There are a growing number of folks who’ve chosen to retire south of the border. The weather is pleasant, the beaches are clean, and your money goes a whole lot further. I kind of see the allure. But, of course, these folks want the comforts of home as well, and that’s where this question comes in.
Let’s cut straight to the facts
Mexican law says that US satellite TV products can’t be sold, imported, or operated in Mexico. In practice, there’s no enforcement. The Mexican government is known to have a lot of other things on its plate, and this is pretty low on the list of priorities. If you want TV in Mexico, you’re supposed to go with Sky Mexico, which is a former affiliate of DIRECTV, focusing on the Mexican market of course. Like DIRECTV in the US, there are satellite and streaming plans, as well as plans for businesses. The pricing is about the same as it is in the US, once you figure in the exchange rate.
In practice, DIRECTV’s US signals do go about 50-75 miles into Baja California, which will get you away from the border towns into some fairly nice territory. If you had the technology, and you had a US DIRECTV account, you would probably get reception.
I’m not going to advocate anyone breaking the law…
This blog isn’t about hacking or using any service in an illegal or unethical way. I have to tell you that if you operate DIRECTV equipment outside the US, you should definitely not connect to the Internet. Why? Because this will let the folks at DIRECTV know exactly where you are, and that would be the end of that.
I should also point out something else. If you have a marine account, you can sail anywhere you want and get DIRECTV service wherever there is a signal. Marine satellite TV accounts are a little different from traditional DIRECTV accounts, and it’s important to set them up right.
Pretending you’re in the USA
A lot of folks will tell you that you can use a VPN to make it look like you’re in a different country. You might be tempted to do something like this. It’s a pretty reliable way to get programming that isn’t available in the US. It’s not hard to do, either. In most cases usually doesn’t cost a whole lot per month to get done.
I would just say, be careful if you’re going to do something like this. There are a lot of free and cheap VPN apps that actually steal your data. This isn’t just an urban legend. If you choose to use a VPN while you’re out of the country, choose one that you can trust. Do your research and choose a company with a very good reputation.
Getting the right account set up
If you’re looking for a marine account so you can visit Baja California, there’s only one company you should be thinking about. Signal Connect has done more marine satellite activations than anyone else on the planet. That’s why DIRECTV called us their dealer of the year. We’re the best at what we do, and our customer satisfaction is second to none.
Find out what all the fuss is about. If you’re ready to upgrade to satellite TV or internet, call the experts! We’re here for you at 888-233-7563. Call us during East Coast business hours. If it’s after hours, no problem! Fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you, usually within one business day.
