tkessler2

Yes, CID is probably the best combo of price and quality. https://maps.app.goo.gl/RmCWFSxr6cspFzK67 I paid about $4000 MXN Salud Digna is most economical. About 2000 MXN but the quality of their scans and interpretations said to not be as good: Bañuelos is considered the best, pricier. https://maps.app.goo.gl/kyfg7zmpKhXmPxHc8 Depending on what you are scanning.....

https://www.expatlegalwills.com/myexpatwill

Since everyone liked the textnow reference, I'll add some more comments: 1) Every US phone number, whether a Voip provider, a message provider, etc. has an attribute that can be queried by the calling institution, e.g. a bank. And that caller can decide if they want to complete the call. Here's a link that gives some insight: https://www.twilio.com/blog/identifying-line-type-with-python 2) Those same providers have gotten a lot of headaches when they get too restrictive. Like legitimate US users on vacation trying to check their US accounts...Typically they do provide an alternate method of validation, like sending to your email, or calling your number and not sending you an SMS. One needs to check carefully...Fidelity has no problem sending an SMS to my Voip number and Callcentric forwards it to my mail. So when someone says there is no way, they may not be trying hard enough. I have a Citi US account. They wouldn't register my MX cell online, but they did it manually when I called them. 3) There are two types of SMS. Short codes and regular phone numbers... Some banks send to short codes only, which can complicate because providers can't receive short codes or charge extra for it, Bottom line, if they're making it so difficult for you to receive messages on a free service like textnow, consider dumping the bank. 4) VPN has nothing to do with two factor authentication. Being on a VPN means the institution sees you as being in the US instead of a foreign country. I haven't had any problem with Fidelity, Vanguard, or anyone else when I log in from Mexico...Your mileage may vary..

textnow.com

Textnow works and it is free. You do have to keep refreshing your number or they will delete it. I use callcentric.com to ring 3 locations I have simultaneously and they are pretty cheap, just a few dollars/mo. . They forward text messages to your email and accept most SMS messages from banks, etc. All US phone numbers have a type identifier that callers can query to determine if they are VoIP, cellular, regular landline, etc. Every financial institution sets their own security policy which is why some messages work and others don't. Most usually have a "call me" option that works if the SMS doesn't.

Consider the new policies where you pay by the Km. I have https://miituo.com/ which is backed by Seguros Atlas. Premiums very inexpensive, if you don't drive that much its a steal. I've had a few claims over the years, excellent service. There are other providers backed by the majors. Just google "seguro por km".

Telmex upgraded a lot of areas where they had DSL to VDSL. Where they didn't, the remaining DSL is getting changed to fiber. But I think the VDSL areas are too recent a capex to trash them and change to fiber, maybe with some exceptions. Competition is fierce, they can't ignore it either.

Acotron in Guadalajara

On the windshield I think I just paid something nominal and they paid everything else....Need to check the T&C's exactly but the coverage is pretty normal...

Yes...note one needs to review how many km's you drive...There's a breakeven point ..but if you don't drive that much the savings are huge...note there are other providers...just google "seguro por Km". Some of the other providers put a dongle on the car that reports automatically. I had one claim so far for a rock on windshield, no problem...you can read the reviews on the backstop insurer.

If you don't drive that much check out Miituo. Its pay by Km and they reinsure with Atlas which gives fine service. You take a picture of your odometer every month. My last bill was 12 pesos because I barely drove that month!. Like 0.58 MXN per Km..

Ofi5 in Guadalajara...Take your stuff there and watch them. https://goo.gl/maps/nnBmzb8LCSZDq1Hw8

This place in GDL worked well for me: https://destruccionesofi5.com/contacto/ was cheap too...I did stay and watch them...but that was just me.

