Experience with satellite Internet - cont'd

There is an inherent lag, or latency, with this type of system. It is not really suitable for playing online games, for example, due to the latency. You will notice a lag when requesting webpages, but this isn't usually any worse than when using a Thai dial-up connection, and is generally a bit quicker. But it is certainly not as quick as a decent DSL connection.

The main benefit to using satellite internet as opposed to a dial-up connection is when downloading large files, or large webpages with a lot of graphics. You won't notice a lot of difference otherwise. If you need to do a lot of uploading, satellite is not a viable system, and DSL would be much better. However, I read frequent complaints about DSL service in Thailand, so be forewarned if it becomes available in your area.

There are occasional problems with loss of the satellite signal during heavy rains. However, these events are not as often or as severe as the problems experienced with UBC, apparently due to the fact that the internet satellite transmission is at a different frequency than UBC.

You may have to deal with some real idiots at CScoms from time to time. The telephone support people are not too bad, but upper management can be real jerks at times. This is, after all, another Shinawatra business.

They change their prices and policies at will, often with little notice. However, if you have prepaid, they will honour the old prices as long as your pre-payment lasts- or at least they have in the past.

Worst of all in my mind, you will be putting even more money into Shinawatra's bulging pockets. But since I don't think that CS Loxinfo is really making money, this is not as bad as it seems.