longball53098

Please could someone enlighten me about cable and satellite TV in Thailand?

I have looked at numerous options and am missing the basic overview of what we can get and how. Not interested in UBC but really want to watch BBC and some cricket as a priority, then any film channel etc is a bonus.

Can anyone help? Thanks

A cheap satellite system at 3000-5000 baht including 60cm dish, though I recommend a dish of at least 5 ft as you will lose signal every time it rains. make sure the receiver has card slots/decoder(s) built in.

'Dream TV' (satellite outfit for Phillipines) card, from most satellite equipment suppliers, upwards of 150 baht for 3+ months of viweing, updatable when it expires. You can di the updates yourself if you have a internet-connected computer and an RS232 lead.

That gets you BBC World, CNN, CNBC.

4 film channels: HBO, Star, Cinemax & TCM (mostly US American shiite stuff but the occasional UK film)

Austalian channel has reasonable selection of human interest shows as well as some UK series.

Discovery, Animal Planet..

Hallmark: mostly valueless US American craapp stuff but some UK series like 'wire in the blood', 'spooks', and the john nettles most murder-prone village thing.

4 cartoon channels

3 sport channels

Far too many US American 'entertainment' channels.

and more.

However: in the last two weeks Dream have been talking about subscribers to a particular package upgrading their software as the system is changing and anyone with a pirate system will be unable to receive the program. I have no further details on it.

Good luck!

Well, words of wisdom and another American basher,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,do you hate anything American or just the entertainment related things? In about 10 lines you managed at least 3 slaps about American TV and film.

Why not just answer the posters questions instead of adding your feelings about America? I know you're a Bush hater as well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

You all drive me to ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I can see the replies coming ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...amp;hl=maptaput

Please see my posting from a few months ago,,,,Post Number 5 near or at the bottom ,,,,,I show maps of the area

I will be going to this office later this week or next for a visit

PK

I think this question and topic needs to be moved to the Banking/Investing Forum for better viewing and answers,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

This last report was from the middle of last month,,,,,,,,,,,February 2008,,,,,,,,,,,,,today the 23rd March 2008 the PCEC had a Thai man give a small report about the "new" style Thai license,,,,,,,,picture is embedded into the license, the license is a credit card type of document,,,,,,,,he indicated that this was what is being used now,,,,,,,,,,the application and the license is done in English as well as Thai.

So,,,,,,,,,,,,my question?

Has anyone just recently applied for and received this new style license here in the Pattaya/Banglamung Land Transport office?

If so can you give the particulars as to cost and any changes to the documents needed to get the license?

The man this morning says that they still issue automobile and motorcycle separately,,,,,,,

So again has anyone had this new license issued here in Pattaya,,,,,,,,,,,,or even Rayong?

Thanks

Send it FEDEX ,,,,,,,,,,,cost maybe more but its safer

So,,,,,,,,,,does anyone know if Hutch/Cat EVDO will be active in the Rayong Banchang area anytime soon,,,,,,,,,,,,,,? I currently use the Hutch system as a backup to my TOT adsl but when I move to Rayong in a few weeks,,,,,,no adsl at my new place so my Hutch system will be it for some time to come,,,,,,,,,

You did not say where "outside" Pattaya your mate lives,,,,,,,,,,,but I know Hutch offers their CDMA EVDO at up to 800 kbps in the Pattaya area,,,,,,,,,,maybe it would work in your mate's area,,,,,,,,,

On another note,,,,,,,,,,,,,,a friend of mine started a rumor yesterday,,,,,,,,,,,,,and understand this is rumor only as I could not confirm anything,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but he claims that True Visions/ UBC is offering some sort of high speed internet service here in Pattaya for 1200 a month,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I am not trying to perpetuate this rumor,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I looked high and low for info about True/UBC internet and I cannot find any info that they even have internet service anywhere,,,,,,,,,,,

So if anyone knows more on this please enlighten me

Does anyone know what Pattaya Immigration uses today for the calculation on the Income letter? Converting from US dollars to baht?

