dddave

I remember an almost identical one last year at the same spot but have never seen reports of 3 or 4 a year from there.....maybe a bit of hyperbole.

Basically, some of the Chinese 3G smartphones sold on AliExpress (and probably other similar suppliers) especially slightly older models being sold off cheaply, do not function on the WCDMA 3G networks that most of ASIA and Europe use...they are phones originally manufactured for CHINA MOBILE only and use the TD-SCDMA 3G network which is unique to China Mobile. They set it up to avoid paying royalties to the developers of WCDMA..

I discovered this the hard way. A friend with not much to spend wanted to buy first phones for her twin sons who are just entering their early teens. I found Lenovo A586 phones that had a 4 1/2 inch screen, 512ram and 4 gb rom for only US$35 each. The model was 2 years old.

They seemed like the perfect entry level phone for kids so I ordered 2. When they arrived and I installed 3G SIMS, they would not connect to the 3G network, giving a message "Unknown Type SIM". They did connect to 2G and wi-fi connected normally so they were usable, just no 3G data or mobile network.

I should have realized there was a problem when the LENOVO website did not list the model number at all. Turned out this model was never officially released outside of China.

Unfortunately, further research revealed there is no fix for this situation; rooting or jailbreaking has no effect. Googling revealed that there are quite a few Lenovo model numbers that have the same locked in network, also some other Chinese phone brands.

If a Chinese phone you are considering sells for an unusually low price, then ask some questions of the seller...especially the network the phone is set for.

When I went back to the sellers page and checked, it was actually there buried is a spec sheet: TD/SCDMA rather than WCDMA...I just did not see it and probably would not understood the significance even if I had. Now I do.

Fortunately, the kids have access to wifi and are totally thrilled with the phones...they probably could not have afforded 3G data anyway so all was not lost.

Por Bor Pesat in Khlong Tan (recommended by Dave) is closed on sunday. They may not have many different brands of a drug, just the cheapest one. They may in my experience not sell some GPO drugs that are cheaper then the drugs they sell.
But 95% of the time they are the cheapest place in town, very often very very cheap.
Always crowded, people who buy here usually spend several thousand baht.

Thanks, Uhuh for elaborating on my post. I never knew the name of that pharmacy and have only used it a few times.

There is an another excellent pharmacy on "71 (between Sois (Pridi) 13 & 15) with a pharmacist who speaks fluent English ...also very low prices and never a "farang" premium. Also closed on Sundays. Normal hours: 10am to 8pm.

Sorry for my tardy response, I was unexpectedly out of the country for several days. Thanks R-C for the detailed response. My router is a TRUE supplied ZYXEL with no visible model number, just a TRUE sticker. I have True ADSL (Bangkok) and am using an HP Pavillion 15 laptop running Win 8-1 with Classic Shell. Normally I use CHROME browser.

I do have a TRUE log-in address available.

Recently, Google News has become available again but I would like to explore the DNS settings as you suggested.

Thanks again.

Has the mini bus stand at the Airport Transportation Center been closed down or is it now for local vans only? Used to be a good variety of buses and vans from there.

The large pharmacy and sort of general store just past BULLY'S PUB on Sukhumvit between Soi-4 & Soi 2 (Nana) has always had fair pricing, surprising considering the location.

There is a pharmacy on Sukhumvit 71, Klong Tan, at the intersection with Petchabury/Pattanahkhan Rd's, even soi side..the very last storefront before the intersection.

Their prices are so low there is usually a line and they have a queue numbering system. Worth the trip is you have a large quantity to buy.

Best way to get there: BTS to Phra Khanong, use Exit #3. At the base of the stairway, walk in the direction of traffic to the bus stop and take any of the following buses that turn onto Suk 71: #40, #71, #133, #501...about a 10 minute ride to the stop just before the Petchabury Rd intersection. Cross 71 to the opposite side.

