Best sim data for tourist?

[tuananh]

Hello,

I travel to Thailand in the next few days (Bangkok & Pattaya). I want to use sim card for mobile data use (Facebook, Instagram, FaceTime, iMessage and YouTube). I installed the sim card into the Mobile-wifi (Netgear 791L).

I found two options:
- Tourist sim 299 bath
- Tourist sim 49 bath + add-on

Where is the best option for me? Where can I buy the sim 49 bath, which network is the best?

Thank you,

Edited October 3, 2017 by tuananh

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Can buy them at the airport or any big mall have service suppliers like AIS, DTAC etc.

[JamJar]

All providers at the airport carry a 49 baht SIM. They may not offer it unless you insist.

 

We don't know for how long you will stay or how much data you need.

 

 

[PerkinsCuthbert]

Any one will do, they offer various deals but cost broadly the same for similar requirements. Just be clear in your mind what you want and insist on it; particularly at the airport, sales staff will sell you any old thing unless you are clear. 

[ThaiWai]

1 hour ago, JamJar said:

All providers at the airport carry a 49 baht SIM. They may not offer it unless you insist

 

Also if you ask them for the basket full of Sims at 7-11 many have factory labeled prices on them. I never failed to find a few marked 50baht but like I send ask to look yourself. 

[hawker9000]

Not all sims sold in Thailand are compatible with all portable wifi units, or at least that was the case a year or so ago.  Already a DTAC subscriber, I had thought of DTAC first when setting out to enable my portable wifi, but soon discovered none of theirs were compatible with it, so I went with AIS.  I wouldn't spend the money blindly on a sim and a data plan (or waste a lot of time trying to get it to work) until I was sure it was compatible.   I'm not sure how you make that check except (1) go to a provider service office, show them your unit, and ask them to tell you whether their sims will work in it, and then let them do the installation & configuration; or (2) go to some place like Tucom in Pattaya and trust one of the guys working in one of the stalls there to sell & install a data sim that will work without BS'g or wildly overcharging you.   In either case, take your phone with you so you can verify that the unit is actually working and giving you satisfactory internet access before you walk away.  And while you're at it, ask the service person to then show you how to monitor your account status online.   (Don't forget to have your passport with you in order to register the SIM wherever you end up buying it.)

 

The off-the-shelf 49 baht SIM bought at the airport or anywhere else isn't going to have a whole lot of free minutes or free data on it, and might not be compatible with your myfi.  And even if it is you will therefore have to find a data plan to add-on to that (either at the DTAC/AIS/True website or by visiting one of their service centers).  There are daily, weekly and monthly prepaid data plans at various speeds/bandwidths available, so you should be able to find something that's a reasonably good match to your online needs and length of stay.  The data allowance that comes with the SIM will be limited and/or very slow.   You mentioned a "tourist sim" for 299 baht - you just want to make sure it'll work in your myfi unit and will provide you with enough data, speed and plan period for your needs.

 

 

[Jack Mountain]

http://beachmeter.com/guide-which-thai-mobile-phone-company-should-you-use/

[edwardflory]

From past experience, almost any DUAL SIM, ""QUAD"" band, US bought or China produced mobile will work in TH.

Because of phone damage, I have had 2 mobiles, put SIM in..worked.

 

I am with AIS, had my TH SIM - bought on eBay - activated in the US 6 "YEARS" ago. Have had AIS REPLACE my SIM 2 times ( 50THB ) as the AIS network was upgraded ( same mobile number )  I do not live on my main "voice" mobile SIM, I do live on SIM 2 my "data" LINE because I have a US number attached to it so always activate @ 89THB a week - basically unlimited but goes to a slower speed after ??? data use, but good enough for my US number to work with a clear connection - so far after 6 months.

 

If using 1 SIM, I would go with AIS 1-2 cal for voice, ( you will get some free data when you "top up"  ) then wait for offer of the 89THB for data usually within a few minutes of "top up"

 

NOTE: AIS is offering right ==>>NOW, via text message, "top up" 150THB - get 150THB free, on 1-2 call plan, will use on my voice SIM.