Thanks

ok,,

it is just immposible to get somebody here in rayong, banpae opposite Kosamet to construct a swimmingpool.

anywhere companys dont reply or they are bussy, or pattayacompany who give a quote. said they work only in pattaya, if in rayong and earliest in may, they ould charge 50 days a 2000 baht more ,for to make it here.

i am willing to pay this quote they give me ( what was simm. to another company who are bussy as well)

ANYBODY HERE ???? WHO WNAT TO CNSTRUCT A POOL

size 10mtr x 5 mtr ,deep 1,40-1,60mtr.

earthwork already done by our self ( but i scarred to start by my self without an advisor)

standard layouts

PAYMENT 400.000 THB ( 2 poolshop quoted it one at 380.000 and another at 400.000)

somebody private here who done it before and want to do the job

tel 086 55 9 44 30

email [email protected]

now i am really getting fed up with the pool,, i am scarred to do by our self, at the beginning i was confident butas more i read in internet as less confident i am, and one mistake is one to much

I am not sure if this will help you bu I live in Pattaya and I visited the pool construction company that I show you in this forum reply,,,,,,,,Pool D'signs in south Pattaya almost to the Ambassador Hotel on Sukumvit.

I copy the forum posting of a man that had great luck with the company and they travel all over Thailand,,,,,,,,,,the owner and family seem like very good helpful people,,,,,,,,,,,I will be getting a quote from them when I build later this year,,,,,,,,,,,www.coothaihouse.com has a forum about pool construction,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I post a copy of part of a discussion but the main thng is the man's comments regading this pool company,,,,,,,,,,

PostPosted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:11 am Post subject: Pool queries

Reply with quote

Cruzing,

The inside of the pool is being tiled as we speak. I considered the more expensive "ceramic" tiles, nicer finishes, colors. But the cheapest tiles have a longer life, I was told by several companies. 5 years without service needs for the cheaper tile, 2 years for the "fancier". Service free sounded better to me.

I forgot to mention the pool, (makes a huge difference in construction and price-depth of the pool), at 4x8 meters, is 1.5 - 2 meters deep. The sand filter system is made by Onga, an Australian company. The pool company uses Onga because of the reliability, and easy availability for parts, etc. The model is the "Leisure Time" LPT 550.

Their standard pool has a 45 cm border around the pool, cement with "sandwash" or small riverstone finish. We added another meter to fit the famous Paddy O'Furniture. I also forgot to say that, thanks to the advice at this site, we are adding an ozonator. I like the idea of less chlorine in my eyes/on my skin/scent in the air.

We had many bids from many companies, as mentioned we went with Pools D'sign because of our confidence with them, the time the owner took to explain everything, his direct, honest business style. Indeed, as we tried to get more of a discount, he explaind in complete detail, the cost of all materials used. Said he could reduce the price more if we chose things like smaller, or non-solid rebar, cheaper grades of cement. (They operate, as most pool companies do, on a 20% profit margin. So when you get really cheap bids, know that the discount probably comes out of the quality of the materials in your pool. If cheap and quick is the goal, get the lowest price. But if quality and a reliable service free pool is your goal, pay for the solid rebar, best grades of cement.) They were, coincidentally, at the lower end of the middle priced bids. The price was B600,000. The company, Pools D'sign, 038-255-999 is on the west side of Sukhumvit Road, at 111/1 Sukhumvit, Jomtien, approximately 3-4 kilometers soutn of Lotus/Tesco South Pattaya. Owner is Khun Bop, American contractor who oversees all jobs for Farang is Jim, 09-098-7145.

A few more weeks and mine is finished. Can hardly wait for that first swim!

Here is the fee structure for SWIFT transfers, cut and paste from SCB's web site:

Inward Remittance - SWIFT, Telegraphic Transfer

The service is for foreign currency's inward remittance, remitted by telegraphic transfer or SWIFT.

Condition : SCB would require you to open an account with us. Service Highlight : The funds will be remitted to your account quickly and securely. Service Fee : 0.25 % of the remitted value, minimum fee is at 200 Baht, maximum is 500 Baht. Service Channel :

SCB. CALL CENTER tel. 02-777-7777 and SCB branches.

