Orygun Duck

On 1/22/2022 at 7:14 PM, Natasha said:

Realize the cow is already out and the barn door closed, but frankly amazed you let the first crew get by with ".....the tech deciding to drape the cable along a railing on our upstairs veranda. .........".      And you did not speak up at that point and say "WAIT a minute here! What gives?  "?  Or are you one of those who simply  leaves people to their own devices and complains later?

 

Guilty. I was far more attentive to the installation and operation of the unit INSIDE the house. I had assumed (never assume) that the outside would be a piece of cake since all they had to do was follow the path of the existing Telecable/Wizz cable on the exterior wall. Didn’t occur to me that there was another (albeit lazier) way to do the install. Yes, I should have known from previous experience over the past 12 years. Let my guard down. 
 

Anyhow, Total Play finally arrived unannounced at 7 pm on Sunday to disconnect my system. Three days late.

I recognize belatedly that I should have received the board’s blessing before cancelling my Total Play service, not to mention posting a somewhat negative comment about the same. As for expressing satisfaction with the ugly duckling of the local internet providers, I plead guilty and beg for mercy from the board community. Apologies to Neil Sedaka while I’m at it. 

For reasons perhaps unique to myself, I have chosen to cancel my subscription to Total play during the first month.  With the assistance of a Spanish-speaking friend, we started the process about one week ago by signing a two-page form and submitting a copy of my ID online.  We then made an appointment for them to pick up the equipment on Thursday between 2 and 7 pm. They never showed and neither did they come the following day.  Calls to TP support were of little help since they claimed they have no means of tracking their service crews. So it's Saturday and I'm still waiting.  I did receive a cancellation number but I'm guessing they must pick up the equipment before things are final.

For the record, I had a similar and lengthy struggle to disconnect from DISH Mexico seven or eight years back.  Took almost 2 months as I recall.  

As for Total Play, their initial installation was sloppy, with the tech deciding to drape the cable along a railing on our upstairs veranda.  The team that came to fix that problem also went the extra mile to try to make their modem compatible with my set up (but ultimately failed because of how the modem was internally configured by Total Play).

I've decided that I am happy with WIZZ, which isn't as speedy but meets my needs and has become very reliable over the past several years.

On 1/18/2022 at 9:35 AM, addtocart said:

Well, actually, it says US in the title, but I digress.  You can go through the Kabuki dance at the embassy or just do it by mail:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/have-passport/renew.html

 

As long as we're pointing out errors, there is no US Embassy in Guadalajara. It's a Consulate General.  The Embassy remains in Mexico City. Now, that felt good!

On 1/18/2022 at 10:26 AM, RickS said:

So does that mean that a bunch more folks would show up at 11:30, all bearing.... number 51?

Again.... is Soriana still doing tests also?

 

I though it likely that if all were gringos this would be the result.  I didn't think most locals think that way.  Price of the test was 200 pesos, which likely explains the long lines (compared with places that charge 4 to 5 times more)  

I asked one local in front of me in line and he said he felt “a little sick.”  Not a representative sample but you are likely correct. 

41 minutes ago, Orygun Duck said:

Update: Arrived at the Walmart testing site just after 8 am this morning (Tuesday) and there were already 20 or so people in line for the 9 am opening.  By 8:30 the line had doubled. I’m curious as to how many local businesses are requiring their employees to be tested. It seems unlikely??? that international air travel alone accounts for such high demand. 

Despite the sign that indicates opening at 9. They didn’t start testing until around 9:45  They handed out numbers to the first 50 in line  The remaining people (around 20 or 30) were told to make their own numbers and return at 11:30.

Bring a chair and reading material. Maybe sunscreen.  Lots of patience. 

80 to 90 percent locals (it appears). Few (under 10) obvious gringos. 

Update: Arrived at the Walmart testing site just after 8 am this morning (Tuesday) and there were already 20 or so people in line for the 9 am opening.  By 8:30 the line had doubled. I’m curious as to how many local businesses are requiring their employees to be tested. It seems unlikely??? that international air travel alone accounts for such high demand. 

What are the daily hours and cost of Covid tests at Walmart? The reason I ask is that on Sunday people were lined up as early as 8 am and the line grew longer by the time we left the store at 8:45 while the tent was still not open.  The hand-printed sign seemed to indicate that they were providing 150 tests between the hours of 9:30 am and 3:30 pm (???).  Should we get there an hour early even on weekdays?

On 12/21/2021 at 3:43 PM, Mainecoons said:

You know, we almost switched to ILOX after the glowing reviews in the early going only to see the bad reports accumulate until now we see people switching from ILOX to TotalPlay.  I guess what concerns me is whether or not we'll have a repeat of that with TotalPlay once people have been connected for a while.

OTOH there seems to be no end to the slow and erratic service of TelMex.  We've only had even short periods of getting half the speed we are paying them for and now it seems we are in another protracted period of slow and intermittent service with them.

You would think being this close to GDL and having a lot of people here who will pay for and use decent internet service we would have it.

Not thus far in my experience.  Will TotalPlay finally be the provider we've all been waiting for?  Or will their service deteriorate once a fair number connect to it?

I guess we'll wait and watch a bit longer.

