tjansen

Go to your local Amper 'Town Hall' they will issue you with the right paper work as before no charge but a tip go's a long way.

Go to your local Amper 'Town Hall' they will issue you with the right paper work as before no charge but a tip go's a long way.

Great answers from everyone. Thank you very much. It looks like it will be a lot easier and simpler than I had thought.

Tom

Hello,

I am on a retirement extension. I want to get a Thai Driver's License. The American embassy charges quite a bit of money, I forget how much, to give a letter verifying address. I read on the forum that I can get the required proof at the Immigration Office. Is anyone familiar with the procedure to do this? And is there a fee? I plan to do it while I am there for my 90 day report.

Thank you.

A lot of debate here on the conductivity of water, which is pointless!

In my scenario the water conducted enough to give me worrying tingles when I touched the taps, enough for me to take action and get it Earthed properly.

Water and electricity don't mix.. simple as that!

Pure/distilled water is indeed a very bad conductor but we won't be coming across that in Thailand unfortunately.

My experience was similar to Satcommlee's. I live in an apartment. I started feeling a slight tingle when I touched the tap, with water on. I reported it to the management. They knew exactly what I meant, and they had an electrician run a ground wire from the heater unit (inside the unit) back to the main electrical panel (the one that serves all of the apartments on my floor). I don't feel the tingle anymore.

Hello, and thank you very much for the (so far) four great posts. They are very useful and even more than I had hoped for. If anyone else has input, it will be very much appreciated. I will let you know what the outcome is.

This forum amazes me with the amount of knowledge, experience, and helpfulness it offers on all levels and all topics.

Tom

Hello,

I am writing on behalf of my Thai lady friend. She wants to buy a smart phone and has looked at Samsung phones. She would like to spend around 8,000 baht but would go to maybe 12,000 if there were a compelling reason.

She uses Facebook and hotmail. She has the phone choice narrowed down to Ace, Core, Win, and Grand. I cannot help her make the choice as I am pretty clueless in the matter. I have never owned a smart phone.

Thanks a lot for any help.

Tom

OK -- thanks Harry --- finally figured it out! Ha!

Hello Addonvalue, could you now please explain to me how to start a new topic?

Even from inside a forum, I don't seem to be able to find the "Post New Topic" button. I have seen it and used it before, but I have no idea how I got to that point.

Similar to what you say about yourself, I am pretty slow at getting around these forums, so if you could give me very detailed instructions how you found that "Post New Topic" option, I would appreciate it.

Tom

The information you provided doesn't say much that's useful. I'm not aware of anything called "Skype Audio Files" that can be downloaded. I also did a Google search and didn't come up with anything either.

However there's several ways to play audio files to the person(s) on the other end of the call depending on operating system and sound driver without downloading any programs, or using some other Skype add-on apps.

Please clarify what program you actually downloaded, your operating system, and sound driver you're using in order to get better assistance.

Did you download this http://sourceforge.net/projects/skypeplayer/ ?

If not give it a go.

Hello,

The program I downloaded is the same as the one in Crossy's reply, called Skype Player. I tried downloading it (again), and when I copy a music file (MP3) into it, then make a Skype call and try to click on the play button, nothing happens.

I have Windows XP. My computer references the Realtek HD Audio Output / Input in the Control Panel section. Is that what you mean by sound driver?

Thanks for any help.

Tom Jansen

I found something that worked. In Control Panel, Sounds and Audio Devices, Audio, Sound Recording, Volume. I check marked Stereo Mix. Both parties in a Skype call can now hear the sound file I am playing.

Thanks for you interest and help.

Tom

The information you provided doesn't say much that's useful. I'm not aware of anything called "Skype Audio Files" that can be downloaded. I also did a Google search and didn't come up with anything either.

However there's several ways to play audio files to the person(s) on the other end of the call depending on operating system and sound driver without downloading any programs, or using some other Skype add-on apps.

Please clarify what program you actually downloaded, your operating system, and sound driver you're using in order to get better assistance.

Did you download this http://sourceforge.net/projects/skypeplayer/ ?

If not give it a go.

Hello,

The program I downloaded is the same as the one in Crossy's reply, called Skype Player. I tried downloading it (again), and when I copy a music file (MP3) into it, then make a Skype call and try to click on the play button, nothing happens.

