Tesco mobile broadband launches: 15GB/€15 PAYG

kn · 25-03-2014 08:53PM

Do-more wrote: »

Sorry I couldn't get to do a good test last night as there were two others using the connection at the time but even at that I was getting 2mbps down and the ping was still around 100ms.

Don't know if my speeds are representative as it is a very rural area. Might be better to ask around as to how O2 broadband performs in your area as I think the performance should be similar to what Tesco mobile now offer.

Those are really decent speeds for a rural area. Just how far are you from an o2 mast?

Do-more · 25-03-2014 09:26PM

kn wrote: »

Those are really decent speeds for a rural area. Just how far are you from an o2 mast?

No idea, I'm just visiting from abroad for 10 days but if there is a map showing the mast locations you can link me to then I can work it out. The mifi only ever shows two or three bars.

[Edit] I found a link to "site viewer" on ComRegs site which shows all the masts. Hard to measure the exact distance as I am browsing on the phone but it looks like about 6kms to one mast and about 7kms in the other direction to the other so I am almost on the edge of the cell.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 09:53AM

long_b wrote: »

Download the generic admin application for the dongle direct from the manufacturer ?

I have an O2 Huawei E220 that I have requested the unlock code for. Once I get that I'll pop in a Tesco SIM and then the unlock code when prompted. One thing though, will the O2 software still attempt to install from the E220 and if I don't install this software what is the best one to use?

Thanks,
M

millie12345 · 26-03-2014 10:23AM

I am right in thinking that if I purchase one of these off amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-E5220-Mbps-Mobile-clients/dp/B00CRBW9OA/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1395825687&sr=8-11&keywords=huawei

I can insert the tesco sim and get the 15gb data?

Apologies if this is a stupid question

hallo dare · 26-03-2014 10:48AM

millie12345 wrote: »

I am right in thinking that if I purchase one of these off amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-E5220-Mbps-Mobile-clients/dp/B00CRBW9OA/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1395825687&sr=8-11&keywords=huawei

I can insert the tesco sim and get the 15gb data?

Apologies if this is a stupid question

Correct, buy away, you may have to enter in the APN though. Minor stuff.

millie12345 · 26-03-2014 10:51AM

Thanks Hallo dare

hallo dare · 26-03-2014 10:54AM

madmoe wrote: »

I have an O2 Huawei E220 that I have requested the unlock code for. Once I get that I'll pop in a Tesco SIM and then the unlock code when prompted. One thing though, will the O2 software still attempt to install from the E220 and if I don't install this software what is the best one to use?

Thanks,
M

I think it will install the o2 software, but that won't matter as it will be the Tesco BB signal it will be looking for and should still work in the same manner.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 11:14AM

hallo dare wrote: »

I think it will install the o2 software, but that won't matter as it will be the Tesco BB signal it will be looking for and should still work in the same manner.

Great! I'll give this a lash at the weekend! If I popped a normal Tesco Mobile SIM in on which I have 5GB per month would that work just to try out what sort of speeds\signal I am getting? I will be in Mayo at the weekend and would like to see what sort of speeds I get.

Cheers,
M

kn · 26-03-2014 11:28AM

madmoe wrote: »

Great! I'll give this a lash at the weekend! If I popped a normal Tesco Mobile SIM in on which I have 5GB per month would that work just to try out what sort of speeds\signal I am getting? I will be in Mayo at the weekend and would like to see what sort of speeds I get.

Cheers,
M

A phone SIM will not work in a data device. You need a data SIM. But you can check speeds by using your smartphone to either tether using the charging cable or turning on the portable hotspot on your device so that it will act as a wifi connection.

long_b · 26-03-2014 11:40AM

kn wrote: »

A phone SIM will not work in a data device. You need a data SIM. .

Pretty sure this isn't the case - at least on other networks.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 11:54AM

kn wrote: »

A phone SIM will not work in a data device. You need a data SIM. But you can check speeds by using your smartphone to either tether using the charging cable or turning on the portable hotspot on your device so that it will act as a wifi connection.

Thanks mate

Heraldoffreeent · 26-03-2014 11:59AM

kn wrote: »

A phone SIM will not work in a data device. You need a data SIM. But you can check speeds by using your smartphone to either tether using the charging cable or turning on the portable hotspot on your device so that it will act as a wifi connection.

This is not true, phone sims from most MNO/MVNOs will work in MIfis/dongles.
I've used a tesco Sim in an e5221 and E355's.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 03:15PM

Heraldoffreeent wrote: »

This is not true, phone sims from most MNO/MVNOs will work in MIfis/dongles.
I've used a tesco Sim in an e5221 and E355's.

Great! I'll be giving it a try at the weekend guys once I get the unlock code from that site that was mentioned earlier!

Cheers,
M

long_b · 26-03-2014 03:21PM

madmoe wrote: »

Great! I'll be giving it a try at the weekend guys once I get the unlock code from that site that was mentioned earlier!

Cheers,
M

I find it useful to remove any PIN lock that may be on the SIM by slapping it in a phone first and opting to remove the SIM PIN via the phone's security settings.

May not be necessary depending how you're using the SIM.

Heraldoffreeent · 26-03-2014 03:57PM

long_b wrote: »

I find it useful to remove any PIN lock that may be on the SIM by slapping it in a phone first and opting to remove the SIM PIN via the phone's security settings.

May not be necessary depending how you're using the SIM.

Good idea, although some of the newer Huawei Management interfaces have a field where youcan enter the Pin, I think its also on the Huawei App for Ipad and Iphone.