Edited October 4, 2017 by edwardflory
spelling

[tuananh]

10 hours ago, hawker9000 said:

Not all sims sold in Thailand are compatible with all portable wifi units, or at least that was the case a year or so ago.  Already a DTAC subscriber, I had thought of DTAC first when setting out to enable my portable wifi, but soon discovered none of theirs were compatible with it, so I went with AIS.  I wouldn't spend the money blindly on a sim and a data plan (or waste a lot of time trying to get it to work) until I was sure it was compatible.   I'm not sure how you make that check except (1) go to a provider service office, show them your unit, and ask them to tell you whether their sims will work in it, and then let them do the installation & configuration; or (2) go to some place like Tucom in Pattaya and trust one of the guys working in one of the stalls there to sell & install a data sim that will work without BS'g or wildly overcharging you.   In either case, take your phone with you so you can verify that the unit is actually working and giving you satisfactory internet access before you walk away.  And while you're at it, ask the service person to then show you how to monitor your account status online.   (Don't forget to have your passport with you in order to register the SIM wherever you end up buying it.)

 

The off-the-shelf 49 baht SIM bought at the airport or anywhere else isn't going to have a whole lot of free minutes or free data on it, and might not be compatible with your myfi.  And even if it is you will therefore have to find a data plan to add-on to that (either at the DTAC/AIS/True website or by visiting one of their service centers).  There are daily, weekly and monthly prepaid data plans at various speeds/bandwidths available, so you should be able to find something that's a reasonably good match to your online needs and length of stay.  The data allowance that comes with the SIM will be limited and/or very slow.   You mentioned a "tourist sim" for 299 baht - you just want to make sure it'll work in your myfi unit and will provide you with enough data, speed and plan period for your needs.

 

 

I tested my MiFi with support for 4G Thailand (1800MHz). I want to use high data with sim 49bath AIS + add-on (http://m.ais.co.th/ontop-package).

Is there a way to top-up online (visa, mastercard)? Thank you

Edited October 4, 2017 by tuananh

[hawker9000]

6 hours ago, edwardflory said:

From past experience, almost any DUAL SIM, ""QUAD"" band, US bought or China produced mobile will work in TH.

Because of phone damage, I have had 2 mobiles, put SIM in..worked.

 

I am with AIS, had my TH SIM - bought on eBay - activated in the US 6 "YEARS" ago. Have had AIS REPLACE my SIM 2 times ( 50THB ) as the AIS network was upgraded ( same mobile number )  I do not live on my main "voice" mobile SIM, I do live on SIM 2 my "data" LINE because I have a US number attached to it so always activate @ 89THB a week - basically unlimited but goes to a slower speed after ??? data use, but good enough for my US number to work with a clear connection - so far after 6 months.

 

If using 1 SIM, I would go with AIS 1-2 cal for voice, ( you will get some free data when you "top up"  ) then wait for offer of the 89THB for data usually within a few minutes of "top up"

 

NOTE: AIS is offering right ==>>NOW, via text message, "top up" 150THB - get 150THB free, on 1-2 call plan, will use on my voice SIM.

 

Note that he says he has a portable wifi unit to provision; 'sounds like you're talking about a cellphone.

[hawker9000]

1 minute ago, tuananh said:

I tested my MiFi with support for 4G Thailand (1800MHz). I want to use high data with sim 49bath AIS + add-on (http://m.ais.co.th/ontop-package).

Is there a way to top-up online (visa, mastercard)? Thank you

I'm not sure about use of credit or debit cards to top-up.  I have an account with a Thai bank and so can go online with DTAC and easily top-up from that.  (They send a OTP, so I have to be in-country and using my DTAC sim...)   I would think you could use a credit card for doing it as well, but have never tried and am out of the country right now.

[tuananh]

18 hours ago, JamJar said:

All providers at the airport carry a 49 baht SIM. They may not offer it unless you insist.

