Travelling to Thailand? Here's a guide for choosing networks. - General Topics

If you're travelling to Thailand very soon, and you want to access the internet, keep in mind that there's very few places that allows you to get free wi-fi without any subscriptions or SIM card (like in many shopping complexes that need a SIM card for wi-fi), or you'll need to spend time to register for free wi-fi (especially Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK - Bangkok) that I see one person registers their wi-fi for ten minutes, but the airport's wi-fi is incredibly fast) so that if you want to use the internet in all places, you'll need a SIM card for that.
And if you want to buy a new SIM card in Thailand, DO NOT believe in their advertisements. In Thailand there's one network that claims that their 4G LTE is fast, but of course they're slow and has very weak signal, and when the signal is weak, and you only have 3G (which is HSPA+), it's only 0.2Mbps - 5Mbps. See below for consideration.
1. True Move H
Don't believe that their 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ will be fast as you expect. Their signal is very weak and not nationwide, and on 3G it's nationwide, but you'll get slow speeds (although you have very strong signal).
Their tourist SIM is 299 Baht (which is considerably expensive) and you have 1GB internet, which will slow down after being used up.
Their staffs are terrible and I don't have any words to describe, go try at your risk.
You'll need a phone compatible with UMTS/HSPA+ 850MHz/2100MHz and may include LTE 2100MHz. But don't care about this, their network is slow.
2. dtac
Even though their 4G LTE is not very fast compared to other networks, but their 4G LTE is stable and smooth. 3G HSPA+ is faster than 4G LTE so that you'll want to try out. The network is available in most areas with some blackspots, but thanks to their tower-sharing plan with AIS, another network, after confirmation, the signal WILL be better nationwide (but not now). Their 3G HSPA+ is based on the dual-band network like True Move H, but this network (dtac) has more performance.
Their tourist SIM is 299 Baht that's enough for 1.5GB internet (and will slow down after this). There's also 599 Baht for 4GB internet (and also slow down after this).
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You'll need a phone compatible with UMTS/HSPA+ 850MHz/2100MHz, GSM 1800MHz DCS, and LTE 2100MHz. I highly recommend this as I have best 3G speed on this network (highest speed was 26Mbps, average is 10-16Mbps) and not on any other networks.
3. AIS
Due to their 3G HSPA+ has only single-band, their network is slow, and they've made more cell towers & small cells in particular areas, BUT as I've told you earlier, AIS had plans to share their towers with dtac, so soon, AIS will have faster network, but I won't recommend you to try since their network is slow (but have high performance equipments).
It's hard to describe anything about their tourist SIM, but you can find info here: http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/visiting/sim-for-traveller-en.aspx
Their network only uses UMTS/HSPA+ 2100MHz, that's why I told you that AIS is slow, and they consist of GSM 900MHz where they'll abandon their service soon.
====================================
NO networks in Thailand that use CDMA (actually there was, but they abandoned since April 2013) so that Verizon & Sprint phones won't work, and AT&T uses different bands, so that T-Mobile and off-contract phones MAY work.
Thanks for reading this thread and have a good day choosing SIMs!

Related

Odd observation while comparing Sensation (Rest of world) vs. Sensation 4G (T-Mobile)

