Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

olalla

Oct 8, 2004, 4:43 PM

Post #1 of 14 (1632 views)

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Farthest south for satTV

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After reading past posts on sattelite TV, I get the impression that there is a limit as to how far south you can be an still get reception from NoB. Am I correct? What would say is that latitude, however you want to describe it?

Brian

Oct 8, 2004, 4:53 PM

Post #2 of 14 (1625 views)

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Re: [olalla] Farthest south for satTV

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Here is a very useful website for questions about satellite TV south of the border:

http://www.dbstvforum.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi?

saludos
Brian

olalla

Oct 8, 2004, 6:27 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1617 views)

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Re: [Brian] Farthest south for satTV

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Thanks, Brian, for your suggestion. Took a look and quickly realized that that forum is way over my head. I'm no techie. I just have questions of a technical nature. I need an answer that a novice can understand. I know that may not be possible. Pete, Help.

johanson / Moderator

Oct 8, 2004, 7:37 PM

Post #4 of 14 (1609 views)

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Re: [olalla] Farthest south for satTV

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Olalla. If you want the Seattle Channels 4,5,7,9, & 13 there is only one small dish system that will bring them to you in Ajijic, or in Guatemala or Honduras for example. It is the Canadian small dish System called Star Choice. There is no other option, if you want the Seattle stations.

The last time I checked, you could get a Star Choice system in Ajijic for perhaps $550 US installed or, or in Canada for less than $100 Canadian, should you have a Canadian address. Go to www.starchoice.com and start reading.

No, you can not call Star Choice and order a system for Mexico. You have to have a real Canadian address, a real site in Canada where you have a star choice receiver. I do. However, I bet that at least 2/3rds of those who have Star Choice systems in Mexico do not have a Canadian address and have found a way to get around this requirement

olalla

Oct 8, 2004, 7:52 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1606 views)

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Re: [johanson] Farthest south for satTV

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I guess my question was not clear. Is it possible to get US satellite TV, not necessarily Seattle stations, anywhere in Mexico or is it determined by how far south one is from the US border. If it is theretically available anywhere in MX, is there any way to find out what in which cities it is actually available?

johanson / Moderator

Oct 8, 2004, 8:16 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1602 views)

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Re: [olalla] Farthest south for satTV

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What you ask is hard to answer. US DISH reaches further south than does DirecTV. Both use spot beams to deliver those in Seattle their local stations. Only the nation feeds from either, are visible as one enters Mexico and the further south you get the weaker the signals.

For example while it takes a small sat Dish for DISH Network, by the time you reach Ajijic you need a 1.4 and 1.8 meter dish for the satellites at 110 and 119 degrees West. With DirecTV, you need even a bigger dish. And remember you will only be getting the Conus or national feeds, not the spot beams that carry many of the local feeds.

With Star Choice, all you need is a 65 cm dish or two. I even get HDTV down here, often from Seattle stations via Star Choice.

olalla

Oct 8, 2004, 8:34 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1600 views)

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Re: [johanson] Farthest south for satTV

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I think we could find someone in Victoria who could serve as our Canadian address, but my question is a little broader. We are planning to look around Mexico before we decide just where to live. It will probably be Lakeside or GDL, but we can't be sure. What will partly determine our choice is a) whether we can get sat TV and b)whether we can get a broadband, satellite, or cable computer hookup. I realize the latter is a local question. The next question is: does there become a distance at which the cost of dishes and other equipment become prohibitively expensive? I realize that expensive is a relative term, but you get my meaning I hope.

johanson / Moderator

Oct 8, 2004, 9:20 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1594 views)

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Re: [olalla] Farthest south for satTV

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The only English language small dish system that requires a small dish throughout all of Mexico is Star Choice. Both DirecTV and Dish work well near the US border but the size of the dish farther south could get very expensive

Rolly

Oct 9, 2004, 7:55 AM

Post #9 of 14 (1570 views)

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Re: [johanson] Farthest south for satTV

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Pete, not all local stations are on spots. Dish carries NYC local stations on 119.

Another problem with viewing on the edge of the footprint is interference from rain or even heavy clouds. My Dish signal is easily knocked out by a cloud.

Rolly Pirate

olalla

Oct 9, 2004, 9:18 AM

Post #10 of 14 (1564 views)

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Re: [johanson] Farthest south for satTV

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It sounds as if Star Choice is the star choice. And it does work throughout Mexico??? I think you have mentioned in the past that you brought it to MX. Does it need to be shipped to the Canadian address. What is the procedure?

johanson / Moderator

Oct 9, 2004, 10:01 AM

Post #11 of 14 (1560 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Farthest south for satTV

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You are so right Rolly. Perhaps 1/10 of them are on Conus beams. It depends on the satellite that is carrying the local stations. Here is just one example from Echostar 7 http://www.lyngsat.com/...ges/dish119_sid.html and for Echostar 6&8 http://www.lyngsat.com/...ges/dish110_sid.html

Look to the right of each channel. You will see a comment like Conus or Northwest (spot beam); most of them are on spot beams

johanson / Moderator

Oct 9, 2004, 10:41 AM

Post #12 of 14 (1555 views)

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Re: [olalla] Farthest south for satTV

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There are many ways to obtain Star Choice in Mexico. I recommend you call my dealer Jim Forman, in Duncan, BC. Duncan is just North of Victoria, and not too far from my primitive cottage.

Should you decide to buy from him, he can UPS the equipment to you in Olalla, WA. Here is Jim Foreman's email address (info@ultravisionsatellite.com). You can also call him at 1-250-748-4833 for further information

Jerry@Ajijic

Oct 11, 2004, 6:58 AM

Post #13 of 14 (1512 views)

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Re: [johanson] Farthest south for satTV

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You can also contact a local(lakeside) dealer and he will sell you the equipment, install it and if necessary I think he can arrange a Canadian address.

NickP

Oct 14, 2004, 6:56 AM

Post #14 of 14 (1472 views)

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Re: [Jerry@Ajijic] Farthest south for satTV

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Local lakeside dealers may be able to provide a Canadian address, the problem is they might not have the equiment.

What Starchoice (S/C) implimented back in May 04 is that all new accounts must be set up over the telephone.
The fine folks at S/C are trying to put a halt to fraud such as pyramiding.

Over the phone they will ask you certain questions while your in front of your TV like what the trip counts, Unit ID numbers are.

Another thing that both S/C and Bell Express Vu (BEV) have changed in there policys is, how thay sell you the package. One can no longer walk into, say Futureshop and purchase a S/C or BEV package containing the receiver and dish. Now when you purchase a system the vendor will set-up an install appointment and then the installer will show up at the residence with the dish and LNB, all you walk out of the store with is only the sat. receiver and an install date.

Now anyone with a BEV system in Canada, and is considering moving to Mexico your
system will not receive a signal from BEV (to far south of the footprint). The only choice is to convert your receiver and Rom card to Dishnetwork and receive American programming, but the draw backs to this method is you'll require a second dish and LNB and for someone to convert the receiver and to keep the card current from time to time.
Not legal, but then again so is owning any CDN sat. system in Mexico.

(This post was edited by NickP on Oct 14, 2004, 9:31 AM)