BajaNomad

SUSTAINABLE LIVING/ SOLAR, ETC.

dianaji - 8-13-2008 at 03:20 PM

i am interested in sustainable living, ecology, and alla that good stuff. are there any known groups or individuals in the rosarito beach/la mision area that i can connect with? also, since there is no electricity, so i do not have internet access. is there an alternative method? are there any local internet cafes in the la mision area?

the good news! there is water, the ocean and the sky!

it's all so new...(sigh)

Udo - 8-13-2008 at 04:39 PM

Welcome to Baja, Diana!

All I can think of for an internet cafe that I would safely attend is in Ensenada...the gourmet coffee shop 1/2 block from the McDonalds.

Hi Diana, Welcome. I live in La Mision also

Keri - 8-13-2008 at 05:51 PM

Where do you here live that you have no electricity? I believe there is an internet cafe in the autos parts store in La Mision across the street from oscars mercado and down a little further. The La Mision markets are on monday mornings one in La Mision and one in Santa anita about a mile or 2 further. If you want a nice internet cafe, go to puerto nuevo to clickon.com it is a couple miles north of primo tapia,right next to the Gran Baja hotel. Hope this helps a little,k:yes:

[Edited on 8-14-2008 by Keri]

longlegsinlapaz - 8-13-2008 at 06:25 PM

Diana, there is technology available that takes you from a satellite dish to a land line to the internet. I've used this technology here in La Paz for the past 5 years because there aren't yet phone lines in my area. So while I know the technology is out there, I haven't a clue if there are any of this type of service providers in your area. I know you can also get Hughs net service for both TV & Internet....maybe someone using that service will chime in eventually.

dianaji - 8-13-2008 at 06:34 PM

i don't live there yet...it is up on a hill. i just bought the lot on saturday. yes, it helped a lot and i will check out those places.

gnukid - 8-13-2008 at 09:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dianaji
i am interested in sustainable living, ecology, and alla that good stuff. are there any known groups or individuals in the rosarito beach/la mision area that i can connect with? also, since there is no electricity, so i do not have internet access. is there an alternative method? are there any local internet cafes in the la mision area?

the good news! there is water, the ocean and the sky!

it's all so new...(sigh)


You can setup a simple solar/wind power source to a battery bank, inverter to convert 12 volt dc to 110 ac and a dish (hughes/dish) to receive internet and a computer. There is a little more to the setup with charging controllers to be sure you do not burn your batteries up overcharging them.

You can pick up a west marine catalog or go online to pick up setups for boats which you can review to understand systems. There are also solar/wind catalogs. Use google to search on solar wind power.

Its expensive to setup and even still hard to build a system for 24 hour power. But you might just get started with a simple setup, solar panel, battery, inverter for about $200-300 which will give you power to run your computer and lights for a few hours a day.

dianaji - 8-13-2008 at 10:09 PM

yes, it does seem expensive...

however, being addicted to puters, i must have access to it on a daily basis. do u know anyone who can do this?

hey, i have enough problems screwing in a lightbulb!

thanks, diana

gnukid - 8-13-2008 at 10:41 PM

I just told you...

I am not kidding. We all do it, we all use puters, we all use solar and wind to power a bank of deep cell batteries with a special charge controller and use a inverter or not to power led lights and the puter, usually lap top which connects to the internet via cell phone or dish such as hughes or dirctway. You can connect for hours a day which is fine for most. You can even install the whole setup on the roof of your car/rv and keep it with you wherever you go and never leave it behind. Best to get started and just buy a simple setup, solar panels, battery controller, inverter and use a cell phone package to connect. You can do it. Of course a cell phone with browser/email might be adequate.

dianaji - 8-14-2008 at 04:36 AM

gnukid,

no, a cell phone will never be adequate for me...i LIVE on my puter. and no, i cannot do it, do u know someone or some company who can do this for me for $$? it may be easy for someone, that knows how to do it...there are things and skills i have of my own and they are easy for me.

i love the idea of having the whole setup on the roof of my car, however, i do not have a laptop...only a desktop.

thanks, diana

gnukid - 8-14-2008 at 09:14 AM

Diana

I mentioned solutions you can purchase through west marine or through many many outfitters. Since you use the computer you can google solar wind power kit.

I sense you're being facetious since many solutions exist which are quite common and are available bu using google to fine providers of which there are many.

At least now, you can alwasy come back to this fantastic post and always review your answer for ever and ever whether you choose to act or not. The answer is available to you.

