dthomasss

I saw a really nice looking system today at Makro. Panasonic for 4k Baht. Saw a nice Sony for 11k at Tesco S. Pattaya.

Can I connect my TV and run the sound through those? I saw the one at Makro but it was just a DVD player with speakers. Doesn't there need to be something to power them, like a receiver/amp?

Hmmmm...good question. I had a really inexpensive setup a few years ago that I was able to connect with my TV via the TV's audio out capability and the input jacks on the "stereo". So...would have to check if that system at Makro would have that????? Most of the cheaper "stereo" systems here in Thailand are of the DVD player with speakers variety. Move up from that and the price increases dramatically. If you are on a trip to HK or Singapore, might be better off looking there. Much cheaper.

We might be better off with this in the HiFi forum as you pretty much know all the (limited) places to buy here in Pattaya.

Let me know if you want to move this topic over there. Quite a few very knowledgeable folks watch that forum.

Craig

Yes please let's try it over there...

I saw a really nice looking system today at Makro. Panasonic for 4k Baht. Saw a nice Sony for 11k at Tesco S. Pattaya.

Can I connect my TV and run the sound through those? I saw the one at Makro but it was just a DVD player with speakers. Doesn't there need to be something to power them, like a receiver/amp?

I'd check out what they have at Numchai on Sukhumvit, east side between Pattaya Nua and Pattaya Klang.

Also on the east side of Duck Square, facing Big C. Is a smaller electronics shop, that sell mid to high end home theatre equipment.

Can't remember the name, as it's been a while since I've been in the shop. But if it's still around you can't miss it.

Mahajak (spelling?) use to be in Duck Square. I think they are now in their new building on Suk. Maybe somebody can confirm that?

Numchai is a good place to look for sure. But 5-7k Baht is not going to buy a very nice system.

Thanks. I am willing to pay more but I dont want those giant cabinets and tower size speakers the Thais seem to love. Also has to be something I can run the TV through.

I am looking to buy speaker setup to go with LCD tv and dvd. I dont need state of the art but want better than the tinny tv speakers.

Power Buy website shows a few Phillips and Sonys from 5,000 to 7,000 but went to both locations (Central and Home Works) and they only had top end stuff, or the cheap gigantic crap like AJ. Same at Big C and Tesco. Carrefour used to have a few but now that they are Big C Extra they also have the same junk.

Any suggestions in Pattaya?

There are already changes. Some of the fresh vegetables are now from Big C source, notably the crappy brown lettuce. Celery up 15 baht per kilo (Big C price). They used to have whole chicken at 59 baht (Issan style), 79 baht, and 119 baht. Now they have a choice of 99 or 119 (same as Big C) or else the two day old somewhat rancid chicken parts for 26 baht (same as Big C). I also tried using my Big C card there today and the cashier said, "Cannot use Big C. Have to use Carrefour..."

In keeping with Big C I expect any day that the music volume will go up 20 decibels and before you know it there will be large groups of Thais watching movies in the TV section!

They better not mess with the downstairs deli in the Food Court (sandwiches, salads, American Breakfast etc) but seeing that it is run by Carrefour it maybe become a thing of the past soon.

Anyone know who sells them? I have only found one at Big C and it is a Doraemon. Wife wants Hello Kitty...

I'm not sure how much they charge if you pay month-by-month, I guess it could be as much as 500 baht/month.

If you prepay for 6 months the cost is 1,800 baht, so you might want to consider that to save some money.

You surely don't get cable directly from Sophon for 1,500/year, but perhaps the poster is in a condo that has made a special bulk agreement with Sophon or something like that.

You could be right Phil, I am indeed in a condo and we're all charged 1,500 Baht a year.

Indeed the rate is 1,800 for 6 months. I actually watch 4 channels only. BBC News on rare occasion, Al Jazeera for a different flavor but good journalists, Fox News for pure laughs and yelling at my TV, and Universal sometimes for old Law and Order episodes. Other than that, Rapidshare does it all for me!

