Negita43

Vaccine Passports only available in Bangkok??

I think that we should also bear in mind that if this new variant does become dominant and its effects are less severe than the delta and alpha variants that may, in the scheme of things, be an advantage especially if the world can prevent more new variants by vaccinating all. By all accounts Covid is here to stay so a less lethal dominant strain might not be the worst of outcomes.

I cant understand why people think bigger is better - there is a saying about eggs and baskets. All your data on one storage device (even if it's partitioned, it's one device). If it fails you lose ALL your data - so unless you have a reliable form of backup for it I personally think more but smaller SSD or HDD are better options. Failure of one device maybe annoying but probably not catastrophic. Also backing up 8Tb of data could take some time unless you go for real time back up of files

Bruno I have just checked and now in the TCL store its shows as priced at 12,700 so no longer can I see it at the higher price - apologies if I have got it wrong before

Sorry - go to the TCL shop and look for the same product code

Sorry for the delay Bruno I was in the land of Nod Here is the link for the 1 I bought - it was 12700 but does have 3 year warranty https://www.lazada.co.th/products/2021-new-premium-4k-android-11tcl-4k-hdr-smart-tv-0-10-50-led-wifi-smart-tv-os-50linetvpro-google-assistant-netflix-youtube-dolby-vision-atmos-memc-60hz-hand-free-voice-contr-i2386912281-s8119496437.html?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.list.3.53a87180mJH9T3&search=1&freeshipping=1

Yes Bruno I ordered this today - i will report back on how it goes. On the face of it it seems like a good buy - it's 18k on tcl website

Thanks for that - I must admit I was worried about that but in the end I ordered one about 5 and a half hours ago! The price on TCL shop for the same item is 18K+ baht and the spec is the same as the 50P725 which is 1200 Baht more. I'll let you know if I end up throwing something at it!

Hi, here's my experience: I'm from UK, I also lost my visa extension. I applied for a Thai Pass mid November - NO ISSUES - I flew back to Thailand on Dec 6th with Emirates, my ticket was for 60 days although I was entering on a 30 day visa exempt. I purchased an "onward travel ticket" 32 Dollars - no one asked to see it at Emirates check in (but I consider it cheap insurance in case someone did). I did my declaration of residence at Korat Immigration a couple of days after arriving, at the same time I asked about getting a non O (90 day) and converting to retirement extensions - I was told to come back 15 days before expiry of my 30 day visa exempt - this i did and although a lot of paperwork and waiting I was told to come back 30th December for the visa - (so not 100% but it looks like I have managed to do the 90 day non O without having to extend the visa exempt by 30 days). I stress one thing I have had in excess of 800,000 baht in a Thai Bank account for over 8 years.

Can't understand why it would be because of lack of passengers - I flew early December to BKK from UK via Dubai and both flights were full. Although maybe tourists are put off by the Thai pass conditions - can't be a comforting thought that you might fly to Thailand with Thai Pass then test positive for Covid at the one night quarantine hotel and then have to spend most of the rest of your 2 week holiday there!

Has anyone calculated how many x how much "high end tourists" need to spend to replace the revenue lost by the change?

Spent a few happy hours looking at my TCL TV options. In case it's useful to those who may look later for what it's worth attached my price comparison. Can't for the life of me work out the spec difference between: 50LINETVPRO and 50P725 both from Lazada which to me appear to have the same spec but the former is 1190 Baht cheaper. Anyone have any opinions on ordering from Lazada?TVL Android TV.xlsx

Continuing my search for a TV - came across this which might be useful for people also looking at smart Android/google TVs https://9to5google.com/2021/12/09/tcl-google-tv-line-performance-best-buy/

