GreenSnapper

Accident insurances are Nonsense.

The real risk is illness and that includes accidents. Illness in high age are much more common than accidents.

So insure yourself accordingly, but insure only the really expensive risks. Cancer, heart transplants etc.

If you were a new subscriber, and wanted a time-based 3G package, you could get the same 20 hours for 99 baht, full 3G speed.

http://www.happy.co.th/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=281&Itemid=265〈=th

with the service request: *104*12# SEND

So it appears if your current 2G plan is directly replaceable with a 3G plan then the *3000# service message enables 3G.

Most of the time-based plans carry forward, but there are more, new volume-based plans (generally recommended for smartphone apps.) now. Actually, if you are careful 40 minutes per day at 8 Mbps would be manageable. But I think many prefer to leave their device connected 7x24 on a volume-based plan?

This is exactly the plan I have. Actually it is 99 Baht+tax, so something around 106 Baht. It will be renewed each month if there is sufficient funds, otherwise it will be cancelled automatically.

For iPhones and Androids it is probably better not to have a time limit as they are more or less constantly online.

Nokias are a bit smarter and disconnect when no internet is needed. A simple email lookup costs only 20 seconds or so, and the GPS helper only another second.

So for my model of usage, 20 hours is plenty. I often use only half of that. Of course, if you surf a lot then this will not apply.

OK guys, just tried the new DTAC-3G and it is amazingly fast. I have only a 20 hour package for 100 Baht for my prepaid Happy-SIM and get the full speed:

So yes, you have to enable it with *3000# and wait for the SMS. After that you can use 3G.

I also tried Skype and it works flawless!

Thanks, lomatopo!

The APN is the same I use with Edge, so it should work out of the box.

I will do some tests and will see if I only get 384Kbs or more. Anyway, everything will be better than Edge....

Or is there anything i have to do with DTAC to enable 3G with my phone/number?

Try dial *3000# and call

Thanks, that should make it working according to DTAC website:

Current dtac customers who subscribed for unlimited mobile internet package will receive automatic upgrade which entitles them to the dtac 3G service. For current dtac customers who subscribe for other packages, simply dial *3000# and press call (toll free) to enable the dtac 3G service. There is currently no additional charge for the dtac 3G service

What is the make/model of your phone? Do you have a DTAC SIM? A 3G or older unlimited data plan? Did you set up the APN properly? Reboot the phone? Has your phone worked previously on 850 Mhz 3G networks?

In general, and every phone is different, you should be able to use an automatic setting for network acquisition, like GSM/WDCMA.

It is a new Nokia smartphone with all relevant 3G frequencies. 3G has always worked in other countries, should not be an issue in Thailand.

I have a internet plan with DTAC, but it connects only via Edge. Obviously, as it cannot connect to 3G.

I will test some other cell towers in my vicinity, it may be a local problem.

Or is there anything i have to do with DTAC to enable 3G with my phone/number?

The target tenant market for these 'chicken cages' are Japanese/Korean as space is not such an issue for them. I am looking to buy one of these smaller high end 1 br condos (5-7 million) and Jap/Kor will be my prime targets- they also make much more reliable and trustworthy tenants than farangs i have to say.

Regarding the tenants, this makes sense. Esp. when it comes to Japanese tenants.

But you must consider: not all of these are happy with a "cage". Some of them are on well paid company salaries and go for much larger places.

The second problem is the over supply. That basically makes the bubble: with the growing number of condos in that price range, there is no growing number of potential Japanese or Korean tenants. Even now they have quite a choice if they want to rent.

This means, your condo will not be rented out 12 months a year. That will drastically reduce your yearly return, not to talk about the efforts and costs finding new tenants, paying agents etc.

I'm not sure, the current bubble will burst so soon. It can go on for some more years. In my observation, it is not only Thai investors who buy into property, but also wealthy Chinese. There is money in Asia and it looks for opportunities.

But the bubble will burst some day, this is for sure.

I purchased 4 small 35 - 38 sq. meter units in a new development on the outskirts of Sathorn ... not on the BTS or MRT but within a 20-minute walk to them and near several embassies, including the Australian embassy. These units cost roughly 55,000 Baht per sq. meter so roughly about 2 million Baht each.

They rent for between 15,000 - 18,000 Baht per month and stay rented.

That is a present market rent you can ask from some single young expats or even middle class Thais.

But 55K/m2 is past price. The bubble prices of new developments are 100K and more.

If you buy a new condo, 35m2 and pay 3.5 Million, rent out for 15K/month, your yearly return will be less than 5% after maintenance fees - supposed it is rented out 12 months a year.

Not a great return if you consider that this condo is probably run down after 10 years and basically cannot be sold.

no doubt you can still get a chicken cage for 3/4k a month on outer suk 100+ areas, if you don't mind living amongst thais as a lone farang with factory workers, drivers, security guards,drunks, eat papaya pok pok and take 3 hours bus ride work to central bkk daily..... hey if that is all you afford then that is all you can afford.........

central bkk prime areas has it's own game......that is why people have been saying location over and over......

You must be an agent I suppose....

I live in a prime hi-so area near BTS, 120m2, including maid service and pay 40K.

I'd never stay in the overpriced cages you advertise here.....

I can't get a 3G connection with DTAC near BTS Ari. My phone has 850 MHz, so it should work.

Coverage maps indicate there should be coverage in that area. What is the make/model of your phone? Do you have a DTAC SIM? A 3G or older unlimited data plan? Did you set up the APN properly? Reboot the phone? Has your phone worked previously on 850 Mhz 3G networks?

