if you have a True sim card you can use the True WiFi network for only 100 baht a month, you SMS a code to True and it deducts 100 baht from your balance.
your sign in is your True phone number and they SMS you a password ,
I signed up for this and used it on my Netbook, , I am not sure if you can use it on more than one devise like a phone and netbook.
You can check if there is a signal in your hotel room and if there is this will be a nice way to cut your internet costs if the hotel charges for internet.
Hope this helps
RB
transpac
Apr 2, 12, 9:52 pm
You can layer a WiFi package onto a TrueMove, TrueMove H or AIS/One-2-Call SIM.
AIS/One-2-Call's affiliate is 3BB.
Most people say the True WiFi service is pretty bad; I use it occasionally, I have 10 hours in my plan, and have found it to be acceptable as a mobile 3G replacement.
Many pre-paid data plans do include some WiFi.
TrueMove H is the best choice (rather than TrueMove) as they now operate the largest 850 Mhz 3G network in the country.
DTAC/Happy does have some limited WiFi service but I am unfamiliar with their offer:
http://www.dtac.co.th/wifi/
ryandelmundo
May 10, 12, 11:04 pm
if you have a True sim card you can use the True WiFi network for only 100 baht a month, you SMS a code to True and it deducts 100 baht from your balance.
your sign in is your True phone number and they SMS you a password ,
I signed up for this and used it on my Netbook, , I am not sure if you can use it on more than one devise like a phone and netbook.
You can check if there is a signal in your hotel room and if there is this will be a nice way to cut your internet costs if the hotel charges for internet.
Hope this helps
RB
+1 on this.
I was staying in an apartment and there was always True wifi. 100B seems way too low for the monthly plan, but it's a great option because free wifi is almost impossible to find.
If you have a friend, we were able to share the internet connection over an ethernet cable (see internet sharing on the mac, possible on PC too but I don't remember how).
Also be careful of signing up for data for your cell phone. They charge insane rates either by the minute or kb, depending on how you sign up. If you've got it by the minute, and your phone checks email every 5 minutes (like my iPhone did) you'll be sucked dry quickly.
I found the minute plan a lot better (300 mins per week, prepaid) deal, but I needed to remember to always turn data off after I used it. In order not to go dry by accident, I'd just pick up about 5 100B prepaid things @ 7-11. If I forgot, the worst that could happen was to suck the 100B dry. Then I had the recharge slips and I'd just stick in another 100B and I was back in action.
Having a space recharge is key!
I used 123Go and True. If I recall, True also had a sweet deal on calling back to the USA (less than $.10/min)
Thaivisa.com is a great source for more thai info.
Cheers
Ryan
transpac
May 11, 12, 12:35 am
All of the service providers cap time-based plans at 384, or less, Kbps from the get-go. I always recommend a volume-based plan, even in an air-card application, unless high speed is not a requirement.
All of the service providers offer a 49 baht daily plan, but it does have fair-use speed limit, usually of 384 Kbps.
Happy (DTAC) also have a weekly data plan which is pretty good: 199 baht/1GB/384 fair use.
CrazyInteg
May 11, 12, 7:54 am
Good info in here. Thanks guys! ^
dsquared37
May 11, 12, 8:57 pm
All of the service providers cap time-based plans at 384, or less, Kbps from the get-go. I always recommend a volume-based plan, even in an air-card application, unless high speed is not a requirement.
All of the service providers offer a 49 baht daily plan, but it does have fair-use speed limit, usually of 384 Kbps.
Happy (DTAC) also have a weekly data plan which is pretty good: 199 baht/1GB/384 fair use.
Happy also has a 1 month plan for 399 Baht.
KLflyerRalph
Jun 22, 12, 4:57 am
Which prepaid service can you recommend for Thailand if I only want to make calls? I'd like to have good coverage because I'll also go out of Bangkok to places like Athuyaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai.
Also it is possible to go to wifi hotspots and use prepay? I want the wifi on my iPhone but it is sim locked so I can't use a simcard. Do they sell prepaid codecards or something of am I out of luck?
transpac
Jun 22, 12, 6:39 pm
Which prepaid service can you recommend for Thailand if I only want to make calls? I'd like to have good coverage because I'll also go out of Bangkok to places like Athuyaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai.
Also it is possible to go to wifi hotspots and use prepay? I want the wifi on my iPhone but it is sim locked so I can't use a simcard. Do they sell prepaid codecards or something of am I out of luck?
Assuming you have no requirement for mobile broadband (3G) I might recommend a One-2-Call pre-paid SIM:
http://www.ais.co.th/12call/en/sim-freedom1.html
You could then layer a monthly unlimited WiFi plan on top of that for 99 baht, and access some 70,000 hot-spots throughout the Kingdom.
