lomatopo

If the forms have been too complicated for you, and you've blown them off, it's not clear to me how you know that you either did not have to file, or that you did not owe any taxes.

Based on what little detail you've provided it sounds like you've been earning money here in Thailand, which I think means that you must file a U.S. tax return, if only to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.

If you returned to the U.S. for a total of more than 35 days in any filing period then this exclusion is not allowed, there is mention in the OP of two returns to the U.S. each year.

I'd start accumulating as many records, compiled by year, as you are able, and document your travel back to the U.S.

Have you been filing FinCEN/FBar for the past few years, assuming you have a bank account here in Thailand which had a balance of over 10,000 USD?

It sounds as though there is some upcoming event hastening the OP's return to the U.S. in the next few years, obviously it is best to get this issue resolved well ahead of that event/return.

Filing for an extension ASAP, given how close April 15 is, may be advisable?

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/acs_taxes.html

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/thailand/231771/acs/tax_consultants.pdf

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/702727-dtac-trinet-to-kick-off-4g-service-in-april/

There should be an 1800 MHz auction in ~ 6 months; operators plan to deploy LTE on that spectrum. DTAC has the most spectrum (850/1800/2100) so they can "experiment" with LTE now on some of their 2100 MHz (Band 1) spectrum.

While LTE does deliver decent bandwidth at the edge, the primary benefit for operators is increased capacity. I'd expect DTAC to offer this service to their post-paid customers only; and you'll need an LTE/Band 1-compatible device - there's not too many (in relative terms) in the customer base here. LTE can also be demanding on battery consumption. Net-net, it may be~ 5 years or so before LTE is a "requirement" here.

Mobile health professionals here use a bicycle, pen and paper.

Assuming decent, reliable internet connectivity is a top requirement, it is always best to sort out the internet issues before moving into a place.

Having your own, dedicated fixed-line broadband connection is really the best/ideal option.

Relying on almost any kind of WiFi may be a an exercise in futility.

A seedbox may be OK, but then you'll be consuming all the bandwidth when you FTP. Obviously if your WiFi is a shared resource this may, or may not, be "acceptable"?

On some customer installs we reset the WiFI IP addresses frequently to "confound" greedy users; we also lock them out if their activity is excessive.

Random thoughts, off the cuff....

I'd sort out the issues with your existing DSL line, it shouldn't "...have constant problems with the connection dropping...". The solution to getting a sharp stick in the eye isn't always to ask for sharp sticks in both eyes.

Maybe off-load your BT activities to a local seedbox for less than 300 baht/month.

Talk to neighbors to see what they use, and how it works for them. I know this is painful for some, and results in all sorts of "excuses": "nobody 'round here has internet". Asking here, where any Somchai, Dick or Nigel from basically anywhere in the Kingdom will offer "experiences", may solicit interesting comments but unless they live near you, said comments will be useless. Additionally, said comments usually are limited to either, "they suck", or they're great".

Very generally speaking, you should not assume that those AIS AirNet numbers are in anyway achievable.

There is a new series starting on AMC April 6, 2014: "Turn", about the Culper Spy ring during the Revolutionary War. Just seeing some ads/highlights and it looks interesting.

http://www.amctv.com/shows/turn

It's supposed to be available, in shops, here in the U.S on April 11 - you can pre-order it on-line.

I didn't see any display units when I was in a T-Mo store yesterday.

Actor Gary Oldman is hawking the M8 for HTC here; saw the "blah-blah-blah" commercial a zillion times during the NCAA hoops games over the week-end. (Not nearly as good as the Audi/Ricky Gervais ads though.)

http://www.totalaircard.com/products/ZTE-MF60-3G-Pocket-WiFi-21.6Mbps.html

Many branded air-cards and MiFi devices are locked to the service provider here - this is legal and they are often somewhat subsidized (locking phones is not legal here), although you may be able to unlock them.

You'll need a device which supports, minimally, 850/2100 MHz 3G (for TrueMove H); it may not be worth it to get an LTE-compatible device - not sure TrueMove H even offers LTE packages for pre-paid (on 2100 MHz/LTE band 1).

As mentioned, many smartphones can be tethered and/or used to create a WiFi hot-spot, which can share the mobile data connection locally with up to five (5) devices over WiFi.

http://truemoveh.truecorp.co.th/3g/shopping/14

We have a few customers with both AIS AirNET (point-to-point broadband wireless) and TOT/FTTx or 3BB DSL.

We tried a dual-WAN router, not so much for "load-balancing" which is much misunderstood, but rather for back-up/fall-back/redundancy, and because we had to get the AirNET first as this was the only server available in new housing developments a during the first few months; and later we added fixed-line broadband.

In the end the dual WAN router, multiple modems, multiple routers/WiFi APs was a bit too much to remotely manage, so now customers just have two different networks, both with a single modem/ethernet/WiFi, and they can connect to one or the other as they choose.

