Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

DanielSharpton

May 14, 2005, 8:05 PM

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Satellite

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Will my Direct TV Satellite work in Mexico? I'm wanting to visit Mexico and bring my 5 year old girl, and 3 year old boy. I'm concerned that they will have a big shock and was thinking U.S. television would help them adjust. Any advice from you experienced folks? Thanks in advance.

Rolly

May 14, 2005, 8:13 PM

Post #2 of 15 (1756 views)

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Re: [DanielSharpton] Satellite

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It may work in northern Mexico near the border; but as you travel south, the signal will die pretty quickly. I assume you have a standard size dish, with a larger dish you can get the signal a little farther.

Do you have the skill to aim it? Not an easy task in the frenge area.

Bottom line -- don't count on it.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

DanielSharpton

May 14, 2005, 8:25 PM

Post #3 of 15 (1751 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Satellite

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I'm not a real technical guy or anything, so I'm a little confused. The instructions say that the satellite is south of the USA, around the equator. My simple thinking tells me that going south makes me closer to the satellite. However, the earth is round and maybe when the satellite dish is under it, it can't pick up the microwaves. Maybe the dish has to be more horizontal then vertical. I'm purely guessing and really don't have a clue.

Rolly

May 14, 2005, 8:36 PM

Post #4 of 15 (1747 views)

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Re: [DanielSharpton] Satellite

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The transponder has a rather closely defined "footprint" that is aimed at the USA with only a minor spillover on Mexico. DirectTV has a Mexican service that is aimed at Mexico with only minor coverage in the USA. Your USA receiver cannot pickup the Mexican service, and it's in Spanish anyway.

There are countless other satellites hanging above the equator aimed at various parts of the world. Directional antennas are used to focus the power on the desired area.

Leave your set at home; it isn't going to do you any good down here. And you may have to pay a duty on it at the border.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

DanielSharpton

May 14, 2005, 8:42 PM

Post #5 of 15 (1744 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Satellite

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Thanks for the advice Rolly! I am going to do as you say. Besides, I'm sure I will be able to find all sorts of stuff for the kids to do in Manzanillo.

MG Rabon

May 15, 2005, 10:06 AM

Post #6 of 15 (1715 views)

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Re: [DanielSharpton] Satellite

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We've gotten an acceptable signal with our standard dish 300 Directv system as far south as Mazatlan. We hope to try farther south with a 90cm dish the next time we bring the motorhome down. Maybe in a car they will make you pay a duty, in the MH they never have.

The Canadian satellite TV system, Starchoice offers coverage all the way south to Central America.

Here is a comparison of the footprints of the various satellites.

http://www.kusat.com/...th=/install/foot.php

Compórtate bien, y si no puedes, invítame!
MG Rabon

(This post was edited by MG Rabon on May 15, 2005, 10:13 AM)

johanson / Moderator

May 15, 2005, 12:43 PM

Post #7 of 15 (1699 views)

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Re: [MG Rabon] Satellite

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Hey MG That is a great web page with a lot of good information. But be careful, though. It is outdated. For example at 111.1 degrees West, they show Anik E-2 with a footprint that doesn't come anywhere close to Mexico. Anik E-2 was replaced by Anik F-2 late last summer. Today the signals from Anik F-2 cover all of Mexico and much of Central America.

In reference to DISH, in Ajijic, the folks are using a 130 cm can get signals from Echostar 7 (119) but have found that a slightly smaller dish (as small as 90 cm) is required for signals from Echostar 6 and 8 at 110. degrees West. Or do I have that reversed, I don't think so.

MG Rabon

May 15, 2005, 1:46 PM

Post #8 of 15 (1691 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite

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Thanks, Yes tech stuff gets out of date quickly.

Re-reading my post I see I've confused an older system with what we have now. We have not tried the dish 300 SOB, what we had a signal with as far south as Mazatlan was Directv.

Anyone having luck in your neck of the woods with Directv and the 90cm dish?

Compórtate bien, y si no puedes, invítame!
MG Rabon

johanson / Moderator

May 15, 2005, 3:46 PM

Post #9 of 15 (1677 views)

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Re: [MG Rabon] Satellite

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Sorry MG. your wrote Standard dish 300 direcTV, I saw the word dish and thought of the DISH network. We used to use DirecTV in Ajijic, but most everyone I know has changed from DirecTV to DISH or Star Choice, because they have had such bad luck with signal strength with the US DirecTV signals.

MG Rabon

May 15, 2005, 4:08 PM

Post #10 of 15 (1675 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite

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No problem then with Dish network I take it?

Compórtate bien, y si no puedes, invítame!
MG Rabon

johanson / Moderator

May 15, 2005, 4:16 PM

Post #11 of 15 (1674 views)

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Re: [MG Rabon] Satellite

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There is no problem with DISH around the greater Chapala/Guadalajara area. It's really quite popular. What I don't know about are signal strengths as far south as Acapulco

(This post was edited by johanson on May 15, 2005, 4:17 PM)

DanielSharpton

May 15, 2005, 6:32 PM

Post #12 of 15 (1659 views)

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Re: [johanson] Satellite

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Hope at last!! Thanks for the info men.

cristalhombre

May 15, 2005, 8:07 PM

Post #13 of 15 (1644 views)

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Re: [DanielSharpton] Satellite

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Daniel

I just posted to your question about traveling South with kids. Now, I see a couple of others about schools and TV.

Schools. I don't know about any schools in the beach communities you mentioned. I have been to both PV and Manzanillo, and I would think that there is likely something available. Last year my daughter and I returned to the Lake Chapala area and she visited two 'private' schools for a day each, I was hoping we would spend just a semester down there in an immersion type experience for 7th grade. She opted not to, so we came home to middle school in the Portland area.

Regarding the TV. Dump the tube man....... It's 95% crap anyway. Your kids will have so much to do with the other neighbor kids in what ever village you move to.....they won't miss "crap TV". Your kids will adapt 10 times quicker than you will.......trust me on this I have witnessed it my family and others. Here are a few ideas in lieu of tube time for children (we practice the same here NOB too)....... swim, hike, walk on the beach, horse-backriding, ride the bikes to the plaza, walking to the mercado, shampoo the dog, pick flowers, invite their friends over for comida in the back yard tent, read, read, read..........

tons of stuff to do that will help your immersion as compared to sitting at home watching worthless television programming.

did I mention I think TV stinks???

Sounds like a fun adventure for you all!!

Brad the Dad

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

Cynthia7

May 15, 2005, 8:07 PM

Post #14 of 15 (1644 views)

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Re: [DanielSharpton] Satellite

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Dish works well in the Bajio area of Mexico. Direct works but fewer channels are available. A 5' dish helps.

DanielSharpton

May 15, 2005, 8:23 PM

Post #15 of 15 (1639 views)

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Re: [cristalhombre] Satellite

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Brad thank you for the recomendations. The consensus are with you on this one.