FlorC

Yes it is bad in Phrae. I thought last year was the worst , but this cool season the airpolution started even sooner and even worse. Every year it gets worse. The number of days there was a crystal clear view to the little mountains can be counted on your vingers.
It used to be the nights were the worst with daytime numbers dropping , but now it is 24/7 !! 2019 was also very dry , with very late and little rain , I doubt 2020 wil be different.

They stopped showing the numbers for Song & Rong Kwang hospital on aqicn , I don't know why.
Luckily I finaly bought an air purifier , which makes it bareble inside . It's very sad because this is the season I can come out from under the aircon to do some walking to nearby villages or towns. Except for the begin december 2 week cool spell with acceptable PM2,5 numbers , no going out this year. I feel sorry for all the animals , pets who can't protect themselves with purifiers and N95 masks.

Culprits are the farmers and the forest fires. Phrae has no wind , except just before and during thunderstorms. I think Phrae also gets the brunt of Lampang's power station.

Sidenote : Anyone get virus alarms from AVAST when going to http://aqicn.org ?

And while on the topic of PHRAE , without going too much off topic : anyone know why the Phrae immigration thread got deleted ? (also on the Chiang Rai forum) :

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1126354-immigration-office-in-phrae/

14 hours ago, rymizasuwu said:

Today, almost any smartphone is able to meet your needs, take a cost of more than $ 200 and you will not be disappointed.

Somehow I doubt that a 200$ smartphone will give the same quality as the 3 discrete devices .

And I'm not getting spyied on or sharing data.

I should be able to block ANY transmission from the smartphone.

Only USB cable to my computer when needed.

10 hours ago, 2008bangkok said:

the gps isnt that good on phones unless its assisted by cell phone info which then needs a sim

What do you mean ? The reception not as good , that it needs a what kind of cell phone assistance ?

9 hours ago, dddave said:

The simple truth is that all "Free" services, Google Maps included are funded by the sale of the data, including yours, that they generate.  If you use the service, you pay.

BTW, Even your trusted Garmin has a very murky privacy policy.  While, like Apple they do not sell your personal data (Identity specific) they are less clear on usage data.

Maybe with some new types but most handheld GPS don't upload anything unless you put a USB cable in to transfer your waypoints and routes to your computer.  Even then Garmin knows nothing.

I used to transfer those routes/tracks to import into Google earth, but stopped doing so around 2011-12 when I came beware that google was an evil data thief. Needles to say that google earth is long gone from my computer.

Garmin does have bigger screens but resolution is laughable compared to smartphone , and very expensive :https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/c12521-p1.html

Of course my old GPS12 is more like eTrex 10 and not that expensive , well probably with a big premium bought here in Thailand.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/87768#specs

But that's just like being back in 1998.

I can't believe you can't stop smartphones from communicating via wifi/bluetooth or cell-phone wise.

What about small tablets , or phablets ?

Starting from what price do you get quality DAC for audio and a camera as good as point-and-shoot camera's ?

Just from glansing over at the mall , I see big screen phones less than 10k THB . What do you get for that price ?

I know nothing about smartphones , it never interested me.

Is there no "integrated" software for using the GPS in the smartphone's OS ?

Do you have to have an app , that then relays your data to big tech ?

Garmin doesn't always use something like google maps , and it doesn't use my data , maybe that's why the price is so high , you pay for privacy. My GPS 12 didn't have maps .

Now... even though you might be travelling everywhere Offline; be aware that as soon as you are home, and connect to the wifi; your Travel History gets Synced, courtesy of the gmail account on the phone... and this happens even with No SIM installed...

Well I don't have a google account and don't want one but it is unsettling that even without a sim , they transmit . Isn't there a way to shut that down? Not just for spying , but I don't want to generate any cell phone signal/radiation, 2g , 3g or 4g .

Can't you DL maps to the computer and then transfer them to the phone , so using the computer as isolation buffer against uploading data from the phone ?

Traffic Conditions or Speed Limits don't interest me . A Garmin handheld doesn't do these things either.

Besides, depending on where you are, there are many other ways for the boogeyman to find you. CCTV and facial recognition comes to mind.