While surfing GSMArena.com I decided to use their side-by-side phone comparison tool. To my astonishment I found that the Euro vs. NA versions of these phones have different standby and talk times; mind you they have the same exact battery. Take a look at the screen shot I provided outlining the times.
Only noticeable difference (to me) is the 1700 Mhz band on the NA model for T-Mobile use. As a result this has me wondering what could cause these discrepancies? Is it because of network strengths/weaknesses and infrastructure?
I'm no engineer so this is just a shot in the dark and would like someone to chime in
Thanks in advance.
HTC Sensation vs. HTC Sensation 4G comparison on GSMArena.com
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quailallstar said:
While surfing GSMArena.com I decided to use their side-by-side phone comparison tool. To my astonishment I found that the Euro vs. NA versions of these phones have different standby and talk times; mind you they have the same exact battery. Take a look at the screen shot I provided outlining the times.
Only noticeable difference (to me) is the 1700 Mhz band on the NA model for T-Mobile use. As a result this has me wondering what could cause these discrepancies? Is it because of network strengths/weaknesses and infrastructure?
I'm no engineer so this is just a shot in the dark and would like someone to chime in
Thanks in advance.
HTC Sensation vs. HTC Sensation 4G comparison on GSMArena.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's most probably a typographic error. Look carefully and you will notice that they're just the same, but inverted for 2G/3G
Lol hehehe
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e with my finger using telepathy
the 1700 band is so you can have countionious up and down data on hspa+ you cant do that on eurpean modle
xboarder56 said:
the 1700 band is so you can have countionious up and down data on hspa+ you cant do that on eurpean modle
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close. the AWS band is actually using both 1700 & 2100. 1 is for downlink & the other is uplink. Don't remember which is which though, you'll have to look that up yourself if you want to know.
Also, both the EU & US versions of the phone have the AWS band
@xboarder56 and xnifex, your actually both right. T-Mobile USA added a second band (1700) to be able to do full duplex mode with data. Faster data rates and your phone uploads/downloads data simultaneously. FYI, 2100 is downlink (transmit from the cell site to the phone) and 1700 is uplink (transmit from the phone to the cell site).
setzer715 said:
@xboarder56 and xnifex, your actually both right. T-Mobile USA added a second band (1700) to be able to do full duplex mode with data. Faster data rates and your phone uploads/downloads data simultaneously. FYI, 2100 is downlink (transmit from the cell site to the phone) and 1700 is uplink (transmit from the phone to the cell site).
Click to expand...
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Ding Ding Ding! We have a winner Thanks for that good info.

[Q] LTE/4G icons

Hey,
I am from Europe, Czechia. Providers are now starting with their LTE services and I'm a bit confused with Android network icons.
First of all I want to say that I am talking about LTE, not HSPA+ (42).
First network (T-Mobile CZ) uses 2x10 MHz @ 1 800 MHz and my phone signalizes "LTE".
Second one (Vodafone CZ) uses 2x3 MHz @ 900 MHz - phone signalizes "4G".
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Any idea why there is not one icon?
4G can be used to show that you are on a hspa/hspa+ network, where lte is only used to signify lte. 4G isnt necessarily lte.
miczk said:
Hey,
I am from Europe, Czechia. Providers are now starting with their LTE services and I'm a bit confused with Android network icons.
First of all I want to say that I am talking about LTE, not HSPA+ (42).
First network (T-Mobile CZ) uses 2x10 MHz @ 1 800 MHz and my phone signalizes "LTE".
Second one (Vodafone CZ) uses 2x3 MHz @ 900 MHz - phone signalizes "4G".
Any idea why there is not one icon?
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Click to collapse
Well that can't be LTE as 3mhz is not possible. The smallest LTE slice is 5Mhz. Unless that was a typo.
I think it's all marketing though. The AT&T famously got the iPhone 4 to display "4G" even though it was only a HSPA 14.4Mbps device. Since anything over 10Mbps is considered 4G then the icon was changed to display 4G instead of 3G as it was before.
So have you tested by going to LTE ONLY mode and see if it picks up on Vodaphone still? It might really just be "4G" (HSPA+) instead of LTE.
Yes, it's LTE network. Not any kind of UMTS.
By the way LTE might work at 2x3 MHz bandwidth. Supported bandwidths are 2x1,4; 3; 5; 10; 15 and 20 MHz.
But operators don't use 1,4 or 3 MHz cause it supports DL (up to 22 Mbit/s) / UP (up to 7 Mbit/s) speeds comparable with HSPA+ (up to 21 Mbit/s).
In Czechia there is not good 3G coverage so Vodafone decided to build this low-speed LTE network which will cover in December 2014 90% of country-area.

