Smart Bro Plugit Prepaid Kit Review
Monday
Oct 27, 2008
I’ve been on the lookout for a contingency connection for those times that my main Bayan DSL account lets me down (which is oftentimes these days). I do have a 3.5G (HSDPA) enabled mobile phone, which I can use as a modem via BlueTooth, but somehow I have found that option to be cumbersome. First, it causes my mobile phone battery to drain quickly, and so it’s not exactly an elegant solution as I would have to worry about notebook/netbook batteries _and_ mobile phone batteries discharging. Also, it’s a bit expensive when used heavily, at PhP 5 per 15 minutes on the Globe network. Sure that’s cheap enough for on the go browsing, but when you’re using your internet connection the whole day, you end up spending more.
Smart recently announced the availability of an unlimited plan that comes with a USB HSDPA modem for PhP 1,500 per month (about $30 per month) and so I decided to visit a nearby Smart Wireless center to inquire and possibly apply. As I submitted my application form I was told that the modem that came with postpaid plans was still the old white Huawei-supplied one, and this reportedly had many connectivity, compatibility and reliability issues. And I was told approval would take two to three days.
I decided to pick up a prepaid kit for the meantime, to evaluate Smart’s service. I’m primarily a Globe user, and so my 3.5G-enabled mobile phone runs on the Globe network. Best try out Smart’s service this time.
Great things about the prepaid kit are:
* It came with the newer, black USB modem that looks just like a pen drive. This means no dongles to mess up your otherwise wireless set-up.
* It’s cheap at PhP 2,800 net (you have to pay PhP 2,500 for the modem, which includes the SIM card and PhP 100 prepaid load, then you have to purchase a PhP 300 prepaid card).
* It’s prepaid, so there is no need for contracts, lock-ins, or proof of identity/income, as is usual with postpaid plans.
* If you have an existing Smart prepaid or postpaid SIM, you can also use these to connect. Standard rates apply.
So far, so good. It’s been a reliable mobile connection for me, for those times I need to connect while out of the office, or when my home-office connection is simply too slow.
I do get slow speeds when the cell site I’m connected to has non-existent or weak HSDPA signals. With this, it tops at 300+ Kbps. Where there are no 3G signals, it tops at 200+ Kbps (EDGE) or 56 Kbps (GPRS). It sucks, but when it’s your only option you will take it. So far I’m able to access most services and ports I need, including instant messengers, FTP, cPanel and the like, where previously these wireless networks imposed some prohibitions with non-HTTP ports.
The provided software was a breeze to install. The USB modem itself has read-only storage, so the drivers for Windows and OS X (Tiger and Leopard) are included. You may have to download drivers and do some tweaks for Linux, though.
You can always just dialup using your OS’s dialer, but the bundled software gives you more options, like the ability to detect what kind of signal you are currently getting, and the ability to lock connection to certain types only (the connection moves across HSDPA, 3G, GPRS, and EDGE depending on signal strength and availability).
Speedtest results
168 Kbps down on EDGE.
1.2 Mbps on HSDPA
Some photos
The retail kit:
Contents:
With the SIM card:
With a USB pen drive (to compare and illustrate size):
With the SIM card just peeking out:
Attached to an HP mini note netbook:
The main advantage, as I see it, is that this takes out the necessity to bring an extra phone or to use your extra phone just to connect. The main disadvantage is that you do have to shell out some money for the unit itself. But at PhP 2,800, that’s already a steal. A couple of weeks ago, this was still retailing at PhP 3,800 (PhP 4,500 farther back).
I do hope my unlimited plan gets approved soon. When that time comes I’ll really get to put the system to an abuse test–whether it can take sustained speeds, and whether it can serve as a reliable connectivity option full-time. Of course I cannot share it among my various computers simultaneously, but again my purpose is for backup connectivity that I can also use while mobile.
When I get that plan approved, I would use it instead with this black modem and I would probably sell the white one (along with the prepaid SIM) or keep it as backup.
Updates: From research, I discovered that the black USB dongle sold with this prepaid pack is the LongCheer WM66. I believe that’s a relative newcomer, compared to Huawei and ZTE, which supplies most other dongles out there. Huawei is usually un-lockable, while ZTE dongles are more difficult (if possible at all) to unlock. But at PhP 2,500 for a prepaid kit, these things are cheap already!
Also, I have a Globe Visibility prepaid kit review upcoming!
