Internet Access And Taking Computers into Mexico

Taking computers to Mexico,Wireless Internet Access - Inalámbrico

As a tourist in Mexico, you can be assured that you will be able to connect to the Internet in Mexico. Most Mexican hotels have Internet, even some budget ones. You will soon learn to cherish and hate the words, Internet Inalámbrico (in al AM bree co). It means Internet that is wireless or cordless or without cables! Whee! When a hotel desk clerk tells you they have, Internet inalámbrico, you will at first jump up and down in joy. Your joy will be short-lived, however, It means that, Si, they have wireless internet, but no, it may not actually reach to your room. Thus, unless you are close to the hotel router or repeater, you will have to wander the halls blindly like a vampire in search of blood, with your laptop in your hand, tripping over hidden pitfalls that lurk in hotel hallways, or go to the lobby or restaurant.

I have found that getting a hotel room closer to the lobby often results in a stronger signal. Also, a hotel room with a balcony can give you a chance to find an Internet signal. Asking the bellman which rooms have the best signal is about as effective as asking him which room is the quietest - which is to say, not very.

Moreover, when you register, be sure to ask for the clave or codigo (access code). Desk clerks will proudly tell you they have Internet inalámbrico, but then forget to give you the code. Even hotels that have strong routers and a series of repeaters can be compromised by employees who share the code with their primos in the neighborhood, thus weakening it.

Still, we should be grateful for what we can get. Sometimes you will be astounded at the speed of your connection. Other times you will just get sleepy waiting for a download. But I remember the days when even a dial-up Internet connection was rare in Mexican hotels. And in those days I had an expense account and stayed in 5 Star hotels. Today, it's 3 for me. I cannot speak to the quality of Internet connections in 5 star hotels since I don't get invited to them anymore (pobrecito Miguelito). But for 3 and 4 star hotels the info above is what I found to be true.

If you prefer, there are Internet cafes everywhere, even in many small towns that you would hardly expect -- even in Real de Catorce, which is about as remote as most people will get. High-speed Internet connections are the norm in Mexico today. Most Internet cafes will let you connect your laptop computer at Internet cafes in Mexico. Internet cafes are dwindling because so many people have computers at home, or through their cell phones these days. I suspect they will go the way of the larga distancia or long-distance telephone offices.

Taking Computers Into Mexico as Tourists or As Expats

As an expat, you can bring a whole houseful of computers into Mexico when you use the exemption afforded you when you get your FM3. Until then, you are treated as a tourist. And please don't try to argue with the customs inspectors by telling them that you live in Mexico on your tourist permit. No, no, no.

You can bring your laptop computer into Mexico with no problems. For some reason, a desktop computer will raise a custom's inspectors eyebrows. However, this is not the problem it used to be, so if that is all you have, you can try to take it, but be ready to pay an import fee, generally about 16% of the value according to aduana's book.

For the official rules of what you can and cannot bring in see this Mexican Aduana site.

OK all that said, I know lots of tourists living in Mexico illegally who brought lots of computers down with them by not declaring them and not paying a duty. I, of course, cannot recommend you do that. I can just tell you what I have observed and let you make your own decision.

Internet Phone Service

If you are a tourist, just get Skype and you can call home with that. You will often have to sit in the lobby and everyone will hear your conversation, but that doesn't seem to bother a generation that grew up on cell phones.

If you are an expat, look for a better alternative. Vonage has the best deal on long distance phones for expats and for anyone in the USA or Canada who wants to call Mexico without breaking the bank.

If you are living in Mexico, you will find high-speed (DSL through Telmex is the most common, though there is cable in most good-sized cities). Telmex used to illegally block VOIP phone service in some cities, but seem to have stopped lowering bandwidth to block VOIP phones now. Should that still happen, it is a simple matter to change the ports. There will be a Mexican computer techie who will do this for you.