You may in fact be turned off to the complexity and cost of a 24 hour operation... as well you may benefit from a generator which can also be expensive to run though it would serve your needs. Perhaps you would benefit from pad and paper and some quiet time?

mtgoat666 - 8-14-2008 at 10:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by dianaji
yes, it does seem expensive...

however, being addicted to puters, i must have access to it on a daily basis. do u know anyone who can do this?

hey, i have enough problems screwing in a lightbulb!

thanks, diana


Solar doesn't always work too well along san diego and northern baja coast, due to marine layer present along coast much of the year. Wind is kind of light too, so wind power is not reliable.

You can build a wind/solar system, and supplement it with a gasoline or propane generator. You need to evaluate the economics prior to buying, size system, figure out how many days you can rely on sun/wind vs fossil fuel generator.

Cheaper to buy parts in US and have a local electrician assemble for you. You will have to look around for a local to design the system if you need a designer.

Either way, you'll be spending bucks.

rhintransit - 8-14-2008 at 10:11 AM

sounds like you are really asking for someone local who can set up a system for you. no responses here yet along that line and I don't live in your area to know if there is anyone. keep looking, here and elsewhere. perhaps you will find someone. throwing money at something to get/fix it is a time honored USA way of doing things. sometimes it works in Mexico, sometimes it doesn't...part of the time that is because what one wants simply isn't available, though I suspect that as close to the border as you are, you can get a lot more than those of us elsewhere.

and also sounds like you are a single woman with some skills but not others alone in Mexico who has just bought in. welcome. you are now going to get to learn a whole buncha more skills, real quick, like it or not. wlecome to the learning curve. sustainable living requires more than funds in the bank to do what you think you can't. unless you have lots of the latter, AND local stuff/skills you lack AVAILABLE, you gotta learn quick.

want 24/7 internet and no electricity? answers as previously given. satellite system such as Hughes, equipment, monthly fee. power to run. generator or solar. start thinking and researching. I'm a single woman living off the grid and despite the occasional throw back princess-y wish that someone would cook me a lovely dinner rather than teaching me to fish (not an unusually fantasy when three things are broken/in need of repair consantly...the Baja rule of three) I am eternally grateful that there are teachers and resources out there. learn, learn, learn.

dianaji - 8-14-2008 at 04:13 PM

well, i found a solar energy place 2 blocks where i live in san marcos, ca. i called them and they seemed to know what i'm talking about and sending me info to start with. they said i need to tell them what appliances i will be using. when we can go on from there. sooo, now it's all about how expensive it will cost. for sure i will need to at least have SOME electricity, however, i am very concerned with having access to use of a computer. guess it's a trade off!

anyway, i'm not giving up!

oh, and nukid! no way i am going to resort to pen and paper. i'll have enough quiet time to play with my plants. thanks, diana

gnukid - 8-14-2008 at 04:43 PM

Well done, I was thinking about your needs, as I too appreciate lots of computer time:

1) A honda 1000 or 2000 generator is small, quiet and reasonably priced and would serve you well until you alternative energy system is in place.

2) A car produces a lot of power with its alternator, you can put a battery bank in your trunk and charge it while you drive. When you arrive home or at camp you will have quite a few hours of power or you can plug into your home to support your power source and receive charge fr solar too. FYI wind is an excellent but unreliable power source. Wind can generate enough power for entire home with ease unlike solar/try them both. Get all similar batteries and get the largest you can afford.

I think others here have more experience choosing batteries. I go middle of the road, not the most expensive... but one's with great reviews--check consumer reports.

Oh yeah seems like with your location you can use one of the cell phone broad band options that provide unlimited connectivity for under $100/month. Not sure about this but that is what I understand.

[Edited on 8-14-2008 by gnukid]

BigWooo - 8-15-2008 at 12:36 PM

I found a reference to these guys a while back. I never contacted them, so I don't know anything about the company. May be a good place to start though.

ESCOM SOLAR ENERGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Email: dorasol@prodigy.net.mx

Tel: +52(646)172-6249

Address: Delante No. 2143 Col Hidalgo, Ensenada

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 12:46 PM

Finally! at last i have a contact.

how far away is ensenada from la mision?

thank u,

diana

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 12:55 PM

mmmmm...sounds good!

Nopalito Smoothie
1 x ripe banana, cold

1 cup diced nopalitos, frozen

Juice of 1/2 key or Mexican lime or 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice

1 cup cold orange, or grapefruit juice

STEVIA or sweetener of your choice (i do not use sugar)

apple pectin powder

Put banana, nopalitos and juices in blender and liquefy until smooth.

Bob and Susan - 8-15-2008 at 01:16 PM

nice story about this place..
http://baja-wine.blogspot.com/2008/02/off-grid-in-baja-wine-...

