Most Affordable And Reliable Net Connection Via Smartphone For 4-5 Day Tourist

[jakbkk]

hi folks, i'm an ex-Thailand expat (15++ years) and going to Thailand next week for a 1 week holiday with my college buddies (there'll be 11 of us). since we need to get in touch with family and friends back home and some of my buddies are Facebook posters, what's the most reliable and affordable way/package for a net connection we can all share? we can open hot spots on our phones so not everyone needs to get a prepaid sim but not sure which of the big 3 we should patronize (AIS, DTAC, TRUE)? thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions/comments.

Edited May 29, 2013 by jakbkk

[lomatopo]

What types of phones do you have? Please be precise with make and model number.

Where in Thailand will you be spending your time>

I assume these phones are unlocked, are GSM-capable and that they can accept SIMs.

DTAC/Happy have a Tourist SIM (299 baht/ 1 week), and a weekly 3G plan (199 baht), both of which represent decent values.

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/postpaid/products/ShortStayVisitors.html

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/products/Happy-internet-package.html

There are other options, maybe with TrueMove H being the only other choice which could be recommended?

Both DTAC/Happy and TrueMove H operate 3G on 850- MHz here; both have shops at Suvarnabhumi-Bangkok International Airport (BKK) on level 2, just outside Customs.

[jakbkk]

thanks LOMATOPO. we have mostly Android and iPhones (Samsung Galaxy S3, Note 1 &2, iPhone 5, Sony Xperias, etc....nothing older than 2-years i guess). mostly staying in Krungthep and probably visiting Ratchburi, Chonburi, SamutPrakan for various sites, time permitting.

i'll try to check on the DTAC site. AIS and TRUE have only Thai websites (although they have ENGLISH language options but they also show Thai script).

[lomatopo]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&ved=0CDwQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftruemoveh.truecorp.co.th%2F%3Fln%3Den&ei=JIGlUdKiC4KPrQf814DwBQ&usg=AFQjCNFZeG0aicPVIc33Zw40f0VBu0s-MA&bvm=bv.47008514,d.bmk

(Note that there is an English page but for some reason I can't paste the link?)

I think you should go with TrueMove H and/or DTAC/Happy. Maybe one or more of each among your group?

Do not choose TrueMove - they no longer offer 3G; AIS generally gets poor marks for their 3G service, but they do have great GSM coverage.

Again, I assume all these phones are unlocked, are GSM capable and can accept SIMs? I only ask as if any are from the U.S.. Japan, Korea and a few other countries, their
phones may not work here.

Edited May 29, 2013 by lomatopo

[jakbkk]

we're all Asean citizens and your assumption is correct.

for TRUE you must be referring to these pages (only 3G information is in English, 4G is still in Thai although English is chosen as the language)

3G

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/?ln=en

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/packages?ln=en

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/toppings?ln=en

4G

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/truemoveh4g?ln=en

[Stjohnm]

Depends on where you're going DTAC & AIS have the largest networks if you go off the beaten path you may find a True phone dropping signal I'd go with DTAC's Happy Tourist SIM I use DTAC and get pretty good service on the whole you can also use their WI-FI hot spots around town if you need a faster connection than 3G can offer

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[sfokevin]

On arrival at the airport just go to the Truemove H counter on the 2nd floor and hand them your phone (assume they are unlocked)... And tell them the plan you want...

They will charge you ~99 baht for the sim then choose a topoff plan from below

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/packages/ismart/entry/594

You will walk out of the airport all set for around $20 bucks...

Ps make sure you keep your old sim!

Edited May 30, 2013 by sfokevin

[DavidMavec]

I would go with True, DTAC's coverage for fast 3G is much less widespread in my experience.

[skippybangkok]

I would go with True, DTAC's coverage for fast 3G is much less widespread in my experience.

I would agree

[autolover]

I suggest this...

http://www.dtac.co.th/en/postpaid/products/ShortStayVisitors.html

[ChaiLor]

hi folks, i'm an ex-Thailand expat (15++ years) and going to Thailand next week for a 1 week holiday with my college buddies (there'll be 11 of us). since we need to get in touch with family and friends back home and some of my buddies are Facebook posters, what's the most reliable and affordable way/package for a net connection we can all share? we can open hot spots on our phones so not everyone needs to get a prepaid sim but not sure which of the big 3 we should patronize (AIS, DTAC, TRUE)? thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions/comments.

Whatever you and friends do, make sure the guys that have iPhones contact their network operator ASAP and ask them to unlock their iPhone, otherwise it won't accept a SIM from another network, it can take a week or two for the network provider to contact Apple to unlock the phone, they notify you it's done and then you need to sync your iPhone and and reinstall iOS, make sure they back up data to iTunes first so they can reinstall from last back up and get data and settings back, it's all pretty straightforward and your network provider will advise on the exact process to follow as different network providers can have a different process you need to follow, it's worth doing as once its done once your phone can accept any SIM in any country, I don't think any of this is necessary for Android but I'm not sure on that.

[KRS1]

DTAC or TRUE, AIS has problems in the mountains.