Working with my DNS Proxy provider and Total Play, it seems that the TP modem (actually referred to as a Optic Network Terminal ONT) can not be configured to accommodate a DNS proxy either because of company policy or the way they've hard-wired the configuration of the ONT.  It appears there may be away to set up a VPN on Firestick, but I'm not about to buy another piece of gear just yet.  (I would be interested in know more about this if anyone has had success with this method.)  Anyhow, I'm sticking with WIZZ (former Telecable) for now as they've proved very reliable, although not with the high speed offered by TP.

On 12/1/2021 at 7:06 PM, GDouglas said:

For a better WiFi signal, I use a separate big-antenna WiFi router connected to my TotalPlay router (which can have WiFi turned on/off).

I don't use VPN's often but VPN's work fine with TotalPlay.

I sent you a PM regarding VPNs on Total Play.

2 hours ago, Mainecoons said:

We're thinking about switching from TelMex to TotalPlay too, would appreciate what you find out as we might have the same issue with our VPN.

Will do.  Should have an answer and hopefully a solution in the next day or so.

2 hours ago, Out1 said:

Your problem might have to do with Totalplay gives you a private IP address on their network; with Ilox I had requested and got assigned a public IP address.

Thanks. I'll relay that to my DNS proxy techs, who may have figured that out by now.  But a little more info can't hurt.

A discouraging word about Total Play.  While their installation was prompt and seemingly efficient (same day!), an inspection this morning of the cable between the pole and our house revealed an extremely amateurish job.  Rather than string the cable along our side wall and partially behind some bamboo (as was the case with our existing line from Telecable (now Wiz), they chose to run it along the top of the 8-inch wide decorative cement railing surrounding our second floor patio/mirador.  I assumed they would have had better sense.  Never assume.  I plan to call them back to do the job right.  Let's see how that goes.

I am wondering if there is anyone using a DNS Proxy with Total Play.  Previously I had used a DNS-configured router connected to the modem supplied by my ISP (Wiz) and assumed that all I would have to do is plug that router into the back of the Total Play (Hwawei) modem.  It appears it is not that simple and my previous configuration no longer works with Total Play.  I am working with the company providing the DNS Proxy service for a solution, but thought I could shortcut the process by learning from people who may have had a similar experience.  Thanks in advance for any input.

I currently use IZZY and have a separate router connected to the IZZY modem that allows me to use a DNS proxy to view US streaming channels (Sling, HBO, Prime, etc)  Would I be able to use the same set up with Total Play's box?

On 11/21/2021 at 2:58 PM, daisy2013 said:

Go to Chapala on Delgallado where you renew your registration.  Enter the folio on the application for the testing.  

I have tried to use the digital application and gotten only as far as setting the date (in my case 12/2/2021) and then the program asks me to set a schedule but allows no choices and I can't go any further.  Is it possible to complete the whole process at the Chapala DMV on Degallado, including the appointment?  Thanks in advance

I have tried other dates in January and for a few I get the following indecipherable choices  19 10 00  or 19 20 00

I just learned from the Washington Post that a nationwide referendum is scheduled here today. Wondering whether the usual rules and restrictions regarding alcohol sales etc, will apply and if so what are the specifics?  (Guess I should get out more.)

2 hours ago, Natasha said:

IS there any room on    your side of the fence between wall and house? If yes,get someone to dig down below all the roots, cutting right through them  as he goes. It won't kill a big tree like that and will buy you quite a lot of time.  Might have to do it again but not for a few years.

You could make sure the trench is quite deep, and have him fill with cement, but guessing the roots would crack into that too so why bother?

Space between two walls in about 6 inches. So that won’t solve the problem. Hoping they’ll be cooperative.  Thanks for suggestions. 

Without meaning to hijack this thread, I'm wondering what rights a homeowner might have if the root system of a neighbor's gigantic ficus tree is undermining the foundation of his house? (I am in the process of negotiating permission to access the neighboring property in order to dig a trench get at the offending roots, so this is not yet a dispute.) Just wondering.

17 hours ago, Mostlylost said:

Dr. Pinto is retired.

He still comes in once a week; Tuesdays as I recall.  Check with the receptionist.

We visited last week.  Good selection of taps and bottled microbrew.  Tried the mead and enjoyed it,  House porter also quite tasty.  Food menu is limited but what we had was excellent.  Somebody really knows how to cook!  To find, look for signs on left side of carretera going west.  Just across from the new gigantic assisted living center.

On 7/11/2021 at 12:21 PM, happyjillin said:

Just more of the same and it doesn't affect us here at all. Only 98 more testing stations to set up and how long do you think that will take? If one finds this thread and all the alleged informative links relevant then all of you must believe in the tooth fairy too. This thread does nobody any good HERE just like all the previous premature threads have on this board about the testing. It will only be helpful to us when there is a news release that there is a government approved station RIGHT HERE. and it's location. You won't be accepted for testing at the 4 operating stations in Metro Guadalajara. Calm yourselves and enjoy where you are and don't waste anymore time thinking about this until it's time REALLY comes.

pedro kertesz

Can we please return to topics of more immediate interest to us locally. Like the number of dams on the Lerma. 

On 6/27/2021 at 3:13 PM, gringohombre said:

Thanks for all the input. Based on what I have read here I am leaning towards Multiva. Also thinking about setting up a Mexican business account. Can I get a few recommendations of bilingual reps there who have the knowhow and honesty. Gracias.

I recommend Monica at Multiva.  We've dealt with her for years now and have been totally satisfied.