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Dick Smith Hobart Clearing Telstra Turbo Modems for $5

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Dick Smith's Hobart store has 40-50 Telstra Turbo USB MF626S prepaid Mobile Broadband modems clearing for only $5. The old SIMs have been replaced so they're now on sale with a new SIM but NO DATA. SIM expiry is 2014. Team it with a $10 Telstra starter SIM pack and you're awaay…

The modems are ZTE MF626s, 7.2Mbps down, more info here: http://zte.com.au/telstra/MF626s.htm You should be able to unlock them for free: http://www.unlockguru.com/2011/11/unlock-telstra-elite-usb-m…

Usual price $39 eg Catalogue #: EB5010 1 GB data - 15 day expiry
http://dicksmith.com.au/product/EB5010/telstra-turbo-usb-mf6…

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closed Comments

    • +3

      Yes, it would be if you paid inflated Telstra data prices, but the $10 (usually $30) SIM pack is a cheap way to get going. Also, the modem does have provision for an external antenna, which may be useful to some people. Once you unlock it, you can use it on Vodafone / Crazy John's too, as it's 850 / 2100 MHz UMTS compatible.

      • -1

        Oh My God. It's a $5 modem - jv was joking, people.
        (After your funny quip in the Woolworth's offer thread, jv, maybe if you'd suggested that the only form of communication Taswegians need is hollering that might have gone over a bit better.) (Maybe…)

  • Are these the ones that you can pry open and put them inside the laptop as an internal 3G modem?

    • … Wish I knew about that before I bought a $2000 laptop with inbuilt 3G.

      • +1

        Should of gotten this deal: http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/75867

        • Completely missed that deal… Oh well, I think I bought my laptop a week or two before that deal anyway.

      • +1

        youve heard of tethering right?

        • Tethering isn't a practical option for me.

    • Whoah, more info please!

  • There are reports of people having problems using these dongles with Windows 7, and driver updates may be required.

  • Could anyone grab me a couple of these and send them? lol

  • -3

    The unlock method suggested is illegal, but does work…

    • +1

      Really? Are you saying the unlock changes the serial number (IMEI) ? That is the only reason it might be illegal.

      • -6

        No, but there is reason it is network locked and you are hacking the device to unlock it, the whole method is obviously illegal.

        • +7

          Yeah, I heard they send you to Guantanamo Bay for this heinous crime.

        • -1

          they actually send you to Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

    • +8

      citation needed

    • Illegal? No.
      Against Telstra's agreement that you accept by opening the box? Most likely.

      • Don't believe everything you read. I know it says on the box that you accepted it, but if the fine print said that 2+2=5 or the sky was green, would you believe that too? Funnily enough, most people who click those buttons are fibbing - they neither read the T&C nor agreed, and the corporations are not shy of using bluffing and intimidation to make people think they agreed. Nor are they shy of lying and deception to a point, the point being if they can get away with it, so all is fair.

        • +8

          Don't believe everything you read.

          How do you expect us to believe what you are saying then?

        • +1

          Mind blown. Who is telling the truth

      • -1

        Yup pretty much, let me rephrase what I meant…

        The equipment's firmware is the property of Telstra & the manufacturer bound by some agreement, anything you do to it without consent or officially is considered an "illegal" act, paying and getting it unlocked is the only legal way, so justifying a wrongful act will never become right.

        just because you bought the equipment doesn't mean you own "everything in it"…, get it ? lol

        • I don't think that's the case at all actually. By purchasing the modem you own it wholly. It just so happens that Telstra attempts to limit you to using it on their network via network lock. I can't think of any law which makes it an offence to circumvent that lock though. Sure Telstra is selling these things at a small loss in the hope you'll spend a fortune on their data plans but that expectation doesn't translate to a legal obligation.

        • contract?

        • nvm… lol

  • It's a nice deal, but note that 7.2Mbps is about 900 KB/s (at most - mostly experience ~600), with also high latency. Also mobile data is a bit pricey. Good if you're in remote areas (where broadband is unavailable but yet mobile coverage is ) or on the go (otherwise i usually tether my phone - though not everyone has smartphones)

    • Beats what i am getting on TPG adsl2+ avg 400k

      • I'd doubt any mobile network could provide up to that speed. Honestly my optus mobile gives at fastest 300KB/s but drops out every 10 sec, on average probably be about 100 KB/s

  • If it was in Sydney I'd grab it. Good deal, so a positive from me.

  • had one of these, is incredibly bad at staying in laptop properly, if it has the slightest bump, bye bye connection and hello 15mins waiting for it to re-connect. Very frustrating to use if on the lounge or something

    • Was this with the extender cable? Or with the modem plugged straight into the laptop?

  • Anyone prepared to buy an extra and send it to Melbourne? Happy to pay a bit extra - my mum knocked her laptop over and bent the crap out of hers.

    • +2

      No trouble getting you one but postage will cost more than the modem. If you can think of an alternative to Australia Post …

      • Still a great deal :) If you post them in pre-paid satchels (about $6 I think) a 3G modem for $11 is not bad. Nice of you to still offer the service to members.

  • Good deal. Will walk to DSE for one today.

  • +3

    There were 50 modems left earlier this morning. If anyone interstate wants one, as long as I take 20 modems or so, Dick Smith Hobart will drop the Turbo price to $4 each. Postage interstate would cost about $15.

    If someone can cooperatively organise the payment/distribution of one or two batches, I'll sort it out this end. And please, this is for individuals, not to someone to flog on eBay.

    • not sure if you can buy 20,I went there 10 mins ago and DSE required driver lic. Perhaps won't allow you buy 20.

      • You're in NSW not Hobart, did you get it for $5 too?

        • I'm of course in HBT. otherwise how can I get one….

        • Your location when clicking on your name says NSW…

        • Sorry, it's when I reg this account long ago.

  • Looks like the same "Telstra Turbo modem" $12 clearance deal Officeworks have but they include 2GB of data. http://www.officeworks.com.au/retail/products/Technology/Net…

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