If you missed out on the current Coles special, despair not.
Upcoming Target catalogue have them for same price as Coles starting 08 Jan.
They are regularly available at this price but are also extremely popular with the Ozbargain community.
From previous deals comments: Both of these devices are unlocked. The sims work on 4G but the devices are only 3G. Both include 3GB data. You will likely need to show ID to purchase.
Brucefromaustralia will likely provide more handy tips in the comments.
Go to Coles for the $19 version as per deal here https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/177758
Coles also has the $9 version here https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/177737
Edit: props belong to post below by brucefromaustralia, already linked.
Edited those links to give emphasis ;-) Hopefully will avoid people asking the same questions.
I don't think this is the Extreme R208 - catalog says R207. What differences are there?
I compared the pics on the Vodafone website. It does day R208 on the back of it, so I guess the R207 that Target are selling is the older model.
R208 has full display, R207 has simple LED icons
Cheers, thanks.
Thanks - also Extreme R208 has double the throughput, triband vs dual band, and double the battery capacity. So I will keep looking for a R208 for the same price :-)
http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/group/devices/downloads/…
http://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/group/devices/downloads/…
See current Coles deals for tips:
$9 USB Extreme modem + 3GB data
$19 Pocket WiFi Extreme modem + 3GB data
I checked my local Target today knowing this deal was about to be posted - currently only 3 in stock!
Is Coles selling the R208 or the R207?
Bought 1 at Coles for $19 in November - R208 on underside of device.
My guess is device on sale at Target is likely to be Target's currently stocked model which I think is R208. Catalog descriptions have been wrong before.
As Coles is selling the R208 for $19, it would be unusual to buy in old stock for a sale, when sister store is selling better model for same price.
I was given the R207 at coles yesterday, guess I got ripped off :-) Apparently it was the only model they had. I wonder if it's worth getting the R208?
I got the R208 today at my Coles, though I didn't know anything about versions until reading this. I think it's aesthetic differences only but I could be wrong.
EDIT: I was wrong, see shump's post are above. More significant differences than I'd have expected. Battery alone is a good reason to seek a swap.
Without opening anything up, From the packaging, is it possible to tell if it is the R208 or R207 model?
The boxing gives very little away about the exact model OR the data included.
I got all the packages and will return some.
The Pocket WiFi box has R207 clearly on the bottom. It looks like the Extreme R208 but only has led icons (as someone mentioned). It is in a smaller box (about the size of a watch box).
The Extreme has a full display and the box is much bigger. I believe the Pocket WiFi (regular) is the oldest model. I believe that the Pocket WiFi II and then the Pocket WiFi Pro came after it.
The Extreme is the latest 3G+ model.
i bought one from target 5 mins ago. they only sell r207, not r208. actually the model number is clearly printed on the price tag. i got one, there was another one in the counter. the girl told me that one was probably last one.
Anyone knows for how long the data will be expired after first-use?
30 days after activation. Although no expire prior to that moment. Most others it would seem have an expiry date even if you never get around to using them. Makes this a good deal for the OzBargain hoarder and poor planner alike :)
I've activated a Vodafone data SIM over 2 years after purchase of it included with a clearance Pocket WiFi 2.
Most questions have been answered in current Coles deals. Links provided above in my comment.
So is this one unlocked. I plan to use this overseas or should I invest in a telstra 4g modem? 21mbs is more than enough for me. What would be more compatible with most networks the telstra one or Vodafone one?
"Overseas" covers a lot of countries using different telcos on different mobile frequencies & systems. If you want an answer, you'll need to be more specific or do your own research.
Part of that question was is it locked to Vodafail or not, plenty of local users might be interested in at least that portion of the question if anyone knows the answer.
Considering I had answered that in Coles deal, provided a link to that deal, suggested reading the answers in that deal in the comment just above that question, OP had copied & pasted my advice that this is NOT LOCKED in the deal description… I think that question was well and truely answered! But people want it answered again?? Always read the deal first.