(You can also pick-up the #40 bus anywhere along the odd side of Sukhumvit from MBK on up)

Can also take the Airport Rail Link to Rhamkhamheng station, instead of descending stairs to street level, follow signs on entry platform to footbridge across Rhamkhamheng Rd by NasaVegas Hotel, Turn left on Rhamkhamheng Rd and walk to intersection. Pharmacy on opposite side. About a 10 minute walk.

Dave.. Where was your phone from ? Asia or UK

I bought it through a Lazada 3rd party seller based in Hong Kong. The phone box is labeled UK/FR. Model XT 1033.

Works fine, no connectivity or local compatibility issues.

I updated a Moto G (1st gen.) to LOLLYPOP last week and had no issues. Took about 20 minutes. Very new phone so nothing of importance to back-up.

Try using Google's Public DNS resolvers (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) on your router, or forced on your PCs connection.

Dweeb here...How does one do this?

Lazada has the MOTO-G for about B7600 but hard to tell if first or second generation..

I have a Zenphone-5. I also recently bought a Moto-G (1st.Gen.) for my GF. Both are excellent phones. The Moto-G already has the Lollypop (Android-5) update while the Zenphone is still on KitKat, waiting for the Lollypop update.

While I can find no faults with the MotoG, I like the Zenphone more...it just seems slicker and more refined.

Just search them both on YouTube. There are many "Un-boxing" and review videos for most phones currently being sold.

A simple pencil eraser is great for cleaning contacts.

For quite a few years, my morning online routine is first check Email, then, the Google News app which gives a nice selection of current news stories.

The past week, I've been unable to open Google News 90% of the time, the little circle just slowly spins in light blue mode and the lower task bar says "Waiting for GoogleNews.co.th" I normally use CHROME but I also tried FIREFOX with similar results.

Once in a while it will come right up as it always used to do but very seldom.

I read in another thread that TRUE may be redirecting Google traffic but it has not seemed to effect my Gmail or Google search.

Located in Bangkok, TRUE adsl, HP Pavillion laptop running Windows Classic Shell over non-touch Win-8.

Any suggestions?

I had something similar except installed in a camera type shoulder bag with 2 batteries the size of bricks, 20 minutes talk time each; $2/Min. incoming & outgoing.

There are volume controls: SETTINGS>SOUND>VOLUMES. If this does not help, make sure the volume control rocker didn't get pushed down...maybe stuck on "Low"

The first case I had for my Zenphone-5 (NORTH case from Lazada) muffled the speaker and ringer volume on my phone. Also, the round front window is open, no clear plastic resulting in many pocket calls to the last previously called number. Got rid of it.

Call Ais Hotline 1175, choose english and listen to the options. One of them is to stop advertising messages.

It may take about a week till no more unwanted messages reach you.

Will that turn off all messages from anywhere or just those from AIS?

It turns off all messages. Also third parties messages.

In my experience, it does not turn off AIS's own promotional messages and notifications but 3rd party SMS's and merchandise promotions did go away.

I think I gonna buy one as well, not sure if to get the 5" or 5.5".

My IQ4 has a divided internal storage which drives my nuts, one is 1gb (internal) and the the devise storage is 1.5gb.

Now the internal is totally clogged up, I moved as many aps as possible and use clean master but still not very good.

Time has come to get a new phone but the IQ have been good I must say.

I am willing to spend up to 10k baht, which one should I get?

These days 10K Baht buys a lot. Just in the last 6 months, many more lower priced phones have 8 GB rom and minimum 1 GB RAM, 10K Baht will get you 2gb ram, 16 ROM on some models including the Zenphone 5. Finally, most of the major chain stores (JMart, Power Buy, TG) are displaying specs in English so comparing phones is easier. Go to some some of those shops and see which phones appeal to you...so many shapes and sizes now including several 6 inch monsters.

Might be good to wait a month or two, most manufacturers seem to be on the verge of rolling out new models with more features for less money. A lot more models with 4G LTE will be out there soon as well.