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 01:29 PM

well, i feel like i'm getting close. now if only i could speak spanish. i find this a big problem.

i just wrote to the company. now if he speaks english, perhaps something can come of this.

again, thanks!!!

larryC - 8-15-2008 at 02:02 PM

Since you are in La Mision, I would look into grid power first, in the event that grid is not available to you then solar and wind will be your next choice but get ready to shell alot of bucks cause it is expensive up front.
Larry

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 02:06 PM

how do i find out if grid is available? guess i'll have to find out these things first.

diana

tripledigitken - 8-15-2008 at 02:12 PM

Diana,

Tell us some things about you so advice will be more meaningful.

Have you moved to La Mision?
Are you renting or did you purchase?
Will you have a car/truck while you are in Baja?

Ken

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 02:16 PM

i have a lot...a mobile home will be moved there next week.

i have a car.

i need someone to help me move.

there is no electricity.

there is water.

i can't begin to tell u all the things that keep coming up...this is just the beginning.

and i can't speak spanish...just a few words *sigh*

woody with a view - 8-15-2008 at 02:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dianaji
i have a lot...a mobile home will be moved there next week.

i have a car.

i need someone to help me move.

there is no electricity.

there is water.

i can't begin to tell u all the things that keep coming up...this is just the beginning.

and i can't speak spanish...just a few words *sigh*



sounds like a job for...... FISHBUCK:light:

good luck diana. sounds like the good times are just starting.

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 02:24 PM

ok, i'll bite. what is fishbuck?

gnukid - 8-15-2008 at 02:43 PM

Go slow Diana, there is no hurry to be modern. Enjoy the simplicity it could be the greatest gift Baja can give--24 hours of free time every day! Attempts to gringo-ize quickly will result in money lost fast. DO NOT engage people in business arrangements who come to you, seek them out and bring them there. Many times locals will say they can help with your T-100 internet wiring and systems but they can not and do not have any idea, they will screw up. So do not engage them nor pay sudden costs or whatever, everything is best done slowly with excellent written plans, budgets, targets goals, timing goals and pay based on performance, you will benefit from the slow pace. Practice saying no, No I am sorry no. Thank you no. No I haven't got the money. Also note that warm weather does not make good working conditions. No deposits in advance in these cases. Go slow and remind your team you haven't any money to pay for anything just yet, they will get the message.

[Edited on 8-15-2008 by gnukid]

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 03:29 PM

very well said! that is very sage advice! and i certainly need it. i am moving there to simplify my life. one doesn't own stuff...stuff owns us.


one day i am going to write a book and this experience will be all in it however, i one thing i am having a problem is not having use of my computer, as it is my connection to the world.

also, it is not difficult for me to say no, especially when the truth is, i DON'T have the $$ to do all that i need.

thank u,

diana

Diver - 8-15-2008 at 03:48 PM

I would have your RV set up with a solar systen before you head down.
Have someone local install the panel mounts, panels, controller, inverter and wiring and explain how to maintain it all. It's easy !!

Check to see if there is a local provider with broadband access in your area. Does anyone know if there is one ?
If not, then contact Los Frailles for Hughes sat installation. He can supply and install the internet sat system.

Or, find a local or agent that can help you ask at the localpower company if there is power available and how long it will take to install. Then triple the estimated installation time and live without until they get there.

We live in Baja for 3 months each year in our camper.
We mostly only use 2 deep cell batteries and 1 85 watt solar panel.
This runs our water pump, lights, computer and some TV.
When the weather is cloudy or the weather colder, we use another panel and 2 more batteries.
The whole thing with controller, batteries, panels, wiring and inverter cost less than $1,500 !
And a cheap back-up generator will take care of any extended cold/cloudy spells'.
They have push button start models for under $600.

[Edited on 8-15-2008 by Diver]

tripledigitken - 8-15-2008 at 04:09 PM

Diana,

I had a friend years ago that lived in La Mission (just 1/4 mile east of Mex 1 and 1/4 mile south of the free road) and he had power. Do some asking around amonst your neighbors, many of the Gringo residents used to hang out at La Fonda, by the way.

If power is close by, try to tract that down it may be cheaper than a full blown solar system.

The advice to install an RV type set up stateside if possible, is good advice. Supplimenting that with a quiet Honda generator, would probably meet you needs, if you can't get onto the "grid".

Saludos,

Ken

dianaji - 8-15-2008 at 04:15 PM

to clarify...i do not have an RV. it is a double wide mobile home, and will be set up next week. perhaps when i visit next week, i will pound on neighbors doors and ask them what they are doing...someone MUST have internet.

diana

I have seen a solar business in Rosarito also

Keri - 8-15-2008 at 07:53 PM

I'll try to find it next time I'm up there and get a number. It is south of the big Pemex on the inland side of the street and I think around La Barca area. Maybe someone from Rosarito knows what I'm talking about. Good luck,k

[Edited on 8-16-2008 by Keri]