I am in a serviced a apartment on lower Sukhumvit with shockingly slow internet and I can't take anymore.

I have read on other posts that 3G from True is now available in certain areas including lower Sukhumvit. If this is the case, what do I need to purchase to get set up?

From my understanding I need to get a USB Dongle - something like a Sierra Wireless Compass 885 USB data dongle from Pantip (3,600 Baht). What are the exact specs that I should be looking for?

From there do I just need to buy any True SIM card and insert it into the dongle?

Once I get set up, are there any limitations on monthly bandwidth usage?

Thanks in advance for any info!

I am in a serviced a apartment on lower Sukhumvit with shockingly slow internet and I can't take anymore.

I have read on other posts that 3G from True is now available in certain areas including lower Sukhumvit. If this is the case, what do I need to purchase to get set up?

From my understanding I need to get a USB Dongle - something like a Sierra Wireless Compass 885 USB data dongle from Pantip (3,600 Baht). What are the exact specs that I should be looking for?

From there do I just need to buy any True SIM card and insert it into the dongle?

Once I get set up, are there any limitations on monthly bandwidth usage?

Thanks in advance for any info!

I would think that you would need to sign up with True on their 3G service plans

That would be my assumption too, but some other posts have indicated that simply purchasing a pre-paid SIM at 7-11 got them onto the 3G network.

i live in Phuket and use the CAT CDMA service (6,500 baht for the card and then 790 baht/month unlimited)

not sure if its availabe in Bangkok. Check with Hutchinson

this is the speed this morn http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

Last Result:

Download Speed: 1218 kbps (152.3 KB/sec transfer rate)

Upload Speed: 401 kbps (50.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

also checked using my nokia conecting via ais and gprs

100 baht/month for 20 hours

Download Speed: 218 kbps (27.3 KB/sec transfer rate)

Upload Speed: 85 kbps (10.6 KB/sec transfer rate)

Went and talked with True. With a 150 baht/month post paid SIM card, they said that if I am in an area with 3G I will automatically connect to that network free of charge with no bandwidth limitations. They said it would be this way til the end of the year. So I got the SIM card - didn't get the USB dongle yet.

Now, I need to know whether or not I actually have a 3G Signal from where I am. (About 800 meters from Nana BTS). I put the SIM in my phone and go to youtube and it starts and stops and buffers and then starts and stops and buffers. Definitely doesn't seem like 3G.

So the question now - Is my phone compatible with the 3G signal from True or am I out of range? My phone is a Samsung SGH-F480. The full specs are here:

http://www.avecmobile.com/index.php?id=1163

It says:

Tri-band GSM phone for 900/1800/1900 MHz frequency bands.

3G UMTS/WCDMA phone for 2100Mhz frequency networks. HSDPA technology for high-speed mobile Internet access (where available). The theoretical download speed is 7.2 Mbps. GPRS and EDGE mobile data where 3G unavailable.

Are these specs what are needed to work with True's 3G Signal? If so, then I must be out of range If not, then I guess I need to go spend 4000 Baht on a USB Dongle.

Any ideas?

Okay, I'll answer my own post. Apparently the world standard for 3G is 2100Mhz. But Thailand being Thailand has still not gotten around to licensing this. So True's very limited coverage in BKK is on 850MHz and so my phone is not compatible.

This means that the only way I will know if a 3G signal reaches me in my apartment is by purchasing the USB Air Card. In case there is no signal and you are in the market for a brand new Air Card, feel free to PM me!