Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

not_ally

Jul 12, 2004, 9:32 AM

Post #1 of 13 (972 views)

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Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Hey y'all,

So I'm in the process of moving to San Miguel de Allende, and was preparing for a tearful goodbye to my TIVO unit, as I understand that DIRECTV doesn't so well in SMA. But then my brother-in-law told me that I could actually use my TIVO unit to tape cable shows. Does anyone know (a) if that is indeed true and (b) if there is anything about Mexican cable (eg; analog v. digital signal) that would impede such taping?

Many thanks.
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"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly I discover there is no reason." John Cage

kirkswig

Jul 12, 2004, 12:53 PM

Post #2 of 13 (960 views)

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Re: [not_ally] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Can you use that TiVO for cable? I'd double-check that, because the TiVO that works with DirecTV is manufactured special for that service.

And even if it does work, there's a quality issue. What makes the DirecTV TiVO so nice is that it will take the MPEG-2 from the satellite and directly stream it to the hard drive, so there's no loss of picture quality. Using TiVO for cable however usually means that your TiVo has to re-encode the stream, so you end up compressing a picture that was already compressed and then de-compressed... not exactly ideal.

They just came out with the HDTV DirecTV TiVO's, which are very expensive (~$1000US) but very, very nice. When somebody gets that working south of the border I'll take another look at satellite TV (and if they can get it to work with my existing computer monitor, then I might actually go ahead and buy one too.)

To boldly go where no wig has gone before.

not_ally

Jul 12, 2004, 5:17 PM

Post #3 of 13 (946 views)

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Re: [kirkswig] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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I'm not sure if TIVO works with cable, just took my b-i-l's word for it. I'm not wedded to the idea of TIVO but have just gotten really used to endlessly available episodes of Law and Order and West Wing on tap (and the luxury of skipping ads). If I could find any kind of dvr that would do that with cable I'd be just as happy.
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"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly I discover there is no reason." John Cage

Cynthia7

Jul 12, 2004, 9:14 PM

Post #4 of 13 (940 views)

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Re: [not_ally] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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I have friends who get Direct in SMA. For how long and how they get it I do not know. I have c band but had a Direct Entertainment Guide and needed the Orbit Guide. Several friends asked for the Direct Guide because that is what they have.

not_ally

Jul 13, 2004, 10:05 AM

Post #5 of 13 (929 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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All so complicated. Maybe that means I should just try to live without TV (uh oh, I'm starting to have delirium tremens already).
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"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly I discover there is no reason." John Cage

Cynthia7

Jul 13, 2004, 12:54 PM

Post #6 of 13 (923 views)

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Re: [not_ally] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Living in Mexico can be complicated. It is a third world country and technically challenged. The less you have to have the simpler it is. Eventually it works but not on your time frame. This is the great blessing of living in Mexico--you finally realize that you are not in control...probably never were..just an illusion. When we moved here there were few telephones, no television, few privately owned cars, no bus station, electrical outtages weekly and nothing to eat in a can or box. We lived very well. Now we have purified water in bottles, some houses have it. Now we have gas in large tanks on our houses. We even have 2 stop lights on the edge of town. Be courageous and come on down..

johanson / Moderator

Jul 13, 2004, 7:42 PM

Post #7 of 13 (910 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Gosh I have the very opposite experience down here in Ajijic. I have a t-1 internet connection which is many times faster than I can get up North in the Country. I could also choose ADSL if I wanted. My cell phone is just as modern as the US. When I go to the Mall, Liverpool, in Guadalajara, it's just as modern as Frankfurt, LA. Toronto, you name it. And most anything is available there that is available up North. It's sometimes a little harder to find unless you speak Spanish. And if it isn't readily available, you can buy it in the states and bring it with you.

I can buy any type of electrical equipment I want to include a plasma or rear projection LCoS Sony HDTV, or I can go to those quaint places referred to above. can buy a Dell computer down here on a toll free 800 number, etc

FOLKS it's all here, well almost all here. Just a little harder to find. Yeh I know someone is going to post a list of all of those things they can't get down here. The one thing I don't find many of are TV dinners. But most everything else I want I can get. Oh and my brand of Adam's Peanut Butter.

