Does anyone use GPRS?

Post by **pinophai** » May 6, 2006, 4:14 pm

It seems to me that the speed from gprs upcountry in a small village is quite slow comparred with the 2way satallite service from Ji-Net presented on this page. http://www.ji-net.com/index.php?lang=en&pid=78
Also the price is good I think. 1800 Baht + 7%tax =1926 Baht. This is about the same as my cable connection in Belgium.

Post by **Paul** » July 22, 2006, 7:56 am

I cannot remember who it is - but I seem to remember there is someone on here who uses a software programme to boost the speed of a GPRS modem. Can anyone recommend a website or programme name that will boost a GPRS modem used on a notebook?
Its generally only used as a secondary device when out and about and pretty much works ok and have no complaints at all - however there's no harm in trying to improve things if at all possible. Don't want to pay big bucks as it isn't my main source of connection - but want to see whats available and take it from there.
Thanks - Paul

Post by **papaguido** » July 22, 2006, 9:13 am

Paul wrote:I cannot remember who it is - but I seem to remember there is someone on here who uses a software programme to boost the speed of a GPRS modem. Can anyone recommend a website or programme name that will boost a GPRS modem used on a notebook?
Its generally only used as a secondary device when out and about and pretty much works ok and have no complaints at all - however there's no harm in trying to improve things if at all possible. Don't want to pay big bucks as it isn't my main source of connection - but want to see whats available and take it from there.
Thanks - Paul

Contact Lee, he recommended and posted a link to a website that's similar to what you're asking for. I checked out the site myself, but I just can't remember the name of it .

Post by **EdgeThailand** » July 22, 2006, 10:34 am

Try http://www.thailandgprs.com/ They are agents for OnSpeed which is one of the better internet accelerators.

You should be getting 35 to 45kbps with GPRS and up to 140kbps with EDGE.

Agreed, AIS is not 100% reliable but they are very cheap, almost free if you are a farang. Dtac are a lot better, and Orange better still if you can get their signal. Orange do an unlimited-use contract for 850 baht per month, you will need a work permit and passport; alternatively, get a Thai national to sign the contract on your behalf.

If your connection is still slugish then the problem could be elsewhere, try: Firefox and Fasterfox, and tweak the settings in about:config.

Defrag the hard drive, take off unused programmes, delete all the rubish and tune up the computer.

I have found GPRS to be highly reliable and consistent. It should perform as well, if not better than, a good dial-up, without disconnecting, and no 3 baht reconnection fee.

I hope this helps,

Regards

Tim at EdgeThailand

www.EdgeThailand.com

Post by **EdgeThailand** » July 22, 2006, 10:57 am

I forgot to mention: you will need a GPRS card of the best specifications, i. e. Class 10 or Class 12. If you have a Class 6 or 4 mobile phone then you are doomed to failure. No matter how much you tune up the computer, the modem just wont have the capability to deliver the goods.

Tim

www.EdgeThailand.com

valentine · Post by **valentine** » July 22, 2006, 11:46 am

I use a GPRS modem purchased from Telewiz, it cost 6,900bht but I have since seen them on offer much cheaper.At the same time I got an AIS sim card and registered for the 350bht a month deal which gives me 120hours use, more than enough for my use.I reguarly check my connection speed and it is consistently around 55 although the connection shows it at 115. I don't have to pay any ISP fee or any additional phone bills. My dial up line is now free for all calls all the time. I very rarely, I think just twice in a year, lose connection.
The only down points. If you forget to top up your sim and the time expires, it charges a massive 5bht a minute, but doesn't warn you, well it does by sending messages to the sim but its not a phone and the sim has to be taken out to read them. It would be great if there was a means of checking the status of the account on line.
I use Firefox browser and do not have the Onspeed recommended by Lee, I tried but it wouldn't download for some reason, but as I am happy as things are, I didn't bother any more.

Post by **EdgeThailand** » July 22, 2006, 12:46 pm

I'm pleased to see you are getting good results with GPRS!! With a bit of tinkering and the right modem everyone should have the same quality as you get.

If you bought from Telewiz (AIS) then I suspect it's a Solomon; a very good device considering it is only Class 8. A bit slow on uploading but that does not really matter for most people. For regular internet use I have found them to be very good.

They have come down in price a little recently, however, for someone who wants to pay more then there are more expensive products with more sofisticated software available allowing SMS and/or telephone calls. I never use the SMS facility myself, although it is useful for receiving messages from the provider: new promotions and credit expiry messages, etc.

For the dedicated GPRS user, AIS have launched NetSIM, the cheapest rates available in Thailand + 40 hours per month free. What more could anyone ask for ?

