Fast Internet Options to Install in House

[pete66]

I'm renting a house for a year to finally escape the tyranny of "shared apartment wi-fi"

The house in in a Soi off Sutheep Rd.

What are main ADSL (or better) options in Chiang Mai now:

1) True

2) 3BB

3) Any other?

I'm seeing lots of ads for 3BB "fibre optic" at amazing high speeds, do True have this option as well. Any usage report on either service from CM residents?

Any gotchas with these service offerings, like "no torrents", or monthly download caps etc?

[wolf5370]

You also have ToT of course. They all differ from area to area IME - so neighbours may be a good bet at pointing you in the right direction locally. Also, I find even the (standard these days) 10MBit fast enough for most use - international is always the limiter and it will not matter how fast your local (national) speed is running at if international is your main aim.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

I've had both Tot and 3BB in CM.

ToT was a total disaster, down for weeks, slow for torrents.

3BB has been brilliant, down for 1 afternoon in 6 months, torrents varying from full to 1/10 speed depending on source.

3BB gets my vote, only tried the 10mb basic service at 631bht/month.

[wolf5370]

In the last 5 years I have had 3BB (BBB and what ever they were called before that) and ToT (also have True+ on phone internet contracts X 3).

I dropped 3BB in one house because they were terrible - in another I had the same problem with ToT but couldn't change as no alternative at the time.

I my current house (near Hang Dong) I have had ToT for 2 years - I was close to dropping them due to issues with drops and problems, but in the last year they have improved greatly. Friends locally are on 3BB and have very slow connection issues all the time - just today new signs have gone up and guys have been putting in equipment (5 foot metal boxes full of cables and connections) for True Cable - so likely I'll change to that once its settled.

This is why I suggested talking with locals and getting their feel - as I have found different services to suffer or not in different areas.

[pete66]

Yep, all good suggestions. Ask the neighbours is a very good idea.

Fibre optic sounds great - its called FTTx for some reason with 3BB:

http://www.3bb.co.th/3bb/product/details/2253

Just need to check if / how long before they could install it in the road. Might be a total no-go, depending on which road you live, but normal ADSL would be fine instead.

[Mekong Bob]

If you're looking for fiber optic in Hang Dong District, it might be a long wait.

I'm told that 3BB fiber optic is up and running in the Kat Phayom (Phayom Market) area, but will not be available in Hang Dong area (Night Safari Intersection) for "quite some time."

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It's good to keep in mind that Fiber Optic will cost upwards of 2000 baht. Versus 500 or so for a typical ADSL package.

[FolkGuitar]

I've put in True, with a 13MPS package. There were some problems that needed to be dealt with to get me up to full speed, some on their end and some with the building's wiring, but with enough phone calls all issues were resolved and I haven't had any problems since installation (other than a bit of a slowdown on Saturday and Sunday nights.)

Right now, Monday morning 09:30, I'm showing 12.2MPS on http://www.speedtest.net/

[wolf5370]

If you're looking for fiber optic in Hang Dong District, it might be a long wait.

I'm told that 3BB fiber optic is up and running in the Kat Phayom (Phayom Market) area, but will not be available in Hang Dong area (Night Safari Intersection) for "quite some time."

Like I said, True have been putting it in right outside my house (Hang Dong - but Samoeng - Searaphi Road 121) and signs have gone up - not 3BB cable though.

[Mekong Bob]

If you're looking for fiber optic in Hang Dong District, it might be a long wait.

I'm told that 3BB fiber optic is up and running in the Kat Phayom (Phayom Market) area, but will not be available in Hang Dong area (Night Safari Intersection) for "quite some time."

Like I said, True have been putting it in right outside my house (Hang Dong - but Samoeng - Searaphi Road 121) and signs have gone up - not 3BB cable though.

Sorry, wolf5370, I missed it. The "boxes of cables and connections" - is that True's fiber optics?

Confirmed? Thanks!

[wolf5370]

If you're looking for fiber optic in Hang Dong District, it might be a long wait.

I'm told that 3BB fiber optic is up and running in the Kat Phayom (Phayom Market) area, but will not be available in Hang Dong area (Night Safari Intersection) for "quite some time."

Like I said, True have been putting it in right outside my house (Hang Dong - but Samoeng - Searaphi Road 121) and signs have gone up - not 3BB cable though.

Sorry, wolf5370, I missed it. The "boxes of cables and connections" - is that True's fiber optics?

Confirmed? Thanks!

Only confirmed by the signs, the work they have been doing and the workmen themselves (but my Thai is not great when it gets too technical!)

[JepSoDii]

Seems to me all the services are spotty, and any company can be good in one house but horrible a few doors down.

[gosompoi]

I have had TOT fiber for 4 years, which is 10x more reliable than DSL I had before. MAYBE once a year it has a problem that is fixed with a phone call.

[Nomad97]

Hi, I do not live in your area but I will say that I have just renewed my internet connection. I was with 3BB and I have now changed to True Online (DOCSIS). Previously I had a 15/1 MBPS connection and now, for the same price, I have a 15/1.5 MBPS connection for 999 baht/month. In addition, I have a 92 channels True Visions TV package (free) and a telephone connection (no line rental for first year) with 100 bahts worth of calls for free each month. In practice, the speed test is showing a connection speed of nearly 20/2 MBPS, much higher than advertised. The only one-off cost was the HD set top box for the TV - 1000 baht.

For your information, the new 3BB fiber optic system, 30/3 MBPS, is now available for the promotional price of 1200 baht per month. It was 2490 baht per month. One has to ask why one would need so much capability, 15/1.5 should be more than enough for most applications?

Clearly, whatever system you go for depends on where you live and whether or not True online / 3BB have installed the cables.

[partington]

Just to emphasise, it doesn't matter what your rated speed is if you are interested in mostly international sites, streaming TV and so on.

You will never get above 2Mb/s from any international location even if you have a connection rated at 100Mb/s, because there is an international bottleneck- so you can save money by going for a lower speed.