Best Internet Provider On Samui

[DrChopper]

Somewhat inspired by the CAT and TOT threads, what are opinions on the most reliable service?

Specifically I am looking for a connection good enough for constant Skype calling, not huge downloading, with the most continuous uptime.

Any detail on price, contracts etc also gratefully rec'd.

I am in Plai Laem if that matters.

Thank you!

[NHJ]

for me it is 3BB, i got the cheap package 632 baht/month 6 meg but gifted with an additional 20% of bandwidth in up and down (Bandwidth Down/Up(kbps) 8288 / 636) like everyone with 3BB , uptime is 99.9% .

it's by far the fastest provider in samui for this price.

[brzy]

I was a 3BB premium user but the connection became aweful so i switched over to True (20 down 2 up) and its far more stable and quicker for western pages (+/-280 ms ping compared to 300+ on 3BB). The only problem is that when we have a power cut the the internet does not work when using a generator :/.

Btw this is from Lamai Beach road

[Tropicalevo]

for me it is 3BB, i got the cheap package 632 baht/month 6 meg but gifted with an additional 20% of bandwidth in up and down (Bandwidth Down/Up(kbps) 8288 / 636) like everyone with 3BB , uptime is 99.9% .

it's by far the fastest provider in samui for this price.

I agree with NHJ.

I have both 3BB and TOT via landline. 3BB is by far the best. In the last six months or more - only down twice and for less than 30 mins each time. TOT - well - down too many times to count and lousy speeds at the moment.

I am in Plai Laem.

On the dongle side

AIS and DTAC are OK and reliable. Both give 3G at times - and improving.

Truemove - very unreliable, but they are building a booster tower nearby soon.

CAT CDMA - pass it's sell by date unfortunately.

[PoorSucker]

I can't remember last time my 3BB line was down in south Chaweng.

I used to have TOT and went down all the time, but the worst part was there 4-5 day for support.

[mufcsamui]

BBB for sure, i pay 960bt for 10mb and stream UK TV without any problems

[SamuiRes]

Before we moved from near Bangkok Hospital to Bangrak we had 3BB and they were pretty good. 3BB do not have lines to the Fisherman's Village end of Bangrak so we had to go with TOT and I agree their service is pretty poor. Last Friday was a prime example for everyone I think being out until 4pm which is not good when you are trying to run a business. We often find they are down first thing in the morning as well. No problems with 3BB at home in Plai Laem. As we cannot get 3BB I was considering CAT - does anyone have experience of them in the Bangrak area - or True for that matter?

[limbos]

I was a 3BB premium user but the connection became aweful so i switched over to True (20 down 2 up) and its far more stable and quicker for western pages (+/-280 ms ping compared to 300+ on 3BB). The only problem is that when we have a power cut the the internet does not work when using a generator :/.

Btw this is from Lamai Beach road

I was a 3BB premium user but the connection became aweful so i switched over to True (20 down 2 up) and its far more stable and quicker for western pages (+/-280 ms ping compared to 300+ on 3BB). The only problem is that when we have a power cut the the internet does not work when using a generator :/.

Btw this is from Lamai Beach road

I had the exact opposite experience.

3BB Premium is what I have an it's relatively fast and no probs with international sites. I decided ti install True cable and also go for the mentioned 20 down 2 up package and nothing worked at all. Half an hour after installation I told them to uninstall and cancelled the contract. The Thai guy that installed the line also confirmed that this True online option only works for Thai based websites, not for international.

3BB premium goes for around 2,500.-THB per month.

[notmyself]

Had 3bb for just under 3 years and found them very good. Lamai, 1k behind the old market. Not sure about during the day but it sometimes goes down for 30 minutes during the night so I phone their helpline to report it (1130 I think), I log all the downtimes myself too. I pay a year upfront which as I remember gives a 7% discount. Last time I went to the desk to pay (Lamai Tesco) in April this year I brought up the issue of downtime and showed the log I had made. After a couple of minutes of onscreen checking they gave me an additional 600 Baht discount.

