This was posted 9 years 4 months 17 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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VF Pocket Wi-Fi 3GB 3G $19 at Australia Post

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Vodafone Prepaid Pocket Wifi $19
Include 3GB of data for use in 30 day

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Australia Post

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  • how can you unlock it?

    • -1

      http://vodafone.com.au/unlock
      Last time I unlocked a modem it was going to cost $75 from Vodafone (incl. a $25 online discount).
      Generally it gets cheaper if you use the modem and purchase recharges with it, or by how long you've had the device since activating it (6 months+ before you see a discount if I recall correctly)
      The only way to be 100% sure is calling them up!

      • +5

        I have bought this 3 months ago from BIG W for the same price and just to let you know it's already UNLOCKED. Just change it's APN Settings, if you wanna use a sim card from another provider.

    • +4

      sometimes it is unlocked out of the box, just insert a non-voda sim and if you see the message "invalid sim", try to request a free unlock code from vodafone website. If its not free, then buy the code for $1.8 from ebay
      http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/251724875090?nav=SEARCH

    • +3

      If you just want a cheap usb mobile thingy, then get the telstra elite pre paid here…
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/173622
      …theres instructions to unlock them on the web for free and it wasnt hard (I have one and am buying a spare).
      But then I might buy one of these for the data.

      • which one do you think is better? this voda pocket wifi or telstra elite? what is the difference between the two?

        • Look better? you don't have to flaunt it in order to get wifi /or use it. What's important is it does the job!

  • Nice find OP !

  • +1

    Sounds like a great deal. I'm moving interstate in the new year and am wondering whether I can purchase this now and begin my 30 days in mid January? I haven't used one of these before so any advice would be much appreciated.

    • +1

      Generally the devices have an expiry date on the included sim card, should be on the back (or top) of the box.
      If it's only going to be January, I couldn't see that being a problem!
      Then the $30 credit (for 3GB with 30 days expiry) would start from the day you call up and activate it.
      Worst case you could just get a new $2 sim card and recharge and put that in the modem.

    • +1

      You can activate SIM later anytime, but before it's expiry usually a more than year.

      So yes, you can buy it now and activate it later. No drama.

      I used this before.

      Also the device is unloaded already, if you wanna use a different sim from another provider, just change it's APN Settings.

    • +1

      No expiry date on Vodafone SIMs. I've got a stack of them. Activated up to 3 years after purchase for 3GB data.
      Device bought at Coles at this price was unlocked.

    • +3

      Thanks McFly
      But why
      the sigh?

      • Because he's a white guy?

      • Thanks for the thanks.
        Just got a bit tired of deals of deals being posted missing basic information.

  • Could this device be used as a wifi "extender"? not sure of the terms. As in place mid way down my house to connect devices back to the main modem router. Anyone got the skills on this?

    • +1

      It couldn't be too powerful anyway. You'd be better off to buy a cheap router.

    • Could this device be used as a wifi "extender"?

      No. It is a 3G modem. You put a SIM card in it and it makes a WiFi network that you can connect to.

      The device you want is called a "WiFi Access Point", and you can use an old router if you disable the DHCP server and a few other settings. Then you just run a cable from the old router to the new access point, and you are done.

    • No, even as a hotspot itself the you'll have to be next to it for optimal speed and connectivity. Better off getting a wifi extender made for the job.

    • It can, but as others have said it probably wouldn't work very well.
      I'm guessing it's there more as a temporary/short range solution.
      (http://download-c.huawei.com/download/downloadCenter?downloa…)

  • Anyone know the expiry to activate?

    I would like to get this for my overseas trip however don't want to activate it until Feb15

    • None of my Vodafone prepaid cards so far have had an expiry date. Some people have reported being able to activate 2 and 3 years later but please take that for the hearsay it is.

      • I've activated these data SIMs 3 years after purchase.

    • Normally they give you 12 months to use ..it should be on the box.

  • -1

    This same item was as low as $9 at Coles a few months ago.

    • +3

      The USB modem was $9, the Pocket WiFi listed in this deal was $19.

    • I think I saw it on special for $9 at Coles yesterday, didn't look too closely though

      • Just purchased a Telstra Elite Mobile Wi-Fi 3G at Coles today for $10. Can easily be unlocked for free.

        • +1

          1 or 3 GB?

        • Not sure how many GB you get. I won't be using the enclosed sim, as I have activated the $8 Telstra starter pack from Harvey Norman using the Freedom plan. 800mb for 30 days, plus bonus calls and text.