T-Mobile speed issues

I've been using a Lumia 520 prior to my Moto G (US version). It appears both have the same AWS bands to take advantage of T Mobiles HSPA+ bands. However I've seen significantly slower rates on the Moto G than the 520. I tested a few times and am getting 4-8 mbps on the Moto G, but 12-15 mbps on the 520 using the same sim card with various tests.
I've also checked the APN settings (using the epc.tmobile.com version) and they are the same.
This is on the prepaid $30 a month scheme.
Is there anything else I'm missing in understanding the speed differences?
it is also showing in About/Phone as HSPA+ mobile network type.
TIA
@emailrob is the Lumia 520 a T-Mobile phone or an unlocked phone. It is possible that the speed problem is because the Moto G doesn't have all of the bands for HSPA+, just a few. Or maybe it was a heavy traffic day when you tested. My tests on T-Mobile have ranged from 2mbps to 19. Data always has been a temperamental child.
Sent from my XT1034 using Tapatalk
man your lucky im stuck at .12 mb for speeds on tmobile and have no idea why it says im on hspa+ but it wont even load my apps at all -_-
Thanks for the replies. The 520 was an ATT device here http://slickdeals.net/f/6273346-at-...repaid-windows-8-smartphone-85-free-shipping?
I just tested at work and the Moto G is getting 1.83 mpbs! This is crazy. I thought the Moto G had all the T Mobile bands to take advantage of HSPA+ (as it says I'm connected to that all the time)?
thats what i thought to -_- i dont understand why other people get 8 to 10 mb for speeds and other get crappy speeds on same network. and i know for a fact i got good covareage in my area.
cliff8 said:
thats what i thought to -_- i dont understand why other people get 8 to 10 mb for speeds and other get crappy speeds on same network. and i know for a fact i got good covareage in my area.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I just can't understand how the bands are apparently the same on the 520 and the G, but the speeds are crazy different. So the bands CANNOT be the same. If I have to change phones again (to something like a nexus 5 or a Moto X) I'll have to do diligence again!
Replying to my own post. Suffice to say now the phone has LTE under Tmo I'm pretty happy it was a painless transfer (moto x came with a sim card already), quick call to tmo and they transferred my $30 a month plan over.
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cliff8 said:
thats what i thought to -_- i dont understand why other people get 8 to 10 mb for speeds and other get crappy speeds on same network. and i know for a fact i got good covareage in my area.
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Click to collapse
You have to specify 3G as your preferred network ion Wireless Networks/Network mode. I went from never getting speeds above 1Mbps to 7Mbps everywhere.
Sprangbrake said:
You have to specify 3G as your preferred network ion Wireless Networks/Network mode. I went from never getting speeds above 1Mbps to 7Mbps everywhere.
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That didn't work. The only way I 'fixed' it was by using the Tmo version of the Moto X. Moto G, for me, never worked at the faster speeds.

Xiaomi Mi 4

Does anyone know if this Mi 4 or any of the other phones work out of box in canada?
If not, is there a way to get it working on LTE ?
THanks,
Only LTE bands it has out of the box are 1,3 and 41. I am on AT&T in US and no LTE. Edited NV values successfully but no additional LTE bands were enabled.
augie7107 said:
Only LTE bands it has out of the box are 1,3 and 41. I am on AT&T in US and no LTE. Edited NV values successfully but no additional LTE bands were enabled.
Click to expand...
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That is unfortunate to hear, what is the fastest connectivity you're getting?
I'm on the AT&T equivalent in Canada known as Rogers.
About 7MB/S which is terrible. I like MIUI and this device is nice quality. Dare I say it has the feel of an iPhone but is loaded with Android so the best of both worlds (I personally detest the closed source IOS). So I'm suffering with no LTE just to use the MI4 but I've got a ZTE Axon for a backup if I need a LTE compatible device. Always near WIFI so it's not often. I will say, no dropped calls or texts with it and I've had it a couple weeks. Call quality is excellent.
Best you can get is 3G or H+. Also in Canada on Fido
dont buy the chinese LTE edition. i hear that does not even do 3g. the wcdma (w) variant does 3g/H+
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
deaglecat said:
dont buy the chinese LTE edition. i hear that does not even do 3g. the wcdma (w) variant does 3g/H+
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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I have the China Union LTE model and it has 3G on AT&T.
I am not doubting you. But there are 2 LTE variants.
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TDD LTE <<< GSM 2G ok but no WCDMA 3G
FDD LTE <<< This is the Western one with WCDMA (3G) support

Cyberpunk 2077 AT&T 5G in US?

