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What do I need to know for a border bounce at Mae Sot-Myawaddy?

Mae Sot Myawaddy Border Crossing Myanmar Visa Requirements Day Pass Thai Immigration Expats in Thailand

Feb 8, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

So, I’m planing on doing a border bounce by feb 22nd latest,(that’s when my 90 days visa is up),.Mae sot is the nearest border to me, is it still open for day trippers only ?,. What do I need documents wise if I do the border bounce in my car ?,.I wouldn’t mind staying one night in mayanmar and return to thailand on 23rd feb to give me a full 45 days in country,. Is border open 24/7 or is it open set hours ?,. Any costs involved doing the bounce ?,. What paperwork is needed ?,.passport/car documents etc,.Tia,,

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The Mae Sot-Myawaddy border is open for day trips, but recent updates indicate that foreign nationals (farang) can only receive a stamp for a border bounce and must return immediately to Thailand. The crossing is operational from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and currently, only Thai citizens can drive across. Foreigner visitors cannot stay overnight without a visa, which is not being recognized at the land border at this moment. A day pass costing approximately 500 Baht or $10 is generally required, but it allows only a brief stay before returning to Thailand.

Paul *******

@Nigel ********

so it's funny to you that there is turmoil in Myanmar and that any westerner finding themselves in a closed area, which happens to include most border areas could find themselves subject to arrest, detention or deportation?

What's wrong with you?

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Paul *******

1. No Thai border crossing is open

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or has ever been open around the clock. Mae Sot-Myawaddy is currently open between 630am and 630pm Thai time.

2. Normally you would be allowed to drive your car across to Myawaddy for the day, but this is currently permitted only for Thais. Only the blue book is needed. Very simple process. Only permitted to drive within an approx. 12km radius of the border though.

3. You can't spend the night in Myanmar without a visa and they're not recognizing them at the land borders at the moment. Pre-Covid, at this border you needed a visa to spend the night even if you were intent on staying in the border town of Myawaddy. The 500 Baht or US$10 pass is a day pass. Unlike some of the other land border crossings where for the same fee you could spend up to 2 weeks in Myanmar (though only in certain towns and cities near the border), Myawaddy has never allowed this. It has only ever been day pass or visa or e-visa.

4. Currently, as I have mentioned, only border bounces are permitted for farang. You can't visit Myawaddy, not even to grab a cup of milk tea near the bridge. You get your passport stamped, handed back to you and told to head straight back to Thailand.

Any accompanying Thais are permitted to enter Myawaddy for the day with the car, but my guess is they wouldn't be interested, if you're not allowed to.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

And the winning reply goes to Paul James,.Thankyou very much,….

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Mike ********

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Glyn **********

The border with Myanmar is closed to foreigners or farangs if you prefer.

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Paul *******

then there's no reason for your rants here. You're wasting everyone's time with this nonsense.

For the umpteenth time: Thais are allowed to cross this border while other foreigners aren't.

Some western nationalities can do a border run here.

Indians, Vietnamese, Laotians, Filipinos, Chinese, Africans all can NOT.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry to cause a “ war of words”,.but my basic question remains, can I do a border bounce at Mae sot !,. I need to know before I go as my present visa tr 60+30 expires on

****

/23, if a border bounce isn’t possible I need to go to a plan B,. I’m based in kamphaeng Phet,and Mae sot is my nearest option,failing that Chiang khan is my next option,.I don’t want to visit Myanmar or Laos, just stamp out and back in to thailand,. Thanks all,.

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Marc ********

Yes Sir I know Thais can cross border to Myanmar. And I am not allowed. Yet a Thai is a foreigner if outsided of Thailand.

Technically we both are foreigners but different rules apply to us. That's all I am saying.

Actually if I would have a discussion with a burmese IO and he would be telling me a Thai is not a foreigner in his country...

I would not argue with him. I would think ok he dosn't speak english well. So he dosn't know the definition of the word foreigner.

But I am very surprised you don't understand words of your own language. I assume english is your native language. But maybe I assume wrong

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

it doesn't change the fact that ONLY Thais and Burmese can cross the border right now.

If you want, you can try being a smart Alec and tell Burmese immigration your long winded rant about how foreigners like you should be entitled to cross into Myanmar just like Thais are but I doubt you'll get very far

You'll probably be mocked, ignored and then led back across the bridge.

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Marc ********

I would not dare telling any IO anything.

All I know anybody being in a country one is not a citizen of is a foreigner. That's all I know regarding our "discussion"

I know Thais can cross border to Myanmar.

