Unless in communicating with it one says exactly what one means, trouble is bound to result. - Alan Turing, about computers

Baiyoke Suite Hotel Internet Service (or Systech OFF-line Limited)

We were completely let down and disappointed by the level of service in regard to the EXPENSIVE and UNRELIABLE Internet service provided by the Baiyoke Suite Hotel for the use of it's guests.

This service, promoted by the hotel and costing 600 Baht a day ($AU25.00) is the most expensive Internet service we had come across during our travels in Thailand. But this service (if you would call it that) is not actually provided by the hotel as such, they contract the provision of the service out to an outfit by the name of Systech On-line Limited.

During our week long stay at the Baiyoke Suite hotel, we had many memorable moments. The hotel itself is a great place to stay and the staff are friendly and just can't do enough to make things "just-so". In fact, we highly recommend it as a base in Bangkok because of it's atmosphere and proximity to just about anything you might want or want to see. Of course, we wanted to share our experiences with our friends and family and for that, we required access to the Internet.

BUT THE INTERNET SERVICE IS THE LOUSIEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED IN ALL OUR TRAVELS.

Baiyoke Suite Hotel - Don't expect reliable Internet!

I don't know Systech On-line Limited from Adam. But I do know something about computers and communications. I am a graduate of Chisholm/Monash University and hold a Graduate Diploma in Digital Communications from that Institute. I also have a background in communications and computer systems (no, not just PC's, but Mini-computers and Mainframe computers) going back more than 35 years. I consider myself to be an expert and have spent many years of my working life consulting, designing and implementing communications systems for organisations such as: Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria Police, Owens-Illinois, Coles-Myer, BHP, etc.

My professional assessment of the technical ability of Systech On-line Limited, having dealt with their "technical" representatives is, to put it simply, POOR. They have very little (if any) knowledge of the Internet and its workings and appear to be mostly implementing 'out of box' solutions based on MS Windows of which they have no capacity to understand the inner technical workings.

From what I know from my dealings with them, I wouldn't trust them to install a piece of unterminated co-axial cable, must less an Internet service.

So it was that Lidy and I came to post on this 'blog and became immediately frustrated by the service level of the hotel Internet. It was plagued by outages. If not the service itself, then it was the Name Service or the DHCP server. When it did work, although we were promised a 1Mbps service, what was delivered was at best 30Kbps and often much less!

Complaining to the hotel resulted in them sending a hapless young man to our room to swap the WiFi AP. Other than that, he knew nothing of how the service was delivered. At one point of frustration, I rang reception and demanded to speak to Systech On-line. They eventually called back to my room to tell me that they could 'see' my pc. Yes, I agreed, but the Name Server has disappeared!

NEVER, in my whole working life have I EVER seen a more slipshod implementation of an Internet service.

Of course, it probably didn't help that my OS of choice is LINUX. Whenever I got to talk with Systech On-line Limited staff, one of the first statements was always: "So, you are using Linux?... Can you install Windows instead please?" If you don't know what an apoplectic fit is, you should have been there then.

Oh, and did I receive a refund on the charges levied for the Internet that didn't work? You bet I didn't. "I'm sorry sir, that is for Systech to determine."