bangkok blue

Yet again milking all and sundry. This time (as previously reported) anyone without a Thai driving license getting done for 500bht. Or of course you can pay 200bht into the cop's pocket to avoid the inconvenience of having to go to the police station.

I know what some will argue this is now the law. But why not enforce it properly, instead of using it to make some extra tea money and abusing the whole point of what it's meant for!?surely the standards of driving tests in UK and America for example are good enough to drive here!

I have a full UK license, but until I get my Thai license sorted, unless some cop jumps on my bonnet so I can't continue driving, then I won't be stopping for these mother <deleted> on narawat bridge. Which is exactly what I did earlier in the week when someone tried to wave me to the side. Car taxed up, so clearly only reason was to rip me off! No thank you, and off I went. Sadly my friends on bikes behind weren't so lucky.

Is it hang dong I need to go to to get my Thai license? Just need card and paper copy of original uk license? Any need for a passport? I have an ED visa, although I doubt visas are needed to be checked to obtain one.

I love it here, but laws should be applied for the right reasons and not abused for personal gain. I'll get what I need ASAP, so I can shove it in the cops face and he'll try and move on to the next driving ATM!

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On another note, 365 now have sport 1-4 in HD, happy days!

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They answered my question here!

English version should be on the way soon. But I can tell you right now that it is about the payment warning. If any members fail to pay the bill more than 2 consecuive months, CTH will suspend the service until the payments have been made. It will start from Dec. 1, 2013.

My reply and there response.

Would be good if your billing department knew what they were doing! Several of my friends not had bills. I have paid every bill on time. But this week received a bill from October, which I'd already paid!

Thank you for that. Anyone has not received the bill should contact call center 1619 right away ?

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English version of what, Blue?

There was a ticker running at the bottom of the screen on stadium 1 earlier today. It was only in Thai. CTH answered my question about what it was, which I detailed a few hours earlier in this thread.

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They answered my question here!

English version should be on the way soon. But I can tell you right now that it is about the payment warning. If any members fail to pay the bill more than 2 consecuive months, CTH will suspend the service until the payments have been made. It will start from Dec. 1, 2013.

My reply and there response.

Would be good if your billing department knew what they were doing! Several of my friends not had bills. I have paid every bill on time. But this week received a bill from October, which I'd already paid!

Thank you for that. Anyone has not received the bill should contact call center 1619 right away

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Anyone know what the message says that's scrolling along the bottom of stadium 1 in Thai?

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That's great news BB lets hope that all goes ahead as planned. I wonder what the other new channels will be?

Thai channels I was told.

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Latest from CTH, in reply to my Facebok message.

Message on stadium 1 channel advising not to turn off the set top box between 25th November - 27th December for new channels . Can we leave the box on standby? Also, does this mean we can expect stadium 7 around these dates?

Yes, you can. And we have been informed that Stadium 7 should be ready after this upgraded has been completed done.

Anyway, we will keep our eyes and ears wide open and will update you ASAP if there's any good news.

Once again, we are sorry for the inconvenince and thank you for your patience.

Admin.

Fingers crossed!

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Just seen a message on stadium 1 saying not to turn off the box between 25th Nov - 27th Dec, in order to add new channels. Hopefully this will bring the launch of the long awaited stadium 7!

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I have an N8770C cable box but my OTA option is greyed out. I've tried it on CH131 and left it for a while to see if anything comes up. I suspect it's because my box possibly already has the latest version.

Does anyone not what the latest version number is for this box?

give the call centre Abel and they'll talk you through it.

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I'm going to be in Chiang Mai soon for about five months. Sorry to ask this, but ploughing through 81 pages in this thread takes for ever. Can anyone tell me briefly what is the best way to get CTH in my rented condo. Is this (CTH) the only way to get hold of EPL or are there any bars or restaurants that can guarantee a showing?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I'm not sure of which condos have it, you could put a dish up, but some condos funny about allowing that. If its just for 5 mths might not be worth it as minimum 1 year contract. My advice would be to find somewhere with decent Internet and subscribe to 365sport.tv although plenty of bars now show it.

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Has anyone noticed after prolonged viewing on the 365 player, when you switch back from full screen on TV to the mini player screen on the computer that the picture becomes jerky?

Not sure if its my computer or a bug with their player. Sometimes does it, sometimes doesn't. Usually fine when it does it and flick back to full screen. Although during EPL nights I often have friends round and have one game on CTH and another on the mini screen via the player. Also noticed last night it does it if I flick to the TV guide and back again. Only way to fix it is to reset my computer.

Would be interested to know people's recent experiences. To he fair though, since some earlier bugs with sport 4, it's been a great service for UCL, La Liga and international footy. Watched most of Portugal vs Sweden and the France game without any interruption, live last night.

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Oh hallelujah Pat but what does that give us? Are there new channels?

i don't follow Rick, are you referring to the channel guide find?

I've done my OTA upgrade, but not sure what the point is? and my HD channels don't appear to be quite as sharp as they were previously but I'm hoping it will cut out the flickering etc..

