Related links:
EVDO - Wireless on Bus Krabi<->Had Yai

EVDO - Wireless on Bus Phuket<->Krabi

Going back from a Visa run to Khota Baru in Malaysia and after staying a couple of days in Sungai Golok in Naratiwat.

On the train from Sungai Golok to Had Yai .

Using a connection with the CCU-650 and CAT telecom CDMA2000-EVDO network, performance is fine for some of the way, but so far it seems that you might be better off having a booster antenna, it seems the coverage is abit patchy on this stretch for upto 15-20 minutes at a time in travel time with no connection.

I just had a patch with no connection just before arriving at Ru So, Naratiwat.

Which lasted about 15-20 minutes in travel time.

Towards Yala it worked better than towards Ru so.

On Yala station it works great.

This would come as no surprise, usually mobile networks like this will be built around major roads, usually the railway are not included in such plans, so if you are putting in alot of time on the train and want to get some work done, you will probably need some amplifier or booster antenna for your CDMA card to be connected without interruption.

But you would probably still be able to get some work done, but be prepared to do a fair share of redialing if you are not equipped with a booster or amplifier for your CDMA2000 card.

The view is nice though, and a good break from any work related tasks.

You should get a similar experience with the Sierra Aircard 580, or when the new CCU-680 becomes available delivering revision A of the CDMA-2000-EVDO technology.

Additional perhaps useful information:

Sungai Golok also has at least TT&T provided internet from Maxnet, i tried this one in an internet cafeteria down there, it worked well and was responsive.