Getting An Internet Connection That Actually Works.

[Andine]

Hi there!

First of all .. I'll introduce myself .... I am a new starter here .. ( this will be my first post )

I arrived from Australia in March. I'm a retiree, and it is my intention to spend some time exploring the country .. which includes going to places north ( where its a bit cooler).

I have tried a USB type device .. I have an AT&T one which takes a variety of sim cards ... I cannot say that it is reliable ... It does not connect at all in some places ..

It says it connects to 2G or 3G ... It does ... but the through put is pathetic at times and it switches on and off all the time.

The internet in the condo I'm in currently is pretty poor as well.

My question is this !

Is it possible ( and afordable ) to get a folding type satelite dish, and to get decent internet that way? Does anyone have experience with this here in Thailand?

How big a dish would I need ? ... I'd be happy with a two meg service if it stays on ... That is enough to watch news casts, listen to radio and watch TV streaming ( like Tour de France)

As an aside ... Does anyone know why "Le Tour" is blocked? Are all those lovely men in lycra pornographic? ... or am I missing something?

Andine !!

[aussiedoug]

With an USB stick you are only using mobile phone network, and they are not the fastest, all frequencies are not the same speed. Did not know there were any satellite internet connections in Thailand, but maybe I am wrong, someone will correct me. The Tour de France is probably blocked as was the recent World Cup, as they sell it to a channel in Thailand to onsell to advertisers, so they want to protect that income stream. Most of the people I know who are living in Thailand are getting reasonable internet most times, but that would be hard wired ADSL.

[Andine]

This is more like what I want!

http://www.gesatcom.com/en/solutions.htm

I will see what this sort of solution costs ...

Andine !!

[semoa]

No ADSL in my village-

I use CAT telecom CDMA: it connect a 3G relay at about 7 km.

But no more than 1Mb/s ...

This is more like what I want!

http://www.gesatcom....n/solutions.htm

I will see what this sort of solution costs ...

Andine !!

[Andine]

Thanks for responding !

Where are you Semoa? ... I didn't know we had CDMA here ... Thanks for the knowledge.

Hi there Ausie doug ! I got a At&T USB .. with a 3g type sim card .. it seems to connect in some places and not in others .. When conected the service is stiill spasmodic .. It sometimes drops out .. The telstra conection at home works better that this does here.

ah well .. we get what we get!

Andine !!

[nikster]

http://www.catcdma.com/product/product.htm

CAT CDMA. It works great, and almost everywhere, with the exception of Bangkok and the central provinces (Hua Hin and Trat/Ko Chang). Used it for 3 years up north and it works even in unlikely places. I now have a MiFi which is a very interesting device - it connects to CAT CDMA, and creates a local WiFi network for up to 5 devices. Pretty excellent.

True 3G covers bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Phuket, great where it works, but not working very many places.

[Andine]

Ok ..... Just came across this site!

http://www.ts2.pl/en/Satellite-Internet/Thailand

This is pretty stunning ! ... I'm just waiting for a reply regarding the cost etc!

Check out the videos on the home page!!

Andine !!

[Digitalbanana]

You don't say where you are located, but outside the Bangkok and central/eastern seaboard region I'd go for CAT/CDMA mentioned before which offers higher speeds via USB interface or a mifi adapter, ok for torrent downloads but streaming video might be a bit jerky. Unless you've got mega bucks it would be cheaper to live closer to a terrestrial transmitter than install a personal satellite receiver. The USB devices you have tried are indeed pretty useless except for low bandwidth internet as most areas still stuck with GPRS data.

[Andine]

You don't say where you are located, but outside the Bangkok and central/eastern seaboard region I'd go for CAT/CDMA mentioned before which offers higher speeds via USB interface or a mifi adapter, ok for torrent downloads but streaming video might be a bit jerky. Unless you've got mega bucks it would be cheaper to live closer to a terrestrial transmitter than install a personal satellite receiver. The USB devices you have tried are indeed pretty useless except for low bandwidth internet as most areas still stuck with GPRS data.

Thanks for the response ! It seems that a lot of the terestial based stuff here is very flakey!

I'm still in Bangkok .. Near Rama 5 bridge . I have imported a campervan .. and I'm just finalising a few things .. then I intend to cruise around wherever fancy takes me! Thats retirement! ( and I fancy it will!)

It turns out that there are heaps of world wide solutions which include services here as well as in other countries. The BGan thing works with such a tiny ( and very convenient ) plate type antenna because the satelite system (Three birds ) that has been put in place carries a 10 metre antenna and is focused on 100 or so locations at 18 deg .. giving reasonable signal strength. The speeds are pretty slow, and I think it may be very expensive in operating costs .. Its run from Poland of all places!

I think its aimed at journalists and the military ... and other spooky people!

Here is a link to a site which shows a lot of options ... including the BGan thing ... But I think it has not been updated for a while ...

http://www.satsig.net/ivsat-asia.htm

I'm still exploring stuff .. Its possible that I may be able to find something that is not prohibitively expensive, and will give me the ability to connect from almost anywhere I can see the sky!!

I remember seeing a sat dish advertised in Oz some time ago ... which unfolded in a series of "petals" in a circular fashion! .. There is a lot of innovation out there. I have been talking to a friend in OZ who was in outback rescue services .. They had such a system .. and by moving the dish they could get free TV from other satelites! Out in the middle of nowhere in Oz!

Research can be fun!!

Regards ... Andine!

[billd766]

http://www.catcdma.com/product/product.htm

CAT CDMA. It works great, and almost everywhere, with the exception of Bangkok and the central provinces (Hua Hin and Trat/Ko Chang). Used it for 3 years up north and it works even in unlikely places. I now have a MiFi which is a very interesting device - it connects to CAT CDMA, and creates a local WiFi network for up to 5 devices. Pretty excellent.

True 3G covers bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, and Phuket, great where it works, but not working very many places.

CAT CDMA actually covers the main cities and trunk routes.

I live in Central Thailand near Khampaeng Phet and my nearest base station is around 60 km away and when I spoke to the CAT office they tell me that there are NO plans to come out my way.

I have been waiting for a land line now for nearly 7 years so I use EDGE from DTAC.

It works, it is cheap, it is slow BUT it is available.

I suspect that if ever 3G gets up my way LTE will be in the rest of the country first.

[Digitalbanana]

Research can be fun!!

Regards ... Andine!

Good luck and let us now how things turn out. I can well imagine you will be the only forum member in Thailand with a camper-van and broadband satellite.