Yet they are foreigners once they set a foot on burmese soil.

IO might will not consider them as foreigners but technically they are

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

you can continue your repetitive and rather long explanations of something we already know.

You still don't get it. You provided incorrect info regarding Indians and other Asean nationals. You're clueless. Just admit it. You've lost this debate. I won.

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Marc ********

I didn't provide any info. I said PROBABLY. So it means I don't know.

Sir do you actually speak english?

You seem to have problems understanding words and the meaning of it

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

ONLY Thai and Burmese citizens can cross the bridge in Mae Sot and spend time in Myawaddy. ONLY Burmese citizens can enter Thailand by land from Myanmar using a passport and visa and being allowed to travel all around the country in either direction. This is because foreigners aren't allowed to be present in Myawaddy therefore they're not allowed to EXIT Myanmar by land.

It doesn't matter whether they're Chinese, Indian, Laotian, Cambodian, American, Australian etc.

Thais can ONLY enter and exit Mae Sot on a border pass. Thai passports aren't accepted at this time, because the Burmese authorities aren't allowing any foreigner, including Thai nationals, to enter their country with a visa if they arrive by land.

ONLY Thai nationals are eligible to use a border pass to cross the Thai-Myanmar border from the Thai side. ONLY Myanmar nationals are eligible to use border passes to enter Thailand from the Burmese side.

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Marc ********

Yes Sir yes I always believed you but a Thai is still a foreigner in Myanmar. With privilegues obviously.

The word foreigner has a clear definition regardless what you or burmese IO thinks

Definition foreigner:

a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration

You can continue writing long texts taking everything out of proportion explaining me what Thais can do in Myanmar. How welcome they are etc.

They can be invited for lunch, dinner and whatever by burmese IO.

Still technically they remain foreigners.

I am certain you know exactly what I mean. You just want to argue.

No problem to me I will just copy paste the definition of the word foreigner again and again.

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

NO the rules aren't different for Asean citizens. They're different only for Thais.

I've explained this already. Indians, Laotians etc. Are treated the same as westerners at the Thai-Burmese borders. They can't enter. In fact, Vietnamese citizens for example aren't allowed to depart Thailand by land for Myanmar without a visa. I went with a Vietnamese friend from Mae Sot, he was denied exit. This was BEFORE Covid. So in fact, citizens of Asean countries, unless they're visa exempt for entry into Myanmar by land (which currently applies only to Singaporeans) can't enter Myanmar on day passes due to Thai immigration rules.

So my point still stands. Thais have different entry rules than everyone else. Indians don't. You're just trolling now and adding confusion.

I know what I'm talking about - you're speculating and adding misinformation that will end up causing problems if people were to believe you.

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Paul *******

blah blah blah. You keep repeating yourself. Thanks but you haven't helped the OP in any way.

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Paul *******

you obviously haven't heard of locals only border crossings, which are only for citizens of the two countries that share a common border. Try out your logic with officials there and see how far you'll get. You'll be told "you're a foreigner" and that only Thais (and Burmese or Laotians or Cambodians) are allowed to cross. Period. It's not a difficult concept to grasp, but for some reason you've started up a rant for no reason. It doesn't help answer the OP's question either.

Fortunately, as someone who knows the situation in Myanmar well and is familiar with the rules that apply to Thais and how they differ from us foreigners, I've been able to provide the best and most up to date advice on this thread.

Barring any changes or someone who has been up there recently, I'm the next best source of information.

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Marc ********

It only means certain foreigners are allowed to cross the border.Obviously Thais. Near India probably indians too

Sir please don't take it out of proportion

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Paul *******

I think that's what you've done. I don't see what point it is you're trying to make because you're arguing over semantics now.

Fact is, there are locals only borders and international border crossings and that's all there is to it.

Different rules apply to Thais compared with foreigners crossing the Burmese border.

The same rules (generally) apply when using a passport though Thais do receive a visa exemption if flying in.

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Marc ********

And I never said this is not correct.

All I am saying is a Thai is a foreigner in Maynmar. You cannot invent languages and the meaning of words new only because a burmese immigration officer considers me as foreigner but the thai citizen not.

The thai clearly is a foreigner too

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Paul *******

That's what you're doing.

How else do you want the authorities to refer to Thais then? They have to distinguish them from other foreigners for obvious reasons.

It's much more important that Thais, especially those from border communities, are allowed into Myanmar than us foreigners from other countries. They have economic, trade and family ties that we generally don't have.