Regards

Tim

www.EdgeThailand.com

Post by **pinophai** » July 22, 2006, 2:08 pm

EdgeThailand wrote:I'm pleased to see you are getting good results with GPRS!! With a bit of tinkering and the right modem everyone should have the same quality as you get.

If you bought from Telewiz (AIS) then I suspect it's a Solomon; a very good device considering it is only Class 8. A bit slow on uploading but that does not really matter for most people. For regular internet use I have found them to be very good.

They have come down in price a little recently, however, for someone who wants to pay more then there are more expensive products with more sofisticated software available allowing SMS and/or telephone calls. I never use the SMS facility myself, although it is useful for receiving messages from the provider: new promotions and credit expiry messages, etc.

For the dedicated GPRS user, AIS have launched NetSIM, the cheapest rates available in Thailand + 40 hours per month free. What more could anyone ask for ?

Regards

Tim

www.EdgeThailand.com

And how about de Big Buffet deal from True Move ( before Orange )?
Unlimited internet and free telephone from 6am to 6 pm.

Post by **wansman** » July 22, 2006, 2:54 pm

I'm comming over in September and December. Whean's sister always asks me if my computer has internet and I have to say no. This time I am thinking of getting one of the GPRS modems and a pre-paid service as I will only be using it for the above 2 months. I just got a new laptop computer about a week ago. I une many PCMCIA (PC card) devices with my old laptop. The new laptop does not have any PCMCIA slots. The new one has a PC Express card slot. Some new standard to replace the PCMCIA devices (I guess someone figured a new way to get money out of us by forcing us to buy new devices to replace perfectly good older ones).

I believe that I read that the modems are USB? Is that true? USB would be perfect for me. I coud get one of those from Telewiz and just plug it right in and then hand the computer over to Hong (sister) and she would be incredibly happy. Also, are the modems powered by the USB bus or do they have to have separate electrical plug?

WM

valentine · Post by **valentine** » July 22, 2006, 4:15 pm

Hi WM, think it would be ideal for you. USB port and self powered from computer, just plug it in and go. Comes complete with CD installation disc as well.

Post by **jane_doe** » July 23, 2006, 2:18 pm

I am sorry but it still is a bit confusing to me

So i have a laptop and want internet but not the landline. This GPRS thingie sounds better and better but I need to know what to do.

a. Go to AIS or DTAC and ask for GPRS
b. Pay money [like 500 baht for 200 hours]
c. Enjoy surfing?

Is there an intial payment or payment for the equipment?

Thanks in advance

valentine · Post by **valentine** » July 23, 2006, 5:05 pm

jane_doe wrote:I am sorry but it still is a bit confusing to me

So i have a laptop and want internet but not the landline. This GPRS thingie sounds better and better but I need to know what to do.

a. Go to AIS or DTAC and ask for GPRS
b. Pay money [like 500 baht for 200 hours]
c. Enjoy surfing?

Is there an intial payment or payment for the equipment?

Thanks in advance

If AIS go to Telewiz shop buy a Solomon modem and sim card, value up to you, plug into UBS port on computer, thats it. Solomon was 6,900bht when I last looked.

Post by **beer monkey** » July 23, 2006, 7:29 pm

valentine wrote:
jane_doe wrote:I am sorry but it still is a bit confusing to me

So i have a laptop and want internet but not the landline. This GPRS thingie sounds better and better but I need to know what to do.

a. Go to AIS or DTAC and ask for GPRS
b. Pay money [like 500 baht for 200 hours]
c. Enjoy surfing?

Is there an intial payment or payment for the equipment?

Thanks in advance
If AIS go to Telewiz shop buy a Solomon modem and sim card, value up to you, plug into UBS port on computer, thats it. Solomon was 6,900bht when I last looked.

i am looking to do the same thing soon.and am in the dark regarding all this type of stuff.
are these modem and sim cards, the same as a data card from vodafone(uk) that you slot in the side of the laptop.
click on green pic to view.

i was looking in to buying one of these to use when in thailand, the cost of buying is à¸ƒ50. then you have to run a contract for 12 months the cost to use this in thailand is very expensive so they tell me, about 14 downloaded pages would cost à¸ƒ8.00 !!
so if i wanted to go a differant route and buy a modem in thailand with a sim card the cost will be around 6900baht.
when sim expires just go and purchase another ??
plan to have about 2 hours usage a day.
sounds simple and too easy...., just go to telewiz buy modem complete with sim plug in and connect....thats it ??

any thing else that needs to be done?
any thing else that needs to be purchased?
is ais the best route to go?
if i purchased a 1000baht sim card how long will it last?
is it fast connection and good speed faster than using a mobile connected to USB port and cheaper?
will the modem take another sim card apart from AIS?
could i connect my mobile to USB and buy AIS sim and accsess internet this way (more expensive? slower?)
anyone got a pic of one so i know what i am looking at ?

so many questions.
i know some of the answers are in previous post but would like to hear them again in simple form please.

