Keep It Simple Stupid voice and data smart phone package

[toesolipsolie]

,....and I'm the Stupid one as the title implies. I have just arrived in LOS and have a smart phone for the first time in my life in the states and Thailand,...I know, I know hard to believe but true. So after going to a D-tac store in BKK and trying to work through the language barrier with a genuinely sincere Thai kid I found myself more confused about what to do. All I want to do for the next couple of months is to be able to call, text, surf the net and perhaps configure my phone as a hotspot for my laptop.

I will be moving about between BKK and Chang Mai as far as I know

I have an LG Optimus F3 which is kinda a lame phone but it's limitations were on par with mine when I purchased it so any information that my fellow TV members could share on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Just remember my comprehension of all things tech savvy is a step up between dumb ass and lame so lets stick to the KISS format.

My thanks to you all in advance!

[RichCor]

LG Optimus F3, what model (or what carrier)? Need to know what 3G

If the Metro PCS / T-Mobile:

Android (4.1.2)

1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930 dual-core

4 GB internal storage, raw hardware

1.3 GB internal storage, available to user 1 GB

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

LTE: 700 / 1700

WCDMA: 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100

GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

So, LTE band not compatible (requires 850, 900, or 2100)

3G Data may be possible on 850 and 2100

GSM (voice/sms) possible on DTAC and TRUEMove-H mobile networks

Suggest a Pre-Paid SIM from either DTAC or TRUEMove-H

Which SIM will depend on what service is offered in your location(s). You may want one of each until you get to know how each works where.

They're easy enough to top up the pre-paid accounts (phone number) at any 7-11.

How much Internet Data do you believe you'll be using (send/receive combined)?

[dddave]

My local neighborhood 7-11 told me they now will only carry TRUE SIM cards when their current stock of 1-2 Call and D-TAC SIMs run out.

Also, no longer selling 1-2 Call top up scratch cards, (don't know about D-TAC) Not sure but I think you now must imput the mobile number into a keypad device. I haven't tried it.

[RichCor]

7-11 have several 'methods' of topup*, including:

Electronic Kiosk instant topup (machine out in front of store)

Cash Register instant top-up by Mobile Number (entered on register customer keypad)

Cash Register credit receipt (topup or promotion), a special pincode printed on receipt that can be entered later

Scratch-off topup cards, generic scratch-off pincode

* availability of methods may very between stores.

The 7-11 SIM cards usual cost me 1 or 2 baht, so no wonder they might stop carrying some.

As a cheap charlie, when I travel I go for the 7-11 TrueMove-H Data Internet promotion (7-day** 59 baht). Great for email, ThaiVisa, low-res iptv/youtube.

Otherwise you can go for one of the other 7-11 TrueMove-H Data Internet promotions (usually cheaper than their own promotions).

** When they state 7 DAYS, they mean DAY, not 168 hours. If you enter the code at 2345 hours, whatever time remains of that day counts as a DAY.

[toesolipsolie]

LG Optimus F3, what model (or what carrier)? Need to know what 3G

If the Metro PCS / T-Mobile:

Android (4.1.2)

1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8930 dual-core

4 GB internal storage, raw hardware

1.3 GB internal storage, available to user 1 GB

Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n

LTE: 700 / 1700

WCDMA: 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100

GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

So, LTE band not compatible (requires 850, 900, or 2100)

3G Data may be possible on 850 and 2100

GSM (voice/sms) possible on DTAC and TRUEMove-H mobile networks

Suggest a Pre-Paid SIM from either DTAC or TRUEMove-H

Which SIM will depend on what service is offered in your location(s). You may want one of each until you get to know how each works where.

They're easy enough to top up the pre-paid accounts (phone number) at any 7-11.

How much Internet Data do you believe you'll be using (send/receive combined)?

I dont appear to be good at posting with quotes either BUT thank you for your help to all of you guys. I was as you suspected with my Metro phone,...it isn't compatible for Thailand so I was able to buy a basic Thai smartphone( i-mobile) for 1500 Baht and bought a D-TAC sim which seems to be seems to be working out well for calls around here but I got an ominous you are now roaming for service when I placed a cal to Chang Mai.

So I guess all the intellectual phone exercise will get me up on this stuff but probably never enough to give any advice on a Thai Visa forum!

Edited April 24, 2015 by toesolipsolie

[BKKdreaming]

even if your Metro phone was compatible for Thailand as far as bands it would still need to be unlocked to work on any system but Metro .

[toesolipsolie]

Exactly BKK dreaming,...and I actually have the unlocking code for that purpose. At the time I thought that would be all I need for use over here in LOS

Thanks!