Cat Cdma - Is Is That Good? Techy Help Please!

[kjhbigv]

Hi All,

I am based in Chiang Mai and havejust moved into a Moo Baan that has 'run out of lines'.

I used to live in the city and get varying speeds from TOT 2MB, from 300kb/s to 1300kb/s.

I had the guy out to test the CAT CDMA USB thingy and did a speed test in the middle of day and got a reading of 1300kb/s!!!?? I think they were advertising 3.1MB for it.

Two questions:-

1. Is that real? I am really getting 1300kb/s download speed over a mobile phone network?? I was really shocked at how fast it was.

2. Is there a wireless router o something that I can use with the CAT CDMA line to enable a 'wireless' metwork to the house (we have more than one laptop/PC)?

I am quite close to the CAT 'dishes' and stuff in Chiang Mai, does that help?

So, I was really surprised to say the least and don't quite believe it! Is there any difference between a 'landline' and 'mobile network line'??

As you can tell I am no techy, so any info would really be appreciated before I hand over my cash!

Thanks

[dave_boo]

Hi All,

I am based in Chiang Mai and havejust moved into a Moo Baan that has 'run out of lines'.

I used to live in the city and get varying speeds from TOT 2MB, from 300kb/s to 1300kb/s.

I had the guy out to test the CAT CDMA USB thingy and did a speed test in the middle of day and got a reading of 1300kb/s!!!?? I think they were advertising 3.1MB for it.

3.1 M(ega)b(it) is more or less the thoretical top speed of EV-DO rev.A that CAT uses. 13000 k(ilo)b(its) is about average for this technology at the revision CAT uses and translates into 162 K(ilo)B(ytes). The reason I was so particular about spelling out the bits and bytes is that the companies like listing bits since it's so much faster than actual bytes (which is what filesizes are reported in). In fact there's 8 bits per Byte.

Two questions:-

1. Is that real? I am really getting 1300kb/s download speed over a mobile phone network?? I was really shocked at how fast it was.

As mentioned earlier, yes it's more or less that fast--however, did they simply use their own speedtest (which is on CAT's network and therefore will show fast speeds) or did they go someplace like this link? Another thing to be concerned about is latency. Latency is the amount of time it takes to get from your computer to another computer. Since there's an added leg in the relay using CAT's network (has to go from the modem to the tower to their phone system) instead of DSL (has to go from the modem to the phone system), there can be added latency from what you're used to. Good thing is that rev.A seems to have fixed it, but you may notice some slight delay, depending on how sensitive you are, on say VOIP (Skype) calls.

2. Is there a wireless router o something that I can use with the CAT CDMA line to enable a 'wireless' metwork to the house (we have more than one laptop/PC)?

Sure enough is. The best is Cradlepoint MBR 1000. Really nifty little device, if you have multiple connections you can round-robin through them increasing your speed essentially the sum of all the connection speeds. I.E., you could have 2x USB modems and one expresscard modem, plus a DSL connection and it would 'combine' all those together for much faster downloads.

I am quite close to the CAT 'dishes' and stuff in Chiang Mai, does that help?

Yes. It means your connection should be more stable...

So, I was really surprised to say the least and don't quite believe it! Is there any difference between a 'landline' and 'mobile network line'??

Have you ever tried to stretch an internet cable down to the local Pub or park? With a WWAN (your mobile network line) you don't need to. Just drop the USB modem in your laptop bag and carry it with you! Other good thing is that thanks to CAT's abysmal advertising for their service their contention ratio (how many people you have to contend with for the amount of Internet that CAT is providing in the area) is usually MUCH smaller. Also, CAT seems to be pretty stable, although there's been a few rumblings from a couple of board members that speed has dropped. One thing to note is that if you travel to Bangkok or the Eastern Seaboard (Rayong, Chonburi, etc) you don't have service because of Hutch/CAT pissing match. Make sure that you get either the C-Motech CCU-680 or the Novatel Ovation MC727. The Huawei EC325 is not EV-DO (so it will only offer you 1/10 the speed!) and the

As you can tell I am no techy, so any info would really be appreciated before I hand over my cash!

Thanks

Edited March 8, 2009 by dave_boo

[dave_boo]

Spastic dam_n wrok computer.

Also, the C-motech ccu-650 is only Rev.O, so it has latency issues and isn't as fast as the other two. Basically, if the modem is Black it's good and if it's white you don't want it!

[kjhbigv]

Spastic dam_n wrok computer.

Also, the C-motech ccu-650 is only Rev.O, so it has latency issues and isn't as fast as the other two. Basically, if the modem is Black it's good and if it's white you don't want it!

Hi dave_boo,

Thanks for excelent reply, exactly what I needed to hear, really appreciated.

Ok.

1. The speedtest was done by me, not the engineer, I did it on www.speedtest.com.

2. Is 'latency' the 'ping' reading as displayed on speedtest.com?If so, the reading was round 300 (the same as what I get on TOT)

3. That gadget ' Cradlepoint MBR 1000' seems excellent, thought I knew about most gadgets, but that is cool! It combines ALL connections to the internet to increase the speed, now that is impressive! Does it have all the normal sockets ie. USB connections?

4. You mention the BKK, CAT/Hutch issue, he told me that, no problem.

5. Do you suggest the C-Motech CCU-680 as an alternative to the Cradlepoint MBR 1000? Presume it's just a normal wireless router ie. receives signal from network then sends signal around house? Presume I can hardwire something to it as well?

