Ais 3G 2100Mhz In Chiang Mai?

[caramba77]

Hi,

my phone does not support the current 3G frequency by AIS but I've been told that they are supposed to roll out 2100 Mhz 3G in Chiang Mai. Does anyone know when this is supposed to happen or if this has happened already but requires some sort of SIM card activation?

Thanks

[hml367]

Check this http://www.ais.co.th/3g/index.aspx

My wife has been moved to the new frequency already. My phone number has not been moved yet.

You can also check this thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/637776-3g-mobile-services-attracting-large-numbers-of-users-kicks-off-in-thailand/

It seems like many people complaining, apparently in the Bangkok area, because they did not get changed to the new frequency in the first wave. As I said, my number hasn't been migrated yet so I can not give you first hand information. My wife's phone works... I don't use it, so I can't give you any information on the quality

MSPain

[caramba77]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'll go to one of their shops then and check with them. They shouldn't need to change the number. Infact normally nothing should be needed from the customer side if the phone is able to receive 2100 3G signals. But I heard in another post that they may change/modify the SIM card.

Cheers

[WinnieTheKhwai]

How can you even tell which frequency is used?

[hellodolly]

I was told it was completed on May 7.

that was in the Thai Pah road office.

[hml367]

I was told it was completed on May 7.

that was in the Thai Pah road office.

How can you even tell which frequency is used?

You can look at what signal you are connected to. "52003" is 2100. ThGSM is 900.

Also, when using 52003, Data Roaming should be selected so as many antennae/towers as possible can be used. I think that may have to do with the sharing between companies. The thing about Roaming is you have be sure and turn it off if you leave Thailand unless you want to pay for International Roaming charges. This is the way I understand it in translation from AIS through my wife.

My number has not been migrated yet and I don't use my wife's phone so I cannot give any 1st hand knowledge of how the new frequency works. They cannot migrate all users at one time, so it will take some time to move all of their customers. There is a number to call if you don't want to be migrated. Even though a person can "see" 52003" as a mobile network, they cannot connect to that unless AIS has done whatever they do Over The Air (OTA) to allow the SIM into the system.

MSPain

[qdinthailand]

To switch to the 2100 service (if you have post-paid package) you do

*988*<idcardno.>#

and hit 'dial'. This is supposed to switch/enable your phone for 2100.

<idcardno> in my case was my wife's National ID card. It could be your passport # if you were able to sign up for a post-paid account (i.e. under a Business visa)

That being said, I leave my iPhone carrier setting on Automatic, since this is the only way I can get a signal (TH GSM). Switching to 520-3, I get 'no carrier' at home. When I'm out and about, god only knows what spectrum it is using (I don't check).

[hml367]

To switch to the 2100 service (if you have post-paid package) you do

*988*<idcardno.>#

and hit 'dial'. This is supposed to switch/enable your phone for 2100.

<idcardno> in my case was my wife's National ID card. It could be your passport # if you were able to sign up for a post-paid account (i.e. under a Business visa)

That being said, I leave my iPhone carrier setting on Automatic, since this is the only way I can get a signal (TH GSM). Switching to 520-3, I get 'no carrier' at home. When I'm out and about, god only knows what spectrum it is using (I don't check).

I don't think that switches your phone. I think it just puts you on a list to be switched. Until the SIM is programmed or whatever to use the 2100 bandwidth you should not be able to connect to 52003. The message says something like, "your SIM does not allow a connection to this network."

From AIS web site:

For advanced requests to upgrade to AIS 3G network, the Company will perform a network upgrade only to numbers that have been registered and meets the Company's terms and conditions. You will receive an SMS or email confirmation once AIS 3G is available in your are.

[mesquite]

what is the advantage of 2100?

[hml367]

what is the advantage of 2100?

There are numerous threads, including a current one, in the Internet, computers, communication, technology section of ThaiVisa with, as you might expect, many views. If you have the time you can glean some information from that.

MSPain

[WinnieTheKhwai]

How can you even tell which frequency is used?

You can look at what signal you are connected to. "52003" is 2100. ThGSM is 900.

Also, when using 52003, Data Roaming should be selected so as many antennae/towers as possible can be used. I think that may have to do with the sharing between companies. The thing about Roaming is you have be sure and turn it off if you leave Thailand unless you want to pay for International Roaming charges. This is the way I understand it in translation from AIS through my wife.

Thanks!

My phone has a separate setting for 'Data Roaming' and 'National Roaming'. I assume it's the latter that could help here.

I tried connecting to '52003', but get the message saying that my SIM card doesn't allow connecting to this network.

[hml367]

How can you even tell which frequency is used?

You can look at what signal you are connected to. "52003" is 2100. ThGSM is 900.