You came onto this thread looking to validate a point and now you're getting yourself into a circular argument with no way out.

Let's stick to visa and travel advice, not this semantic nonsense.

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Paul *******

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Paul *******

regardless of your efforts at trolling or trying to "correct" the Thai and Burmese authorities, you're wrong.

Thais have different entry rules compared with other foreigners.

We distinguish between foreigners and Thais for a reason and so do the Thai authorities.

No amount of "but Thais are foreigners in Myanmar too" will change the way Thai and Burmese authorities operate.

In Myawaddy, there is even a hotel that operates a 3 tier pricing policy. One price for Burmese, an intermediate price for Thais and a higher price for everyone else.

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Marc ********

Yes they have different entry rules. Different pricing whatever... you name it.

Still does not void the fact a thai citizen is a foreigner in Myanmar. Unless she or he got dual citizenship.

It is you correcting me. Google is your friend.

Google what the word foreigner means

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Paul *******

The Burmese view Thais as their brothers. This is particularly true in border areas. Fact is - Thais are given privileges we aren't and vice versa.

You really don't have a point, because it's Thais that are allowed to freely cross the border on day trips, while foreigners like us aren't allowed to.

Thais can also travel to some of the southern islands in Myanmar and stay overnight for several days, even a couple of weeks. Currently, we aren't allowed to do that. We aren't even being permitted to board a boat.

Thais can also visit some sites in Karen state (and elsewhere in Myanmar) without a passport, visa or even an ID card. We foreigners are barred from entering at the present time.

Thais are Asian and look similar to Burmese, so the Burmese authorities aren't as concerned if something goes wrong, as when a westerner gets caught up in the fighting that is currently going on.

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Marc ********

I don't care if they view each other as brothers or family.

You take it out of proportion again.

I stand by the fact:

for·eign·er:

a person born in or coming from a country other than one's own.

INFORMAL

a person not belonging to a particular place or group; a stranger or outsider.

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Paul *******

Yawn.

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Marc ********

Yes Sir. Google it yourself what the word foreigner means. I copy paste it for you already.

You can laugh all you want. A fact is a fact

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Paul *******

Yawn once again. This whole back and forth and you've not added any value to this conversation or helped the OP in any way.

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Marc ********

I agree. But a fact remains a fact😆

for·eign·er

a person born in or coming from a country other than one's own.

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Paul *******

Again, no, in the context of what we're talking about. Otherwise authorities would need to use a whole sentence or paragraph to describe something that can be said in one word.

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Marc ********

Again it is not relevant how the IO operates and who is a foreigner to him.

Also not relevant who got privilegues from who will not get.

Fact is:

Foreigner:

a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration

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Paul *******

Oh dear. I'm giving up now because it seems like you're intent on going around in circles all night otherwise.

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Marc ********

That's exactly what you doing Sir.

You give long explainaitions why thais can cross the border and who think who is his brother and who is not.

Fact is the word foreigner has a definition.

a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration.

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Paul *******

No, you keep repeating the same tripe that has absolutely no bearing on anything.

I've explained multiple times that the rules are different for Thais and foreigners. That's all there is to it.

It's important to explain IN DETAIL what the exact differences are because that's what the OP wanted to know.

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Marc ********

Yes Sir you explained the rules.

Yes the rules are different for ASEAN citizens and probably indians too.

I believe you burmese IO will consider a thai as a brother and not a foreigner.

Still you cannot argue about the definition of a word.

I happily post it again for you:

Foreigner meaning

a person not native to or naturalized in the country or jurisdiction under consideration

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

Neither the Burmese nor Thai authorities refer to Thai citizens as foreigners for the purposes of defining entry rules by land.

Foreigners = citizens of 3rd countries, which would include Laotians as well as Americans.

Fact is, for better or worse we have to live with the fact that for now, only Thai and Burmese citizens can cross the border by land, with different rules applying depending on the border used.

Mae Sot-Myawaddy has effectively turned into a "locals border crossing" though like used to be the case 15 or 20 years ago at some of the other borders such as the Three Pagodas Pass and Mae Sai, foreigners (again, 3rd country nationals) could enter Myanmar on day trips though at the time, neither Thai nor Burmese immigration would stamp passports. It was purely designed for short term tourism purposes since travel beyond the border town wasn't permitted.

In this particular case, the authorities are permitting foreigners to get fresh stamps but it's not functioning as an international border crossing on the Burmese side in the sense we aren't being allowed in.

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Marc ********

And yet any citizen to be located in any other country he or she is not citizen of is a foreigner by means.

