I signed up for a DTAC GPRS package for my cell phone which is 99baht per month for 20hours of internet per month

But the internet seems quite slow, when doing a mobile speed test it clocked in about half way between 36k and 56k.

So i'm wondering why it says "Hi-Speed Ready" on the SIM card box, but yet it's slower than standard dialup? Is this the normal speed, or is there something wrong that i would be complaining about?

GPRS is very slow. To get a decent speed, you need to have an EDGE capable phone.

My result on a Sunday around lunchtime:

Which is not bad considering weekends tend to be quite a bit slower due to the heavier load on the mobile phone cells (I'm in Pattaya with quite a few Bangkok people here during the weekends, all happily jabbering away on their phones ).

Weekdays see speeds closer to 200 kbps download and 80-90 kbps upload.

I'm using a Sierra Wireless 775 aircard.

I generally see no difference between testing from Thai and foreign servers speedwise.

This one is tested from a US server (New York):

This is the AIS EDGE speed right now;

Download Speed: 209 kbps (26.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

Upload Speed: 42 kbps (5.3 KB/sec transfer rate)

Unfortunately AIS is up and down like a yoyo and is often useless. I use both Dtac and AIS, but mostly Dtac. Dtac has been MUCH better for the past month or so. It wasn't always that way and could change back the other way at any time.

If CAT CDMA/EV-DO is available in your area I would recommend their service... EV-DO is much faster than EDGE.

CCU-680 1xEV-DO USB modem = 10,990 baht / one-time purchase

monthly unlimited service = 790 baht / month

http://www.catcdma.com