Cat telecom has a service called EV-DO, this is an abbreviaton.

The name of this service is “Evolution data only”.

It is a broadband service similar to ADSL, if you use this service mostly for email and looking at webpages you will be fine, you can also use this service most places in Thailand except in Bangkok and some other areas, I have however been told that by May there should be possibilities for customers of CAT telecom to use this service also in provinces where this is not possible as of writing this.

This service can be connected to directly both using a laptop, or you can have a router as a middlepoint, with the router being the point of connection to the EV-DO service.

Picture showing how a router would enable your home or office network expand on your EV-DO solution.

The problem with the version of EV-DO used in Thailand today is the latency, latency is the time it takes data to be sent from your computer and arriving at the other end. For some services like two way video and two way audio connections such as skype and other VOIP (voice over ip.) solutions this latency is to high.

So if your business is dependant upon two way media connections then EV-DO at this time in Thailand is not ready to support your business, however it might be a good backup for web and mail in case your primary ADSL link should fail.

And it can in many cases run Skype for the home user that does not share their network with others, but i wouldnt rely on it, especially if you live in densely populated areas where there are many other users of the service aswell, this will of course be alot better when CAT delivers revision A of the EVDO technology, we are currently at the point in this technology known as revision 0.

Alot of people are already connected through this service, they have bought a card which has now been discontinued.

The problem you as a owner of this sierra wireless 580 card now have is the seeming inability of this card to function under windows Vista.

There is now a solution for this.

1. Either you have a preconfigured computer with Vista already installed, or you will make the fresh install by yourself.

2. Do not install the software that came with the sierra wireless card from CAT telecom, this one will not work with windows Vista.

3. With Vista running and connected to the internet insert the Aircard.

4. When prompted by windows Vista search for a driver.

5. Vista will fetch a driver from Windows Update.

6. Once all the componets have installed create a new dial-up connection with the Sierra Wireless Aircard selected as your modem.

You will need to enter the number and username and password for your new connection.
Of course your settings might be different if you are not a customer of CAT telecom in Thailand such as I am.

Dial up number: #777

Username: evdo@catevdo.com

Password: catevdo

Now you should be able to dial up to the internet with your Aircard in windows Vista.