Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

johanson / Moderator

Apr 24, 2009, 4:15 PM

Post #1 of 7 (3008 views)

Shortcut

Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I have Star Choice, DISH and Cable here in Ajijic along the shores of Lake Chapala. Here is a post I made on another forum that I wish to make here as well.

I signed up for digital TeleCable recently and now instead of 70 or so channels like I used to have with their old fashioned analog feeds, I have hundreds of video and audio channels. You know just like in the US, from channel 100 to something like channel 990. And just like up North, not every number between 100 and 990 is occupied by a channel, but a lot are. Now there is nothing better than HDTV feeds from Star Choice and DISH. And I love my Star Choice, but darn it when I compare the standard feeds like for example BBC on digital cable and then on what is it channel 501 on Star Choice? The signal quality on the digital TeleCable connection is better than with Star Choice. I don't know about the HD feeds from the cable company because I only get them via satellite and they are really great.

So who knows what TV package is best for you, but remember that there is a big difference between the old fashioned analog TeleCable which most folks have and talk about and the new digital package that they simulcast over the same cable lines just like they are doing up North in the US and in Canada.

Also check out the package costs, you know for HBO etc, they are a lot cheaper down here than up North. Now yes sometimes the movies are in Spanish, but usually not.

Something else that is really great. If you want to learn Spanish, many of the Channels that are in English have Spanish subtitles. Now sometimes the subtitles don't match every word. But they are usually quite close and you can learn Spanish while watching a movie and listening in English.

So remember we are going Digital here too. And yes the cable companies are simulcasting in both digital and analog, just like up North.

(This post was edited by johanson on Apr 24, 2009, 4:17 PM)

chicagotom

May 19, 2009, 1:24 PM

Post #2 of 7 (2924 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

I hope that someone can explain this to me. I have a "legal system" with Dish. I pay about $130 month for the service. I have the ultimate package with all the HD channels. I have the HD Dish Box w/built in HD DVR w/ the new card installed in it. One of my 3 antenna dish's is pointed at the 61.5º bird. This bird also provides my "local" feeds from NYC. However, even though I pay for local HD, I cannot receive those programs in HD here, only the std. def. versions. I would just like to know why that is? My location is Cancun. I have had this service here for 1-1/2 years and all the other HD channels work fine. It's very frustrating to be paying for something I can't get here. We would love to see our favorite programs in HD.(Dancing w/ Stars, Survivor, American Idol, NASCAR races, CBS,NBC,ABC news, etc.) Thanks in advance to anyone who can explain it to me. My satellite guy cannot???
cancunTom (formerly "chicagotom")

Check out our Mexican Adventures on my Caribbean Webpage & leave a comment! http://www.cancunTom.com

(This post was edited by chicagotom on May 19, 2009, 1:26 PM)

taltman711

May 19, 2009, 3:29 PM

Post #3 of 7 (2911 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chicagotom] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Quote

These local HD stations are on a spot beam transponder. This limits the footprint to whatever area is "local". You will not receiver these local HD broadcasts any where except the greater NY area. Also, you are getting the NY standard def. signals from the sat at 119 on a conus transponder except for PBS which is on a spot beam on 61.5.

Tim

johanson / Moderator

May 20, 2009, 12:51 AM

Post #4 of 7 (2889 views)

Shortcut

Re: [taltman711] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hey Tim:

Thanks as always for being there to answer the technical questions. I am in Seattle and later this week will visit the summer cottage on "The Island". That's local slang for Vancouver Island, BC.

I was about to answer the question posted by ChicagoTom and saw that you already had. I was going to get too technical as I sometimes do and suggest that Tom visit the following site. Here is what I was going to post

"It's really quite simple. It costs DISH Network a lot less to send out a spot beam than a Conus (Continental US) beam. If you will go to http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/dish61_sid.html you will see that most local networks are spot beamed in both standard and HD format."

Speaking about DISH, sadly I received an email from Mario of Satellite Systems in Ajijic (766-1117) who informed me that I was not the only person who was having problems with my 2.4 meter (Almost 7 foot 10 inch) Dish receiving signals from 129 degrees W. Maybe it's time to try my 12 footer. The only problem with the 12 footer is that I am going to have to move it from my old house to the new one where I live when I am in Mexico. Here in Seattle where the signal is much stronger, the size of the Dish for 129 degrees has to be, and I'm guessing here, because I'm too lazy to go outside and look, has too be less than 2 feet in diameter.

chicagotom

May 20, 2009, 7:07 AM

Post #5 of 7 (2876 views)

Shortcut

Re: [johanson] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks to Tim and Johanson!
It helps for me to understand why it wasn't meeting my expectations. Now I should be able to go online to their website and change my account so that I'm no longer paying for something that I can never get. I appreciate your explanations very much.

cancunTom (formerly "chicagotom")

Check out our Mexican Adventures on my Caribbean Webpage & leave a comment! http://www.cancunTom.com

taltman711

May 20, 2009, 7:32 AM

Post #6 of 7 (2873 views)

Shortcut

Re: [chicagotom] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

If you want to continue to get the NY local networks at all, there really is nothing to change. The HD versions of the network stations are added into the locals package for "free". If you cancel the network package because you are not getting the locals in HD, the SD part of the package will also disappear. The best way to get any network locals in HD is to dump Dish and get Shaw(StarChoice). As a useless bit of trivia, the only reason that the NY locals are on a conus transponder on the 119 sat is that they are being used by All American Direct to provide network stations to folks not otherwise eligible for networks in their area.

Tim

chicagotom

May 20, 2009, 9:03 AM

Post #7 of 7 (2857 views)

Shortcut

Re: [taltman711] Digital TV here in Mexico

Can't Post | Private Reply

Thanks to you again Tim, you saved me from wasting my time with them.
We really don't care what locale these stations come from. NYC was chosen because we could at least "see" that signal here. I'll take a look at what Shaw has to offer.
Tom
cancunTom (formerly "chicagotom")

Check out our Mexican Adventures on my Caribbean Webpage & leave a comment! http://www.cancunTom.com

(This post was edited by chicagotom on May 20, 2009, 9:54 AM)