The OTA upgrade is to update the software to add more channels in the near future. Call centre advised more channels coming as we'll as stadium 7. Without upgrade you can't add anymore new channels, when they come out.

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If OTA upgrade done, it's settings, then auto search, this will take you to the "search type" option on menu screen. Red button, ok, should reload your channel list. If not I advise you to do OTA upgrade. Select channel 131, go to settings, select OTA upgrade. Box will reboot, upgrade software and reload channels. Any problems call the call centre. There english speaking staff have improved and are much more helpful than at the beginning.

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Go to info or settings, not sure which. Select auto search. Then press the red button. You may need to scroll down to the bottom of this menu screen until you see the option. It will say this will delete current line up, press ok. should then reload all channels. How did you get the full TV guide working? I've given up in that. Have you done the OTA upgrade? This may need to be done to update channels.

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Last I heard RS will show all 64 channels via their sun box system. Only 22 FTA, although NBTC is kicking off about this arrangement. I think I saw that RS will make these channels available via PSI and I think they're in talks to provide a HD sub-license via TRUE or CTH.

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Not for a while. They usually do them automatically when there are new channels. I think there are upgrades to C band system this weekend. So hopefully coming soon.

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I had the 365 Sport box for a short while but ended up returning it.

Have to say they were thoroughly professional throughout and returned my money for the box immediately. I have kept my year subscription with them however, and watch via my laptop, usually with it connected up to the TV.

The reason why i didn't get on with the box are as follows.

For one, i was looking for something less hassle than booting up the computer, moving it to the TV, plugging it up. Wanted something akin to a satellite receiver, where you simply turn it on and flick through the channels. The 365 box isn't that quick or easy to navigate through. It is essentially simply doing what you would be doing were you to plug your mobile phone into your TV, with the 365 android app loaded.

This app, at the time i used it, did not have fwd or rwd buttons, so if you exit from a program, or are forced to exit by a problem like freezing, the only way you could get back to the point you were watching, was to watch it all again. Obviously not a problem if you are watching live, but i rarely am. The chap at 365 did assure me an updated app was on the way very shortly that would have fwd and rwd switches, so that issue may no longer be a problem now.

Secondly, rather than having a remote, the box comes with a mouse. This is what you use to navigate around. Sitting on a sofa, as most people do when watching TV, is not an ideal place to use a mouse. A remote would be so much easier and better. Technically it is obviously very difficult to configure the system to work with a remote, so not sure if they will ever get round this problem.

Thirdly, still on the subject of the mouse, if you turn the box off when you finish watching, as i do, it means that when you turn it back on again next time to watch, the mouse will not be recognized by the box. You have to physically remove the wireless dongle from the box, and reconnect it, for the box to reestablish connection with the mouse. This is a major faff, that can only be got around by leaving the box on the whole time.

Fourthly, flicking through channels is a very slow process.

Fifthly, at the time i was using it, the TV schedule only showed what was currently on, and what had been on over the past three days. There was no way of knowing what was going to be shown that evening, or the following day, at least not from the box. That problem may have been rectified now, i don't know.

Lastly, within the first day of using the box, a virus developed that i believe had something to do with True connection, that meant that after minutes of watching something, a pop up window would appear and knock you out of what you were watching. That problem has i believe now been rectified.

Anyway, from all that, my conclusion was that whilst 365 is still a very useful way of watching sport, and i will go on using it, buying the box does really not improve usability. In fact the opposite from my point of view. For the person who perhaps doesn't have a computer (do those people exist?), or whose computer isn't up to spec, it might be a godsend. For others, i think not.

Oh, and yes, one more thing, probably should have mentioned this at the beginning, i have only ever been able to get SD, whether via laptop or box, and the picture isn't great. Tends to be a bit jumpy, especially during fast moving sequences. Hopefully this is something else that will be improved in time.

I hope so because i think the more decent competition there is, the better things will be for the consumer, in the long run anyway. That's why i was, and still am, very happy that CTH and 365 have arrived on the scene. True had had things their own way for far far too long. Perhaps if they ever get Premiership back, they won't be as arrogant and service unfriendly as they were before. Then again, perhaps pigs will fly...

Hey rix, thanks for taking time out for that post, you have potentially saved me another load of hassle, appreciated. 365 are meant to have 3 HD channels very soon so you may see a difference in quality soon.

I like what 365 have but had to send mine back as my computer was too 'low spec' for it, this peeved me a little bit as on their website they say 'all you need' is at least a 3mb Interent connection, nowt about your computer spec. I do have a higher spec pc in the house but it simply isn't convenient to use that one for this purpose, so I'm in a bit of limbo as far as that is concerned...the only way around it is to have it installed on my good pc then pick it up carry it over to the tv (on battery charge) plug in the HDM1 cable and watch a game or anything for say 3 hours (battery time) then return it to it's rightful place etc...but not sure if I can be bothered with it...

