djeetyet

I live in Chanthaburi Province. For about 2 years if I used less than 90 units my electric bill was FREE. For the past 2 months, even though it's still been under 90 units I've had to pay. My friend ask the meter reader and we were told that we now have to pay for we have 15-amp power, and the free electric policy was only for those with 5-amp power. I never heard or read about this policy change. I searched and couldn't find anything, either. Anybody else hear about this, or have same situation.

Thanks

I used to be with AIS but switched to Dtac because of similar hassles.

Do you live in a large city or in a more rural area? I was told AIS was the best if you aren't in BKK, Chiang Mai, etc.

Other than these housekeeping issues are you able to connect? Are you happy with the performance?

I live in a small city about half-way between Rayong and Chanthaburi. The aircard internet connection is slow, but sufficient for general surfing: email, news, posting to forums. My Skype experiences have been a bit disappointing. Twice I called a land line and the connection was so poor I couldn't hold a conversation. It seems better when I 'call' a computer, but after about 45 minutes the AIS connection goes bad and I'm disconnected from my Skype session. So, it's workable, but certainly not ideal.

Yes, to check your usage you need to be able to send a service request, so this requires a phone unless the aircard's UI allows this functionality? Alternatively the Widget seems like the best thing to manage your account?

Other than these housekeeping issues are you able to connect? Are you happy with the performance?

You could also pop the SIM into a phone and use the eService features. Enter your number, wait for the SMS password, enter that, then view your account on-line.

I'm having trouble getting AIS's Widget's program to work. It keeps saying "connect to AIS", when I'm already connected. Also, my antivirus program,

Antivir, detects the malware JS/iFrame.3654 in aisinbox2[1].htm file. Is anybody successfully using the AIS's widgets program?

Also, when I go to the above link, and recieve the password (number), the following page doesn't display how many hours I have remaining or expiration date, etc. Am I missing something? This is the kind of page I'd expect AIS to have, where I can check my usage and remaining time, online.

Thanks again

Thanks for all of your responses. So let me see if I've go this right. If the people at the Telewiz shop don't activate my hours, then I have to take the sim out of my aircard and put it into a mobile phone and use the appropriate code. Similarly, to check how much time I have remaining I also have to take out my aircard sim and put into a mobile phone. I can't believe AIS doesn't have a better system than this!

BTW - I tried sending the *139# to +66818310808 (AIS's SMS service number) - but received no reply.

Thanks again.

Mr B

Sorry but I can't seem to get the answers to these simple questions. I have an iFox 3G air card and am using AIS.

1) I went into my local Telewiz shop to top up my initial "free" 5 hours that came with my sim card. They are very unfriendly, unhelpful, and don't seem to know anything about computers. I paid 123B for 20 hrs and the shop lady dialed somewhere and said I'd also have to enter the appropriate code (*138*0333*638625#) - but where? When I visit www.ais.co.th/mobileinternet I cannot find anywhere to enter this code. However, I connected to the AIS network and surfed the 'net as if she did everything already. I'm confused. If I do need to enter this code - where and how do I do it? My iFox software has no 'dialling' capability. Am I supposed to take the air card sim out and put it in my mobile phone?

2) I was told I could check my time usage by "calling" *139# - but again, how and where? I downloaded AIS's Widget program and it indicated I had more than 29 hours remaining even though I only purchased 20 (or so I thought). Again, am I supposed to take out my sim and use my regular mobile phone every time I want to check my time usage?

Sorry for these stupid questions, but I've no one around here to ask for help.

Thanks

By far the most important criteria is that the stick work with the desired network)s). Given that you'll be using GSM 2G data (GPRS/EDGE) this is less of a concern as just about any stick will support the required frequencies (GSM 900, GSM1800) for Thai providers.

Thanks for the advice. I believe I'll get a generic GPRS/EDGE enabled air card that works with AIS, as that's what's available in my area. If others have different opinions please post 'em!

