Internet Connectivity

[wileycoyote]

My eldest daughter wants to take her laptop with her ,when we visit our family in Chiang Rai.

Currently we do not have the internet where our family live.

Can she buy a "dongle" to connect to the internet ?

Where could we buy it from ?

How much does it cost ?

Is it value for money ?

She will just be using it for a bout an hour/2 hours a day ?

[kandahar]

I have one you can use for free while you're here but we discontinued the service. It was signed up with CAT. Dunno if you can buy a block of time usage from CAT or not. Will ask them tomorrow if you want me to and if that is possible, then you are welcome to the hardware while you stay here. Is the house you are visiting in a good cell phone reception area?

[wileycoyote]

I have one you can use for free while you're here but we discontinued the service. It was signed up with CAT. Dunno if you can buy a block of time usage from CAT or not. Will ask them tomorrow if you want me to and if that is possible, then you are welcome to the hardware while you stay here. Is the house you are visiting in a good cell phone reception area?

Dear Kandahar,

Thank you for you for generous offer/

Will discuss with Thai family ,we stay near Chiang Saen

I will also ask my daughter ,she will know more about IT than I do

Many thanks ,will reply soon

Wiley

[klikster]

If you can't buy a block of time with the Kandahar's CAT system, you might also try one of the AirCard type modems. They will usually work with either AIS or DTAC sim cards. You may need to have an established account, not sure. But it doesn't have to be pre-pay.

I got one just over a year ago and recall it being less than Bt 4,000. Appears that they have dropped in price .. here

FWIW, CAT seems to be more than double the speed of AIS or DTAC.

[jubby]

I have one of these Aircard Dongles that I rarely use. It has a Sim that is on AIS. Its about 100 baht for 30 hours of internet or 600 ish for a month's unlimited use. Just plug it into your laptop. It has its own software built in that you run on your laptop once and your good to go. Its not quick but its ok for emails etc. The CAT dongle Kd has is faster but CAT has less availability out in the sticks.

I'll drop it off with KD next week, that way you'll have a choice.

If you want something faster have a word with the neighbours , see if they have a wireless router with 3BB or TOT.

Slip them a few baht when you want to use it.

[kandahar]

Jubby has a nice idea.

But for anyone wanting the info for future use, here is the CAT air card program, as explained to me. 2,500 baht to buy the card, then buy air-time packages, based on what you think you will use. Don't know the package costs at CAT. Have no idea about the other aircards on offer by other companies.

For our CAT Dongle, we will have to open an account for one month, unlimited usage, 850 baht. Happy to do that if you want to go that way.

[klikster]

Wiley is probably better off going with Kandahar's offer .. assuming he won't be staying that far from a CAT tower. The CAT modem will usually self install on Windows, but they also have a very nice software download on the CAT website. And I would suspect a CAT tower very nearby Chiang Saen.

All that being said, my service is really slow today!

Edited May 10, 2011 by klikster

[kandahar]

Ours is really slow this afternoon. It is 3BB hardline. Usually pretty quick.