TRUE H, has intermittent problems if you choose to also use it as a voice line and make calls.

[impulse]

Is everyone sure you can even get a new short term unlimited data plan right now?

Last time I tried (about a month ago) for a visitor, the kiosks in the airport told me their networks were full and they could only sell me a voice SIM with data at a high cost per minute. Not believing the airport kiosks, I went to one of their offices (AIS, I think) in Terminal 21 and they told me their network was full so they couldn't sell me an unlimited data SIM. The poor guy behind me had a brand new Samsung S3 and he couldn't get a data plan for it.

So she had voice only and used wifi for her interweb.

Was I asking the wrong question?

Edited June 16, 2013 by impulse

[bkk_mike]

You need to be very careful about what frequencies your phones support.

This was a couple of years ago - when things were still on "trial", but my phone wouldn't work with True 3G because it was 850MHz, but would work with AIS at 900MHz. (The True SIM worked fine in a dongle, and worked in the phone on 2G (different frequency), but wouldn't work on 3G in my phone...).

If you'll be in the city, True's Wifi has decent coverage at the newer malls, and spotty coverage (usually around the True shop) in older malls. i.e. True's Wifi seems to actually be useful, unlike AIS Wifi, which doesn't seem to have much coverage at all.. If you go with True, check if the package you get also gives you Wifi...

Edited June 16, 2013 by bkk_mike

[SeaVisionBurma]

Nonsense post removed.

Please keep replies helpful and on topic.

[Cheops]

Is everyone sure you can even get a new short term unlimited data plan right now?

Last time I tried (about a month ago) for a visitor, the kiosks in the airport told me their networks were full and they could only sell me a voice SIM with data at a high cost per minute. Not believing the airport kiosks, I went to one of their offices (AIS, I think) in Terminal 21 and they told me their network was full so they couldn't sell me an unlimited data SIM. The poor guy behind me had a brand new Samsung S3 and he couldn't get a data plan for it.

So she had voice only and used wifi for her interweb.

Was I asking the wrong question?

Yes, my cousin who is here now is using one of these packages: I think the 640 baht package is the best with 3GB and wifi included. The SIM is valid for 12 months, so you can keep in case you come back within 12 months.

http://www.dtac.in.th/internet-package.html?Name=Value

NOTICE the difference in URL .in.th and not .co.th

Just by a SIM card from Dtac, make sure you top up the credit enough for your package of choice, dial the number and you are set.

Oh, and if you need more than the 3GB included, the speed drops to 384kbps and not the measly 64kbps at other providers!!

Edited June 16, 2013 by Cheops

[Cheops]

hi folks, i'm an ex-Thailand expat (15++ years) and going to Thailand next week for a 1 week holiday with my college buddies (there'll be 11 of us). since we need to get in touch with family and friends back home and some of my buddies are Facebook posters, what's the most reliable and affordable way/package for a net connection we can all share? we can open hot spots on our phones so not everyone needs to get a prepaid sim but not sure which of the big 3 we should patronize (AIS, DTAC, TRUE)? thanks a lot in advance for your suggestions/comments.

Whatever you and friends do, make sure the guys that have iPhones contact their network operator ASAP and ask them to unlock their iPhone, otherwise it won't accept a SIM from another network, it can take a week or two for the network provider to contact Apple to unlock the phone, they notify you it's done and then you need to sync your iPhone and and reinstall iOS, make sure they back up data to iTunes first so they can reinstall from last back up and get data and settings back, it's all pretty straightforward and your network provider will advise on the exact process to follow as different network providers can have a different process you need to follow, it's worth doing as once its done once your phone can accept any SIM in any country, I don't think any of this is necessary for Android but I'm not sure on that.

This depends where they bought their iPhone, since in quite some countries (including Thailand) the iPhones are now without any SIM-lock.

[Ajaan]

I would go with the AIS 150 baht/150 Mb package (scroll down to almost the bottom of this page:

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/promotion_special.html

My trips to Thailand regularly last one month, and for that I get the 550 baht, 2 Gb package and I never use it all...for simple phone use (Facebook, Google Maps, Foursquare, e-mail), 150 Mb should be plenty for 4-5 days. Coverage is quite good, even in the provinces/islands.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

I would go with the AIS 150 baht/150 Mb package (scroll down to almost the bottom of this page:

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/promotion_special.html

My trips to Thailand regularly last one month, and for that I get the 550 baht, 2 Gb package and I never use it all...for simple phone use (Facebook, Google Maps, Foursquare, e-mail), 150 Mb should be plenty for 4-5 days. Coverage is quite good, even in the provinces/islands.

Do you use an iPhone? I don't think so.

[skippybangkok]

I would go with the AIS 150 baht/150 Mb package (scroll down to almost the bottom of this page:

http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/promotion_special.html

My trips to Thailand regularly last one month, and for that I get the 550 baht, 2 Gb package and I never use it all...for simple phone use (Facebook, Google Maps, Foursquare, e-mail), 150 Mb should be plenty for 4-5 days. Coverage is quite good, even in the provinces/islands.

Do you use an iPhone? I don't think so.

Miffed - AIS has the worst 3G coverage in the country