Samba Mobile Broadband - Is it Really Free?

Blue_Max

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/t-mobile-e3131-pay-as-you-go-mobile-broadband-dongle-14553709-pdt.html
and get an unlock code at eBay for a quid.

£11 in total. Seems like a big saving on Samba price.

Huawei E3131 is a current model with a good spec.
Worth buying?!

diamonds

Blue_Max wrote: »

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/t-mobile-e3131-pay-as-you-go-mobile-broadband-dongle-14553709-pdt.html
and get an unlock code at eBay for a quid.

£11 in total. Seems like a big saving on Samba price.

Huawei E3131 is a current model with a good spec.
Worth buying?!

Yes, have 2 in the family, one I'm using Samba with via wifi with old TalkTalk HG532, speeds never drop under 1.5mbps.

Anyone got a Samba supplied modem ? what model is it ?

banger9365

diamonds wrote: »

Yes, have 2 in the family, one I'm using Samba with via wifi with old TalkTalk HG532, speeds never drop under 1.5mbps.

Anyone got a Samba supplied modem ? what model is it ?

yes ,its a ZTE MF-190 and it works very well,
not tried on window's 8 yet,
update on windows 8 it works fine

diamonds

banger9365 wrote: »

yes ,its a ZTE MF-190 and it works very well,
not tried on window's 8 yet,
update on windows 8 it works fine

2100mhz* 3G only

7.2 up 5.76 down

Bit basic when 3 supports 21mbps, 3 must be providing them cheap for resale - does the job on 3G but 4G speeds are out the window. Defo better with a Currys E3131, a Samba sim & £1 unlock for £15.99.

E3131

2100MHz/900MHz 3/4G (Voda/o2 support old 900mhz 2G as it moved to 3G)
21.6Mbps Download
5.76Mbps Upload
Micro SD support - upto 32GB.
Huawei HiLink - no software to install, all done via browser.

*All networks in UK support 2100Mhz 3G, problem is its penetration around/into buildings - the lower the mhz the better.

Voda & o2 900Mhz 3G provide best coverage, and the worst prices even though they both have main 2100Mhz 3G aswell.

natstally

prowla wrote: »

16.9 GB now - aiming for another session to take it to 17 by end of day.
I plan to stop collecting when i get to 20, but I said that at 10!

How long have you been building credit?!! I've had hardly any ads available the past few days :-(

Blue_Max

natstally wrote: »

How long have you been building credit?!! I've had hardly any ads available the past few days :-(

is 'prowla' is using them all up :rotfl:

Blue_Max

Can get an unlock code from eBay for as little as 99p.
But if anyone like have some fun, try this link for instructions and download a tool.

http://www.doncaprio.com/2012/11/how-to-flash-huawei-usb-modems-and-re-install-the-firmware.html

Its for Huawei but the guy have pages on others too.

letdown23

I obtained a sim with the intention of using it on my odd days away from home, rather than having to pay for a full month on my other dongle.

I watched numerous ads and got bonuses which totalled over 300mb.

When I checked my account a few days later, using my home broadband this figure had dropped to just over 100mb.

I contacted samba customer service and was informed that the 'bonuses' sometimes took a few days to reach the account.

I again used samba and got my battery to 200mb, only for it to fall to 100mb again.

Contacted customer service, who claimed that other customers did not have this problem.

I replied that I was complaining about my account, not other customer's accounts.

I then checked my account and it had dropped to zero.

Complained again, but this time had a condescending reply inferring that I was an idiot, so have told samba in no uncertain terms what to do with their so-called 'free' internet access.

In conclusion, no it is not free - and I have put the samba sim where it belongs (in my rubbish bin).

Blue_Max

letdown23 wrote: »

I obtained a sim with the intention of using it on my odd days away from home, rather than having to pay for a full month on my other dongle.

I watched numerous ads and got bonuses which totalled over 300mb.

When I checked my account a few days later, using my home broadband this figure had dropped to just over 100mb.

I contacted samba customer service and was informed that the 'bonuses' sometimes took a few days to reach the account.

I again used samba and got my battery to 200mb, only for it to fall to 100mb again.

Contacted customer service, who claimed that other customers did not have this problem.

I replied that I was complaining about my account, not other customer's accounts.

I then checked my account and it had dropped to zero.

Complained again, but this time had a condescending reply inferring that I was an idiot, so have told samba in no uncertain terms what to do with their so-called 'free' internet access.

In conclusion, no it is not free - and I have put the samba sim where it belongs (in my rubbish bin).

I also found that bonuses take a day or two to get credited. When they do, they send an email.

When watching the ads, were you using a standard BB or mobile BB using the dongle?
In 'My Samba', have you checked figures and dates for 'Data Used' ?

I also found that when mobile BB is used for watching ads, data earned get used. It is not supposed to do that. I raised the issue at their forum earlier today and is waiting for a reply.
But I found no problems when using standard broadband.

Doc_N

Isn't the Ovivo (http://ovivomobile.com/) offer a lot less trouble?

100 mins, 100 texts and 300mb data per month free (phones)

and/or

500mb data per month (tablets)

No adverts to watch, and a £10 one-off payment which you get back as a credit. From personal experience it works very well - piggbacks on Vodafone.