I've read the past threads about air cards - but still have a question. I would like to use an air card with my laptop, and not sure what air card to purchase. I live in Chanthaburi Province, but about 40k outside of the city, and some 75K from Rayong. One thread stated that "Most of the other USB sticks have the software already flashed to the respective company's hardware. it kind of locks you into that company". So it's better NOT to buy a proprietary aircard, such as from AIS? Just buy a generic air card and then buy an internet sim from whatever service provider I desire? I will be using the 'Net for email and general surfing, not intensive downloading.

Thanks for the help.

2 lots for sale. Both rubber trees with some fruit. Location: Chanthaburi Province, Ampur Na Yai Am, Tambon Chang Kham. 12K from NYA, 7K from Sukhimvit Rd., and 8K from ocean.

Lot #1 - 3 rai, “#1 paper” (“cha noht”), water, electricity, storage building: 525,000B.

Lot #2 - 5.9 rai, “#2 paper” (“naw saw sam”), water, 885,000B.

English: 0876110560 or Thai: 0811584632. NOT an agent.

Thanks for the above responses. Anybody else who has gone through this process? What photos did you bring in? And what about Consular Report of Birth line #12, "Precise Periods of Physical Presence in United States" - how did you fill out the form? Good/bad stories? Done in one day, or had to return a few times?

Thanks again,

New Daddy

I am an American citizen and have some questions about getting a passport and Social Security card for my son born "out of wedlock" to my Thai girlfriend. I searched the forum's message board and didn't find what I was looking for - if there's a thread I missed please post a link, or other Web sites covering my concerns. I emailed the Bangkok U.S. embassy with my questions but did not receive a reply.

1. Can your recommend somewhere in the Rayong or Chanthaburi area to have the Thai Birth Certificate translated?

2. I was told to bring in photos to prove "a blood relationship between the applicant and the father is established by clear and convincing evidence" - what kind of photos did you use? Did they want the father to be in all the photos?

3. Regarding Consular Report of Birth line #12, "Precise Periods of Physical Presence in United States" I lived more than 40 years in the States, but traveled in and out numerous times - did you attach a separate document?

4. Any general hints/suggestions/pitfalls/gotcha's I should be aware of when applying for a passport and SS card for my son. I would like to complete this process in one appearance as I live quite far from Bangkok.

Thanks for your help.

You should be able to get a replacement internal one for less than that, assuming it's a standard, removable laptop drive. An external drive may work too, but I'm not sure you'd be able to boot from it if you had a hard disk problem.

It is a standard removable laptop drive, but the lowest quote I've gotten here in Pattaya is about 2,000B. Frustrating.

My BIOS doesn't have an option to boot from the USB port, so that's a worry if/when my HD dies. I think I'll just have to pay the Baht for an internal and hope it works OK.

Any specific places/prices in the Pattaya area would be appreciated.

Thanks

My laptop's internal CD-ROM drive (HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4244N) has basically stopped working. It's an HP Compaq Presario V5102NR. I'm getting quotes of 2,000B-3,500B for a new one. Has anyone in the Pattaya area had a DVD/CD drive repaired? Any stories about repairing or replacing CD/DVD drives?

Thanks!

I just returned from the Prachuap Khiri Khan Singkhon Immigration Office and received what is commonly referred to as a "Retirement Visa". I have made a web page of what I've done and the results.

http://www.geocities.com/huahin_photos/tha...rement.visa.htm

Hopefully it can be of some use and interest.

DISCLAIMER: This web site is NOT meant to be taken as the correct way, or the incorrect way, the best way, or the worst way, when applying for this type of visa. This is simply a record of the steps that I took and the subsequent results. As we all know, things change quickly. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY!!

As I'm in the process of trying to obtain a "Retirement Visa" I thought for the fun of it I'd create a timeline of events recording my efforts and their results. So far I've only gotten as far as obtaining the Non-Immigrant Type O visa - but here's what I've done so far:

http://www.geocities.com/huahin_photos/tha...rement.visa.htm