@brucefromaustralia: It's pretty clear that not everyone here has seen the Coles deal nor should you expect they have.
@StopThatBus:
As I said, the answer was in THIS deal's description! There was no reason to ask others for help, just read this deal details.
I don't expect people to read the other deals, that's why important details were repeated in this deal. I was just saying the information was made available in so many locations, with links to other answered questions - so look at others answers first.
But people don't even read what this deal is about, and repeatedly ask the same question that was answered in this deal's description.
One comment further down (withdrawn) told people they needed to pay to unlock the (unlocked) device!!
If I understand you correctly you want to buy the modem in Australia and take it travelling. The issues are:
(a) it needs to be unlocked so it will take any SIM
(b) it needs to be compatible with the overseas networks.
Regarding the 3G standards (4G is more complicated), a Telstra modem accesses high speed data on frequencies 850MHz and 2100MHz. 850MHz is highly unusual by world standards. If you take such a modem overseas, chances are it will only be able to connect on the 2100MHz band, a band used for short-range communication in high-density areas. This will give you poor or no service in most places.
Most of the Vodafone Australia network shares technology (and rents space on) the Optus network which uses the 900MHz and 2100MHz bands for 3G data. These bands are more common worldwide.
Vodafone Australia is unsual in that the operating company and network is a merged Vodafone-Hutchison (brand was "3") operation, and Hutchison shared infrastructure with Telstra - i.e. 850MHz and 2100MHz.
If you get the more sophisticated Vodafone-branded device, then you get a device which is tri-band 850MHz/900MHz/2100MHz and will operate on the majority of 3G networks worldwide - the best of all worlds, ironically.
Bottom line: for travelling, get a tri-band Vodafone Australia device (it won't be the cheapest), make sure you can unlock it, and take that overseas. And if you want fastest and best country data service in Australia (and, of course, the most expensive) then you can put a Telstra SIM in it and it will be happy.
(Incidentally, the $9 dongle on special says on the box "3G 900/2100 MHz", so it is dual-band and will work, provided unlocked, on Vodafone and Optus, but badly or not at all on Telstra.)
In a nut shell r208 would be the one to go for correct as it is 850 / 900 / 2100 compatible. Countries would be Thailand. Nz. Philippines. Malaysia. Indonesia. Singapore and the U.S.
Yes, any device that gives you that range of three bands will be the best 3G device you can get for as many 3G networks as possible.
If you bring 4G into the picture that complicates it further with different bands, but 3G should be fine for most purposes and will be the best you can get in a very cheap device.
Yep the specifications on the dongle box is as follows:
2G: 850/900/1800/1900Mhz
3G: 900/2100MHz
So it looks like the dongle is compatiable across a number of networks!
I dont care which modem I get from these sales, its way cheaper then What optus offers, best i got from an optus wifi modem (E5251 Huawei) with 5gbs was $49 from Kmart (normal price $69).
This pocket wi-fi will work fine on our trip to South Africa. The South African network is 900MHz, and the 207 (or 208) work on 900MHz
check target'S T &C
we have to buy a Vodafone extreme before we got this price
I just checked with Vodafone online (and they had to check their legacy data) but, for what it is worth (don't hold me to this, hold them to this) they said:
The Pocket WiFi Extreme, Pocket WiFi Pro, and Pocket WiFi 3G (regular) should all come with 3GB of data.
I will be ringing back if they don't!
Tommorow's Coles catalogue will have the Vodafone 3GB usb for $9.
1 per customer. Our local store doesnt have stock, but has ordered some in for us ahead of sale…
Correct me if I am wrong but that's an excellent price for 3GB of data…
42 plus votes and no negs currently might indicate a general agreement with that
Thanks itsdanthaman
can we online order this one？
Asked for one today and was going to have a look out back but she was taking too long with a returns customer sigh*
I didnt wait…
Have you gotta sign one of those forms for these?