It's about privacy , not willing to share ANY data , like with my 3 old devices.

Highly unlikely you will find any device that will last years or decades as you desire. The developments in technology means most 'things' are outdated/not supported/buggered within three years of purchase.

If you look at how old my 3 are , 20, 12 and 11 , means I don't care much about  being outdated. I would still be using them if they weren't breaking down and forcing me to consider a 3 in one with a nice big screen.

It is kind of depressing that you can't escape big data collection just wanting a camera , music player and GPS in one.

A lot of avid (or is it rabid) users of smartphones here on T.V. , so maybe some answers.
Here's my situation:
Garmin GPS12 , 20 years old , has lines in the LCD , barely readable or usable.
Fuji point and shoot camera , 12 years old , has spots on the sensor , still usable with a good battery , but those spots , and it seems less acurate .
Cowon music player , 11 years old , battery down to 1/3 , L channel gone . The IC can be replaced but has a 5 x 5 mm package with 32 leads , far beyond my soldering capabilities . I use it now as a mono player. It only has a small screen which is not fun to read off when you're getting older.

Simple , I could buy new ones ! But looking at Garmin ... it's like time stood still. Expensive , small screens , a bother with maps , don't like it.
Point and shoot camera's , yes they still make them , but yet again , small screens , like time stood still again.
Portable music players , sure but then there are these smartphones...beautiful big screens , 3 in one device.

I don't have a smartphone , actually I don't want one , but ....
Those things can have GPS , a good camera and a music player , even video .
So here's my question : which affordable smartphone can replace these 3 devices.
GPS with waypoints, maps , routes to coordinates , offroad ( roads too but not a must) , track plotting into fields or forests.  A beyond Garmin replacer. (with a big screen) .I don't even know if all smartphones have GPS.
A good camera at least as good as simple point a shoot. ( good video cam ok , but not absolutely necessary).
And a good music player that can handle up to 24bit 96khz audio with excellent DAC and HP amp , and of course enough storage , or at least SD card ready.
But all this without having to make a connection with the internet , and certainly no cellphone connection , so if you don't put in a SIM card , you can be 100 % sure it won't make connections . No apps that can spy on me or gather data to send when I make the occasional connection to the internet , or can just use app's downloaded to my computer and then transfered to the smartphone.
In short :
My 3 devices are passive , this means they only can receive , not send any data , so I'm looking for a 3 in one that can stay passive and private  and can last for years or decades....like my old stuff.
There are so many smartphones , I have never owned one , I don't know much about them , so that's why I 'm asking you. Oh ... and no Apple.

Ok , here's an update . Es.co.th is great . Easy website , great prices , 2 days after paying by bank , EMS delivers . So much easier than a trip to the 100 little shops in the Ban Moh area of Bangkok , compare , asking prices ... no have ... ????
The delivery was great , a nice cartboard box , everything in a plastic bags with relevant data on it . No ESD bags because all the semiconductors were in SMD , cut from a reel . Bubblewrap and a list of the ordered items. 1 little error , different

smd resistors , but they're so cheap , it's no problem.
WT , westech , fast website but you buy blind , no information , if you don't know exactly what you buy , you may be disappointed.
Mynpe ... website is terrible , slow , no information .
And then there is RS (th.rs-online.com/web/) . Seems to be British , but website in Thai , like Mouser in Thai. Some more up to date components but often at large minimum amounts and

more expensive. I ordered there because I couldn't find it on the 3 Thai sites and local mom'n pop electronic store . Just a small order , and cautious for import and delivery costs , but they say free delivery and price on the site is all costs in .
And they were right . I could pay with the very easy PromptPay, well not my promptpay , I haven't got a phone , but my Thai landlord did it for me.
6 days after payment , an oversized big box came , delivered by TNT . A lot of packing material for a few  items .
I am totally amazed how this gets free delivery . If these items came from abroad , delivered by TNT , there is absolutely no way they made a profit , not even break-even on my small order . I don't get it how they can , but I'm happy with it.

