What do I lose if I buy a mobile Wifi device and NOT renew my annual subscription with AIS?

[5davidhen1]

First of all, let me affirm that I am not particularly tech minded.

 

I pay an annual subscription of THB2,500 to AIS for data. I use the data so that I can make/receive calls via Line/skype/WhatsApp etc. when out and about. I AM aware of the use of hotspots in bars/cafes etc. but prefer not to rely on them. I also use my phone as a hotspot at home which enables me to operate my laptop for banking/browsing etc. This works fine.

 

When I renewed with AIS earlier this year, I asked them to put THB50 on my phone for normal phone calls. As far as I am aware, that THB50 still exists as I hardly ever make "normal" phone calls, but I felt that it was good insurance in case I needed it.

 

A friend has a mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi) device and has suggested that I should buy one --- for just a few hundred baht with no subscriptions payable. I am a little sceptical about doing this, hence the reason for the question in the title of this thread. My friend said that "some" data is still available on his phone even when he leaves home without the Mi-Fi device, but I can't see how this is possible. 

 

Coming back to the question in the thread title:

Would the answer be this? If I don't renew my AIS subscription, saving THB2,500pa, but instead, buy a MiFi device to use my laptop at home, I can still access the internet when out and about provided that I TAKE MY MOBILE MiFi DEVICE WITH ME.  

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

You lose the 2 obvious ones ... "I AM aware of the use of hotspots in bars/cafes etc. but prefer not to rely on them. I also use my phone as a hotspot at home which enables me to operate my laptop for banking/browsing etc."  ... along with use public WIFI for you banking.

 

You phone has WIFI, so why would you need a WIFI device ... or am I missing something.

 

2500 baht for a year of piece of mind (banking), and ease of use, seems like a bargain.

[AlwaysThere]

1 hour ago, 5davidhen1 said:

First of all, let me affirm that I am not particularly tech minded.

 

I pay an annual subscription of THB2,500 to AIS for data. I use the data so that I can make/receive calls via Line/skype/WhatsApp etc. when out and about. I AM aware of the use of hotspots in bars/cafes etc. but prefer not to rely on them. I also use my phone as a hotspot at home which enables me to operate my laptop for banking/browsing etc. This works fine.

 

When I renewed with AIS earlier this year, I asked them to put THB50 on my phone for normal phone calls. As far as I am aware, that THB50 still exists as I hardly ever make "normal" phone calls, but I felt that it was good insurance in case I needed it.

 

A friend has a mobile Wi-Fi (MiFi) device and has suggested that I should buy one --- for just a few hundred baht with no subscriptions payable. I am a little sceptical about doing this, hence the reason for the question in the title of this thread. My friend said that "some" data is still available on his phone even when he leaves home without the Mi-Fi device, but I can't see how this is possible. 

 

Coming back to the question in the thread title:

Would the answer be this? If I don't renew my AIS subscription, saving THB2,500pa, but instead, buy a MiFi device to use my laptop at home, I can still access the internet when out and about provided that I TAKE MY MOBILE MiFi DEVICE WITH ME.  

 

 

 

 

If you don't pay the subscription, you'll won't have any more mobile data(Unlimited 4Mbps) unless you pay by the MB, neither on your phone nor on the MiFi 😊

The MiFi is simply a replacement for your phone. I won't say that your friend is an idiot, only that you perhaps did not understand his explanation.

In order to use a MiFi, you'll need to take the SIM out of the phone to put it into the MiFi. So then no SIM in phone unless you obtain another.

MiFi is useful if you want to keep an 'always on' connection at home, whilst you take your phone outside, but then you'll need another SIM for the phone.

As an aside GoMo, which is an AIS subsidiary, offers 12 month of Unlimited 15Mbps for around 3100 baht. So a bit more capable than your current 4Mbps.

 

 

 

[AlwaysThere]

59 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

You lose the 2 obvious ones ... "I AM aware of the use of hotspots in bars/cafes etc. but prefer not to rely on them. I also use my phone as a hotspot at home which enables me to operate my laptop for banking/browsing etc."  ... along with use public WIFI for you banking.

 

You phone has WIFI, so why would you need a WIFI device ... or am I missing something.

 

2500 baht for a year of piece of mind (banking), and ease of use, seems like a bargain.

 

I don't understand anything of what you have written. 😊

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, AlwaysThere said:

 

I don't understand anything of what you have written. 😊

No AIS ...

... restricted to public wifi, not the safest

... especially doing banking

... no hotspot at home ... now what ?

 

Thought that was obvious with the 'bold' items highlighted ... guess not.

Piece of mind & convenience for all of <210 baht a month ... seriously 

[AlwaysThere]

Just now, KhunLA said:

No AIS ...

... restricted to public wifi, not the safest

... especially doing banking

... not hotspot

 

Thought that was obvious with the 'bold' items highlighted ... guess not.

Piece of mind & convenience for all of <210 baht a month ... seriously 

 

Now that you write it in English....

But you failed to explain to the OP that he needed mobile data for the MiFi. They aren't 'technically minded' and it was obvious that explanation was necessary. 

[KhunLA]

1 minute ago, AlwaysThere said:

 

Now that you write it in English....

But you failed to explain to the OP that he needed mobile data for the MiFi. They aren't 'technically minded' and it was obvious that explanation was necessary. 