Downstair?

just found it

Yes downstairs in the noisiest spot you can imagine. Music blasting, almost impossible to hear.

The one woman who sued to work there who had great English skills is gone. The staff now were extremely rude.

They insisted on charging me 1,600 to change over to new house, even though I fulfilled the one-year contract.

I pointed out that if I just canceled (no charge) and then applied for a new account it would only cost me 100 baht but they refused to let me do that so I had to pay them.

That's what they charge for everyone. I've done almost 5 years with them and that's exactly what they wanted so don't feel bad.

So they told me it would take two days for the "technician" to call to come and install in new house. It has now been a week so I went back and was told, "Oh he is busy now,m so maybe he will call you next days or next week."

I told them this was not acceptable and that if he did not do it by Friday I would cancel and go with Sophon Internet (they guarantee install within 24 hours). She just said, ok you can cancel but you lose 1600 baht.

Unbelievable...

I wonder if this is the same situation when you buy a new car in Thailand ? Do you have to speak with a cute but stupid sale that knows nothing about cars like the ones who know nothing about internet ?

And anybody who want to leave 3BB to get better service at TOT or TRUE, you are very funny :-)

To make matters worse I have to wait for a call from "technician" who will not speak a word of English (my Thai is fair) and even though I do not move into the new house for 10 days I will have to go there whenever he decides to show up, and the moment he is there my internet in my current house will be cut off. The "technicians" are not employes of 3BB - they are contracted and show up when they feel like it.

Downstair?

just found it

Yes downstairs in the noisiest spot you can imagine. Music blasting, almost impossible to hear.

The one woman who sued to work there who had great English skills is gone. The staff now were extremely rude.

They insisted on charging me 1,600 to change over to new house, even though I fulfilled the one-year contract.

I pointed out that if I just canceled (no charge) and then applied for a new account it would only cost me 100 baht but they refused to let me do that so I had to pay them.

just found it

I just went to their office as I am changing houses, and it is gone!

Anyone know where they are now???

I have purchased storage boxes at Office Depot. They are collapsed flat and must be asembled (which is not difficult). A 2-pack was about 150 baht.

They are small boxes. I guess I am stuck with going to Tesco, Bic C etc. Hard to believe nobody sells sturdy boxes of different sizes.

Trucks for hire between Theppasit and Tai just before Homeworks on the Northbound carriageway, tell them you want extra bodies and they will arrange it.

Boxes, maybe the big grey 99baht plastic storage boxes would work for you that are on sale in Big C Lotus and such.

Unfortunately the 99 baht plastic boxes are very small (just went to Big C)

I know in many towns in Thailand there are shops that sell used boxes for 10 to 50 baht depending on size and strength. Just don't know any in Pattaya.

Will be moving house to house in Pattaya. Where can I find some decent size boxes. The ones at the big supermarkets are usually too small or flimsy.

Also need to hire some movers, but need bigger than a pickup. I was told there are big vans that park along Sukhumvit but have not seen any.

Tip: When you cancel your permission to stay and work permit at One Stop , take with you your marriage certificate. Based on that you might even get a 60 day extension based on having a Thai wife instead of the usual 7 days, if the BOI does that.

Taking the wife and household book with you would even be better.

Great idea.. I will give it a try.

Correct. That would be the right procedure.

Have your new employer start with the paperwork for getting a new work permit, so you don't have to wait too long for it.

Thank you. I will try this and hope that Jomtien doesn't deny my application!

To make it clear, I'm not sure that is the problem. It might be the problem, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding the One Stop Service Center. But ignore my post no. 4, it should not be of consequence in your case.

The last day you work you cancel both your permission to stay and workpermit at the One Stop Service center, you will get 7 days and should have no problem getting a new extension of stay in Jomtien as you would still have a valid permission to stay.

But if you need to get a new work permit, that would take some time. That is however not important for the extension of stay based on marriage, as long as it is not based on your income but on 400,000 in the bank.