IT MIGHT BE FUN TO POST THOSE THINGS WE BELIEVE WE CAN'T GET DOWN HERE. I bet others might have a suggestion about where it/they might be available.

(This post was edited by johanson on Jul 13, 2004, 7:45 PM)

Cynthia7

Jul 13, 2004, 8:09 PM

Post #8 of 13 (904 views)

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Re: [johanson] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Would you come to SMA? We need you. We were a small mountain village that has been discovered. Everything is probably available at certain times and at certain places but not on a regular basis. We know the larger cities have most things. Our problem is that many of the technical people do not know what to ask for. I have friends whose satelite tv's and phones and internet connections have been off for days or weeks. You know the cell phone called itself and used up your card. The phone company says the trouble are with wires in the house. The house phone technican says its Telmex's problem. We installed Prodigy Infinium in Feb. We have 2 lines so they have been charging us for 2 Prodigy Infinium's. This week we finally got it corrected. I am glad the folks in your area do not have these problems. The person asking about Tivo was coming to SMA. She'll probably move to your area now. It sounds like it's much easier to have technical assistance.

johanson / Moderator

Jul 13, 2004, 9:56 PM

Post #9 of 13 (897 views)

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Re: [Cynthia7] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Gosh that sounds terrible. We have problems too. I haven't had a problem like that since earlier this week when the local propane driver filled a 300 liter tank, it needed about 220 liters to completely fill it, but charged me for 342 liters. I met with him today and he only wanted to give me some of the overcharge back. I meet with an inspector Wednesday.

And yes it is hard to find qualified people to fix my satellite dish. Often the good ones are busy. I installed the last one myself. In SMA there is a highly respected satellite dealer your friends should have called, I believe by the name of Daniel. In fact you have your own forum just to answer technical satellite questions and to provide you with tech support for SMA. Go to http://www.dbstvforum.com And then link to forum for SMA. You will be able to find Daniel's email address there.

I also suspect that the better Spanish one speaks the easier it is to solve the problems you expressed.

All I am saying that sometimes it takes a little longer. But with a little time and effort you can have the best of everything down here.

not_ally

Jul 13, 2004, 11:44 PM

Post #10 of 13 (894 views)

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Re: [johanson] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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J, that was an enormously helpful post, the website provided more specific info on getting satellite in SMA (with a DVR too!) than I've seen anywhere else. Thanks so much.

Cynthia, no chance of moving anywhere else though, I adore San Miguel.
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"The first question I ask myself when something doesn't seem to be beautiful is why do I think it's not beautiful. And very shortly I discover there is no reason." John Cage

Cynthia7

Jul 14, 2004, 7:21 AM

Post #11 of 13 (884 views)

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Re: [not_ally] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Thanks for that great info. Daniel is one of my best friends in Mexico and at my house weekly. He is the bright spot in SMA for technical things but ..never has he mentioned that website. He keeps my c band working, installed my new computer, repairs my televisions, vcrs, keeps packet8 going and instructs renters how to use what they have no knowledge of. He is honest, on time and provides a real service. He helped me with the Infinium problem and is great guy.

swine

Jul 17, 2004, 2:34 PM

Post #12 of 13 (849 views)

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Re: [johanson] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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That mention of a t-1 in Ajijic has made my ears perk right up. I'm moving down mid-October to a place in upper Villa Nova. Can you let me know how to establish if such is available at my site, and how to begin the application for it if time is required?
I admire your managment of this forum and find your posts quite useful and to-the-point. How do you find the time?

johanson / Moderator

Jul 17, 2004, 5:22 PM

Post #13 of 13 (834 views)

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Re: [jayc1ay] Using TIVO with Cable TV

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Here is your pricing information. ADSL's upload speed is about 256 while Lagunanet's is close to the download speed

ADSL- Prodigy ```````````Lagunanet-fixed WiFi

256 = $400 pesos ``````````````$40 US
512 = $689 pesos ``````````````$60 US
1Mb = $1,114 pesos ```````````negotiable
T1 NO ``````````````````````negotiable,not always avialable
2Mb = $5,289 pesos (really) ````````NO

Sorry about all of the `````````. But it is the only way I could get a second column properly spaced. I am sure there is an easier way. I just don't know it.

(This post was edited by johanson on Jul 17, 2004, 5:56 PM)