Regardless of your skills writing long texts or how thai or burmese authorities operate.

Period

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

@Glyn *********

right now foreigners (specifically westerners) shouldn't be in a Burmese border town for any reason as they're not allowing foreigners to stay there. However, it's possible foreigners may be allowed to travel to and stay in Kawthoung and Tachilek if they arrive by air (both cities have airports) and because both are relatively safe. Exit or entry to Thailand is not currently permitted.

However, westerners are prohibited from entering Myawaddy and most other border towns at present. If caught there, you will be questioned and possibly detained and/or escorted back to an open area.

These rules are in place due to the precarious security situation and fighting since the coup.

Once the Burmese government allows foreigners in by land from Thailand, the same rules as currently applied to Thais will apply. It's unlikely visas will be accepted for entry via land for some time to come. I don't expect it to be permitted this year and even next year is unlikely as the political situation is likely to take years to be resolved.

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Paul *******

Dan Singkorn, although upgraded on the Thai side to a new and larger crossing in anticipation of an increase in trade and tourism volume has yet to be upgraded to international status. Even before Covid, only Thai and Burmese citizens could pass through. Thais were able to travel the 160km to Myeik on a 14 day pass, while Burmese were permitted to visit Prachuab Khiri Khan, 20km away, on a 3 day border pass.

The border crossing to look out for, once it finally reopens is the Phu Nam Ron border in Kanchanaburi. It's the nearest to Hua Hin that is an international border crossing. It's also the closest to Bangkok. In fact, it's a little closer than Aranyaprathet/Poipet, although those residing on the eastern side of Bangkok will find the latter to be a little closer for them.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Good info,thanks,.

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Mike ********

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Paul *******

Thais have special privileges due to being neighbors. Also, the political relationship between Thailand and Myanmar is cordial, unlike that between Myanmar and western countries.

Thais are permitted to visit Myawaddy, Myanmar, on day trips with or without their cars, under the same conditions as pre Covid. However, the border now has shorter opening hours: 630am to 630pm Thai time, which are the same hours as pre 2015, when they extended them.

Farang can only cross to get their passport stamped. They can't visit Myawaddy.

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Marc ********

All I am or was saying is Thais are foreigners in Myanmar.

I didn't say they cannot go to Myanmar

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Marc ********

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Paul *******

ONLY Mae Sot is currently open BUT for farang, the border is open only if you're doing a border run.

You can't visit Myawaddy for any length of time.

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Marc ********

@Glyn *********

Yes because Thais are foreigners too in Myanmar.

But it's open for them

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Glyn **********

there are border crossings into Myanmar where Thailand won't allow farangs to leave or return.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Glyn *********

Mae sai/mai sot/ are hopefully good, not sure if Bang Dan sing khon is useable or not ?, I’m up near kamphaeng Phet ,.

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Gorgon *****

Mae Sai closed

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Marc ********

@Glyn *********

Yes but Thais can. And they are foreigners in Myanmar. That's my point

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Marc ********

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Glyn *********

Not from what I have heard from comments and I was in Thai immigration getting 30 day extension and was told by the io that Myanmar had opened up,.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

No probs, it’s only open for border bounces apparently, I visited the one near you were they do all the wood furniture a couple of months ago Bang Dan sing khon,. Very quiet ,.

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Glyn **********

that's excellent news I'm located in Hua Hin. Thank you for correcting my information.

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Glyn **********

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Graham ******

I haven't seen anything from someone with a foreign passport who has in fact done a Mae Sot-Myawaddy border bounce but this is the latest I can find which suggests it is possible

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0-i9408-k

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790-Myawady_Mae_Sot_border_to_reopen_12_01-Myanmar.html

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Paul *******

looking forward to reading your experience/feedback.

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Paul *******

Yes it seems to be the case that Burmese citizens are allowed to enter Thailand via Mae Sot under pre Covid rules. This means, 1 day border pass, maybe 7 day border pass, entry with a labor visa or tourist/employment/business/marriage or any other visa on ordinary passport.

In the reverse direction, Thais can enter Myawaddy on a one day border pass only. Not sure about the 7 day border pass. Burmese visa + passport not yet allowed.

3rd country nationals - only for border bounces. Not permitted for either day trips or with Burmese visa.

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I will keep you informed, as I plan a border bounce at Mae sot on

****

/23,.

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Mike ********

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Wayne ******

Look down the main page for this post....great info

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Mike ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks for that, just read his reply,.

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Mike ********

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