Some words of advice
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Comments
mark delos reyes
July 17th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
ei guys try to watch the new commercial of smart bro.
mica
July 17th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
elow try to check this site ang ganda ng mga sinasabi tungkol sa smartbrow
http://blogs.inquirer.net/m-ph/2008/04/16/smart-bro-prepaid-broadband-for-everyone/
Chacha
July 18th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Nabasa q sa ibang smart articles that you can upgrade your bandwidth. Ngulat me, pano ba un? Me nakakaalam po ba kung pano? Ndi ko pa kinocontact ung smart.
texon
July 18th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
napanood ko na yun, astig nga eh..
emily
July 18th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
i already watched it.. astig nga eh.. i have my new plugits too! hahaha
mica
July 18th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
elow try to check this site ang ganda ng mga sinasabi tungkol sa smartbrow.:)
http://blogs.inquirer.net/m-ph/2008/04/16/smart-bro-prepaid-broadband-for-everyone/
empoy
July 18th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
@mark
un ba ung ang skin niya ung UAAP and NCAA teams?
shyeee
July 27th, 2009 at 10:47 am
where can i watch the new commercial with UAAP players? please post a video link.. thanks!
Communicator
September 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
News Flash Plug it Now 995
The Smart BRO USB modem is a small, palm-sized device that you can carry with you wherever you go. And anytime you need to surf, just plug it into the USB port of your PC, and you’ll get connected in a flash. Total initial payment is P995 with FREE 5 Hours of internet surfing. Broadband Internet use is P10 for every 30 minutes.
Smart Bro Prepaid kit NOW costs P995 which already includes a USB modem and a SIM card. It already has a P100 preloaded broadband load which can be used up to 5 hours of high-speed broadband internet use.
http://smartbroplugit.wordpress.com/
Also read my review of SMART BRO plug it and share it along with antenna and manual comments.
rai
September 12th, 2009 at 7:22 am
hi! is there any difference between the smart bro white and black (now P995)?? i tried the white one it’s way more faster than the black one which is older than the white. help please want to figure out which one is the best.. thanks.
aie
September 14th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
ano po requirements apply sana ako nung smart bro unlimited plan 1500 wireless connection?
Johnny
November 8th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
hey..im having a problem on the new smart bro plugit broadband kit.. when i installed it on my laptop it runs well,then after a few minutes my laptop crashed and led to a blue screen with text.
have anyone of you encountered something like this?..
mark delos reyes
November 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
@rai
wala naman difference ung dalawa eh sa tigin ko new packaging lang un nung plug it.
mark delos reyes
November 8th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
@aie
ate try niyo po punta sa official website ng bro
http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/broprepaid.htm
carla
November 10th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
smart bro is so fast.im very happy i switch to smart bro.i hope mag karoon ulit sila ng bagong event.
empoy
November 12th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
smart bro is the fastest plug it i ever use.
angel
November 12th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
i use smart bro for 1 yr before i switch to globe at ang masasabi ko lang.=(
jamie
November 14th, 2009 at 9:38 am
sarap magsurf sa net lalo na pag mabilis ang net.smart bro is really great.=)
rose
November 14th, 2009 at 10:13 am
here in caloocan mabilis ang smart kaysa globe.di nawawalan ng connection dito.
wolfenstein
November 17th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Wag kayo buy ng smart bro usb, palpak ang service nila, lalo na pagpumirma ka sa agreement nila.
last month, bumili kami ng smart bro usb, it found out na defective, and until now di nila mapalitan kasi wala pa daw silang stocks na kulay puting usb.
when we ask for refund, sabi nila di pwedeng i-refund yung bayad namin kasi may waiver kaming pinirmahan, na within 24 hrs. after purchased ng unit pwedeng palitan on the spot or refund yung bayad namin.
So ang ending, mag antay na lang daw kami sa replacement ng unit namin, at eto pa nakakainis, ONE WAY COMMUNICATION LANG. meaning di nila ibibigay yung contact number ng office nila at sila lang daw ang tatawag.
so we ask them foe specific date kung kelan sila magkakaroon ng stocks na kulay puting usb. wala din silang masabi. so ang ending?
mamumuti ang mata mo sa wala pag nagkataon.
we plan to go to DTI sa ginawa nilang kapalpakan.
sya nga pala, about dun sa waiver, lumagpas kami sa 24 hrs. kaya ayaw nila i-refing yung money.
wala silang white usb unit, pero black unit lang daw ang available nila on that time, we ask kung yung black unit nalang ipalit nila sa defective naming unit, they refused to replace, sabi nila magkaiba ang gumawa ng white at black usb unit nila, at mayayari daw sila sa inventory. WTF was that!!!
di sila nahirapang tanggapin yung mga bayad natin, pagkatapos, pahihirapan nila tayo sa service?
and addition to that, smart bro usb was not compatible in vista home premium.
and they didn’t even inform us na di compatible yung unit nila sa vista home premium, buti na lang may xp computer kami dito, dahil kung nagkataon, di lang mamumuti ang mata namin sa kaaantay ng replcement, di rin namin magagamit kung nagkataon wala kaming xp pc dito sa bahay.
