TOT "hi-speed" Internet

[peergin]

I have 2 questions for my fellow members:

1) Does a provincial TOT Internet office/base station have the capability to squeeze every individual customer's Internet signal strength from 100 to 1? This happened with my Wi-Net package from one second to the next 16 days ago. "The service cannot be restored because (suddenly!) there are trees in the line of sight which obstruct the signal." Does anybody know whether they can manipulate the signal strength?

2) Have any ThaiVisa members bought an antenna tower

a) from TOT or

from a private contractor or

c) from a private company through the intermediary of TOT?

How tall and how much did you pay? Thank you.

Edited April 26, 2015 by peergin

[CharlieH]

Wrong forum

MOVED to Telecoms

[CharlieH]

I have the same set-up through TOT, never had the "Trees" issue, and when there have been issues they have turned out within the hour usually and sorted it out. Cant fault the service from my local TOT people, even gave me his mobile to call him directly if any problems. 1.2mb upload/13mb download, on a good day, can drop 5mb sometimes if weather is bad.

I have a small dish type on top of a 30ft pole.

[peergin]

I have the same set-up through TOT, never had the "Trees" issue, and when there have been issues they have turned out within the hour usually and sorted it out. Cant fault the service from my local TOT people, even gave me his mobile to call him directly if any problems. 1.2mb upload/13mb download, on a good day, can drop 5mb sometimes if weather is bad.

I have a small dish type on top of a 30ft pole.

Thank you for your answer. My speeds went down to almost zero from one minute to the next because suddenly "trees are obstructing the line of sight." My speeds for the past 2-1/2 weeks are upload 0.05 Mbps, download 0.20 Mbps which is ridiculous. TOT staff have confirmed that the problem is not at my end. However, they have been unable to solve the problem because of the trees...... They keep on saying that I need to buy a very expensive, ugly antenna tower (15 m or even 18 m) from the staff (not from TOT !). Actually, the dish sits atop my water tower at 12 m above ground. Moreover, I was able to use the same equipment and package quite satisfactorily during the previous 2 years.

I also learned that they have just DECREASED the height of their Internet antenna at the base station. Strange!

Finally, did you buy your antenna

a. from TOT or

b. from a private contractor or

c. from a private company through the intermediary of TOT?

How much did you pay?

Thank you.

Edited April 27, 2015 by peergin

[RichCor]

Are you able to log into the WiNet router and look at the diagnostics browser page? Lots of useful information there.

Is there clear line of sight between your water tower and the TOT tower, including the Fresnel Zone? Just wondering if there truly are freakish trees moving about.

More likely there's another issue/error masking as a 'trees'. Who or what is telling you it's 'trees'?

The signal strength is moderated automatically by the software on both ends of the established link.

[Cypress Hill]

Are you people living in the boonies?

[CharlieH]

Are you people living in the boonies?

25km from the nearest town

I purchased my entire installation from TOT. I wont state the price on here as I can do without what will undoubtedly follow.

My only other suggestion is t try talking with alternate services, AIS as an example have an almost identical service, just depends where you are and whose servicing that area.

When mine was done I had no choice, it was that or a simcard dongle which was crap and max 2mb service. As you probably know, they dont install cables if you happen to be more than 50m from a road. (TIT).

[RichCor]

The OP could also try placing guy-wired pipe/pole atop the water tower (that will also become a de-facto lightning rod).

Would still like to know what the Router's diagnostic page is reporting for the link.

[peergin]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Are you able to log into the WiNet router and look at the diagnostics browser page? Lots of useful information there.

Is there clear line of sight between your water tower and the TOT tower, including the Fresnel Zone? Just wondering if there truly are freakish trees moving about.

More likely there's another issue/error masking as a 'trees'. Who or what is telling you it's 'trees'?

The signal strength is moderated automatically by the software on both ends of the established link.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

The OP could also try placing guy-wired pipe/pole atop the water tower (that will also become a de-facto lightning rod).