CTH back on now..

did they give any indication as to the minimum spec required? I'm going to have to live in bkk soon from march - may and wanted to get a cheap laptop to use while I'm there. Would be useful if I knew the spec to look out for.

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365 going strong. Not full HD yet but I reckon it'll be in by next EPL match week. I've had no such problems as you have had Pat. The OTA upgrade also fixed that annoying jerky picture during live games. If I were you Pat, I'd phone up and say I want a complete new system, explaining the issues you've had or you'll cxl! some if the staff there now speak great English and are very helpful. Why get TRUE put back in? Maybe 365 will do you a deal including Thai expat TV if you get their box too. Even if they didn't, would still be a dam_n sight cheaper! Plus you get everything backed up on demand for 5-7 days. In weary of putting all my eggs in the IPTV basket as my computer could blow up, Internet could go off or their system could crash. I use CTH for EPL and 365 for UCL, La Liga and internationals. World Cup will be on there too. I have too many if my friends round on big match days to risk the Internet conking out, like it did last weekend for many in Thailand! Although having said that 365 did still work during that outage! I got up for England vs Scotland a while back and it was off. Also went off during El Classico. Thankfully local Thai Tv came to the rescue on both occasions or I'd have been stuffed! Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Cheers Blue.

I fully take your point regarding the internet going down. Would I run expat tv through the box as well?

As for CTH, it is still down. I'm not buying into this I'm so unlucky, it's only happening to me nonsense....bottom line is they are an absolute joke of an organisation and there are sure to be many others suffering apart from me.

yes, Thai expat TV and 365 work through the same box.

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I don't think the app is available yet. I did see something about CTH launching its own Android based Internet / TVpackage but all in Thai, so minor details were lost on me.

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365 going strong. Not full HD yet but I reckon it'll be in by next EPL match week. I've had no such problems as you have had Pat. The OTA upgrade also fixed that annoying jerky picture during live games.

If I were you Pat, I'd phone up and say I want a complete new system, explaining the issues you've had or you'll cxl! some if the staff there now speak great English and are very helpful. Why get TRUE put back in? Maybe 365 will do you a deal including Thai expat TV if you get their box too. Even if they didn't, would still be a dam_n sight cheaper! Plus you get everything backed up on demand for 5-7 days. In weary of putting all my eggs in the IPTV basket as my computer could blow up, Internet could go off or their system could crash. I use CTH for EPL and 365 for UCL, La Liga and internationals. World Cup will be on there too. I have too many if my friends round on big match days to risk the Internet conking out, like it did last weekend for many in Thailand! Although having said that 365 did still work during that outage! I got up for England vs Scotland a while back and it was off. Also went off during El Classico. Thankfully local Thai Tv came to the rescue on both occasions or I'd have been stuffed!

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Since OTA upgrade that annoying jerking during live games has completely disappeared. Fingers crossed for stadium 7 now. Spoke to call centre they said reason for this was to add this channel and more Thai channels. So looking good soon I think.

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Been to two AA meetings now. Been very uplifting people who have had similar experiences as me with drink. I feel more positive having taken this step. I'm still unsure about the spiritualism aspect, but willing to give it a go. It's gotta be better than the last 6 day binge session I just had that's for sure.

I dislike some phrases, such as if you sit in a barber's chair long enough you'll get a haircut. I hope after a while I will have the strength to still socialise with my current friends. They are not just drinking buddies. I do many other activities with them like play football, dinner parties, trekking, badminton etc... Which don't involve drink. I've met members of many of their families. Just because they choose to continue drinking doesn't mean I will cut them out from my life. Don't get me wrong should I choose to join a friend's birthday party / leaving party or wedding etc.... The offer of temptation will be there. With these meetings I hope to achieve knowledge into how to be grateful for what I have, one if which will be not waking up with a hangover, which have become incredibly depressing recently.. Another is extra strength to work on my personal development and career. This will keep me out the pub.

I will not allow this issue to turn me into a hermit. But use the experience I have had to still socialise knowing that providing I stay that right side of the line in tempting situations I'll get far more reward after the event knowing the next day / the days after aren't a write off of despair and self pity, but more of a learning curve in the direction of a more successful life.

I will continue to write my experiences along this path. I thank you all for every message that everyone has posted. Especially those who have written to me privately.

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OTA update successful. Call centre advised to put it on a CTH brand channel. So I put it in stadium 1 and it worked. As sky news was the channel I tried it on before that was probably why.

Pat get the guys to come and look at your system. I have occasional interference on sky news, but not as bad as you have said.

The upgrade was made available on the 29th of October I got CTH installed on the 1st of November and both the installers and CTH themselves did not tell me to upgrade I stumbled across it. The upgrade is under the information bar its the last option I think its under OTA upgrade. Liking the Nat Geo Music channel at the moment its a nice change from listening to constant pop and K pop garbage.

any chance you could post a pic of the exact option please Crill? I was clicking on the option that said OTA. Not the one underneath it.

http://www.cth.co.th/%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9E%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%93/ try this link videos in Thai. But understandable as shows which options to select.