Speedhump

THANKS TO EVERYONE who replied with help and advice. Great people here.

The answer I needed is from BigStar, as I already have an Android STB. I've put Radio Player from Audals on it, as it's free and has many thousands of worldwide stations. 128 kbps, but good enough for my puroses.

Now to buy my cheapo 20,000 Baht A/V receiver, hook up all my Klipsches (except the bass box which is beyond repair, no parts available any more, and the sound is truly frightening anyway) and blast the neighbours eardrums to kingdom come (not really ????).

????

6 hours ago, Encid said:

 

A little bit off-topic but that's similar to what I do too.

I download media via my PC to a USB HDD, then plug that into the Android box... an SSD is not really need to playback media files, even 4K media with Dolby Atmos or DTS:X soundtracks.

 

Exactly what I do, I find the STB is fine except for playing some large .mkv files, say 4GB and over. Also it doesn't have a codec for playing a few .mkv files but simple to download a different file. 

3 hours ago, BigStar said:

Why not just get a cheap Android media box? You'd not only get all the internet radio stations but streaming video channels as well. Moreover, you can stream your own video files, desktop, and photo gallery. Can control w/ separate remote, optional wireless keyboard & mouse, phone, or computer. Could save a lot on the stereo amp. 

I have a set top android box, have had for years. It will be plugged into the A/V receiver via HDMI. So if it can play Internet radio that's perfect. I never thought of that. Its a bit crappy controlwise, I can only connect either Bluetooth mouse or keyboard, as only one free USB slot (the other one's for a hard drive). Still, worth a thought, if I can save 10,000 Baht on the receiver I buy. I can try this out before I spend any money! Thanks. ????

22 minutes ago, recom273 said:

Check your TV - mine has the tunein app, then control via your tv remote.

 

Spotify has a free and paid service.

Thanks, that's good advice! 

51 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

 

 

I purchased a yamaha one, plays spotify and all that, would love an Alexa... are they available in Thailand ?

That's the sort of thing I want, yes, with a free streaming radio service (I don't mind the station ads). I don't think there's a free Spotify option, or maybe I'm wrong?

(actually scrub that, I want an Internet radio app which has thousands of stations to choose from, each of which have their own  playlists - tunein.com for example). 

55 minutes ago, recom273 said:

Looking at the piyanas page, none of those receivers have DAB - doing a bit of reading suggests it’s a thing of the past - seems like streaming audio is the way to go, my receiver has spotify, my wife tells Alexa what to play and the receiver responds automatically.

Here is a screenshot of musicbox GUI - seems pretty straightforward to me, not dissimilar from navigating Facebook.

 

Internet radio isn't DAB, it is streaming media, I don't want DAB actually. As far as Internet radio goes I think I read that one manufacturer has the tunein.com app built into their firmware. That's a good one which I think won't disappear anytime soon. 

Otherwise I guess I could just buy a small Internet radio (like the Ocean Digital Internet Radio) and hook it up to the receiver wirelessly (I'll read up), but then its two boxes! ????

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

You mean one of those bloody big black things advertised on Piyanas?   LOL

She approved the Onkyo before (Well, I had already bought it, with the huge Klipsch speaker system) so I think I'm OK. What she hates is anything that looks boffinish, or wires showing. ????

12 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Most internet radio apps only stream music in stereo at 128kb/s. Connect via your phone or PCs sound card and into a power amp. All controls will be on the sound card software.

I need a nice tidy living room friendly solution. I think the wife will accept a replacement A/V receiver only! 

12 hours ago, Jai Dee said:

This page from Piyanas should give you all the information you need regarding makes, models, and specifications.

 

20K baht is probably the bottom end of the spectrum... for another 10K you would be able to get a very nice networked multi-channel AV receiver.

Yes I thought that seems the case. 30k minimum. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet. 

Thanks. I'll need to choose one with a good Internet radio app I suppose (with a huge number of stations), and a service that will definitely still be around in a few years time? You can only have what's on the receiver firmware I think, you can't tinker with it yourself? 

On 12/8/2020 at 8:51 PM, recom273 said:

If budget is an issue, have you thought about musicbox on a raspberry pi and plug it into a receiver ? You select the stations from a web based GUI on your phone or tablet.

 

I have a few around the house connected to a receiver and a couple of amps running Volumio - the onboard sound isn’t good enough, you either need a sound card / DAC or a DAC hat for the pi. 

Thanks that's an interesting solution, but a bit Heath-Robinson for the wife to operate (or look at!). 

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Like I said, It becomes my business when an illegal modified scooter rides dangerously close at speed on the roads that I travel on.

I reckon people who want to act in this way/poor behavior on public roads get a proper motorbike, go to the track without your family as pillion and make as much noise, riding recklessly. 

 

I'm fed up with some of the Thais and their unsafe road manner. I would like to travel on the public roads safely, we don't need foreigner's that haven't grown up using public roads that we travel on. 

No, that wasn't 'like you said' at all. 

You were beatching about him not wearing a helmet and you know it. 

Stop trying to move the goalposts, your own goal stands because everyone is calling you out as a censorious killjoy. 

Now, think about it and try to get a life. Live and let die (if that's what the biker wants). 

24 minutes ago, polpott said:

I guess you must be right. I would never ride a bike without a helmet but rarely wear a seat belt. Personal choices. One of the things that make Thailand an enjoyable place to live. I'm happy to sit in a bar chatting to some guy with a ladyboy on his knee. My mates don't have a problem with me going upstairs with 2 girls even though they don't do it themselves.

