Is Tot 6Mb Service Unusable?

[CaptHaddock]

We have been looking at rental buildings in the Chidlom/Rachadamri area. The two buildings that interest us apparently only support this TOT 6mb service apparently because they are leaseholds on Crown Properties Bureau land, which enforces this restriction. We hear this service is basically unusable even for such undemanding apps as youtube videos. Is this the case? Although we otherwise like either apartment such limited internet service is not acceptable.

Is there another ISP option that we are overlooking? Is there a 3G ISP service that would provide a 3G modem to which we could attach our router to support our local lan?

Am I missing something?

[Pib]

I was on the TOT 6Mb plans for approx 15 months. It was very stable/reliable for me in my western Bangkok home...up time was probably 99.999%. I got the advertised 6Mb in-Thailand speed and averaged around 1.5Mb to international websites. It was fine for general interneting/surfing and emailing.

However, when it comes to streaming video like YouTube clips, streaming TV, etc., I would almost always get a LOT of pausing....so much pausing I just stopped trying to view streaming video. Now while 1.5Mb to international sites is more than enough for non-pausing streaming video, the problem was that 1.5Mb was not a "smooth/consistent" data flow which is critical to getting smooth flowing, non-pausing streaming video. Instead that 1.5Mb average speed was more of a "bursting" speed....that is X-seconds/milliseconds of high speed followed by X-seconds/milliseconds speeds of low speed. This is a common problem with a lot of Thai ISPs and some of their plans in that they just don't have enough international bandwidth and there are many internet hops/connections between Thailand and farangland.

Fortunately, True Cable internet became available to my moobaan about three months ago and I switched to a 20Mb/2Mb plan. Up time has been 100%, I get 20Mb speed to in-Thailand servers, approx 5-6Mb speed to US/European servers (sometimes better), and over 10Mb to Singapore since that is more of a direct connection.

Although you may only be allowed a TOT line, TOT does have concessionaire internet provlders such as JINET which is very good but a little pricy. I was with them also for approx 15 months 2 to 3 years back on a 2Mb plan (over the TOT line/DSLAM) and it was 100% stable/reliable but had the same streaming video problem. They have higher speed plans now.

P.S. Good, fast, reliable internet in Thailand can also be very "local." By local, I mean a 100 different people on the same plan across the country will get widely varying results due to the capability & reliability of local circuits...plus other factors. The caveat of "Your Results May Vary" is oh so true when it comes to internet in Thailand....but it is slowly getting better.

[CaptHaddock]

Thanks, Pib. Good explanation. Now I get it.

[Woodse]

I second what Pib has experienced with the TOT 6Mb/.5Mb plan. Very reliable and while general surfing was acceptable, streaming and Skype was hit and miss due to throughput.

I recently upgraded to their 15Mb/1Mb service (my only choice is TOT) and with the improved throughput streaming is at a lot more acceptable speed.

[muratremix]

Tot has direct 10Gbit peering with google, means you will get fast youtube / google services as long as 10Gbit line is not full. I use tot 9/0.5 and I'm pretty happy with Youtube speed.

[Juggy]

Our rental house in Don Muang has the TOT 6Mb/512kb. Agree with Pib's comments in that the TOT line is usually very stable, with up time of about high 90's. The contention ratio that you have with these low cost packages is high so peak hours sees the speeds affected somewhat. International speed we see here is about 1.0Mb/300kbps - actually it is currently running at 1.4Mb/410kbps (using MS Online Services Performance Test website to the US).

Performance is poor when attempting to stream YouTube video. Usually I will click on it, press the pause button, walk away and come back to it.

Like you, the compound that we are in only has TOT. If I could afford to pay for my own line in from another supplier I would... We move back into our house shortly (same compound) so we are weighing up other various TOT options (and CAT's Onnet). Was very happy to see Woodse's post of the 15Mb/1.0Mb performance. They have the more expensive options, which as I understand have a lower contention ratio (# of users sharing the line). I am yet to see whether the extra cost gives you a better International speed.

Good luck with your house hunting!

[gkinbkk]

Also on ToT 9mb plan, not by choice

The last few days the reliability has been terrible getting server not available messages then refreshing ten seconds later and the site coming up without any issue.

I find youtube is better than our old True 14mb connection however streaming sports is impossible, true was great for streaming.......but alas no choice. I doubt that upgrading to 12mb will see much improvement as based on what I see from the 9mb package we arent getting much more than 3 most of the time......

[arkom]

Also on ToT 9mb plan, not by choice

The last few days the reliability has been terrible getting server not available messages then refreshing ten seconds later and the site coming up without any issue.

[/]

I'm in the same exact situation. Also on 9mb plan with TOT, and have the same issues. Technicians came to my house and checked the line and said it was fine. Showed them problem on my computer and said it might have a virus!!