Thanks for your help, really is appreciated! Got the guy coming round this afternoon and need to sign up. Thanks for the speedy response as well!

[dave_boo]

Spastic dam_n wrok computer.

Also, the C-motech ccu-650 is only Rev.O, so it has latency issues and isn't as fast as the other two. Basically, if the modem is Black it's good and if it's white you don't want it!

Hi dave_boo,

Thanks for excelent reply, exactly what I needed to hear, really appreciated.

Ok.

1. The speedtest was done by me, not the engineer, I did it on www.speedtest.com.

Good for you! Was very smart to remove all marketing BS.

2. Is 'latency' the 'ping' reading as displayed on speedtest.com?If so, the reading was round 300 (the same as what I get on TOT)

Essentially the same. Pings are usually roundtrip measurements while latency can be either one way or round trip. If you're not playing online first person shooter games, a ping of 300 is excellent.

3. That gadget ' Cradlepoint MBR 1000' seems excellent, thought I knew about most gadgets, but that is cool! It combines ALL connections to the internet to increase the speed, now that is impressive! Does it have all the normal sockets ie. USB connections?

It has 2x USB, 1x ExpressCard, and 1x WLAN (wide area lan or a ethernet port that you connect to another modem).

4. You mention the BKK, CAT/Hutch issue, he told me that, no problem.

5. Do you suggest the C-Motech CCU-680 as an alternative to the Cradlepoint MBR 1000? Presume it's just a normal wireless router ie. receives signal from network then sends signal around house? Presume I can hardwire something to it as well?

You purchase the CCU-680 from CAT and than plug it into the MBR-1000. A bit of configuration and than the MBR-1000 and CCU-680 combo is just like a wireless ADSL modem. The MBR-1000 has both a 4 (four) port ethernet switch for hardware and Wi-Fi B,G, and N. Also has pretty impressive range on Wi-Fi.

Thanks for your help, really is appreciated! Got the guy coming round this afternoon and need to sign up. Thanks for the speedy response as well!

Enjoy the connection; it's MUCH better than EDGE (although if you travel maybe not as convienent).

[kjhbigv]

Spastic dam_n wrok computer.

Also, the C-motech ccu-650 is only Rev.O, so it has latency issues and isn't as fast as the other two. Basically, if the modem is Black it's good and if it's white you don't want it!

Hi dave_boo,

Thanks for excelent reply, exactly what I needed to hear, really appreciated.

Ok.

1. The speedtest was done by me, not the engineer, I did it on www.speedtest.com.

Good for you! Was very smart to remove all marketing BS.

2. Is 'latency' the 'ping' reading as displayed on speedtest.com?If so, the reading was round 300 (the same as what I get on TOT)

Essentially the same. Pings are usually roundtrip measurements while latency can be either one way or round trip. If you're not playing online first person shooter games, a ping of 300 is excellent.

3. That gadget ' Cradlepoint MBR 1000' seems excellent, thought I knew about most gadgets, but that is cool! It combines ALL connections to the internet to increase the speed, now that is impressive! Does it have all the normal sockets ie. USB connections?

It has 2x USB, 1x ExpressCard, and 1x WLAN (wide area lan or a ethernet port that you connect to another modem).

4. You mention the BKK, CAT/Hutch issue, he told me that, no problem.

5. Do you suggest the C-Motech CCU-680 as an alternative to the Cradlepoint MBR 1000? Presume it's just a normal wireless router ie. receives signal from network then sends signal around house? Presume I can hardwire something to it as well?

You purchase the CCU-680 from CAT and than plug it into the MBR-1000. A bit of configuration and than the MBR-1000 and CCU-680 combo is just like a wireless ADSL modem. The MBR-1000 has both a 4 (four) port ethernet switch for hardware and Wi-Fi B,G, and N. Also has pretty impressive range on Wi-Fi.

Thanks for your help, really is appreciated! Got the guy coming round this afternoon and need to sign up. Thanks for the speedy response as well!

Enjoy the connection; it's MUCH better than EDGE (although if you travel maybe not as convienent).

TOP MAN!!

Thats everything I need to know, I think!

The USB gadget thing he used (and I will ask for) was the CCU-680 from CAT

Do you know where you can buy the Cradlepoint MBR1000? Does CAT sell them?

The reason I wanted to know whether it had 'hard wire' connections is that I have a Slingbox Pro with high-speed up load connection in the UK and I have a SlingCatcher here in Thailand connected to my television, the resaon why I needed a reasonable download speed from CAT.

It works pretty well (well late at night, when speeds are faster) on TOT, 1Mps+ (or thereabouts) would be fine for it to work.

Once again! Thanks for your help, probably one of the most useful responses I have ever had from Thai Visa forum!!

[dave_boo]

TOP MAN!!

Thats everything I need to know, I think!

The USB gadget thing he used (and I will ask for) was the CCU-680 from CAT

Do you know where you can buy the Cradlepoint MBR1000? Does CAT sell them?

The reason I wanted to know whether it had 'hard wire' connections is that I have a Slingbox Pro with high-speed up load connection in the UK and I have a SlingCatcher here in Thailand connected to my television, the resaon why I needed a reasonable download speed from CAT.

It works pretty well (well late at night, when speeds are faster) on TOT, 1Mps+ (or thereabouts) would be fine for it to work.

Once again! Thanks for your help, probably one of the most useful responses I have ever had from Thai Visa forum!!

Well, I bought mine in the States, and paid ~6 000THB for it. AFAIK, CAT doesn't carry it. There are shops on ebay that ship it to LOS though.