off my ISDN over the week........... prepaid is the answer

 

[MidnightWizard]

Oob -- Danger

Sounds like movies being downloaded

Unfortunately one has to be so ultra-cautious and use every security feature that one can. Wireless is apparently still not properly secure. I suppose if everyone got a 1Gb FREE / Bandwidth was a lot more affordable as per other countries there would be No need for this bandwidth theft.

Some routers have the ability to send email updates -- these can be set according to time intervals -- so I suppose if you could check your email frequently you might notice something.

Switch the damn thing OFF when you do not need to use it`.

Maybe I do not understand PP and Bundles properly and so my frustration is unwarranted ?

If my experience is correct....

You cannot top up a bundle in the same month period

There is NO data roll-over to a following month period.

It would appear that one then needs to do "SIM-FARMING" ( Just like in the old Telkom ADSL days ) So perhaps in this regard Vodacom are now BEHIND TELKOM

Is there some other way to recharge your pre-paid SIM apart from having to put it into a hand set ? ( I am using a Novatel embedded device)

and of course my old gripe about an integrated NON web based SMS MMS EMAIL client.

Man if only I could find a way of getting a R13,000 data stream every 12hrs straight into my bank account


KZNChris

 

[vodacom3g]

Maybe I do not understand PP and Bundles properly and so my frustration is unwarranted ?

If my experience is correct....

You cannot top up a bundle in the same month period

You can

There is NO data roll-over to a following month period.

Bundles can roll into the new month. Data bundles last 30 days, irrespective of when you bought it.

It would appear that one then needs to do "SIM-FARMING" ( Just like in the old Telkom ADSL days ) So perhaps in this regard Vodacom are now BEHIND TELKOM

No, maybe you're thinking of MTN? I believe they do 'SIM farming' over there...

Is there some other way to recharge your pre-paid SIM apart from having to put it into a hand set ? ( I am using a Novatel embedded device)

A few ways.