Mobile laptop internet..

[JohnMintra]

Hi,

Would someone know the best and or most cost effective way to have laptop internet on the move around Thailand?

I mean mobile type..not needing to plug in or be close to wifi system...

Thanks

[CharlieH]

Tether to your phone.

Lets move this over to the computer forum.

[JohnMintra]

Thanks Charlie,

Any ideas which companies would have reasonable deals and coverage?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

I bought a ZTE stick for 1000 baht.

I go to 7 11 and buy iMobile sim for 99 baht which gives me 500mb.

When the card expires I just buy a new one.

The signal works without any issues in Bangkok, Hua Hin and Pattaya

I have not tried anywhere else.

Edited June 29, 2014 by theguyfromanotherforum

[JohnMintra]

Thanks Guyfrom....

Sounds good

Is ZTE the company name?

Is that basically using the computer through a phone connection?..speed ok?

[CharlieH]

What has been suggested is a modem stick. ZTE is the manufacturers name, widely available. You can use any sim in it. Coverage etc is difficult to comment on as it varies so much by geo location.

[JohnMintra]

Thanks Charlie,

As you have no doubt guessed I am not an IT expert....but do you think that if I have an iphone 4s.....there is no need for the usb modem?

[FritsSikkink]

Buy an AIS aircard (usb stick with a sim card in it), couple of hundred bath for a month

[CharlieH]

If you have an iphone use that to connect to the net, then connect the laptop to the phone, dont need to buy anyfhing then, just the appropriate sim in the phone.

Appropriate as in whatever network or package you want.

[JohnMintra]

Does Thailand use 3G or 4G?

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Thanks Guyfrom....

Sounds good

Is ZTE the company name?

Is that basically using the computer through a phone connection?..speed ok?

No need the phone. Just plug the stick into as USB and you are good to go. I think it is pretty much "plug and play".

I choose ZTE over AIS and other branded sticks because I can use iMobile sim which is by far the cheapest for data..... I think.

[JohnMintra]

If a phone is being used to provide an connection to a laptop....can the phone be used at the same time for a call?

[CharlieH]

Can your phone receive calls if you are browsing the net on it ? Same applies.

[JohnMintra]

_{I have never had that happen as I ..until now have not used my phone for the internet very much...I usually always have a pc or laptop close by...}

[CharlieH]

I cannot give a definative answer as I dont know or use the Iphone 4.

If you want to be independant then go for the stick as suggested and it wont matter.

[JohnMintra]

Thanks very much for your help Charlie...and does it make a difference if I have 3G or 4G...as I may purchase a usb modem in Oz before I come over...

[soisanuk]

I have an iPhone 4S - with AIS 3G package (350B per month) - Go to Settings and select Personal Hotspot - select the open button to turn it on -- you will need to set a password if you have not done so already.

In your laptop, iPad, etc - go to your WiFi and you should see your iPhone as an available connection - select it for connection and type in password you have assigned to your iPhone Hotspot (should only need to do one time - subsequent connections should not require you to enter the password.

You should then be connected to Internet through your iPhone. I was recently in a small town about 60km from Korat and was surprised to have 3G service available. If 3G is not available, my phone connects to Internet using Edge anywhere in Thailand, which is okay, but slower connection.

[hawker9000]

You might think about a mifi (mobile wifi) router. They're quite small (about the size of the last-generation iPods) and portable, and bandwidth to your laptop is probably better than most tethering lashups involving your cell. And it's shareable. 'Takes a simcard just like the modem stick or a phone. I use AIS data plans with mine; that's probably the biggest limitation. Not all mifi routers accept all providers' simcards - you have to do some homework & planning. Not necessarily the "simplest" or cheapest solution; 'works for me.

[NoshowJones]

Buy an AIS aircard (usb stick with a sim card in it), couple of hundred bath for a month

I had very bad experience with mine, got rid of it, but I accept other peoples experience could be different.

[jamie2009]

I assume the language on the sim is in Thai, can it be changed to English and is it a simple operation ?

[y2k]

The iPhone is a little fussy when used for tethering / as a hotspot. Some mobile carriers will need to be contacted to "enable" tethering in order for the iPhone to use that function. I know sounds strange. I had the iPhone 5 and was using TPG in Australia. The function was greyed out on the handset. I visited the Genius Bar in my nearest Apple Store and they advised me to contact my mobile service provider. Fortunately TPG provide a control panel on their website to control uch things like tethering , call barring, roaming etc. I enabled it and some minutes later could switch the tethering on.

Another thing to remember is that tethering will quickly drain your phone's battery. It will also get a lot hotter than normal. You can consider getting an external mobile battery pack especially as the iPhone doesn't allow you to replace the battery.

[FritsSikkink]

Buy an AIS aircard (usb stick with a sim card in it), couple of hundred bath for a month

I had very bad experience with mine, got rid of it, but I accept other peoples experience could be different.

Speed depends on location in a city you shouldn't have problems. It was slow a couple of years ago outside of the city.

[FritsSikkink]

I assume the language on the sim is in Thai, can it be changed to English and is it a simple operation ?

Language is a phone setting so will still be English, no need to change anything.

[jacko45k]

A USB airstick/dongle or modem sounds good.

Sometimes you can do it using the mobile/cell phone instead, connecting it via USB cable or bluetooth.

(Using software that is applicable to your phone brand)

Just investigate the packages available with your network supplier.

I once did this on a bus trip up North and I was able to use internet for a long time... until laptop battery died anyhow 2 1/2 hours out of Bangkok, ie Don Muang..haha......