Internet Service Providers

[PatrickMurtha]

For my first nine months in Mexico, I've relied upon the local public Internet initiative, Culiacan Digital, for my home wireless Internet service, but lately there have been a lot of issues with it (their DNS server seems to be dying). So I will need to switch to a private service such as Megacable, which I have been reluctant to do because the prices sound pretty high. I have been told by other expats that the providers here in Culiacan only offer bundled packages - Internet, cable TV, and landline phone at about 1,000 pesos per month - but I am only interested in the Internet service. (I use my TV to watch DVDs, but feel my life is actually better without cable!)

Have any of you been able to get Internet service only? I am told that different speeds are offered; have you found that it makes a substantial difference to get the top speed? I'm not playing video games or anything high-bandwidth like that; the most I'll do is watch YouTube videos (and even with the high-speed service at my job, YouTube and other streaming video sites often work very poorly here).

I'm perfectly open to wiring my laptop at home for better (and cheaper?) service instead of using a wireless router.

Any input is most welcome.

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by PatrickMurtha

For my first nine months in Mexico, I've relied upon the local public Internet initiative, Culiacan Digital, for my home wireless Internet service, but lately there have been a lot of issues with it (their DNS server seems to be dying). So I will need to switch to a private service such as Megacable, which I have been reluctant to do because the prices sound pretty high. I have been told by other expats that the providers here in Culiacan only offer bundled packages - Internet, cable TV, and landline phone at about 1,000 pesos per month - but I am only interested in the Internet service. (I use my TV to watch DVDs, but feel my life is actually better without cable!)

Have any of you been able to get Internet service only? I am told that different speeds are offered; have you found that it makes a substantial difference to get the top speed? I'm not playing video games or anything high-bandwidth like that; the most I'll do is watch YouTube videos (and even with the high-speed service at my job, YouTube and other streaming video sites often work very poorly here).

I'm perfectly open to wiring my laptop at home for better (and cheaper?) service instead of using a wireless router.

Any input is most welcome.

I pay $529/month for Megacable with internet and basic cable TV. I don't use the cable TV, but they would not sell it without that. Someone here pointed out that they don't have any way to filter out basic cable TV. The service has a nominal speed of 10 Mbps. I get a measured speed of about 9.5 Mbps usually although when I checked it a minute ago it was only 6 or 7. But in the past it has measured at over 9. The delay in the connection will be between your cable modem and the internet, not the wireless link from your computer to the cable modem. So a wired link to the modem won't be any faster. With a modern wireless router and a modern computer, the wireless link will be faster than the the connection to the internet. Also, I think the cable modem that Megacable provides will also function as a wireless router. Mine doesn't. I had to buy a separate wireless router. But I think the newer cable modems do both.

Sounds like you still need to get a friend who speaks Spanish for some help.

Here's Megacable's webpage for Culiacán showing their DoublePack Internet package of 50 channels of TV + 5mg internet for 379 pesos/month.

Culiacán, Sinaloa - Megacable

[PatrickMurtha]

Originally Posted by GringoCArlos

Sounds like you still need to get a friend who speaks Spanish for some help.

Here's Megacable's webpage for Culiacán showing their DoublePack Internet package of 50 channels of TV + 5mg internet for 379 pesos/month.

Culiacán, Sinaloa - Megacable

379 pesos is more like it!

My friends who are paying much more must have opted for the 20 Mbps speed.

[sparks]

Telmex phone and Internet is just under $400 pesos

Telcel wireless USB modem and 10 gig limit is $600

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by sparks

Telmex phone and Internet is just under $400 pesos

Telcel wireless USB modem and 10 gig limit is $600

I have heard several reports from people with Telcel internet (Infinitum) that they do not get the speed that is advertised. If speed is not important, it may be the cheapest option.

[sparks]

Telmex Infinitum. I've only had 1 meg service for $380+/-. Stayed with a friend for a few months that 2 megs (about $650) and it seemed like 1 meg .... even though speed tests showed about 1.5 megs

My Telcel cellular connection seems about the same but there is no Telmex land line where I live so I pay more

[tepetapan]

I have used TelMex Infinitum for years with few real problems. We have the lowest cost, 380 peso or so, package and the speeds do slow up some about 2pm...when the school kids start invading the internet cafes. Otherwise I have seen dozens and dozens of times when 2 people talking on Skype AND another 5 or 6 checking emails, etc.. all at the same time on my wireless Infinitum DSL internet.
I have no problems with TelMex, Tel Cell or Carlos Slim. They all seem to be doing what is expected of them.

[dongringo]

I use Telmex Infinitum with the Infinitum Negocio Premium package and if I were day trading, I would shoot them! Constant DNS problems, line drops, blackouts and modem problems (I'm on my fifth).

For general use though, their service is as good and no better or worse than my previous satellite system or US providers.

Except they lie! Down and Up speeds are generally not anywhere near what is advertised. I actually compared my 1200 peso speed with a friend with the 400 peso package while online. Just about the same, very early in the morning, though!

Their tech support, though, is excellent, better than anything I've experienced in the past.

[RVGRINGO]

I do understand and share your frustration; especially onerous just this morning at our location. However, they don't "lie", since they only advertise speeds 'hasta' (up to) 1MB, 2MB, etc., in the various packages. Sometimes it is very much slower & sometimes it just drops completely and we can't connect, like this morning.