Temporary Broadband Internet with a Wi-Fi Dongle?

LAussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 16:40
Last edited 07/03/2021 - 16:43

Hi everyone. I have temporarily relocated while my place is being renovated and am looking for a mobile broadband + WiFi dongle deal for those two or so months. I have a TPG HFC connection in my place that I don't wanna disconnect and getting a temporary no-contact broadband isn't easy these days.

I am using my mobile phone data, but I am on a 12-month, 80GB Boast prepaid plan, which I can't use like I did with my home internet (I'll go through the 80GB in a day if I try that, though my phone isn't that fast, but you get the point). Can anyone please recommend a reasonable, temporary, no-contract mobile broadband with a WiFi dongle? Posted this as a comment in a day-old post and thought to post it here in case anyone can help. Tia

Edit: I am currently paying $70 a month for my existing internet (in the place that's being renovated) so I am not looking for an expensive internet. Somewhere around $50 or so a month will be fine.

Internet

Comments

  • MITM on 07/03/2021 - 16:51
    +1

    Find someone with/Gumtree a Telstra NBN smart modem (with the mobile sim card network back up). Plug that into your wall socket and the modem will think the NBN is down and auto switch to the mobile back up free-of-charge. Lasts about 2 weeks - maybe longer if you're lucky.

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 17:07

      Didn't hear about that before. Will look into it. Thanks

      • smashman42 on 08/03/2021 - 16:43
        +1

        They boot people off when they realise they're abusing that feature - we'd given my mother a spare modem that was attached to an active plan and within 2 weeks boom, 4G disabled remotely

        edit: don't mind me, I didn't register that the person suggesting it already mentioned the time limit

  • redforever on 07/03/2021 - 17:24
    +1

    Don't have a recommendation for a mobile internet. But for your existing internet, if you are not terminating the contract, you should change of to the lowest 29.99 tpg plans. You can change this easily in the online portal and can change it back when you renovation is complete.
    You can use the 40 dollars savings on your temp connection.

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 17:41

      Man! I wrote long response and somehow lost it by mistake. One of my dislikes accessing the net on my phone. The gist of my reply was that my ISP offered us free boosted speeds for six months and will lose that if I change plans. Here's what it says at the bottom the email:

      If you change speeds or relocate during the 6 month offer period, your speed boost will be forfeited.

      So it's either save $80 for two months and go back to my original speed, or enjoy faster speeds for the remaining four months for no extra cost. Decided to go with the latter option.

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 17:45

      The $40 for 50GB is ideal, but the "Low-use home broadband replacement" part kills it. I am more of a PC kinda guy than tablets and iPads. Will keep looking around. Thanks for the link.

  • bdl on 07/03/2021 - 18:07
    +1

    I have a TPG HFC connection in my place that I don't wanna disconnect and getting a temporary no-contact broadband isn't easy these days.

    Maybe switch to launtel day to day NBN while your place is getting renovated? $50 credit from a referral plus 7 day trial will help cover the mobile bb and/or TPG cancellation cost.

    edit: Oh, just saw the speed boost comment.

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 18:13

      edit: Oh, just saw the speed boost comment

      Yeah, that's the issue. Cheers

  • triviums on 07/03/2021 - 18:17
    +2

    https://www.amaysim.com.au/plans/mobile-plans/ + https://www.cashrewards.com.au/amaysim-mobile or https://www.shopback.com.au/amaysim-mobile

    = $6 for 80GB ($20 for 80GB + $14 cashback) OR $3 for 50GB ($10 for 50GB + $7 Cashback)

    You will need to switch sims every month though

    Here's another one:
    https://www.kogan.com/au/buy/kogan-mobile-prepaid-voucher-co…

    Also will need to switch sims every month

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 18:22

      Unlimited talk & textStandard numbers in Australia
      Unlimited international

      Looks like that's for mobile phone plans though. I am looking for temporary WiFi dongle broadband plans to use on my computer. Or are they all interchangeable?