[DrChopper]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

[NHJ]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

you can cancel the contract before its end but it's not interesting as the fine is around 4-5k, about the dongle, they are useless for daily use on a computer because of the throttling after 4gb of data(wich is nothing), the speed will be throttled down to 384kbps wich is 20 times slower than the regular adsl.

[samuijimmy]

The problem with all this, is it does vary in different areas.... with all the different provider options

This morning I read a TV thread from News, about CATCDMA I wish I had bookmarked it, cos now I cannot find ... but it detailed some of the new service CAT was going to come up with ( perhaps with True?).

But if one goes to the CATCDMA webpage, it shows the areas of Samui & KP and the other 52 provinces covered by CAT where the 3 G is or will be covering.... Samui looking pretty good... (??? according to the map at least.... in reality that could change... )

The only problem is at the CAT office, there is only one guy there that knows anything about what might happen... and he's not always there.... when I last spoke to him he was not very sure yet.....

The new service with be called Click One, if my memory serves me....

I am going to wait it out a while and see what they come up with..... because to now, I have been very happy with CATCDMA even when traveling around southern Thailand..... it always works!

[notmyself]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

Dongle is OK as a backup but as NHJ says, hopeless for daily use. The 3bb 6/512 is 590 a month plus tax less 7% for paying one year up front. That's 7k for an entire year which I consider good. There also seems to be no limit on data or perhaps it's just set very high. I use around 600GB a month and it's never been an issue.

[samuijimmy]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

Dongle is OK as a backup but as NHJ says, hopeless for daily use. The 3bb 6/512 is 590 a month plus tax less 7% for paying one year up front. That's 7k for an entire year which I consider good. There also seems to be no limit on data or perhaps it's just set very high. I use around 600GB a month and it's never been an issue.

Which dongle hopeless for daily use? I use mine daily and it's pretty darn good.... (CAT)

[notmyself]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

Dongle is OK as a backup but as NHJ says, hopeless for daily use. The 3bb 6/512 is 590 a month plus tax less 7% for paying one year up front. That's 7k for an entire year which I consider good. There also seems to be no limit on data or perhaps it's just set very high. I use around 600GB a month and it's never been an issue.

Which dongle hopeless for daily use? I use mine daily and it's pretty darn good.... (CAT)

What's your monthly data limit?

Even if I'm not doing any video rendering for people my usage wouldn't dip below 10GB a day. I'm a heavy user but 10GB for a month limits you to email, non video news and that's about it. Perhaps some video if it was 360 or 480.

[samuijimmy]

Thanks all.

I am not keen on tying into a long contract, I assume all the landline deals are 12 months?

How about the dongle deals? Are they monthly?

Dongle is OK as a backup but as NHJ says, hopeless for daily use. The 3bb 6/512 is 590 a month plus tax less 7% for paying one year up front. That's 7k for an entire year which I consider good. There also seems to be no limit on data or perhaps it's just set very high. I use around 600GB a month and it's never been an issue.

Which dongle hopeless for daily use? I use mine daily and it's pretty darn good.... (CAT)

What's your monthly data limit?

Even if I'm not doing any video rendering for people my usage wouldn't dip below 10GB a day. I'm a heavy user but 10GB for a month limits you to email, non video news and that's about it. Perhaps some video if it was 360 or 480.

I assume you are asking me! ?

Flat rate unlimited 845 baht a month including taxes...

I will add that I do not download movies etc.... You tubes are usually OK.... !

but do upload pictures, with no problem .... Not sure about the video stuff you do!

[notmyself]

I assume you are asking me! ?

Flat rate unlimited 845 baht a month including taxes...

I will add that I do not download movies etc.... You tubes are usually OK.... !

but do upload pictures, with no problem .... Not sure about the video stuff you do!

