Forums > General > General Forum

METZ

Jul 5, 2004, 8:26 PM

Post #1 of 11 (612 views)

Shortcut

Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello all,
I've been living in Guadalajara for the past 7 years and have an FM3 visa. Can someone tell me whether there would be any problem if my son mailed a 4DTV receiver to me from the States? It just so happens he's coming down to visit in a few weeks, but I've discarded the idea of having him bring one with him because he wouldn't be able to get it through customs as a tourist.
The value of the receiver is $400 (special discount if you buy a year's subscription to HBO). But before I buy it, I want to be sure it can be mailed to Mexico without a hitch. I know I'll have to pay import duty.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Señor Kim
Kim Metzger
http://www.proz.com/pro/9171

johanson

Jul 5, 2004, 9:22 PM

Post #2 of 11 (599 views)

Shortcut

Re: [METZ] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Why not have your son bring the receiver with him for his dad. Hey, each several years I bring a new receiver down with me, to include the 4DTV 922 that you are talking about. Just 2 weeks ago, I got the red light and one of the items they noticed in my suitcase was a sat receiver at the Guad airport. I didn't have much else of high value and they let me pass through. It's sort of funny each time they spot my two loaves of bread and a large Jar of my favorite peanut butter, no matter what else they see in my suitcase they look at me strangely and let me through. I can't help it if I like Adams Peanut butter and San Juan Island 8 grain bread. :)

You are allowed to bring a very small television with you without paying duty and I figure a receiver is one component of a TV, so I have never bothered to declare it. Why put up a red flag.

Oh and I don't think it matters what papers you use when entering Mexico. First you go through immigration at one end of this big room, where they look at your fm 2, 3 or tourist card. Then you pick up your luggage and go to the other end of this very large area and go through Customs. When I went through Customs and got the red light, they only wanted to see what was in my suitcases not which papers I used to entered the country, and they didn't know or care whether I entered on an FM 2 or tourist card, immigration and customs are quite a distance apart.

Have your son bring the receiver with him. One time I brought two receivers and a stereo down with me . They made me pay a $150 in fees. Just have your son bring some cash with him.

METZ

Jul 6, 2004, 6:41 PM

Post #3 of 11 (535 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks Pete, I think I'll risk it. I suppose it might look better if he took it out of the box. I'm looking forward to hooking it up to my big dish.
All the best, Kim
Kim Metzger
http://www.proz.com/pro/9171

johanson

Jul 6, 2004, 6:58 PM

Post #4 of 11 (531 views)

Shortcut

Re: [METZ] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I take mine out of the box and then repack it making sure that it would appear that I have used it, which has always been the case. I want to make they know it is not brand new. I'll be coming back down in two months with a HDTV decoder. The folks at the airport have always been quite nice. Oh yes, and I will be bringing more bread and peanut butter.

PS FOR those of you who want a new 4DTV receiver, this is the time to buy. Most folks have been paying more than $650 in the states and more than $1000 in Mexico. www.callnps.com has a special for only $399 with a one year subscription to HBO for $180 or so.

If you want a Motorola 4DTV 922, now is the time to buy it. You can use it not only for normal analog and digital programming but as a source of HDTV signals for your HDTV decoder and HDTV monitor

(This post was edited by johanson on Jul 6, 2004, 7:06 PM)

cristalhombre

Jul 7, 2004, 7:51 AM

Post #5 of 11 (493 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hello Pete

Went to your website recommendation for 4DTV and called the 800 number to investigate. Found out that I needed to have a large dish in order to link up. I'm looking for a small dish system. First question is....does this significantly limit my options in Ajijic? 2. Is there a combination with some provider of a small dish system and "HD" signals?

I appreciate your assistance and knowledge with this "techie stuff" cuz I am lost when it comes to the digital world.

"NOT ALL WHO WANDER ARE LOST...."

johanson

Jul 7, 2004, 8:52 AM

Post #6 of 11 (478 views)

Shortcut

Re: [cristalhombre] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Here in Ajijic there are four popular small dish systems. Two are primarily Spanish and are called Sky and Latin DirecTV and two are primarily in English and are called DISH and Star Choice. Closer to the US border, you can also receive DirecTV and possibly Bell ExpressVu

Some folks have been buying a pirated version of DISH, and so far there haven't been that many interruptions. What they don't know is that DISH is about to upgrade it's encryption system and leave these folks without a signal.

Those signals from Dish easily receivable are those on the satellite(s) located at 119 degrees West. Many installations this far south don't include the signals from the bird located at 110 W.

The same goes with Star Choice. One is only able to get the English Language programs from the satellite located at 107.3 W. The French language stations and HDTV which are available on the other bird are presently not available. That may all change later this month when they replace this older weak satellite with a new one..

Which one do you want? Do you want to buy the equipment up North or down here? Only you can answer that. You have a lot of homework in front of you. Go to www.starchoice.com and www.dish.com and check out the programming. Remember; do not contact the folks at either place and tell them you are only going to watch the programming out of Canada for Star Choice or out of the US for DISH. They do not have problems in my situation because I have an active account in the country of origin and have my second unit on my motor home. I've picked up Star Choice on a 75 cm dish as far south as Guatemala.

Los Gringos

Jul 10, 2004, 12:45 PM

Post #7 of 11 (404 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Pete,

I know absolutely nothing, actually a little less than nothing, about things electronic other if I plug it in I hope it will work. Our home does not have any of cable or satellite service other than a wireless set-up that I purchased from Laguna for my computer. What are your recommendations, in plain but very simple English, for a home system for viewing the usual; ABC, CBS, CNN, Cinemax, HBO, ESPN, NBC, Showtime type stations at lakeside?

Appreciate any insights and assistance that you or anyone else might offer.

Thanks.

johanson

Jul 10, 2004, 1:28 PM

Post #8 of 11 (398 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Los Gringos] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

There is no one simple answer. The Guadalajara Reporter did a series on the subject, as I recollect, earlier this year. There were three or four articles each almost 500 words long. To make a long story short, each delivery system has slightly different programming. The programming that appeals to you will most likely influence your choice of systems.

You have your work cut out for you trying to figure whether the programming at www.starchoice.com www.direcTV.com , the big C band system (www.callnps.com), sky, Latin American DirecTV, mpeg-2, or cable is best.

I like Star Choice best because it gives me my home town stations of Vancouver BC and Seattle.

Los Gringos

Jul 10, 2004, 1:45 PM

Post #9 of 11 (394 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks Pete. Appreciate the web location info.

tntex

Jul 10, 2004, 3:20 PM

Post #10 of 11 (387 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Pete: Do you know if I can receive Star Choice in Tennessee. When in Ajijic I enjoy it very much. As always: Thanks
tntex

johanson

Jul 10, 2004, 4:19 PM

Post #11 of 11 (374 views)

Shortcut

Re: [tntex] Importing a 4DTV receiver into Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

You can receive it anywhere in the US. I think all of Mexico, and half of Cental America without using too large of an antenna. Remember that you are only getting one of the two satellites, which doesn't really matter unless you want more French stations and HDTV. That may change next month as they are about to replace the weak satellite