Thanks for the previous inputs. What a day! Started off with a visit to immigration (always puts me in a good mood). Next to 3BB to sign up – why do digital companies need to use half a tree and several hours to “welcome” a new customer? Next to buy a new TV and that’s where it started to get really confusing…. I thought I knew what I wanted – Aconatic 50US34AN5 - Do Home priced it at 10,990 Baht and the sales guy assured me it was Android OS. The day before I had seen this model in Macro priced it 9497 Baht – 1,500 Baht saving is not to be sniffed at so back to Macro. The salesman at Macro said it wasn’t Android OS only the 55” model was Android OS which they didn’t have. Looking in a brochure it would seem the Macro salesman is correct – it only lists a 55“ and a 65” under the Android OS TV section A 50” is probably more in keeping with the room size so now I have turned my attention to TCL – Macro has this model - 50 H 6000 A UHD which they say is Android OS. (9) Anyone have any experience of this model? I learned 2 things today - buying a TV is a minefield and many “salesmen” do not know or prefer not to confuse the sales process by divulging the tech specs of what they sell!

Thanks for that Bruno - very useful

Followup I do not want to make my router a VPN router as I only want some traffic through a VPN

Yes Bruno 123 these are the two except Android TV will be 50 inch not 55

Thanks I think Aconatic have two versions of their models now - one running WebOS (ex LG) and now one running Android TV in my area the Android model (same screen size and more or less same spec) is 2 to 3000 baht cheaper (do I see the hand of Googles world domination attempt here?) I'm trying to find out which is easiest to get a VPN on

Need to replace my TV I'm not looking for the most advanced (expensive) brand just a run of the mill smart TV - anyone have any views on this Thai brand.

Thanks I will talk with Korat when I do my O hopefully tomorrow

I used to apply in October but due to Covid I lost it. I'm back here now and starting the process again if all goes well this will mean that I have to renew early April each year but in the past we have always been abroad April/May (avoiding Songran and the really hot weather) so I am trying to understand how far ahead I can renew it each year - if it's 1 month that means I could renew it in March and then leave for my vacation..

Well as I said in my previous post I do already have an ASUS (Merlin router) - the problem I had with the Fiberhome was that I couldn't get the ISP password and credentials out of TOT> Are you saying 3BB will supply them on request?

Hello fdsa, Thanks for your post. Yes I have a fiberhome router with TOT - model AN5506-04-B it works fine but there was (it's at least 5 years old) absolutely no English Documentation and no firmware updates but as I said in the original post it basically just bridging to my ASUS Merlin router. After your post I've asked 3BB what model router they would install - that's caused a few scratched heads I think - I'm waiting on their call back!

Comprehensive and balanced but can't agree with the title. International travel is not broken but it's certainly more complicated. One thing highlighted that does need addressing by both government (all) and testing companies is that of the RT-PCR test. When I came early December I had booked a 6 hour result PCR test at Manchester airport. On looking at Emirates Dubial entry info it clearly said Rapid PCR test not accepted (I could not at that time see anything on Thai government sites about this). At that point I queried my test provider and their support staff were not really clear about whether it was or not. Research on the inet also was not too clear, although it appears rapid does not only refer to test response time but also whether a nose and throat swab or just a nose swab is taken. Out of an abundance of caution (as they say) I rebooked my RT-PCR for a 24 hour result in the UK to be safe and all went well. However, I do think there needs to be more clarity and consistency from governments and testing companies about what constitutes a "rapid" PCR and what constitutes a "normal" PCR test and which will be accepted for entry.

Just to wind this subject up. TRUE - excessively expensive (with any sort of TV) and no bridge mode available 4 LAN ports on new router (I looked) sales assistant unable to answer if I would have access to router settings. TOT - Have had very few issues on the Internet side but IPTV has become progressively poorer value for money. Router now very old but full access to settings and bridge mode currently being used. Costs over 1000 Baht a month with TV. 3BB I was with them before and no issues but I moved to an area they did not cover - but now they do. 3BB tell me router has 4 LAN ports, bridge mode available and full access to router settings. Their package at 699Baht/month including some English language TV and program 29 for my GF looks to be my best best. Thanks for all the helpful answers.