Thread: Internet connection in deepest darkest Issan.

TrueVisions on Thaicom 5 at 78.5°E - LyngSat

How many greens do I owe you now Lom?

Greens? I thought it was a bear round in the future

Take a look at here if you are eager to watch Aussie TV

Originally Posted by lom

Greens? I thought it was a bear round in the future

Think you're a bit preoccupied with the stock market these days Lom.

Originally Posted by MeMock

dunno if it is just me but I can't seem to find a list of actual channels they carry.

Just you!

Here are the gold package channels. If you need more stuff click on platinum.

TrueVisions Package

Originally Posted by MeMock

What a crap day internet wise

Found the CAT office (ground floor of the cinema opp the university).

Had a look at the router that Norten uses but it isn't Mac compatible

If you go back to Ubon I would go back in and get them to fire a router up with a PC to enter all the required settings and then just try to connect to it via Airport knowing what the passwords are etc.

I really don't think the fact thats its a PC compatible modem has any effect apart from "wizard" type programs to help you set everything up.

Gee if you had contacted me while you were in the CAT office you could have been sitting at home online right this minute.... but nooooo

^ It's a USB modem , not a router with an ethernet port.
You'll need a USB driver for it so that your dial-up program can access it and there
is no Mac USB driver available for it

Originally Posted by cimboc

Am I totally off the mark??

Ehemm, yes I think so

The antenna you see on that modem is for mobile phone reception, it's not a wifi antenna.
The modem is connected to your computer as an old phone line modem, via USB.

MeMock needs a box with an ethernet port (works with any computer) or a box that comes with a Mac USB driver.

Hi Lom, Norton and Cimboc - this is good stuff please keep it up as I really am not sure what you are talking about but I know its good and hopefully will end up helping me.

I am back in town again today to get this connection. Very strange at home today as I am managing periods of full signal strength on my phone but either not being able to get on at all or at the most about 60 seconds.

Originally Posted by lom

Originally Posted by cimboc

Am I totally off the mark??

Ehemm, yes I think so

The antenna you see on that modem is for mobile phone reception, it's not a wifi antenna.
The modem is connected to your computer as an old phone line modem, via USB.

MeMock needs a box with an ethernet port (works with any computer) or a box that comes with a Mac USB driver.

Of course... silly me

I was in the mindset of a wifi type system as that was what I mentioned on the first page he needed.







Both these units are SIM modems so have an incoming antenna but are also both wifi and therefore outgoing signal. So that being the case if such a product is available in Thailand then thats what he needs

That being the case once they were setup by however MM would be able to connect providing he had the WEP/WPA settings.

Clear as mud?

OK been "researching" some more

can anyone read thai

CAT CDMA

The Merlin x720 looks similar to something I have seen over here and it has a little plug hole in the side to put an antenna cable into... does it say anything like that on there??

Originally Posted by cimboc

does it say anything like that on there

Probably does but I found it easier to google Merlin X720 and read the specifications in English

It has an external antenna connector, is Mac compatible so this is an option for MeMock.

Remember though that this is CAT CDMA network which has less mobile cell towers than GSM.
Better for MeMock to wait for Norton getting down to him with a CDMA modem so they can check what signal strength there is from the CDMA network.

MeMock is currently accessing internet through his 1-2-Call GSM card, that tower may be closer or more distant than the nearest CAT CDMA tower..

Another thing to check is whether DTAC (Happy) has better coverage in the village.
Ask neighbours or spend a few hundred bahts on a DTAC SIM card to test.
They may have a cell tower closer to the village..

A little bit confused but not frustrated as I am really appreciating the effort you three are going to, to help me out on this problem.

Is finding out if I have a cdma repeater within 5kms or whatever as simple as calling cat with our village number and ampho numberr or whatever it is you address an envelope with?

Good idea about DTAC, I think a sister in law uses then so will have a look at my phone along side hers at the same time in the same place and see what happens.

No internet here at all last night even with full signal but this morning I obviously do have it.

Originally Posted by MeMock

The closest one to me is 9kms away as the crow flies.

Could work..

Can you find out what brother-in-laws antenna was originally used for?
I suspect that it is a CAT antenna from the time CAT rolled out their network in
the country.
There was a "every village shall have a telephone" project at that time, some
villages getting connected through landline and remote villages got a CAT CDMA-telephone.
If I am right, then you should be able to get CAT CDMA internet there using BIL's antenna.

Otherwise IPStar seems to be the only alternative left.

I think one of your problems with the GSM network is that Ubon (being a province city) has a couple of AIS GSM cell towers and you are being switched between them.
This is a feature in the GSM network, the ability to switch over connections to another tower when the first one gets full.
For you, doing data traffic from a long distance, it is not a feature

Ok, I will find out about the antennas. I have access to two of them, one that I am currently using from an uncle who said he paid for it when he was trying to get a better signal for 1 2 call years ago. The BIL one I will need to ask how he came across it.
I am sure though that he would have paid for it because it was used as a business up until a few years ago. ie - someone would call BIL and want to speak to someone else. BIL goes to find that other person and bring him back to the phone ready for the person to call back and charge 20 baht for doing so. Worth finding out though for sure.
If it is a cat one, how do I connect that to my usb router or don't I as my usb is talking wirelessly to the antenna?

You should make sure that the router you buy has an external antenna connector or detachable antennas so you can connect BIL's antenna to it.

You can not talk wirelessly to an antenna , the antenna has to be connected by means of the antenna cable.

The Merlin X720 CDMA card has a small external antenna connector so you will
at least need an adapter cable for connecting it to BIL's antenna.

BIL antenna was also purchased for use with DTAC I think.

Still need to check out what village head man has.

So if I was to buy this Merlin X720 CDMA thingymebob, I would need to sign up with CAT and hook it up to my aerial and hope for the best is that right?

With IPstar do you need to sign some sort of contract for 12 months or so?

Originally Posted by MeMock

So if I was to buy this Merlin X720 CDMA thingymebob, I would need to sign up with CAT and hook it up to my aerial and hope for the best is that right?

I just went yesterday with a friend to CAT Telecom in Roiet. He purchased the "little dangly bit" one they had (no external antennae). He is very happy with it. Even says it's faster than what he gets in Bangkok. When he purchased they said it had a 90% chance of working as he is 6km from the repeater. He purchased on condition if it didn't work CAT would return his money. I suggest you try this first. If it doesn't work, buying the Merlin X720 CDMA suggested by lom with the antnnae should be your next step.

Originally Posted by MeMock

With IPstar do you need to sign some sort of contract for 12 months or so?

I would not recommend IpStar but it may be your last hope.

There is a 12 month minimum contract. Installation cost is 2000 baht and monthly fee for 256/512 is 2500 baht. It can be purchased through ToT office.

:: CS LOXINFO PLC ::

Well I sure as hell am glad to be away from TOT and their chicken shit ADSL in CM and back to TT&T MAX-NET,, getting less than 10 KB/sec up there and here for the same money it is
Last Result:
Download Speed: 875 kbps (109.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 193 kbps (24.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

Originally Posted by blackgang

Download Speed: 875 kbps (109.4 KB/sec transfer rate) Upload Speed: 193 kbps (24.1 KB/sec transfer rate)

I envy you.