Galaxy Mini For $110 Or Google G1 For $60 For Tethering In Bkk ?

[chubby]

NOTE : i will be in bkk just 1 month, but lately am coming yearly for 1 month

thinking buying an unlocked phone, and tethering with a 3G package in bkk, to get some decent internet and safer than using my condo's free wifi, which was dog slow last time

but guess i need a smartphone the G1 seems a lot older, but if it does what it needs to do, i'm fine with that.

just want no glitchs with the tethering software ; need to know what specs i need

the galaxy mini says stuff like this which i don't understand if it will be true 3G in bkk and don't want to presume

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http://www.ebay.com/...=item20c14e93c1

General 2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100

Size Dimensions 110.4 x 60.8 x 12.1 mm

Weight 105 g

Display Type TFT capacitive touchscreen, 256K colors

Size 240 x 320 pixels, 3.14 inches (~127 ppi pixel density)

- Accelerometer sensor for UI auto-rotate

- TouchWiz v3.0 UI

- Proximity sensor for auto turn-off

Sound Alert types Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones

Loudspeaker Yes

3.5mm jack Yes, check quality

- DNSe sound enhancement

Memory Phonebook Practically unlimited entries and fields, Photocall

Call records Practically unlimited

Internal 160 MB; 384MB RAM

Card slot microSD, up to 32GB, 2GB included, buy memory

Data GPRS Class 12 (4+1/3+2/2+3/1+4 slots), 32 - 48 kbps

EDGE Yes

3G HSDPA, 7.2 Mbps

WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth Yes, v2.1 with A2DP

Infrared port No

USB Yes, microUSB v2.0

--

G1 looks like this

http://www.ebay.com/...=item19cd3257ba Network Generation 3G Network Technology EDGE, GPRS, GSM / HSPA, HSDPA / HSUPA, WCDMA (UMTS) Band GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband) HSPA/WCDMA 1700/2100

i'll be in sukhumwit much of the time

otherwise i just use a non smart phone with a 12 call SIM card ; but maybe its time to upgrade

unless there is a data card that would be a better option ?

cheers

[lomatopo]

Can you share any more details re: your situation, application and requirements?

Do you already have a phone? If so, make and model? Do you use a phone in your primary location (11 months of the year)? Any mobile data requirements there?

Do you want to allow more than one device to access the internet? Say a PC, and a tablet? Or just one device?

Do you want a single device, for both data and voice?

What is your budget for a phone, and/or air-card?

What is your budget for mobile broadband? Do you need high speed? What about volume, how much do you think you would use in MB?

While most 3G phones can both act as a modem (tether, via USB, or Bluetooth) and many can act as a Mobile AP, creating a WiFi network locally allowing devices to access the mobile data network.

That G1 would probably be best avoided as it is likely locked to T-Mo, and would only work here tethered, on TOT's 2100 Mhz 3G network.

The Galaxy Mini would work on both AIS/One-2-Call's 900 Mhz 3G network, and TOT's network, and may be able to both tether and Mobile AP (some HW dependencies, also requires Android 2.2 or higher, I think).

Service providers:

TrueMove H Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

One-2-Call (AIS) Prepay 900 Mhz 3 G

Happy (DTAC) Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

There are a few others: TOT/MVNOs 2100 Mhz, CAT/My 850 Mhz

There are many solutions: air-card, MiFi device, mid-range phone with tethering and/ or Mobile AP. A specific model needs to be verified as working with your desired 3G service provider.

Personally I prefer to use both an aircard and phone, with two separate SIMs, but this is not the most economical solution.

[chubby]

Can you share any more details re: your situation, application and requirements?

.......i will be in bkk for 1 month, don't want a contract, internet use is not for business , not sure what else to tell

Do you already have a phone? If so, make and model? Do you use a phone in your primary location (11 months of the year)? Any mobile data requirements there?

.......i have an old candybar type phone i used last year, just buy the SIM card and go, NOT a smart phone, I don't use the phone in the USA no ; no particular requirements, but i have been thinking if i had a wifi enabled phone, with internet browser ability, i might log on at some starbucks and try to make calls over wifi in the usa, but i dont' need or want a new plan in the usa .....

Do you want to allow more than one device to access the internet? Say a PC, and a tablet? Or just one device?

........just my laptop, 1 device

Do you want a single device, for both data and voice?

.........well i am thinking i need want it for data and would then just also use it for voice in bkk

What is your budget for a phone, and/or air-card?

.........for a phone $110 is near /at my desired limit, air-card i'd probably just use in bkk, so it would be less i imagine, ?$60

What is your budget for mobile broadband? Do you need high speed? What about volume, how much do you think you would use in MB?

.........don't need mobile high speed, but want high speed with the tether; volume no idea, but like i said its just one month, maybe i'll use skype a little web browsing and internet streaming radio, no youtube.

While most 3G phones can both act as a modem (tether, via USB, or Bluetooth) and many can act as a Mobile AP, creating a WiFi network locally allowing devices to access the mobile data network.

......what is a mobile "AP" ; i don't quite see what you said here

That G1 would probably be best avoided as it is likely locked to T-Mo, and would only work here tethered, on TOT's 2100 Mhz 3G network.