Do they not throttle your speed at all?

I render video for students free who can't afford the software, otherwise they have to pay to get it done by a third party.

[NHJ]

Which dongle hopeless for daily use? I use mine daily and it's pretty darn good.... (CAT)

this is on the old WCDMA dongle, it has no limit but by the 31st september, the service will be discontinued and WCDMA dongle will be discarded, you'll have to buy another one and these prices will be applied : http://www.mybycat.com/products.php?id=14&sid=43.

on a personnal note, i have a DTAC contract for 300 baht 200 minutes+10%(customer bonus) to DTAC 200 minutes +10% to other networks and 20hours of internet(3G or edge without limit exept the time), this contract doesn't exist anymore since a year, being a good customer DTAC offered me to apply for an extension of one year wich i did.

the 23rd of july this contract will be finished and i had a look at all operators, all of them say illimited* but will cape the speed at 384kbps/second after 1/2/4 gig of data(depends on the package you choose), i even found AIS to be the worst (i was planning to change to AIS BUT...) http://www.ais.co.th/gsmadvance/en/Smartphone_Packages.aspx# they cappe the speed at 64kbps, this is written both in english and in thai so i don't think it's a mistake.

basically now that 3G is widespread because of the rates and limits, it is useless.....

[samuijimmy]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/568845-cat-telecom-to-dismantle-its-entire-cdma-ev-do-network/

I assume you are asking me! ?

Flat rate unlimited 845 baht a month including taxes...

I will add that I do not download movies etc.... You tubes are usually OK.... !

but do upload pictures, with no problem .... Not sure about the video stuff you do!

Do they not throttle your speed at all?

I render video for students free who can't afford the software, otherwise they have to pay to get it done by a third party.

As NHJ points out and it has been mentions on another thread (there seems to be several going at the moment!!! on basically the same subject.... which one is best....? )

It does vary from area to area whether it be Samui or KP or anywhere else for that matter, as it does with all the providers.... so to specifically answer your question, it's really not an option to look at the present dongles...from CAT ...

CAT's old dongles. the MC 727, 760 and their Mifi box are being discontinued at the end of August....

Personally I am going to wait to try a new service & it try out , I am paid up with CAT, anyway! So we'll see which one (for me and a few others, I know) works best in the Maenam area!

I could use the wifi from my landlord, but it is off TOT .... down more than it is up..... most of the time...

Just found that link, I mentioned yesterday : http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/568845-cat-telecom-to-dismantle-its-entire-cdma-ev-do-network/

read if you have time or interest

[BigC]

It all depends on where you live and how much you want to pay

if you get the cheapest package then expect it to be cheap for a reason.

CAT might be the best option if you live far out.

Then again there are companies that specialise in bringing internet to remote regions

[notmyself]

http://www.thaivisa....-ev-do-network/

I assume you are asking me! ?

Flat rate unlimited 845 baht a month including taxes...

I will add that I do not download movies etc.... You tubes are usually OK.... !

but do upload pictures, with no problem .... Not sure about the video stuff you do!

Do they not throttle your speed at all?

I render video for students free who can't afford the software, otherwise they have to pay to get it done by a third party.

As NHJ points out and it has been mentions on another thread (there seems to be several going at the moment!!! on basically the same subject.... which one is best....? )

It does vary from area to area whether it be Samui or KP or anywhere else for that matter, as it does with all the providers.... so to specifically answer your question, it's really not an option to look at the present dongles...from CAT ...

CAT's old dongles. the MC 727, 760 and their Mifi box are being discontinued at the end of August....

Personally I am going to wait to try a new service & it try out , I am paid up with CAT, anyway! So we'll see which one (for me and a few others, I know) works best in the Maenam area!

I could use the wifi from my landlord, but it is off TOT .... down more than it is up..... most of the time...

Just found that link, I mentioned yesterday : http://www.thaivisa....-ev-do-network/

read if you have time or interest

Time is never an issue so I read it due to interest.

