ex Toon Army

"Big Shoe Sale: Buy One, Get One Free." Notice in shoe shop on Tapae Road.

Sounds like a throw back to one of Toxsin's voting persuaders.

Cheers

STB = Set Top Box

PAS = Name of a satellite

PSI = Name of a satellite company

FTA = Free To Air

Hope this helps

Oh, and TMB = Thai Military Bank

Yes mate thanks, that's a big help, things are a lot clearer now, now that you've unscrambled my signal and pointed me in the right direction.

This site may be of some use to the uninitiated - like what I am: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/faq.html#stb

BTW there is one more you forgot: UBC

Cheers

PS Sorry newcomer01 not taking the p***, just trying to lighten the discussion.

There are many options but the DM 500 STB seems the best and most efficient for the long term. Auto updates etc. Once the moveable dish and the STB is connected and setup that should be it. I am going to get the DM 500 myself. Wish it was available when I started looking into satellite dishes etc.

Get the STB from Bkk and buy the dish in Chiangmai and get one of the local companies to install it for you.

The Dynasat STB (F1 STB, I here the angel box is a bit more reliable) picking up the "Dream" is a bit hit and miss with the weather and the encryption problems, sometimes going down for hours - days at time.

If you want the rugby - Super 14's it can be picked up on Australia Network on PAS 8 but the games are encrypted. Australia Network will send you a smart card for free but it cannot be used on the current Dynasat STBs. I got PSI sat (Mahidol Rd) to install a fixed dish a 3 years ago to pick the PAS 8 satellite up and it works fine but it is has very limited FTA and very few English channels. (the PSI people said that to pick up PAS 8 it required a fixed dish because of the angle.) Good viewing though.

I got a package deal with North Star Satellite late 2005 to set up a Dynasat moveable dish and F1 STB. They installed it with OK but and it works fine apart from the hit and miss from "Dream" which is not their fault. The price was about 20K baht. Many satellites to choose from but many of the channels are encrypted.

Nice enough people but backup service is very slow and the ability to sort out queries is hampered by language and the experience.

There is also a shop which sells Satellite bits and pieces and will do installion on Chiangmoi road on the same side as Mikes burgers on the corner heading down the road about 150 mtrs just before the TMB. I have not used them but bought some bits and pieces and they appeared to know what they thay were talking about a helped me with some queries. No English though.

Good luck

Don

DM 500 STB..PAS 8...PSI...FTA...F1 STB?????

Well you confused the f*** out of me. Nice one!! I think your last sentence summed it all up very nicely.

Cheers

Following a few late nights I have called into the local Tesco Express outlet at a local petrol station, to grab a few bits 'n' pieces for the following day. I have been less than impressed with the quality of the meat products. They appear to have lost that fresh-look that their equivalent in the main Tesco supermarket have. Neither do they seem to have the same shelf life despite what the label states. I had to throw a batch of chicken wings away last night after purchasing them 2 days ago.

Is it possible these minimarts are being used as a dumping ground by the main supermarkets for products nearing their 'best sell by' date in an effort to boost profits and thereby justifying their existence and subsequently strengthening their case for further expansion? Is the irony such that these Tesco Express marts are using the local shoppers to boost sales and therefore eventually giving the kiss of death to the smaller businesses.

Just a thought.

Cheers

Uhmm. Don't you think this item is getting a wee bit thin in the interest division? It seems that it is the same few (bless their cotton socks) who are protracting this issue. Maybe they're the owners of the 2 establishments referenced in the post. Cute way of by passing the "No commercial spam" rule. Heads up moderators!

Or maybe a fairer solution would be to alternate the establishments from time to time. E.g. The QV and The Olde Bell Whatever.

Just a ('Newbie') thought.

Cheers.

The deer and the rats are one of the seven auspicious signs that this was the right place to build Chiang Mai

The founding of the city is chronicled on a document which survives to the present day. According to the document, Mengrai asked two military allies for suggestions on where to establish the city. The divination process revealed seven auspicious signs which were thought to be favorable. These included the presence together of two white sambars, two barking white deer, and a family of five white mice. The fourth sign was the slope of the mountain to the east from the hills of Doi Suthep. The final signs were the presence of streams, rivers, and lakes that indicated an abundance of water. The full name of the new city was Nop Buri Si Nakhon Pingka Chiang Mai.

