Recommendations for an Occasional Use High-Data SIM

Ldarxtorm on 24/01/2023 - 09:55

Hello bargain champions!

So I'm looking to get a spare SIM to put in a backup hotspot device, specifically only to use when my NBN is down. I'd like to not have to worry about how much data I'm using, but as you'll understand I don't want to be paying another monthly bill for something I'm only going to use momentarily and a handful of times in a year.

The real goal here is to not sign up for just another plan, since that would be the easiest solution but the least sensible and definitely the least cost-effective. I am willing to change NBN (currently with AussieBB on HFC 1000/50) and/or mobile (currently with Felix) provider if there is one which will help me out here

So the musts are:

  • 4G or faster
  • low monthly (or preferably annual) cost
  • significant data quota for intermittent usage

And the wants are:

  • 5G would be nice
  • Ideally I could bundle with a mobile or internet provider

I welcome your thoughts OzB

Mobile Mobile Broadband Plan SIM Only Mobile Plan

Comments

  • Hybroid on 24/01/2023 - 09:58
    +1

    How often does your gigabit NBN connection go down? Is hotspotting off your Felix unlimited connection not sufficient in the interim?

    Not clear what you're asking for over and above already having two very good services.

    • darxtorm on 24/01/2023 - 10:08

      I want a separate dedicated SIM for the purpose. Hotspotting off my phone works fine, but it's not automated and it's not ideal. So what I'm asking for is an additional SIM, without the cost of getting a whole other plan.

      My NBN goes down once every couple of months I would estimate, for up to 6 hours.

      • jjjaar on 24/01/2023 - 16:34

        My NBN goes down once every couple of months I would estimate, for up to 6 hours.

        Why? Is it your ISP? Are you in an area that they just keep shutting it down for maintenance? Basically, wouldn’t it be better to treat the cause, not just react to the symptoms?

  • ozwog05 on 24/01/2023 - 10:13
    +3

    There's a few ISP's that offer 4G failover included in their plans (when using their compatible modem). I couldn't confirm whether AussieBB offer this yet, but you could enquire.

    • darxtorm on 24/01/2023 - 10:19

      Yep I was hopeful that they might come to the party, but I called them and they don't offer the service. Disappointing it was.

      • darxtorm on 24/01/2023 - 11:35
        +1

        "As part of its mobile agreement with Optus, Aussie Broadband plans to start offering 4G backup for the NBN range."

        Based on the link you've shared, I might investigate this further to see if they've changed their mind since I last spoke to them… Thanks for bringing this to my attention!

  • ESEMCE on 24/01/2023 - 10:43
    +2

    Try your luck with a secondhand Telstra Smart Modem. The 4G failover works for a long time after disconnection.
    25/5 speed limited, but good enough for a fallback especially at the price.

    • SnowDragon on 24/01/2023 - 11:07
      +2

      Bonus is you don't even need to be with Telstra for the backup to work.

      It's worked for me with ABB, Superloop and now Exetel.

      • vodamerc on 24/01/2023 - 11:17

        Surely not? What's stopping you leaving the primary connection unplugged and utilising a free service?

        • SnowDragon on 24/01/2023 - 11:36

          Nothing I guess except a 10gb quota

          • ESEMCE on 24/01/2023 - 11:57

            @SnowDragon: Unofficially and potentially a daily limit only if you read further through the thread.

            For the record, I must have used 200Gb on 4G due to NBN stuffup that delayed actual line activation for something like the first 20 days. As a result we were on 4G for those first 20 days,
            *with an active Telstra account at the time mind you, but they didn't start charging me until the NBN line activation finally occurred.

            Don't abuse it and it should work for ages.

  • jv on 24/01/2023 - 11:04

    specifically only to use when my NBN is down.

    How often does that happen?

  • BLAIL on 24/01/2023 - 13:14
    +2

    I currently have a belong SIM with 1060GB of data on it that gets charged $15/month (thanks to 2000 Telstra points $80 Belong starter packs). I put the SIM into my 5G Modem I got with Telstra in 2021. Was paying $85/month back then, but then realized I could do this instead. If I ever need to top up, I'll just buy data from classifieds, haven't needed to so far. Download speed is restricted to 100mbps.

    • rooster on 16/05/2023 - 11:37

      I want one of these plans, is it grandfathered ??

  • iamherenow on 24/01/2023 - 17:12

    buy a few prepaid sims. like the boost $30 or $40 ones. You can get them for $10 or so on sale. Activate one when it's needed. It takes 2 minutes to activate, and each time i've done it data is working within a few minutes. I used to do that and then plug the mobile broadband device with new sim into my asus router as the backup. Recently as I've got lots of spare mobile data I plug my phone into the router instead when nbn goes down.

  • kipps on 24/01/2023 - 20:32

    Why not just try a Boost 12 month prepaid SIM with 140GB of data on a discounted starter kit? They’re about $170-180 and at least data is available for a whole year.

  • Misplaced on 25/01/2023 - 09:30

    I have 523 GB of rollover data on an Aldi SIM. I have the $25 plan with 22GB per month, because I have occassional "high data" needs. Pop that in a Telstra SmartModem II and I have Wired LAN & Wi-Fi internet of at least 50 Mbps (have clocked just under 100 Mbps in a good area, was in a different device though). I only had to make one small change to the Telstra modem (just change the APN).

  • ozbglow on 25/01/2023 - 09:52

    I use the 100%+ cashback 45GB or 60GB Boost Mobile SIMs for this purpose.
    My NBN provider Optus used to top up a prepaid SIM whenever there was an outage but getting harder to get this out of the chat agents so I unlocked the Optus mobile broadband modem and use a free Boost SIM.

  • Dejaar on 25/01/2023 - 10:00

    Look on 'catch', kogan, google '365 data sim'

  • exceladdict on 25/01/2023 - 11:04

    I'm thinking about doing something similar. I've observed both Telstra and Optus have bumped the minimum monthly prices up for data sims on plans. Was thinking belong which has a 1mbps cap if you exceed the plan, and I think you can add extra data if full speed is needed? (Eg in an extended outage)

    Technically what are you thinking? I have an 8900ax-2400 which supports fail over via a USB modem but the issue then is getting a USB dongle compatible with a belong Sim; it's not as easy as putting it in a Telstra one I think. Or was considering a tp link er605v2

  • EightImmortals on 16/05/2023 - 16:16

    hijack
    I was just going to start my own thread on this but figured I'd ask here instead.

    Basically I've just been gifted a Netgear M6 hotspot, it's Telstra branded but I believe you can add other providers given I can get their APN details?
    Anyway, I don't really have a day to day use for it but it would definitely come in handy for trips away.

    So does anyone know of a non-expiring or yearly SIM data only plan perferably with Telstra or Optus for the sake or coverage? I don't want to get stuck with a monthly plan for the stated reasons.

    Cheers

    • darxtorm on 17/05/2023 - 18:26

      i endorse this hijack, let's get this bread

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