I guess it depends on needs. I'm a heavy user at home so a wired connection is fine and never use the internet otherwise.

[notmyself]

Then again there are companies that specialise in bringing internet to remote regions

After weeks of cannot cannot from TOT and 3bb I pulled out 5k in warm (from ATM) 1000 Baht notes and got a 'can' from 3bb. Close to 1k of cable was installed from the old market in Lamai toward the hill in the back and have had no problem. I walked around the area to detect wifi first (my own code to detect invisible) and there was nothing. Gave the local Thai families the code for free as I use it during the night and they use it during the day.

[Edit]

I also hand out free laptops to those with children (I block FB) which I pick up in the UK where I am now. Been here 10 days and I have 2 already, old but better than nothing.

[BigC]

Then again there are companies that specialise in bringing internet to remote regions

After weeks of cannot cannot from TOT and 3bb I pulled out 5k in warm (from ATM) 1000 Baht notes and got a 'can' from 3bb. Close to 1k of cable was installed from the old market in Lamai toward the hill in the back and have had no problem. I walked around the area to detect wifi first (my own code to detect invisible) and there was nothing. Gave the local Thai families the code for free as I use it during the night and they use it during the day.

[Edit]

I also hand out free laptops to those with children (I block FB) which I pick up in the UK where I am now. Been here 10 days and I have 2 already, old but better than nothing.

if you are giving out lap tops i am in need i shall say thank you for it )

[notmyself]

Then again there are companies that specialise in bringing internet to remote regions

After weeks of cannot cannot from TOT and 3bb I pulled out 5k in warm (from ATM) 1000 Baht notes and got a 'can' from 3bb. Close to 1k of cable was installed from the old market in Lamai toward the hill in the back and have had no problem. I walked around the area to detect wifi first (my own code to detect invisible) and there was nothing. Gave the local Thai families the code for free as I use it during the night and they use it during the day.

[Edit]

I also hand out free laptops to those with children (I block FB) which I pick up in the UK where I am now. Been here 10 days and I have 2 already, old but better than nothing.

if you are giving out lap tops i am in need i shall say thank you for it )

You don't want either of the 2 I have as they are around 5-6 years old. Picking up another one weekend of the 21st which is only 3 years old I believe. As far as I know, every local family who have a child has a laptop, so was considering a local school. I'll let you know

[steelerian]

Is anyone having any problems with CAT CMDA over the last 24 hours? Since about this time yesterday I cannot connect.

I still get 3 bars reception, which is normal. I hit the green CONNECT button, it then says CONNECTING, and then AUTHENTICATING (all normal), but then doesnt connect and just goes back to saying CONNECT.

Anyone else?

[limbos]

if you are giving out lap tops i am in need i shall say thank you for it )

You don't want either of the 2 I have as they are around 5-6 years old. Picking up another one weekend of the 21st which is only 3 years old I believe. As far as I know, every local family who have a child has a laptop, so was considering a local school. I'll let you know

If you hand one to Big C, make sure there's a working spell checker on it!

[BigC]

if you are giving out lap tops i am in need i shall say thank you for it )

You don't want either of the 2 I have as they are around 5-6 years old. Picking up another one weekend of the 21st which is only 3 years old I believe. As far as I know, every local family who have a child has a laptop, so was considering a local school. I'll let you know

If you hand one to Big C, make sure there's a working spell checker on it!

yes give to charity for the people that canot spell )

[DrChopper]

So it look like 3BB would be my best option i Plai Laem.

Next question, where is their office?!

Thanks again

[PoorSucker]

So it look like 3BB would be my best option i Plai Laem.

Next question, where is their office?!

Thanks again

Outside main entrance to Tesco, Chaweng.

[BigC]

So it look like 3BB would be my best option i Plai Laem.

Next question, where is their office?!

Thanks again

u plai leam who's jane