TopUp and Go dongle stopped working

[cassonian]

Hi all, sorry my first post is a problem.

A while back I bought the £39 TopUp and Go mobile broadband dongle as my usage is very low (I only use it at the odd hotel to check my mail when working away) so the £15 unlimited time 1GB top up was ideal for me.

However now a problem.

It's stopped working. No warning of low credit, just won't connect and last time I tried it came up with a message that the SIM wasn't activated? I've lost the number that was assigned to it also, that particular field now shows 'no number'.

I spoke to Vodaphone help and the guy suggested without a mobile number they can't help, I never made a note of it as I didn't need to really.

I still have the box with the IMEI and SIM numbers but he reckoned these are useless without a mobile number as 'no records are kept'.

I notice that this particular package is no longer available, is this simply a ploy to get me to buy something that is going to cost me more as the top ups will be time limited?

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I reckon that because it's been a while since you used it, then the number may have been quarantined, or even recycled already if you've not used it for that long.

Not a ploy at all, but you may need to purchase a new dongle and this will be on the new 30 day expiry deal.

Nice

[cassonian]

Nope, I use it nearly every day.

[Anonymous]

sorry, your post said you only used when at hotels, so assumed you were last at a hotel some time ago, rather than yesterdaY!!!

can you put the SIM from the dongle into a handset and try to connect to a few pages?

what happens, still no connection?

have you tried in a different machine? Have you tried in other areas?

Nice

[cassonian]

sorry, your post said you only used when at hotels, so assumed you were last at a hotel some time ago, rather than yesterdaY!!!

can you put the SIM from the dongle into a handset and try to connect to a few pages?

what happens, still no connection?

have you tried in a different machine? Have you tried in other areas?

Nice

I stop in lots of hotels, I just don't use the net for long, sorry!

Just tried it in my Nokia phone and got 'SIM card registration error', so back in the stick and plugged it into the missuses netbook and so far all it's managed to do it spend 5 minutes 'Configuring Microsoft®.NET Framework'.

[cassonian]

Ok, so the device installed but still won't pick up a network and own number is 'not available' as per my laptop. I know I get coverage here at home, used it when my Homehub broke.

[cassonian]

Anyone? I need to get this sorted as I can't be without internet access again next week.

[Retired-Daz_V]

Hi Cassonian,

It's a shame to read this. Sadly, you've not really given us any technical info to work with. Can you try the following and let us know how you get on?

- Try the USB Modem in another computer - what happens?
- When plugged in, what colour is the modem light flashing? Does it flash single/double blink or stay 'solid'?
- failing this, can you try the SIM in a phone - does it get signal?

We would really need these basic test completed - after this, we can explore what else may be afoot with the connection. Keep us updated - we will get to the bottom of this for you


Daz

eForum Team

[cassonian]

Hi Cassonian,

It's a shame to read this. Sadly, you've not really given us any technical info to work with. Can you try the following and let us know how you get on?

- Try the USB Modem in another computer - what happens?
- When plugged in, what colour is the modem light flashing? Does it flash single/double blink or stay 'solid'?
- failing this, can you try the SIM in a phone - does it get signal?

We would really need these basic test completed - after this, we can explore what else may be afoot with the connection. Keep us updated - we will get to the bottom of this for you



Daz

eForum Team

Hi Daz,

If you read what I've written above you'll notice that I've tried it in another laptop and a phone. It gets the same 'searching for signal' in the laptop and 'SIM card registration error' in my phone.

The light blinks twice quickly green in my computer when inserted.

Thanks, Ian.

[cassonian]

Looks like a trip to my local Vodaphone store tomorrow then? Must say that so far my experience of the helpline (with the wrong number as advertised on my dongle help!) and this forum has not been a particularly helpful one.

I have tried to fully explain my situation with all the information available to me........?