 

We don't know for how long you will stay or how much data you need.

 

 

 

17 hours ago, PerkinsCuthbert said:

Any one will do, they offer various deals but cost broadly the same for similar requirements. Just be clear in your mind what you want and insist on it; particularly at the airport, sales staff will sell you any old thing unless you are clear. 

I want to use AIS because they have many reasonable options (add-on: http://m.ais.co.th/ontop-package). They also offer a voucher for Grab service with tourist sim.

Is AIS network service good?

 

 

16 hours ago, ThaiWai said:

Also if you ask them for the basket full of Sims at 7-11 many have factory labeled prices on them. I never failed to find a few marked 50baht but like I send ask to look yourself.  

Can I buy sim tourist 49bath at all stores 7-11 right?

 

6 hours ago, edwardflory said:

From past experience, almost any DUAL SIM, ""QUAD"" band, US bought or China produced mobile will work in TH.

Because of phone damage, I have had 2 mobiles, put SIM in..worked.

 

I am with AIS, had my TH SIM - bought on eBay - activated in the US 6 "YEARS" ago. Have had AIS REPLACE my SIM 2 times ( 50THB ) as the AIS network was upgraded ( same mobile number )  I do not live on my main "voice" mobile SIM, I do live on SIM 2 my "data" LINE because I have a US number attached to it so always activate @ 89THB a week - basically unlimited but goes to a slower speed after ??? data use, but good enough for my US number to work with a clear connection - so far after 6 months.

 

If using 1 SIM, I would go with AIS 1-2 cal for voice, ( you will get some free data when you "top up"  ) then wait for offer of the 89THB for data usually within a few minutes of "top up"

 

NOTE: AIS is offering right ==>>NOW, via text message, "top up" 150THB - get 150THB free, on 1-2 call plan, will use on my voice SIM.

Thank you, I would like to use sim 49bath with service http://m.ais.co.th/ontop-package

Edited October 4, 2017 by tuananh

[JamJar]

15 hours ago, hawker9000 said:

Not all sims sold in Thailand are compatible with all portable wifi units, or at least that was the case a year or so ago.  Already a DTAC subscriber, I had thought of DTAC first when setting out to enable my portable wifi, but soon discovered none of theirs were compatible with it, so I went with AIS.  I wouldn't spend the money blindly on a sim and a data plan (or waste a lot of time trying to get it to work) until I was sure it was compatible.   I'm not sure how you make that check except (1) go to a provider service office, show them your unit, and ask them to tell you whether their sims will work in it, and then let them do the installation & configuration; or (2) go to some place like Tucom in Pattaya and trust one of the guys working in one of the stalls there to sell & install a data sim that will work without BS'g or wildly overcharging you.   In either case, take your phone with you so you can verify that the unit is actually working and giving you satisfactory internet access before you walk away.  And while you're at it, ask the service person to then show you how to monitor your account status online.   (Don't forget to have your passport with you in order to register the SIM wherever you end up buying it.)

 

The off-the-shelf 49 baht SIM bought at the airport or anywhere else isn't going to have a whole lot of free minutes or free data on it, and might not be compatible with your myfi.  And even if it is you will therefore have to find a data plan to add-on to that (either at the DTAC/AIS/True website or by visiting one of their service centers).  There are daily, weekly and monthly prepaid data plans at various speeds/bandwidths available, so you should be able to find something that's a reasonably good match to your online needs and length of stay.  The data allowance that comes with the SIM will be limited and/or very slow.   You mentioned a "tourist sim" for 299 baht - you just want to make sure it'll work in your myfi unit and will provide you with enough data, speed and plan period for your needs.

 

 

 

This is not an issue for the OP, as any full sized SIM will be compatible for at least 3G.

 

LTE 700/1700/1800/1900/2600 (B 2/3/4/7)
UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ 850/900/1900/2100

 

Specification of the NETGEAR in question

 

4G/LTE is another question. LTE1800 may or not work in the chosen location. So compatibility with LTE1800 & LTE2100 is preferable.