Im staying in Pattaya for a few days.

Is 3BB internet always this bad?

I have 3BB at home and its OK but here it is very slow, wifi at the hotel where Im staying,

If your hotel is using Wifi that is probably the problem, not 3BB, although in my opinion they are the pits even when using a wired LAN connection

See this thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/902769-tot-internet-rubbish

It seems to be just about back to normal the last few days though.

Internet is spotty and inconsistent, at the risk of repeating a very general question: Who offers the best internet at a decent price?

Internet is spotty and inconsistent, at the risk of repeating a very general question: Who offers the best internet at a decent price?

It's far more complicated than that. You first have to consider which services (TOT, 3BB, True, CAT, Sophon Broadband etc - fiber optic or adsl) are available in your area or condo. Obviously Fiber Optic is the way to go for consistent speed, but it is not available everywhere.

If you go for the cheapest services offered by any of the ISP's, then you're going to have inconsistent speeds due to the number of people sharing your speed.

If available I'd go for a CAT fiber optic package. I think they start at 3500 baht (plus VAT) per month.

3BB is cheaper, AIS is better.
CAT _can_ be better, but not always.

Otherwise:

1. 3BB FTTx 100/10

1. AIS Fiber 30/10

2. 3BB VDSL

2. AIS VDSL

3. TrueOnline Fiber

4. TrueOnline DOCSIS (Cable)

5. 3BB ADSL

6... Whatever local, JTV, BTV, SBN or whatever crap you can get.
7. TOT, if you have no other option.


Any one operator can be crap in any single area due to bad links or faulty equipment.
For instance, TrueOnline is not very good in the Pattaya Klang area, nor is 3BB ADSL in some old villages.

Condo or Hotel provided internet is usually crap because of poor local infrastructure.
Networks built by people whom don't know basic WiFi and RF therory etc.

If CAT is an option, it can be better but not always.
CAT is then usually supplied by the condo or area and the infrastructure is built and maintained by a contractor.

Then again, they may know what they are doing, and they may not.

They may be running a 40Meg line and selling 40Meg packs, or they may be running a 100Meg line and selling 10Meg packs.
Oversubscribtion is a major issue in these CAT installations, also it may be built using consumer-level equipment.
You will probably be sharing a single public IP and may be double-NATed or single a best.
Horrible none the less.

Edited April 17, 201610 yr by Josasp

They replaced our 3BB modem with what appears to be a 3BB modem AND router in one unit.

How long has one unit been the case or am I mistaken?

I also notice many indicator lights with labels, one says itv. Is this a feature for digital TV?

I basically share the internet with not a lot of people (directly) using a hard line and still, despite the changes, it is spotty and very unreliable in terms of speed and connection consistency. Of course around 6pm is usually the worst time.

I wonder if it is possible, as a user with a hard line, they can limit how much one user (me) has access to the web while allowing the number one line, biz owner, full functions speeds and priority? Would coming off of output # three put me behind the user of output # one and two in priority?

Is iTV available only at one output line or for all output lines? (The indicator light might actually be labeled "itv(1)" I will check again.) Not sure what it is or if i should dare and try to use it and suck up someone else' bandwidth. Mine is bad enough.

Good news: late night speed! (knock on wood)

At least I know who to ask internet questions in Pattaya. Thank you very much Tropo and Josasp!