The concern is the Airline - they tend to be more strict the the government.

You may be over complicating the matter.

I have been in Thailand 10 years on mostly tourist visas. You're not technically supposed to do that but nobody really seems to care. Thai authorities care most about people taking Thai jobs. So if your friend was to work from his room only, they wouldn't really need to concern too much about he visa type.

Because they're going out and playing with hardware, this may expose them to some scrutiny. Although, I doubt very much anybody would care. They would care if your friend was the sort to go around offended Thai or Buddha.

One option would be hire a Thai person to do the repairs, your friend can supervise - wink wink.

Another thing to consider, the Thai authorities are not waiting at the airport to catch that one person with an imperfect visa. Thailand is not a police state. Your friend could come work for awhile (few months) and figure out the rest. Once your friend is here doing their thing, they'll encounter other expats and various other friends (agents). The situation will look different from here than it does from there.

My condo will do this for me. If you are staying in a condo you may want to ask the office if that is a service they provide (my condo charges like 100 baht or something).

I the past (pre covid) I used bus tickets to satisfy this requirment.

The requirement is that you are ticketed to leave, not that you use the ticket.

I use the one on Soi 6, there is a restaurant towards second road end named the Victorian or similar (it's the only respectable look establishment on that road).

I think their called "first class visa" The have been reliable, knowlegible and their prices are about the same as everybody else's prices.

I have obtain visas, while in Thailand, then left and come back to activate them. The Thai Government is not looking that closes. I recommend you not worry so much.

What you didn't ask but I will share with you.

I was shopping around for visa options, marriage or retirement. Visa agents quoted me 10-15K to do the retirement visa. They quoted me 60K to do the marriage visa.

nobody likes those things. Pay an agent?

You're really over thinking it.

Multiple entry gets you a total of nine months, but you're still required to leave every 90 days so it's not a great option.

There are some great places near here (Bali comes to mind).

Come to Thailand, stay up to 89 days, go to some other place, enjoy yourself a week or two come back to Thailand leave sometime before 90 days.

Travel days count against your days in country.

I million years ago I looked into the fiancé visa vs the wife visa. You may want to consider both options.

@Marty ********

Good to know. Thank you.