Your work permit is than also canceled because as it only allows you to work for the employer mentioned in the work permit and you will get a new employer. That means a new work permit. Maybe the immigration officer was just telling you that, or if they do it before you stop working you lose your WP and would be working illegally.

OK let me make sure I understand. I ask my current employer to make my last day of work Monday, January 24. On that day I go to one stop and cancel my WP and extension of stay and get a 7-day extension. On Wednesday the 26th I go with my wife to immigration in Jomtien with all the necessary paperwork to apply for a one-year extension of stay Non O based on marriage. They grant it hopefully and then my new employer applies for the Work Permit for me to start work Tuesday February 1.

In the first place you don't cancel your visa, but your permission to stay. Your visa only allowed you to travel to Thailand and at the border you got a permission to stay. It is this permission to stay you extend every year.

While on an extension to stay based on marriage, you are allowed to work. Many of our members do.

But in your case it could be one of two problems:

- The officer was confused because if you have a non-O visa and apply for an extension of stay based on retirement you are not allowed to work. But as said, that is not so based on marriage.

or

- you are on an extension of stay and have a work permit from the one stop service center, so you would have to cancel your work permit there first and apply for a new one so Jomtiem immigraiton would have "jurisdiction" over your case.

You can contact the immirgaiton call center 1178 or the One-Stop Service Center for Visas and Work Permits At Chamchuri Square Building, Tel. 0-2209 1100

Yes it is : - you are on an extension of stay and have a work permit from the one stop service center, so you would have to cancel your work permit there first and apply for a new one so Jomtiem immigraiton would have "jurisdiction" over your case.

But here is the problem. If I cancel at one stop, then I no longer can stay in the country. Even if I get a 7-day extension, I have no guarantee Jomtien will allow me to apply and approve an extension of stay because I no longer have any visa. It is very confusing.

The only thing you do is to fill in the application form for an extension of stay, but this time you fill in something like to live with your wife instead of employment. That is all there is to it, next to all the documents and interviews for the extension itself.

You do that in the last 30 days before your current permission to stay ends (or when your job ends, whatever is first).

I tried that and was told that if they cancel the B visa they have to cancel the work permit at the same time...

I will be ending a job at the end of this month (after eight years) and starting a new one a week later.

I am also married to a Thai with all the necessary funds etc. Is there a way I can go with my wife to Jomtien Immigration (our home is there) and switch to a Non O so I don't have to leave the country. My work permit and extension of stay were issued at One-Stop in Bangkok.

My current employer is fine with putting whatever date I need as last day of employment in order the help. I understand a new Work Permit can be issued with my O Visa extension based on marriage.

25km North or Northwest of Chumphae is mostly jungle and national parks with very poor coverage in my limited experience during visits to several Wats (even phone contact is limited).

I know. There is a moo ban named Non Dang which has about 200 homes, but she lives in a smaller moo ban (maybe 100 homes) 4 km west.

I hope I will be able to find something, as she is a good student in school and eager to learn. Will call the CAT office in Chumphae tomorrow to see what they might offer.

Need to rule out if you bought a dud aircard... not unknown.

How many bars of signal strength are we looking at here?

Do you get a connection outside the house or anywhere the signal is visibly stronger?

What's your GPS coordinates so I can look up a coverage map.

Aircard works fine as we tried it in the city. Upstairs in the house can get 2-3 bars on the phone.

Not sure of GPS coordinates but location is 130 km NW of Khon Kaen, 25 km north of Chum Phae near Nong Dang

You don't say what part of Isaan your in. location would help. Allot of user outside of Surin use CAT.

About 140 km northwest of Khon Kaen

I bought a netbook for my stepdaughter, and was hoping we could get a connection in the village.

Phone signal is not the best in the house but I got an aircard and AIS netsim.

So far can't get a connection anywhere in the house. Can try a DTAC netsim but my phone is DTAC and my signal in the village is even worse.

Are there any other options besides the huge expense of a satellite?