Air card and pocket wifi advice please

[peterdwje2]

I’m living in Phayathai area and using an old Sierra Wireless USB 308 3G air card with AIS SIM, mostly email and sometimes watching or downloading short streaming videos. Usually use a pre-paid 699B 30-day package with 5 GB limit.

Problem is slow speed and occasionally doesn’t connect at all. Is that due to my air card, the service (AIS, DTAC, etc), my location, the package I am using?

My questions:

Would this improve if I bought a newer model air card? I see a Huawei E3531 and E8131. Has anyone used these or could recommend others? I’d want one that takes SIMs from all telecom companies, not just AIS, etc.

Would speed improve with a pocket wifi? I see Huawei E5330, E5331, E5372 and E5573, and TP-Link M7350, and Sierra 760S. Anyone used these? Again, I’d want one that takes SIMs from all telecom companies, not just AIS, etc.

I know pocket wifi allows signal to be shared with several devices. Are there any other pluses or minuses compared with air card? Does it matter whether the unit connects with laptop USB, or not?

And hopefully whatever unit I use can also be used in other countries.

Thanks for your advice.

[2fishin2]

An alternate to this could be to ditch the aircard totally, purchase minutes with your account and just log in with your device. Your computer does have a wireless card that is probably better than the aircard you are using.

[casualbiker]

An alternate to this could be to ditch the aircard totally, purchase minutes with your account and just log in with your device. Your computer does have a wireless card that is probably better than the aircard you are using.

. His computer has a 3g modem and sim card installed??

[tonray]

If you have a current phone...you can use it just as you would the modem.

[2fishin2]

An alternate to this could be to ditch the aircard totally, purchase minutes with your account and just log in with your device. Your computer does have a wireless card that is probably better than the aircard you are using.

. His computer has a 3g modem and sim card installed??

I dont know what kind of device(s) he has. Most companies now have wifi throughout areas of Thailand. Should have clarified a little more.

[casualbiker]

An alternate to this could be to ditch the aircard totally, purchase minutes with your account and just log in with your device. Your computer does have a wireless card that is probably better than the aircard you are using.

. His computer has a 3g modem and sim card installed??

I dont know what kind of device(s) he has. Most companies now have wifi throughout areas of Thailand. Should have clarified a little more.

Really! Wow.. And yet they don't really do they!

[2fishin2]

An alternate to this could be to ditch the aircard totally, purchase minutes with your account and just log in with your device. Your computer does have a wireless card that is probably better than the aircard you are using.

. His computer has a 3g modem and sim card installed??

I dont know what kind of device(s) he has. Most companies now have wifi throughout areas of Thailand. Should have clarified a little more.

Really! Wow.. And yet they don't really do they!

what are you saying?? I think the guy is looking for help not a bunch of bickering

[casualbiker]

True enough.. That's why I stated that there isn't wide spread WiFi . ultimately he needs to contact a specialist. My advice would be to wait a few weeks/months until we know more details about the "4g" launch. http://www.totalaircard.com

[inzman]

Use your computers built in wifi to search for a signal. If it comes up with a local true ais, or 3bb wifi source go buy prepaid minutes for it. There is ample wifi available in populated areas of Thailand now.

[RichCor]

The actual speed your AirCard can achieve will be based on

- AirCard (the modem air interface specifications)

- your distance, signal strength and snr (signal to noise ratio) of your connection to the tower

- spectrum bandwidth

- current tower congestion

I would try getting a USB Stand for your AirCard and see if that improves your signal strength. Getting the AirCard on a short cord and away from the body of the computer may help.

As other's have suggested, have you tried tethering to a smartphone, and how does that work for you?

AIS is now primarily on 1800 and 2100 (after passing on retaining 900).

DTAC is on 850, 1800, and 2100

TRUE is on 850, 2100, and soon to be on 900

While 2fishin2 suggests finding a WiFi Hotspot Service, which are good when you can actually find them, the service isn't always where you are.

With the new 4G LTE services coming online, you may want to look into a device that works with that.

[peterdwje2]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

My apartment doesn't get a good signal from any the wifi Hotspot companies. I can't tether to smartphone because I do not use one. And I don't want to get router service because I'd have to pay for entire year and I travel outside Thailand often.

So that seems to leave pre-paid air card/pocket wifi.

So I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has tried any of those units I mentioned, or could recommend otherwise.

[peterdwje2]

Sorry, don't quite understand what you mean by USB Stand or placing on a cord away from computer since the aircard has to be directly inserted into the USB slot of my laptop.