PALPAK ang smart bro, may mag hidden agenda pala sila, kaya ka papipirmahin ng waiver, dahil alam nilang madaling masira o palpak mga unit nila, para sa ganun wala tayong habol.
Dane
November 3rd, 2011 at 10:56 am
Smart bro sucks! kainis talaga, wla silang kwentang service provider, i doubt talaga kung dumadaan muna sa testing mga broadband kit nila eh, mga mukha lang silang mga pera at take note tama nga na puro pera lang target nila sa customers pero sa service PALPAK!
mimi
November 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
hahaha.. ang cute.. ako ang masasabi ko..+_+ kasi napakabagal ng globe!
luli
November 21st, 2009 at 4:50 pm
hey! nagpunta ako dun sa event na yn! the smart b free day right! sa my meralco tent! grabe! super saya.. rakenrol!
cristy
November 21st, 2009 at 9:05 pm
gumamit ako ng smart bro 2 month palang ok. fast din cya kahit dito ako sa prov.
rose
November 26th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
@wolfenstein
ang saklap naman po ng nangyari sainyo.buti nalang di ganyan nangyari samin.
saint makoy
November 28th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
sun.SUCKs.SUN SUCKS.ang bagal ng connection
kram
November 29th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
kalma lang saint makoy.saint pa naman pangalan mo.hehe
jackie
November 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
yes,, sun sucks.. even globe..
luli
November 29th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Now the access to the fast and nationwidest wireless broadband can be shared with others. Smart Bro’s Share it is an easy-to-install wifi router* for broadband connection that up to 5 users can share.
Speed is Up to 2 Mbps
Othello Jess
November 29th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
hi. tanong ko lang kung panong gagawin if windows 7 ang os when using smart bro prepaid? no signal kasi eh. i’ve tried the compatibility with win xp service pack 2 pero la pa rin nangyayari. any suggestions? tnx.
Othello Jess
November 30th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
update: I was able to use smart bro prepaid na. dapat pala pag install nasa likod ng cpu ung smart bro para madetect yung mga kulang na drivers.
eecyahk18
September 6th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
hi, i just bought my smartbro plug it..its wm66a.nagagamit ko sya sa desktop computer namin, pero if gagamitin ko sya sa laptop ko, hindi ako makaconnect, palaging dial failed.
skele10
January 9th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
hi guys, need help ask ko lng kac nkapulot ng smartbro modem with smartbro sim card ung bayaw ko, ayaw naman mgkasya sa cardslot ung sim card ?
meredith
February 10th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
hi. i purchased smartbro (windows 7 compatible) last month. i’ve installed it on my sony vaio laptop (windows vista) but when i run the application, my system crashed. it went to a blue screen saying something about usbstor.sys. can anyone help?
Yuuki
March 6th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Fake naman ung 3g signal daw ng smart……. kahit may signal ng 3g na nakalagay…..hindi ka naman makapag-connect kc 2g lang daw ang lumalabas doon sa operator ng smart…….fake talaga and smart…..pwe!!!
Noel Severa
March 15th, 2010 at 2:30 am
sir, tulong po ,meron akong smartbro n long cheer wm66, windows 7 ang OS ko. D cya mabasa ng windows 7. magagmit k pa kya itong smartbro kit ko?
pinoydownloadtoearth download
April 9th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
depende kasi yan sa lugar.. ako gamit ko usb ng smart bro at globe ng smart.. depende sa lugar..saka dapat walang virus mga pc nyo…mas maganda run nyo sa F8 tpos directory service…mas mabilis at accurate nakaka tulong din kahit papaano…
kung gusto nyo bumisita kayo dito..www.pinoydownloadtoearth.tk
love is sharing
sonny
April 30th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
mag isip isip muna po kayo d2 s valenzuela CIty mabagal mo po Smart Bro Share it ko at take note wala k private IP address samasama kayo s isang ip address huhuhuh sayang pera ko TINAWAG KO N SMART PERO 4WEEK N MABAGAL P DIN PERO PAG GABI 1AM MABILIS amf GALING
sonny
April 30th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
wag po kayo bibili ng Share it d2 s valenzuela city Ang bagal sobra parang dial up baka masmabilis p dial up PLsss mag isip sayng pera lock period p 2 yrs sayng pera amf
Transient
May 11th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Smart uses proxy servers. That’s why we get slow internet speeds in the afternoons till evening. (I think as of this date, the proxy is in France.)
