TP-Link SIM card router and DTAC data SIM

[NanLaew]

I will be setting up my TP-Link Archer MR600 4G+ Cat6 AC1200 before the New Year. Looking on lazada, it appears that DTAC and (maybe) True are the only ones offering 30 Mb/100Gb SIM cards and AIS's best offering is 15 Mb/100Gb.

 

I have both AIS and DTAC on my mobile phone. I use a ~90 baht/month data package on AIS as primary as well as a more expensive one (~300 baht/month?) on DTAC as backup. It used to be DTAC as primary until the AIS bargain came along. I use the data connections for internet and to stream UK radio via Bluetooth in the truck and in the office. I've never had major connection issues with either and the overseas roaming packages they both offer have worked well.

 

I have an app that identifies and calculates the distance to the different cell towers as well as signal strength, etc.. The nearest one is AIS which is less than 500 meters away. There's a couple of DTAC towers, both around 1,800 meters away. The signal strength (dBm) difference is minimal. I am on the outskirts of Udon Thani so pretty much wide open spaces with no high rises and power lines, etc..

 

Looking at a related thread with the last comment about 6 months ago, when it comes to technicalities, it suggests that DTAC would be the best option. This will be a single-user (my office) with a maximum of three computers on the LAN. No gaming, no great demands for streaming Netflix or other media (but that may change if the quality exceeds my otherwise benign interest).

 

So, bearing in mind that location, location, location is paramount, I will be going with DTAC's ~1700 baht offering. How is their activation process? Any other advice welcome.

[Negita43]

"I've never had major connection issues with either and the overseas roaming packages they both offer have worked well".

You use the overseas roaming package in Thailand or when you go abroad?

Just curious but is there a reason why you use roaming packages and not a VPN if you are talking about use in Thailand?

[Mickeymaus]

Buy first unlimited 1 month packages at Lazada and test at your location.

 

Activation is often via seller and LINE. You will find then his LINE QR on the packaging. Add him as friend and chat with him. Don't throw away the packaging because often they want a photo of it for the activation + of the SIM card packaging + of your passport. It can be done mostly on the same day when you receive the SIM Card.

 

Don't buy in advance because they might expire and cannot be activated then anymore.

 

I bought 30 Mbps unlimited data. About 230 for one month. I tested True, AIS and DTAC. When you know which provider is the best at your location you can think about yearly packages. There is a longer thread "Your experience with SIM card routers" created by me. But you have a good router already. 

 

What app are you using for the signal strength? 

 

Please let me know your experience here. Will be interesting to see if CAT 6 makes a difference.

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Mickeymaus

[KannikaP]

20 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

Will be interesting to see if CAT 6 makes a difference.

As compared with what, CAT 5?

[Mickeymaus]

20 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

As compared with what, CAT 5?

My router has CAT 4.

 

[KannikaP]

49 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

My router has CAT 4.

 

Which ISP are you with, and what speed do you pay for?

 

I think this table is showing something different than CAT cable speeds. 

Edited December 25, 2022 by KannikaP

[Mickeymaus]

14 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Which ISP are you with, and what speed do you pay for?

At the moment I am with 3BB VDSL again. The reason is two friends stay for a while in neighboring condos (tourists) and share my connection. This would be too much for the 4G router. In March I will switch back to DTAC. Was the best for me. But two floors higher I tested in a different condo. There AIS was the clear winner.

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Mickeymaus

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, Mickeymaus said:

At the moment I am with 3BB VDSL again. The reason is two friends stay for a while in neighboring condos (tourists) and share my connection. This would be too much for the 4G router. In March I will switch back to DTAC. Was the best for me. But two floors higher I tested in a different condo. There AIS was the clear winner.

 

VDSL in 2022/3?

Tell those two 'friends' to get their own 'tourist' SIMs/4G. Change your password.

Edited December 25, 2022 by KannikaP

[Mickeymaus]

55 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

VDSL in 2022/3?

Tell those two 'friends' to get their own 'tourist' SIMs/4G. Change your password.

In condos it is not so easy to get fiber. Of course I will change my password when they are gone. I know them for very many years. But... 

 

By the way - I have tools where I can take over any WiFi connection if I want. I still have an USB WiFi dongle where I can change the EMEI with software. It is a simple Windows program. No firmware is updated. So I take the EMEI of an existing connection and connect. The router will not realise this. It is from TP-LINK. With newer WiFi dongles this is not possible anymore.

 

Edited December 25, 2022 by Mickeymaus

[KannikaP]

7 minutes ago, Mickeymaus said:

In condos it is not so easy to get fiber

What's this about fibre? It's easy to buy a 4/5G SIM and get connected anywhere.

[NanLaew]

6 hours ago, Negita43 said:

"I've never had major connection issues with either and the overseas roaming packages they both offer have worked well".

You use the overseas roaming package in Thailand or when you go abroad?

Just curious but is there a reason why you use roaming packages and not a VPN if you are talking about use in Thailand?

I said overseas. It was a comment on good service from both AIS and DTAC roaming in case anyone else is interested.