And for aircard purposes, how can I easily find out the relative signal strengths of AIS, DTAC, True in my vicinity? Go ask at each shop? Thanks.

The actual speed your AirCard can achieve will be based on

- AirCard (the modem air interface specifications)

- your distance, signal strength and snr (signal to noise ratio) of your connection to the tower

- spectrum bandwidth

- current tower congestion

I would try getting a USB Stand for your AirCard and see if that improves your signal strength. Getting the AirCard on a short cord and away from the body of the computer may help.

As other's have suggested, have you tried tethering to a smartphone, and how does that work for you?

AIS is now primarily on 1800 and 2100 (after passing on retaining 900).

DTAC is on 850, 1800, and 2100

TRUE is on 850, 2100, and soon to be on 900

While 2fishin2 suggests finding a WiFi Hotspot Service, which are good when you can actually find them, the service isn't always where you are.

With the new 4G LTE services coming online, you may want to look into a device that works with that.

[2fishin2]

Sorry, don't quite understand what you mean by USB Stand or placing on a cord away from computer since the aircard has to be directly inserted into the USB slot of my laptop.

And for aircard purposes, how can I easily find out the relative signal strengths of AIS, DTAC, True in my vicinity? Go ask at each shop? Thanks.

The actual speed your AirCard can achieve will be based on

- AirCard (the modem air interface specifications)

- your distance, signal strength and snr (signal to noise ratio) of your connection to the tower

- spectrum bandwidth

- current tower congestion

I would try getting a USB Stand for your AirCard and see if that improves your signal strength. Getting the AirCard on a short cord and away from the body of the computer may help.

As other's have suggested, have you tried tethering to a smartphone, and how does that work for you?

AIS is now primarily on 1800 and 2100 (after passing on retaining 900).

DTAC is on 850, 1800, and 2100

TRUE is on 850, 2100, and soon to be on 900

While 2fishin2 suggests finding a WiFi Hotspot Service, which are good when you can actually find them, the service isn't always where you are.

With the new 4G LTE services coming online, you may want to look into a device that works with that.

Actually it doesnt have to be direct. I think what RC was saying is you can get an extension cord and stand and place the device in the strongest signal area. That might help out with your weak signal. The longest cable you can get would probably be about 5 meters. However, you can make it longer by using a repeater or repeater cable.

And like another poster said if you have a modern cell phone, you can set it up to be a wifi hotspot for any other devices you may have ie laptop or pad.

[Langsuan Man]

I don't have one of these Thai air cards that everyone is talking about but I do have an unlocked mobile hotspot sold by AT&T in the US. (Netgear Air Card 770S) After six months of use they provided me with an unlock code so I could buy a DTAC SIM and use it here in Thailand. When it works it works great but you have to be aware that these data cards come with some complicated restrictions

For instance, I am on the cheapest pre paid plan since the "hot spot" is primarily used if I am out of the house, or my TOT Internet goes down. I get full speed initially, then after I have used 49 Baht worth of Data I can then use the service for unlimited time but at a reduced speed. They have a whole array of add on packages that can increase your speed, give you unlimited access to facebook or Line, etc.

So if I was the OP, before I would ditch the old Sierra Wireless USB 308 3G air card I would determine if my plan was the cause of the described problems

[dwagner]

I just purchased the TP Link 4G LTE router from http://www.totalaircard.com (http://www.totalaircard.com/products/TP%252dLINK-Archer-MR200-AC750-Wireless-Dual-Band-4G-LTE-Router.html) and am trying to get it to work with True-H Internet. I get good internet speeds on my iPhone but when I switch the SIM over to the 4G LTE router, it says it is disconnected. Has anyone been able to get this working? I sent True Corp an email after dealing with 1331 tech support, but they could not understand my issue - not unusual for tech support here. They may respond to the email but I want to get this working sooner than I am sure they will respond.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

I just purchased the TP Link 4G LTE router from http://www.totalaircard.com (http://www.totalaircard.com/products/TP%252dLINK-Archer-MR200-AC750-Wireless-Dual-Band-4G-LTE-Router.html) and am trying to get it to work with True-H Internet. I get good internet speeds on my iPhone but when I switch the SIM over to the 4G LTE router, it says it is disconnected. Has anyone been able to get this working? I sent True Corp an email after dealing with 1331 tech support, but they could not understand my issue - not unusual for tech support here. They may respond to the email but I want to get this working sooner than I am sure they will respond.

Did you enter the APN, username and password?