What’s more, you’re looking at kbps, not KBps.
Overall, Smart’s internet connection is a scam.
humblecreature
May 12th, 2010 at 8:06 am
@sonny
totoo yang idea mo na share ang ip address based on my experience dito me sa las pinas. kasi several times me nag attempt magdownload sa hotfile.com aba eh sabi you are currently downloading samantalang di naman ako nagdodownload. ibig sabihin may ibang user na kapareho ko ng ip address ang nagdodownload nung oras na un sa hotfile. isa itong weak area ng smart bro. based on my experience pa rin kasi i’ve tried sun broadband post paid and prepaid walang ganitong problema. ngayon naman gamit ko ang wi-tribe 4G wala ding sharing of ip address. nasty ito kasi di ka makakapagdownload anytime you like. unless premium user k ng hotfile. at unless walang ibang user na online na nagshashare ng ip address mo.
bakunat
July 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 pm
Oo wag kayo bibili at magpapaloko sa Smartbro. Yung 300 pesos nyo na load ay katumbas lang 20 pesos na internet. Mapapansin nyo, connected kayo sa smartbro kaya tuloy ang bayad pero wala naman kayong internet. Kung magkaron man, sobrang bagal. Ninanakawan tayo ng smartbro. Niloloko nila tayo. Dapat isa sila sa maimbestigahan at maparusahan sa malawakang panloloko.
leng
July 30th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
depende nga siguro sa lugar, sa area namin sa cavite palapk naman ang GLOBE broadband unli, take note naka line na ako ha, try ko din yung GLOBE tattoo, kinakain naman yung load
eRDz
August 6th, 2010 at 2:02 am
bat ang bagal ng plug it smart bro ko?
leah
August 12th, 2010 at 10:07 pm
bt gnun po pg ngconnect aq s net using my smartbro kit ngeeror port is open daw po..pnu po b un?plz rply nlng po s email q..tnx
shojimar
August 15th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
hi sir, cnu p0o pde mkatulong skin.bumili kc ako ng smart bro prepaid ung wm66a kulay black tapos ang OS ko ay Window 7 starter.compatible po ba sa OS ko ung smartbro?ndi kc mka connect.kung mka connect naman cguro mga after 15mins wla ng net.pero wla lumalabas na Disconnected ako. anu po gagawin ko?:(
thanks….
ludhiecute
August 21st, 2010 at 12:20 pm
hi…super bagal ng smartbro..ubos na lod ko hindi pa nagbubukas fb ko…huhu
roderick bello
September 8th, 2010 at 11:39 am
ang bagal talaga smart bro. hnde naman kalayuan tower d2 sa amin… pano ano gagawin para mapabilis…?
DAXSON BALDONADO
September 8th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
MABILIS NAMAN ANG SMART BRO DEPENDE LANG TALAGA SA SIGNAL AT LUGAR
DAXSON BALDONADO
September 8th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
TRY NYO MAG UNLISURF 200 DITO NYO MALALAMAN KONG GANO KABILIS ANG CONNECTION NG SMART BRO
DAXSON BALDONADO
September 8th, 2010 at 5:07 pm
TRY TO SET 3G OR GPRS/EDGE
AznDrift
September 12th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
yeah, smartbro sucks, i bought a prepaid usb kit WM66A model(the one with 120hrs. free). 1st 3days okay pa, my speed reaches 1.4mbps then baba ng 600kbps, so my average speed is around 700-800kbps. (di pa ako nagloload kasi free hours pa rin yung ginagamit ko) then on the 4th day, the problem occured, bigla nalang nawala yung connection, as in down to “0″ kbps, as in, akala ko dahil baka lang sa ulan kaya bigla nawala connection, kaya pinalipas ko na lang yung araw, on the 5th day, wala pa rin! wla na ulan, maganda na yung panahon pero wala pa ding signal, 0kbps pa rin and weird thing is, umaandar yung timer ng usb therefore nauubos yung free load eventhough wala ako connection (meron pa akong free load na 67hrs). so i was kinda disappointed at smartbro, mejo nagsisisi nga eh dahil bumili pa ako…hahays..oh yeah i forgot, 400+ meters lang ang layo ng smart tower sa apartment na tinitirhan ko dito sa sampaloc….zzzzzzzz how’s that for service… advertised speed divided 100 = speed that you really get. O_o