Lordfoul

monty, mumudvb looks very interesting, but the instructions seem a bit confusing. Did you have to downgrade your dvb api to get this to work? would you mind posting your config file for the DM500s?

Thank you.

For those who go to Mae Sai, I picked up 2 DM500s (clones) for 5,000 Baht total at the market in Tachileik at the end of last year. Best price I have seen by far.

mumudvb is the software you'd need on the Dreambox.

Needs a bit of tweaking, but when working it can stream up to 3 TV channels and 1 radio channel simultaneously (obviously if on the same transponder). Can't do more due to CPU/memory limitations...

Which I would say is pretty nifty for a 3,900 Baht box.

If you take the Train it looks like you have to go to Bangkok (or close to it) to get to Nong Khai http://www.seat61.com/Map-SEAsia.htm

By bus it sounds like a less than enjoyable way to start a vacation.

If you are going to Luang Prabang and Vientiane You may want to consider taking Lao Air. They Fly Chiang Mai - Luang Prabang - Vientiane.

I have never stayed over in Luang Prabang but I highly recommend the Laos Orchid http://www.lao-orchid.com/ in Veintiane it is clean, has a friendly staff and close to the river front.

I want to take my wife to Laos for a brief holiday but I am not too sure of the best way to go, we could take a bus to UT and then to Nong Khai but I would rather take a train. Is it possible to take a train from CM to Nong Khai without going via BKK?

Maybe it would be easier to fly CM to UT and then catch the bus to NK then the train across the Mekong and bus to Vientiane.

Can anyone recommend a hotel in Vientiane mid range, also in Luang Prabang,

Thanks,

Colin

Last October I noticed a new (I think) Hotel near the border, part of the row of shops on the main road. It had a nice newly redone shop front and advertised LCD TV and Internet access. I neglected to get the name or the phone number. Does any one who has been up there recently have any information?.

Thanks

In the end the Guests are 27$ out of pocket (9$x3) - 2$ that the member of staff pocketed = 25$ (the cost of the room)

And to keep this on topic Taksin is the staff member with the sticky fingers.

I'm still confused.

From the BKK post article (game theory):

3 people pay 30 dollars for a hotel room or 10 dollars each

manager realises the hotel overcharged them because the real price is 25 dollars

so he gives a member of staff 5 dollars to return to the guests

the member of staff pockets 2 dollars and returns 1 dollar each to the guests

so the guests paid 10 dollars each but received a 1 dollar refund = 9 dollars each or 27 dollars total

the member of staff kept 2 dollars.

27 + 2 = 29 dollars. Where did the other dollar go?

It's kept me awake

How?

I cross my fingers for a legal casino in Thailand. Its the best way to stop the illegal gambling.

For European brands your choices are mostly limited to Home Pro, HomiKitch and Index Living Mall.

The selection is mostly Identical between the three. The price will depend who has the best deal for the brand you are looking for at the time you are looking.

When I outfitted my Kitchen with Fagor (Stove, hood, Microwave, Oven, and dishwasher) Index living Mall had the best price, The next month Home Pro had the best price for the same appliances. HomiKitch was always the most expensive (for my items)

My stuff bought at Index Living Mall was installed by the same installer who does Homikitch, I am not sure about Home pro, although if you live in Chiang Rai you may be installing it yourself.

It is also my understanding that out of all of the European brands only Teka has has service in Chiang Mai.

If you are buying a Dishwasher keep in mind that they are still not very common here and sometimes the soap can be hard to find, so stock up.

In addition buying a single brand will usually net you a better deal as each brand has its own sales person.

Good Luck

I am using Maxnet Premier and can not connect to it. It does load through a web proxy though.

If you are using TT&T Premiere internet service in Chiang Mai, can you please tell me if you can open http://www.tfnn.com ? I used to be able to access it. Now I must use a proxy server to reach it.

People in Bangkok have told me they have no problem accessing it. I am unable to open it on several machines, operating systems, and browsers. Making me a lttle nutty. Thanks.

Jedi is another good place http://www.jedicool.com/

Download the GParted Live CD here http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gparted/g...mp;big_mirror=0 (This is a CD image)

Burn to a blank CD using ImgBurn http://download.imgburn.com/SetupImgBurn_2.4.2.0.exe

Then Boot off of the CD.

Then Follow the guides from previous posts.

gparted is a linux tool, and it would seem that it can be used for Vista (not sure about XP) by booting from a CD rom.

I have downloaded some set up files but they won't open, and I doubt they are the right ones anyway.

I have read a number of sites on this, (from all your links), but I'm afraid I get lost.

