Tercera_Edad

So: It's still possible, although not quite what it used to be - yet possibly an interesting alternative for those who dispose of nothing better https://nc.ntplc.co.th/cat/category/282/294/CAT+|+phonenet+thaicard?lang=en_EN I won't follow up here, think those interested now have what it takes to find the rest - bye!

Thanks topt, will try to evaluate later. Spontaneous reaction from the experience already gathered: not too confident. It just isn't european quality Briggsy: I did. You could re-read the OP, while in general concentrating and following the logic - that could have been absent during the first round That said, you all focus on (alleged) alternatives to Skype, but my starting point were the services by CAT - and possibly others. No news about that?

Since Skype has ceased to function, people are (or should be) in dear need of an alternative - thus access to VoIP for calls to phones anywhere in the world. Did you get it? Most 'alternatives' touted do not offer this feature, or severely restricted. This was european no-nonsense 'kvalitet' again, against (sorry, must say) american bling-bling trash quality. Why is it important? If you ever tried to call the hotline drones at a business back home (thanks to everyone following the 'american role model', this is now your only option - and it will get worse, prepare for the real robots), your cavalcade starts with the phone menu answering - that's the moment the counting starts. Assumed you're lucky, once you fifteen minutes later reach a (would-be) human, how much have you paid for nerve-wrecking, unmutable on-hold music? Using Skype, this phase could be lived through with reasonable ease - including lowering the volume. I came to remember that, many years ago, CAT used to offer walk-in customers a service to make international phone calls for rather economic fees. Is this still the case today? Or what alternatives might there be? I would think of some cybercafés or business places that offer such a service via landline phones, or via some VoIP provider. I don't have to emphasise that mobile calls are far too expensive for lengthy foreign hotline calls? Any ideas? And I won't apologise to american readers taking offence. You lot have a much higher responsibility in how this hectic global 'innovation' shtick keeps running than you seem to have realised - so letting some justified steam off, that you are invited to take constructively .) PS Whatever happened to customer rights and their advocates?

That was all quite interesting, thank you. Even the dozen green bananas I bought last thursday seem to be under the impression: Today I found that the first one is turning yellow - no, I haven't quite given up on them yet .)

Crossy That sounds like an interesting alternative. Upnotover Duely noted, but I'm not prepared to suffer that much for a few bananas.

A picture says more than a 1000 words

Ok, thank you, will have a look. Yet I think someone who would specialise in selling cavendish bananas here, like the ones we're used to from western supermarkets, could become a millionaire - and possibly not only in THB

Hm. If you have supplies, would you be willing to sell me some? In what part of Pattaya are you?

Not a joke. It's a side effect of the local banana scene. Sometimes, bananas not only come green, but they stay that way, even after days. I keep reading that all that is needed is a bag to place them into, however it must be of paper. But who in Pattaya would sell their food stuff in paper bags? Not anyone known to me.

Well, this prophylactic reaction is probably based on the experience made these last 25 years or so, because 'everyone' seems to blindly follow the 'american role model' - which inevitably means everyone on the globe must have a phone they call 'smart', and any additional thinking (?) departs from there. Good to hear that you are apparently different. That said, I intend to take my leave of this thread now, I wouldn't expect any more exciting developments to take place here? Bye

Thanks, just saw your reply - I don't receive any notifications. I use my laptop all the time, do not need one they call 'smart' - either via wifi, or if not available, through my 4G phone's modem (tethering), as can be seen in the video quoted earlier. Presently, this arrangement serves my needs, no real need to change anything. But I'll keep your info in store, just in case

Right, I happened to find this path a few minutes after posting. Still learning, haven't developped a scientific approach yet... Thanks a lot

(I checked several GPS-related threads but couldn't find a suitable reply) I have tried to buy a GPS receiver for my laptop, by the looks something like in the annex, and went to Power Buy, but to no avail. Is there any realistic chance to get such a thing here in Pattaya at all, or is it best to just import it from a western sales source, even if it means having to go to the customs post office and pay duties?

Ok, I felt audacious and just sent USSD code *777*7503# That was the one where the SMS message mentioned earlier said (gist of it) Want 25 THB for 1.5 GB during 24 h? Press *777*7503# Few seconds later, I got back a number of commercial texts, then the one that would count (my assessment), reading 5G on-top package 25 THB You have got internet 1.5 GB valid for 24 h Excess usage will be charged as your main package Unfortunately, I forgot to check my balance prior to this operation, but if my memory feeling serves as an indication, then I would say: The 25-THB charge has been deducted from my previously available balance. My spontaneous reaction would be: That seems to make sense. I could live with that. 'Who dares wins'? That should do it for now. I will archive your second post - this one https://www.ais.th/en/consumers/package/prepaid/add-ons/home Nothing much has changed in that regard. You can just use your SIM base package which will deduct [...] - until I may no longer be happy with this new arrangement - presently it should meet my requirements. Thanks for jump starting me, it really seems I sometimes need it

[I will check your recent message {thankfully received} later, can we continue from our previous stage now that I have done work based on it?] So I just provoked the time-out situation, and after several minutes of swift 4G surfing, I received this text from AIS (minor editing for my personal reading ease): Today you have used internet for 10 baht. If you used until 49 baht you can enjoy unlimited internet until midnight. Buy internet 5G Max speed 25 baht 1.5 GB for 24 h press *777*7503# or 99 B 4 GB 7 days press *777*75502# Could we try to parse this mystery message? Today you have used internet for 10 baht: d'accord If you used until 49 baht you can enjoy unlimited internet until midnight: Huh? Buy internet 5G Max speed...: That's probably irrelevant. The rest seems to be clear; in my words: Want 25 THB for 1.5 GB during 24 h? Press *777*7503# Want 99 THB for 4.0 GB during 7 days? Press *777*75502# Finally, I do not use a 'smart' phone, but a 'feature' phone https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/doro-7010-280-4096-mb-3-mpx-4g-tastenhandy-12236694 Also, I do not use the phone for surfing (would be technically possible), but only its modem, to connect my laptop via 4G to the web (so-called tethering) - the link between laptop and phone modem is established through either USB cable, or wireless (BT, or a kind of wifi). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwPb_5kbm10 Does this have impact on my ability to follow the SMS instructions? And wouldn't I have to register a credit card with the provider, to start with? Or how else am I supposed to make the payment?