Hutch Mbi Internet Access Or Other Alternatives (3g)

[hyperion]

So I'm stuck in my apartment which only offers 128kps connections. Of course, I'm lucky to ever see half of that when they mean 128kps for the whole apartment complex. Let's just say its really, really, really, really slow.

So, I was thinking about connecting using a cell phone. I can't seem to figure out whether they did set up 3G in BKK yet or not, but I'm thinking the fastest alternative to 3G would be Hutch's MBI connection. Am I right?

Has anyone tried out the service and are they getting decent connection speeds? I build websites and my companies revenue online, so having reliable Internet is very important for me.

Any quick replies on what you can recommend for me?

[monty]

Hutch has only very few EV-DO towers in Bkk, and they have removed all reference to the EV-DO network from their website, so not sure you can still get it!

You'll almost definitely only be able to get CDMA 1X, which tops out at around 140 kbps, but will more likely average 50-80 kbps.

GPRS/EDGE can be faster, but will depend heavily on your location and local mobile phone usage. The theoretical top speed of Edge (in Thailand) is 238 kbps, down here in Pattaya I average between 100 and 170 kbps, with sometimes speeds over 200 kbps.

One advantage you have is that there are 2 big operators and that both offer GPRS on their prepaid sim cards. I have both and if one provider has bad connectivity at the place I am, I can just swap sim cards and will have a good chance the other operator is much better in that area!

Cheap as chips as well at a tad over 4 Baht/hour!

You have a good chance your mobile phone is already Edge capable, so you'd only need to hook it up to your PC by data cable or Bluetooth.

If you don't have an Edge capable phone, currently the Nokia 3110 Classic is I think the cheapest Edge capable phone at around 3600 Baht.

[hyperion]

Hutch has only very few EV-DO towers in Bkk, and they have removed all reference to the EV-DO network from their website, so not sure you can still get it!

You'll almost definitely only be able to get CDMA 1X, which tops out at around 140 kbps, but will more likely average 50-80 kbps.

GPRS/EDGE can be faster, but will depend heavily on your location and local mobile phone usage. The theoretical top speed of Edge (in Thailand) is 238 kbps, down here in Pattaya I average between 100 and 170 kbps, with sometimes speeds over 200 kbps.

One advantage you have is that there are 2 big operators and that both offer GPRS on their prepaid sim cards. I have both and if one provider has bad connectivity at the place I am, I can just swap sim cards and will have a good chance the other operator is much better in that area!

Cheap as chips as well at a tad over 4 Baht/hour!

You have a good chance your mobile phone is already Edge capable, so you'd only need to hook it up to your PC by data cable or Bluetooth.

If you don't have an Edge capable phone, currently the Nokia 3110 Classic is I think the cheapest Edge capable phone at around 3600 Baht.

Thanks for the Info.

Price is not an issue. If I have to spend 5000 baht an month to get a decent connection, I will. My current phone doesn't support EDGE, but I'll probably pick one up later today if that seems to work the best.

Are those speeds download speeds or connection speeds? I'm averaging about 30 kbps on downloads, yet I still time out on many websites. Gotta love Thai connections.

I'm in the Gluay Nam Thai area (BKK University), if that helps figure anything out.

[monty]

These are effective download speeds, they seldom drop under 100 kbps (=12.5kBps).

Audio streaming in good quality comes through without buffering or interruptions, for video it's obviously to slow...

[hyperion]

These are effective download speeds, they seldom drop under 100 kbps (=12.5kBps).

Audio streaming in good quality comes through without buffering or interruptions, for video it's obviously to slow...

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like I'd just be better off moving to a new building complex then where I can install my own internet service

[dave_boo]

What I got using EDGE in Samut Prakarn: