Lorin

Got my big table from Index for 4400 baht plus 600 delivery to my condo, plus chair from ModernForm with 20% discount for 8000 baht. Now I need a good lamp to light on it, where is good places in Pattaya to shop for one?

HomePro at Carrefour have a better selection of desk-lamps than Big C, Depends what you want.

Thanks, will take a look tonight.

Got my big table from Index for 4400 baht plus 600 delivery to my condo, plus chair from ModernForm with 20% discount for 8000 baht. Now I need a good lamp to light on it, where is good places in Pattaya to shop for one?

Guys to add to the good places, its a place called "Chilli and Sweet" on Chaya Phuek road, just 100 meters from the Sukhumvit intersection. Very well presented+good service. A bit pricey for every day, but good choice for few days a week. Huge rocket salad and chicken breast in mushroom souse+steamed rise and ice tea lemon cost me 500 baht.

Frankly, almost all the sit down beach restaurants on Jomtien Beach road until you go much further south are tourist traps. Locals have to slum it a bit to get to the better grub.

Not quite on beach road.

How about Flamboyant?

The proprietor/chef is an outrageous fruit, but dam_n the foods good.

Cheers

Where is Flamboyant located exactly?

They should clean the ocean round here first and its gonna be much better tourist destination.

I think Mantra comes to mind talking about high prices and bad food...plus all the farang restaurants on the beach of Jomtien that I visit had very average food and service and high prices. For good French food go to Au Bon Coin, that not long ago moved to Pratamnak road between sois 5 and 6. Plus for good steak it is some Swiss place inside soi Diamond, I forgot the name.

Just moved in my new place in Pattaya and looking for big computer table and leather chair. Have no idea where to get it in Pattaya, please advice. Thanks.

I used TOT 2 weeks go and it was all rite, now is much slower...?

stumonster is right about the Username and Password for the Huawei MT800!

But the Billion is an different Game. If you lucky and have one from the first series of Modem from TRUE (a few years ago) than you may can reprogram the Modem. From the second series TRUE was modifying the Firmware and that modification can't rolled back. To run the modem for Internet access you must use the TRUE software for connection and that works like a Dialup Modem!

TRUE has done the modification to limitd the connection from 1 computer only.

Guys, how about other TRUE originated modem, ZyXEL with usb connection? Can it be configured to be always on and used with TOT ADSL?

NO!!

If I would be you, I would buy a new Modem/Router and all the problems and hassle are gone!

A cheap but good one is a TPLINK, the 8840 for example, cost about THB 1,500 with 4 ports.

Easy to program and the possibility for up to 32 virtual erver (Port forwarding). Even the backup of the settings is a very easy process. Warranty is Lifetime via King Group which has an exellent service around Thailand.

I use the same for a long period and upgraded the software to a Broadcom Firmware.

Cheers.

Thanks for suggestion, not a problem to buy one, but I just dont need so many modems.. That TOT line I gonna use only for 3 months, then back to TRUE.

stumonster is right about the Username and Password for the Huawei MT800!

But the Billion is an different Game. If you lucky and have one from the first series of Modem from TRUE (a few years ago) than you may can reprogram the Modem. From the second series TRUE was modifying the Firmware and that modification can't rolled back. To run the modem for Internet access you must use the TRUE software for connection and that works like a Dialup Modem!

TRUE has done the modification to limitd the connection from 1 computer only.

Guys, how about other TRUE originated modem, ZyXEL with usb connection? Can it be configured to be always on and used with TOT ADSL?

I found the password for the true firmware on the Huawei ( Username คือ admin Password คือ "ทรูคอร์ปอเรชั่น" เป็นภาษาอังกฤษ หรือ mi^8viNxvgi=yjo )

try that

or keep searching - try the adslthailand forums

If you mean that way:

USER: admin

PASS: mi^8viNxvgi=yjo

So its not working for my modem.

I moved to new place and here is only TOT ADSL is available, need to configure Billion BiPAC 5102S that I got from True company to be always on with user/pass that should be entered into the modem. I get response from modem on http://192.168.1.1 but when I try to login with admin/admin or true/true its not let me in. Anyone can help me on that issue? Thanks in advance.

You can NOT configure a Billion Modem from TRUE. TRUE has modified the Firmware and that modification can't be rolled back! You need to buy a new virgin modem which you'll be able to configure.

Cheers.

Seems to me that somehow it can be hacked, found that tutorial in Thai on other site:

เจอแล้นๆๆ ในที่สุดก็ทำได้ เย๊ !!

การตั้งค่า ให้มันเป็น router mode modem Billion Bipac 5200SR2 by True ADSL

วิธีที่ 2 ที่คิดว่าทำได้

1.Download Fireware ที่จะ UP

http://60.248.77.180/_Internet/fd/5200S/An...C_35101_ras.zip

2.เข้าไปที่

http://192.168.1.1/wizard/home_wizard.htm

User:true pwd:true

จะปรากฎหน้า Run wizard กด RUN Wizard

จะ Show Page

Quick Start

The Wizard will guide you through these four quick steps. Begin by clicking on NEXT.

Step 1. Set your new password

Step 2. Choose your time zone

Step 3. Set your Internet connection

Step 4. Re-start your ADSL router

แล้วทำตาม step

ใส่ Password ที่เราจะใช้ใหม่ผมใส่ (admin)

เลือก mode pppoe

username(ล๊อกอินที่เราใช้): (login ของ true user@truehisp+password)

VPI: 0

VCI: 100

Connection Type: PPPoE LLC

แล้วก็ next ไปจนถึง finish

3.จากนั้นทำการเข้าไปหน้าปรกติ http://192.168.1.1/

User:true pwd:true

กดที่ Maintenance เลือก ที่ Current Settings แล้วก็ restart รอ reboot ซักครู่ครับ

4.เมื่อ reboot finish แล้วทำการปิดตัวโมเด็มชักปลั๊กออก

แล้วเปิดขึ้นมาใหม่

จากนั้นก็ลองเข้าใหม่ของผมยังเป็น IP เดิมhttp://192.168.1.1/ หรือบางท่านอาจ http://192.168.1.254

login ใหม่ User:admin Pwd:admin

จะได้หน้าตาใหม่ทีมี Bar ครบ เราก็ สามารถ set password ใหม่ และทีนี้เราก็สามารถ upgrade firmware ครับ แล้วก็จัดการ upgrade firmware ที่เรา load และ Extract ไว้ได้เลย อย่าลืมเช็ก firmware ของ 5200s เป็น Annex A (http://www.billion.com/support/download/fd/fd1.htm#fd105)

***หมายเหตุ*** การ upgrade firmware ใช้เวลาซักนิดนะครับรอให้มี บล๊อกขึ้นมาแจ้งก่อนว่าเสร็จจากนั้นก็ bปิดเปิดอีกครั้งโ€ฆก็เสร็จ

I moved to new place and here is only TOT ADSL is available, need to configure Billion BiPAC 5102S that I got from True company to be always on with user/pass that should be entered into the modem. I get response from modem on http://192.168.1.1 but when I try to login with admin/admin or true/true its not let me in. Anyone can help me on that issue? Thanks in advance.

Lorin

When I read "help me out with my first steps into stock market or funds", I am certainly thinking 'financial planner' rather than 'broker'. I am not sure whether you are in Thailand now (?) Financial planning is really in its infancy here but there are expat financial planners who I see promoting themselves from time to time. I am sorry I haven't had any experience with any of these people so can't offer a recommendation. Quite possibly others in this forum can help you there.

Yes both ING Funds and Aberdeen Asset are pretty good. Any fund manager will tell you though that "past returns are not necessarily an indication of future performance". In other words the 30% return for the past year could become a -5% return next year. Most funds are based on a basket of shares and share prices go up and down over time. Good managers just get better returns more of the time (compared to the relevant share index). That is why people often say that when anticipating your returns on share-based investments you should be looking at a five year (or more) time frame.

Very few returns are truly 'guaranteed' so I trust you have also had some good independant advice about the business in which you plan to invest the bulk of your money. If this is a Thailand business then I understand that the firm "Sunbelt Asia" can provide this type of advice and are apparently well-regarded.

- CB

I do live in Thailand, but do my biz outside of the country(as It should be)..:-) I know that past performance of the fund is not a guarantee for future, but its ok to risk some part of the money. Been talking to Kbank today as well, past performance on the Equity Fund is over 30%. I think I will wait till the election and then invest with ING and Kbank...

Lorin,

Yes, there are certainly fundamental differences between investment in Thailand and investment in a much larger and more mature market like the USA or even Australia. These differences however don't necessarily translate into "benefits", and to the extent that they might, they would vary over time and from one investor to the next. Are there certain benefits from investing in Thai equities (versus US equities) that accrue to everyone, all of the time? No, I don't think so.

An example: Me. I have a Thai spouse and am living in Thailand. I would like to invest something of myself here to foster some stronger connection to this place. For me, this is a "benefit" of investing in Thai companies (versus, for example, companies in Brazil). This is obviously personal and subjective.

Other benefits I see in investing in Thai shares are that:

* It is rarely boring

* Being a smaller market, things are on a scale you can 'get your head around'

* I believe - based on tangible and intangible factors - like the fundamentals of the companies I follow, the fleeting periods when the share market really fires, and the Thai people I see, meet and read about – that the share market here offers a potential for very impressive returns. Sadly this potential seems more akin to a mirage in the desert at the moment.

Thus one part of the answer to your question is definitely "the choice of whether it is better to invest in one market or another depends on your specific individual circumstances".

Taking one step back now. You mentioned that you were a bit "green" about investment, but have gone through the process of setting out a financial plan for your own circumstances to determine whether investment in shares (in any country) is a good step to take?

This process typically addresses the issues of risk tolerance and 'diversification' of investments (or spreading of risk). Your planner would no doubt tell you that it can be better to invest in more than one market, ie. rather than choosing one over another. Note however that this objective can be achieved without taking your money offshore, e.g. invest in a local (USA?) managed fund that in turn invests in the shares of another country (Thailand?).

If you are fairly committed to actually investing here in Thailand then I would recommend extensive research before jumping in. I could waffle on for ages about what that might entail. As you have found Thaivisa however you are probably already on the right track. I assume you have already read other threads here including "Watch your steps at the Thai SET" and "global correction" amongst many other gems.

On a final note. It is not enough to just select good stocks - timing is critically important here. I know it's very easy to get impatient and just start buying shares, but you are bound to regret it later. This is doubly true given the perilous state of the market at the present time. If you do have an uncontrollable urge to stick your toe in the water sooner rather than later, then I would strongly recommend you go the way of a modest investment in a good managed fund (see the "managed fund" thread).

chock dee

- CB

CB, thank again for your answer, right now my situation is like most of my money I plan to invest in a biz that will give me 30% guaranteed annual return. On the small part of my money I wanna go and risk it as much as possible if the return is right. Banks can give maximum 4-5% and its not enough, I believe I should find a good broker that can help me out with my first steps into stock market or funds. I read here in other thread about Equity funds with ING Funds Thailand that can bring up to 30% returns. What do you think on those? Disregard the risk, cause I dont mind to lose some money if the chances are good to win big time. If not them can you recommend a good broker or company?

Cb, I wanted to ask similar question as iminthailand, however after your detailed answer, maybe you can help me to understand something else? What are the benefits to invest in Thai stock market instead let say US? I'm pretty green to all this so detailed answer will be appreciated,. Thanks.

