This was posted 7 years 6 months 27 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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Optus Huawei E5573 4G Wi-Fi Modem - $24.50 @ Officeworks

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Was looking online for a cheap 4g modem and came across this.

Seems ozbargain liked the deal last time it was posted, so thought I'd share.

Details from Officeworks website:

The Optus Huawei E5573 4G WiFi Modem allows you to enjoy 4G speed Internet even when you're on the go. It allows you to connect up to 10 WiFi enabled devices so you can check your emails, surf the web, login to your social media and get your work done from almost anywhere in Australia. Comes with 4 GB of included data with 14 days expiry for use within Australia..

• You can connect to the modem with up to 10 WiFi devices simultaneously.
• It has an easy 1 touch setup button.
• The battery has a large 1500 mAh capacity to last for up to 6 hours working time and up to 300 hours on stand by.
• The design is light and thin so you can easily carry it with you.
• It supports up to 4G speeds of 150 mps.
• It also supports a mobile app with a barcode scan feature so you can quickly connect.

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  • Uh, I got this exact same one from Officeworks last week for $17.50…

    • Nice price. What store?

    • +1

      Did you post it? That is a great deal.

    • I got 2 of these at Big W back in May for $15 each.

  • This specific wifi modem go on sale every other week @ coles; when they do i assume ppl go officeworks to get 5% off.. you can't anymore since they've priced matched coles usual half price

  • Is there any included data¿

    • Can you read OP?

      • Lol, damn- thanks.

    • 4Gb, then it costs $30 to top 4Gb, so it's cheaper to buy a new modem!

      I'm going on hols for a week, so I'm tempted to grab one.

  • +1

    its probably worth pointing out (cos i didnt know this before I bought one) that it can also be used as a Wifi router and it also describes function as a wifi extender as well - possibly the cheapest wifi router/extender out there without DDWRT/Tomato/Open WRT hacking a wifi dongle

    • How do you use this as a wifi extender? I'd be really interested to use this feature if possible.

      • Mine send to have the option in the menu but I haven't bothered to try it

  • +4

    Should probs also include that it comes unlocked :)

  • Bought one for use in Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Worked beautifully at 4G speeds.

    • Did you mean this WIFI is not locked ? Can one use, for example, Telstra data SIM, in Australia ?

      • Yeah unlocked, used Telstra sim in mine last week and OVO tonight

        • Great ! Thanks. I was jut thinking about having a new 4G one. I have a 3G mobile WIFI, 3G only. Pitty that Telstra 3G network is nowadays worsening, given fact its 4G coverage is getting better.

    • Did you have to change apn settings with each new country or is it automatically adjusted?

      • +1

        I had to do it manually in Japan, but everywhere else was automatic.

  • Need help - is it possible to use with a computer connected via cable and disable the wireless to limit any kids ability to connect to this device?

    In other words my friend wants to use this by connecting it via a USB cable to her desktop which has no wifi
    But when she connects the device to her desktop it turns on and her kids can connect to it
    So can she use it connected via cable to her desktop but switch the wireless off easily
    The only option I told her was her would have to change the wifi password each time but was wondering if wifi is able to be switched off but the dongle used by her alone when connected directly to desktop

    • Why have to change each time? I changed it once when took it out of the box and its stay like that till now. Or she can just get a USB one, without wireless internet function.

    • If she changes the Wi-Fi password to something the kids don't know, they won't be able to connect at all. This only needs to be done once.

      • +3

        Unless the kids can easily torture it out of her…

        The family that waterboards together, stays together?

      • @quilgy yes but she wants to limit access so she would have to change password each time to allow and each time to reject them

        @johnnyle the usb alone sounds good only issue would be removing sim card each time unless she obtained another sim for data share which is probably the best solution

        • Why does she have to remove sim card? It can stay in the USB, just needs to be unplugged.
          About the device in OP, it seems like you cant turn off the wifi function but you can hide the SSID so no one can see it when they are searching for networks.

    • Why doesn't she just get a USB 3/4G dongle instead of a WiFi one if she's looking for something that plugs in and doesn't have WiFi?

      • Thanks for all the replies but everyone has missed the point that she wants the kids to be able to access internet for maybe 1-3 hours a day and then she wants them off.

        If she leaves internet on (wireless) they will be tempted to connect therefore she would have to disable wireless or maybe just hide the ssid although I'm not sure if that works if they have it saved and I will have to test that.

    • +1

      You can see which devices are connected, and then block & unblock them. Anyone who has the admin password can do this regardless of which method used to connect, so don't share it. You control this via the browser interface under connected devices.

  • Picked up one of these a couple of days ago at this price, was going to post it up but time got away from me.

    Fantastic little unit - factory unlocked, and works perfectly with Telstra - you don't need to change the config or anything, just put the Telstra sim in and go.

  • Just grabbed one from Officeworks Kew East store. Reckon there are a few left.

    A little bit confused as previous comments from OBers saying it is not locked, and good to use abroad, while my friend in Sydney, when she bumped with an Officeworks shopkeeper, was advised this Huawei 5573 is locked to Optus only…

    • Shopkeeper has no clue. Its definitely unlocked.

      • Thanks. I will try it on, with a Telstra sim tomorrow.

    • what's the sim exp date on this deal sale?

      • Some time far in 2018 ! Plenty of time to save for future use, if you talk about the sim.

        • good, tq ,….I missed this deal…..

  • Can anyone explain to me how to view the balance? Whenever I go to the suggested website it asks for a username and password which has never been given.

    • I suppose you are using the Optus sim that came with the device, if that's the case then you can go to optus.com.au/prepaidbalance while you are connecting to the device. You will be able to see your balance and the expiry date.

      • Doing that just redirects me to www.optus.com.au/customercentre/myaccountlogin (asks for username and password). At this point I am assuming that they havent finished setting up the account and that it will function at some point in the future.

        • how did you do it?
          1. Activate the sim card.
          2. Put into the modem.
          3. Connect your phone or any devices you have to the modem.
          4. Go to the link above.

          Basically, you have to make sure you are going to that address via that modem, not any other networks.

    • If you talk about Optus data SIM, and you are not an Optus customer before, you will have to register an account.
      After an account is set up, you link this data sim (with a sort of mobile number) with your account. The data sim, after being inserted into a mobile phone, or a pocket WIFI, should be able to give a text code, to activate the link.

      Now, you only need to check your Optus account to check balance.

    • In the end I did nothing and the account balance became visible. I did not need to register for any account, I can only assume that their system is either slow or was under maintenance.

  • Can I check if the device is unlocked by using an inactivated $2 sim?

  • what's the sim exp date on this deal sale?

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