USB modem/aircard for 4G in Khon Kaen?

[kkshuttle]

First post on the forum!

Myself and my sisters (UK residents) are currently taking turns visiting my father who is in hospital in Khon Kaen (KK RAM) and he will be there long term. The hospital Wi-Fi is very unreliable so on my last visit I brought with me a TP-Link MR3020 travel router and a TP-Link MA260 3G USB modem (or aircard as they are called locally). I tried both True H and AIS SIM cards but frustratingly the signal in the room is marginal for 3G data - even with HSPA. It's more reliable than the hospital WiFi but the speeds we are getting are at best 1Mb up and 2 or 3Mb down. This is just about OK for Skype but not at the better display resolutions Skype offers. I tried both SIM cards on my UK phone (Nokia Lumia 930) and 4G signal produced a much better throughput via the phone's hotspot function. Therefore, I am looking to replace the MA260 for a 4G USB modem and am seeking recommendations from those more experienced. I am currently using a monthly AIS SIM with 12GB data and if anyone thinks I can do better than this I am also keen to learn. I have remote access to a laptop in my father's room and am au-fait with router and modem configuration including APM settings. I'm back in the UK now but one of us will be visiting again in a couple of weeks so I would like to buy a suitable 4G USB modem before then.

Many thanks in advance!

[KhunBENQ]

I am not really into that topic.

Generally such stuff is available in Thailand.

Some hints here;

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/822048-4g-with-aircard/#entry9364486

Very likely you can find a shop in Khon Kaen.

Whether or not you will reach much better rates than 1 up and 2 to 3 Mbit/s down is more for the local Isaan forum asking for experiences,

[KhunBENQ]

Just reread:

. I tried both True H and AIS SIM cards but frustratingly the signal in the room is marginal for 3G data - even with HSPA

Do you really mean signal (reception/strenght) or speed (or both).

For weak signal/bad reception there should be technical solutions (devices with antenna).

Same for WiFi.

Edited March 23, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[kkshuttle]

When I was there last week nobody in the nearby Central Plaza Mall had any 4G aircards in stock. As I said, when I used my phone as a hotspot for 4G the throughput was much better than using the 3G modem - about 3-4Mb up and 7-9Mb down. The signal is not great but what signal there is works much better with 4G. My sister will only be at Suvarnabhumi for a short time transferring from her London flight to the domestic connection to Khon Kaen so I don't really want to risk her not being able to get an aircard there.

On paper I just need to get an aircard that is supported by the MR3020 router (mainly Huwaei and ZTE) and which support the Thai 4G bands but I was hoping for some specific recommendations. It's a bit specialist so a long shot but even if I don't get any suggestions I will definitely follow up with some feedback on the eventual solution I go for.

[kkshuttle]

Actually that link to the thread about upgrading from 3G to 4G aircard was quite useful, thanks.

[Lannig]

Mobile phones often have better RF antennas than 3G/4G dongles. I'm not surprised by what you observed and I suggest that it might not only be a 3G vs. 4G issue. I sometimes have to take my professional SIM out of the company-provided 3G dongle to put it in my phone and share the connection when in areas of poor reception.

Of course I understand that buying a phone just for that purpose would not be cost-effective.

Just my two satangs.