Cheapest Mobile Option

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jackspratt
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Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 17, 2021, 12:51 pm

When cycling, I like to carry a phone in case of emergency - either for calling, or navigating.

I recently bought I new phone which I am loath to carry when riding, so am looking for the cheapest way to set the old phone up for (hopefully rare) emergency use on the road/trail.

Any ideas on providers and SIM & top-up options would be welcome.

Thanks



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joepai
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by joepai » November 17, 2021, 3:33 pm

Pop into Tuk Com and look at the second hand phones?
I was born with nothing and still have most of it left

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by tamada » November 17, 2021, 5:02 pm

The OP already has a spare phone and is looking for a cheap data package to run on it. I recall DTAC has a *something# code that enables a very low speed data stream on any DTAC SIM. I will see if i can find where i wrote that down. Otherwise, the OP should drop by the office of whatever flavor SIM he's running, AIS, DTAC or TRUE. They will know.
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by tamada » November 17, 2021, 7:23 pm

I found the note on my desktop and it reads as follows:

"DTAC SIM and then apply
*103*55*9#
for 1-year of 64 kbps data"

I have not tried it so good luck.

YMMV
TiT
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by tamada » November 17, 2021, 7:34 pm

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https://www.lazada.co.th/products/70gb- ... 05328.html

-True agent - Free delivery, True SIM, True SIM, True SIM Thep, annual internet 70GB per month, full speed internet, free call, true, can issue a tax invoice for 1 year, genuine Sim lnw internet
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by tamada » November 17, 2021, 7:35 pm

'Don't waste your words on people who deserve your silence'
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 17, 2021, 8:06 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

My current thinking is that I just need to buy a cheap (eg 49Baht) SIM from whichever provider, and top it up monthly to keep "alive".

10Baht top-ups can be done via Lazada and some banks, to extend for a further 30 days. Some even allow you to do 12 individual top-ups in a row, to maintain 1 year validity.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by tamada » November 18, 2021, 12:00 pm

My understanding is that to access all the features of Google Maps on a smartphone, one needs an internet connection, ie. a data package. However, one can download a localized offline map for your area of travel and Google Maps will use this while out and about without a data package. You will need to download and install that offline map while on your home Wi-Fi connection and before you head off on your exercise route. You will get a prompt on the expiry date and/or when the offline map needs updating. All this is free.
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 18, 2021, 1:46 pm

"Navigate" was probably the wrong word to use - "locate" would be a better choice ie if I/we find ourselves in a place that we are not sure about (bearing in mind about 50% is off-road), looking at the map to pinpoint the location is usually enough.

As well as google Maps, I also have HERE WeGo on the phone, which is fine without data.

Off to the AIS shop shortly to buy a 49 Baht SIM.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by Earnest » November 18, 2021, 2:34 pm

Can you access the Waze app in LoS, Jack?
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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 18, 2021, 8:30 pm

Earnest wrote:
November 18, 2021, 2:34 pm
Can you access the Waze app in LoS, Jack?
Certainly can, Westers.

But given my familiarity with Maps, and Here, no need to use it as best I can see.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 18, 2021, 8:43 pm

So just to round out this topic - the 49baht SIM, together with an initial 50baht top-up, has me online for both calls and data until mid-January.

I can then top-up 10baht/month (via Kasikorn) to keep me good until the end of 2022/2565.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by Mjkt » November 19, 2021, 9:42 am

jackspratt wrote:
November 18, 2021, 1:46 pm
Off to the AIS shop shortly to buy a 49 Baht SIM.
I've got True, DTAC and AIS SIMs. I found AIS was the most expensive to maintain as you have to top it up once a month to extend validity, although it still receives calls if overdue and I think gets cancelled after a year of non payment (could be wrong on the latter). This can cost as little as 5THB to top up from a bank app.

However DTAC and True allow 6 months validity extensions for 12THB each which works out at 2THB per month and involves less work!

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by Mjkt » November 19, 2021, 9:44 am

jackspratt wrote:
November 18, 2021, 8:43 pm
I can then top-up 10baht/month (via Kasikorn) to keep me good until the end of 2022/2565.
I use KBank web site which allows 5THB top ups. The mobile app starts at 10THB.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by jackspratt » November 19, 2021, 9:59 am

Thanks for the heads-up, Mjkt.

I tried to set up a payment template on Kbank to make my first top-up, but was stymied because I had not yet registered for their new phone based OTP system. So off to the bank today, and 5baht top-ups in future.

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Re: Cheapest Mobile Option

Post by Mjkt » November 19, 2021, 11:03 am

jackspratt wrote:
November 19, 2021, 9:59 am
Thanks for the heads-up, Mjkt.
..and 5baht top-ups in future.
You can make it even cheaper than 5THB a month if you don't need it every day, by just topping it up before you need to use it again and let the old 5THB period on one month expire if you want as they don't cancel the number. The next valid month starts from day you enter a new 5THB top up.

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