(Mouser wants 600 B for delivering to Thailand ...)
While much smaller choice compared to Mouser and other giants , es.co.th is the fastest and easiest with great prices.

The unpacking is fun . Tested about 3/4 of the components , and looks legit , no fake knock off's .

I've found a new way of spending some money in Thailand . I just want to order more , even if I don't really need to . Some people buy juwelry , some go short time , I just like to buy some cute SMD components .
 

Wow , that's really helpful Monomial !

Mostly older , even obsolete components but at better prices than Mouser. Inline with the cheap stores at Baan Moh.

No import duty , just the 7 % Thai VAT.

Have you used them ?  Are you satisfied with what you bought and how they got it to you ? Is it packaged well and in ESD anti static bag for the sensitive components ?

How much to get an average packet delivered ?

The mynpe.com needs some google translate .

I fired off an email to Mouser back in europe.

Within 2 hours they answered . Thais haven't answered in more than a week.

From the mail :

If you buy for more than 50 euro , you don't have to pay import tax nor transport costs , just the (high) VAT which is 21 % .

But then of course I have to wait more than a year.

Import duties into Thailand are just too unpredictable.

Mouser is also a Warren Buffet company , which is a bit against my believes. (I just saw that today) . Digikey is often more expensive.

^ Like I said : I can't trust them to have my back and defend me when I have an accident .

Bummer ! So you get scr_wed twice : import tax and bank/swift /exchange rate costs . (and no profit from buying with a strong currency ... THB).

How high are the import taxes ?

Are there companies like Mouser that are from Thailand ?

If shipments only come from the US , buying in europe has the same disavantages : import tax and >20 % VAT. So no solution there.

(Another question would be : why have an office in Thailand , when everything is handled from the US ?)

I don't know which part of the forum to post this , so here goes:

Buying electronic components is posible at your local (mom & pop) electronics store or go all the way to Baan Moh in Chinatown Bangkok . (too far for me). Amorn in some cities too.  But if you want something more than the generic (from China) , but very affordable , you need suppliers like Mouser . And what do you know , they are even here in Thailand : https://th.mouser.com/

202 Le Concorde Tower, 6/F Unit 602 Ratchadapisek Rd Huaykwang, Bangkok 10310 Thailand

With a email address in Thailand (that doesn't reply), and Thai telephone numbers.

Has anyone here in Thailand ordered/bought electronic components via their THAI site ?

What is not clear to me :

Bad service ? You get what you pay for ?

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1112321-roojai-so-far-so-bad/

Only one office .

Well , I finally had another email , but no answers to my questions.
If this is their attidude just for asking basic questions , obviously I can't trust them to have my back and defend me when I have an accident . Cheaper than others , I don't know how they can do it , and probably great if you live around Chonburi (their only office seems to be in SiRacha) , but not for me .

Thanks for your reply , elcaro.

It's only 3rd party coverage , no need to inspect the car.

And no dash cam.

At an accident scene , you just ask someone else to call the insurance . It's just giving your loation.

Why do you need an onetime password ?

I'm not opening an online bank account .

Well a search on thaivisa only gets 1 post about their app.

At the risk of getting censorred because it is one of their advertisers , here goes :

Get your free quote online with Roojai !!

So I did ... and what do you know , at the same (or maybe lower) price of car insurance with AXA , Roojai offers more coverage ... great !

But then it starts , I want email confirmation of the quote , but their website's NEXT button doesn't work with a @yahoo.co.uk email address
So I mailed them ... no answer.
Then I discovered that the NEXT button does work with a @yahoo.com address ... huh ?
I get the quote sent to me , but I want more information : The price is low , is it without tax ? How do I pay ? The website wants my phone number : "A valid number is required for OTP verifications when we process your payments." Huh ? Why and what's OTP ? I don't have a phone , I don't use it , I don't need it and Dtac cut me off because they stopped 2G. Do they send the policy papers or do I have to print them ?
So I emailed them . The reply for my clear questions is :
"As we need actually contact you by phone to provide and confirm your information.
So do you have any phone numbers whoever now with you.
Moreover, proceed to payment by bank need do by agents also."  ... eh , what ?