Good evening all!
I'm kind of confused. The Cyberpunk 2077 edition of the phone is said to have Standard 5G FDD5G: 2600, 2100, 1800, 700 which I don't think AT&T supports, however, my phone appears to be connecting to the AT&T 5G network. Am I mistaken and does this phone have the capabilities of connecting to AT&T's 5G bands?
Thank you for your help!
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I am on AT&T and I do not even have the option to make 5G a choice for connections in the settings. All I have is 2/3/4g. What makes you think you are connecting to 5G?
jaseman said:
I am on AT&T and I do not even have the option to make 5G a choice for connections in the settings. All I have is 2/3/4g. What makes you think you are connecting to 5G?
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The screenshot shows 5G. I see my phone go from LTE to LTE+ to 5G. On my S20 Ultra and my Galaxy Fold2 I didn't have the option to select connections (where others in other parts of the world could) and was able to connect to AT&T 5G.
Hmmmm, I didn't notice the 5G by the signal bars. Where are you located? Did you have to do anything like threaten AT&T to let you get 5G? Is it something you can select as an option in the settings? Sorry for all the questions but I am located just north of Houston and I have talked with AT&T a few times now and they say I should have 5G but it is not selectable in the phone, nor does it ever show up next to the signal bars.
I get 5g on T-Mobile US but as we know these are just improved 4g speeds and not true 5g speeds using MM wave
jaseman said:
Hmmmm, I didn't notice the 5G by the signal bars. Where are you located? Did you have to do anything like threaten AT&T to let you get 5G? Is it something you can select as an option in the settings? Sorry for all the questions but I am located just north of Houston and I have talked with AT&T a few times now and they say I should have 5G but it is not selectable in the phone, nor does it ever show up next to the signal bars.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am located in California near San Fransisco. I am able to connect to 5G in certain parts of the city. I was able to connect to 5G when I upgraded my plan to the Unlimited Elite plan. For this phone I had to go to *#*#4636#*#* and select the NR/LTE/TDSCDMA/GSM network type and that allowed me to connect to 5G. By default the option is set to LTE/GSM only and not the option with NR. I have to change the preferred network type every time I reset though.
xxxrichievxxx said:
I am located in California near San Fransisco. I am able to connect to 5G in certain parts of the city. I was able to connect to 5G when I upgraded my plan to the Unlimited Elite plan. For this phone I had to go to *#*#4636#*#* and select the NR/LTE/TDSCDMA/GSM network type and that allowed me to connect to 5G. By default the option is set to LTE/GSM only and not the option with NR. I have to change the preferred network type every time I reset though.
View attachment 5150797
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the answers. I am already on the unlimited elite plan myself. I am aware of the setting you mention that has to be redone after every reboot. I have done it several times but it has never resulted in me getting any 5G signal...that I am aware of. I never saw the 5G next to my signal bars. Maybe it would work in different areas of the city but from my home it makes no difference. Maybe there is no 5G antennas in my local area??? The only other thing is the SIM card I am using. I was using it in my OnePlus 7-Pro and when I received the 8T I just swapped it over to the new phone. Everything works OK and according to AT&T I do not need a new SIM...but I do wonder. Did you get a new SIM after switching to the Elite plan, or did you just swap the one you already had? Other than that I have no idea why I am not getting any 5G..not that it is any better than LTE in real world use! So maybe I need a new SIM, or I just do not have a 5G signal right where I live.
AT&T uses one of the 5G bands that oneplus supports. YMMV since it might depend on the cell towers in your area. VRZ users are SOL.

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