      • triviums on 07/03/2021 - 18:25
        +1

        Interchangeable

        You just need to find a cheap usb 4g modem

        • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 18:37

          Will see if I can find one of those usb 4g modems. Thank you.

      • CC123 on 07/03/2021 - 22:57
        +1

        Adding onto triviums's post:
        Lebara has 65 GB ($12) for the first few months (unsure if the $12 is the first month only)

        Just put that into a portable/usb modem and that may be enough for 30 days.
        Worth noting: Activate the SIM by 31/03/2021 to get this promo price and benefits.

        Use Lebara's plan followed by Amaysim + cashback the following month

        Deal link

  • AndyC1 on 07/03/2021 - 20:06
    +1

    Cheapest cost atm is Optus 200GB $58.50 or 500GB $67.50 month to month. The only gotcha is you need to get an Optus branded 4G modem. If the price is right then check out gumtree, ebay or woolies/coles for cheap dongles. The dongles will vary allot, so if you do not need speed and are near an Optus tower then get the cheapest, but of you need speed or are some distance away from an Optus tower then you need to do some research as to which dongle will be okay for your requirements.

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 20:24

      Thanks for the suggestions. Will definitely look at that.
      Is this one of those modems? https://www.amazon.com.au/Optus-Huawei-E3372-USB-Modem/dp/B0…

      • AndyC1 on 07/03/2021 - 21:42
        +1

        Yes it's one of the low speed 4g dongles. The amazon price is RRP. This one is available at Kmart and should therefore be available at Target, BigW, some OZ Post outlets, Officeworks and may be available at Woolies or Coles and some other stores. It's like the rest of the USB small dongles in that it's one of the slowest and cheapest. It goes on special from time to time at 50% off in some of the stores.

        • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 21:52

          Thank you very much. I think I have enough info now of where to head from here.

    • WT on 08/03/2021 - 11:35
      +1

      i dont think this is month to month, it is a 12/24 month plan.

      I was in a similar situation last month but used a spare phone for the wifi dongle.

      cheapest I found was woolworths/telstra 42gb prepaid discounted from $40 to 15, bought 2 and used that for a month and set all media to 360p.

      Next cheapest was boost, I was specifically after telstra network though

      I used this to find out who was with what network then did a manual search for the best prepaid gb/$$ ratio

      • AndyC1 on 08/03/2021 - 12:25
        +1

        Sure is month to month. You need to select the month to month tab.

      • AndyC1 on 08/03/2021 - 12:31
        +1

        For a phone you will need to look at optus's One plan for a mobile, currently 500gb is $65.

        https://www.optus.com.au/mobile/plans/shop?planId=34411764

        Do not try to use an Optus wireless broadband SIM that is for use in a dongle in a phone as it will not work.
        Do not try to use an Optus one Plan SIM that is for use in a phone in an Optus branded dongle as it will not work (I have no idea if it will work in other dongles). You can get an additional $15 SIm for a dongle and share the 500GB on the One plan sim as one of my friends has done this.

  • YLD1 on 07/03/2021 - 21:31
    +1

    Best option is tangerine telecom

    no lock in contract and it uses optus 4g

    I'm currently on it with no complaints

    My wifi setup is a little fancy though but can simplify it

    firstly I use the netgear M1 modem unlocked but you can use any really. https://www.netgear.com.au/home/products/mobile-broadband/mo…

    then I use the lan output to connect to one of my unifi mesh, but again you can use any decent access point.
    https://www.ubnt.com.au/unifi-ac-outdoor-access-point-mesh

    message me if you need help, i've tried loads of options over the years

    • AussieDaddy on 07/03/2021 - 21:35

      Thanks. Will check that out too.

  • pjetson on 07/03/2021 - 23:20
    +1

    Will Launtel NBN work for you in your temporary house? You pay by the day.

    Edit: I see someone else has already suggested it.

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