Most 60 year olds marrying a girl 30 years his minor would find this a wonderful story.

I think anyone regardless of their age would find Happy Larry's a wonderful story. The fact that I am 66 and am married a girl 36 years my minor only makes it more relevant to me.

Happy Larry, it was interesting that in many ways our situations were very similar. I also was lucky enough to find someone that 'soul mate' would not even be adequate to describe our wonderful relationship. We have found that we are so much alike in so many ways that we do almost everything together and our life together is filled with laughter and is much like a happy fairy tale.

I also had been divorced after a mostly happy 30 year marriage but had decided that I would never marry again as I was very happy living my life as a playboy bachelor traveling around the world . Then one day at a restaurant at MBK in Bangkok, I started a conversation with a Thai girl at the table next to me. I learned that she was a scientific sales rep. for a US based company but she loved flying and was soon going to start a new job as a flight attendant. Being a pilot, our common interest started a good friendship which eventually lead to romance and marriage.

Looking back on things, it is interesting how fate and luck in additon to being in the right place at the right time can sometimes play such a pivotal role in our lives. I consider myself so fortunate to have found such unbelievable happiness in my life. Even more important is the fact that my wife tells me that she feels the same way as I do. I am really enjoying reading the stories of other TV members that have also are sharing their happy success stories. Best wishes to all.

Hey Larry, its great to hear successful story of thai/farang relationships. Me myself looking for the right gal, but unfortunately its not easy to find good one, and I cant live in Isaan for example...Keep us posted on the developments..-)

You really have to wonder where Nonglak got 60 million from in the first place.

Naka.

You are surprised that a thai can have that money?

Not that Thais cant have that money, but they wont marry Dutchman in Pattaya if they have that money in the first place.

Police to request photo cameras to collect evidence of cell phone using drivers

Royal Thai Police Spokesman Police Lieutenant General Pongpat Pongcharoen (พงศพัศ พงษ์เจริญ) stated that the Royal Thai Police will be requesting funds to purchase photo cameras to assist police in collecting evidence of transgressors of the land transport act. Police will use the cameras to snap shots of people in their cars if they see them breaking the law, which they state will promote fairness for both citizens and officers.

Police Lieutenant General Pongpat stated that the cameras will be purchased in anticipation of projected arguments that may occur from motorists who protest that they were using mobile phones. The police spokesman also said there may be more study done into other forms of technology that will assist in the upholding of the law.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 November 2007

Ok, here is the trick: need to purchase the cameras..:-) Now watch out for companies connected to politicians, who will win the bid to provide those cameras..:-)

Can someone here recommend me a place that can make custom car plates? I need some name to be done on the plate. Thanks for the info.

On my personal level I see no problems, with all the young gals having babies and leaving them upcountry with moms when they down to BKK, Pattaya and Phuket to work.

Night vision is so cool.

Cool stuff.. Every time you posting I see you have too much spare time on your hands..:-)

Yes,

BMW 520D Power Chip can be installed. It adds 30hp and 45ft tq. Also a HP unit that adds around 55hp and 70ft tq.

They sell for around $13,000 bht.aand $15,500 for HP unit.

There are two different connection on this Car, One for a vp37 fuel pump and the other for common rail sensor K pin plug.

I have not seen a vp 37 pump plug around for a while as they had some problems with them, But rail sensor type are easy to find.

Thank you for the info, its sounds pretty good deal and not expensive as well. What shop/garage can make those upgrades and how safe is it?

I saw advertisements in Bangkok Post regarding power package for Mercedec SLK 200, that add 40 HP to the engine. How about BMW520D? Can it be empowered to get more HP?

All right, I guess I will add this law as well to my list of rules and regulations that I can easily avoid to comply with by slipping 100 baht note to the police officer that stops me. I love Thailand. I my country it cost 4500 baht and call to court if you caught second time..:-)