It is far too complicated for me.

I always use GParted Live CD http://gparted.sourceforge.net/livecd.php It is genuinely free and full featured.

Sorry to say that but I now really don't understand what you want to achieve? Partition Magic IS defiantly doing the job you are looking for.

As I mentioned in my post before - if you have Seagte HDD then Segate FREE wizard will do this job for you. Other HDD brands may have the same utilities available (for free)

Let us at least know, on what kind of HDD brand you want to merge the partions. It's also interesting to learn what file system you use. Still FAT32, NTSF...?

In case you are based in Bangkok or Pattaya there are some well known IT shopping centers where you can get the software you need.

Yes, you are quite correct, Partition Magic will do the job, but the demo version I downloaded won't - because it is a demo, and when I tried the "free trial" download for Magic, the downloads wouldn't work - none of them. I don't want to pay for software that will only ever use once, although I will certainly look in Pattaya next time I go.

My disc drive is HITACHI and file system is NTSF.

I have had UBC on since 5pm (it is 10pm now) here in Chiang Mai, it it has been working fine on my Dreambox and Topfield.

As per the title..

Lost sat earlier in the day (snr dropped to 50%, 0 agc, ber) and was intermittant for a bit.. But solid gone now..

UBC thier usual unhelpful lot.. I use dreamboxes and so they become doubly hostile (or fail to comprehend that anyone might use an aftermarket STB).. I have put the true topfield junk all back in the system but thats even less useful for error codes or fail problems. It wont update to anything useful.

UBC maintain they are not having any outage.. So wondering if a setting has changed and my boxes cant auto update ??

Everyone else watching fine ??

You can find Lactobacillus in the dairy section of pretty much all grocery stores here. look for the tiny bottles (about 2 sips worth) of pink liquid, one brand is called Yakult.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakult

One of the main brands of yogurt sold her also advertises that it contains Lactobacillus in it. I think there is a large LC on the label.

Hi all. I want to eat some probiotic acidophilus culture somewhere. In the USA we can buy milk that already has it. It's good for a lady's health in more ways than one, and also good for everybody's intestinal health. I know some vitamin stores here sell the pills, but I think it is better to eat the culture live. Do any of you buy milk or yogurt around the city with it ? Where please ? Thank you for your help!

Lately I have been using Astraweb. $11 a month for unlimited usage. It works great and uses my full bandwidth, retention is a bit less than giganews though.

http://www.news.astraweb.com/specials/kleverig-11.html

I use two ISP's - True at my home and CS Lox at the office - both are ADSL and work ok.

However, I cannot download any newsgroup articles with either. I am not seeking to access the ISP's news server since I know they don't have any but I want to access msnews.microsoft.net and other newsgroups hosted on Giganews server for which I pay each month.

Until recently I could get the articles using True but now I get time outs and only a few articles download very slowly.

Are they throttling it or trying to close it off ?

Any ideas ?

I use Giganews service through Maxnet and JI-Net in Pattaya............no problem here connecting and downloading.

I search via binsearch and download with newsbin.

I used this same form on Dec 24th with out any problems.

...

This should be the correct form: http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/img/visa.pdf

Of course the consulate could change the form and not post the change on the website.

The PDF file on the consulates website is a scanned image of the application form used by the Vientiane consulate and I believe some members posted that they used a printout of that form and the consulate accepted it.

--

Maestro

I agree that most people were for the drug war, But I disagree that it was successful. Drugs are as free flowing as ever. The popularity seemed to be based on what people thought was happening and not what was actually happening.

Getting rid of hard drugs does 'sound' like a good idea.

Murdering people who have been labeled as 'Dark influences' does not.

Most people (friend and foe) thought it was an excellent thing to do, especially because it was largely successful.

Right Wing ?? Hah! This wasn't a welfare program that was set up to help the poor. These were loans extended to people who could not afforded to pay them back and when they came due they were forgiven. This is not a responsible way to run a government. But it is a great way to 'legally' bribe people.

I supposed as a self described left winger you supported Taksins 'war on drugs' where the Police (Thaksins Military) murdered hundreds of people. No trials just bullets to the head. Just one of his many 'left wing' policies

You better look down. I think you are wearing your shoes on the wrong feet.

The 'Circles' I move in mostly consist of Middle class Tax paying Thais

Well, that explains a lot. Actually, so do I, but that does not make me blind for the plight of the less fortunate, who are still in the (electoral) majority in Thailand.

who resent a man who took the tax money they paid in and used it as bribe money (no Payback loans) for his base.

Typical right wing statement.. Keep the rich rich, and the poor poor. No spreading the wealth, keep the poor down.