Never mind, I just re-read your post and see you have a locked device. Sorry. All these WiFi services use SMS to deliver passwords. But maybe you will have a basic unlocked GSM phone? If so, you could still layer the WiFi plan and request a password, delivered to your GSM phone, then use that to log in. AFAIK, there is no linkage between IMEI and the various WiFi services.
You may be able to get PAYG WiFi service from 3BB: http://www.3bb.co.th/product/vas/spider.php
KLflyerRalph
Jun 23, 12, 2:57 am
Thank you! Exactly what I'm looking for!!!
Yes, we'll have two phones unlocked that we will use for calling with a local SIM. But my locked iPhone I would like WiFi for.
Edit: is the ais wifi 99baht for unlimited wifi 1 month? And are these sims easy to get for foreigners? I mostly see dtac and happysim cards for tourists.
transpac
Jun 23, 12, 8:00 pm
Edit: is the ais wifi 99baht for unlimited wifi 1 month? And are these sims easy to get for foreigners? I mostly see dtac and happysim cards for tourists.
I have no first-hand experience with the AIS/One-2-Call Wifi service. In reading the linked page it seems like the fee is 99 baht/month, or maybe 25 baht/week for pre-paid (One-2-Call)? There are also a lot of limitations on the service so make sure you read and understand those.
There is no restriction on foreigners buying SIMs and they are sold literally everywhere, from street corners to convenience stores to mobile phone shops. of which there are are millions. You can also purchase a SIM at the airport as AIS, DTAC and TrueMove all have shops on level 2, outside Customs, near doors #5, 6 & 7.
Typically one would purchase a SIM, insert and activate it, add value then subscribe to additional services.
Youngmiler
Jun 28, 12, 12:33 pm
Thanks for sharing, definitely will have to do this!
LoungeLizzard
Jun 29, 12, 4:22 pm
Many thanks for all the valuable hints and tips - especially transpac! ^
I've tried to understand the various provider's offers and also looked on other forums (Thaivisa, Tripadvisor) but some things are still not clear.
iPad
I'd like to bring an iPad 2 with 3G on holidays and since we're spending most time outside BKK, True H seems to be my preferred provider due to the far better 3G coverage.
Question:
How do I set it up? i.e. How does the right plan / top up get onto the card?
Or is it easiest to just try to get someone at the true airport counter help me?
If it matters, we'll need two SIMs for regular phones (not iPhones) as well, and thought of going with One-2-call for those, and I think we'd try to get a WiFi plan layered on those which I hope we can use on the Kids iPods. (instead of the not overly smart phones for the not overly smart adults...)
transpac
Jun 30, 12, 5:40 am
iPad
I'd like to bring an iPad 2 with 3G on holidays and since we're spending most time outside BKK, True H seems to be my preferred provider due to the far better 3G coverage.
Question:
How do I set it up? i.e. How does the right plan / top up get onto the card?
Or is it easiest to just try to get someone at the true airport counter help me?
If it matters, we'll need two SIMs for regular phones (not iPhones) as well, and thought of going with One-2-call for those, and I think we'd try to get a WiFi plan layered on those which I hope we can use on the Kids iPods. (instead of the not overly smart phones for the not overly smart adults...)
Maybe get the iPhone SIM (that's sure to be a uSIM) or the Net + 3G SIM (this may be a uSIM?) http://www3.truecorp.co.th/truemoveh/shopping/155
You can add value to the SIM in a 'regular' phone using a scratch card (TrueMoney) or just give the SIM telephone number to a 7/11 staff, say "TrueMove H", hand over THB and they can add electronically.
LoungeLizzard
Jun 30, 12, 1:49 pm
Excellent.
Once again thank you very much transpac for your help! ^
Now I'm looking forward to start exploring and playing.
Most of the wifi dongles I have seen have been a little slow.
whackyjacky
Jul 7, 12, 4:50 pm
Pretty cheap to get your Iphone unlocked. 500B should do it. Just go to MBK or Pantip. *Voids your warranty though* wj
readyforchange
Jul 9, 12, 10:14 pm
Which prepaid service can you recommend for Thailand if I only want to make calls? I'd like to have good coverage because I'll also go out of Bangkok to places like Athuyaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai.
Also it is possible to go to wifi hotspots and use prepay? I want the wifi on my iPhone but it is sim locked so I can't use a simcard. Do they sell prepaid codecards or something of am I out of luck?
you can buy what is known as a "gevey" sim unlocker. its a special sled with a little circuit board on it that unlocks your iphone.
works for quite a few countries. you can get them at mbk.