Also, if using the SIM in a dongle, He/She may have to use the tescomobile.liffeytelecom.com APN as opposed to the newer data APN.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 04:16PM

Hey guys,
I got my unlock code, popped in my Tesco mobile SIM from my phone, installed the O2 Broadband software (mobile connect) and launched it but no prompt for the network unlock code!? It says 'Detecting Wireless Device....' and then a message saying 'Wireless Device does not exist or unavailable' pops up!? Is there a generic software program I can flash to the Huawei E220 that I could use instead?

Cheers,
M

Kalyke · 26-03-2014 04:24PM

If the SIMS are the same, why are Tesco charging €2.50 for a Data Sim, while you can get phone SIM for free?

madmoe · 26-03-2014 04:40PM

Kalyke wrote: »

If the SIMS are the same, why are Tesco charging €2.50 for a Data Sim, while you can get phone SIM for free?

That could explain why the phone SIM is not being recognized by my O2 dongle!?

Heraldoffreeent · 26-03-2014 05:05PM

madmoe wrote: »

That could explain why the phone SIM is not being recognized by my O2 dongle!?

i'm not sure exactly how you go about unlocking the dongle, The ones I've used are either unlocked, or in one case I got the MIFI unlocked in one of the "Chinese" phone shops in town, generally it only costs a tenner.
I'd suggest you google "How to unlock Exxx dongle", Generally you'll find Youtube tutorials/info there that should help.

As I said, I've used tesco SIMS in dongles for the last year and they've worked fine and they've been phone sims.

hallo dare · 26-03-2014 05:10PM

Heraldoffreeent wrote: »

i'm not sure exactly how you go about unlocking the dongle, The ones I've used are either unlocked, or in one case I got the MIFI unlocked in one of the "Chinese" phone shops in town, generally it only costs a tenner.
I'd suggest you google "How to unlock Exxx dongle", Generally you'll find Youtube tutorials/info there that should help.

As I said, I've used tesco SIMS in dongles for the last year and they've worked fine and they've been phone sims.

Same as a phone, put in different provider sim and enter unlock code in box that come up looking for unlock code.

madmoe · 26-03-2014 05:22PM

OK guys! I'll try another different SIM tomorrow. I don't have mifi thingy, the one I have is the older dongle that connects via a short USB cable.

Cheers,
M

long_b · 26-03-2014 05:31PM

madmoe wrote: »

OK guys! I'll try another different SIM tomorrow. I don't have mifi thingy, the one I have is the older dongle that connects via a short USB cable.

Cheers,
M

When you plug in the stick on its own (with or without a SIM) does it get detected as a USB device by Windows ?

madmoe · 26-03-2014 07:19PM

long_b wrote: »

When you plug in the stick on its own (with or without a SIM) does it get detected as a USB device by Windows ?

It sure does mate and all the drivers install correctly etc.

dave oc · 28-03-2014 10:55AM

Anyone having problems entering an unlock code on a Huawei E585 modem? Ive gotten the unlock from the free page linked in this thread and also paid for one on ebay (they are both the same). The device is managed by a web page (3.home), and when I get the page that asks for the SIMLOCK code, I enter the code but its not accepted?

Any ideas?

EDIT: never mind got it sorted. the codes I got sent were wrong, had to uses some tools (dc unlocked, psas, rev skills) to get the correct code.

madmoe · 28-03-2014 03:29PM

dave oc wrote: »

Anyone having problems entering an unlock code on a Huawei E585 modem? Ive gotten the unlock from the free page linked in this thread and also paid for one on ebay (they are both the same). The device is managed by a web page (3.home), and when I get the page that asks for the SIMLOCK code, I enter the code but its not accepted?

Any ideas?

EDIT: never mind got it sorted. the codes I got sent were wrong, had to uses some tools (dc unlocked, psas, rev skills) to get the correct code.

What sort of message were you getting mate? I tried to input the code using the unlocker software and it would not work!?

29-03-2014 07:52PM

I have an old Huawei e3131 dongle locked to o2. I've purchased an unlock code on ebay for it. Since the unbranded ones are better speed wise could someone recommend the best one I can purchase that would also work with in this offer please? Ta.

hallo dare · 29-03-2014 08:00PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I have an old Huawei e3131 dongle locked to o2. I've purchased an unlock code on ebay for it. Since the unbranded ones are better speed wise could someone recommend the best one I can purchase that would also work with in this offer please? Ta.

Like i mentioned back the way, Huawei E5220.

29-03-2014 09:03PM

hallo dare wrote: »

Like i mentioned back the way, Huawei E5220.

Yes I saw that but I'm talking about a USB dongle. Isn't what you linked to a mifi router thingy? I could get away with just a dongle and was hoping they would be fairly cheap. Or are all the USB dongles the same and I'm talking out of my bum?

hallo dare · 29-03-2014 09:05PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes I saw that but I'm talking about a USB dongle. Isn't what you linked to a mifi router thingy? I could get away with just a dongle and was hoping they would be fairly cheap. Or are all the USB dongles the same and I'm talking out of my bum?

That can be plugged in via a usb to your pc just like a dongle

km79 · 29-03-2014 09:08PM

On this......I finally seem to have got my 3 broadband working to a decent speed of around 2mb.
I have a hauwei b260a wifi modem.
Should I unlock it ? Alterntively is there a better WiFi modem I can buy ?

Tesco mobile broadband launches: 15GB/€15 PAYG

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