The rub is in the fees that are charged by the banking institutions at both ends, independent of the conversion rate.

I get free wire transfers to I know my net amount credited to my account at SCB is conversion rate + SCB transfer fee.

A knowledgeable friend told me banks in Thailand vary the amount of their fee depending on the amount of money transferred.

Monday of this week, February 11, my net deposit calculated out at a net conversion cost of 32.74. Depending on what time of day the actual conversion was made, assume 32.80, the difference is the bank transfer fee.

I calculated it to be about 1200 Baht Certainly no where near 300 Baht transfer fee spoken of by posters in the past.

Of course, the transfer fee could be 300 Baht and the difference between that and 1200 baht is the conversion rate the transaction went down as.

Yes I could call the bank and ask what there transfer fee is but it would matter not as the net I get into my account after a transfer is what concerns me and call the difference between the dollars wired and what goes into my account what you will, I call it cost of wire transfer.

Not enough to start shopping other banks to find a bank who charges less net.

I whole heartedly agree with the rate structure from SCB as shown above,,,,,,,,,,,,I have an SCB account actually 2 and I have a JP Chase accounts in the US. I have wire transfer ability set up for on line use and all I do is

click on the necessary tabs and fields for my Chase on line services answer the question how much? and if I want to send the money in USD or THB (always send in USD) and click send,,,,,,,,,,,the money arrives in as little

as 24 hours into my SCB savings account minus the quoted fees,,,,,,,,,,,I pay a transfer fee of $35 US on the US Chase end also,,,,,,,,,,,,but that is for any amount of money I send,,,,,,,,,,,when the money shows up in my SCB

account I usually make a trip to a branch of SCB and ask for a detail print out of the wire transfer activity,,,,,,,,,,,,,this report gives me all the info on the transfer and the fees that SCB levied on that transaction,,,,,also shows

the exact exchage rate at the time it was converted,,,,,,,,,,,very handy to keep a record of this for immigration if they want to see.

PK

Ok,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,change of plans,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,the overnight in Phisanulok is now Kampaengphet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so I I now need to know about possible places to stay in the town of Kampaengphet,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,we were told that a hotel Phet is Ok but I would like more of a choice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so if anyone has more of a list please let me know,,,,,,,,,,,,we leave on Friday the 15th

Thanks

PK

We're getting ready to build a house far enough away from other houses that we'll have to buy our own transformer. The local electric authority says the smallest transformer is 30 KVA single phase and wants an astonishing 170,000 baht for it and it's installation on a couple of poles.

I'm sure single phase pole-mounted transformers are available in much smaller sizes than that. Try calling Ekarat Transformer and see what they recommend.

If you are going to spend the bucks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,why not get a 3 phase system installed and be done with it,,,,,,,,,,,then you are sure of having an adequate supply for future needs and if anyone ellse wants to hook up to your supply that you paid for then you can sell connections? maybe?

I would think if you pay the bill to install it then you have controlling rights to who connects to it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Try Amarin Nakhon Hotel 300-500 baht, 3/1 Thanon Chaophraya or Lithai Guesthouse, 300-500 baht, 73/1-5 Thanon Phayalithai, or London Hotel, 200 baht, 21-22 Soi Phuddhabucha and finally... Phitsanulok Youth Hostel, 38 Thanon Sanambin, 200-400 baht or 120 for a dorm

In Lamphun - Supamit Holiday Inn, 300-500 baht, Thanon Chama Thevi opposit Wat Kukut

Thanks for the info on the hotels in both places Seonai,,,,,,,,,,we will look for one of them to be our overnight,,,,,,,,,,

PK

Hey all you seasoned travelers?

Does anyone have any detailed info on a hotel for a night or two in Phitsanulok?

Clean and under 500 baht would be great.........

Lamphun is the next stop,,,,,,,,,,,,,,so if you know that area let me know too,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks

PK,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on his way to the north country and to visit the family.