 

Thailand just isn't the place to sit in judgment on others.

Amen, brother. Just do what you want to do and let others do the same. Life is short, make it sweet. 

On 12/2/2020 at 7:20 PM, twocatsmac said:

 

As mentioned above, most normal people don’t use face ache.

Sure only 2.7 billion active users worldwide (excluding dormant accounts). So many 'abnormal' people, eh.   

I have a 3 mill. Baht in patient policy with an approved (for visa purposes) Thai insurance company. 

They have never sent me anything to say that COVID has been added to policy exclusions. 

So as far as I'm concerned, I'm covered for any COVID hospital treatment which involves me staying there.

Anyone disagree? 

On 12/2/2020 at 12:08 PM, NCC1701A said:

give him a break. I am sure he wore a helmet when he first got here. 

 

but now he has be assimilated by the Borg and has lost his will to fight. 

I'm just sick to the back teeth of westerners who insist on applying their own moral/social/safety standards to life in an utterly different country. 

If people want to 'go native' what business is it of these nosey prigs? 

Maybe some people are happy to be rid of the 'nanny state' they escaped from and are enjoying a little rebellion? 

Headshakers and fingerwaggers mske me want to puke, seriously. Yes, I still wear my car seat belt. But my choice, no one has the right to judge me either way. 

How about MYOB? Is it your life? Do you have no real concerns? 

11 hours ago, bangsaenguy said:

Piyanas should have  what you need.

https://www.piyanas.com/

Thanks. I'll give them a call if no-one has any actual models they can point me at.

Hey, you've made 666 posts. You little devil, you.

Hi all,

My Onkyo has finally given up the ghost and so I need a replacement. My budget is definitely under 20,000 baht and I need something that will drive my floorstanding Klipsch speakers, so say 80 to 120 watts RMS per channel.

I've checked online with Power Buy, Lazada, Shopee and so on but the quoted specs never give enough information.

I believe the internet radio app has to be included in the receiver's firmware? 

Thanks for any help!

6 hours ago, Jorgendk said:

I own and MG 3. Smart car. Have had it 1 year from new.

Very satisfied with it. A few smaller things could be better, but you can't have everything,

Handy small car. Goes well, good GPS, and auto pilot, etc. Very good service.

The MG 5 is bigger, but as it has the same engine, it must be more sluggish.

Same here. MG3 for four years. No complaints at all. 

On 11/12/2020 at 10:20 PM, OliverKlozerof said:

 Hi Mr. Hump,
The best air purifier in Thailand, in my opinion is the little Hatari unit, which is available at Home Pro.
https://www.homepro.co.th/p/1020791

 

Replacement filters:

https://www.homepro.co.th/p/1020792

I see there's a Home Pro in Market Village in HH, so they probably have it there. If not, you can probably order through them. The reason the Hatari is the best, in my opinion, is, it's the about the smallest, and certainly one of the cheapest. (There are other units which are much larger/more expensive, which probably work well, but the filters would also be expensive.) The Hatari is, I believe, made in Thailand, for the Thai market, and the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters, are very reasonably priced (around B800 each). The machine itself is less than B5000 (compared to many thousand more for other brands). If you have several rooms in your place, just get one unit for each room. ???? 
One day I borrowed my landlord's AQI air pollution meter. The air outside (in Udom Suk, on outskirts of BKK), was not terrible, but not good. The air in my little studio apartment, with the Hatari running, was near zero on the meter (i.e., near perfect).
Basic unit, but also has remote control, negative ionizer feature, 4 speeds. Very quiet.... Get one! (Or two, or three.) (No, they're not sponsoring me. ???? )

BTW, tonight I closed the door to my veranda and turned on my Hatari. Presto: No more sneezing to speak of. (I also vacuumed whole room this morning, which was overdue, and I'm sure also helps.)

 

Hi Oliver, I've bought the Hatari unit, it's been delivered today. I bought online direct from Hatari at the same price as on Lazada, etc. but with an extra filter (worth 800 Baht). As soon as I completed the order the page changed to 'out of stock'!

The plasma mode looks interesting as I have the suspicion that my problem stems from the dust/dander load on the furnishings in my house. I can spend the day/early evening outside with no symptoms, but problems start when I'm indoors of an evening/night. I'm looking at the dog! :)

I only started being allergic in my late fifties, so this is all still fairly new to me. I'm fine with grass pollen but our jasmine gets me sometimes during the year.

Thanks again for the recommendation, cross fingers.

7 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

Wine in a cup? Where were you brought up?????????

A cup is a cooking measurement, he's talking about frying the steak with wine. Then yes, you drink the rest of the bottle from a glass... 

14 minutes ago, lovethai123 said:

Thnx for clearing it up. Now I understand that those who can show 400k/800k in a thai bank have no issues staying in Thailand. 

 

People I have met in the bar keep complaining how they cannot do visa runs anymore and other things. 

Yes I'm sure that's correct, that loophole has been tightened. People wanting to stay long term should act like it and get the proper visa. Again, I have no problem with that. I personally don't know anyone who flits across borders to stay in Thailand long-term but I know they exist. 

5 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

the thread was about pattaya, retirees and local businesses who haven't closed because retired farangs are supporting them. but somehow the topic got diverted.

You made a clear point:

"I wonder why the authorities are making it harder and harder for the retirees to live in Thailand". 

I only pointed out that that's not correct, commenting specifically on your post, no diversions.

The junta may be **** at running a country, but they don't have it in for retirees who can support themselves.