Tech help-Router

silver

silver

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Location
Tathra, Far South Coast, NSW
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2005
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Forester
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I'm thinking of getting a tablet of somekind...only a small one like the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 or 8.
I already have mobile broadband with Telstra..i have the 4G dongle..the black one..could be called the Elite. It uses 4G when available or switches back to 3G when it has to. 4G will be down here in about 18 months, so that's good.
I don't want to get another plan. I would just be using the tablet for a bit of fun.
The chick at Harvey Norman told me i could get a router that you plug into a power point and plug in the mobile dongle and it creats a wifi hotspot and i could then connect the tablet. That would be good.
They didn't have one there for me to look at and i don't know what they are called to check them out online.
Can anyone send me a link to what i am looking for or tell me what they are called??
Thanks.
 
It needs a power supply...right? So i would need to keep the dongle for camping when i don't have 240v??
I'll ring telstra anyway. It says down the bottom that you can get one with any plan for $48. Only new plans i reckon but they are always pretty good with me so i will see what i can do.
 
Nope, it will charge from USB to micro USB.
 
For me to get one i have to start a new plan and if i want to keep the dongle i will have to have 2 plans.
What i am after is available,Telstra said that JB HiFi sell them as a Telstra reseller. About $75. I have also sent an email to Netgear and Dlink to see what they have to say.
No hurry.
 
Most mid-high end routers these days have USB ports that can provide this function. If you head into a JB Hi-fi, tell them what you need and they should be able to help you out.
 
What confuses me when i read the tech specs is that they say they have a usb port to connect your mass storage device. I get it that this means a memory stick etc but is a mobile dongle a mass storage device???
 
Gidday Silver

I would not think so. It stands in the place of a hard-wired connection to the Internet.

I would have thought that the dongle would probably get plugged in to the "LINE" port on the modem/router/whatever, via a USB to RJ-45 connector. I had a wireless LAN dongle that worked this way a long time ago.
 
Apparently..this is what i am after. I need to check my dongle to see if it is compatable. There are no 4G routers..my dongle uses 3G (NextG) when 4g is not available.
https://www.netgear.com/3G
Just checked ..none are compatable with my dongle which is a Sierra Wireless AC320U. They are listing only 3G dongles but mine uses 3G so i will have to check with Telstra.
 
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Ok. This is apparently what i need.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/104758
This is a prepaid one but i am advised i can buy one outright.
ZTE MF70.
It uses 3G or 4G. I take out my sim from my dongle and put it into this one. Buy a plug in portable wall charger with a usb port and it is a wifi hot spot.
Telstra does not advise using the routers with mobile dongles as they have had many complaints about them not working or corrupting the dongle. She said they can work for days or months but can just pack up overnight.
I'm not really sure if i need to buy one as a prepaid and just by changing the sim all is OK but if i can get any sense out of the Telstra shop in Bega all could be clear.
 
Might want to take alook at something like this silver https://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/44330-tl-mr3020

Should plug in with your usb dongle, is powered by USB and creates a wifi access point. alternatibly your dongle contains a simcard, you can always just buy a gsm wifi hotspot and put the simcard in it.
 
That reads ok. After talking to telstra i might stick with their products. If something goes wrong it's easy to get it fixed.
I think this is a better pic of the thing. I reckon it is the one with 'NEW' on it. Maybe a bit pricey compared to the other one but i reckon i could trust it.
https://www.telstra.com.au/online-shop/mobile-broadband.cfm#/prepaid
 
Telstra was pretty useless tbo when my phone broke, was still under contract and wanted $250 to fix the speaker, ended up buying the part for 12 bucks and doing it myself.

Telstra for mobile internet is easily the most expensive form of internet next to satellite, but its the best and most reliable coverage. I've a telstra next g plan for my mobile and i've almost always got reception, plus for $49 for $400 included calls a month and 1gb of data i cant really complain. that 1gb is pretty dam useful traveling. I'm not changing plans now im out of contract, because the closest to what i have now is $60 bucks ridiculous really
 
I'm constantly amazed, when i'm moving around, to come across people who have no reception for their mobile and when i check with them they are with Optus or Vodafail etc. When i ask them why thy are not with Telstra the usual reply is 'too expensive'.
My usual reply is 'maybe...but it works!':poke:
I'm different. I LOVE Telstra:ebiggrin::ebiggrin:
Although, at times, i have had problems they have always been fixed up and i usually get a credit of some sort if i hassel them enough. Generally, 99.99%, of the time, all is good.
Since that yankee Ziggy whatever his name was, left and the present bloke took over they have improved OUT OF SIGHT!!
Expensive?? I'm not sure..i don't have a smartphone..a simple plan with my phone...$15pm with free calls to anyone,any network,anyphone between 7-8pm for a max of 20mins. Suits me. I get $15 worth of free calls which i use for txts if i need someone to ring me.
My mobile broadband is the fastest you can get in Aus. 4G dongle which uses 3G if it has to. It's a 4gig plan for $29.95pm.
So all up $44.95. Thats all i need.
I also have a free number to call Telstra if i have problems.
In the two calls i have made to them this week regarding the wifi stuff i waited about 1 minute for the first call and about 30 secs for the next call.
If you want the best out of Telstra you need to talk to them on the phone,not the shops,you need to sign up for 2 year contracts and bundle everything you can. You also need to stay with them as this gives you bargaining power. Normal stuff really.
If you are moving around Oz..Telstra...that's it!! If you are having trouble buy an areial and a patch lead for your mobile and mobile broadband dongle.
 
I agree that if you are travelling Telstra is it for sure.
 
silver said:
I'm constantly amazed, when i'm moving around, to come across people who have no reception for their mobile and when i check with them they are with Optus or Vodafail etc. When i ask them why thy are not with Telstra the usual reply is 'too expensive'.
Click to expand...
I totally agree re the mobile coverage :iconwink:

All my other stuff is with optus (land line, home internet etc)
I found that what they offer & for what I need, they are very good.

But as I said above, for when you're out & about, Telstra is the go.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Ha..it goes on!! I had the wrong info. Telstra(bigpond technical fellow) does not advise doing what i was told to do re swapping sims as things work on different settings and it could well become unstable..he suggested i should upgrade to the modem....as mentioned by Kevin early in the thread. He said an upgrade...that is just purchase the modem off telstra means i don't have to muck around setting up a new plan etc.
I will talk to the feelow in the shop next week. This is a bit of a pain in the a..e!!
Should be able to just buy stuff,plug things in and stuff works!!
 
silver said:
I'm constantly amazed, when i'm moving around, to come across people who have no reception for their mobile and when i check with them they are with Optus or Vodafail etc. When i ask them why thy are not with Telstra the usual reply is 'too expensive'.
Click to expand...

Fair go there. Please don't say "Optus" and "Vodafail" in the same breath. Telstra has the best network, no argument there, but the Optus network is pretty good everywhere except the government-mandated service guarantee areas Telstra is required to service even though it loses lots of money doing it. (Most of outback Queensland, for example.) I used the Optus network quite happily for many years, although I'm using Telstra now. (I pay $30 a month flat. What's not to like.)
 
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