I remember having to sign one to get a locked phone from telstra…
so this Vodafone 3G USB 3GB came with a sim card with 3GB which i can use the sim card with the pocket wifi i already have or its just usb with 3GB of data and once i have used up all the data i have to "top up" for more data or just activate another usb?
Already answered when you asked same question before in Coles deal.
thanks.
I reserved the last one at westfield Doncaster at 9 am today, doesn't seem like there's much stock at some outlets
i came to target this morning，the staff told me $9 only for usb device not include 3 GB data，what's going on with this？
Who would you believe… people who have bought & used this device with 3GB data over many deals, or a person who has very little knowledge of mobile data, & never opened the packet?
The 3GB data SIM is inside the outer cardboard packaging, surrounding the sealed USB modem.
If you'd bought this deal, you would know they didn't know what they were talking about.
OK，i already got that。and how long for the 3G data expire before activate？
Can't you read? These questions were answered above & it's in my advice in the Coles deal I provided a link to. No expiry date.
Bought two of the pocket wifi's from Target this morning, tried activating it and it was a pain in the a55.
Got the last one from Carlingford Target this morning.
It was a R207.
Plenty of R207s at target Miranda this morning.
Went to target leichhardt managed to get the last 2 models were r208 $19 each after I opened the box so happy with that I guess depends on which stock is available
My guess was that it depends on existing store stock. Vodafone would be supplying latest models, but stores with slow moving stock will supply old stock.
A couple of Targets in Sydney: "sorry, we either didn't get any stock or the few we got sold out in the first few hours".
- Will you get more ?
- "Maybe. The sale is on until the 21st, so we ought to".
- Do all your promotions go out of stock within hours of the first day of the sale ?
- "Oh, no, that would be illegal."
My local Target had 3 USB Extreme & 2 Pocket WiFi Extreme before sale. Same stock at 4pm yesterday - no new stock for sale.
Despite no sales at Carindale Brisbane, there was certainly not enough stock for this advertised Sale.
Does anyone know the trick to removing a sim card from the R208 (presumably R207 slot is identical also) ?
I've put the wife's telstra card in, can't get it back out - tweezers are too chunky to grab it. This kinda sucks :)
EDIT: I did it, went to my thinnest screw driver and kinda pry it out, sticks out enough to get the tweezers something to grip on to. I guess I'm the only idiot who ran into this problem so I don't see the question asked anywhere lol.
Yes I had the same issue, especially with a pre-cut multi fit SIM. It went slightly out of shape from perhaps the heat. The best method seemed to be first using another solid SIM card to positively click it to the unlocked position (may not pop out much) and then using fine flat tweezers. Not a winning design but the R208 is excellent in all other ways.
especially with a pre-cut multi fit SIM.
Yes! This was the same (using my free 'previous OzBargain' multifit pack) and was also slightly warped.
I've since used a different SIM and have been fine since, the first time I jammed it right in but it seems to work fine resting not so far in and I can grab it with regular tweezers now. Although the fine flat tweezers you mention are definitely the way to go - I think I'll buy some.
but the R208 is excellent in all other ways.
Absolutely. I love it. It's going to make my 3 months away from home much nicer. 12GB of Vodafone cards and my 1GB/month LiveConnected data which I barely touch anyway. Best $19 I've spent in a long time.
Glad you solved it.
You are not the only one to have problems with SIM slot. I've put one SIM in upside down, got 2 stuck. Even worse when using adaptor for smaller SIMs. Very poor design. A better explanation in manual would have helped.
Just used small screwdriver to scrape card out slightly, then tweezers.
But I expect they think you will only need to insert 1 SIM in its life, as you will want to stay with Vodafone & just keep recharging!
I bought this modem a few months back as a 'just in case' purchase. I've used a 3G Pocket WiFi2 for years, replaced with a $49 Telstra 4G pocket modem 5GB deal I posted, but now use a $79 Huawei G526 4G phone with cheap data SIMs. Calls go to an older Huawei setup only for calls. The combination is lighter than this modem, and gives me cheap data & calls.