How about you?

I finds myself getting more and more left-wing the longer I stay in Thailand. The Times (UK) quoted dr. Giles Ungpakorn with some very good comments, among which was calling the Democrats the 'cockroach party'. Google it.

The 'Circles' I move in mostly consist of Middle class Tax paying Thais who resent a man who took the tax money they paid in and used it as bribe money (no Payback loans) for his base.

How about you?

I don't know what circles some of the posters here move in, but I've found a strong pro-Thaksin sentiment among the Thais that I know and talk with. Maybe I'm more at home with ordinary Thais who work for a living, and not the "chattering classes".

Yes, I believe so... I remember a couple of weeks ago they were detained for something. If the government wants any credibility they will have to prosecute some leaders. It will be interesting to see how it is handled.

Has anyone even bothered to charge them with anything?

Did the PAD leaders flee the country to escape prosecution? If so then they should definitely have their passports revoked.

The last thing they want is him in Thailand and putting him in jail might make him a martyr figure even bigger than before.

I overheard some of my staff talking about Abhisit Vejjajiva's claim that he would immediately revoke Thaksin's passport. They wanted to know when he would do the same to the leaders of PAD.

It's funny, But most Northern Thais I know Hate Thaksin also.

I find it very interesting reading the national forum because everybody in Bangkok seems to hate Tahksin. They are very pro PAD and Abhisit Vejjajiva. I think they are nuts and both sides are equally screwy. I am expecting a civil war in the near future. Anyone think that is too far fetched?

About a year ago I was regularly Uploading Files to a server in the US at 80kB/s via FTP on a cheap 1000 baht/month Hinet (Cat/TTT) line. On a Leased Line I was getting near full capacity uploads.

I haven't seen any line/service in Thailand that will give you more than 40kb/s upload to server/machine that located outside the country, even on CAT lines. Inside Thailand it will go up to 50-60kb/s connecting to torrents/smtp/ftp.

It depends on the Type of Visa you have. If you re-enter on a Multi entry tourist visa you get 60 Days. A Multi entry B would get you a 90 Day stamp.

-

Sorry if this has been reported already, but I haven’t seen anything. Additionally, it probably doesn’t affect most participants in this forum, but I thought it worth mentioning anyway.

An American tourist told me a couple of days ago he went up to the border town of Mae Sai to get another 30 day stamp, but was only issued with 14 days. When he queered this, they said from now only those entering into Thailand by air, train or boat, will get the 30 day stamp on entry, and all foot passengers will get just the 14 days.

It doesn’t affect me personally, but thought it might be worth throwing out here for others, or for clarification from anyone else with more up to date info.

Cheers

Aitch

If you have a Visa already such as a multiple entry tourist visa you will still get 30 days at the land borders. It's only if you don't have a visa that you will get 14 days. Correct?

If you give Thai Immigration a Copy of your Passport instead of your actual Passport this indicates to them that you would like to go into Burma with out disrupting your current Visa (No stamps). It is a way of unofficially leaving the country.

I was there yesterday w/ family.

Crossed over into "tikonmylip" and spent a couple o hours watching the freak show.

Upon my return, immigration, for some reason, met me out front of the entry point, with a broad smile on his face, took my little copy of my passport with all the little stamps on it and proceeded to hand me back my passport.

"Ah, lucky me" I thought, another year stamp on my OA mulitple visa...

The horror which struck me was noticed by all family members when we returned to our vehicle.

They had not stamped ANYTHING into the good book. They had just held onto it whilst I went on a out of country vacation.

Did I do something wrong?

Did I not utilize the correct entry/exit point?

<deleted>?

I must admit though..probably the nicest immigration folks I have dealt with in the Realm ( to use JB Goode's expression..all credits to the author )

It was somewhat busy, but only counted 5 "western" type people coming in and out whilst I sat at the duty free area sipping the "Champagne of canned beers..."Myanmar Lager" ( my Thai cousin thought it is and was total crap..)

Thank God the "Lay down and take it" brigade is here.

Quick say "This is Thailand" so we can all nod our heads in agreement and smile knowingly.

If you do nothing you will get nothing!

LOL..........

How long have you been in Thailand ?

Save ur money (or give it to me if u want to waste it ) - u aint got a hope in h.ell.

When I went to Laos in April there was a person in front of me holding around a dozen application She left the line and came back a few minutes later with someone from the embassy who opened a second line with her at the front. The people with her did not have to wait in line but they did have to go to the desk when she called them.

Lots of travel agents arrange visas for their clients here in Thailand. Hard to believe there are none in Laos.