The Chapala Plus direct line does have a schedule that is reasonably respected. The local lines theoretically run every half hour but they are subject to wide variation, especially when traffic jams up. The buses ARE equipped with GPS trackers that already report to the bus company security system, they know exactly where any bus is at any given time. But that info is currently closed. There is a spec, called GTFS, that can take that data and open it up to tracking apps one can put on a cell phone. Those apps can show you schedules, from the real time data show you when the next bus will arrive, even show you the current position of the buses. Its up the bus company and the community to make this happen. There is an expense in doing so, but its not that onerous. There are also security considerations and we have to respect those. We don't know what the bus company is willing or not willing to share, but if we can at least get next arrivals and departures in real time, would be a great improvement. The Ribera de Chapala has this incredible geometry that makes it a linear city. If you can get anywhere along the highway, about anywhere you want to go is only about 4 blocks either side. Most people don't like the uncertainty of the wait. They also don't like other things, like crowds and dirt. But imagine for a minute if you're away from Ajijic centro and want to go into town, or over to Wal-mart or San Juan. Its probably a short walk down to your closest stop. If the tracker app tells you when the next bus will be there, you can enjoy your coffee or shop a bit longer, and time your walk to the stop. Suddenly a lot of trips you might have made by car you're willing to hop on a bus. More rides on the bus means more revenue for the bus company, maybe more frequent buses, and higher quality service. And fewer cars going up and down the highway. We have a lot of visitors to the area without cars. Their quality of stay would improve. So thats the idea. We want to do what we can to encourage the bus company to do this. Maybe at first with some financial help from different sources so its not all on them. But once its implemented, I'm sure it'll be a good deal for them too. Please help by filling out the survey and giving us your best thoughts. We need energetic feedback from the community to make this happen. https://forms.gle/6n4EXwDwn66R4Cgx8 @Honeybee As you pointed out, just having good printed info on the schedules will also be helpful. That is low lying fruit and we are working on a doc. Thanks for your feedback.

The bus company already has trackers on their buses, but there is a significant expense to add the General Transit Feed capability which enables tracking apps. Like any project, there's a business case to be made. The investment, payback in higher ridership, the benefit to the community, etc. The bus company didn't want to know how much we were willing to pay, we the organizers want to know. With that info we can make a thoughtful proposal. A good proposal will have everyone with a little skin in the game.

Good evening everyone! A group of residents in the Lake Chapala area have entered discussions with the Chapala-Guadalajara Bus Company to create a bus tracking app. All residents in the Lake Chapala community are encouraged to complete this questionnaire to collect useful data helpful to proceeding with this project. https://forms.gle/6n4EXwDwn66R4Cgx8

That would be about 11 450 watt solar panels at roughly $200 each.. A 5 kw decent string inverter for about $1300 dlls, Thats about $3500 in panels and inverter. Racking, installation, etc...maybe $1500. I'd think you could get it done for 5-6 thousand USD.

Just use textnow.com service to get the SMS message to your free US number. Telcel has the best wireless coverage in Mexico. No need for a US cellphone number.

I had a leak "somewhere" in my home in Guadalajara and had to call a specialized plumber with high-tech acoustic equipment to locate it. The house was built in 1978 and a galvanized pipe had finally corroded through in the middle of the floor of a back room. This guy has the equipment to find it: https://www.fontaneriasgdl.com/

I've had good luck with the fellow in El Grullo...but I do recommend: - That you go and personally pick out the machine you want and take photos of the unit, the label etc. and make sure the unit he delivers is the one you picked out. He has a lot of machines in different shape. - Check the refurb status carefully and get anything needed done before he delivers.. - Check the spare parts situation for the machine you want....Many web sites sell parts. .See if you can get say a spare electronics board... Some machines are easier to get parts than others... Tom

There's a fellow in El Grullo Jalisco who buys truckloads of professional gym equipment in the US and refurbishes...He'll deliver to GDL and Lakeside...I've bought two units from him...Nice drive to El Grullo to pick mine out... great prices. http://www.steelmangym.com/

Fedex store next to Plaza Buganvilias

There is a lot of interesting renewable and DIY activity going on here in Mexico: Esol technologies in GDL does a lot of work with LiFePo4 batteries and makes a whole-house grade BMS. They sell a whole house system. Their system distributes not only AC but also DC for certain loads, which is more efficient. I've one friend in BuenaVista who's installed their system. Check out https://batteryhookup.com/ and https://liionwholesale.com/ . I've purchased from them and have built up battery banks. As you point out, before you start investing in storage, you should maximize conservation. All LED lighting a given. The LG Linear inverter fridges (or a DC fridge) are great and don't have surge loads. I represent a semiconductor company in my work that is introducing an ultra efficiency variable speed drive system-on-chip. Am working with server LATAM motor manufacturers. Check out the new Enphase IQ8 microinverter. . If you want to understand storage, battery backup, etc you also need to understand UL1741 and islanding requirements. The IQ8 is revolutionary because when you lose the grid, it will keep supplying the load with sine wave power matched with consumption, while satisfying UL1741. Another company in Costa Rica, Heart Transverter www.transverter.com, does some really cool stuff too. The industry is moving towards this grid agnostic concept where you manage and optimize storage, load, grid, and panels in real time. There are many companies in Mexico doing very interesting renewable work. PM me if you like.