.......i believe the phone is unlocked

The Galaxy Mini would work on both AIS/One-2-Call's 900 Mhz 3G network, and TOT's network, and may be able to both tether and Mobile AP (some HW dependencies, also requires Android 2.2 or higher, I think).

...........galaxy runs android 2.2 or higher?

Service providers:

TrueMove H Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

One-2-Call (AIS) Prepay 900 Mhz 3 G

Happy (DTAC) Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

There are a few others: TOT/MVNOs 2100 Mhz, CAT/My 850 Mhz

There are many solutions: air-card, MiFi device, mid-range phone with tethering and/ or Mobile AP. A specific model needs to be verified as working with your desired 3G service provider.

Personally I prefer to use both an aircard and phone, with two separate SIMs, but this is not the most economical solution.

so which aircard and provider would you recommend, this is going to run on windows vista ..

cheers

[lomatopo]

so which aircard and provider would you recommend, this is going to run on windows vista ..

cheers

This really depends on your desired service provider. You need to make sure the air-card supports the 3G frequency of your provider. Typically air-cards support 850 Mhz so would work on TrueMove H Prepay and DTAC/Happy Prepay, or 900 Mhz so would work on AIS/One-2-Call Prepay. You can find air-cards which support both.

If pressed I would recommend an air-card which supports 850 Mhz as this gives you the option of TrueMove H or DTAC, either/both of which likely have good coverage throughout Bangkok, including your location.

http://www.totalaircard.com/

http://www.totalaircard.com/products/D%252dLink-DWM%252d156-3.75G-Aircard.html

[chubby]

Can you share any more details re: your situation, application and requirements?

Do you already have a phone? If so, make and model? Do you use a phone in your primary location (11 months of the year)? Any mobile data requirements there?

Do you want to allow more than one device to access the internet? Say a PC, and a tablet? Or just one device?

Do you want a single device, for both data and voice?

What is your budget for a phone, and/or air-card?

What is your budget for mobile broadband? Do you need high speed? What about volume, how much do you think you would use in MB?

While most 3G phones can both act as a modem (tether, via USB, or Bluetooth) and many can act as a Mobile AP, creating a WiFi network locally allowing devices to access the mobile data network.

That G1 would probably be best avoided as it is likely locked to T-Mo, and would only work here tethered, on TOT's 2100 Mhz 3G network.

The Galaxy Mini would work on both AIS/One-2-Call's 900 Mhz 3G network, and TOT's network, and may be able to both tether and Mobile AP (some HW dependencies, also requires Android 2.2 or higher, I think).

Service providers:

TrueMove H Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

One-2-Call (AIS) Prepay 900 Mhz 3 G

Happy (DTAC) Prepay 850 Mhz 3G

There are a few others: TOT/MVNOs 2100 Mhz, CAT/My 850 Mhz

There are many solutions: air-card, MiFi device, mid-range phone with tethering and/ or Mobile AP. A specific model needs to be verified as working with your desired 3G service provider.

Personally I prefer to use both an aircard and phone, with two separate SIMs, but this is not the most economical solution.

so which aircard and provider would you recommend, this is going to run on windows vista ..

cheers

This really depends on your desired service provider. You need to make sure the air-card supports the 3G frequency of your provider. Typically air-cards support 850 Mhz so would work on TrueMove H Prepay and DTAC/Happy Prepay, or 900 Mhz so would work on AIS/One-2-Call Prepay. You can find air-cards which support both.

If pressed I would recommend an air-card which supports 850 Mhz as this gives you the option of TrueMove H or DTAC, either/both of which likely have good coverage throughout Bangkok, including your location.

http://www.totalaircard.com/

http://www.totalairc...5G-Aircard.html

........did you see the rest of my answers they ended up inside your quotes ; i provided a bunch of answers

[lomatopo]

Apologies, I did not see your answers. Based on that I think an air-card may represent the best option for you.

As you can see you can purchase a good air-card for ~ $50-ish USD here.

[chubby]

redact

[chubby]

well can i just buy the aircard in the USA, and if so which card for which network, and why is that better than tethering a G1 phone ?

i need some help interpreting what all the network language means on the G1 specs etc vs the galaxy etc

[chubby]

if i use skype once in a while do i need 1G of data or 3G ? can i change to 3G if after 1G the connection then slows ?

[lomatopo]

Yes, you can buy an air-card in the U.S. If you want use 3G here in Thailand then make sure it is both unlocked and supports the required 3G frequencies. An air-card is really designed for your application. Trying to tether an ancient phone like the G1, which as I've already pointed out, would only work with TOT here is doable but not really a fit. Also, I am not sure what Android rev. you need for tethering, or of the G1 can even support tethering.

I think I addressed the network capabilities of both models in my previous post? Do you have some additional questions.

3G (Third Generation) is a term used to describe a high speed mobile broadband network.

Some mobile broadband data plans are packaged as volume-based plans and customers buy packages measured in GB (giga bytes).

When I asked about your situation, applications and requirements I was hoping you'd share things like "Skype". I am not sure if, or how well, PC/Skype calls work over 2G or 3G? I imagine they might work, but perhaps with some quality issues? Regarding data usage you can Google that, I did see that 12 hours of Skype equals 2 GB of data, so you can do the math(s).