[Mickeymaus]

6 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I said overseas. It was a comment on good service from both AIS and DTAC roaming in case anyone else is interested.

You wrote:

 

"I have an app that identifies and calculates the distance to the different cell towers as well as signal strength, etc.."

 

Which app is this? 

[Mickeymaus]

9 hours ago, KannikaP said:

What's this about fibre? It's easy to buy a 4/5G SIM and get connected anywhere.

4G might often be enough. But I had problems sometimes with 4K videos. And if you have for instance a family and several users then 4G might not be enough. Of course this will change with 5G. Then cable connections might be a thing of the past. By the way - I still have a modem card for the PC. Can also handle phone calls. Anyone interested? I am afraid nobody. 

[Mickeymaus]

13 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

By the way - I have tools where I can take over any WiFi connection if I want. I still have an USB WiFi dongle where I can change the EMEI with software. It is a simple Windows program. No firmware is updated. So I take the EMEI of an existing connection and connect. The router will not realise this. It is from TP-LINK. With newer WiFi dongles this is not possible anymore.

I want that it is correct. Sorry for my mistake. Replace EMEI with MAC then it is correct. It is the MAC address. 

[NanLaew]

7 hours ago, Mickeymaus said:

You wrote:

 

"I have an app that identifies and calculates the distance to the different cell towers as well as signal strength, etc.."

 

Which app is this? 

Network Signal Info Pro by KAIBITS Software GmbH

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.android.telnet2&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1

Edited December 26, 2022 by NanLaew

[bamnutsak]

It sounds like you're opting for a 1 year, 30 Mbps, unlimited volume SIM/plan from DTAC?

 

And it sounds like you are happy with DTAC's performance in your location?

 

With a 30 Mbps speed cap I can't see you having any issues maxing out that cap. And that router will not be a bottleneck as it supports GbE and 300 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps on 5GHz WiFi.

 

If you still have concerns speak to nearby neighbors or trial other potential providers for a day/week/month.

 

IMLE, the seller provides registration details. I've purchased from TreeMobile, and they have that DTAC SIM on sale for 1,488 from 1,690 today.

 

 

[NextG]

Since you already have both networks to hand, you can add a full speed day pack to your current DTAC SIM in order to run tests using the router, including which bands you need to use for Carrier Aggregation. It won’t affect your current monthly package. 
DTAC use Bands 1,3,28&40. You’ll be able to pair any combination of these. But you may need to check what is available at your location. If just Band 40 for instance, you may choose Band 40 + Band 40 as a pairing. DTAC upload is often considerably lower than it’s download offering, so check that at the same time. You can do the same with your AIS SIM. 
AIS uses Bands 1,3,8 &41. Same as Truemove H. 
 

 

[NanLaew]

8 hours ago, NextG said:

Since you already have both networks to hand, you can add a full speed day pack to your current DTAC SIM in order to run tests using the router, including which bands you need to use for Carrier Aggregation. It won’t affect your current monthly package. 
DTAC use Bands 1,3,28&40. You’ll be able to pair any combination of these. But you may need to check what is available at your location. If just Band 40 for instance, you may choose Band 40 + Band 40 as a pairing. DTAC upload is often considerably lower than it’s download offering, so check that at the same time. You can do the same with your AIS SIM. 
AIS uses Bands 1,3,8 &41. Same as Truemove H. 
 

 

Good tip on the full-speed day packages, thanks. My router arrived yesterday and the SIM will be here tomorrow. In the meantime, I have already slipped my smartphone DTAC SIM into the router for basic tests. I get 75% signal strength and with a couple of machines connected (one on LAN and the other on Wi-Fi), I'm just testing my usual stuff first. Looks fine so far.

[NanLaew]

On 12/25/2022 at 3:12 PM, Mickeymaus said:

Activation is often via seller and LINE. You will find then his LINE QR on the packaging. Add him as friend and chat with him. Don't throw away the packaging because often they want a photo of it for the activation + of the SIM card packaging + of your passport. It can be done mostly on the same day when you receive the SIM Card.

Tried activation online in my smartphone via DTAC's own online registration. Accepted my passport photo but rejected my face shot 3 times with "didn't meet NBTC requirements." I guess I need to shave! I went to the DTAC emporium with my passport (and face) and the young lady there did it all in less than a minute using a tablet, her smartphone to take the pictures and scanning the barcode on my SIM packaging.

 

Simples.

[Mickeymaus]

4 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Tried activation online in my smartphone via DTAC's own online registration. Accepted my passport photo but rejected my face shot 3 times with "didn't meet NBTC requirements." I guess I need to shave! I went to the DTAC emporium with my passport (and face) and the young lady there did it all in less than a minute using a tablet, her smartphone to take the pictures and scanning the barcode on my SIM packaging.

 

Simples.

My packages had to be registered with the seller via LINE. They were not sold in the shops and therefore couldn't be registered there. I was in the mall and thought I could do it on this occasion. But they told me to contact the seller. The sellers have special contracts. 

 

What do you have now and how is your experience? 

[Mickeymaus]

Now you used it several days if I understood you correctly. How is your experience?