Sold the 4G modem for a small profit after free unlock & used the 5GB.
Teamed the 4G (data modem) phone with a $39 Samsung camera deal (12X, 16MP, WiFi remote operation & photo transfer to phone).
Just used small screwdriver to scrape card out slightly, then tweezers.
Yes, that's what I had to do the first time. Since then I've been able to leave a bit of the card exposed, just enough to grab with tweezers. But I know as a last resort the scrap + tweezers does the job. I'll be sure to pack both when I go away LOL :)
But I expect they think you will only need to insert 1 SIM in its life
Exactly, unlocked, who cares about that (Vodafone) :)
In other news, I'm going to buy a 2nd $19 modem today, for family member. I'm hoping its another R208 but from what I'm hearing it's likely going to be R207. It won't be mine so it doesn't matter but still…
BTW bruce, nobody seems to have answered this all important question yet…
How long the data will be expired after first-use????
Just joking!!! :D
Grrr!
It only feels right that I contribute something worthy after that little stunt…
To those trying to avoid the R207 I can now explain what to look for without opening a box. Sorry I didn't have my phone or I would have taken a pic.
R207 is in a smaller box for starters!
R207's picture on the box looks the same at a distance but close inspection reveals the green LED feature lights on it.
See my pic showing the differences: http://i57.tinypic.com/95y7no.jpg
So there is no need to bust it open and be disappointed. Make sure you know what you are buying before you leave the store. Wodonga Target has a few of each left. Albury has none.
Albury Target called through and got Wodonga to put one on hold. Sure enough, they held the R207 for me, but I'd already noticed the differences above thanks to them stocking both models next to each other. The R208 is marked $39 but it scanned at $19 anyway.
I knew, I should have put a :P to indicate that.
Anyhow I'm glad I found the differences, up until then I thought they were identical boxes and luck of the draw.
PS: Said family member who I bought this other R208 for only wants/needs 1GB, so I'm going to give them my spare Telstra 1GB and hold onto their 3GB. Now I have 15GB at my disposal :)
I assume activation of the Telstra SIM should still be done via it's Telstra USB modem first right? This'll be my first ever data SIM ever activated, so far I've only tried my existing SIMs.
@Click_It:
Any way - can even be activated by phone. It doesn't need to be in anything to activate. I activated a Telstra data SIM from Tokyo last month, with the SIM on my desk in Australia.
Telstra SIM can be activated in this modem set to Telstra APN.
Went to Target Carousel and they had no $9 dongles but they had plenty of wireless modems so i bought two of them, think they have three left, looks like no one really cared about this special.
Target at Broadway, NSW only has the R207s (they are clearly labelled as such on the bottom of the box).
So Ozbargainers are leaving the R207s in search for a R208? weird…
I only saw R207s at target which I bought the two of them, should I have waited for another Coles special?
Actually I shouldn't have bought these… sigh* might have to ebay them I guess, should have just put a year on the optus modem I already have. :/
why shouldnt have bought these? coles is gonna run another promotion on r208?
Guys, take a look at my post a few above. I've discovered the differences between the boxes of R207/208 to ensure everyone knows what they are getting without opening anything up.
Obviously no help if the R207 is all your store has but at least your disappointment can be experienced in Target and not once you open it up at home :)
got a R208 from taret rockhampton
Purchased a R207 from Woolworths Southport Park. Staff at the counter did not require any ID or forms to be filled out.
Vodafone Pocket WiFi® Extreme 3G+
Portable modem and router in one. Connects up to 10 compatible devices at the same time, Windows and Mac compatible.
Vodafone 3G USB
Just pop this dongle into your laptop or netbook for an internet connection on the go
Unfortunately not at Target country. Hopefully I can do click and collect. I wouldn't mind the Pocket Wifi. Good for ipads when going on holidays.