        • @peterlong1952:
          Why wouldn't you use the included data SIM sometime in the modem you bought? It's not as if you would want to pop the Freedom Plan SIM into the modem.

          1GB 30 days from activation - should have a while to activate before expires http://www.coles.com.au/our-range/our-products/mobile-phones…

        • How do you unlock the Telstra Elite Mobile Wi-Fi 3G for free?

        • +1

          I will activate it one day, but not until my current sim expires. Details of unlocking the device can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/mf60guide/

          Have successfully done one and using Vodafone in it. Sim expires in June 2016, so plenty of time to activate.

        • Which is better this Telstra wifi modem($10 with 1gb) or Vodafone pocket wifi ($19 with 3gb)?
          I don't need that much of data, only interested on the wifi modem. Any idea?

  • +4

    At the risk of getting downvoted again just because I didn't upvote…

    I own 3 of these but have only opened one box. The one I opened was unlocked out of the box. The other 2 were bought elsewhere but I don't expect they will be locked either.

    I also bought 6 of the USB sticks for the 3GB data. None of the copies I have include an expiry date, and others have reported here in the past that they've been able to activate 2 and 3 years later. Who knows if that will last but I took the gamble.

    This modem gets much better reception for me in Sydney on Telstra and Vodafone than my Telstra MF91. My MF91 also seems to drop out and you either need to reconnect the WIFI or restart the thing to get it going again. It also displays SMS which the MF91 does not thanks to Telstra's firmware. Receiving SMS is useful for activating on Optus. Though it is not 4G I still manage to watch Youtube on my Galaxy tab 3 just fine with it on my morning commute (Richmond line to City). I haven't done that enough to definitively say whether the MF91 gives less dropouts but since MF91 reception is worse and I have to restart it once or twice on a typical commute the VF pocket WIFI extreme is the winner of the two.

    On the minus side for the pocket WIFI extreme I definitely don't like that the battery is inaccessible, and that the slot for the SIM card is so fiddly (recessed and hard to push in with fat fingers and easy to get sim card in wrong way. A minor hassle but annoying nonetheless).

    • Its easy to push it in with another SIM card and to get it out, I use tweezers. Works fine once you have a grip.

      • I have fat fingers and thumbs. (It's even worse for playing guitar!) I just use the a ballpoint pen usually with the tip retracted. I don't normally have another sim card (which could brake anyway) and tweazers. Anyway as I said it's a minor annoyance.

        • have fat fingers and thumbs. (It's even worse for playing guitar!)

          Use a guitar plectrum to push the Sim!

        • @llama:

          Great idea. I usually carry one in my wallet though I don't play much anymore. Spare change would work too but isn't quite as cool somehow.

  • +3

    Perfect timing for the move. $19 is good enough to get a week worth of Internet access, thanks, guys.

  • +1

    Claims that it does not expire can be found in these threads.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/157587
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/154539

    I can verify the modem I have opened is unlocked, but haven't owned long enough to verify non-expiry.

  • +2

    Got one from the last Coles sale and its excellent and been using it daily. Its a bit bigger than my old Pocket WIFI 2, but has twice the battery capacity to make up for it. I can hit about 18Mbps out of it making it encrouching on lower end 4G speeds (using Telstra 3.5G) and way quicker than most ADSL 2's. Only crashed on my a couple of times that required a restart. Was provider unlocked out of the box but needed the APN change buried within the settings.

    Overall its definitely a bargain for $19..

  • Where can I buy it guys ?Australia post? Location please Sorry newbie here

  • Can you actually transfer 3GB of data over the vodafone network in 30 days?

    • +3

      Joke's getting old. I can easily use 3GB on my Vodafone pocket wifi extreme in a day if I wanted to…

  • +3

    You can get an extra 10% off if you pay bills or if your bank allows banking at post, they have this promotion now https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/173114.

  • Are people receiving the R207 model shown here with the simple icon display or hopefully the better R208 with dotmatrix display like Coles was selling recently?

  • What is the battery life on these sort of device?

  • Bought one from springvale vic. What's the best prepaid deal out there for data with long expiry date?

  • Same price at target, can confirm its unlock

    • Which model did they give you?

      • +1

        Same one in the photo.

  • Went to Melb Aus Post head office -> sold out
    Melb CBD Target, sold out
    Vodaphone melbourne, would not price match

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