Of course it is a DTAC SIM

I cannot connect in 3G mode to the tower. Means, even no phone calls possible. Have to set it to GSM.

it's possible, depends on location, here are the rental rates on 10 yrs old condo off prom pong BTS considered prime suk area, where I wanted to buy a unit, the condo is fully rented/occupied and the only unit i found up for sale 100k/m2 for a 30m2 space, anyway agent couldn't contact owner on time so i ended up buying at the same area but on opposite side of suk road

30~39 m2 studio ...... 20~25K per month

40~42 1 bed ...... 32~33K

62 2 bed ...... 40~45K

70~73 2 bed ...... 50K

Ridiculous prices for such chicken cages. And I seriously doubt it is fully rented/occupied.

It is probably fully sold out, the owner cannot resell without big loss and nobody would rent for such costs.

No wonder the agent could not contact the owner. Probably empty since long and the owner has already given up.

Unless the condo building is in exceptionally good condition and maintenance. Have yet to see a 10 year old place with that attributes....

I can't get a 3G connection with DTAC near BTS Ari. My phone has 850 MHz, so it should work.

Have yet to see any such returns here.

We lease a new house, owners gets (gross) 4.2% return.

That sounds reasonable.

But newer condos (and some older too) in BKK base their rent on 7-8% return. That's why in a single block you can easily visit 10 units, each empty for months already, but the owner will not reduce the price a single Baht.

I think your example is not really correct because most people that buy into the low end market are not buying as an investment but they are buying to just live in the place instead of renting.

If there is indeed a property bubble I would expect it to be in the higher priced properties.

From my observation in BKK, up to 80% of newly built condos are empty. They cannot be sold for the profit the owner expects as there are new condos built everywhere.

And they cannot be rented too, because for their inflated rents Thais would prefer to buy and farangs seldom have the money.

I agree it is a bubble. Based on greed and lack of abilities to make some simple calculations. But the bubble could go on for some more years.

A 3m baht property is not going to attract a 25k per month rental payment - in my experience obviously - and I live on Phuket!

Even on Phuket, any house realising 25k per month would need to be v attractive with a swimming pool. Or, VERY close to the beach.

Really? That cheap?

Reasonable houses with pool near beach in Pattaya/Hua Hin would be at least 50K/month rent.

Here in BKK, owners try to rent out trashy condos for 7-8% yearly yield. In most cases they don't succed and the property is empty for months or even years.

Bad investment.

Lots of white skin girls in Khao San

But after few days they are red.

Reminds me.... Have to buy some more beer before midnight.....

tigerwan quote

How many men really do the day to day child rearing , cooking and cleaning that women are expected to do in addition to working.

unquote

None that I know of. Womens work.

And why should men do that at all?

Almost everything you see has been created by men. The roads, the BTS, the shopping centers....

These men work their ass off 12 hours per day. And then some feminists come and demand even more work at home.

So.... you want another heterosexual (white) male to be around you while you chat up the ostensibly interested Thai ladies, in a nightclub... why?

Some interesting theories that come to mind:

1. I need someone who is less attractive so I look better

2. I'm afraid the Thai men will beat me up if I'm alone

3. I'm afraid the Thai ladies will beat me up if I'm alone

4. I'm secretly gay but can't just come right out and

What an unnecessarily nasty post. Honestly, there is no requirement to reply if you don't like a post and are not going to answer it, but just want to see your own clever writing on a shiny screen. Really, just move on if you're not going to answer a post, it makes for a more pleasant reading experience.

There is *NOTHING* strange about this post, and makes perfect sense. The guy just wants to explore non-tourist, non-sexpat nightlife, and as a result he's flamed.

I fully agree.

There are just too many people here in this forum who have no knowledge on game, female psychology and so on. While this can be read up in the internet in a few hours, they prefer to make denigrating postings - especially against white hetero males.

A wing man makes perfect sense how the OP planned it.

A last point. Thai women are reknowned for their beauty and charms, and it is not a lie to say that western couples who move to Thailand can find their relationship strained, even destroyed, after the man in that relationship has realised that a Thai woman can offer much, much more than a western woman can ever hope to offer her partner.

5555555555555555!

You guys are so full of sh*t on here.

Thanks for proving his point!

And a self supporting visa is something my country will grant me

I am by no means a visa expert but I believe it's Thailand that grants the visa, not Canada

Of course.

This is the same in the whole world.

The only visa they can get is a tourist visa, as they are under 50 and probably not officially working here.

It would be very irresponsible to emigrate to Thailand with small children and live on semi-legal tourist visas and border runs.

A proper alternative would be Malaysia which grants 10 year visas for the under-50 too, as long you can support yourself.

Contrary to the believes here, Malaysia is no longer more expensive than Thailand. And the country is much more reasonable and less corrupt than Thailand. With children, there is no question which I would prefer.

Of course bonobo is speaking in generalizations, but he is still not far off. Why nitpick about it?

Because he tries to educate us not to speak in generalizations.

Reminds me of a while ago, when there was a regular here who never hided his disgust about TV members and at the same time tried to educate us "primitivos" in politically correct thinking.

Nevertheless, discussions on that matters make a lot of fun and being offended is certainly a sign that you need a thicker skin.

4. Sex on the second or third date. If she refuses -> next her.

I feel sorry for your shallow perspective.

I know... It's not fair to let the girl wait such long.

Please forgive my flurry of posts but none of you sexless sally's has suggested another word (not feeling or mind reading) to replace boom boom. One can only assume you don't ever talk about intercourse in Thai.

We speak English and they say 'fuc_k'. Me too.

Is that understandable for everybody?

Stereotypes are based on experiences. Mostly correct.

Like experiences with a Thai taxi driver. Or with a PC American.

"oh... not again...."