Why ? They are an online agent of KPI insurance . I was with AXA , all online with emails no phone needed . Send the money by bank with my policy number as reference , no problem.
Why a difficult phonecall in a language that is not ours. I can email all my information , it is more efficient and no room for error for all the numbers like chassis/motor/plate/passport number and my correct address. Why a phone call ?

I ask them if the price is the same when I go to a KPI office ? (but I don't really want to because that is a 250 km ride). I repeat some of my questions in another email .....no answers to my questions :
"Thank you and Could you give me about your mobile phone because we want to check your information and contact you."
WTH ? Check what information ? What information can they check with a phone call . That I am real ?
Their English in an email isn't great , what is that going to be when I need them after an accident , or even on the phone ( well someone else's phone).

Yes they seem cheaper or better coverage for the same money , but they do not inspire confidence.

And they advertise on an expat forum .

Anyone know the road condition of the 101 from Phrae to Nan city ?

Especially the part from Rong Kwang to Nan city ?

Are there floods expected in southern part of Nan city where the banks are ? Are there floods where the 101 is near the Nan river , south of Makro to Wiangsa ?

I just had to do my yearly visit to the immigration office in another province ,and went to the local Isuzu dealer , where they spoke a little English. The oil level was indeed too high , and they sucked out about 0,5 liter , for free. Now the level is just below the upper hole on the dipstick , like perfect.

They too had the injector cleaning for 2000 B , I got the pamflet :

Did a search on the net for more info on this "Fresh car" ... but found nothing.

Anyone that has a techie Thai wife that can translate this ? It seems they will open the upper lit of the engine to access the injectors to clean them. Not really what I like : if it ain't broken , don't fix or mess around with it. The engine runs fine even with the sh_tty palmoil diesel . Isuzu there says not to use additives with the diesel...but I may tank Shell premium next time .

Not much of an answer for the dirty exhaust , checked my airfilter , which was still fine. Maybe the guy at the inspection was trying for some "additional income" , as last year they stepped harder on the accelerator , to get some more dirt on the filter ? I could be open for that.

11 hours ago, giddyup said:

Why he just doesn't take it to an expert at car radio installation is beyond me. He imagines that someone is going to scratch his 10 year old toy, yet isn't prepared to undertake the work himself. Don't know what kind of help he expected to get here.

In the province I live in , there are very few radio installation places , and barely any choice. I don't imagine them damaging the car , from experience I know they will damage it. I 'm not handy enough to take the radio out. Most here focus on the radio , while the first part of the post is more important.
Like I said in the OP , I was looking for people with the same car , who had the 2000 B motor cleaning done , or advice to get through the yearly inspection , so to get a cleaner exhaust , maybe which additif to use . And whether Isuzu puts too much oil in their car too.

Why should I spray it , it still looks like new .
Did you have the vibrating door panels too , when too much low bass in the music ?

Thanks for the pics !!
So it is like I feared , the whole mid console , has to come out . That is going to be damaging to the surrounding. I imagine some brute Thai dude with a big scewdriver prying it out . And getting it back in too. Bummer .
The first pic already looks damaged :

My car maybe nearly 10 years but it looks new inside . Always 2 towels on the seat , practically never passengers .

Which is the best/safest additif , that you can buy here in Thailand ( not online)?

I read some of the additifs you can only use when there is about 20 liter of diesel left in your tank.

6 hours ago, GavinK said:

Easy enough to replace the radio unit yourself. Centre facia needs to come out (pulls off at the points where the retaining clips are) then the radio unit can be removed. Electrics just unplug - get a converter from that Isuzu plug to your new units plug. Speakers also easy to upgrade.

I don't see how to pull out the radio , I don't know where the retaining clips are.

What's centre facia ?

@Fredob43 : I should have asked for the promotion folder at Isuzu (in Thai of course) to show here. Not worried about the tyres , yes there are micro cracks when I look with a magnifier , but I don't drive much and no high speed , since they put camera's.
I don't want another old cd player, I want to update to a SD/UBS player , put in the car without them damaging the console.

