Internet and US Television Service

There are FOUR not two sources of internet used lakeside, by far the most expensive and least used is www.hughesnet.com (satellite internet). It is used only by those who live so far out in the boondoggles that nothing else works.

Now the telephone company. Telmex offers not only telephone but ADSL (internet) they have slow and limited packages starting at less than $400 pesos per month, a middle package at $599 and there ultimate package at $999. In many places Telmex is the most reliable choice. In other places the signal quality and therefor internet speed sucks. They are also beginning to sell their own TV programs for streaming. Their fastest download speed offered but not always provided is hasta or up to 10 Mb/s

There is also Telecable, which offers not only analog and digital HD TV but internet. Their speeds are by far the fastest lakeside, but in many neighborhoods there are more outages than the competition. They have 4 packages in our area. The max download speeds are 8,10,12, or 15 Mb/sec. The also offer VoIP telephone service.

Now, the first internet system lakeside was Lagunanet. They started in 1997 three or four years before the competition, and later upgraded to fixed WiFi. Like all services, you either love them because they provide great service or you live in a marginal signal area, and have nothing but trouble and therefore bad mouth them. Their home office has moved from San Antonio, then to Ajijic, now in Jocotepec, closer to the owners home in Joco. Voip telephone also works. I don't know their speeds but they are slower than Telecable. For more information check out www.laguna.com.mx

They are in the process of moving their antennas to provide better coverage to more areas between West Chapala (not east) all the way to Joco.. Be careful now, I am a little bigoted as I used to give tech support there.

Satellite TV has already been covered. Remember, though, that you can not get all of the channels available up North on Shaw, DISH USA, or DirecTV USA down here. Also remember the size of the satellite dishes required in central Mexico, Shaw works great with their 75 E elliptical dish that measures only 36.5 by 26.5 inches while with DirecTV one needs an 8 foot (2.4 meter) Dish. With DISH USA to get many of the channels you need several larger dishes.

I could go on and bore you all to death

I believe that the 4 foot would work very well. you would need, of course, two what I call "Flashlight" LNBs one pointed and satellite Anik F-1r and the other at Anik F-2. At least that was the case 3 years ago when I was still writing Tech Talk for the Guad Reporter and keeping up with all things tech.

To make sure, check with your favorite local satellite dealer. In Ajijic I often use Ajijic Electronics at 766-1117. I like Mario best. There are other good dealers out there too.

Good luck. I love Shaw Direct (it used to be called Star Choice)

Ezzie made some great points. However one can also use one parabolic, not elliptical satellite dish to point half way between Anik F1R at 97.3 and Anik F 2 which is at 111.1 West. Then by properly positioning the LNBs one can pick up signals from each of these satellites. (The flashlight LNBs are pointed at the satellite dish, one a little bit West of center and the other a little bit East of center.)

With DirecTV, for example, one can use a 2.4 meter parabolic dish pointed at the center satellite at 101 degrees West. Then with three LNBs pointed at this large dish they can picks up signals from three satellites located at 99.2 W, 101 W and 102.8 W.

It gets worse (or better) I have seen one oversized satellite dish with 6 or 7 LNBs pointed at 6 or 7 satellites at different directions.

Are you confused? You should be. You can learn more by talking to your favorite satellite dealer and/or by looking at www.cp-electronics.com to see pictures of these multiple LNBs