Forums > Specific Focus > Technical Mexico

rondavis

Feb 26, 2005, 5:36 PM

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Wireless Internet Provider

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Now that I am a member of the community of Chapala (Haciendas that is), I have a question about wireless internet providers in this area. NetPC formerly located in Ajijic on the south side of the city square has moved out to some other location, I am told. They were going to put another service tower within Chapala to reach more clients further out from Ajijic. Does anyone living in the area know of there where abouts now? Another question probably just as relevant is does any other service provider serve the Haciendas area of Chapala? Any providers that I have spoken with say they can't service this area - that it is to far away.

johanson / Moderator

Feb 26, 2005, 5:44 PM

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Re: [rondavis] Wireless Internet Provider

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Two way satellite is an option

Esteban

Feb 27, 2005, 9:47 PM

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Re: [johanson] Wireless Internet Provider

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I'm looking for someone who is using two way satellite for internet....in Mexico at a residence. Also, I'm looking for more specific info on costs, speeds etc. I've cruised the net but it's sort of confusing as to what is possible in Mexico.

Thanks

johanson / Moderator

Feb 28, 2005, 1:47 PM

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Re: [Esteban] Wireless Internet Provider

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I know folks who have purchased DirectWay in the states who have used it lakeside and in Guadalajara. I believe they paid something like $600 US for the system. I understand that this same system or one like it here in Mexico would cost almost $2,000. One friend, Steve, who had a motor home would reposition and set up his dish each time he moved. This is very tricky to do, because remember your two way satellite not only receives signals from the satellite, but sends signals to it. And should you be pointing at the wrong satellite or in the wrong polarity, you could be creating interference on other satellites.

If someone has better information about 2 way internet satellite, please correct me.

I will know more this spring once www.wildblue.com/ starts providing two-way satellite service to my cottage up North via the new Star Choice satellite.

sfmacaws

Mar 8, 2005, 2:36 AM

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Re: [Esteban] Wireless Internet Provider

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I'm responding a little late to this thread, I didn't see it earlier and was traveling this past week back to the US. I bought a tripod directway system last fall and used it this winter while traveling in Mexico. I successfuly used it in Guadalajara, San Miguel and on the beach in Punta Pérula - on the Jalisco coast about 70 km north of Melaque. I have a residence in the Yucatan and intend to use it there but didn't go that far down this year. I don't think there would be much difference in using it at a residence or from a mobile mount, other than you could mount the dish permanently on the roof or a pole.

Speed tests are very dependent on the test site and the results from one site don't correlate well with results from another. Flash used on some test sites also can give inaccurate speeds with sat systems, most sat users standardize on one site - commonly http://www.testmy.net

There are a lot of sat users in Mexico, you can see where some of them are at this map http://map.datastormusers.com/ they are tripod and automatic sat users. Click down to a different quadrant on the world map to see more of MX and CA.

The potential problem of poorly aimed transmitting to the wrong sat is pretty non-existant now with directway. You cannot pass cross-pol and will not be allowed online unless you are accurately aimed at the correct satellite, this is not true with Starband to my knowledge.

If you have other broadband options, DSL or Cable, they will always be preferable to satellite. The latency and the slower uploads and the FAP limits are the main reasons but 2 way sat is also just not as fast on downloads. If you don't have other options, it is fantastic!

I pay about $60 US a month for the service. Costs for equipment are all over the place and will vary depending on what you need and what kind of support you need. Friends have successfully used directway as far south as Honduras. It is dependent on which satellite you are assigned, you will need to make sure you get on SatMex5 for service deep in Mexico and CA. Other sats may work in the northern parts of MX. There is a lot of information on sat internet in general at the forum associated with the above map. http://www.datastormusers.com

Hope this helps,

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

(This post was edited by sfmacaws on Mar 8, 2005, 2:41 AM)