Also, when using 52003, Data Roaming should be selected so as many antennae/towers as possible can be used. I think that may have to do with the sharing between companies. The thing about Roaming is you have be sure and turn it off if you leave Thailand unless you want to pay for International Roaming charges. This is the way I understand it in translation from AIS through my wife.

Thanks!

My phone has a separate setting for 'Data Roaming' and 'National Roaming'. I assume it's the latter that could help here.

I tried connecting to '52003', but get the message saying that my SIM card doesn't allow connecting to this network.

AIS has to make your SIM authorized. You should get an SMS saying they are going to make the change. My wife's did it over night and had to leave the phone on, of course. Then another SMS is sent when it is successful and connects to their service.

In the threads I read many people were complaining in the Bangkok area. It worked rather easily for my wife. However, I still don't know if there is any improvement. What I suspect is that more towers/antennaes will be available and the Data Roaming is so the phone can connect to other providers.

There was also a thread started that AIS (and others, but AIS first) would be giving a 15% decreased price because of some agreement with the governing body. It was in Nation newspaper I believe.

MSPain

[qdinthailand]

To switch to the 2100 service (if you have post-paid package) you do

*988*<idcardno.>#

and hit 'dial'. This is supposed to switch/enable your phone for 2100.

<idcardno> in my case was my wife's National ID card. It could be your passport # if you were able to sign up for a post-paid account (i.e. under a Business visa)

That being said, I leave my iPhone carrier setting on Automatic, since this is the only way I can get a signal (TH GSM). Switching to 520-3, I get 'no carrier' at home. When I'm out and about, god only knows what spectrum it is using (I don't check).

I don't think that switches your phone. I think it just puts you on a list to be switched. Until the SIM is programmed or whatever to use the 2100 bandwidth you should not be able to connect to 52003. The message says something like, "your SIM does not allow a connection to this network."

From AIS web site:

For advanced requests to upgrade to AIS 3G network, the Company will perform a network upgrade only to numbers that have been registered and meets the Company's terms and conditions. You will receive an SMS or email confirmation once AIS 3G is available in your are.

Yes, you are probably right. Just minutes after I posted my note, I got an SMS from AIS saying that I had about 24 hours to change my mind on switching to 2100. So I haven't yet been switched. But since they asked if I wanted to change my mind, I'm wondering "what's the deal - does this mean higher rates or something?"

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Aight, so the thing is if you're foreign then you'll have to use your passport number, except that one isn't 13 digits and includes alphabet characters too.

So you just dial *988* and then you hear a recording where you can enter your passport number.. this is a little silly, because my passport number is something like AB87P34BI5.. I just distilled the numbers out of that one and sent that over.

Got a (Thai language) SMS in return saying I will be upgraded within May 2013, and that I will receive another message when it happens..

[hml367]

Aight, so the thing is if you're foreign then you'll have to use your passport number, except that one isn't 13 digits and includes alphabet characters too.

So you just dial *988* and then you hear a recording where you can enter your passport number.. this is a little silly, because my passport number is something like AB87P34BI5.. I just distilled the numbers out of that one and sent that over.

Got a (Thai language) SMS in return saying I will be upgraded within May 2013, and that I will receive another message when it happens..

It is possible that you will also receive a message to go and change your SIM. It seems some people get this message and some don't..... or they don't know they got it. There have been people posting that they did not change their SIM. No problem in changing the SIM other than the travel and time it takes them to transfer your data from the old SIM.

My wife and I had our SIM's changed at virtually the same time by two different employees of AIS at the kiosk in Central Airport Plaza . Obviously we live in the same place, yet she has been migrated and I have not. Her number is about 13 years old and mine is 11 years old if that may have anything to do with it.

MSPain

[hml367]

qdinthailand,

Slightly in defense of AIS, can you imagine how many people have called that number more than one time? Whether by computer or by human, that also has to somehow be sorted out.

MSPain

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I can imagine what a mess it probably is.

In a sane world:

- They know exactly what kind of SIM their subscribers have; they issued it in the first place.

- They know who has a 3G data package with them. These people go first.

- No need to require their customers to do anything. Just move them over, and send a text message stating when this will be, and then again when it's completed.

- Those who need a different SIM get a text message when to come in and change the SIM.

- Also, they send an actual paper bill by mail to their subscribers every month. That's another opportunity to reach out to their customers.

Meanwhile, in the AIS world..

[heybruce]

Can you use this service for internet acces for a laptop? Yes, I'm an old dinosaur who uses a phone for phone calls and a computer for internet access.

[mesquite]

what is the advantage of 2100?

I'll answer my own post since I now have 2100. It's much faster.