Maud

Thanks for the feedback chaps. Apologies, I didn't think to look for a mobile/data specific corner of the forum, but clearly that makes sense. Historically, we have always gone with DTAC for no other reason that it worked first time around, and other networks can be a gamble, although with prices in Thailand, not the most massive gamble.

Yes, friends, it is almost time to come to the sun for winter. As my title suggests, we will be looking for a decent Sim only package for our phones and data. As we use mainly WhatsApp or such like for communications here, data only is OK, but have an open mind to the best way to approach this. Obviously deals and so on change all the time, so I'd be keen to hear of the current view on likely "Best Buys". I use the "" because words like Best are a versonal opinion often. Thanks in anticipation. Maud (looking forward to some sun on our bones).

I agree with Sheryl, weight gain is more associated with hypothyroidism. Where you are taking hormone replacement that would suggest you are still under medicated, but you will need your forthcoming blood work to confirm that. When reviewing that blood work it is important to review TSH, T4 and T3, not just T4 and TSH. I hope you can get onto an even keel soon, but it can take a while to balance thyroid hormones.

Throughout your thread, you seem very clear of what is not keto. What do you consider to be keto living? Where would you usually eat when at home? (I am assuming Pattaya isn't your full-time home.) I have just spent 3 months in Thailand (not in Pattaya, but not far away), living keto, and living well. My A1c tests are always at the best just after a Thailand trip.

Apologies, I didn’t see your responses until now. I don’t know if you can self install the Liberty Shield settings on any router, but to be honest, at £20 it wasn’t a deal-breaker cost. They have admin rights over it, so can make adjustments at their end if necessary. The odd time that has been required, provided it’s between 9-21:00, UK time, it is done in moments. They seem to have plenty staff but my experience, over more than 10 years, is that they seem to try to allocate the same person for consistency. That said, anyone I have dealt with has been very competent.

LibertyShield, was originally Scot Hosts. Lots of servers in many countries. Great for iPlayer, Sky, BT Sports, Amazon Prime etc. We also have a pre-configured router meaning we have an always on UK IP address in our apartment. Support when required is prompt and thorough - very often the same person. We’re happy.

As you likely read further up the thread, we're happily sort now, thanks, but thanks for responding anyway.

I had no idea I could change, but even when I do, to Thailand, the App Store says I need to change my location to UK

Thanks for your earlier help sorting out our 4G router. Looking at Shopee, there are a couple of things I would like to buy, and wanted to try out the Cash on Delivery option, using a modestly priced item. I can log in, using my phone number, set up an account, including my address, and get as far as checkout when it says I need to app to complete the process. The Apple App Store doesn't appear to have a shopee app, even though I am connected on a Thai sim, and have a Thai address. I am using CoD because I only have UK credit cards, which I would rather not expose to a brand new operation. Any suggestions how I might remedy this? Thanks!

The thing we found with phone sims, was after a period of days the speed dropped. It appears buying a package of unlimited data of XMbps doesn't mean that is maintained whatever. Our early days were data use heavy, sorting a few things out. For now, provided this go as they seem to now - last night we watched a movie on Prime, which needs VPN - streaming was faultless, we'll not meddle any further. On future trips we will be better prepared by researching such "stuff" before travelling.

No. It is pretty variable, but often 6Mbps, but channeling via the VPN router, or a VPN connection for that matter throttles a little speed off. Provided it streams the channels we require, we can view YouTube, and it allows a bit of surfing and email, we'll be happy. We aren't gamers or anything requiring massive bandwidth. We're not here, running a full time business, or keeping teenagers amused, so our needs are simple once our requirements are met. We're here to live for 3 months, with the aim of avoiding the worst of winter.

Further update, if you aren’t all bored enough yet. Yesterday, I dropped a not to our VPN provider, who also provided the pre-configured VPN router, asking if they had any ideas. The outcome was our inbound gateway to the VPN router was changed, server-side. After a managed reboot of both routers, our experience on BTSport, for about 2 hours was significantly improved with literally, maybe 2 brief spots of buffering, so for new we’ll adopt a watching brief (deliberate), and see how we go. All part of the Thailand adventure. ????

