Best Mifi Device And Sim Card For Device

[Bijoux]

Hi,

A small team of US disaster volunteers is headed to Bangkok to help with flood relief. We'll be stationed in a warehouse in the Bang Pu Industrial Estates which has spotty wireless. Hotel is nearby but has no wifi. We need Internet access!

One option is to bring something like a Novatel Wireless MiFi device and pick up a SIM card in Bangkok. The Novatel 2352 model is suggested for Thailand and supports 900/1900/2100 MHz. 3G. I'm under the impreseion that only AIS operates on 900 MHz? Someone else on this forum had posted that DTAC and True Move support 850 but the info I have is that they use 1800 MHz. If they do use 850 then perhaps we're better off with the Novatel 2372 model which supports 850/1900/2100 MHz 3G and would give us more carrier options.

Any thoughts on the best MiFi device/carrier for that section of Bangkok?

And what ballpark price are we talking about for a SIM card for the MiFi device?

Thanks so much!

Beth

[BKKdreaming]

Hi....I am also interested ,...

Pay as you go Sim cards are only a few dollars and available everywhere even at the Airport , but also 7-11s etc

You need to find a Company that offers unlimited Internet for so much a month , and has good cell service in the area you will be in,

3G just started in Thailand so make sure your MiFi and phones is good for 2G also ,

Thailand uses mobile bands that are the same as Europe and NOT the same as the USA , so do a google search and see what bands are used.

The 2 best places for phones and phone goodies are Pantip and MBK , and MBK is probably the best.

Also you need phones that will work in Thailand , iPhones are quad band and will work if unlocked , You can buy cheap local phones with Sims for $30 or so,

Hope that helps

BK

[CP3]

I am not sure there is 3G coverage for that area. If there is, it is good enough to buy 900/1800/2100 supported devices.

If there is no 3G coverage, you will be better off using CDMA EVDO connection

[impulse]

As much as anything, Thai folks need people out there spending their money into the local economy. Why not buy what you need here? I promise there are thousands of us as well connected here in Bangkok as you can get just about anywhere in the world- and all with locally bought stuff.

In fact, I'm a techno-rube and I'm better connected here than I have ever been- all with locally purchased gear and all easy to find and painless to configure.

[Bijoux]

As much as anything, Thai folks need people out there spending their money into the local economy. Why not buy what you need here? I promise there are thousands of us as well connected here in Bangkok as you can get just about anywhere in the world- and all with locally bought stuff.

In fact, I'm a techno-rube and I'm better connected here than I have ever been- all with locally purchased gear and all easy to find and painless to configure.

I agree, I'm all for buying local. But we need to hit the ground running and I'm trying to minimize time spent searching down equipment and getting set up. Unless, you'd like to volunteer your time to help an underfunded group of disaster volunteers get set up?

Thanks everyone, we may have to rely on the spotty wifi at the warehouse until we can figure out a better option. I hate to spend money on a 3G MiFi device if the Ban Pu area doesn't yet have 3G coverage.

[tominbkk]

Good luck finding a mifi device here....expect to see vacant stares from nearly every shopkeeper at every tech place you go to. I ordered mine online. However, you can get the usb portable wifi devices to stick into your computer all over the place. You could get one of those then broadcast your signal to those around you.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

With the 'recommended' unit, you have the choice of AIS 3G(900MHz) and TOT 3G(2100MHz). As to whether there is 3G access is Samut Prakan... you can direct the question to the networks themselves.

But TOT's location viewer indicates that they have a 3G capable tower in the Industrial Estate.