In some areas your options for fixed-line broadband are limited to a single provider, sometimes because of exclusive arrangements between property management and service providers, but we do have some customers who can get True DSL/DOCSIS and/or TOT and/or 3BB, all three if they wanted.

Lastly we do have one installation with three (3) separate True DSL lines (and four True Cable TV lines - we could also get DOCSIS in this location), but we have three separate ADSL modem/ethernet/WiFi devices and six (WiFi) virtual networks.

Thaiticketmajor website is in English, very, very simple to use.

How to buy tickets details the process.

Just enter the from and to, then options are presented. It shows how many seats are available, and you can even choose your seat.

You can purchase tickets up to 60 days in advance.

More details on hot to buy

Payment points

Very easy, simple and straight-forward.

Thais can use the Transport Co. website, make a booking then pay at any 7/11 .

You can even print your tickets.

I don't think you have any 3G data roaming option as a TOT 3G customer. You can/may roam onto the AIS GSM900 network, primarily for voice, and you'll pay for that; 1.25 baht/min. Also, I assume you might roam onto their GSM900 EDGE/GPRS network, possibly, for low speed data and you'd have to pay for that 0.75 baht/MB. So do as forgetit suggests and disable data roaming.

AIS and TOT have had roaming agreements, but that is for AIS customers to roam onto TOT;s 2100 MHz 3G network. They were supposed to ink a huge deal, for 3G and WiFi, recently but that got shelved with all the boycott AIS activities by the PDRC.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680668-buying-a-bus-tiket-in-bangkok/

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/555485-buying-bus-tickets-but-not-at-the-terminal/#entry5312961

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/680668-buying-a-bus-tiket-in-bangkok/#entry7024540

http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/bus/buy-bus-tickets_eng.php

Believe it's pretty easy, use the phone to make a booking, get a booking number, go to one of the gazliion options, present the booking number and pay.

Hope you're not trying to ravel during Songkhran.

Current girlfriend ...

This is #5?

Is there a pool on how long until this one is launched, tossed overboard, jettisoned?

"Each side refuses to accept the other's reasons. So, I think we must follow a middle path.

Equating a basic Buddhist tenant with a television debate. Abhisit is such a silly person.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/656159-northern-food-in-bangkok/#entry6669485

http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/eat/khao-soi-cravings-where-get-decent-bowl-bangkok-733145

http://eat.edtguide.com/68246_Maan-Mueang-Restaurant-%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%B7%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A0%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A53-%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3

http://bk.asia-city.com/restaurants/bangkok-restaurant-reviews/gedhawa

AIS operates on 2100 MHz 3G; assuming you use AWN. Nearly all AIS/One-2-Call mobile data customers have transitioned to 2100 MHz.

There really is no need for 3G/900 unless you travel to countries where this is the standard.

LTE may not be necessary here for five or more years; 3G on 850 or 2100 will be more than sufficient.

But yes, if budget is of no concern and the model you desire is easily sourced here in Thailand and it comes in a variant that supports quad-band GSM, penta-band 3G, and LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600, then go for it. More is usually better than less.

But as I said:

No need to make it more confusing than it needs to be.

FWIW, my TrueMove H pre-paid SIM has transitioned to the new top-up/validity scheme described in the OP. Previously, my valaidty was tied to usage (completed out-bound call, or a top-up of any value) out to a non-cumulative, maximum 60 day expiry.

This new scheme is much, much better for me, so kudos to TrueMove H for this change.

I believe the actual date for Google cutting off the functionality that 3rd parties like Groove IP use is May 15, 2014 -- not May 5.

But, in any event, Groove IP hasn't posted anything new on their site or Facebook page about any potential workarounds. And their customers have been asking, but no answers forthcoming as yet.

https://www.facebook.com/snrb.labs/posts/544918605588834?stream_ref=10

There are many options for calling. It's just a question of what ones are going to end up being the most advantageous post May 15. And I don't think we know that yet. Still three months to go.

Most of us expect Google to integrate Google Voice into Hangouts, hopefully before the May 15, 2014 date. If they don't then I'd hope they'd allow apps. like GrooVeIP to continue to function until such time as GV works in HO?

Press reports in the past week mention that Google will/may "kill" GV, which would suck if we were to lose our telephone number(s). I'm guessing we'll have an option to retain our ten digit numbers, albeit for a small annual (~ $12 ?) fee, or be given the opportunity to port out.

https://www.google.com/search?q=google+voice+inegration+into+hangouts&oq=google+voice+inegration+into+hangouts&aqs=chrome..69i57j0j69i64.8860j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=122&ie=UTF-8#q=google+voice+integration+into+hangouts&tbm=nws

http://9to5google.com/2014/03/18/google-plans-kill-google-voice-in-months-integrate-features-into-hangouts/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/google-voice-to-be-integrated-into-hangouts-report-says/

If you have a one-year multiple entry non-immigrant B visa, which gets a stamp-in of 90 days on each entry, and you make a land/border visa run, do you get stamped in for 90 days? Or 30 days?