I have Windows XP. My computer references the Realtek HD Audio Output / Input in the Control Panel section. Is that what you mean by sound driver?

Thanks for any help.

Tom Jansen

Hello, Maybe someone can help.

I found a program called Skype Audio Files and Downloaded it, but I can't get it to work. Does anyone know a simple way to play sound files while on a Skype call so the other person can also hear them?

Please note that I am not very tech savvy, so if you say "Just select the stereo input", I will have no idea what to do. In other words, please give a little more detail than you would probably think is required. Thank you for this.

Thanks.

Tom

Hello,

Does anyone know where I can get a small quantity of 100% Pure Gum Spirits of Turpentine in Thailand? I think that means that it comes from a tree vs. coming from petroleum.

Thanks,

Tom

I developed tendonitis around my knee (not from using the squat toilet), so I got one of those handicap toilet seats mounted on a rolling frame, to roll over the squatter in the building where I spend a good part of my day. Perfect fit, although probably not for all installations. For traveling, it can still be difficult, but I can usually find a sitter along the way.

It might ultimately be easier, simpler, less expensive to utilize audio-conferencing services? All participants would call in, often to a free number, enter a PIN and get bridged into your conference. Or you,a s the conference manager, can initiate out-bound calls to conference participants.

Maybe check with TOT and CAT? There may also be some local VoIP solutions which would allow you to host a conference of both traditional (mobile/fixed-line) and IP end-points

How are you doing this now? Typically one can only bridge a 3-way call.

I am currently using Skype conferencing. As I mentioned, most of the participants don't have Skype or the Internet, so I pay charges for calling mobile phones.

Are you joking?

The copper in the lines that make telephonic communications possible costs over $8000 per metric tonne. Fibre cable is massively more expensive. And what about all the network switches and routers that shuttle the bits and bytes around? A single cabinet in a data centre full of Cisco or Juniper network equipment will cost a least $100,000 to deploy.

"$0.017 US per minute" --- is this not cheap enough already ?

Just my 2 cents

edit: fair enough there might be a voip/sip company with plans that are easier to manage but if you can work out how to manage the account then 1.7c min is hardly expensive in any country let alone Thailand.

OK, so I'm cheap, I confess.

Apple facetalk. It's free if via a wifi link.

Can I use a wifi link on my end to call a standard mobile phone on their end, including conference calls? These people don't have Internet.

If they have a smart phones then Tango or Viber etc. They could also then have Skype on their smart phone Iphone or Andriod. If not I don't think you get much cheaper than Skype for Thai to Thai call landline or mobile also. Me interested in any service that do better this rate.

It sounds like Skype is close to the cheapest, but it requires managing a tricky subscription system. You can purchases a 400 minute package for Thailand, I forget the price, but if that runs out in the middle of your call, your rate reverts to the regular rate, and it seems to drop my call at the same time. Also, you cannot buy a second 400 minute package; you have to buy a different amount of minutes, like 120. Then both of these subscriptions automatically renew on a certain calendar day, maybe a month after purchase. Too tricky for me to save money over the other options mentioned on this thread.

I singed up for Skype premium service $18.00 a month, no problem first couple of days, the third day my wife could not call all the people she called all the time such as her sister and mother, after searching Skype forums and having an internet chat with a Skype representative I was told that these numbers were blocked from Thailand, could not tell by whom but most likely the Thai government or Telephone company, upon further research I found out that this happens a lot to numbers you call a lot or talk on for a long time,

So I canceled my Skype subscription and went back to my VOIP Lingo. $32 a month unlimited talk to land lines and cell phone , never had a problem for years.

This sounds like it would save me money. What is the difference between the $23.95 version and the $30+ version for mobile phones? Also, how much is it with taxes added on?

Thanks a lot.

Hello,

I am currently making a weekly conference call to two, three, or four people. I live in Thailand and am calling Thai phones. I am using Skype, but only one person that I call has Skype or the Internet. The others only have their cell phones.

If I buy a special subscription on Skype, I think it still costs around $0.017 US per minute, which is about 1/3 the cost of using regular Skype minutes.

Does anyone know of a cheaper way? The call lasts 60 minutes, so it amounts to about $1.00 per connection per week, and if I don't manage my subscription well (a little tricky with Skype), it can cost $3.00 per connection.

