Telkom LTE Account Question

[AntennaMan]

Good afternoon

I was contacted by Telkom Mobile, wanting to come to my home to do a test for their LTE service. I told them I already have the 10GB+10GB contract thing, for almost 3 years now. I asked the consultant if I can just pop my current sim card into a LTE modem/router. His reply, "No sir, we are a different department. You will have to take out another contract".

Now this sounds like nonsense to me. I am sure he basically just wants to extort me for more money. So unless Telkom Mobile has done something funny on the network side which "block" sims from accessing the LTE network, everything should be fine.

Has anyone successfully tried using an existing sim in a LTE modem?

 

[RichardG]

All SIM CARDS work on LTE, no provision required.

Just a consultant wanting to extort money from you to get his commission! I would have put down the phone on his/her face.

 

[AntennaMan]

So I got hold of a Sierra Wireless 4G router, I put my sim in and... nothing. It keeps searching for a network.

According to the Telkom Mobile LTE coverage website there is coverage where I am. This means that either the coverage is bad, or the SIM does need to be provisioned to work on the LTE network. I got the contract about 2.5 years ago. At that time LTE was probably still only an afterthought for TM.

Any suggestions?

 

[P924]

So I got hold of a Sierra Wireless 4G router, I put my sim in and... nothing. It keeps searching for a network.

According to the Telkom Mobile LTE coverage website there is coverage where I am. This means that either the coverage is bad, or the SIM does need to be provisioned to work on the LTE network. I got the contract about 2.5 years ago. At that time LTE was probably still only an afterthought for TM.

Any suggestions?

Go to a TM shop and get a sim swap. R5.80, and when I did it I needed no more than my old sim. They did not even check my ID.

 

[AntennaMan]

Go to a TM shop and get a sim swap. R5.80, and when I did it I needed no more than my old sim. They did not even check my ID.

According to the Telkom Mobile Consultant I currently have on the chat, the 10GB+10GB promo is fixed on 3G. I cannot understand why this will be.

Do you have the 10GB+10GB promo?

 

[P924]

According to the Telkom Mobile Consultant I currently have on the chat, the 10GB+10GB promo is fixed on 3G. I cannot understand why this will be.

Do you have the 10GB+10GB promo?

Yes, but I don't have an LTE capable device to test. I am pretty sure your SIM would not support it, my new one says LTE on it.

 

[AntennaMan]

Yes, but I don't have an LTE capable device to test. I am pretty sure your SIM would not support it, my new one says LTE on it.

I will test it, R5.80 is not that expensive. Hopefully it really is that simple. ('scuse the pun).

 

[RichardG]

I will test it, R5.80 is not that expensive. Hopefully it really is that simple. ('scuse the pun).

What is the name of the router you are using with model number please. I want to see if this router is compatible with Telkom Mobile LTE network cause Telkom Mobile use 2300 MHZ Freq

 

[AntennaMan]

So, I did a sim-swop at the Telkom shop in Cresta. While waiting, I see an ad in the Telkom booklet for the 10GB+10GB data together with the Huawei LTE router. I ask the guy there if my new sim will work and he confirms that it will.

This guy sounded as if he knows what he is talking about. I get home, insert the new sim card into the LTE router and it works. It shows that I am connectoed to the Telkom 4G network.

What is the name of the router you are using with model number please. I want to see if this router is compatible with Telkom Mobile LTE network cause Telkom Mobile use 2300 MHZ Freq

AT&T Elevate 4G Router.

It seems that my old sim card wasn't provisioned for 4G. New one works fine. Signal strength isn't great, but I am only using the internal antennas. Now I can take a look at the nice Huawei B593 router, maybe coupled with Poynting external antennas.

Thanks for all the help guys. I hope this thread can help other people in similar situations.

 

[NSB]

Thank you AntennaMan !

I was wondering if my 10GB+10GB would work, at least you put my mind at rest

 

[Joe505]

Thank you AntennaMan !

I was wondering if my 10GB+10GB would work, at least you put my mind at rest

+1, Thanks AntennaMan

Quick question:

Where is the cheapest place to buy a router compatible with TM's LTE network?

TIA

 

[AntennaMan]

Quick question:

Where is the cheapest place to buy a router compatible with TM's LTE network?

Not sure about the cheapest, but Otto Wireless in randburg has the Huawei B593 as does Poynting in Samrand. With VAT included they are priced similar. Maybe try Pricecheck or directly at TM?

When you find the cheapest solution, please let us know.

Just some added info, TM came to do a demo at my flat with the B593 LTE router. The guy did not even connect the external blade antennas. Ping averaged about 25ms, DL = 25Mbps, UL = 5 Mbps.

Call me impressed.

 

[Azimuth]

Makro also do the B593 and generally Huawei devices now.

Also look out for the ZTE MF253, it might be a cheaper alternative but has yet to gain popularity here. (Remember to check for TM 2300MHz support)

 

[Joe505]

Thanks guys. I will check around and let you know if I come across something.

 

[Joe505]

Hi guys.

Just thought i'd let you know I purchased the Huawei B593s-601 from Telkom for R1499.

I havent modified any settings yet, and I am aware that my building doesnt have the best of signal, but when I done the speed test this morning I was getting 23.05mbps DL and 2.06 UL Ping 29ms.

Are there settings I could modify to possibly increase the speed?

 

[Azimuth]

What!? Is that price correct?

To answer your question, you can't change settings to improve your service.

Are you getting LTE reception (blue) or using 3G (green)?

Please post your RSSI/RSRP/RSRQ and then refer to one of the following sections to improve your service:

The Huawei B593 LTE discussion thread

Antenna installation and alignment

The Poynting Antenna discussion thread

 

[Joe505]

Yes thats the price my friend who works for Telkom got it for. Probably staff discount or something

Yup I am getting LTE (blue light) reception.

Regarding RSSI/RSRP/RSRQ, please inform me what those are and how I go about obtaining that information.

 

[Azimuth]

Ah. I was about to broadcast that price.

Please check the links above. You'll find everything you need to know.

Very quickly - how many blue signal bars? I'm guessing one or two?

 

[Joe505]

Ah. I was about to broadcast that price.

Please check the links above. You'll find everything you need to know.

Very quickly - how many blue signal bars? I'm guessing one or two?

Haha!

Okay cool I am going to read up and then i'll post my information.

I get three bars hey.

 

[Azimuth]

I'll see you in the other sections. This thread has served it's purpose for you, time to take the Stargate.