Thanks for the info on what I guessed would be the correct route,,,,,,,,,,I also talked with a friend that comes from Lamphun,,,,,,,,,,,,she gave me the best roads to get from Pitsanulok over and up to Lamphun,,,,,,,,,,as she has driven that way many times,,,,,,,,,,,,,,from Pattaya to Pitsanulok should be an easy drive with the needed pit stops and food stops,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks for the help

PK

Hey all you seasoned drivers,,,,,,,,,,,,,I will be taking an excursion with my wife to her home in Lamphun via a brothers place in Pitsanulok,,,,,,,,,,,,,,very soon.

One night stay in Pit,,,,,,then up to Lamphun,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I have several maps and I have been as as far as the Highway 1 and 2 junctions north of BKK a few times but no farther north,,,,also to Khorat,,,,,,,does anyone have a recommended route to take to Pitsanulok and then to Lamphun?

I was looking at going up the outer ring road number 9 ( coming from Pattaya by the way) to highway 32 up to 11 and follow 11 to Pitsanulok,,,,,,,,,then using 11 all the way to Lamphun,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Can anyone tell me a better route either because of road conditions or construction issues?

Thanks

PK

30 days - but officials may be able to do earlier on a case-by-case basis if you have proof of a need to do so.

Thanks Lopburi,,,,,,,,,,the person in question needs earlier so I guess he should go inquire,,,,,,,,,,,,

Hey one of you experts,,,,,,,,,,what is the earliest a person can renew their retirement extension?

One month? 3 Months?

Thanks for the answer

PK

Hey all in Rayong,,,,,,,,,,,,,,this is great information

Please see the attached maps for the location of this Immigration office,,,,,,,,,should help to find the place,,,,,,,,,,,,,I intend to check it out later this month for my 90 day reporting,,,,,,,,,,,glad to hear there is an office there as I will be moving to the Ban Chang area in another month or two and to have an office close to me and possibly less congested is a real plus,,,,,,,,,,I won't have to chase up to Pattaya for the necessary services,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,does anyone know if this Maptaput office handles all the same services as Pattaya? I would think so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but I when I go for my 90 day I will investigate further,,,,,,,,,

Thanks and I will post my findings later but if someone has more info please let me know.

Can I ask why you waited until 7 to call Villa?

Did you call them at 5 or so to check on the delivery?

My experience would be to confirm the order at least the day of delivery,,,,,,,,,,,but turkey and eggs for breakfast sounds good,,,,,,,,,,,,,with bloody marys

There is a full page spread if you look into the magazine about 5 pages. Also they show a web site for more info for current and prospective customers

http://pvr.truevisionstv.com/marketing/index_en.html

Two days and no replies?

My oh my,,,,,,,,,,,,,this must be a real stumper,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Have you looked at Hutch? Their new CDMA EV-Do will get up to 800 kbps depending on how close you are to the cell.

I use the older Hutch CDMA 2000 system,,,,,,,,,,averages about 100 kbps in most plces I go.

At the moment Hutch does not have data service in all provinces but they are geting there

There's also the possibility that individual Immigration Officers are enforcing the rules differently. I noticed a sign at Jomtien on Monday stating (not in these exact words) that decisions are made in the branch offices and their decision is the final one.

Here's a good example from Monday... I was there with my GF to get 30 day extensions on our tourist visas. We both had onward air tickets to show them as we've been aware that Jomtien have been asking to see them.

I was given mine back by the officer who told me she didn't need it (she didn't even look at it), whereas the officer attending my GF kept hers.

Sorry but what does this have to do with the news article about the retirement extensions? Your referring to a 30 day visa extension,,,,,,,a whole different thing I think.

Hey,,,,,,,,The other day I attended an Expat club meeting and one of the open forum questions was regarding the possiblity to make a conference call here in Thailand,,,,,,,,,I assume here in the Pattaya area.

No one of over 100 people had much to say,,,,,,,,,,,the first answer was try a Skype conference call but that was discounted as the person had no access to a computer.

So I float this out to the TV techies,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,does CAT or TOT or TT&T support conference calls? I would hope so but I don't know for sure.

I know in the USA its real easy to set up conference calls,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but thats the USA,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I would bet the same types of services are available here.

A nice easy answer would be nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks

PK