I will soon be buying my first smartphone for use in Thailand

In attempt to keep things uncomplicated - much confusion has been sown in recent posts on this thread - just buy a smartphone which supports:

2G Network GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

So am I getting this correct:

Both DTAC and True Move H's current fledgling 4G services are being run on the 2100 Mhz LTE band?

and AIS is nowhere right now in terms of a 4G presence?

Yes, and Yes.

Although I'm not certain DTAC's LTE has been launched yet; they've said "April" so expect that means after Songkhran. They are positioning some of the handsets (Note 3, Nexus 5, iPhone) as LTE compatible now.

AIS has limited 2100 MHz spectrum, really just the same 15 MHz that TrueMove and DTAC have, but they have the most customers (~34 million) and their GSM 900 concession ends next year, so they need to move everyone over. (AIS was going to enter into a significant roaming deal with TOT but that deal fell through owing to the <mis-> perceptions re: AIS and "politics".

TrueMove H has the CAT 850 MHz spectrum, and still not a lot of customers in comparison, and they have their 2100 MHz which, up until now, they've built out primarily for LTE. They now have some money and are supposed to be building out the 2100/3G network, finally. DTAC has the most spectrum: 850, 1800, 2100 and their 850/1800 concessions run until 2018.

There is supposed to be an 1800 MHz auction - this was delayed because True was allowed to keep their 1800 spectrum for another year, which most expect to use for LTE. LTE does give higher speeds but it really offers operators more density benefits. Obviously you need an LTE handset, still not a lot of those in Thailand (in the hands of consumers, as a percentage of the market), and LTE handsets can be a bit more demanding on battery usage.

I still don't see any pre-paid, volume-based packages from TrueMove H which include LTE - I sort of expected them to reserve that service, as a premium offer, for their high-value post-paid customers - but maybe they just haven't updated any of their marketing materials yet? I assume they'd have a bit of a launch if they offer pre-paid LTE so people know it's available? Based on comments in the press, TrueMove H seems to have shifted focus back to their 2100 MHz 3G deployment, hoping tor retain at least some of the legacy TrueMove customers, and have shifted back away from LTE. The CEO of True said - a few weeks ago at a briefing - the market wasn't ready for LTE here, and that they might stop LTE deployments at the current 1,200 base-stations rather than continuing up to 2,000.

There probably aren't enough LTE-compatible handsets/customers in the marketplace to justify wide-spread deployments now. But operators do know, exactly based on IMEI, the current make-up of their own customer base.

An interesting read on last year's military re-shuffle...

The Thai military now has more than 1,750 flag officers (generals and admirals), a bloated number for a military of its size. Many of these officers - perhaps most - do not perform duties commensurate with their rank and many literally have no job at all. What they do have, however, is the rank, high salary and status among the rank and file that comes with the position of a flag officer.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/SEA-01-011013.html

Most countries where prepaid GSM dominates have service providers who manage their customers' validity, usually to the 30 - 90 day windows, and require activity (outbound, completed calls. top-ups) to maintain their service.

Some service providers, including AIS, DTAC and TrueMove, have various methods for extending validity out to a maximum of 365 days. Most of these still have a usage requirement, which may or may not be rigorously enforced.

Most service providers limit pre-paid mobile data plans to 30 days - volume or time - which is not accumulated or rolled over, which can recur automatically. (Yes, there are some post-paid data plans in some countries which allow for unused volumes to roll over.)

It can be a simple process to contact your service provider in order to determine what your current scheme is for accruing and maintaining validity is, and what the options are for extending it to meet your individual requirements.

Some of the new TrueMove H Tourist Inter SIMs (free, 49 baht, 299 baht) seem to have maximum 90 day validity, which might make sense as these are targeted at "tourists"?

Some/many/most, but perhaps not all, other TrueMove H SIMs may have transitioned to a 30 day, cumulative top-up scheme, with a max. of 365 days, effective March 18, 2014, per the OP.

All the ideas about expanding the available number pool are just that, ideas. The reality is that it has always been a challenging process here for operators to get more numbers from regulators. During the concession period, operators had to pay for number tranches; I'm honestly not sure how this works in the auction world? TrueMove H nearly ran out of numbers recently. Modifying the numbering plan to add digits, as we did in 2006 adding the "8", is a very, very complex challenge which requires a significant investment.

Has anyone been to this Mikkeller Beer Bar?

http://www.mikkellerbangkok.com/

Making those dumb noises is a profession in Thailand.

It's actually a profession everywhere: Foley Artists.

The funny sounds the OP is ranting on about probably originated in Vaudeville and Music Hall entertainment? There was a full band on hand, and they helped spice up the various acts.