Many thanks for the info BA. Never a days passes when I'm not amazed by the usefullness of this Forum and the full spectrum of knowledge imparted therein. Keep up the good work.

Cheers and a Merry Christmas.

Snapped this photo while stuck in traffic on the canal bridge on Sridonchai Rd. Anyone know of the significance or story behind these rats? (apart from canals/rats etc)

Cheers

Glad someone else is intrigued!! I have asked my wife several times about those rats and the deer on the other side and always get the response that they just look good!!!

Pied Piper of Chiang Mai perhaps?

JxP

I have to warn you - my posting in a thread seems to have a deadly effect on a discussion . . . . see my last post!!!

No problem JxP I reckon I can live with that. Maybe your day is yet to come.

Thanks for your comments anyway.

eta

Snapped this photo while stuck in traffic on the canal bridge on Sridonchai Rd. Anyone know of the significance or story behind these rats? (apart from canals/rats etc)

Cheers

I was buying it for 6,000 kip (22 Baht) for a big bottle from a local high street shop few weeks ago in Luang Prabang, restaurants/bars were charging anywhere between 10,000 to 15,000 kip (38-57 Baht). Ah! The price of fame!

Cheers

I would suggest that you book in advance of traveling, I hear it is heavily congested with tourists at the moment, accommodation is difficulty to find. There is a grand assortment of guesthouses and several hotels and a resort or two. A Google search for "Pai accommodation" will provide all the info you need. Also be aware that it is very cold in the mornings and evenings, much more so than Chiang Mai, so take your winter woolies with you.

Hope you make it, it's well worth the effort

Cheers

Try the Olde Bell on Loy Kroy Road on Wednesday nights, might be what you're looking for.

Good luck

Come on BB give 'em a chance, nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, unless you're one of the competitors! Cynicism they'll get plenty of, support is what they need. At the end of the day it's us punters that benefit if they do the business. Have a look in and let us know what you think.

Blinky Bill is well qualified to give an expert opinion. He used to own Chiang Mai's finest ever Irish/British pub - The Escape - along with the infamous Eddie.

The best BBQ ribs Thailand has ever known with giant portions and selling for practically nothing. What a great place.

Unfortunately for us, he is out of the food business these days and doing something involving flying airplanes for a lot more money.

Thanks UG, I'm well aware of BB expertise and reputation. I couldn't agree more with your sentiments, that's why I suggested, he drop into the Olde Bell, as he intimated he hadn't been there as yet, and gives us the benefit of his long time experience and maybe, where/if, they are needed, a few pearls of wisdom to the gaffer, I'm sure he would appreciate them.

Likite, as for the Toon getting beat again fear nought, like the Phoenix we will rise again from the ashes (which is more than can be said of England's cricket team) and be mighty again.... though I fear it won't happen this weekend.

Howay the lads!!

I popped into the Olde Bell on Loy Kroy Road a few Sundays ago and tried out the Sunday lunch (see pic) have to say it was a pleasant surprise. All the usual trappings, enough to fill a rumbling stomach and as near to a Brit Sunday lunch as you can find anywhere in CM. A fair selection of wines at reasonable prices and a good variety of beers. Good to see competent competition on the block.

I found a new pub in Loi Kroh Rd last night. It s got Guiness, Tiger and a couple of other things on draught- I had a few pints of Chang. The owner's a Welsh geezer, but dont hold that against him, he's Ok. The place looks great- piccys of old Chiang Mai etc. Foods not brilliant, I guess that'll improve as things go on, worth a look though- its a few hundred metres down Loi Kroh from the moat.

So this is the "Olde Bell"? Besides yourself were there any other customers. Just what Chiang Mai needs....another bar/pub. Wonder how long it willbe before it goes on the market.

Unfortunately I have to agree with Millwall Fan (hate!hate!). I popped into the Olde Bell a few Sundays ago and tried out the Sunday lunch (see pic) have to say it was a pleasant surprise. All the usual trappings, enough to fill a rumbling stomach and as near to a Brit Sunday lunch as you can find anywhere in CM. A fair selection of wines at reasonable prices and a good variety of beers. Good to see competent competition on the block.

Come on BB give 'em a chance, nothing wrong with a bit of healthy competition, unless you're one of the competitors! Cynicism they'll get plenty of, support is what they need. At the end of the day it's us punters that benefit if they do the business. Have a look in and let us know what you think.