GPRS/EDGE vs 3G billing question

[Butterfly]

I have a package with 3G and they charge by the hours, not MB

for some reasons I am limited to 10 hours on 3G, but I have another 10 hours on GPRS/EDGE

what is the difference between those 2 modes ? speed only ? availability ?

what if I run out of 3G hours, will my iPhone switch automatically to GPRS/EDGE ? is there a manual option on the iPhone ? or is it automatic ?

[Perota]

Is it with True ?

I had something similar, a couple of hours 3G then GPRS. I use the iPhone to access the internet (tethering)

When the 3G was over I had to reset the setting for tethering on the iPhone, but beside that it was working just the same. I found GPRS to be slower than 3G but still much better than other option when you don't have a fix line connection. As long as you stay in Bangkok of course ...

[harrybarracuda]

I'm not in Thailand, but I can tell you EDGE isn't much faster than dialup, and 3G can get up to broadband speeds. Odd package you have there though; I get 600Mb for about $15 a month which is more than adequate for my needs, but my Android phone frequently switches between E (Edge), 3G and H (I think that's HSPA or HSPDA), and the only thing that changes is the speed.

[Butterfly]

ah I see an option for internet tethering, no idea what it means, will google that

thanks for the answer, that helps, sounds logical and in line with what I would expect

yes, quite an odd package but very cheap, includes also WiFi HotSpot from True, about 50 hours. Basically the iPhone is connected on the web 24/7 wherever I go, quite neat.

I did some speedtest with 3G, very much acceptable

[Rigger]

why arent you using the 650 baht unlimited per month

[Butterfly]

so I guess it depends on network availability and package time limit

charging by the hours is a bit strange, they have other packages that charge by the MB

[Butterfly]

why arent you using the 650 baht unlimited per month

I tried too, the morons at True could never give me the key sequence to be used to activate that package, they kept directing me to other packages. Is it truely unlimited though ? WIFI was unlimited for 699 but it had limits for 3G hours, at least that's how it was advertised online on their website.

it seems according to my usage that I only spend 10 hours a month of 3G, so the 199 package could be good enough !!!

unbelievable, 199 THB 3G access plan, only in Thailand

[harrybarracuda]

Tethering, Butters, is when you 'tether' your laptop to the phone, so that the laptop gets its internet access through the telephone's internet connection.

[Butterfly]

Hour Package:
Fee: 99 Baht/month Wifi/EDGE/GPRS 20 Hrs, 3G= 5 Hrs
Fee: 199 Baht/month Wifi/EDGE/GPRS 50 Hrs, 3G = 10 Hrs
Fee: 349 Baht/month Wifi/EDGE/GPRS 100 Hrs, 3G = 15 Hrs

Megabyte Package:
Fee: 129 Baht/month EDGE/GPRS 100 MB, Wifi 5 MB, 3G = 100 MB
Fee: 399 Baht/month EDGE/GPRS 500 MB, Wifi 10 MB, 3G = 500 MB
Fee: 699 Baht/month EDGE/GPRS 1 GB, Wifi unlimited , 3G = 1 GB

[harrybarracuda]

I've only just subscribed to this data plan (it's the only one my provider has). I have an application called 3G Watchdog on it, which monitors your data usage.

I surf the web a fair bit (admittedly using Opera Mini which compresses pages before they're delivered), some email and so on, and it tells me after a week that by the end of the monthly billing cycle I'll have used 28.2% of 600Mb.

So I wouldn't go over the top if you don't need to. The Megabyte package at Bt399 a month is probably more than enough, but you can start lower and measure it, then up it if you need.

Be careful of what happens when you run out though. Many telcos just let you carry on, and charge you an arm and a leg for the privilege, unless you request otherwise.

Without a data plan, my provider charges Bt120 a megabyte!

[Travelmate]

Since you haven't figured out how to use the iPhone yet. (clearly highlighted by your school boy question about tethering)
I suggest you enroll in the 99baht package. As any more will be a waste.

[Butterfly]

Tetering is apparently internet sharing through the phone device, something I don't really care about or need

[harrybarracuda]

Tetering is apparently internet sharing through the phone device, something I don't really care about or need

It's useful if your broadband goes down in the house, for example.

[Butterfly]

Tetering is apparently internet sharing through the phone device, something I don't really care about or need

It's useful if your broadband goes down in the house, for example.

does it work with an existing WIFI network ? not clear,

[Butterfly]

strange message from our resident biker homo, who also happen to share shower with his buddies from the oil rig

GPRS/EDGE vs 3G billing... 29-09-2010 01:10 PM Rigger Stick the phone up your ass and your cock in a ladyboys ass and you should get free 3G

[harrybarracuda]

Tetering is apparently internet sharing through the phone device, something I don't really care about or need

It's useful if your broadband goes down in the house, for example.

does it work with an existing WIFI network ? not clear,

No it comes from the phone mast.

So if your broadband goes down, and your wifi router has no Internet signal to broadcast, you can connect your laptop to your phone and get t'internet off that.

Farks sake Butters, wake up will you

[Butterfly]

ok so it's not really a working alternative, my whole network at home will be disconnected ? I can only connect one PC ?

I suppose I need to use BT between the PC and the iPhone ? fuck that, useless

[Perota]

I'm currently connected to the internet through my iPhone. It works fine, just downloaded around 20MB of emails in a reasonable time. I use the True 3G network.
The only problem I found is True coverage is very poor outside Bangkok, so I've also an AiS aircard, slower but works almost everywhere.

To connect the computer to the phone you can use BT but I use the USB cable.

PS : One question regarding the AiS card. Before I could connect only through the EDGE network, lately it connects through UMTS. What's that ? Anyway it seems to be faster so why complaining ?

[harrybarracuda]

I'm currently connected to the internet through my iPhone. It works fine, just downloaded around 20MB of emails in a reasonable time. I use the True 3G network.
The only problem I found is True coverage is very poor outside Bangkok, so I've also an AiS aircard, slower but works almost everywhere.

To connect the computer to the phone you can use BT but I use the USB cable.

PS : One question regarding the AiS card. Before I could connect only through the EDGE network, lately it connects through UMTS. What's that ? Anyway it seems to be faster so why complaining ?

I can't even be arsed to google it. I have HSPA, WCDMA, HSPDA, it switches between them at random, and I don't give a toss as long as I have a connection.

And while Thailand is still dicking about with 3G, America has 3.5G and is implementing 4G. Let them get on with it, as long as they all work together.