Thanks. Yes. I’d already considered that as an option.

Thanks. Yes, the 10Mbps package. It's OK for virtually everything - NowTV (Sky's streaming service is delivers via that now), iPlayer, Discovery+ - except BT Sport, which seems to buffer a lot. BT got very clever when they launched their portable/mobile offerings and demand locations services on phones and tablets, so it has to go via a laptop. The bounders. ???? We'll try it for a few more days, then make a decision whether or not we need to look again at the deal we are using. Whilst I'd rather not have wasted c1000 bhat, it's not a life changing amount if we decided your option could work better. Last time here (seems like a lifetime ago), we looked at Lazada for something and it wouldn't accept a UK card, but if that deal offers cash on delivery it could be helpful. Thanks again. I appreciate it.

We bought a D-Link DWR-M920 and an D-Tac 90 day internet only sim to connect. The router has 4 LAN ports, 4 antennae (2 cellular and 2 wi-fi), but only 2.4Ghz. No 5Ghz channel. It can connect up to 32 users, but that might be a challenge on 4G. It'll only be used here, or on other jaunts away from home, so right now, we don't need all-singing-all-dancing future proofing. We can make our own choices if we want to do that in slow time in UK. So far, we have connected 7 devices to it and had 6 streaming at once. It took a few moments for each connection to settle, in terms of picture quality, but that's fine. We have streamed UK TV via our UK VPN router (connected to the D-link by LAN) and the VPN is there and robust. It is just plain old convenient to have an always "in UK" option without fiddling with settings etc. So far, so good, although obviously use so far is very limited.

Many thanks folks. In the end, our local computer shop had only been closed for a couple of days, as opposed to closed. They are fab in there. Via there, we ordered a D-Link router mid afternoon yesterday. It arrived by 10am this morning. All set up and running. Let there be rugby, and there will be rugby,...... later.

Not sure what you are looking to do with the plum jam, but many of them are sweetened by Sorbitol which can cause a deepening of relationships with the small room. You could always just stew plums down to a pulp. It wouldn't have any preservatives in, so refrigeration would be necessary.

Thanks. Those look like they'd be excellent, in Mission Control, Houston, rather than a condo for our 3 month stay, but I do appreciate your input.

Blimey. Thanks!

Thanks guys. Could I ask one further thing? How long does delivery take, and I don't suppose you know if these sites accept UK credit cards. I seem to recall a challenge last time here trying to buy something on Lazada. The would happily deliver to UK, but not in Thailand (due to the UK credit card). The joys of travel. Thanks EVERYONE for your input.

Great thanks,

Many thanks. Another good suggestion.

My apologies. In the quick look of the links, I thought they were the same item. Let's be kind and call it jet lag! Brilliant, thanks. That actually looks just the ticket.

Thank you. Something like that, but was hoping I could pay much less. If I'm honest, I was hoping for something like this, but would obviously have to be flexible. If push comes to shove, we'll have to soldier on as we are. Thanks for looking.

We're back in Thailand after you know what. It's good to be back. Arrangements for internet have changed at the apartment we borrow, meaning we will be dependent on cellular internet. In the past we used the local (landline style) internet, with a VPN connected access point/router plugged in to the internet router, to provide an "always on" UK IP address, which is handy for lots of things. We'd like to replicate that arrangement using cellular. Current tethering experiences from our DTac connected phones have us constantly dropping offline. Needless to say, it's frustrating! So, we'd like to have a "dedicated" 4/5G sim card for at internet in the apartment, with the VPN router attached. That 4/5G router must have an ethernet port to connect the VPN router. If you haven't fallen asleep yet, where do you suggest to buy such a thing? Our nearest, very good little computer shop seems to be closed at present. Had we known before leaving UK, we'd have come prepared. Many thanks!