@ Transam : Overfill causes foaming of the oil and it damages the engine , I looked it up on the internet. Still the Isuzu manual says between the 2 holes of the dipstick , not 1,5 cm above . Should I suck it out with a plastic hose ? Could overfilling cause a more dirty exhaust ?
There is no problem with my injectors , just Isuzu wanted to clean them , maybe they know the 7-9 % palm sh_t oil is poluting the engine.
I researched B-Quick and I don't like their terms on their website , and there is no B-Q in my province , so if there is a problem , I have to drive far again.

Thanks for replying though . Apparently not many drive 10 year old Isuzu D-max's anymore.

Can't believe they said my exhaust is dirty , when I see so many others pushing out black smoke , and mine is not . How do they get through the inspection ?

Well with our cars approching 10 years and the Isuzu dealer (in my province)

not speaking a word of English, I have some questions:

1) At the yearly mandatory inspection last year , the guy there said my exhaust

was borderline dirty . I went to my local Isuzu dealer to change the oil & oil filter

after 2,5 years, (I don't drive much) and they not only put too much oil in again ,

about 1,5 cm above the hole in the dipstick , but were a bit pushy to clean the car

... they meant the engine. They showed me a folder with pictures that indicated

that after a "cleaning" , the injectors would inject better ... 2000 B... Like I said a

bit pushy but half of their mechanics had nothing to do... (Not like the dealer in

Chonburi where I bought the car , there it was always a long wait , even going

very early in the morning) .

So what is this cleaning about ? Has anyone had it done ? Is it much different than

using the premium Shell diesel ? My exhaust dirty , sure ... but what about the 7 to 9 %

of yukky palmoil in my diesel the last few years?. When I bought the car it was 2 % !!

So now when the inspection comes this year and it is too dirty , what needs to be done ?

I don't want to be forced to pay for some "cleaning" process to keep the mechanics busy .

They put about 6,9 liter oil in it ( 6 liter can & 1 liter, when I let them leak out I still have

around 0,1 liter in the can) , it should be 6,5 l , and the airfilter is not over 20.000 km.

My car doesn't consume or leak oil , the oil level is the same for over 2 years.

2) The radio/cd player :

When I drive , I always have the cd player on with mp3/wmv's , but since about a year

it stops to play or doesn't even recognise the data cd . Now it could be the cd's.

Those Princo where better than TDK's , but after years in a hot car , they can get unreadable .

Since I don't have a cd recorder in my laptop anymore ( now a second HDD , that I don't

like to pull out) , I brought a regular cd from europe and it plays ok , well only stopped once.

Now I see there are players especially for our type of Isuzu ,   http://www.ebay.com/itm/

Car-DVD-Player-Isuzu-D-Max-DMax-2007-2012-USB-Stereo-Radio-Fascia-Facia-Kit-ISO-/232158702964?hash=item360dbcad74:g:EPsAAOSw44BYPWn4     

but living in this province , there are very few car radio stores , and they don't have this

type for some old Isuzu's. Cd/dvd is so 2005 , I'm living in 2017 , and a SD card/usbdrive

player would be a whole lot easier and better, pref without cd/dvd , nor videoplayer, or GPS.

Now here's the question : have any of you changed their car stereo ? How do they change it ?

Does the whole console with the aircon controles & outlets have to come out , or can they

take out only the radio/cd player ....without damaging everything around it ?

The typical plastic antenna on the Gold series just broke in little pieces from 9 years of

tropical sun . Isuzu says they don't do radio's but can change the antenna ...but with the holder

.....for 1.100 B...! Yes there are those small aluminum ones for 350 B , but I rather have the

plastic/rubbery one. I live too far from Bangkok to go to the car shops in the chinatown area.

Sure there are other issues : still have the original tyres ... gonna change them this year ,

and the aircon problem still  lingering for 3 or 4 years , but those subjects have been

addressed on this forum before. Can't trust anyone to fix the aircon . This is a big minus for Isuzu ,

they made it , they should service it , not some roadsite "stall" with a bottle of 134.

Sorry for the big read ....

What does he mean wait ?  His army has already invaded the EU .