What Isp To Go For Here In Chiang Mai ?

[marcusmarsh]

In the next 2 weeks I need to sign up with a ISP here in Chiang Mai.

Ive been doing some research and it seems the main contenders are

3bb

True

TOT

Cat

I will be living close to the Mae Rim Road about 10

minutes out from the old city (3 minutes past Platinum Fitness Center).

I used to live in Pai and used TOT relatively painlessly.

Though reading through some of the threads on here they seem to

be problematical in places.

It also seems that some ISP,s are fine in some areas and not great

in others.

So im hoping someone living in Chiang Mai or, even better, in the same

part of Chiang Mai, can advise.

I do not need a super fast, never fails service (probably not one out there)

just a reliable ish package (if off line for half a day a week I could

handle) for a price of around 700 baht or so.

It needs to be a connection that uses a modem and not wireless.

Any advice appreciated

[lawrence1366]

I am living at San Sai area and used to have TTT (now 3BB) and had poor service and regular drop outs. Guessed they were in trouble and was bought over and changed name to 3BB. I am now using TOT service and have less drop outs except for heavy storms. You can get the package at 599 depends on the promotions now. But you need to have a telephone line to use TOT service. Forget about the True or AIS 3G, they're rip off as they are charged by the amount of data used or downloaded.

However in BKK. they're different since competition is greater here and at my condo here I am using True Internet with excellent aftersales service especially online call center. No need to have a telephone number for True.

Good luck.

[gotlost]

Go to the actual neighbourhood that you are going to live in then ask your neighbours what they have and their opinions. Forget about someone or something that is 1, 5,10 or 20 kilometers from you. What works for your neighbour may not work for you. This is the way of ISP in Chiang Mai and Thailand. All so keep in mind that an auction for 3G is license is on the 20Th of September and the only authorized bidders are AIS, DTAC and TRUE, no one else. This may impact your choice of going with 3B, TTT/TOT or CAT. If you choice anything before then I recommend it be the cheapest and easies to dump just in case.

[sarahsbloke]

You might like to try CAT CDMA, a 3 MB service that runs from a USB dongle using mobile phone technology.

My neighbour has been using it for 3 months, more reliable than a TOT landline and twice as fast as their 1MB service.

I just saw it and was impressed, my TOT landline was out all last week.

Cost 6,500bht for the dongle with 3 months access (but check current offer), then 790bht a month

You can also get a wireless/4 cable router to run it throughout the house (if needed)

A shop near to the Bangkok bank office in Pantrip Plaza will lend you the dongle for a few days on a 'try before you buy' loan.

Works well in ChiangMai and Doi Saket.