I reviewed a thread and saw a lot of options, including magicjack, rebtel, and several others, but I am hoping someone can make it easy for me by suggesting one that fits my situation.

Thanks for any help.

Tom

Can anyone tell me what is required for a translator (Thai citizen) to become qualified to stamp translations of documents that are to be submitted to Thai government offices? Also for various embassies?

This is probably not the right forum. Can someone please put my post in the right place?

Thanks in advance.

Tom

no way you need to spend $600 on a smart phone. it's not clear if you want to buy a phone in US or Thailand? Regardless, I recommend this Lenovo a789 <$200 shipped http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y or this Zopo zp100 with a better LCD and camera, but only single core CPU...either one will be more than enough for you and run any app you need. http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y ...They're both DUAL-SIM and have front cameras as well for video chat (skype etc..), and all the sensors (gravity/light/compass etc etc..)

If you're nervous about ordering from China (which you shouldn't be, assuming you go with a well reviewed vendor on Aliexpress), I'd suggest one of the Wellcom models in Thailand.

Thanks for all of the useful answers. I think I should determine the best plan from these ideas, then run it by the forum again to make sure I didn't miss something.

Tom

What about their hands and arms.

I am on a short trip to the US, and someone here told me they bought an htc Evo Android smart phone for $200. Their provider is Sprint. Not sure if there was a contract.

Someone in Thailand told me the best value in a phone would be a Samsung S3, which, from my brief search on the Internet, seems to cost 21,000 baht.

I have heard of an application with which you can speak into the phone in English or Thai, and the application translates it and displays it in text in the translated language. I would like that application. I would also like to have a good Thai-English English-Thai dictionary.

I know extremely little about this whole world of smart phones, but I know that I would rather spend $200 than $700 if either one would get me what I want. Of course, monthly operating cost would figure into the picture.

I currently have DTAC as my provider in Ratchaburi Province.

Thanks for any guidance and explanation on this matter.

Tom

Hello,

Can anyone comment on the relative time / cost effectiveness of attending courses at Unity Thai Language School or maybe Piammitr Language School or some similar institution, with learning online from High Speed Thai, which I have learned a lot from, or from Learning-Thai-Podcast which I am considering combining with High Speed Thai, which I saw that another TV member had done.

One thing that attracts me to Learning-Thai-Podcast is that they have a suggested schedule to follow for a year, and it looks like it would be simple to follow. That kind of direction appeals to me.

Thanks for any insight on this matter.

Tom

UPDATE: 1 year and 4 months after using HST

Well I finish the course in about 1 year, and I can say that the money spent on this course wasn't wasted,

I have learned a lot from this course, I can have a basic conversation with native Thais, plus if I have a problem speaking the correct tone of a word I can write it down,

this is a very well put together course, it isn't a course that was put together overnight,

Now I have started reviewing the course about a month ago, and there are few words that I have forgotten and with the review the words are coming right back to my brain and hopefully stay there.

and while doing the review I have open the media player and have increased the speed to 2, and I'm able to catch every word, this is a big difference from when I started, that I could only let the media player play and didn't even dare to speed up the m player,

Overall this is an excellent course that will give you a good foundation to learn Thai, after I finish reviewing, I believe I'll have a much better understanding on the Thai language structure,

Because I don't live in Thailand I'm not able to use my Thai on a daily basis, so after I finish reviewing HST, I'll try to find other courses to further my study of the Thai language.

Vincent if you are reading this, GREAT JOB! on creating this course.

Has anyone tried LTP, Learn-Thai-Podcast? Any comments on it?

Thanks,

Tom

It is a normal work day, so there is no respon why they should be closed. The holiday starts tomorrow and governemnt will open up shop on Tuesday again.

Thanks for the reply. I got my extension today.

I want to give a little heads up. Even though you have the thirty-day window preceding the due date for renewing your extension, the letter from the bank and the copied pages of the bank book have to be done within seven days of when you choose to go to immigration. For example, in my case, I entered the 30 day window on March 26, and soon thereafter, maybe 30 March, I made a deposit, updated my book, copied pages, and got the bank letter, so I would be ready to go.. Today, 12 days later, when I went to immigration, I had to make another 500 baht deposit, and redo the bank book update, copies, and the bank letter, because it was longer than 7 days.

Tom

Hello,

Can anyone confirm that the Nakon Pathom Immigration office is open on 12 March?

Thanks,

Tom