Post by **Stevo** » July 23, 2006, 7:52 pm

BM,
I have been using GPRS in Thailand for the past couple of years.. and although last year was pretty reasonable, lately it is absolute pants!
You can use your mobile phone and Netsim, plugged in to USB port... but PAYG costs 60 Baht/hour (as opposed to 15 Baht/hour at internet cafe).
The best thing being total portability.

Post by **beer monkey** » July 23, 2006, 8:00 pm

Stevo wrote:BM,
I have been using GPRS in Thailand for the past couple of years.. and although last year was pretty reasonable, lately it is absolute pants!
You can use your mobile phone and Netsim, plugged in to USB port... but PAYG costs 60 Baht/hour (as opposed to 15 Baht/hour at internet cafe).
The best thing being total portability.

using mobile with sim is going to be dial up right ? (slow)
would i need to get my motorola V3i on vodafone unlocked ?
60 baht 1 hour sounds ok to me.

Post by **BobHelm** » July 23, 2006, 8:04 pm

Quisky from me... I use GPRS, Solomons... cost me 6,900 baht for the kit (which is basically a mobile phone like thing that you plug into a port on your PC). cost is, in theory, 200 baht per month for 100 hours with 1 to call, but have to buy phone cards and put into a mobile to 'charge' - if you see what I mean.
My experience??? Ain't good out in the 'sticks' - is VERY good in Udon itself, and the major plus is the 200 baht for 100 hours does NOT seem to be restricted to one moth...

Post by **beer monkey** » July 23, 2006, 8:11 pm

BobHelm wrote:Quisky from me... I use GPRS, Solomons... cost me 6,900 baht for the kit (which is basically a mobile phone like thing that you plug into a port on your PC). cost is, in theory, 200 baht per month for 100 hours with 1 to call, but have to buy phone cards and put into a mobile to 'charge' - if you see what I mean.
My experience??? Ain't good out in the 'sticks' - is VERY good in Udon itself, and the major plus is the 200 baht for 100 hours does NOT seem to be restricted to one moth...

regarding the out in the sicks part....would you get the same conection if you was using a mobile phone with AIS/D-Tac.
for instance if i had a good signal with a AIS mobile out in the sticks, would i get an equally good signal if i was using a GPRS modem with AIS sim.?
and the port on the side is the 2inch approx, slot on the side.?

Post by **Stevo** » July 23, 2006, 8:14 pm

beer monkey wrote: using mobile with sim is going to be dial up right ? (slow)
would i need to get my motorola V3i on vodafone unlocked ?
60 baht 1 hour sounds ok to me.

Using mobile is GPRS, not dial-up... same as Solomon modem. Speed 85kbps

You need to unlock phone ( I used V3 too) but wifes Nokia 6111 seems faster to me

as Bob says, prepaid is cheaper

Post by **beer monkey** » July 23, 2006, 8:22 pm

Stevo wrote:
beer monkey wrote: using mobile with sim is going to be dial up right ? (slow)
would i need to get my motorola V3i on vodafone unlocked ?
60 baht 1 hour sounds ok to me.
Using mobile is GPRS, not dial-up... same as Solomon modem. Speed 85kbps

You need to unlock phone ( I used V3 too) but wifes Nokia 6111 seems faster to me

as Bob says, prepaid is cheaper

thanks stevo.
a bit confused with this speed thing to, everyone quotes kbps, when i look at the speed on my system it says Mbps ??
as i look now it says 48Mbps.

valentine · Post by **valentine** » July 23, 2006, 8:23 pm

[quote="BobHelm"]Quisky from me... I use GPRS, Solomons... cost me 6,900 baht for the kit (which is basically a mobile phone like thing that you plug into a port on your PC). cost is, in theory, 200 baht per month for 100 hours with 1 to call, but have to buy phone cards and put into a mobile to 'charge' - if you see what I mean.
My experience??? Ain't good out in the 'sticks' - is VERY good in Udon itself, and the major plus is the 200 baht for 100 hours does NOT seem to be restricted to one moth...[/qWhen your one month time is up your account is frozen on the scheme and if you have any money left in the sim you are charged normal rate, 5bht a minute, but when you recharge your programme, mine is 350bht a month, all your unused minutes are credited to you.