OP did state ... 'wasn't tech minded', and an understatement 😎

 

210 baht a month to have a phone for emergencies, and small price to pay if needing.  I'm not a phone person, more GPS & camera use, but it does come in handy quite often.

[AlwaysThere]

7 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

No AIS ...

... restricted to public wifi, not the safest

... especially doing banking

... not hotspot

 

Thought that was obvious with the 'bold' items highlighted ... guess not.

Piece of mind & convenience for all of <210 baht a month ... seriously 

 

It's not about 'convenience' and 'peace of mind', but the obvious fact that they didn't understand how a MiFi works. That they would still need the 2.5k package for the MiFi. But if they have a Thai spouse, I suggest they look at GoMo for higher speeds.

[Jonathan Swift]

14 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

No AIS ...

... restricted to public wifi, not the safest

... especially doing banking

... no hotspot at home ... now what ?

 

Thought that was obvious with the 'bold' items highlighted ... guess not.

Piece of mind & convenience for all of <210 baht a month ... seriously 

Highlighting something in bold doesn't make you easier to understand. It's communication skills and choice of words. 

[AlwaysThere]

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

OP did state ... 'wasn't tech minded', and an understatement 😎

 

210 baht a month to have a phone for emergencies, and small price to pay if needing.  I'm not a phone person, more GPS & camera use, but it does come in handy quite often.

 

Again, it's not about the money. It's that they misunderstood their friend's explanation, thinking that they no longer needed a mobile data pack with the MiFi.

I don't think they have a problem paying for the package at all.

[AlwaysThere]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

OP did state ... 'wasn't tech minded', and an understatement 😎

 

210 baht a month to have a phone for emergencies, and small price to pay if needing.  I'm not a phone person, more GPS & camera use, but it does come in handy quite often.

 

I think AIS has an annual SIM for just that. 1500 baht for Unlimited 2 Mbps for 12 months. https://www.ais.th/consumers/package/prepaid/gadgetsim

[5davidhen1]

Many thanks to all respondents.

My friend was adamant that there was no subscription package required. He DOES put monthly money on his phone, but said it was for calls (not data). Perhaps I misunderstood him or, perhaps he doesn't even realise the difference between calls and data himself?

I looked at some adverts for MiFi devices. They mentioned that they included a SIM card, but didn't say that there would still need to be a subscription/contract in order for them to work.

As I have said, I am not particularly tech minded and thought I had discovered a cheaper or even free alternative to my current plan. 

I should have realised that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

Again, thanks to all for the comments and explanations --- I'm going to stick with the status quo.

[AlwaysThere]

6 hours ago, 5davidhen1 said:

Many thanks to all respondents.

My friend was adamant that there was no subscription package required. He DOES put monthly money on his phone, but said it was for calls (not data). Perhaps I misunderstood him or, perhaps he doesn't even realise the difference between calls and data himself?

I looked at some adverts for MiFi devices. They mentioned that they included a SIM card, but didn't say that there would still need to be a subscription/contract in order for them to work.

As I have said, I am not particularly tech minded and thought I had discovered a cheaper or even free alternative to my current plan. 

I should have realised that there is no such thing as a free lunch, and that if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is!

Again, thanks to all for the comments and explanations --- I'm going to stick with the status quo.

 

Possibly because he already has a 12 month SIM data package....like you. He may have been referring to a contract, as opposed to not having any commitment other than a single payment....like yourself.

[impulse]

FWIW, I looked it up...  I wasn't sure if MiFi was a brand, or a genre.

 

What is MiFi? 4G/5G Mobile Wi-Fi Devices Explained

 

[wombat]

unlimited 7 meg downlad speed from ais...1800 baht every 6 months

[AlwaysThere]

22 hours ago, wombat said:

unlimited 7 meg downlad speed from ais...1800 baht every 6 months

 

No such package...

[Brock]

I have been using a portable pocket wifi for years. Just link phone, tablet, TV etc and you are set.

[KhunBENQ]

On 12/17/2024 at 11:22 AM, AlwaysThere said:

As an aside GoMo, which is an AIS subsidiary, offers 12 month of Unlimited 15Mbps for around 3100 baht. So a bit more capable than your current 4Mbps.

I use GoMo as a second SIM since May.

I use it for mobile use only. At home just if 3bb would be down.

Have a 150 GB volume with unlimited space for 999 Baht/year.

Just now have 50/25 Mbit/s on my 4G mobile.

 

Question: could you online register in your name with passport ?

Failed for me, I had to have the daughter do it.

[AlwaysThere]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

I use GoMo as a second SIM since May.

I use it for mobile use only. At home just if 3bb would be down.

Have a 150 GB volume with unlimited space for 999 Baht/year.

Just now have 50/25 Mbit/s on my 4G mobile.

 

Question: could you online register in your name with passport ?

Failed for me, I had to have the daughter do it.

 

Thai only. So usually friends and family if appropriate. 

[wombat]

7 hours ago, AlwaysThere said:

 

No such package...

My apologies your correct  it's 6 Meg unlimited for 1800 baht.

I shall go and stand in the corner with the pointy hat on.

[AlwaysThere]

On 12/20/2024 at 4:26 AM, wombat said:

My apologies your correct  it's 6 Meg unlimited for 1800 baht.

I shall go and stand in the corner with the pointy hat on.

 

No need, it was minor mistake. 3500 baht for 12 months. You can save a massive 100 baht. 😊

If you have a Thai friend, consider GoMo by AIS. it's around 3100 baht for unlimited 15 Mbps.