Would still like to know what the Router's diagnostic page is reporting for the link.

Thank you for your useful replies. Kindly note:

1. Wi-Net router: I would gladly try that if only I knew how to. Would you be kind enough to give me a short explanation?

2. Clear line of sight between my water tower and the TOT tower: can’t check because of the distance between the 2 (perhaps 20 km, countryside, no high rise buildings) but it worked well enough during the past 2 years. I do not believe that obstructions (according to TOT: trees) appear from one second to the next. However, TOT have meanwhile DECREASED the height of their antenna but that happened only about 10 days after my signal dropped to almost zero. I wonder if the reduction in height was done as an inducement to make me order “their” outrageously expensive antenna tower. (I also know from other TOT staff that there are now very many Wi-Net customers who have big problems.)

I do not want to order a tower from a secret, anonymous contractor. Suppose, one day, during a storm, the tower falls onto my roof? Or, worse, on to my head? There is no warranty and no one will take responsibility. (A neighbour’s water tower with tank came crashing down not too long ago. That is very scary. It can cause very serious damage and/or injury.)

3. Who or what is telling you it’s trees?: TOT office + field staff.

4. Signal strength: can they override the auto function? I think that is what happened. That is why I would like to know if it is possible.

5. A guy-wired pipe/pole atop the water tower: I have suggested that but the field staff do not accept it. They will not place the antenna on top and will not provide service if there is a problem. They want me to order their 15 m (49 ft), or better still an (even more expensive) 18 m (59 ft) antenna tower instead. Meaning, just 3 m (10 ft), resp. 6 m (20 ft) taller than my water tower.

6. De-facto lightning rod: that is interesting.

I am grateful for your advice. Thank you again.

[RichCor]

1. The TOT WiNet Router Diagnostic Page can be accessed in a web brower window by typing in,

the "Gateway IP Address"

login credentials where Name: admin / Password: {your TOT account number}

A similar ThaiVisa thread discusses how to do this in some detail:

ToT winet DVR setup

Started by sean in udon, 2015-03-26 22:58

2. A CONSTANT Clear Line of Sight between the Point-to-Point antennas is required, taking earth curvature, vegetation and topography (eg: hills) and the Fresnel Zone area into account.. "Sighting" by radio signal (rather than by binoculars) is usually done because of the distance involved over long radio links.

A 20km radio link needs to allow for a 5.88m earth curvature height, 6m average topography/vegetation adjustment, and a working 60% Fresnel Zone radius of 10.2m would require minimum height of 22.08m on both ends to establish a working link. The height of one antenna can be reduced if the other is increased to compensate. A 20km radio link with a 12m antenna height at one end would require the paired antenna to be 32m minimum.

*Something* appearing in the signal path would create signal loss, signal interference or significant signal reflection possibly creating a cancellation wave ( +1 -1 = 0 ).

3. OK, "They're" saying it's trees (because the Diagnostic Page probably defaults that).

4. They *can* lower the signal strength, but I really doubt they being that unethical. If you can get them to let you monitor the Diagnostic Page it will give you access to the signal characteristics of the link.

5. Depending on the size/shape of the high-gain directional antenna, I can see service at a height may be an issue. They can climb a 'tower', but not a 'pole'. But a guyed 'pole' can be designed so it could be lowered and raised back into place. They just don't know how, ergo, 'the proposal for the tower'.

[apetley]

I enquired about TOT Winet about two years ago. The contractor came out, couldn't get a signal because of a tree issue and suggested an 18m guyed pole. His cost to install was 8k bht.

I didn't go ahead with the installation as a couple of other people here in the village had issues with the service.

Edited April 30, 2015 by apetley

[Huayrat]

Charlie I'm interested in buying the pole with Antenna on the Top.. Can you PM me with cost and if you have any issues.. Thanks David

[RichCor]

Charlie I'm interested in buying the pole with Antenna on the Top.. Can you PM me with cost and if you have any issues.. Thanks David

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