How to get prepaid broadband sim without USB dongle?

kommersz

Hello,

does anyone have an idea how could I get a prepaid broadband Meteor SIM without having to buy a USB stick?
I was trying to google for people selling it, but could not find the right search terms... I always end up with Meteor advertisements
Any other ways maybe?

Cheers,
k.

ironclaw

What exactly are you trying to do? Do you have a meteor sim and just want a usb dongle?

kommersz

Hi,

actually the opposite: I already have a device to use internet - I just don't have a SIM yet. So why would I buy a USB stick for 79€ when all I need is just a SIM card?

jor el

The modems are normally locked to a network, so you'll have to unlock it first. After that, yes.

kommersz

That's already done... - what could be the next step?

watty

Just get a phone SIM. Then put the Data Package on it.

SIMs are usually supplied no extra charge when you signup.

Sorry.. Meteor may not know how to do this

Try different Meteor shops. Having your own Modem is cheaper for them as the €69 is subsidized. The real retail price is over €150.

All the SIMs are identical. It's simply a question of what package they put on the SIM account.

fergiesfolly

That's already done... - what could be the next step?

Could you tell me how this is done. I have a Huawei E156g dongle that I'd like to get unlocked.

kommersz

fergiesfolly,

actually I would use my phone as a modem, so I can't help you with this, sorry.

kommersz

Hello,

just for making a record of it - I've been to several Meteor shops, and I have been constanly told that I have to buy the broadband package with a USB dongle, they don't convert SIMs, put Data Package on them or whatever.
I still can't tell if Meteor employees in branches are not well trained or if it is a Meteor company policy...

iwantbroadband

It's not just Meteor, I've called Vodafone about this before too, they won't give you just the SIM card, you have to buy the modem also. Really annoying.

Amalgam

I've posted this about 3 or 4 times already, by now.

A normal '3' SIM can be used in a USB dongle. Just insert and buy a top up for it.

With the 3 SIM, the only page you can access without credit is this one:

https://my3.three.ie/myaccount/index.do

Enter your top up number, your phone number. Select the data package you want to purchase.

Purchase it. You're online.

A '3' SIM is ten euro, typically, depending on the shop, they will not bother you for contact details.

Currently, your data choices on the drop down menu, with 3, are as follows:

watty

However you need a 3 modem or another modem that is unlocked from the network (Meteor, Vodafone, O2).

Excess cap traffic on 3 PAYG is €490 a Gigabyte
On Bill pay it's €50 a Gigabyte. Be careful

Amalgam

Watty, you are opted out of that by default, as far as I am aware, on PAYG. There is certainly a box to tick or untick.

I wouldn't tolerate out of bundling charges, the service is bad enough as it is without suffering that stress..

watty

Good to hear. Worth users checking that though. I worked out that a little 6 day spree here someone had (that brought us within warning email of raching cap!) would have been €8,000+ on PAYG excess! (we have a 30G cap. But with 7.5Mbps to 8Mbps solid download you could eat it quick. My upload is almost always close to 1Mbps, so even on upload only you could in theory eat entire cap in < 4 days!)

daveyjoe

watty wrote: »

Just get a phone SIM. Then put the Data Package on it.

SIMs are usually supplied no extra charge when you signup.

Sorry.. Meteor may not know how to do this

Try different Meteor shops. Having your own Modem is cheaper for them as the €69 is subsidized. The real retail price is over €150.

All the SIMs are identical. It's simply a question of what package they put on the SIM account.

I've heard this a few times but as far as I know Meteor wont put the mobile broadband package on an existing sim. You need to buy the dongle + sim package.

smeg_for_brains

daveyjoe wrote: »

I've heard this a few times but as far as I know Meteor wont put the mobile broadband package on an existing sim. You need to buy the dongle + sim package.

That sounds crazy. You would swear they were making their money on the hardware rather than the data usage. I use my phone as a modem on O2 and got their broadband package added after a month or 2, after I went above their data add-on cap. I did have problems with cust servs at first but pointed out that their website stated it was possible, at which point she double-checked. Do they have a tech line you could try?

jor el

smeg_for_brains wrote: »

That sounds crazy. You would swear they were making their money on the hardware rather than the data usage.

They want you to have network locked hardware, so you can't chop and change networks for better signal, etc. If you have a Meteor modem, then you have to buy from them.

watty

The lose money on the HW, which is a 2nd reason why the HW (phone or Modem) is locked.

TBH I'd rather have cheaper calls and level playing field on the Gadget market than the subsidised thing which forces makers to kowtow to Operators and makes it impossible for innovative startups to get into the market.

ste88m

I had this problem too. I rang up Meteor to ask could they activate my phone for HSDPA internet, I was told that it costs about 1c per kb for GPRS data (which seems to be all they offer) & that I should just buy the modem instead. When I was with 3 I was able to use my phone as a modem so it does seem wierd that Meteor don't offer the service.

drumm23

reviving an old thread here but - is this still correct? I have a dongle but need a Voda prepay data sim without having to buy ANOTHER dongle, am I out of luck? If so I guess I'll try the 3 trick mentioned on the earlier page...
cheers.