Along with the ASUS phones, the new MOTOROLA G's, both 1st and 2nd generation are a very good value. Hard to find in stores in Thailand but available online from Lazada and others. I bought a Moto G (1st gen.) for my GF from Lazada and it arrived in less than a week. Great phone already upgraded to Lollypop.

There are several stringed instrument shops in Bangkok on Petchabury Rd. not far from Pantip Plaza. BTS Ratchthewi, walk to Petchabury, turn right. Keep an eye on both sides of street.

There has also been a kiosk in Chatachak market selling violins for a very long time. In the antiques section.

I find the sounds emitted by a beginning violinist to be most painful of all...consider buying her a nice quiet harp.

Sorry, no knowledge of the Hua Hin area.

I recently read that one of the earlier Nokia models was the largest selling "electronic device" of all time; sorry, forget which one it was.

How the mighty can fall.

I guess there will be a lot of slightly used Zenphone 5's for sale in March...including mine. The bigger battery is a major attraction for me. The current Zenphone 5's battery is really it's only weak point. I travel a lot and hate seeing my battery below 20%, so I usually have to bring along a battery pack. I used to have a Lenovo P780 with a 4000 mAh battery and it was great never having to worry about running low on power.

Actually, I'll probably try to curb my compulsion to purchase the "2" until it's been out for several months...let the inevitable, new model bugs get worked out first.

Was there any indication that ASUS planned to also upgrade the Z4 & Z4.5 phones?

I upgraded a 1st gen. Moto G to Lollypop with no issues. The 32gb SD was inserted at the time.

Overheating can often be due to a faulty charger rather than the phone. Most of the chargers packaged with phones are poor quality. Try another charger if one is available. Make sure to read the amp rating to be sure it matches.

If a phone overheats when charging, first open the back and make sure the battery is properly inserted and that the contacts are ok. Some new phones shipped with the battery already inserted will have a small piece of paper between the contacts to prevent the phone from powering on while being shipped.

Check the battery for any puffiness. If it is at all puffed, that is a sure sign of a bad battery.

Bangkok Nursing Hospital, I had surgery on my spine after a crash, great Spinal Specialist Dr. Wichan and nice staff. It does NOT come cheap but it was actually LESS than their estimate, Pattaya Hospitals often "Suck You In" with a Cheapo price then come up latter with many extras!!

+1 on Dr. Wichan. The BNH Spinal Center has a excellent staff and most speak a high level of English. BNH is among the best hospitals in Bangkok but also among the most expensive.

Most Bangkok hospitals offer a variety of "Check-up" package plans running from B5000 up to B30,000. Try to determine what tests you want done and then find a package that best fits your needs.

St. Louis Hospital is often mentioned as a less expensive alternative to the 5 Star institutions such as BNH and Bumrungrad.

You can spend less than B6000 and get a very good phone, such as the ASUS Zenphone-5 which I have and which has great specs. There is a LTE 4G version for B1500 more but I would ask what she even needs 4G for with her light usage,,,3 G is quite fast as it is. Unless she is going to be watching streamed movies on the phone, there is really no need.

You should take her to a phone shop where she can actually handle different size phones. My GF had a 3 1/2 inch phone and when replacement time came, she really did not like the large 5" phones...too big. Even the 4 1/2 phones seemed too large for her but the selection of 4" phones has gotten limited so she settled on a MotoG with a 4 1/2" screen. 5.5" phones are really quite large.

Do you have a Carnet (vehicle passport essentially) for your motorcycle? You could Motorcycle to Poipet and cross into Cambodia there and motorcycle on to Angkor Wat. The road is not nearly as bad as it used to be. Some interesting towns along the way, especially the very French Colonial Battambang. There are so many fascinating places to see at Angkor. Not just the main temples but also many much smaller and less crowded ruins way into the complex. If time runs short, Your son could fly to BKK from Siem Reap while you return home alone. Angkor Wat is one of these onetime trips that you would want to make the most of.